Guyana Times - December 5, 2018

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Countdown to Christmas

Technicians to be trained to convert cars to use cooking gas P2

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3767

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Millions wasted through procurement scandals – Anthony Page 3

...as MP lambastes Govt for mismanagement of projects

Scotiabank staff stand to lose Page their jobs 9 –...advises financial analyst BoG to pause transaction regarding acquisition

175 Chinese Page 13 among 979 foreigners allowed to stay in Guyana – another 298 granted citizenship – Felix reveals

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

President P10 Granger departs for Cuba

Affected Fly Jamaica P12 passengers are being refunded – source

Georgetown P8 man slapped with attempted murder charge

Man found P8 guilty of raping teen relative

A member of the ExxonMobil team listens to one of the participants of the Liza Phase 1 Supplier Development Forum held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel on Tuesday

Govt’s shares in Guyana Stockfeeds sold below value – Jordan

Page 9

Conman tricks, robs several Essequibo residents Page 2

CLBD to be gateway P11 for local suppliers to Exxon – over 2300 local businesses already listed

2 news

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Technicians to be trained to convert cars to use cooking gas

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ome next year technicians across Guyana will be involved in training geared towards equipping them with the knowledge of converting cars which use gasoline to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or cooking gas.

This was recently related to Guyana Times by Massy Gas Products, Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Manager Robert Chin Hong.

“We are bringing in a technician to train local mechanics, both at Massy Industries and a couple other well-known mechanics throughout the country, to be able to convert vehicles adequately,” he revealed.

This will be done as early as January, he told this publication during an interview.

The training sessions will be done subsequent to an official launch Massy intends to have in 2019.

According to Hong, training in this area is absolutely necessary, since mere “tutorials on YouTube will do no good”. The training, he added, will not only focus on the conversion of the vehicles but

Massy Gas Products, Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Manager Robert Chin Hong

the subsequent servicing of the vehicles.

It was pointed out that any type of vehicle that works with gasoline could be converted to use LPG. The cost of the conversion, Hong noted, will be about US$1000, although the company is seeking to have the first set of interested persons pay just a fraction of the cost. He said, “We don’t want

this thing to be (expensive), we want people to use it. We want people to start using a gas that produces just about half the amount of emissions that a regular gasoline car works with.”

Very soon two gas stations will be established in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) in Georgetown and on the East Bank of Demerara, and other gas stations will be opened as time progresses and the demand increases for the new type of gas.

A major advantage of the cars modified to run on LPG is that they can switch directly from gasoline to LPG, in case the user runs out of the Petroleum Gas. The Manager shared, “I have been driving this LPG car for over a year and it’s exceptionally safe, because the vehicle has built-in safety features, the ability to switch from gas off electronically through a valve in the event that there’s a problem. LPG itself is a gas, so if it is leaking it’s not going to accumulate. It’s going to drip out and evaporate into the air … LPG is a lot safer in that way: the wind just blows it away in

very small quantities, it never accumulates enough to cause a fire.”

While the technicians are preparing themselves for training, cars that are already programmed to run on LPG are expected in the country soon, Hong noted.

According to him, individuals and even organisations such as the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force have already expressed interest in the vehicles.

While stating some of the other benefits of using the LPG car, the Manager informed that the conversion could be done within a day’s time.

Among the notable benefits to the user is that it will reduce their expenses when it comes to fuel costs as LPG would be cheaper. “The price for fuel right now is at about $220 per gallon, we expect that the price per litre of LPG for vehicular uses will be around $170 and $180.”

Additionally, cars powered by this type of gas will produce half the amount of harmful emissions compared to those powered by gaso-

The LPG powered car on display at the recently-convened Green Expo

line. They also require less servicing when compared to gasoline cars which need servicing about every three months.

Massy first revealed the LPG powered car at the inaugural Green Expo hosted at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) recently moved to exempt excise tax on motor vehicles principally designed to accommodate LPG.

The GRA noted that in accordance with Table A-19 of the Excise Tax Regulations, these vehicles must have an engine capacity not exceeding 2000 cc and be less than four years old. Additionally, Part III B (i) of the First Schedule of the Customs Act has been amended to exempt Customs Duties on machinery and equipment, determined by the Commissioner General, to set up refilling stations for vehicles principally designed to accommodate LPG.

