Guyana Times - Tuesday, December 4, 2018

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Issue No. 3766

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

PRICE

2019 Budget debate

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

"Fluff and bluff budget cannot deliver the good life" – Ali See stories on pages 3, 7 and 9

Siblings' P2 brawl leaves 1 critical Lawrence P7 apologises for discriminatory comments

Funds available to pay dismissed Wales sugar P11 workers – Holder

ExxonMobil makes another oil discovery offshore Guyana Reputed husband WPA’s sole beats wife with Cabinet member endorses budget hammer …woman critical, suspect on the run – calls Budget 2019 a “generous” one

Police record 30% increase in robbery with gun in Berbice P14

Page 7

Page 13

Crash landing at CJIA

Fly Jamaica to face 2nd law suit P8

Page 10

Mayor, Town Clerk were not working in city’s best interest – CoI Page 2

Guyana, Brazil to address cross-border TIP P10

2 news Siblings’ brawl Mayor, Town Clerk were not working leaves 1 critical in city’s best interest – CoI E P tuesdAY, december 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

armanand Persaud of Lot 148 Station Street, Kitty Georgetown is in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) following a fight with his brother on Sunday evening at Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

His brother is in Police custody.

Based on information received, the injured 26-yearold was invited to his brother’s house to celebrate their sister’s birthday, and the two brothers and others were consuming alcohol in the yard when an argument ensued that quickly led to a scuffle between the two brothers.

The fight reportedly stemmed from a disagreement between the suspect and a neighbour.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the now in-

jured man intervened in the dispute and started to argue with his brother. The brother became annoyed, picked up a piece of wood and dealt Persaud one blow to the back of his head, reportedly causing Persaud to fall to the ground in an unconscious state.

He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was treated and

transferred to the GPHC to seek further medical attention. He remains in critical condition at that medical facility.

The Police were summoned, and the suspect was taken into custody. The piece of wood which was used to commit the act was not recovered, but Police are continuing their investigations.

vidence presented to the Commission of Inquiry has indicated that outgoing Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King had not been working collectively to meet the needs of the city.

This was shared by the Chairman of the CoI, Justice Cecil Kennard, who told the Local Government Commission (LGC) and media operatives that neglect has been one of the key traits shared by senior officials at City Hall.

“I’m convinced that the Town Clerk and the Mayor are not working in the best interest of the city…To sum it all, most of the woes of the City Council have been due to neglect and mismanagement by the top officers of the Council”, he said.

He divulged that the Commission’s judgment of the staff’s performance and accountability was accu-

Outgoing Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

Town Clerk Royston King

rate, since it was not politically driven. This is evident in the fact that the LGC is an independent agency tasked with spearheading local organs.

“These are (members of) the main management team, and if they are incompetent or neglectful, are we going to keep them in those positions? I must make it abundantly clear…that this was not a Commission set up by the Government, so no politics was involved.

It was set up by the Local Government Commission, a constitutional body; and they are independent of any Ministry or Government.”

via a vesting order. Quick Shipping Incorporated, the company that currently operates from the piece of land at Lot 1 Mudflat, Lombard Street, has been asked to make contact with NICIL at the earliest.

Forensic audit

The report recommends that a forensic audit be conducted as part of an extension to the investigation, and “criminal charges” must be laid against all staff who are found accountable.

The matter of the lease was raised once again, and the Chairman was under the impression that King’s actions of leasing property not owned by the city “may very well” lead to criminal charges.

“I’m recommending that there be further investigation in the form of a forensic audit to be conducted by the Audit Office of Guyana… By granting a lease of property when the land is not owned by City Hall, a misrepresentation (has been committed), and may very well amount to a criminal offence”, the Chairman has said.

It was mentioned in the report that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited lawfully own the property

Legal representative

Another recommendation made is that the Council should establish a functioning legal division, with an attorney-at-law who can assist in any legal matters that arise. Given the fact that legal matters are dealt with every day, Justice Kennard made it clear that one individual should be entirely responsible for all legal issues. “[I recommend] that the council employ, as soon as possible, a qualified legal personnel to hold the legal office. At the moment, from my understanding, there is no legal office. Why this position must be filled is because legal issues arise on a day-to-day basis, and there must be a lawyer on the spot to deal with that.

You cannot have lawyers working ad hoc on one case and then do another case.

You must have somebody there to deal with all legal issues.”

This recommendation comes after a no-confidence motion was brought against the Town Clerk by former Councillor Sherod Duncan, and the mayor allowed King to seek advice from his lawyer, Maxwell Edwards, which was later presented to the Council.

The CoI is maintaining that independent legal advice should have been obtained, which can be made available if the Council appoints a legal representative.

news

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, December 4 – a night retraction at 02:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, December 5 – a night retraction at 03:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, December 4 –– 14:35h-16:05h and Wednesday, December 5 – 15:15h-16:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning showers followed by sunny intervals throughout the day, with partly cloudy skies expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 02:31h reaching a maximum height of 2.58 metres.

Low Tide: 08:03h and 20:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.74 metre and 0.62 metre respectively.

saturDAY, december 1, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

04 09 12

16 26 27

FREE TICKET monDAY, december 3, 2018

13 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

01 03 13 22 23 LUCKY 3

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1

5

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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03

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PAY DAY

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12 18 21 SUPER PAY DAY

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2019 Budget debates

"Fluff and bluff budget cannot deliver the good life" – Ali

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pposition Member of Parliament (MP) Irfaan Ali kicked start the 2019 Budget debate in the National Assembly on Monday declaring that Finance Minister Winston Jordan is providing inflated estimates aimed at giving Guyanese an “imaginary good life”.

Ali voiced his displeasure over the Government’s $300.7 billion Budget, saying the presentation was sugar-coated ‘fluff and bluff’, adding that 63 per cent of voters signalled that they were not fooled by what he deemed was Government’s inability to improve their lives.

Ali, who is a former Housing Minister, said that Government’s budget was poorly forecast with no measures to aid the “ailing economy”, further saying that it was riddled with wasteful spending on items such as $5.9 billion on dietary needs and billions more for accumulated expenditure on other refreshment and meals, local travel and security for Ministers.

Despite the Finance Minister’s near fivehour presentation last week, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive was adamant that the forecasts presented were “consistently inconsistent” with Jordan’s speech, disputing Government’s announced measures to “reduce taxes”. To this end, the former Housing Minister highlighted that the tax revenue for 2019 will be $93.6 billion more than the actual tax revenue for 2014.

“In the speech we also heard about fantastic projects, but their economic feasibility not yet determined and no funds have been set aside to support these projects based on the estimates,” Ali told the House.

These relate to several road projects across the country and the Demerara Harbour Bridge feasibility study, which was sole sourced for $150 million. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman also highlighted procurement breaches such as the $ 1.1 billion spent on the D’Urban Park Project. Ali noted that Minister Jordan omitted to highlight that sugar production for 2017 was approximately “57 per cent less than the level reported for 2014”.

“Export revenue from sugar was US$39.5 million (or $8.3 billion) less than the level reported for 2014. The export revenue for rice and bauxite also contracted by US$48.5 million (or $10.2 billion) and US$17.6 million (or $3.7 billion) respectively between 2014 and 2017...Timber production fell by 30.9 per cent between 2014 and 2017, causing the export revenue from timber products to reduce by US$20.2 million (or $4.2 billion) Meanwhile, diamond production contracted by 47.9 per cent thereby causing the export revenue to decline,” Ali told the House.

He outlined that this year’s budget saw little or no significant allocations for

PPP/C MP Irfaan Ali

youth and at-risk groups such as single-parent mothers. He in fact believes that this year’s budget was crafted to give an inaccurate impression of the improved standard of living Guyanese were expecting.

Ali pointed out that the forecasts for the sugar sector were $4.3 billion and $5.3 billion above the actual contribution of this sector in 2016 and 2017 respectively, adding that the forecast for contributions from the gold industry was $2.7 billion above actual contributions from the sector in 2017. He noted too that the revised estimate regarding the contribution of this sector is also projected to deviate from the initial forecast in 2018 by $11.3 billion. The PAC Chair explained that owing to these and other forecasting errors, the Minister was forced to revise the real economic growth rates for the past three years downwards.

“Based on new Balance of Payments presented by the Minister in the 2019 Budget, the deficit for 2018 is projected to be more than two times the forecast he gave last year and may be responsible for the unplanned depletion of the international and gold reserves of the Bank of Guyana,” Ali observed.

The PPP/C MP opined that Government had to first acknowledge problems exist-

ed in the economy before they could be solved rather than MPs putting their “heads in the sand”. Ali noted many of the troubles in the various sectors could be linked to tax measures imposed, especially on the productive sector for which the former Minister said his successors were unwilling to accept that there was a decline. “Since assuming office in 2015, this government has budgeted and expended more than a trillion dollars. Unfortunately, a large portion of the Government’s expenditure has been channelled into areas that do not improve the well-being of our people or stimulate economic growth,” Ali stressed in his speech. He said that the combined total amount spent on other refreshment and meals, local travel and security for Ministers in 2018 was 2.6 times the total amount allo-

cated to maintain bridges, roads, drainage, irrigation works, sea and river defences and other infrastructure.

He added that it was 47 times more than the increases given to our elderly in the form of Old Age Pension and Public Assistance.

“The amount proposed for these frivolous activities in 2019 approximate $5.7 billion, which will be 2.7 times greater than the amount budgeted in 2019 for maintaining roads, bridges, drainage and irrigation works, sea defence, and river defences and other infrastructure that would benefit all Guyanese rather than the select few at the top of the food chain, 22.9 times greater than the $800 million that pensioners are expected to benefit from in the form of increases in Old Age Pension and Public Assistance during 2019,” Ali disclosed.

Days before his presentation, he was arrested at 04:00h by ranks of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and later faced 19 charges relating to lands the State says he undersold. The Opposition holds out these are politically trumped-up charges instituted just after the coalition was defeated at the recent Local Government Elections (LGE) where the PPP/C won 61 per cent of the popular vote.

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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

Serious decline in musical culture

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he musical culture of Guyana, like so many other facets of Guyanese life, has suffered a serious decline and perhaps the time has come for various stakeholders to review the situation with the aim of ensuring that the necessary action is taken to remedy the situation.

Until about a generation ago, there was far more variety and also stronger evidence of classical music, whether Western or Indian. Today, most of the music which one hears on the radio and television and that is being played in live performances, tends to be American or American influenced. Percussion tends to dominate.

Another musical strand which is now popular in Guyana and is heard on the minibuses is Jamaican music. Most of the Jamaican music one hears in the public transport and at village dances and parties tend to be below the level of Bob Marley and often has a strong streak of vulgarity, with some even promoting abuse of our women folk. Already Guyana is experiencing a high level of domestic violence and such music negates the strenuous efforts being made by the government and civil society actors to address this scourge.

In relation to Indian music, the same trend has occurred; Bollywood predominating and the ignoring of the rich and ancient Indian musical culture.

Added to this are the chutney singers, especially the Trinidadians, whose popularity continue to rise in Guyana and in other Caribbean countries. Some of them have gotten fame from promoting and encouraging rum drinking in their music, often making references to various characters resorting to rum drinking as a way to deal with social and other problems encountered. We are well aware, alcohol is considered to be a "downer" type of drug, so it should not be consumed if one is in a depressed state of mind. Drinking while in a depressed state will certainly contribute to feelings of more depression; hence persons should be sensible and not allow the messages that are being peddled in the “rum songs” to convince them otherwise.

Of note too is that there are very few young people learning formal music. Until a generation ago, there were many firstclass music teachers, and the better secondary schools always taught music. Each year, hundreds of children in both city and country schools did the Royal School of Music examinations with a high number going as far as Grade 6 and being able to play classical music.

Additionally, the radio stations carried many hours of classical songs each week and these were regular performances by local artistes. For example, the Georgetown Town Hall had concerts every Sunday. Their musicians like Lynette Dolphin and Rosemary Ramdeholl performed. The Militia and Police bands also had regular weekend performances at various venues like the Botanical and Promenade Gardens and the bandstands in Georgetown and New Amsterdam.

Religious and church music of a very high quality was heard everywhere and Gregorian Chants and Bach were usual in the churches. Indian classical and semi-classical music such as bhajans, were sung as well as appropriate traditional songs at various rites of passage such as; marriages and deaths. And many people played the sitar, tabla, sarangi, harmonium and other musical instruments.

Helping to strengthen the musical culture of these pastimes was the importation of musical instruments. One could easily buy a violin, piano, sitar, tabla or harmonium and many types of drums in certain stores in Georgetown and New Amsterdam.

For decades now such musical instruments have never been sold in the shops. The absence of the availability of musical instruments has greatly affected the cultivation of a musical culture.

There are several steps which could be taken to revive our musical culture. The Education Ministry and the Social Cohesion Ministry through its Department of Culture, the churches, mandirs and the schools need to design and implement programmes aimed at reviving our musical culture. The radio and television stations must be encouraged to have classical music, there is need for more Music Festivals and Police bands must begin to give regular public performances and children and others must be introduced to the classical music offerings of the internet. Certainly, with the strengthening and expansion of musical culture in Guyana, newer avenues of enjoyment would be opened.

The Delegation of European Union in Guyana hosted an evening of piano recital by Wojciech Waleczek from Poland at the National Cultural Centre on Monday evening. During the performance, Walecze played 25 pieces from the 27 countries of the EU (Dexter Ceres photo)

Khashoggi’s friend sues Israeli firm over hacking he says contributed to the Journalist’s murder

Jamal Khashoggi

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Canada-based Saudi activist filed suit this week against an Israeli cybersecurity firm, alleging that the Saudi Government used the firm’s spyware to hack his cellphone and access sensitive conversations he conducted with slain Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Attorneys for Omar Abdulaziz, 27, who is based in Montreal, lodged a civil case against the NSO Group in Tel Aviv on Sunday, legal papers show.

The Opposition activist has said he learnt that his phone had been hacked in August, some two months after he clicked on an infected link.

The Citizen Lab, a

University of Toronto project that investigates digital espionage aimed at civil society, concluded with “high confidence” that the Saudi Government targeted his cellphone using Pegasus spyware created by NSO. Before being notified that his phone had been hacked, Abdulaziz was in regular contact with Khashoggi, with whom he had struck up a friendship.

Khashoggi, a contributor to The Washington Post’s Global Opinions section and a critic of theKingdom, was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2 by members of a 15-man team from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has dismissed two senior officials close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom’s de facto ruler, in connection with the killing, but denies that the Crown Prince knew of the operation.

The legal filing argues that the Israeli software provided the Saudis with knowledge of conversations between Abdulaziz and Khashoggi about projects they were working on. The sophisticated software enables the operator to access all information stored on

Saudi Opposition activist Omar Abdulaziz (François Ollivier/For The

Washington Post)

a target’s phone and to secretly film or record audio.

“The details of this collaboration were known to the authorities in the Kingdom through the Pegasus system,” the court papers say.

The filing says Abdulaziz will argue that use of Pegasus spyware to expose his communications with Khashoggi contributed to the decision to murder him.

In their exchanges, Abdulaziz has said, Khashoggi asked him to help design a website advocating human rights in the Middle East and assist with a logo for a foundation Khashoggi planned to set up called Democracy for Arab World Now.

Khashoggi also discussed sending Abdulaziz funding for a project the two called “the bees”, which involved buying foreign SIM cards for activists in Saudi Arabia who wanted to open Twitter accounts critical of the Government and feared being traced on their Saudi SIM cards.

Khashoggi was also directly critical of the Crown Prince in WhatsApp messages to Abdulaziz, according to images provided to The Post by Abdulaziz, describing him as a “pacman” who devours his critics.

In a statement to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, the NSO group called the case “baseless” and said there is no evidence that its technology was used to hack Abdulaziz’s phone.

“NSO is a technology company that is uninvolved with how our products are used once they are sold to our customers,” it said.

“This is a lawsuit based on sensationalist journalism.”

The NSO spyware also has been used to target two Saudi activists in London and an Amnesty International researcher, according to the Citizen Lab. (Washington Post)

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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

Using the legal system APNU/AFC Administration has become a cautionary tale as a weapon against political opponents Dear Editor, The legal system in any society is that institution which prevents that society from descending into anarchy by ensuring that the rule of law of upheld.