Conman tricks, robs several Essequibo residents

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man who claimed that he was a businessman and operated a mining operation in Puruni, Cuyuni River has reportedly tricked and robbed several persons on the Essequibo Coast.

The man, whose name was given as Kelvin, reportedly checked in at the Gold In Gold Hotel at Aurora Village on Sunday, November 25.

At the time, he did not have money, but convinced the proprietor that he had come out of the interior to sell his raw gold and more so, to pick up his three workers who reside in Charity.

The woman agreed to let him stay at the hotel.

He proceeded to order dinner and retired to bed. He even convinced a Venezuelan woman to stay over with him and promised to pay her before she left the hotel – this never happened.

Upon waking up the next morning, he ordered breakfast and left for Hibernia to get a haircut at a barber shop and a boutique. During his visit, he reportedly forged a relationship with the barber, who is also the owner of the boutique.

He went back to the hotel, but the following morning, he booked three additional rooms and at the same time requested a taxi to transport him around.

The taxi was organised by hotel management.

The conman allegedly instructed the taxi driver to transport him to the boutique, where he collected a mobile phone valued $35,000 and a few pieces of clothing. Again, he promised to return with the money for the items after he would have sold his gold.

He also requested a SIM card to use in his phone. The man then collected a 15 pennyweight gold chain valued $135,000 from the driver of the taxi and subsequently requested to be taken to a goldsmith so he can order a chain with the same pattern for himself.

The conman further ordered the taxi driver to go to Charity to collect his three workers and

A photo of the conman who called himself “Kelvin”

bring them to the hotel.

After some time elapsed and there were no signs of the three men, the taxi driver thought something was amiss and attempted to contact the alleged businessman, but his phone went unanswered.

He contacted the proprietor of the hotel to inform her of his suspicions but was told that the conman collected $30,000 from her and rushed off claiming that he was going to attend to some urgent business and promised to repay her as soon as he returned.

Upon launching an investigation, she found out that the man had taken another $20,000 from a relative who was staying with her.

The Venezuelan woman who would have spent a night with the man was informed and upon checking her bag, she discovered all her money was missing. Meanwhile, a staff of the hotel had recalled taking a photo of the man holding the child of another employee and as such, the photograph was taken to the police station.

It was subsequently revealed that the man was recently released from prison and would have conned several persons on the Essequibo Coast.

The Police are continuing their investigations. The conman remains on the run.

news

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wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, December 5 – a night retraction at 03:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, December 6 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, December 5 – 15:15h-16:45h and Thursday, December 6 – 15:50h-17:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy skies can be expected in the early morning hours, followed by sunny intervals which will last throughout the remainder of the day. Partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 02:57h and 15:11h reaching maximum heights of 2.58 metres and 2.65 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:45h and 21:11h reaching minimum heights of 0.69 metre and 0.55 metre respectively.

saturDAY, december 1, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

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FREE TICKET tuesDAY, december 4, 2018

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DAILY MILLIONS

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

Millions wasted through procurement scandals – Dr Anthony – as MP lambastes Govt for mismanagement of projects

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he second day of the Budget 2019 debates kicked off on Tuesday with Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Frank Anthony taking the Government to task for breaches to the procurement laws, the shady deals it has been entering and wastage of taxpayers’ dollars.

In his presentation, Dr Anthony noted that Guyana has not been getting value for money. He pointed to the Auditor General’s 2017 report, which found 13 contracts totalling $91.4 million were awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to Caribbean Medical Supplies.

These contracts did not go through a competitive process. According to the

Opposition MP Frank Anthony

headquarters. Here he referenced the Auditor General’s report on the project being delayed.

Drug shortages

Dr Anthony also condemned what he deemed a

“Anyone who has recently utilised the health system can attest to its failings!

Long waiting times at the outpatient clinics (and) longer waiting times for surgery.

Unavailability of diagnos-

The controversial Sussex Street contract, which was single sourced, did not escape Anthony’s wrath

Auditor General, these contracts were single-sourced.

While attached documentation states that the supplier was the authorised distributor for the goods, it could not be ascertained whether they had the exclusive rights.

In light of this, the Auditor General noted he could not determine whether there were other suppliers that the Ministry could have used to source the goods. Dr Anthony noted that, “The Ministry was guilty of single sourcing! Single sourcing can lead to higher prices for the items because the vendor has a monopoly. How much extra has been paid?

Conservative estimates show that it has been in the millions.”

“There are other flagrant breaches of the procurement law, such as contracts valued at $278.5 million awarded without bid security. And that can be found in the Auditor General report. There was another case of single sourcing of drugs worth $104 million.

But this one has a twist.

Six contracts were awarded without the approval of the NPTAB. The tender board was asked to rubber stamp the transaction after supplies were delivered”, he further stated.

The MP also cited cases of contract splitting and mismanagement of projects, such as the construction of the Public Health Ministry

“failed system” and noted that in the three years since the coalition Government took office, drug shortages at Guyana’s medical institutions, coupled with several other pressing matters, have become a norm.

tic tests; constant shortages of drugs have plagued the system!”

“As if this is not enough, admission to the [Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation] GPHC is like a lottery. Patients have to

hope that when they get sick and go there, there is a bed that is available. In some cases, people have to wait for days on end to get a bed,” Anthony stated in a speech that was at times accompanied by remonstrations from the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, against Government Ministers who tried to shout him down.

Further, Dr Anthony noted that Government recently announced that a shortage of drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) medication has since been fixed.

However, he noted that the Government failed to explain how such a shortage came about in the first place.

“Yesterday Minister (within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen) Cummings confirmed the (reports). But what she did not tell us was the reason why we have multiple drug resistant TB in Guyana.”

“The experts would tell you that it develops because of programme failure… because they have been out of critical drugs and inadequate monitoring, poor compliance and patient poverty... Many of these patients are too ill to work and with the paltry sum set aside for public assistance, it is hardly enough for them to survive.”

Government in a statement after procuring the drugs had blamed the shortage on a delay, revealing that the said drugs are sourced from South Korea, Japan India and Cyprus, through the Global Drug Facility.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018

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

Vision: A critical element

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he life of the 41st President of the United States of America (USA), George HW Bush, is being globally analysed following his death on November 30, 2018. Inevitably, it generally takes death for such discussions which often become outlets for platitudes. That aside, there are a number of things about former US President Bush that have been spoken about glowingly long before his death.

Despite being a politician with its unfortunate stereotyping, the decency, as embodied by the character traits he exhibited publicly, has always been a high point that was recognised and commended by both colleagues and opponents within the USA and across the globe.

That speaks volumes of his influence and contribution with one commentator stating that arguably, Bush may be the most consequential one-term President of the USA. That was seen in the context of his foreign policy, more specifically his invaluable role in ensuring that the cold war between superpowers, the USA and the USSR, ended without a bullet being fired or a bomb being dropped.

It is said that Bush understood the consequences for humanity had it been otherwise and demonstrated astute leadership to forge the outcome as recorded in history. East and West Germany were reunited under his watch and he has been credited in some ways for the breaking down of the Berlin wall. He didn’t visit at the time citing it was “Germany’s moment”.

That showed humility and not gloating even in time of great achievement for he did not want to be a distraction. That is not something that comes easily for most politicians and can be summed up with various words, including understanding and vision; understanding fully the gravity of the situation and a vision of its possible consequences for the future. In that context, Bush has been credited for his vision for ensuring the cold war ended the way it did.

Vision is therefore a critical element, especially for those in leadership positions, if they were to make meaningful impacts on the lives of their subjects. Unfortunately, a lack thereof has proven detrimental for country and people as captured by history in various parts of the world.

Currently, here in Guyana, the 2019 Budget is being debated in the National Assembly. Just after its presentation, it was deemed visionless by the Opposition. While some my rush to point out that the Opposition has to oppose, an examination of the budget, especially in the context of the Government’s boast of providing a ‘good life’ for all citizens, does not allow for a dissenting opinion.