The Constitution and the law protect the legal system from political interference so that ultimately the rule of law will not be destroyed by politics. Guyana is no different from other societies. However, since this Government has taken Office, in the same way the PNC did when it was in Government before, it is using the legal system as a weapon against its political opponents.

The constitutionally independent Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Office has been neutralised, as the holder of that Office, herself, has been a victim of political persecution (Pradoville 2). So that important mechanism to prevent malicious prosecutions of fabricated charges has become non-functional. As a result, criminal charges are simply made up without any evidence to support them and instituted against former Ministers and Officials of the PPP Administration.

Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, was charged with Larceny by a Bailee, in his capacity as Attorney General, of certain law books. Nandlall said that he was subscribing to these books 10 years or more before he was appointed. He says that he requested the Government to continue to pay his subscription for these books as a term of contract of service, when he negotiated those terms with President Donald Ramotar.

Ramotar has confirmed this in writing.

Attorney General, Basil Williams, first commissioned a special audit by the Auditor General in relation to these books, specifically.

In his report, the Auditor General made no finding of any wrongdoing. When the matter first arose, Nandlall made a public offer to buy the books and hand them over to the AG Office. This was refused, and he was charged. There is nowhere else in the world that a person would be charged in these circumstances.

Dr Ashni Singh and Irfaan Ali, two other Ministers were also charged.

The gravamen of the offense for which they were charged was selling State properties without first obtaining a Certificate of Valuation.

This is another made up offence. There is no such offense in the laws of Guyana.

These two former Ministers were executing a decision of the Cabinet. This decision was part of the Executive’s land distribution policy.

Under the Constitution, the President, assisted by his Cabinet, has the freedom to chart executive policies of the Government for the day.

If these policies are wrong, they may attract political sanctions from the electorate at the elections. They cannot amount to violation of the criminal law. Neither can the criminal law be stretched to unlawful limits in order to create offenses to meet the political agenda of vengeful politicians.

Unless this political vendetta and legal madness is stopped in its tracks by the Judiciary, then when the Government changes, like-minded politicians would demand reciprocity. They would call for their own pound of flesh.

So, every political policy and decision that is perceived to be wrong by the next Government would be converted into a criminal charge. Every personal benefit enjoyed by a Minister, whether as part of his contract of service or not, would become the subject of criminal proceedings. For example: 1. Ministers who are now living in rental premises, where the Government is paying millions of dollars of rent, annually, would be charged; 2. the Prime Minister would be charged for spending millions of dollars in framing his personal photographs and millions of dollars in other endeavours, when he has no tangible portfolio of Government; 3. each Minister would be charged for the monies paid by the Government towards a medical insurance policy; 4. a Minister would be charged for purchasing $1M in mints (sweetie); 5. dozens of criminal charges would flow against Ministers who violate the Procurement Act; 6. dozens of criminal charges would flow in relation to D’Urban Park, the “drugs bond” and hundreds of other similar transactions.

Obviously, the above is not exhaustive. It is only to make a point. This would lead to a total destruction of the society. The criminal process would become an instrument for oppression and revenge, not for justice and fairness. Those who like to speak about a failed State would then understand what a failed State is.

It is only the Judiciary, as an institution, that can stop this descent. These matters are before the Judiciary. Let us hope that they can save this country.

Sincerely, Jai Seetaram

Dear Editor, It could not have escaped attention that I have been critical of the APNU+AFC’s administration from almost the inception; after reading PNC Chairwoman Volda Lawrence’s recent statements, I took the weekend to examine my own writings for signs that I may be displaying unconscious bias based on my ethnicity. What I was looking for, was empirical evidence of bias; suffice to say that I am satisfied to say my writings are based on logic and my penchant for pragmatism. Interestingly, what I found as a by-product of this introspective was that the APNU+AFC relies on anecdotal evidence for its formation of policy and actions, this approach would seem to be the reason for their characteristically incomprehensible decisions.

Editor, I will offer a few examples to support my theory expressed above: In one of its first acts, APNU/ AFC granted its top brass a

hefty 50 per cent salary increase, the reason given by Minister of the Presidency Joseph Harmon was that this was done to avoid corrupt practices by Ministers of Government. What was absent in his explanation was empirical evidence that this was true. In fact, numerous studies have shown the opposite to be true; “Rather than decrease petty corruption, the salary policy significantly increased the police efforts to collect bribes” (Foltz, J and Opoku-Agyemang K 2015). Logic would dictate that corruption is a character flaw not driven by economics; personal integrity is the solution to greed, not higher salaries. The introduction of a 2am curfew ostensibly “in the interest of citizens’ security and safety with the aim of suppressing criminal and other offences.” (MPS) was done without release of a single study or statistic to support the reasoning; three years on, and no evidence has been provided for

or against the policy, instead we are told it has “support from women’s groups, religious groups and a number of other organisations”. In presenting a $300.7 billion budget for 2019, one that is double the amount of the largest PPP Administration budget, Minister Jordan made an assumption of increased 9 per cent revenue collection to predict a deficit of $42 billion. Editor, the tax base has shrunk by loss of 30,000 jobs so far under the APNU+AFC Administration, and every single growth prediction by Jordan has failed to materialise to date. Based on this I would suggest the evidence points to an even larger deficit, we cannot plan for our nation’s future well-being by way of political rhetoric.

Editor, we examine election results by every imaginable voter demographic, have we ever done the same for the taxpayer? Is it not time we examine who pays for the follies of these ever increasing ‘Good Life’ budgets?

Editor, the APNU+AFC Administration has become a cautionary tale, critical for all Guyanese; that while on opposition benches in parliament , MP’s should be doing the work of critical oversight of Government policy, action and expenditure, and in so doing learn the business of Government and Administration; APNU+AFC squandered their time on those benches, choosing instead to make outlandish claims and wild accusations; given the opportunity to govern, they were bereft of a sensible basis for policy and action, the haphazard unscientific approach to governance is a direct result of the success they had with their loud lies, they never learned the difference of politics and policy. Monies spent on Commissions of Inquiry would have been better allocated to a scientific study for solutions to our problems.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Declaring unlawful political discrimination in employment Dear Editor, This letter was motivated by a statement by the Minister of Health and Chairwoman of the PNC, Volda Lawrence on preference of PNC party comrades for employment and Government contracts, which was widely reported in the media. She was also the former Minister responsible for the labour portfolio.

What a vulgar statement!

However, Volda Lawrence must be commended for her honest confession of the not so subtle practice of the PNC. That position is discriminatory and unlawful as stated hereunder, The system of industrial relations is informed, influenced and functions within the norms of national legislation, international labour standards, and regional labour policy of Caricom. The national Constitution of Guyana, the labour laws, and international labour conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), ratified

by Guyana as treaty and international law, provides the legal basis, foundation and framework in employment by the Government, its agencies, and the social partners represented by trade unions and employers and their organisations. Together, these instruments constitute the Labour code of Guyana.

The general principles of Part 1, Chapter II of the Constitution of Guyana provides right to equality of opportunity and treatment in all aspects of employment, education, social and political life; and imposes a duty on the state to protect the just rights and interests of citizens. Our Constitution on fundamental rights states that the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual entitles every citizen basic rights without distinction and discrimination includ-

ing the right, regardless of his/her race, origin, political opinions, colour or creed to freedom of conscience, of expression, assembly, and association.

Guyana’s Prevention of Discrimination Act No. 26 of 1997 protects against unlawful discrimination, and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, indigenous population, national extraction, social origin, economic status, political opinion, disability, family responsibilities, pregnancy, marital status, or age except for the purpose of retirement and restriction on work and employment of minors.

The Act also prohibits discrimination against a person by distinction, exclusion or preference, the intent of which is to deny equality of opportunity or treatment in any employment or occupation. Under this Act, it is unlawful for any employer or his/her agent to discriminate in relation to recruitment, selection or employment on any grounds including discrimination in advertisement of the job; in determining who should be offered employment; in terms and conditions offered; the creation, classification or abolition of jobs; by retrenching or dismissing the employee; in conditions or work or occupational safety and health measures; or by denying access, or limiting opportunities for advancement, promotion, transfer or training connected with employment The International Labour Convention 111 – Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) 1958, ratified by Guyana, as an International Treaty: i) requires the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment in relation to employment and occupation and calls on states to declare and pursue a national

policy designed to eliminate all forms of discrimination; ii) defines discrimination as any distinction, exclusion or preference based on race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin affecting equality of opportunity or treatment in employment and occupation; and iii) covers access to vocational training, employment, and terms and conditions of employment.

Caricom’s Declaration of Labour and Industrial Relations Principles outlines the general labour and industrial relations policy to which the Caricom states aspire. The Declaration is

informed by ILO Labour Standards (Conventions and Recommendations) and re-enforces these standards relating to non-discrimination in employment and occupation, and employment policy.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 of the United Nations, Article 23, states that Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment without any discrimination.

Sincerely, Joshua Singh

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What can you do?

For younger kids, the best way to solve a bullying problem is to tell a trusted adult. For teens, though, the tell-an-adult approach depends on the bullying situation.

One situation in which it is vital to report bullying is if it threatens to lead to physical danger and harm.

Numerous high school students have died when stalking, threats, and attacks went unreported and the silence gave the bully licence to become more and more violent. Sometimes the victim of repeated bullying cannot control the need for revenge and the situation becomes dangerous for everyone.

Adults in positions of authority – parents, teachers, or coaches – often can find ways to resolve dangerous bullying problems without the bully ever learning how they found out about it.

If you’re in a bullying situation that you think may escalate into physical violence, try to avoid being alone (and if you have a friend in this situation, spend as much time together as you can). Try to remain part of a group by walking home at the same time as other people or by sticking close to friends or classmates during the times that the bullying takes place.

Bullying survival tips

Here are some things you can do to combat psychological and verbal bullying. They’re also good tips to share with a friend as a way to show your support:

Foundation

Ignore the bully and walk away.

It’s definitely not a coward’s response – sometimes it can be harder than losing your temper. Bullies thrive on the reaction they get, and if you walk away or ignore hurtful emails or instant messages, you’re telling the bully that you just don’t care. Sooner or later the bully will probably get bored with trying to bother you. Walk tall and hold your head high. Using this type of body language

sends a message that you’re not vulnerable.

Hold the anger. Who doesn’t want to get really upset with a bully? But that’s exactly the response he or she is trying to get. Bullies want to know they have control over your emotions.

If you’re in a situation where you have to deal with a bully and you can’t walk away with poise, use humour – it can throw the bully off guard. Work out

your anger in another way, such as through exercise or writing it down (make sure you tear up any letters or notes you write in anger).

Don’t get physical. However you choose to deal with a bully, don’t use physical force (like kicking, hitting, or pushing). Not only are you showing your anger, you can never be sure what the bully will do in response. You are more likely to be hurt and get into trouble if you use violence against a bully. You can stand up for yourself in other ways, such as gaining control of the situation by walking away or by being assertive in your actions.

Some adults believe that bullying is part of growing up, that it builds character, and that hitting back is the only way to tackle the problem. But that’s not the case. Aggressive responses tend to lead to more violence and more bullying for the victims.

Practise confidence.

Practise ways to respond to the bully verbally or through your behaviour. Practise feeling good about yourself (even if you have to fake it at first).

Take charge of your life.

You can’t control other people’s actions, but you can stay true to yourself. Think about ways to feel your best – and your strongest. Exercise is one way to feel strong and powerful. (It’s a great mood lifter, too!) Learn a martial art or take a class like yoga. Another way to gain confidence is to hone your skills in something like chess, art, music, computers, or writing. Joining a class, club, or gym is a great way to make new friends and feel good about yourself. The confidence you gain will help you ignore the mean kids.

Talk about it. It may help to talk

to a guidance counsellor, teacher, or friend — anyone who can give you the support you need. Talking can be a good outlet for the fears and frustrations that can build when you’re being bullied.

Find your (true) friends. If you’ve been bullied with rumours or gossip, all of these tips (especially ignoring and not reacting) can apply. But take it one step further to help ease feelings of hurt and isolation. Find one or two true friends and confide how the gossip has hurt your feelings.

Set the record straight by telling your friends quietly and confidently what’s true and not true about you. Hearing a friend say, “I know the rumour’s not true. I didn’t pay attention to it,” can help you realise that most of the time people see gossip for what it is — petty, rude, and immature.

What if you’re the bully?

All of us have to deal with a lot of difficult situations and emotions. When some people feel stressed, angry, or frustrated, picking on someone else can be a quick escape – it takes the attention away from them and their problems.

Some bullies learn from firsthand experience. Perhaps name-calling, putdowns, or physical force are the norms in their families. Whatever the reason, though, it’s no excuse for being the bully.

If you find it hard to resist the temptation to bully, you might want to talk with someone you look up to. Try to think about how others feel when you tease or hurt them.

If you have trouble figuring this out (many people who bully do), you might ask someone else to help you think of the other person’s side.

Bullying behaviour backfires and makes everyone feel miserable — even the bullies. People might feel intimidated by bullies, but they don’t respect them. If you would rather that people see your strength and character – even look up to you as a leader – find a way to use your power for something positive rather than to put others down.

Do you really want people to think of you as unkind, abusive, and mean? It’s never too late to change, although changing a pattern of bullying might seem difficult at first.

Ask an adult you respect for some mentoring or coaching on how you could change.

Steps to stop bullying in schools

If the environment at your school supports bullying, working to change it can help. For example, there might be areas where bullies harass people, such as in stairwells or courtyards that are unobserved by staff. Because a lot of bullying takes part in the presence of peers (the bully wants to be recognised and feel powerful, after all), enlisting the help of friends or a group is a good way to change the culture and stand up to bullies.

You can try to talk to the bully. If you don’t feel comfortable in a face-to-face discussion, leave a note in the bully’s locker. Try to point out that his or her behaviour is serious and harmful. This can work well in group situations, such as if you notice that a member of your group has started to pick on or shun another member.

Most people hesitate to speak out because it can be hard. It takes confidence to stand up to a bully – especially if he or she is one of the established group leaders. But chances are that other students witnessing the bullying behaviour feel as uncomfortable as you do – they just don’t speak up. Perhaps they feel that they’re not popular enough to take a stand or worry that they’re vulnerable and the bully will turn on them. Staying quiet (even though they don’t like the bully’s behaviour) is a way to distance themselves from the person who is the target.

When a group of people keeps quiet like this, the bully’s reach is extending beyond just one person. He or she is managing to intimidate lots of people. But when one person speaks out against a bully, the reverse happens. It gives others licence to add their support and take a stand, too.

Another way to combat bullying is to join your school’s anti-violence programme or, if your school doesn’t have one, to start one of your own. (kidshealth.org)

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tuesdAY, december 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

ExxonMobil makes another oil discovery offshore Guyana

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he future of an oil industry in Guyana seems even more promising with another oil discovery offshore Guyana announced by US oil giant ExxonMobil.

The company’s 10th discovery was announced Monday by Director for the Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe, who expressed satisfaction with the way things were going.

He revealed that the discovery was made at the Pluma-1 well. It has increased the estimated recoverable resource in the Stabroek Block to more than five billion oil-equivalent barrels.

The Pluma-1 well is located some 27 kilometres (17

miles) south of the Turbot-1 well and follows previous discoveries on the Stabroek Block.

“This is great news for Guyana … the country is on the cusp of transformational development for current and future generations,” Dr Bynoe stated.

According to him, the news of this new discovery is expected to facilitate the country’s realisation of substantial social and economic improvements.

It was noted that approximately 121 feet (37 metres) of high-quality, hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone was discovered by the Noble Tom Madden drillship Drilling began on November 1, 2018, accord-

Guyana is now home to the world’s biggest new deepwater oil discovery

er, need to strategically invest in a people-centred and balanced manner,” he said.

ExxonMobil Country Manager Rod Henson, who spoke briefly of the new find, said this was good news and that it would add to the already huge finds encountered.

He told media operatives on the sidelines of an event, “This discovery will help

ExxonMobil Country Manager Rod Henson

ing to the company. The well was safely drilled to 5013 metres (16, 447 feet) in 1018 metres (3340 feet) of water.

The previous recoverable resource estimate on the Stabroek Block was more than four billion barrels.

This discovery reinforces the potential of the country being able to produce more than 750,000 barrels of oil daily by 2025 and the potential for development in the south-east section of the Stabroek Block. The Stabroek Block is 26, 800 square kilometres.

Dr Bynoe added, “Guyana is well poised to truly forge ahead in the 21st Century. As a petro-development state, we will, howev-

…after Parliament’s live feed disconnected during Opposition presentation ...“total discrimination” – Teixeira

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

she said.

The apology comes days after the PNC issued a statement defending the minister’s statement by saying she stands by her words. That statement said Lawrence stands by her views that were made in regard to jobs and opportunities, and the document further mentioned: “The People’s National Congress Reform stands by her views on the issue of jobs and unemployment, that measures are being put in place for the young and industrious to be afforded the opportunity of becoming self-employed or gaining meaningful employment.”

Before the apology was issued, Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Raphael Trotman, had conceded that the ‘employment comments’ made by Lawrence were an unnecessary distraction.

Trotman, in an issued statement on Sunday, stressed that when the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and AFC signed the Cummingsburg Accord, favouritism was not envisioned. The PNC is the main partner in the APNU, which is itself a coalition party.

Trotman, who is a former PNC member, said he has known and worked closely with Lawrence for 25 years, and during that time, she has “never shown political partisanship”.

Amidst concerns raised, Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, had said that all Guyanese along with human rights groups should join in condemning the “discriminatory” comments attributed to Lawrence, who spoke at Congress Place during a District Convention.

The former President told media operatives that Lawrence’s comments and those of other A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leaders have undertones of racism.

He cited that Lawrence could also be charged for violating labour regulations which speak to non-discrimination in hiring practices.

The PPP had planned to file a complaint regarding this issue with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).

pleted operations at Hammerhead-1 and will soon drill its next well following scheduled maintenance.

Guyana is now home to the world’s biggest new deepwater oil discovery.

ExxonMobil has been keen to push development of the oil reserves. Production is scheduled to begin in 2020.

Tension flares over MP going live on FB in National Assembly

Lawrence apologises for A discriminatory comments P

ublic Health Minister and People’s National Congress Chairwoman, Volda Lawrence, has apologised for the recent offensive statements she made about hiring only People’s National Congress (PNC) supporters.

The minister’s apology came after days of widespread criticism and condemnation by Guyanese over the comments. Lawrence was quoted by local news website Demerara Waves as saying, among other things, that her party would place more focus on providing jobs for supporters of the Peoples National Congress (PNC).

After the comments, much controversy erupted, with members of the public citing discrimination with hiring practices of Government.

“The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC; and right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese, and ah want one that is PNC,” she was quoted as saying.

However, on Monday, on the sidelines of Budget 2019 debates, Lawrence under much pressure from the public, apologised for her comments.

“I must be cognisant of what I say and do, and must not allow emotions or political fervour to get in the way.

So to all those whom I have offended in one way or another, I humbly apologise,”

Guyanese investors to invest capital and take some risk and take advantage for the opportunities.”

According to the Ministry, the Noble Tom Madden is expected to begin drilling the Tilapia-1 prospect located some 5.5 kilometres (3.4 miles) west of the Longtail-1 well.

The Stena Carron drillship has recently com-

s the 2019 Budget debate started in the National Assembly just after 10:00h on Monday, tension erupted as members of the House argued over whether or not the parliamentary live stream began when the first speaker, Irfaan Ali, was making his presentation amid concerns the Opposition’s views were not being fully represented.

High drama unfolded when Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland informed Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Priya Manickchand that recording from where members sit was not permitted.

She, however, maintained her stance that Government’s media agency, the Department of Public Information (DPI) was not providing fair coverage of the Budget, particularly as it relates to the views and opinions of the Opposition.

Manickchand defended a live stream of Ali’s speech with her mobile phone. Ali is the chief spokesperson on economic and finance matters for the parliamentary Opposition, and is the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the House.

“The Department of Public Information, which is funded by the people of the country, is not carrying the views of the Opposition members… [it] amounts to not carrying the views of the people of this country,” she noted.

Following the Speaker’s upbraiding for the use of recording devices, which he said was against the rules and practices of the House, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira pointed out that the parliamentary live stream was interrupted when Ali

was giving his speech, but was up and working when Business Minister Dominic Gaskin was ready to make his presentation.

When Gaskin first attempted to speak, he said all debates were available for review on Parliament’s website, but the Speaker instructed that he focus on the matters concerning the Budget debate.

“There has been no live streaming of the opening speech by the Opposition lead by Irfaan Ali, it is only now when a minister is speaking that the live streaming has started. This is the point about discrimination we are talking about in this place – total discrimination,” Teixeira expressed with great vociferousness.

The Speaker, however, advised the Opposition that the live stream started from the beginning. After the brief display of tension, Gaskin was allowed to make his presentation, but in a social media post Manickchand pondered why Government would not want the public to hear the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s point person on finance.

“What is the wrong I did?

PPP/C MP Priya Manickchand

If you look at the video you will see that it was when Mr Ali was speaking of corruption and mismanagement in the Education Ministry, that Nicolette Henry and Simona Broomes complained … one would have thought these two young women would be of the generation and mindset that would want to have the people’s business made as available to the people as possible… Free speech includes not only speaking but communicating those views and ideas to whosoever wishes to listen,” Manickchand posited.

8 news

tuesdAY, december 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Crash landing at CJIA

Fly Jamaica to face 2nd lawsuit

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ly Jamaica Airways is now gearing up to face another lawsuit, this time filed by a Canadian law firm to represent passengers who claimed they were injured during the crash landing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on November 9, 2018.

Guyana Times understands that the notice of the class action suit was filed on Friday by the law firm, which is seeking compensation for not only the passengers who were on board the flight OJ256, destined for Toronto, Canada but the families who were affected as a result of the crash landing at CJIA. A total of four passengers, who are all Canadians, are plaintiffs in the suit, according to the law firm.

This lawsuit comes days after the one filed by Canadian firms Howie, Sacks & Henry and Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman against the airline for injuries and losses incurred as a result of the crash.

That lawsuit was filed on

The Fly Jamaica aircraft that crash-landed

November 23, 2018.

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

An 86-year-old woman died one week after the incident as a result of brain swelling.

The flight left the CJIA for Toronto, about 02:10h on the fateful morning, but after reportedly encountering hydraulic issues, the pilot

acted quickly and returned to the airport where the aircraft crash-landed about 02:53h.

Last week, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced that a report into the emergency landing of the Fly Jamaica aircraft was presented to Cabinet.

Minister Harmon revealed that Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson presented the report, complete with

details of the incident, to Cabinet.

Meanwhile, four fire-fighters, who were implicated in stealing luggage and valuables from passengers following the emergency landing were slapped with simple larceny and related charges. The four denied the charges after they were read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Duo slapped with $2.3M fraud charge

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ulianne Faulcher, a 36-year-old nurse of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and Compton Beckles, her 58-year-old accomplice of Lot 166 Middle Road, La Penitence, appeared on Monday before Georgetown Magistrate

Marissa Mittelholzer jointly charged with fraud.

The duo both denied the allegation that on November 22, 2018 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, they obtained from Shaheed Ali $2.3 million by falsely pretending that they were in a position to sell him a BMW mo-

tor vehicle, knowing same to be false.

Beckles’s defence attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat, in a bail application, told the court that his client has neither previous antecedents nor matters pending, and should be granted bail.

Defence attorney for Faulcher presented a sim-

ilar argument in applying for bail for his client.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore did not object to either defendant being placed on bail, thus they were granted bail in the sum of $60,000 each, and are expected to make their next court appearance on January 25, 2019.

Taxi driver slapped with another armed robbery charge

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wenty-seven-year-old Casey Chapman, who was recently slapped with multiple illegal firearm and robbery charges reappeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts on Monday accused of committing another armed robbery.

He made his appearance before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer and pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on May 22, 2018 at Tucville, Georgetown, while being

Remanded: Casey Chapman

armed with a gun, he robbed Rasheed Pasha of a Toyota Primo motor car, a Samsung cellphone and a gold chain.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore objected to bail being granted to the defendant, who resides at Lot 77 South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, citing the prevalence and seriousness of the charge, the penalty it attracted and the fact that a gun was used in the commission of the crime.

Chapman was remand-

ed to prison on account of him having pending matters similar in nature. The matter was adjourned until January 25, 2018.

Chapman, along with two others, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on November 29, 2018 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where they were slapped with multiple joint charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition; however, they were granted bail.

Campbellville resident slapped with robbery charge

T

wenty-four-year-old Kevin Benn of John Street, Campbellville was on Monday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer on a charge of robbery.

Details of this charge are that on March 31, 2018,

while being armed with a knife, Benn robbed teenager Navendra Rampersaud of a Samsung Galaxy cellphone along Hincks Street in Georgetown.

It was reported that Navendra Persaud and Ramesh Sooklall were exiting a taxi when they were

confronted by three men, one of whom was armed with a knife. Police ranks in the area at the time were subsequently alerted, and their prompt response reportedly led to Benn being shot and apprehended.

Benn has, however, denied the charge when it was

read to him by Magistrate Mittelholzer.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore did not object to the defendant being placed on bail, thus bail was set in the sum of $60,000, and Benn was ordered to return to court on January 25, 2019.

Removing the mask…

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…of political deceit ell! Well! Well! Who says you can’t go back home?? Raphael Trotman, Leader of the AFC, certainly showed Tom Wolff he was wrong when he wrote his famous novel of that name. But then, unlike Wolff and his town folks, Trotman’s been very careful not to throw any brickbats at his old comrades in the PNC, hasn’t he?? And now that he’s offered absolution to the beleaguered Chairman of the PNC, Volda Lawrence, when not a single PNC leader would, he’s ensured he has at least one friend in high places in the once and always paramount party!!

Trotman has always been a very transparent, if odd, egg! A devotee of Burnham and his wily ways, he was brought into the PNC by Desmond Hoyte, who wanted to remake the thug image of the party he inherited. Trotman had impeccable League of Coloured People credentials, and took to politics like duck to (muddy) waters. So he had no compunction to be the one who egged on Hoyte into extremist behaviour after the 2001 defeat with the slogan: “The PPP must be exposed; opposed and deposed”, yet demanded that the PNC “apologise” for its excesses.

When Hoyte unexpectedly passed away in 2002, Trotman demanded he be made “leader or nothing”! Corbin, who’d apprentised at the feet of Burnham himself in the art and practice of “wiliness”, ensured he got “nothing”!! It didn’t take much from one foreign embassy to persuade Trotman (as well as another frustrated, opportunistic, wannabe leader from the PPP – Ramjattan) to launch out on his own.

They say “two man crab cyan live in de same hole” and the relationship between Trotman and Ramjattan was always tenuous at best in the AFC they formed. Poutings, withdrawals and returns became the order of the day with Trotman. But when the PNC under Granger’s leadership chose him as the Speaker of the House over Nagamootoo, your Eyewitness knew (and wrote) that Trotman had knocked on the PNC’s door.

Then the APNU/AFC Coalition won the 2015 election, and Trotman cryptically revealed he’d struck a demarche with Granger at a meeting in Nassau, Bahamas. But from the high of being the blue-eyed boy in charge of oil, which was handed to the coalition on a platter, Trotman was cast into the doghouse after he blew the oil contract negotiations with Exxon.

His outlier backing of Lawrence, therefore, must be seen as part of his frantic efforts to be rehabilitated into the PNC, since he’d long concluded the AFC was “dead meat”, consisting only of the carcasses of Ramjattan and Nagamootoo!

Lawrence, however, should be careful of Trotman’s importuning. Like Brutus, he has that “mean and hungry look”! …from the Budget Yesterday, the Budget debate began. Your Eyewitness hopes that, unlike him, you’re not one of the countless thousands frustrated by the barricades around Public Buildings! He isn’t sure why they’re worried about the noise from passing cars, since that can’t possibly drown out the cacophony from the duelling MPs inside!!

Be that as it may, this year the PNC’s made it easier for us to evaluate the Budget. And don’t think it was only PNC Volda Lawrence who articulated the thrust of the Government’s spending with her now (in) famous utterance: “The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC; and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese, and ah want one that is PNC!” Even before the LGE, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who crafted the Budget, had apologised to the PNC faithful at Stabroek Market Square, and declared with a wink, “We have not forgotten that it’s you who put us here.”

Let’s now count the ways of remembrance! …of Green Development The PNC Government boasts about its Green Strategy Development Programme; yet we’re just informed by PNC Chairman of Region 10, Renis Morian, that President Granger agreed to a refinery at Linden!

Will the smoke be green?

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

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tuesdAY, december 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Budget debate

Present evidence of “good life”– PPP to Govt – as Opposition slams APNU/AFC for “tasteless” budget

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he first day of debates on budget 2019 featured several tumultuous exchanges, with the Parliamentary Opposition making strong calls for the Government side to lay over evidence of the “good life” it has been providing to areas like the hinterland region.

In her presentation, Opposition Parliamentarian Yvonne Pearson questioned the perceived lack of development in the hinterland, as well as the lack of progress in Amerindian land titling.

She reminded Indigenous People’s Minister Sydney Allicock of previous promises that he would look at land titling through “Indigenous eyes.”

“I wish to remind the honourable Minister Allicock, who failed to deliver within three years the Amerindian Land Titling project, I wish to remind you of the 29 April 1999, when we were all gathered, you said the Government should look at Amerindian land issues with Indigenous eyes, and not political eyes.

“These were things that were said, and I wish to remind the minister and to ask him which eyes (is) he looking at Amerindian land issues with?! Is it the political eye or the Indigenous eye, because I read recently that he is now eyeing a four-year extension! (One) can eye many things, but

Opposition parliamentarian Yvonne Pearson

what will become a reality?”

The Amerindian Land Titling Project, which commenced in 2013, sought to enable the Indigenous peoples to secure their lands and natural resources with a view towards sustainable social and economic development.

It is expected that titling and demarcation will strengthen land tenure security and the expansion of the asset base of Amerindians, thus enabling improved, long-term planning for their future development.

A total of 68 Indigenous villages were targeted (land titling/demarcation and extensions) across the hinterland, with 20 demarcations and 18 titles completed in villages to date.

Meanwhile, Pearson also lambasted the Government side for making a mockery of social cohesion. She referenced the controversial remarks made by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, in which she declared her preference for giving jobs to fellow party members, and noted that such remarks are not what are expected from social cohesion.

She called out Social Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton, noting that his efforts at bringing the nation together must start on the Government side. Her mention of Lawrence’s statement touched off heckling from the Government side, as they closed ranks in support of their colleague.

Her criticisms were supported by Opposition Parliamentarian Nigel Dharamlall, who pointed to the palpable decline of traditional sectors, like gold.

It was only days ago that Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced that 2018 saw a drop in gold declarations from small and medium scale miners, affecting the overall production figures.

“Everywhere you go, every single miner you come into contact with cry out that their roads are not repaired, their bills cannot be paid,” Dharamlall said.

“Their equipment cannot be repaired, and their ma-

chinery cannot be maintained.

“The oil sector is now before us. We are 12 months before our first drop of oil is produced. Exxon only today announced that we now have 5 billion barrels of oil.

To date, Guyana does not have a local content policy.

How will the country benefit? To date, there is no sustainability plan for how oil revenues will be used to develop our country. Today, we are unprepared to even audit the (cost oil).”

The specific criticisms of these two MPs went largely unanswered by the Government side, as Junior

Ministers of Communities and Public Health, Valarie Patterson-Yearwood and Dr Karen Cummings respectively, concentrated on delivering their respective sector performance from prepared speeches.

G o v e r n m e n t Parliamentarian John Adams praised allocations in the budget for works in Region Three, his geographical constituency. He lauded coalition measures like the David G bus service. According to the MP, this service can reach all school children. He even went further to say that if children aren’t on the bus,

it’s because they don’t want to be on the bus.

Government Member of Parliament Michael Carrington meanwhile argued that the 2019 budget meant improvement in living standards for Guyanese, as well as infrastructural development.