The plight of many ordinary farmers from whom higher rates for land rental have been demanded by fiscal measures imposed over the last two years, is just one simple example of how the lives of some Guyanese cannot be improved.

One report suggests that the hike in rates for some in Black Bush Polder is from $12,000 to $45,000. In previous budgets under this Government, numerous taxes were imposed which broke and continue to break the backs of ordinary Guyanese.

From all indications, the budget does not reflect measures for relief and therefore becomes more punitive than mitigating and can be seen as counterproductive to the Government’s own mantra of bringing the ‘good life’ to all. If any one section would not benefit, then the Government would have failed despite the good intentions.

This brings into question the comprehensive preparation that is necessary for a national budget with realistic deliverables based upon the available and accessible resources; in other words, vision for positive holistic impact. The Berbice River Bridge has positively impacted the country and the people, so did the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Today, none can imagine life without those facilities and former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Forbes Burnham must be credited with the vision.

Similarly, projects like the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the Marriott Hotel, the Guyana National Stadium, the Ophthalmology Hospital and other regional health facilities, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the numerous housing initiatives under Jagdeo and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), are just a few others that have made a tremendously positive difference to the country, locally and internationally.

The current Government has held onto the CJIA expansion, despite cutting its funding when in Opposition, just as it did the Specialty Hospital and the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. The untold benefits of the latter two, had they materialised, can now only be imagined. Its absence, or in actuality, Guyanese deliberately made to be deprived of their benefits, can be seen as lack of vision for forward advancement and an imposition to prevent development.

In the end, the people with no access to the much-needed services, will suffer and the Government responsible for the deprivation will always be branded as one that lacks vision and one which places itself above the welfare of the country and citizens.

Similarly, with an absence of tangible measures to improve lives and for transformative projects, branding Budget 2019 as visionless may have hit the mark. Some may posit that the authors are not like Bush.

Exhibits of the National Secondary Schools Visual Arts Exhibition 2018 at the National Museum. The event is being hosted by the Education Ministry Allied Arts Unit

US Senators: “Zero chance” MbS not involved in Khashoggi killing …after briefing by CIA chief, top Senators say US must send strong message to Saudi Crown Prince over murder of Khashoggi

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fter a closed-door briefing by CIA Director Gina Haspel on Tuesday, top US Senators said there is "zero chance" Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) was not involved in the murder of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi.

"The views that I had before have only solidified," said Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who has called for a strong US reaction to Khashoggi's death and backs legislation to end all US support for the Saudi coalition waging war in Yemen.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters, "You have to be wilfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organised by people under the command of MbS." He added that it appeared the Trump Administration did not want to recognise evidence of the Crown Prince's complicity.

Republican Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, echoed the comments, saying he had zero doubt in his mind that Prince Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing of Khashoggi.

He added that if the crown prince was put on trial, a jury would find him guilty in "about 30 minutes".

The comments come after Haspel briefed top Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Appropriations and Intelligence Committees. Other Senators were also present.

Yemen bill

Senators from both parties were angry last week that the CIA Director did not attend a briefing by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defence James Mattis. The Trump Administration denied allegations it blocked Haspel from appearing.

A demonstrator holds a poster with a picture of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the Saudi Arabia Consulate in Istanbul [File: Osman Orsal/Reuters]

At last week's briefing, Pompeo and Mattis said there was no hard evidence the Crown Prince was behind the killing and urged Senators not to downgrade ties with Saudi Arabia over the incident. The CIA has reportedly assessed, however, that Prince Mohammed ordered the killing of Khashoggi.

Trump has repeatedly avoided any assertion that Prince Mohammed was involved in the killing and said the CIA had "feelings" the royal was culpable, but not a firm conviction.

"I hate the crime, I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The Crown Prince hates it more than I do, and they have vehemently denied it," he said late November.

In an earlier statement put out by the White House, Trump praised Saudi Arabia as a "steadfast partner" and claimed "we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr Jamal Khashoggi."

The US President warned that

any punitive measures against Saudi Arabia or its ruling family, could force Riyadh to sign arms deals with Russia and China instead of Washington.