“This 2019 budget lays the foundation for the takeoff in big-ticket infrastructure projects. We are laying the basis for proper housing, quality healthcare, improved education standards, better security; and, above all, a cleaner image of Guyana in all respects,” the MP said.

10 news Reputed husband beats Guyana, Brazil to address wife with hammer cross-border TIP tuesdAY, december 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

…woman critical, suspect on the run

F

ood vendor Kilowatie Persaud is now in critical condition after she was hammered to the head by her reputed husband during an argument at their Lot 53 Houston, Greater Georgetown home on Saturday evening.

The 54-year-old suspect remains on the run.

According to information received, the 44-yearold Persaud and the suspect have been living together for the past 25 years, during which they would habitually engage in heated arguments, which would lead to the suspect physically assaulting Persaud. These assaults reportedly happened mostly while the suspect is in a drunken state.

On Saturday, at about

18:00h, Persaud was at home when the suspect turned up in an intoxicated state. This reportedly led to an argument, during which the suspect armed himself with a hammer and dealt Persaud several blows to her head, before fleeing the house.

Persaud, however, managed to raise an alarm, and her mother and neighbours rushed to her assistance. She was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was admitted a patient in a serious state.

The matter has been reported to the Police, who have since launched a manhunt for the suspect.

Several persons in the area have been grilled on his whereabouts, but no use-

ful information has yet been gathered. The Police are continuing their investigations.

Last Sunday, 38-yearold Victor Roberts was fatally stabbed by his reputed wife at their Plaisance, East Coast Demerara home.

This stabbing incident stemmed from an argument between the couple. It was reported that Roberts and the suspect, Malissa, shared a rocky relationship, and they would often be heard arguing, which would eventually lead to a scuffle. The man was reportedly stabbed a few months ago, but had refused to press charges against the woman.

The suspect was arrested and is expected to be charged with murder.

Probe launched into teacher’s beating

A

n investigation into the assault committed on the Head Teacher of the Number Five Primary School, West Coast Berbice by a 16-year-old has been launched. This was according to the Education Ministry on Monday.

In condemning the act targeting the Head Teacher, the Ministry assured that the findings of the investigation will be made available upon its conclusion.

The now injured woman, Gangadin Sebarat-Isaacs, was in the company of her three children when the teen committed the act.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the teacher recalled that she had just left her mother’s home with her three children aged three, five and 11 when the 16-year-

old suspect approached her.

She said that she pulled her three-year-old to the side as the two older children stepped in front of her.

“He past the two of them and he stop in front of me, so I ask him if he don’t see.”

She related that the teenager walked into her son and then pushed her to the ground.

She noted that as she was on the ground, the Fifth Form student bent over and kissed her on the lips.

“He go to do it again and I spit. I don’t know if the spit catch him, but with that, he start cuffing me. He cuff me on my face … right now my whole face hurting, my head hurting, my teeth hurting, my skin what he cuff and so hurting…”

This newspaper had previously reported that the

young man was previously charged and was implicated in a series of offences that are being investigated.

Meanwhile, it was reported that after the teenager was arrested, his parents contacted someone in authority and he was released.

Only in September, this publication had reported that another Fifth Form student of the Number Eight Secondary also attacked a teacher.

The teacher was allegedly put in a vice and dragged around the school’s compound before two male teachers went to her rescue.

The teacher was at the time attempting to protect a Second Form student from the physical advances of a male Fifth Form boy when the incident occurred.

The Guyana’s Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons and Brazil’s State of Roraima Trafficking in Persons Committee TIP Awareness at Lethem Town Week Exhibition

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temming from a twoday joint training session with 21 language interpreters from Guyana and Brazil, the two countries will develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will seek to address cross-border Trafficking In Persons (TIP) among others.

This was announced by the Public Security Ministry on Monday.

“This collaboration between Guyana and Brazilian counterparts was successful as was evident after discussions at the Guyana Frontier Committee and Consular Cooperation Meetings where the team agreed … for consideration be given to developing a Memorandum of Understanding between the countries in responding to cross-border TIP,” the Ministry said.

In addition, the two countries are seeking to have Guyanese TIP officials became au fait with the Portuguese language

through training, as well as have the Social Protection Ministry’s TIP awareness materials translated from English into Portuguese.

The parties have agreed for the Brazilian Embassy to participate in the TIP Training Course to be provided for Interpreters and for the continuation of collaboration between authorities from Guyana and Brazil in conducting TIP awareness in border areas.

The TIP training was in keeping with the Ministry’s effort to intensify its work in equipping various stakeholders with the necessary skills to combat the crime of trafficking.

The two-day training commenced on November 28 and wrapped up on November 29 at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre.

It saw the participation of Brazil as was agreed at the Guyana Frontier Committee and Consular Cooperation Meetings in October 2018.

Also participating in the training course were representatives of the Immigration and Criminal Investigation Departments of the Guyana Police Force, National Commission on Disability, University of Guyana, ChildLink, L&L Translation Services, Language Services Centre and Foreign Missions from Chile, China, Suriname and Argentina.

The training sessions were conducted by representatives selected from the Public Security and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministries as well as the Guyana Police Force Trafficking in Persons Unit and Immigration Department, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Social Protection Ministry’s Child Care and Protection Agency, Guyana Women Miners Organisation, Help and Shelter, ChildLink, International Organisation for Migration, and the Brazilian Embassy.

Rehabilitation works on WCD road completed

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lmost eight weeks after the West Coast Demerara (WCD) access road was discovered to be deteriorating mere months after its official commissioning, the two contractors responsible for the works have completed rehabilitation works.

Residents in the Vreed-enHoop area, where construction, was ongoing explained that the works were officially completed on Saturday

by BK International and Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Limited.

Coordinator/Chief of Works attached to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Geoffrey Vaughn noted that the Ministry would be looking closely at quality control to ensure that the road met the required standard.

Asked if he is concerned about the quality of work done by the contractors, Vaughn said he was quite satisfied as residents hardly complained of the road not being up to standard. He added that the Ministry will, however, continue to monitor the West Coast roads, and will check with residents to ensure no other section is deteriorating.

Guyana Times reported

The rehabilitated section of the Vreed-en-Hoop road

early last month that the companies began drilling holes to surround the sunken area while conducting tests to find out what was the cause.

Residents started worrying as the road works began with hardly any reflectors being used in the construction area.

In fact, the Police in D Division (West DemeraraEast Bank Essequibo) even confirmed the death of a pedestrian in the area.

Guyana Times was told that the pedestrian, Rafeek Khan, 46, also known as “Buck Man”, of Plantain Walk, West Bank Demerara succumbed to his injuries on November 15, after he was struck by a motor car while attempting to cross the road from south to north.

This newspaper under-

stands that that section of the road began deteriorating as a result of faulty foundation works previously conducted on the newly-commissioned road.

A senior Ministry official had made it clear that the contractors were standing the expenses to conduct repairs to the road, under the defect liability clause in the contract.

He explained during a telephone interview that the contract has a defect liability period, which means any defects, which develop – in this case over a year’s time – would have to be repaired by the contractors and not the Ministry.

The project, which was undertaken to the tune of some $9.7 billion, was only completed this year.

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Funds available to pay dismissed Wales sugar workers – Holder – as court ruling remains pending; matter to be heard today – GAWU

W

hile thousands of dismissed workers across the sugar belt were paid the final tranche of their severance payments, ex-Wales Sugar Estate workers are yet to receive their legally entitled benefits, as the matter is still before the court.

However, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder is insisting that Government is ready to pay the workers, noting that the funds are available.

“I spoke to GuySuCo (Guyana Sugar Corporation) and they said that unlike the others with the straightforward supplementary, that case is before the court. We have the money to pay, and if the court case with the workers and the union is done this week, they can get paid by weekend...we are ready,” Holder told this publication on Monday.

His comments came in response to a story carried in this newspaper wherein it was revealed that over 350 workers who had been

Nagamootoo gave all assurances that the Wales workers who were previously prevented from receiving severance pay by the GAWU-filed court case would receive their outstanding benefits.

A report by Government agency the Department of Public Information (DPI) claimed that many former workers benefited from alternative livelihood proGAWU President Komal Chand

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

attached to the Wales Sugar Estate were not paid their severance. These workers are involved in a court case wherein they contend that their employer, GuySuCo, was acting unlawfully by compelling them to travel 22 miles from their point of origin to Uitvlugt on the West Coast of Demerara.

According to President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand, the court case is scheduled to be heard before Justice Sandil Kissoon

today (Tuesday). It was in early November that the National Assembly gave approval for almost $2.5 billion to cater for the remaining severance payments to 4,723 sugar workers.

Earlier this year, Government opted to pay some workers half of their severance, with the remaining half to be paid in the latter part of the year.

It was last Friday that the majority of payments were made. During last week, Prime Minister Moses

grammes designed to equip them with skills to seek employment in different areas such as sewing, cosmetology, caring for the elderly, catering, mechanical and electrical works, and small business management. This was in contrast to what Guyana Times has been reporting over the last two years -- that many of these very workers are finding great difficulty is

obtaining consistent and well-paying employment.

In December 2016, Wales was the first Estate that was closed in the current era of Governmental rule.

Other Estates closed were Skeldon, Enmore and Rose Hall, all of which were reopened under small operations as GuySuCo eyes local, regional and international investors to manage the entities.

Wales Sugar Estate

Govt gives breakdown of house lots distribution …says study into squatting to be undertaken

An example of a housing unit

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s of October of this year, 202 new housing units have been built by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), while a further 52 which are still under construction are expected to be completed this month.

This is according to Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valarie PattersonYearwood, in defending her Government’s budget in the National Assembly on Monday.

Giving a breakdown of the locations, the Minister said 149 units were completed in Perseverance in Region Four. Included in this number are 76 two-bedroom duplexes and 42 elevated units. In addition, 17 units were built at the housing scheme at Experiment in Region Five.

Construction was also completed in Region Three.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the hous-

ing scheme at Providence, East Bank Demerara that was dubbed the Remigrants Scheme and initiated under the previous Government had 400 house lots up for grabs. According to Patterson, 331 house lots have since been allocated.

According to the Minister, monies generated by these sales will be used to provide infrastructural upgrades. She also provided a breakdown of what the Government has been doing to upgrade infrastructure across Guyana.

“As of October 31, new infrastructural development works were completed in Lust-en-Rust, Zeelugt, and Zeeburg in Region Three; Sections B and D, Non Pareil, La Penitence, Perseverance, Covent Garden and Farm; Phase Two in Region Four, Amelia’s Ward in Region 10, while works are ongoing in Providence, Peter’s Hall and Little and Great Diamond,”

she explained “Upgrading of road works and other infrastructural works were completed in a number of areas. Parfaite Harmonie, Westminster and Tuschen, Perseverance, Phase Two of Herstelling, Block D, Bath; Number 76 village and Ordinance (Fort lands) in Region Six; Amelia’s Ward phase One, B and Two.”

Plans for 2019

Moving on to 2019, Patterson-Yearwood revealed that Government has plans to commission a study into squatting. According to Patterson, a total of 211 regularised squatter lots were distributed. However, she revealed that the former squatters have been slow to pay for the lots.

“Seventy-four informal settlers from the Lamaha reserve will be relocated to Cummings Lodge in the new year. The buildings were numbered, household

profiles completed, and an inventory is to be completed by the end of this year,” sh said, “It is widely known that persons in the lower income bracket represent the largest number of families in need of housing, and they are also the group that has the most challenges to acquire decent, affordable housing. We will be addressing this situation frontally,” she declared.

According to PattersonYearwood, CHPA has designed several low-income housing units that will go on display during an exhibition in 2019. She project-

ed that 350 units would be distributed next year, and revealed that the cost of these units will range from $4 million.

“The Government has commenced discussions with our development partners to secure more financing to undertake new housing development.

Once successful, funds will be provided to upgrade infrastructure in all CHPA schemes, the construction of houses in all regions,” she said.

“In Region One, Mabaruma is earmarked for significant upgrade.

Cocorite Hill Housing Scheme will benefit from

road upgrade and the construction of a community facility. In Region Two, roads will be upgraded at Anna Regina, Onderneeming and Charity, and in Region Eight at Mahdia.” she added.

The Parliamentary Opposition has been very critical of the coalition Government’s slow pace of housing drive and distribution of lots. Former Housing Minister and Opposition frontbencher Irfaan Ali has pointed out that under his tenure (which began in 2009) approximately 100,000 house lots were distributed, while others were regularised.

12news New garbage collection China donates US$86,000 schedule takes effect to Education Ministry tuesdAY, december 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

…as Puran Brothers, Cevons yet to be paid

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few days after residents and commuters criticised the state of the garbage-infested capital city, efforts have been made to provide collection services.

A new weekly schedule was implemented as of Monday, which will continue until further notice.

This move comes after Cevons Waste Management and Puran Brothers Disposal Services withdrew their services as they were owed $160 million. The two companies are yet to be paid by the cash-strapped Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

According to the new schedule, on Mondays, collection will be done in Bel Air Springs, Bel Air Gardens, Subryanville, Kitty, Campbellville Housing Scheme, Alberttown, Lamaha Springs, and Lamaha Park.

The situation which existed over the weekend in the city

Brook, Tucville Terrace, Guyhoc Park, East La Penitence, North Cummingsburg, West Ruimveldt, East Ruimveldt, Middle Road, Independence Boulevard, Castello Housing Scheme and North East La Penitence.

Collection will take shape on Thursdays in

Garbage being picked up in Kitty, Georgetown on Monday

Tuesdays will see solid waste collection in areas such as Werk-en-Rust, Stabroek, Charlestown, Albouystown, Wortmanville, Belvoir Court, Prashad Nagar, New Haven, Bel Air Village, Blygezigt, North Sophia, Liliendaal, Turkeyen, Atlantic Ville, Pattensen, Cummings Lodge and Queenstown.

There will be a similar process on Wednesdays for Lodge, Lodge Housing Scheme, Thorne’s Drive, Century Palm, Meadow

South Ruimveldt, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Shirley Field Ridley Square, Guyhoc Gardens, Alexander Village, River View, Ruimveldt, Laing Avenue, Meadow Bank, Rahaman’s Park, Houston, Mc Doom, Agricola, Evan Phillips Park, South Cummingsburg, Bel Air Park, Newtown, J to K Campbellville, A to D Campbellville, E to I Campbellville and Lamaha Gardens.

Meanwhile on Fridays, Festival City, North

Ruimveldt, Stevedore Postal Housing Scheme, South Ruimveldt Park, Jacksonville, and Kingstown will be relieved of their solid waste.

Guyana Times understands that commercial areas will be covered throughout these five days as well.

Meanwhile, the Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine took to social media, assuring citizens that collection will resume as per normal and empathising with the two solid waste collectors during the impasse.

After Cevons Waste Management and Puran Brothers Disposal Services withdrew their operations, there was a public outcry from residents, whose waste was not collected for many days, causing a garbage build-up in the capital city.

Businesses were also faced with the same issue and affected on a large scale, since their waste production is herculean. Additionally, this move had some effect on the vendors at Bourda, who decried the slow collection process, as they had to wait for days before the garbage was removed.

Services are now provided by five smaller agencies namely Granderson, Trash Tech, Tri Star, C&S Services and Garbage Eaters until a deal is struck between the mainstream contractors and City Hall, which is in a crucial financial dilemma.

Chargé d’Affaires, Counsellor of the People’s Republic of China, Chen Xilai as he presented the first tranche of funding to Education Minister Nicolette Henry

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he Government of China on Monday handed over a cheque for US$86,000 to the Education Ministry as part of a US$231,000 grant gifted to the Government of Guyana.

The grant will be disbursed in three tranches, with the first tranche of funding to the tune of US$95,000 already disbursed to the Education Ministry earlier this year.

The handing-over ceremony for the disbursement of the second tranche was held at the Ministry’s boardroom, Brickdam and saw officials from the Chinese Embassy and the Education Ministry in attendance.

While delivering brief remarks, Education Minister Nicolette Henry expressed appreciation on behalf of the

Government of Guyana Minister Henry explained that the grant was a gift to President Granger, who requested that the funding be utilised by the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) to improve its science programmes and facilities.

Additionally, Henry said that such a posture by the People’s Republic of China demonstrated the strong partnership and bilateral relations that exist between the two countries. Added to that, the Education Minister believes that the grant will assist in the development of the nation’s citizens and the advancement of the education sector.

Meanwhile, Chargé d’ Affaires, Counsellor of the People’s Republic of China, Chen Xilai said that he was

satisfied with the implementation of the project. The official also said that he was elated to see that the CPCE was already acquiring the necessary science equipment and supplies to assist with the science programme.

The items being procured include human body cubes, models of functional hearts, triple beam balances, thermometers, water distilling equipment, orbital system, electrolysis, Bunsen burners, and chemicals. These are expected to be delivered in the last week of this year with the cost for that purchase to be offset by the first tranche of funding.

The two parties have already started discussions to finalise a date next year for the disbursement of the final tranche (US$50,800).

GPL has full power for Christmas – Govt assures P ublic Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has assured the nation that there would be full generation capacity during the Christmas season and that only transmission issues would affect service.

He was at the time speaking on a “Budget in Focus” programme on the National Telecommunications Network (NCN), stating that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc has a full supply of 134 megawatts of power.

“Any problem we have will be with our distribution and not generation. We have $3.9 billion in our 2019 Budget to address our distribution network. The weak link in our system is our transmission and distribution line. We have repaired it and put it together over the years without thinking about redundancy. So, we will be working on that in 2019,” Minister Patterson explained.

Work has already begun on fixing deficiencies before the peak period. Meanwhile, construction of Anna Regina’s new power station in Region Two (Pomeroon-

Supenaam), which will be equipped with three containerised units, designed for baseload, is almost complete.

Minister Patterson indicated that the sets would be on line next week and be commissioned by December 14.

He added that the Bartica sets would also be up and running shortly, while Wakenaam and Leguan have adequate supply for the season.

He also repeated a call for motorists to avoid drinking and driving which usually resulted in costly damage and blackouts.

“When they [motorists] crash into poles, it takes off the system and destroys the transformers and getting a new one is time-consuming

and tedious. So, please don’t drink and drive or drive carefully at all times,” Minister Patterson related.

As it relates to the gas-generated project, Patterson said, it was on stream and would be a public/private partnership between the Government and an operator.

“The funding the Government has is for land preparation, right now we’re doing survey and land acquisition. When Exxon’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel gets here, we come back to the supplementary committee for the balance of money to put the pipelines on.”

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WPA’s sole Cabinet member endorses budget – calls Budget 2019 a “generous” one

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he latest supporter of the 2019 Budget has turned out to be Public Service Minister and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) only representative in the Cabinet, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.

WPA is one of several smaller parties that comprise A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

While WPA executive and political activist Dr David Hinds has been critical of some of the budget’s shortcomings, Roopnaraine made no mention any of this during his speech on the first day of budget debates.

Instead, Roopnaraine has said the budget makes a case for the coalition Government’s worthiness as leaders. He used glowing epithets to laud the budget, which he noted would contribute to Guyana’s proverbial “El Dorado”.

According to the Minister, the budget is a “generous” one, and contains several positive measures. Here he revealed that a number of scholarship opportunities will be given priority in oil and gas-relat-

ed areas that include petroleum data management.

“One of the primary innovations that this administration has brought to transforming public service management is the introduction of a Planning and Analysis Unit. The purpose of this unit is to provide evidence-based oversight for the service offered to Guyanese, and ensuring there is value for money in the distribution of scholarships,” he said.

He noted that the unit has a priority subject area formula it works with when scholarships are distributed. He noted that the United Kingdom is Guyana’s primary international partner for such training opportunities, particularly in the Master’s degree level.

For much of his presentation, Roopnaraine concentrated on training and scholarship opportunities in the Public Service, which he noted must be prepared to manage in an oil and gas economy.

“It is against this backdrop that the lion’s share to my Ministry goes towards

Public Service Minister and WPA member, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

academic scholarships -$1.5 billion, representing a 50 per cent increase from last year,” Roopnaraine said.

Perhaps cognisant of criticisms that scholarships are being selectively awarded under the coalition Government, Roopnaraine voiced expectations that the Opposition would carry out a “dogged interrogation” of his Ministry’s funds.

While Roopnaraine has

thrown his support behind the budget, a number of organisations and observers have been critical of some of the measures (or lack thereof) contained in budget 2019.

For instance, the Private Sector Commission said in a statement last week that it was mainly concerned about the level of proposed overall tax revenue on businesses and individuals; as Budget 2019 projects a 9.9 per cent

increase in revenue, while the economy is projected to grow by 4.6 per cent.

“Most importantly, there is no provision for relief on energy costs, which are stifling businesses,” it said.

Worrying, too, is the impact of Budget 2019 upon the foreign reserves of the Central Bank; an impact that does not appear to have taken cognisance of the need to cushion against external shocks to which the country and its currency are vulnerable,” the statement added.

Nevertheless, the PSC had said it was pleased that Budget 2019 contained several measures -- such as the raising of the tax threshold, which it had proposed for the relief of the tax burden upon employees, and the monies earmarked for hinterland airstrips.

Another assessment of the budget had come from auditing firm Ram and McRae in its annual publication of Budget Focus. The firm had called out the 2019 budget recently presented for having little to no provisions for the poor, women and gender issues, and oth-

er critical matters like the Berbice Bridge, now headed to court after Government took it over.

The firm, which was founded by anti-corruption advocate Christopher Ram, acknowledged the provisions in the budget for people with disabilities; the employed and self-employed; and Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s stamina for having presented the almost five-hour-long budget speech uninterrupted.

According to the firm, however, the budget “is silent on women and gender issues; single mothers; the unemployed, including the recently unemployed; the National Insurance Scheme; and the Berbice Bridge, which the Government took over earlier this month.”

“These inevitably lead us to conclude, as we did last year, that this Administration does not seem to regard income and wealth inequality as serious issues; and accordingly, there is nothing in the Budget that could be considered a pro-poor step,” the firm had stated.

Marriott beach parties shut down …as hotel files court action for noise nuisance

tified” of the annulment of their approvals, and that organisers are “advised” to use alternative venues and operate with the relevant regulations for use in public spaces.

However, the enforcement of these measures has not been sitting well with many sections of society, especially the business community which sponsors and

A section of the beach in front of the Marriott Hotel that is used to host social activities

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ne day after the announcement was issued to the public that a ban had been imposed on the hosting of social events at the Marriott beach front, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson disclosed that the Government was left with no other choice after being issued with a lawsuit by the five-star hotel for noise nuisance According to Minister Patterson during the sitting of the National Assembly on Monday, approval will not be granted “for the area which lies between Fort Groyne and Camp Street to be used for activities that could generate noise above permissible levels”.

In a statement issued by the Public Infrastructure Ministry, it was noted that

the area will not be used as a venue for entertainment and/or social and other events which involve the use of loud audio and video systems, including those installed in motor vehicles; and for events “characterised by crowd generated noise”.

This is in keeping with

Government’s recent drive to clamp down on operators and business owners who facilitate sounds that exceed the provisions stated in the Guidelines for Noise Emission into the Environment.

The Ministry’s statement outlined that the organisers are now “duly no-

hosts the very events that are being curtailed.

Sources close to the Marriott have informed this publication that visitors staying at the hotel would often leave during the hosting of any event, due to the noise levels. The reliable source noted that the hotel is on the losing end when this happens, since guests will have to be compensat-

ed. Meanwhile, president of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, in an invited comment on the matter, said the matter is a “small issue” to warrant a comment from the entity.

The Private Sector Commission has however called for reasonableness in moving forward with the matter.

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tuesdAY, december 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police record 30% Stray animals on Essequibo increase in robbery Coast roads a burden to drivers with gun in Berbice …outline security plans for Christmas

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he Guyana Police Force on Monday said the crime rate in Berbice has been reduced by 42 per cent. According to the GPF, serious crime has shown a decline over the past year; between January 1 and October 21, 2017, Police have recorded 236 incidents of serious crime, and for the corresponding period this year, the record shows 199 incidents. Murders for the period under review in 2017 were 24, as against 17 this year.

While robbery under arms incidents wherein guns were used moved from 24 to 32, a 30 per cent increase, robberies under arms wherein instruments other that guns were used showed a steep decline, with seven recorded this year as against 27 for the corresponding period last year.

Break and enter and larceny also showed a significant reduction, from 168 in 2017 to 68 in 2018. Robbery with violence, according to the GPF, also had a decline, moving from 15 to 13.

These figures were release on Monday as “B” Division launched its Christmas Policing for 2018. Deputy Commander of “B” Division, Superintendent Wayne De Haarte, told reporters that the division has put in place a number of strategies to make the area safer for residents and visitors during the Christmas period.

“We will be having mobile patrols by day and night in the housing and business sectors. Patrols will be deployed in all sectors: vehicular, motorcycle, bicycle, and foot patrols, in the main commercial areas,” he said.

These areas include New Amsterdam, Rose Hall Town, Port Mourant, Hampshire, Rosignol, D’Edward, Corriverton and

Deputy Commander, Superintendent Wayne De Haarte

several villages along the Upper Corentyne.

Divisional Commander Senior Superintendent Paul Langevine assured that the Division is well equipped with human resources.

“We have enough officers,” he said.

The Christmas Policing Programme in Berbice will also see mounted patrols in the backlands and roadblocks being maintained on the eastern end of the Berbice River Bridge and at Weldaad Police Station.

“Ranks will be detailed to monitor the linking and shopping areas in all sectors, and we will continue our social crime prevention activities within communities,” De Haart has said.

“Ranks will be deployed at markets on the following days: New Amsterdam, Mondays to Saturdays; Rose Hall Town, Mondays to Saturdays; Port Mourant, Fridays and Saturdays; Springlands, Mondays to Saturdays; and Rosignol, Mondays to Saturdays.

Marine patrols will be conducted in the Berbice River (and in) Canje Creek,” the Deputy Commander has

outlined.

However, he noted that the Police need the support and cooperation of members of the public to ensure that the Christmas Policing Programme is a success.

As such, he urges that during the Christmas period, when persons are shopping or going home from parties, they use a valid taxi service. Business persons who are transporting large sums of money are being urged to do so with effective security. De Haarte noted that any concerns persons have relative to their personal security when they are out shopping could be related to a Police officer on duty, who will be in all the major shopping areas. DeHaarte has said that from now until mid-January, there will be regular vehicular patrols throughout the day and night in all communities.

The Divisional Commander expressed confidence that persons who live in Berbice or those who may wish to visit will be safe.

“This programme will not achieve its success if we do not get support of the members of the public. Our plan entails a lot of stop-andsearch and patrols. We cannot be here, there and everywhere; so we will depend a lot on members of the public.

We don’t want citizens seeing things happening and not reporting to us.

“Our intention is to get anyone who is bent on breaking the law and making citizens’ lives uncomfortable.

Just like how we’re planning, the criminals are planning to take advantage with the increased commercial activity and congestion on the road; so we have to work towards ensuring that their plans are not successful,” Langevine said. (Andrew Carmichael)

R

Donkeys roaming the main roadway in Essequibo Coast

esidents, especially drivers, in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are complaining of the large number of stray animals roaming the Essequibo Coast public road, especially in the Anna Regina township.

Contacted, newly elected Mayor of Anna Regina, Rajendra Prabhulall, said the municipality pound in Anna Regina is presently not functioning, and that will be on the priority list for next year when he takes up his office as Mayor.

Motorcyclists are complaining of the dangers - especially at nights and when it

rains – since visibility is low.

Residents complained also that cattle owners are in the habit of letting loose their animals on the public road to graze; and of late, many donkeys are abandoned and left to roam. These residents are also concerned about the carelessness of these animal owners, and are calling for swift action to be taken by the authorities to remove all strays and make the roadway safe. According to taxi drivers, driving in the night is a risk, since the roadways are dark.

“The holiday season is when you get the most work, and if you end up in an accident you, lose everything,” a

taxi driver told this publication on Monday.

The Essequibo Coast Tourism Association is also trying to sell the region to visitors, especially those who will be visiting for the holidays; and safety is one of the main concerns. The association is calling for the removal of all strays and making the roadway safe for all. With its many lakes, Amerindian communities and other natural beauties, Essequibo Coast have the potential to be a successful tourist destination, but all stakeholders have to work together to create an environment that will be safe and attractive to tourists.

E-filing of taxes to be mandatory for certain companies

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) plans to make e-filing mandatory for specific brackets of taxpayers to improve the efficiency of tax collection in 2019.

This initiative is one of many the Authority had announced when it unveiled the first phase of its e-services earlier this year.

Following the amendment to Section 3 of the Income Tax Act, Chapter 81:01, this long-awaited e-service provides a platform that enables individual taxpayers and companies to submit tax returns online.

During the Budget 2019 presentation in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said this was part of the process of creating a Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU), which was es-

GRA Headquarters on Camp Street, Georgetown

tablished in 2017 aiming to provide proper and dedicated customer care service.

He noted that the Unit was responsible for bringing in over $4 billion in tax revenue. According to Minister Jordan, an Oil and Gas Unit will also be established within the LTU, dedicated to ensuring appropriate revenues are paid to the State by pe-

troleum producers.

“The Government has secured the support of international institutions to undertake capacity-building initiatives in the GRA and other institutions, providing expert advice in several areas, including cost-oil audit and production sharing agreements,” the Minister explained.

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Woodwork training for hinterland youths “We know we have a lot of people in the community who would need furniture, especially since it’s the Christmas season. We have all the materials here, and the boys would start working and get some business from this training. I learnt from the trainers that we don’t have all the equipment here, but I asked them to make a list, so we can get them,” Da Silva said.

Derrick Henry from

Participants with the trainers, Mark Thomas (second row, extreme left), Rohan Mangal (front row, extreme right) and Community Development Officer, Moruca Sub Region, Mary Zola Da Silva (front row, second from right)

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ome 20 residents from three hinterland communities in the Moruca sub-district of Region One (BarimaWaini) and another from the Pomeroon River in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), have benefitted from a woodworking training exercise.

The training is one of the five components in the Community Development Plan (CDP) under the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). It is supported by the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP).

The five-day workshop, held in Kumaka from November 26-30, was facilitated by Government Technical Institute lecturers Rohan Mangal and Mark Thomas.

Mangal explained to the Department of Public Information (DPI) that, over the past five days, the participants were instructed in basic wood joining techniques and standard measurements.

“They are quick learners; they learnt to build a chair, chest-of-drawers, they also learnt standard measurements for furniture and designing picture frames; and

they learnt to do safety on the machine,” Mangal is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

The participants, between the ages of 18 and 53, came from the communities of Kumaka, Wallaba, Haimaracabra Creek and St. Monica along the Pomeroon River.

Community Development Officer of the Moruca Sub Region, Mary Zola Da Silva, told DPI that the expectation is that after the workshop, the participants will return to their communities and gain meaningful employment, thereby bringing income into the community.

6 cops killed in Mexican state ravaged by gang violence

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ix Mexican police were shot dead on Monday in the western state of Jalisco, authorities said, in one of the bloodiest attacks on security forces in recent months on the first weekday of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s new administration.

Jalisco state prosecutors said on Twitter that six state police were killed, and one was injured in a shootout in the municipality of La Huerta on the Pacific coast, just days after an attack on a U.S. consulate in the local capital Guadalajara.

A spokeswoman for state prosecutors said it was not clear who was responsible for the killings, but that the area was known to be the territory of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most powerful drug gangs in Mexico.

La Huerta borders with the municipality of Villa Purificacion, where in May 2015 CJNG members shot down an army helicopter during a failed attempt to capture the gang’s leader Nemesio Oseguera, a former policeman known as “El Mencho”.

On Saturday, officials said they were investigating an apparent grenade attack on the U.S. consul-

ate in Guadalajara. No one was injured in the attack, which occurred days before the new Jalisco governor, Enrique Alfaro, takes office.

Lopez Obrador, who took

power on Saturday, has given top priority to quelling gang violence, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives during the past two administrations. (Reuters)

Haimaracabra Creek said he was excited when he heard about the training. He intends to use the knowledge gained to be better at furniture making and increase his supply base.