Hours after last week's briefing, the Senate voted 63-37 to take up a resolution aimed at limiting US involvement in the war in Yemen, where a Washington-backed Saudi-UAE coalition launched an intervention in 2015 through a massive air campaign targeting Houthi rebels. The next vote on the bill could come as early as Thursday.

Khashoggi was killed on October 2 after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents needed for his planned marriage.

After offering contradictory statements, Saudi Arabia admitted that Khashoggi was killed inside its Consulate and his body was dismembered. The Kingdom has repeatedly said Prince Mohammed had no knowledge of the killing, which Turkey said was ordered at the highest level of Saudi leadership. (Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018

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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

Time for PNC leaders to act Sense of desperation (Pt 1) Dear Editor, Great, courageous and selfless leaders are those willing to confront the material anxieties of their people as the occasion arises.

There is a great anxiety in Guyana as to the good life for the ordinary man as promised by the government.

After three and a half years in office, the Government has spent some GYD$1.1 trillion in four consecutive budgets since 2015, and it is clear that the benefits are not trickling down to the poor and the working class. Thus, it was not surprising that the results the 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) clearly reflected the people's disappointment with the PNCled coalition. It was an electoral shellacking.

Today, the people are faced with a more pressing anxiety. It has been said that the health of any nation’s leader is intricately intertwined with the economic health of that nation. And while we wish His Excellency a swift return to good health, the realities from the last six months have illustrated that the people are being kept in the dark. They are not being told the full truth. It is irresponsible and highly offensive for the PNCled coalition Government to continue to attempt to play with the people’s intelligence.

Their public pronouncements over the last six months on how the State’s business is being handled, in light of His Excellency’s health, shows little respect and empathy for the people. The people are not fools and it is a vexation to their soul to observe the almost Goebel-like statements of half-truths

and quarter-truths originating from the Ministry of the Presidency.

The PNC cannot abscond from its political responsibility to all the people of Guyana. What is critically needed from the PNC now is real leadership. We are therefore speaking directly to the senior leadership of the party in light of His Excellency’s illness and impending absence from Guyana again. The country is in a semi-crisis state with rumors and invectives swirling from one end of the pendulum to another. It is time for Ms. Volda Lawrence and Ms. Amna Ally, the PNC’s Chairman and General Secretary respectively to end the incessant speculations.

What is happening in the Ministry of the Presidency at the highest levels demands a political solution from the PNC, the principal political party in the coalition. The party stalwarts, for far too long, have ignored this issue and it has stymied national development and brought uncertainty to the country. A nation cannot advance in such an ad hoc manner.

Those at the highest levels should get out into the fields and reach out to the people so as to understand what is going on in the towns and villages. Those at the highest levels should be making the necessary but urgent decisions needed to charter the course for the good life of the people.

Politics is not a game and neither is political leadership.

The PNC’s leaders need to be visible, and in these times of turmoil, the nation needs leaders who are capable of making deci-

sions in order to positively reassure the people, especially the youths, that the challenges of the times are being met. Only the leaders of the PNC are politically equipped to perform these functions since they are in Government. They can no longer be in denial and ignore the problems of the day, which remain unsolved. They must fill the political void at the apex of the Government.

The country cannot be left hanging and no one’s personal interest should come before the Country’s.

That is why we are calling on both Ms Lawrence and Ms Ally to step up and solve the leadership problem. To do otherwise would result in a lack of public confidence in the Government.

The PNC senior leaders must apprise the nation of their plans for the near future around this important issue of leadership succession.

In spite of His Excellency being ill, they must take the bull by the horns and put forth a clear picture of what they intend to do in these tumultuous times. The nation is in pain and our youths are suffering and are crying out for help. This is primarily because the PNC as a party lacks effective leadership to deal with the issues at hand. This must change. It is time for the PNC senior leaders to step up or get out of the kitchen.

God bless His Excellency, President David Granger and we wish him a swift return to good health and God bless our beloved Guyana.

Regards, Dr Asquith Rose and Sasenarine Singh

Dear Editor, The PPP/C’s results at the recent Local Government Elections (LGE) bettered the Party’s already leading percentages achieved in 2016 and confirmed a significantly increased showing in citizens’ confidence. For the coalition Government, it has generated a sense of desperation in the already fractionalised camp, resulting in a set of extreme measures which are intended to camouflage the deep wounds they have inflicted on too many Guyanese citizens.

Since the May 2015 National and Regional Elections, leading coalition members signaled the obvious intent of seeing every leading Opposition Politician incarcerated. In fueling their self-poisoning vendetta, the leaders ignored the fact that the country had grown consecutively, by approximately 4 per cent over a period exceeding 10 years. They moved to wage a war, expending hundreds of millions in public funds in advancing extended forensic audits to satisfy personally orchestrated egos that had to be pleased with the hope that it could also discredit the PPP/C into oblivion.

Aside from a few grey areas, the audits largely served to strengthen the financial accountability record of the party. On the contrary however, the wide array of fraudulent misgivings and financial mismanagement orchestrated under the current coalition Government

Alarming rise in modern slavery Dear Editor, I felt like Rip Van Winkle when as I was browsing some past magazines from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development in England, I came across an article titled: “Alarming Rise in Modern Slavery” in the October 2016 issue. The following are extracts from the article.

“The number of slavery victims helped by the Salvation Army has in-

creased by almost five-fold since 2012….Women were the most likely to be victims, at 62 per cent... The release of the figures comes as the Government is backing a number of initiatives to eradicate examples of modern slavery…..most notable the Modern Slavery Act which requires employers to publish a slavery and human trafficking statement for each financial year……A government Review pub-

lished a year after the introduction of the Act found that 289 modern slavery offences were prosecuted in 2015, which showed a 40 per cent rise in victims.”

I have so far lived with the conviction that ‘slavery’, like ‘indenture-ship’ had long disappeared from around the world, primarily the UK which was once the prime-owner of slaves!

To read about current day slavery therein is indeed

mind-boggling! And almost unbelievable to read that it is” rising alarmingly”, despite a prohibitive act.

It would be re-assuring to hear from our Ministry of Labour or any other concerned Department that there is no case of slavery in Guyana, let alone “rising cases”!

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

Parliamentary inconveniences Dear Editor, Since the beginning of the eleventh biennial Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, nationals and non-nationals alike, have been experiencing complete chaos, without any solution in sight.

Ill-advised police officers are assisting in creating “bottle necks” in the central commercial areas,

which greatly reduce business activities in the city.

The dislocation of car and bus parks to facilitate the Parliamentary sitting causes commuters to become confused and displaced, often leading to an upsurge in criminal activities; especially robbery of vulnerable school children and women; often without any hope of their valuables being returned or their attacker(s)

being arrested and charged.

In closing I wish to suggest one of the following: 1) The Police Force’s traffic department should study the commercial map of central Georgetown to reduce the amount of traffic blockage Parliamentary sittings impose on the main thoroughfare of the busy city.

2) An increased police presence is needed to assist road users to get to their

various destinations in a safe and timely manner.

3) Relocating the Parliamentary sitting to a venue on the outskirts of Georgetown, which will result in little to no disruption to road users, businessmen/ women, school children and customers alike.

Sincerely, Eshelle O Cambridge

have become innumerable.

Issues including the “unbelievable levels of proven corruption, exposed via, not only the Parliamentary Opposition, but also by the Auditor General’s Office and the Public Procurement Commission (PPC)”gives strong testimony.

Among the improprieties of prominence are the initial hiding and non-payment of the US$18 million Exxon signing bonus into the consolidated fund, the still to be finalised accounts for the D’urban Park fiasco and the dissipation of the country’s gold and foreign reserves.

Coupled with that, is the loss of thousands of jobs; the decimation of the sugar sector; massive increases in the cost of living; and the imposition of hardships on the Guyanese people, via government policies, such as $60 billion in increased taxes measures.

The abuse of power in the eyes of the threatened and hungry has no color.

Citizens impacted should not easily forget, and many have reacted naturally at the past LGE. The APNU was virtually liquidated and the AFC humiliated by the people demanding betterment for our communities and country.

The reactions from Government seems to be through the conjuring of another set of the tricks, aimed at tarnishing the good image of some PPP/C men and women of substance.