Theresa Abrams is one of two girls who participated in the workshop. She also plans to become involved in the furniture-making business.

Meanwhile, training in fish-rearing, which

was recently concluded in Mabaruma; cattle rearing, transportation and the fuel depot are the other four typologies/components under the CDPs. Logistics Officer ADF, Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry, Ovid Williams said that training in these areas is ongoing countrywide, in some cases simultaneously.

Approximately $1 million was spent on the training in Kumaka.

“If not now, when?” – PM Rowley on CSME

Heads of Government and other Heads of Delegation at the Caricom Special Meeting on the CSME

C

aribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government were challenged to move the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) forward

by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley.

Speaking on Monday morning at the start of their 18th Special Meeting, which is focused on the CSME at the Hilton Hotel in Port

of Spain, the host Prime Minister posed the question, “if not now, when? If not us, who?”

The two-day meeting is looking at increasing the rate of implementation of the CSME and making sure the benefits are available for Community nationals. The meeting is being chaired by the current Chairman of Caricom, the Prime Minister of Jamaica,

Andrew Holness.

The first item on Monday’s agenda was an engagement between the Caricom Heads of Government and representatives from the regional Private sector and labour. This encounter was the brainchild of the lead Head of Government for the CSME in the Caricom Quasi-Cabinet, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, december 4, 2018

Regional

Uruguay rejects former Peruvian Caricom concerned by developments in Haiti President’s asylum request

U

ruguay on Monday rejected a request for asylum from former Peruvian President Alan Garcia, who is currently under investigation in his home country on allegations of bribery tied to the sweeping Odebrecht corruption scandal.

Uruguay’s President Tabare Vazquez announced the decision in Montevideo, and Peru’s Foreign Ministry said Garcia, 69, had left Uruguay’s Embassy in Lima after about two weeks there.

“We have not granted the request for asylum because in Peru the country’s three pillars of Government function independently and autonomously, and especially the courts,” Vazquez

told reporters.

Garcia requested asylum at Uruguay’s Embassy shortly after a judge last month barred him from leaving Peru for 18 months while under investigation for allegedly receiving bribes during the construction of an electric train in Lima by Brazilian company Odebrecht.

Peru’s President from 1985 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2011, Garcia has maintained his innocence and has alleged he is a victim of political persecution.

Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra said the decision

by Uruguay was welcome.

“In Peru, no one is untouchable. Our democracy guarantees the separation of powers and due process,”

C

Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia

Vizcarra said on Twitter.

After Uruguay’s announcement, Garcia, who lives much of the year in Spain, returned to one of his homes in a residential district of Lima.

“There is no proof that

connects me with any crime and even less to Odebrecht or any of its projects,” Garcia said in a statement.

He said he would remain at his home in Peru and would cooperate with authorities.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

aribbean Community (Caricom) leaders are likely to issue a statement regarding the ongoing political developments in the Haiti where Opposition parties have been staging street demonstrations to force President Jovenel Moise out of office.

Regional leaders have gathered there for a special two-day summit on the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for free movement of goods, skills, labour and service among the majority of the 15-member grouping and Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) it is “very likely” that the Haitian situation would be discussed.

He said that Moise will be among the regional leaders at the table during the two-day summit and that Caricom is concerned about the situation

in the French-speaking nation.

“Yes, we are concerned and as we have been saying in the past, we call for dialogue and for a peaceful resolution,” LaRocque said.

Last week, Canada called on the political parties in Haiti to find a solution to the ongoing political situation as the United States authorised the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their families from the country.

The opposition parties have been staging street demonstrations in support of their calls for President Moise to step down after accusing him of not investigating allegations of corruption in the previous Government over PetroCaribe, an oil alliance of many Caribbean States with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment. (Excerpt from CMC)

Mexico missing students: New President creates truth commission Some T&T residents still

N

ew Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has signed a decree to open a truth commission to investigate the disappearance of 43 students.

The student teachers were kidnapped from the town of Iguala in 2014, and subsequently killed, allegedly by members of the security forces.

The announcement was

made on López Obrador’s first working day in office.

There have been no high-profile prosecutions for the murders, which shocked Mexico and the world.

The 65-year-old, popularly known by his initials Amlo, won a landslide victory in July –- his third presidential bid. He was sworn in as President on Saturday.

Opening an investigation into the Iguala killings

was a key election promise for the new President.

Despite the outrage over the case, correspondents say the lack of meaningful action or any prosecution of those involved was a stain on the previous Administration.

“The whole government is going to help with this plan”, he told the victims’ families who had gathered for the event, “and I can assure you that there will be

no impunity either in this sad and painful case or in any other.”

In his first early morning news conference on Monday, which started at 07:00 local time, he promised to bring “deep and radical” change to the country. The event marked a change from the behaviour of his predecessors, who rarely held conferences. (Excerpt from BBC News)

fixing homes after floods, bleak Christmas ahead

Jamaican wins X Factor UK J A

amaican Dalton Harris has won British reality television music competition X Factor UK. He emerged victorious Sunday night after performing a duet, “The Power of Love”, with James Arthur in the finale at The Wembley Arena in London, walking away with a £1 million (US$1.3 million) recording contract with Sony-owned Syco Music.

After being announced winner, the 24-year-old bent over with emotion before being congratulated by judge and mentor Louis Tomlinson, second-place winner Scarlett Lee and her mentor, judge Simon Cowell, even as the audience screamed and applauded.

“Ohhhh!” he shouted before crouching, after the show’s host Dermot O’Leary

Dalton Harris being lifted after his victory in X Factor UK last night. (Photo Credit: ITV X Factor UK Twitter)

asked him how he was feeling.

On Monday morning, in his first official television interview after winning the competition, Harris said the victory had not yet sunk in.

Back in Jamaica, Harris,

who won Digicel Rising Stars in 2010, was congratulated

by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips on social media.

Holness later said in a statement: “Dalton is a phe-

nomenal talent who underscores the fact that Jamaica, though a small island developing state, produces some of the world’s best talent in entertainment and culture. Dalton’s victory, the first by a Jamaican on “The X Factor” competition, and his history-making performances has placed him in a league of excellent entertainers.”

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange also acknowledged Harris’ win as a “well-deserved victory for a young man with immense talent who works very hard”.

Harris is the second Jamaican to win an international talent competition, following Tessanne Chin’s victory in The Voice in 2013.

(Caribbean360)

Another resident, Thaddeus Caraballo, said so far he had spent close to TT$20,000 in addition to the relief cheque he got

ll is still not well for residents in the Greenvale, La Horquetta development in Trinidad, as scores of families are remain displaced because their homes are under heavy construction.

During a visit to the community, many residents were seen trying feverishly to get their lives back in order after the disastrous flooding which occurred on October 19. Many homes were virtually empty and all the residents’ furniture and appliances were covered in their yards because their home were still uninhabitable in some cases.

One resident said people on the outside think that things were better but they were not.

“People on the outside are being told that our lives in Greenvale are back to

normal and everything is ok with us, but it is not. My children are not here with me. My house still needs a lot more work to be done.

We wouldn’t even be done for Christmas,” a mother of two who did not want to be named said.

“All my tiles raised, kitchen cupboards and doors gone through with the waters and now there are a lot of factors that keeping us back…the weather or workers too slow or the cheques took a little long to hand out to us and as soon as it did the money disappeared in a flash … but that was not enough to even touch the tip of the iceberg.”

Another resident, Thaddeus Caraballo, said so far he had spent close to $20,000 in addition to the relief cheque he got. (Excerpt

from Trinidad Guardian)

Young Barbadian selected for top position on Commonwealth Youth Council

Y

oung Barbadian Kamal Springer now serves on the prestigious Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) for the period 2018 to 2020.

The CYC is the official voice of the young people across all Commonwealth nations. The Council’s aim is to further ad-

vance the youth development agenda by integrating young people into the development work of the Commonwealth at national, regional, and PanCommonwealth levels. It also provides a sustainable platform for unified engagement with decision makers and youth-led development initia-

tives.

Springer was appointed to the Caribbean and Americas Regional Committee of the CYC and holds the position of Director of Resource Mobilisation. He is responsible for identifying and mobilising all financial and non-financial resources for the

Committee.

An Insurance Underwriter by profession, Springer holds a Bachelors of Science in Management Studies (Finance) from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill.

He has always been passionate about equality and youth development through

sports, and a combination of his passions for service, finance and sports has moulded him as an advocate for young people.

Springer served on the Student Guild of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus for two years in the capacity of

Games Committee Chairman and then as Treasurer. In those two years, Springer also served on the Inter-Campus Guild Council (ICGC), a coalition of the guilds of the four campuses of the University of the West Indies that serves over 40,000 students. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

17

tuesdAY, december 4, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

France fuel protests: 80-year- US expects immediate action old woman killed in Marseille from China on trade commitments

T

A

n 80-year-old woman has died after being hit by a tear gas canister at her window during Saturday’s fuel protests in the French city of Marseille.

The woman, who lived in an apartment near to where the protests were taking place, was hit in the face while closing the shutters.

Protests over fuel tax have grown into general anger at higher living costs.

The woman was taken to hospital, but died during an operation after suffering shock, local media report.

Three other people have been killed in the protests since demonstrations started more than two weeks ago, Police said on Sunday.

France’s Interior Ministry says about 136,000 people took part in the protests nationwide on Sunday, showing widespread support for the movement known as the “gilets jaunes” (yellow vests), who com-

She died after being hit by a tear gas canister at her window during Saturday’s fuel protests

plain about a sharp increase in fuel taxes.

They are so called because they have taken to the streets wearing the high-visibility yellow clothing that is required to be carried in every vehicle by French law.

The group has cancelled a planned meeting with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe scheduled for Tuesday.

The BBC’s Hugh Schofield in Paris says more moderate members of the

movement who said they would be prepared to talk are being shouted down by more extreme elements, and have been receiving death threats.

A spokesperson for the “yellow vest” movement, Christophe Chalençon, called for the Government to resign on Monday, to be replaced by what he termed “a true commander, like General de Villiers”. (Excerpt from

he United States expects immediate action by China on trade issues after a deal reached by the countries’ leaders, including lower tariffs on automobiles and measures against intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers, a White House official said on Monday.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to hold off on new tariffs for 90 days during talks in Argentina on Saturday, declaring a truce following months of escalating tensions on trade and other issues.

That 90-day period will

begin on January 1, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters.

The Chinese offered more than US$1.2 trillion in additional commitments on trade, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Monday. Kudlow said that figure was a broad benchmark and referred to private transactions for buying US goods, subject to market conditions.

China also committed immediately to start lifting tariffs and non-tariff barriers, including reducing its 40 per cent tariffs on autos, Kudlow said.

“We expect those tariffs

T

talks in Katowice, Poland.

The meeting is the most critical on climate change since the 2015 Paris agreement.

Sir David said: “Right now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale. Our greatest threat in thousands of years. Climate change.

“If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is

BBC News)

on the horizon.”

The naturalist is taking up the “People’s Seat” at the conference, called COP24.

He is supposed to act as a link between the public and policy-makers at the meeting.

“The world’s people have spoken. Their message is clear. Time is running out.

They want you, the decision-makers, to act now,” he said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Nigerian President Buhari denies death and body double rumours

N

igeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has denied rumours that he had died and had been replaced by a lookalike.

Some people thought he had been “cloned”, but “it’s [the] real me, I assure you,” Buhari said.

Rumours that he had been replaced with a body double called “Jubril” from Sudan had been widely shared online.

The 75-year-old Buhari, who is seeking re-election in February next year, has been beset by ill health since taking office in 2015. He was on “medical leave” in the UK for three months in 2017.

He revealed after his return to Nigeria that “I have never been so sick”, but did not disclose what he was suffering from. He insists he is now in good health.

According to an AFP

Fact Check investigation the rumours began late last year and have appeared on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Posts promoting the rumours have been viewed more than 500,000 times.

A former aide to Buhari’s predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, is among the high-profile individuals who have promoted the rumours.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Trump asks Pakistan PM for help with Afghan peace talks – Minister

U

S President Donald Trump has sought Pakistan’s help with Afghan peace talks in a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, the South Asian nation’s Information Minister, Fawad Chaudhry, has said.

“President Trump has written a letter,” Chaudhry told Reuters news agency on Monday. “He has asked for Pakistan’s cooperation to bring the Taliban into talks.”

Trump told Khan the Pakistan relationship was very important to Washington and to finding a solution to the conflict in

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan

Afghanistan, Chaudhry added.

The US Embassy in Islamabad had no immediate comment on the letter.

Trump wants to end a 17year war between Afghan security forces and the Taliban, who are fighting to drive out international forces and establish their version of strict Islamic law.

US officials have long been pushing Pakistan to lean on the Taliban leadership, which Washington says is based in the country, to bring them to the negotiating table. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

from Reuters)

Sri Lanka temporarily bars Rajapaksa from acting as PM

Climate change “our greatest threat” he naturalist Sir David Attenborough has said climate change is humanity’s greatest threat in thousands of years.

The broadcaster said it could lead to the collapse of civilisations and the extinction of “much of the natural world”.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of United Nations-sponsored climate

to fall to zero,” he told reporters.

Americans will get majority ownership in companies in China for the first time, which should help address top US concerns about including intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers.

None of the commitments were agreed to in writing and specifics had yet to be hammered out.

Mnuchin said there was a shift in tone at Buenos Aires from past discussions as Xi offered a clear commitment to open China’s markets to US companies. (Excerpt

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has refused to step down despite losing two no-confidence votes [Dinuka Liyanawatte/ Reuters]

A

Sri Lankan court has barred former President Mahinda Rajapaksa from acting as Prime Minister as it hears a petition challenging his refusal to step down despite losing two no-confidence motions last month.

Judge Arjuna Obeyesekere issued the stay order on Monday, saying “irreparable damage would be caused” if Rajapaksa and

Ministers of his Cabinet continued to hold office.

While the decision would leave Sri Lanka without a government, allowing a “set of persons who are not entitled in law to function as the Prime Minister or the Cabinet of Ministers or any other Minister of Government” would cause irremediable damage that poses far-reaching consequences to the whole country, the Judge said.

The Court of Appeal will sit again on December 12 to deliver a verdict, he added.

Sri Lanka has been in crisis since October 26 when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa, a controversial but popular leader accused of corruption and grave human rights abuses.

The former President, however, failed to show a majority in Parliament, prompting Sirisena to dissolve the 225-member House and call snap elections. But both moves were temporarily blocked by the Supreme Court, which is expected to deliver a verdict in that case on December 7.

Responding to the latest setback, Rajapaksa said he did not agree with Monday’s court order. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

India: Woman en route to Police set on fire by ‘molesters’

A

woman in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh is in critical condition after she was set on fire by two men who had allegedly molested her days earlier.

She was reportedly on her way to lodge a complaint with the Police on Saturday when the attack occurred.

The woman is alleged to have been previously turned away by Police.

Both the accused have been arrested and three Policemen have been suspended, a Police official told BBC Hindi.

The woman has sustained serious burns.

Activists say harassment of rape victims by Police is not uncommon. And many

Scrutiny of sexual violence in India has increased in recent years

cases of sexual molestation and assault in India go unreported because of Police apathy as well as the stigma attached to rape.

The attack on the 22-year-old woman took place in Sitapur district.

On November 29, she was allegedly molested by

two brothers in a field near her home.

She managed to escape and went to the police station, accompanied by some family members, to register a complaint. But her family allege that they were turned away by the Police. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, december 4, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

You’ll have some big ideas, but before you jump into something, find out what it’s going to cost and what the ramifications could be.

Relationships are favored.

Make plans to explore the possibilities that a business or personal partnership has to offer. Take care of legal matters that need to be updated before you move forward.

You’ll be attracted to the wrong people. Be careful whom you trust or offer to help. Someone will take advantage of your generosity. Moderation should be a priority.

Indulging in a little shopping, engaging in activities with children or doing something special with your romantic partner will be memorable. Be sure to take some snapshots to share with loved ones.

You’ll face complaints if someone isn’t happy with the way you’ve been acting.