We must not forget that

the great Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr Cheddi Jagan were all imprisoned by the oppressive forces in their respective countries, and were all raised by the people to the position of Head of State.

The frivolous attacks on outstanding PPP/C leaders in an effort to tarnish the party’s image is tantamount to political persecution.

These trumped up charges have been clandestinely appearing in the fourth year of Government to achieve a particular vendetta, as the charges brought earlier against many persecuted members of the party were thrown out proving they never should have been advanced in the first case. Why now?

The matter regarding Anil Nandlall against the backdrop of a letter of approval from the past President Donald Ramotar for the subject Law Books seeks to deflect attention.

Given Mr. Nandlall’s vibrancy, irrational charge also targets a hopeful escape from the numerous embarrassments the coalition has had to face in light of their frequent constitutional abuse, unjust practices and less erudite Attorney General. The trumped up Irfan Ali charges suggests the re-valuation of all government issued house lots and an absolute abuse of the court system.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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Acts of friendship

or Ashley, it was like this: She was sitting with a big group in the school lunchroom when she accidentally knocked her drink onto her lap. As word spread that it looked like Ashley had wet herself, the laughter began to mount. Then she noticed her best friend doing something strange.

“She poured water on herself,” Ashley said.

True friendship is hard to find, Ashley says. But she knows it when she sees it. And so do many of you.

We asked our readers what it takes to be a good friend.

More than 5000 of you shared your thoughts on friendship.

For some, the defining moments of friendship were profound, such as the soulmate who helps you through the grief of losing a family member or camps out in your hospital room when you’re sick. For others, it’s smaller gestures that loom large – the friend who talks for hours when you’re feeling alone, even if it means going over on his cell phone minutes; the one who helps you with your homework, even when she hasn’t done her own; or the friend who helps you search for your retainer, even when it means going through the garbage from the school lunch.

Foundation

What friends do for you

Big or small, it’s actions that seem to count the most in friendship. In a time when we can chat effortlessly by text and IM, talk is getting cheaper. Many of you believe that the evidence of true friends is what they do to show their loyalty, honesty, trustworthiness, or willingness to make a sacrifice when you need help.

Kaitlin, 14, told us about a friend who took the blame for her when she got in a fight at school. Her friend was suspended for 10 days.

And Marissa, 16, said she discovered the difference between a close friend and casual friend on a school trip to California.

“I got sick, and my friend ran to the bathroom after me to hold my hair back as I became the Exorcist,” Marissa said. “She stood by me, while my other ‘friend’ yelled at me to get off the floor and clean it up.”

What you do for friends

It works both ways: Nearly three quarters of the people who wrote to us said they do as much for their friends as their friends do for them. Sometimes the most treasured acts of friendship are those for which you expect to get nothing in return, not even credit for a good deed.

“The nicest thing I ever

did for a friend was when I let her date my ex — without ever telling her that I was against it,” Rae’Johne said.

Elaina, 15, remembers the day she went clothes shopping with her best friend, who is overweight.

The saleslady was being rude to her friend because there was so little in her size and nothing fit quite right.

Elaina is proud of how she helped her friend that day. “I had like an armful of clothes for myself (and may I add these clothes were to DIE for!) and I put all my clothes back and said, ‘I don’t like what they have in here, why don’t we go somewhere with better clothes, not these cheap ones.’”

The one and only

Many of the people who wrote us thought it was important to have a best friend, one who stood out from the rest.

“In reality, you are truly blessed to have one true friend to the backbone,” Bizaflak, 14, said. “All the others are basically your acquaintances.” That’s what Rich, 17, meant when he described a person’s friends being “like a pyramid” with one at the peak and others in supporting roles.

Some of you described the communication between best friends as being a perfectly clear connection, al-

most as if it’s on a frequency only they can hear.

“A true friend understands you, even when you’re not talking,” Casey, 14, said.

“We practically finish each other’s sentences,” Kayla, 15, said.

The wisdom of friends

Often what you look for in your best friend is good judgment. Jackie, 14, said the nicest thing a friend did for her was to tell her mom a secret Jackie had told to her friend – that she was extremely depressed.