Consider how you feel and make adjustments to offset any problems. Don’t use indulgent behavior to avoid the truth.

Look for ways to cut corners. An industrious approach to gift-giving can help you curb expenses.

Use your skills to make something unique, or buy in bulk.

Get along with your cliLIBRA (Sept. 23- ents and colleagues. Now is Oct. 23) not the time to cause a ruckus. Look for ways to keep the peace without jeopardizing your integrity or beliefs.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — ANXIETIES

SUDOKU

(ANXIETIES: ang-ZYE-eh-tees: Feelings of apprehension and uneasiness.)

Average mark 29 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 40 or more words in ANXIETIES? The list will be published tomorrow.

bring reign rein rife ring infer feign fern fiber

fine finer finger fire firing fringe gibe grief grim

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

Channel your emotional energy into something worthwhile. Showing someone how much you care will bring you closer together. A little romance or a kind gesture will bring big rewards.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Keep your life simple.

Don’t feel you must help others before you help yourself.

Someone will try to take advantage of you if you are too accommodating.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — BRIEFING

begin being berg bier bine binge brief brig brine

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A heartfelt helping hand will make a difference and leave you feeling good.

Romance is encouraged and will improve your personal life. Bring joy to someone’s day!

Don’t fight a losing battle. If you put your time and energy into something tangible, you will have no regrets at the end of the day.

Take the path of least resistance.

Don’t take on too much or labor over things you cannot change or afford. Stick to a plan that is doable and make the most of what you’ve got.

Romance looks promising.

tuesdAY, december 4, 2018

19

Modric ends dominance of Messi and Ronaldo R

eal Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric won the 2018 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the award in more than a decade.

Modric, 33, won his third successive Champions League in May before helping Croatia to a first World Cup final.

Former Brazil and AC Milan f o r w a r d Kaka, in 2007, was the last player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win it.

Ronaldo, who joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the summer, came second.

Barcelona forward Messi finished fifth, with Atletico Madrid frontman Antoine Griezmann and PSG attacke r Kylian Mbappe - both of whom won the World Cup with France - third and fourth respectively.

Victory caps a stel-

lar year for Modric, who also was named the world’s top male player at the Best Fifa Football Awards and received the Golden Ball award for the best player at the World Cup. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Modric, the first Croatian player to win the award. “It’s a big pleasure to be here

like to say: ‘The best things never come easy.’ For me to achieve all this, nothing was easy.”

Lyon and Norway striker Ada Hegerberg, 23, won the inaugural Women’s Ballon d’Or while Mbappe, 19, became the first winner of the Kopa Trophy - awarded to the best under-21 player and selected by former Ballon d’Or winners. (BBC Sport)

The top 10 1. Luka Modric (Real Madrid and Croatia) 2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus and Portugal) 3. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid and France) 4. Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain and France) 5. Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 6. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt) 7. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid and France) 8. Eden Hazard (Chelsea and Belgium) 9. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City and Belgium) 10. Harry Kane (Tottenham and England)

Not sending the wrong message by omitting seamers – Courtney Walsh Mustafizur Rahman bowls in the presence of Courtney Walsh

Luka Modric won a third successive Champions League and reached the World Cup final with Croatia in 2018

Klopp charged with misconduct for derby celebration L

iverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been charged by the Football Association with misconduct for running on to the pitch after his side’s 96th-minute winner against Everton at Anfield.

Klopp ran on to hug goalkeeper Alisson after Divock Origi’s bizarre goal in Sunday’s Merseyside derby.

Liverpool won 1-0 to move two points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Klopp, who later apologised, has until 18:00 GMT on Thursday to respond.

among all these players.

“I am still trying to realise that I have become part of a group of exceptional players to win the Ballon d’Or.” Modric described Ronaldo and Messi as “phenomenal players”, adding: “To win means I did something really special on the pitch this year, that’s why 2017-18 was the year for me.”

The former Tottenham midfielder, who began his senior career with Dinamo Zagreb, thanked his parents for the “sacrifices” they made to allow him to become a professional.

“In my career I’ve realised that hard work and persistence in difficult moments sets the foundation to show your talent,” he added.

“One phrase I

One for the ages or ‘absolutely shocking’ behaviour?

Emotion behind Klopp reaction - Guardiola The German, speaking after Sunday’s game, said: “I have to apologise because I didn’t want to be disrespectful - but I couldn’t stop myself.

“If I could describe how I felt when the goal went in, then I would have control over it. We don’t want to look for excuses but that’s how it is.

“The plan was not to run.

When I chose to stop, I was close to Alisson. He was sur-

N Liverpool Manager Jurgen Kloop sprinted on to the field to celebrate their goal with goalkeeper Alisson Becker

prised.”

Everton counterpart Marco Silva said he had no issue with Klopp’s actions.

“I didn’t see Klopp’s reaction and if we scored that goal and had been so lucky I might have done the same,” said the Portuguese.

“I didn’t see any disrespect.”

BBC Radio 5 live summariser Robbie Savage said he had “never seen anything like it”, while former England defender Danny Mills told 5 live it was “absolutely shocking”. (BBC Sport)

ot picking a frontline pace bowler in the Dhaka Test does not signal the end of fast bowling in Bangladesh, bowling coach Courtney Walsh has said.

“It is just one Test match that no fast bowler played,” Walsh said. “This was a Test to try to win the series. For me, it is not sending the wrong message. Tactically we felt it was the best for Bangladesh to win without a fast bowler. It might be the first time one hasn’t played, but the result matters. It is a tremendous feeling to have a series win. I think everything went according to the plans of the coach, captain and the rest of the guys had to win the series,” he said.

This was the first time in their 18-year Test history that Bangladesh went without a pace bowler in their line-up.

Although Mustafizur Rahman played in the Chattogram Test, the spinners picked all 40 West Indies wickets - the first time spinners have taken all the wickets in a two-Test series.

Walsh said that this does not send any wrong messages to the pace bowlers, and

that they can look ahead to performing in the limited-overs leg coming up next week.

“There’s a lot of cricket coming up. The ODIs and T20Is will feature fast bowlers. Youngsters will see it and want to play. I think it is the programme that you put in place to encourage youngsters to play, and not just one Test match without a fast bowler.”

Bangladesh’s pace bowlers have failed to impress in the tours of New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies in the last two years, even when the conditions have been in their favour.

Their 28 wickets have come at an average of 61.50, compared to the spinners who grabbed 37 wickets at 43.59, having bowled nearly the same number of balls in the three tours.

Walsh said that the major concern has been their inability to take advantage of favourable conditions.

“Hopefully when we go to New Zealand [in February next year], the seamers might get a better opportunity. We might get different types of wickets and they should want to grab those

opportunities as well. We haven’t grabbed it in any overseas tour, and that to me is a bigger concern.

“No one has put their hand up and said, ‘okay, when I am in Bangladesh I might not play but when I am away, I want to be the first name on the list’. We have had a few injuries but I think we have had enough Tests away from home where bowlers should be ready and be hungry for it.”

Walsh said that among the pace bowlers in action in the last four home Tests, Khaled Ahmed impressed him the most with his attitude.

“I was very impressed with his bowling and attitude in that one Test,” Walsh said. “His attitude has been tremendous. Unfortunately he didn’t get a wicket but he bowled very well. All the guys encouraged him.

“I think, just him being around the dressing room, getting the winning feeling, being able to go out and practice, he will improve.

I am very happy with the way he is going and once he continues to be consistent, he will be in the thick of things,” said Walsh. (ESPNcricinfo)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, december 4, 2018

GABA League Roundup…

League final stage schedule released

W

ith the preliminary stages of the 2018 Rainforest Water/Malta Supreme/ Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League concluded, many fans can now breathe a sigh of relief as the fixtures for the First, Second and Under-23 divisions are now set in stone.

A recent release from the Association has indicated that the top four teams from each division have qualified for the next round.

First Division

With each team hav-

Plaisance Guardians, who won five games.

Second Division

The final four in this division are the unbeaten Plaisance Guardians, who topped the Division; Pacesetters, who won five and lost three came in second; while the Eagles and Sonics came in third and fourth respectively. ing played eight games, the Ravens have come out in first position, having lost only once; while second place finisher were the

Kobras, who had the same points. Rounding off third place were the Pacesetters, who won 6 games; and coming in at fourth are the

Under 23

For the Under-23s, two teams were eliminated after playing ten games each; the Guardians and the Pacesetters booked their

spots with seven wins each; while third and fourth places were grabbed by UG Trojans and the Eagles.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, President of the Association, Adrian Hooper, has said, “We had a good turnout, as compared to last year. We even added a new team this year, meaning that we are gradually expanding our territory. For my liking, I’m pleased with the support we have gotten from the players, fans and media in coming out and supporting us on a nightly basis, and for that I’m thankful.”

Hooper also said the semifinal matchups will commence on December 5.

The matchups for the semifinals will see the Ravens battling the Guardians, while the Kobras will duke it out with the Pacesetters in the first division. In the second division category, the Guardians will aim to trounce the out-ofform Pepsi Sonics, while the Eagles will attempt to fly away with the Pacesetters.

The Under-23 division will see the Guardians looking to overthrow the Eagles, while the Trojans will seek to defeat the Pacesetters.

Hetmyer leapfrogs TSC crush 3rd Class 28 spaces in latest Test batting ranks O NBS 40-Over Tournament…

n Sunday, December 2,nd in the NBS 2nd Division 40 Overs tournament, Transport Sports Club (TSC) and 3rd Class battled it out in what can only be described as a one sided affair at the Everest Cricket Ground on Carifesta Avenue.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, TSC posted a commanding 343-6, their second score exceeding three hundred for the tournament thus far.

Sent in to bat, the opening pair of Hinds and Devaughn attempted to lay a foundation, but TSC lost Hinds to K. Bailey for 3 runs; and from there the Singh and Devaughn show commenced, as the 3rd class bowlers were trashed around the ground as made up for the early loss of the wicket. However, K. Pellew eventually made the breakthrough as he got rid of Singh to break the partnership, but it was not over, as Devon Allen came in and

Sunil Singh composed a brilliant 87 to lead TSC to victory

struck a quick-fire 44 before he was removed by K. Bailey while Devaughn played a supporting role.

Jamal Wilson then came to the crease, and added to the pressure as he smacked the bowlers all around the ground in his well composed 61; while Akeem Redman chipped in with 21 not out.

With Wilson gone, Devaughn rallied through the innings as

he took TSC to 343-6, remaining on 82 not out.

Bowling for 3rd Class were K. Bailey and T Hossain, who picked up 2 wickets apiece; while K Pellew chipped in with one.

Needing 344 to win off of 240 balls, 3rd Class innings crumbled as high pressure was just too much for them .TSC skittled them out for 123 in 32.4 overs. The only batsmen who offered support for the side were opener Y. Singh who made 20, and number ten, G. Ricardo, who top-scored with 35. The other members of the team crumbled and could not find the right combination to secure the innings.

Bowling for TSC were Kevin Ross, who claimed 1-29; Mark Baptiste 2-27, Azim Azeez 2-20 Rafeal Singh 2-25, and Shaun Massiah supported with 2-24. TSC will now look to carry their form into their next game, as they await their opponents.

Shimron Hetmyer

F

ollowing the completion of Windies’ Test Series in their Tour of Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan has become Bangladesh’s

Nations League: England to face Netherlands in semi-finals

E

ngland will play the Netherlands in the Nations League semi-finals in Guimaraes, Portugal on 6 June 2019.

The hosts face Switzerland on 5 June at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao in the other semifinal, with the final on 9 June.

“It’s a very exciting game to look forward to and a second semi-final for us,” said England manager Gareth Southgate.

The winners of the Nations League will receive £6.7m in prize money, and the fourthplaced team £4m.

England reached the last four of the World Cup in Russia this summer.

They qualified for the Nations League semi-finals by finishing top of a group containing Croatia and Spain.

The game against the Dutch, managed

by Ronald Koeman, at Estadio D Afonso Henriques will be the first competitive meeting between the sides since Euro ‘96, when an England side containing Southgate won 4-1.

“We play a team in Holland who are at a similar stage to us - developing, lots of exciting young players in both sides - and you can see the impact Ronald has had,” said Southgate.

The Netherlands qualified for the last four

Marcus Rashford of England evades Quincy Promes of the Netherlands during the international friendly match between Netherlands and England at Johan Cruyff Arena

thanks to a 90th-minute equaliser in their final group game in Germany.

Switzerland pipped Belgium to top spot by virtue of their superior head-to-head record, beating them 5-2 in their final game.

European champions Portugal progressed

at the expense of Poland and Italy.

The Nations League, which began in September and featured 55 nations in four tiers, also provides a second opportunity to qualify for Euro 2020.

highest-ranked bowler in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Player Rankings for Test Bowlers.

This was after a stellar performance in the second Test against the Windies, which his side won by an innings and 184 runs on Sunday.

The 21-year-old off-spinner has leapfrogged Shakib Al Hasan (21st) and Taijul Islam (22nd) to achieve a career-high ranking of 16th after his figures of seven for 58 and five for 59 provided him a lift of 14 places.

Mehidy, who featured in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016 held in Bangladesh, had started the series in 28th position, but had slipped to 30th after the Chittagong Test where he had managed only three wickets.

Mehidy is the only notable gainer in the bowling table, which is headed

by Kagiso Rabada of South Africa, and followed by James Anderson of England and Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas.

Shakib may have lost the status of being his side’s highest-ranked bowler, but he has gained seven places

to become his team’s highest-ranked batsman.

Mushfiqur Rahim has plummeted seven places to 28th, but Mahmudullah has vaulted 15 places to a career-high 48th following his contribution of 136 in Bangladesh’s total of 508.

The only good news for the Windies was the movement of Shimron Hetmyer.

Hetmyer, who led his side to the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup title in Bangladesh in 2016, has leaped 28 places to 52nd following scores of 39 and 93.

There is no change to the top-20 batting list, which is headed by India’s Virat Kohli. Steve Smith of Australia and Kane Williamson of New Zealand are second and third, respectively.

Meanwhile, top-ranked India take on fifth-ranked Australia in a four-Test series, which starts in Adelaide on Thursday, 6 December.

India are on 116 points, while Australia are on 102 points. This difference of 14 points means India are expected to win the series comfortably and their failure to do so will result in the Asian side losing points. (ICC Cricket)

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Gayle wins US$221,000 in damages in defamation suit against Fairfax media

C

hris Gayle, West Indies batsman, who, in October 2017, had prevailed in his defamation suit against Fairfax Media in relation to charges against indecent exposure in front of a female masseur, has now been awarded a sum of 300,000 Australian dollars (equivalent to USD$ 221,000) by a New South Wales court.

Justice Lucy McCallum read out the compensation details on Monday (December 3), 13 months after the cricketer was deemed to have not have acted in an indecent manner during the 2015 Cricket Word Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. In their verdict, the four-member jury panel had concluded that Fairfax had failed to establish any proof that the West Indian star had acted in a disapproving manner in front of the female masseur. The act was said to be committed in the West Indian dressing room during the team’s training

Gayle was not in the Court House to hear the ruling

session in Sydney and was widely reported in several articles by established newspapers, including Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra

Times and Melbourne Age. The jury had also rejected Fairfax’s claims that they had acted reasonably as a media organsisa-

tion and that the articles that were published was in good faith and in public interest. Rejecting the notion, the judge said the articles were defamatory to the star cricketer and it “went to the heart of Mr Gayle’s professional life as a batsman.” The judge though agreed with Fairfax’s claims that the allegations made against Mr. Gayle wasn’t of serious nature.

“In light of the jury’s verdict I am required to assess damages on the basis that the allegation of indecent exposure was not true and that the attribution of such conduct was very damaging to Mr. Gayle’s reputation,” Justice McCullum said on Monday while delivering her verdict.

Reacting to the decision, Fairfax media, said they they will be challenging the verdict. “The jury was misled in a way that prejudiced Fairfax and Fairfax did not get a fair trial,” a spokesman said. (Cricbuzz)

Northern Warriors emerge as 2018 T10 League champions

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ou could have been forgiven for thinking there was only one team playing in the final of the T10 League at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on the UAE National Day. The roads leading to this grand old venue were lined with fans wearing the colours of Shahid Afridi’s Pakhtoons on Sunday.

After having played a matchwinning knock (59 off 17 balls) against Northern Warriors in the Qualifier on Saturday, the Pakistani superstar was back on the field against the same team on Sunday.

But when it mattered most, debutants Northern Warriors stole Pakhtoons’ thunder to emerge champions of the second edition of the Deontay Wilder

T10 League.

It was Afridi’s genius that hurt the Warriors in the Qualifier.

But the Darren Sammy-led team bounced back in style, beating Maratha Arabians by 10 wickets in the Eliminator 2 before clipping the Pakhtoons’ wings with a 22 -run victory in the final, giving coach Robin Singh his second straight T10 title.

The former India all-rounder won the inaugural edition of the tournament with Kerala Kings last year.

The Warriors, after being put into bat, made 140-3 in 10 overs. The hero of their innings was Rovman Powell (61 not out, 25 balls, 8 fours, 4 sixes).

Powell, who scored an unbeaten 80 in the Qualifier against Pakhtoons,

shared 62 runs for the third wicket with Andre Russell (38, 12 balls, 3 fours, 4 sixes) in just 20 balls. That partnership between Powell and Russell revived the Warriors hopes in the match after Nicholas Pooran (18, 10 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes), the tournament’s highest scorer, failed to give them a dream start.

Despite Afridi’s best efforts with his field placements, the two West Indians produced the big shots in stunning fashion.

If not for Sohail Khan’s brilliant last over in which Warriors scored only six runs, Sammy’s men could have easily made more than 150.

In reply, Pakhtoons lost Cameron Delport as the South African was bowled by compatriot Chris Green. But

Wilder “very interested” in Joshua fight, says Finkel S

helly Finkel says Deontay Wilder is “very interested” in facing Anthony Joshua in a heavyweight unification fight after retaining his WBC belt courtesy of a contentious draw against Tyson Fury.

Wilder twice knocked down Fury but otherwise struggled against the Briton, who believed he should have won and was outraged with the judges’ controversial failure to separate the pair.

Fury and his team have consequently called for a rematch, yet Wilder appears to be again showing interest in facing Joshua.

The 29-year-old holds the WBA, IBF and WBO belts and has a Wembley date booked for April against an

Andre Fletcher (37, 18 balls, 2 fours, 4 sixes), Pakhtoon’s highest scorer in the tournament, kept the team in the hunt.

He found a good partner in Afghan wicketkeeper-batsman Shafiqullah (26, 16 balls, 2 fours, 1 six), but Green came back to dismiss Fletcher in the sixth over. Afridi (17, 7 balls, 2 sixes) then hit two big sixes only to lose his middle stump to Hardus Viljoen in the seventh over.

The South African pace bowler then killed the match as a contest with another wicket - Colin Ingram - in the next ball.

Pakhtoons eventually ended their innings on 118-7 as the Northern Warriors players ran and jumped for joy. (KTimes)

as yet unnamed opponent, with lengthy public negotiations failing previously.

And Finkel, Wilder’s comanager, established that the American’s camp would require talks to be more discreet this time.

“We’re very interested in the fight [with Joshua],” Finkel told Sky Sports. “If he wants to be professional and keep it in a private discussion, I’m open to it.

“If everything is in the paper, I have no desire to discuss anything and let him go fight who he wants.”

Both Wilder (40-0-1) and Joshua (220) remain undefeated, the latter having beaten Alexander Povetkin in his last Wembley bout in September. (SportsMax)

Anthony Joshua

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, december 4, 2018

Cricket West Indies Regional 4-Day Championships…

4-Day players eager to break into Windies Test squad

Jermaine Blackwood

Sunil Ambris

By Brandon Corlette

new players may be the missing ingredient for victory in the upcoming Test series. With three Test matches scheduled to be played in Barbados, Antigua and St

Lucia, starting from January 23, the upcoming Regional 4-Day tournament will expose potential Test players.

The West Indies Test Team may have space for

batsmen in particular, since the current crop of batsmen have failed to score runs consistently. Sunil Ambris in particular will be seeking to dominate Regional bowlers to allow the selectors to provide him with another opportunity.

Kieran Powell’s position in the Test team may be in jeopardy. The opener has 40 Test matches under his belt, with three Test centuries in his curriculum vitae and six half-centuries in 76 Test innings. He continues to have soft dismissals throughout his career, and he may be one of the players that require axing by the selectors.

Kraigg Brathwaite is among the few specialist Test batsmen in world cricket, along with India’s Cheteshwar Pujara. Brathwaite has not been making significant contributions with the bat in recent times. The Regional 4-Day tournament may assist the opener in attaining batting form ahead of the England series.

One of the most outstanding captains in the Caribbean, Leon Johnson, would want to score runs at

a consistent rate.

The looming season may be the classy left hander’s breakthrough season, wherein he makes a comeback to the Windies team.

Jermaine Blackwood, the attacking Jamaican middle order batsman, has shown his brilliance in the 2018-2019 Regional Super 50 tournament. Blackwood will be looking to prove himself in the 4-Day tournament and make a return to the fold in the England Test series.

Blackwood scored an attacking 79* against England in the Wisden 2017 Trophy tournament.

Guyana’s opening batsman, Chanderpaul Hemraj, who made his One Day International debut against India, had a decent Regional 2017-2018 tournament, scoring 623 runs. When available for selection to represent the Guyana Jaguars in the 4-Day tournament, scoring runs in the longer format will be his priority.

Barbados Pride captain and former West Indies under 19 captain, Shamrah

W Tankers Schools 6 Berbicians in Jaguars Guyoil/Tradewind U-18 Football Tournament…

Regional 4-Day squad Uitvlugt, Christianburg-Wismar, – BCB President jubilant ith West Indies Test Team suffering huge defeats in recent Test series,

Brooks, has been scoring runs regionally, and another decent 4-Day tournament may put him in contention for Windies selection.

Vergenoegen and Annandale secure wins

I

Romario Shepherd

W

Gudakesh Motie

ith the Regional 4-Day tournament starting in two days’ time, Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster is elated that six Berbicians are in the 4-Day squad.

More competitive cricket has been played under this new administration, and outstanding Berbicians have been rewarded with selection.

The industrious BCB President wishes the six first-class players success on their selection, and hopes their team would continue dominating Regional Cricket, winning the title for the fifth time. Clinton Pestano, Romario Shepherd, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul and Anthony Bramble have gained selection for the first round against the Windward Islands Volcanoes, scheduled for December 6.

Veerasammy Permaul, who represents the Albion Sports Complex, is the most experienced of the selectees, capturing 444 wickets in his 103 first class matches. Wicket-keeper batsman Anthony Bramble, who plays for Albion Sports Complex, has 48 first class matches beneath his belt, with nine half-centuries and one tremendous century; 196*.

Veerasammy Permaul

Tucber Park’s Romario Shepherd has also been selected. The aggressive fast bowling all-rounder has played eleven 4- Day matches for Guyana Jaguars thus far, picking up 30 wickets, with best bowling figures of 5-40. Pestano, who plays for Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, has played only two first class matches thus far, but has looked promising in recent times. A fast bowler, Pestano has picked up a hat trick in the Regional Super 50 Tournament, and has been in tremendous form.

However, 4-Day cricket is a different ball game, and he will be aiming to transfer his white ball form in the upcoming 4-Day tournament. Keon Joseph, an unsung hero, is the more experienced fast bowler. He plays for West Berbice, and has played 38 first class matches for the Jaguars thus far, picking up 98 wickets at an average of 26.90.

The 23-year-old spin ace Gudakesh Motie has been a regular selection, playing 24 matches and picking up 85 wickets in his blooming career.

Berbice Test players Devandra Bishoo and Shimron Hetmyer may join the squad in the latter part of the 4-Day tournament. (Brandon Corlette)

n a day filled with thrills for football fans, Uitvlugt set the momentum in the first match with a full onslaught against a struggling Queenstown Secondary, while ChristianburgWismar, Vergenoegen and Annandale also secured victories in the Guyoil/ Tradewind Tankers Schools U-18 Football Tournament.

Uitvlugt, who played their final prelim match, defeated Queenstown 5-1 as the 5th placed team asserted their dominance.

In the matchup, Anthony Benn struck in the 19th minute of the game to leave Queenstown in utter confusion. However, Queenstown instantly replied -- a minute later – with a Carl Chisholm rocket that pierced the uprights.

After that, everything went downhill for Queenstown as Uitvlugt’s Tedius Edwards took the score to 2-1 in the 47th minute. He was then aided by Ruben Dainty, who made it a two-possession game in the 55th minute.

Edwards and Mickael McKend were successful again in the 63rd and 65th minutes respectively, as the unassailable lead comfort-

Part of the ongoing action

ably gave Uitvlugt the win.

Following Uitvlugt’s example, Charlestown went down to the in-form Vergenoegen side by the same score line.

Ronaldo Macey took control of the match in the 4th minute, drawing first blood.

Troy Skeete then did his thing in the 39th minute to add further damage and double the lead.

With Charlestown trying every strategy to score, Macey was allowed to beat the defense in the 42nd minute and pile on a 3-goal lead.

One minute before half time, Charlestown scored a consolation goal to take the score to 3-1; but when play resumed, Vergenoegen put the nail in the Charlestown

coffin as Esan Heymar and Brentnol Bobb scored in the 47th and 54th minutes respectively.

In the other fixtures, Annandale defeated table-toppers Lodge Secondary to win their bout 2-0. Annandale were able to secure goals in the 22nd and 36th minute compliments of Junor Veira and Omari Glasglow.

Despite Annandale’s victory, they were not able to top the table. They sit second on 27 points,, behind Lodge Secondary School who have the same amount but a superior goal difference. In the other matchup, Christianburg-Wismar, the third place team on 26 points, won via walkover against St Roses.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, december 4, 2018

Race of Champions Horse Race Meet…

23

"Just Call Me Bass" is boss "J

"Just Call Me Bass" crosses the finish line ahead of Princess She’s Not and Lucky Star

ust call Me Bass" outsprinted ‘Princess She’s Not’ to win the feature event of the inaugural Race of Champions horse-racing meet organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee at Corentyne’s Port Mourant Turf Club on Sunday.

‘Just call Me Bass’, of the Chris Jagdeo Stables, led from gate to pole in the 1300 metre feature event on the ten-card meet. At stake was the top prize of$1 million.

‘Vera’s Finally’ made

an early challenge, but although this animal is known for its ability to run in the longer races, it could not keep up with the blistering pace set by ‘Just call Me Bass’.

Jockey Paul Delph used his experience to push ‘Just call Me Bass’ five lengths ahead of the competition, giving no chance to any of the other riders. A late effort by ‘Princess She’s Not’ was good enough to cop second place, ahead of ‘Lucky Star’.

‘Just call Me Bass’ has contested with ‘Vera’s

Finally’ in the starting gates on four occasions this year, with the latter occurring in three of these races.

Meanwhile, in the 1500M ‘F class race for Colts, Gelding Only, Jockey Colin Ross piloted ‘Release the Beast’ of the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables to win from ‘Keep on Swinging’. The race had a top prize of $400,000.

Third place went to ‘Good Will Boy’ ahead of ‘Crown the King’.

In other results, ‘Catch a Glimpse’ won the L Class 1300-metre event ahead

of ‘Feeona’, ‘ R e a d y to be Talk About’, and ‘Red Weasel’, finishing in that order.

The I & Lower race was won by ‘Chameli’, with ‘Not t h i s Time’, ‘Ready t o Romance’ and ‘Kentucky’ finishing in that order;

while ‘Massaupequea Dr’ won the K-Class race.

The race had a top prize of $230,000, and ‘Byron’, ‘Touch Down’ and ‘Gold Again’ brought up the rear.

The L-Class event for colts and geldings only was won by ‘Catch a Glimpse’, and was another win for Jockey Colin Ross, as ‘Art of Gold’ ran in second ahead of ‘Uprising’ and ‘Touch Gold’.

The H1 & Lower event saw yet another win for Ross, as he piloted ‘Keep on Swinging’ past the pole ahead of ‘Not this

Time’ and ‘Silver and Things’. The win was worth $300,000.

The J1 Race was won by ‘Party Time’, and was one of three wins for jockey Renaldo Appadu. In second place was ‘Red Region,’ ahead of ‘Mary Ann’; and ‘Jungle Prince’ was third.

Appadu also registered a win in the 2-yearold Guyana-bred race with ‘Is She Perfect’. It was the animal’s first race this year. The second spot went to ‘Valentina’, ‘Awesome Banner’ and ‘Ebony Prince’ finishing in that order.

Ross closed off the day with his fifth win of the day in the L – Class for fillies and mares, when he piloted ‘Feeona’ to victory. The other top places went to ‘Touch of Class’ and ‘Secret Flyer’.

With his five wins on Sunday, Ross now has 23 first places this year with his closest rival being Jockey Paul Delph with 9 wins so far this year.

Junion Muhammad was adjudged champion trainer, with Appadu being the runner up Jockey.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Champion Jockey Colin Ross

West Indies tour of Bangladesh 2018

Another Test series, another defeat: Players lacked application

Kieran Powell walks away in disappointment after he failed with the bat

By Brandon Corlette

T

he West Indies Test Team continues its downhill journey with a 2-0 defeat against a team ranked beneath them in the Test rankings. After a 2-0 series defeat against a top ranked Indian Test team recently, Windies were expected to bounce back against a less threatening Bangladesh team.

The series was filled with negatives for Windies, but Shimron Hetmyer’s 222 runs in the two Tests were among the few positives.

West Indies lost to India and Bangladesh in the four Test matches played in the sub-continent in 2018, where all the matches were completed inside three days. A team that once dominated Test cricket is now being terrorised by Test nations.

In the modern era, global T20 leagues are dominated by the West Indian players. The legendary Windies fast bowler Michael Holding opposed the shortest format of the game, since it has negatively impacted West Indies cricket.

How much players in the West Indies Test Team have been exposed to county cricket in England?

The standing Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who has been Jason Holder’s deputy in Tests, questioned shot selection by his fellow batsmen in a series where they were demolished by spin. In Braithwaite’s post-match interview, he added that the Caribbean team failed mentally throughout the series.

In the first Test match, Bangladesh trounced the West Indies by 64 runs in seven and a half sessions on a spiteful turner in Chittagong. Windies bowlers were sufficiently disciplined in the first innings to restrict Bangladesh to 324, with Gabriel and Warrican picking up four wickets each. The batsmen continued to lack application in different game scenarios when they were bundled out for 246 runs. A young spinner, Nayeem Hasan, announced himself in Test cricket when he wreaked havoc, snatching 5-61 on debut.

In the first Test, the bowlers had a decent outing, restricting Bangladesh to 125 in the second innings; but the batting woes continued when they were bowled out for 139, finishing 64 runs behind.

Taijul Islam, another spinner, had magical figures of 6-33.

The second and final Test match was approaching, and the West Indies were without Shannon Gabriel. It was yet another threeday Test match, with Bangladesh

winning by an innings and 184 runs. Bangladesh batted once, racking up a mammoth 508 all out, then bowling the West Indies out twice, for 111 and 213.

Mehidy Hasan was the star of the show, grabbing 12 wickets in the match.

Along with Hetmyer’s 222 runs scored in the Test series, Shane Dowrich was the only other batter to amass 100 runs in four innings. Jomel Warrican grabbed the most wickets for Windies, finishing with eight wickets. Devandra Bishoo finished with seven wickets.

The West Indies will play their next Test match on January 23 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown Barbados against a strong England team that has been playing their best cricket in

recent times.

Will West Indies continue the struggles in Tests, or will their fortunes improve in the three-match series against England?

Jason Holder was injured during the Bangladesh Test series

tuesdAY, december 4, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Race of Champions Horse Race Meet…

“Just Call Me Bass” is boss Page 23

“Just Call Me Bass” won its second race for 2018

6 Berbicians in Jaguars Regional 4-Day squad – BCB President jubilant

Romario Shepherd

Gudakesh Motie

Page 22

Gayle wins US$221,000 in damages in defamation suit against Fairfax media Page 21

Veerasammy Permaul

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