“My friend was scared and even though I told her not to tell anyone, she knew she had to,” Jackie said.

“She ended up saving my life, and I am grateful.”

Not everyone thinks it’s important to have one best friend. Molly, 14, said that together her friends make up all the aspects of what one “true friend’ would be.

“I have friends who I would confide anything in and trust them to keep it all a secret,” Molly said. “I have smart friends, funny friends, goofy friends, ‘bodyguard’ friends (aka the friends who will stick up for you no matter what), and just friends who are there on the weekends who want to hang out.

So really, no one person can fill every void in your life.”(Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

To be continued

I

think I've really hurt several people's feelings.

Yesterday I said something insensitive to Friend A about Friend B and Friend C, and I don't think any of them will like me now. I feel really guilty.

What should I do please?

– Elizabeth No one's perfect. We all mess up now and then and wish we could hit some magical "undo" key. It can help a little bit to remember that most people have been in the situation you're in.

What makes the difference is what you do next.

Use the power of a sincere apology

Apologies can go a long way toward healing hurt or angry feelings. It takes courage to step up and admit what you did was wrong.

Try saying: "What I said the other day was really insensitive of me. I shouldn't have said that. It wasn't fair. I was being judgmental and gossipy – and I don't feel proud of that. I just want to say I'm sorry. I messed up."

The important thing about an apology is sincerity. When we apologise, we need to do so because we feel genuinely sorry about how hurt another person may be. An apology shouldn't be a way to protect our own image or be liked. If an apology is more about ourselves and how we can benefit, it might not seem true.

Another element of a sincere apology is the intention to change. Let the person know you're not going to let it happen again. You could tell your friends, "I'm going to be more aware of what I think and say about people in the future. I'll make an effort to be kinder and more positive about people, and not to talk behind their backs – especially when it's my friends."

Apologising in person is best. But if you can't bring yourself to have a conversation in person, write a note. Whichever way you decide to communicate, be sure that you'd feel comfortable if anything you say is shared with other friends, too.

Hopefully, your friends can accept your apology.

But don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen instantly. Some people are quick to forgive. Others may have to think about what you said and need time to get over hurt feelings or anger, or to rebuild trust.

Do your best with the part that's up to you. The rest is up to them.

Forgive yourself, too

We can learn from mistakes. Focus on mending the situation, not replaying it in your head. Being too self-critical can't help you. Neither can wishing the situation away, thinking about what you said over and over, or dwelling on what you could have said instead. Move forward. Focus your energies on trying to make things right and working on your good intentions!

Names have been changed to protect privacy. (kidshealth.org)

7 Student charged Govt mulls industrial court, changes to labour laws in absentia news

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

for wounding Berbice teacher

Injured: Gangadin Sebarat-Isaacs

D

ays after news spread that an acting head teacher was physically assaulted by a teenager, a 16-yearold boy was on Tuesday arraigned with unlawful wounding.

The matter was called at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court but the teenager was not present in court to answer the charge.

As such, a court summons was served for him to appear in court on December 12 when the case will be called for the second time.

Guyana Times had reported that on Saturday, a

West Berbice school teacher had to seek medical attention after she was attacked and beaten by a student of the Number 8 Secondary School.

It was reported that the teacher of the Number Five Primary School, Gangadin Sebarat-Isaacs, was on her way home when the incident occurred.

The teenager reportedly bumped into her son and then pushed her to the ground. He then bent over and kissed her on her 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…”, the teacher recalled.

Meanwhile, it was in September that another Fifth Form student of the Number 8 Secondary also attacked a teacher.

The teacher was allegedly put in a vice and dragged around the school compound before two male teachers came to her rescue. The teacher was at the time attempting to protect a Second Form student from the physical advances of the male Fifth Form boy.

– Tripartite Committee examining draft bill to establish court

By Jarryl Bryan

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overnment is assessing the possibility of establishing a labour court in a bid to ensure quicker resolution of industrial disputes. This is according to Junior Social Protection Minister Keith Scott, who in his contribution to the Budget debates, also disclosed plans to revamp the Ministry’s operations.

The Minister was optimistic of the impact a labour court or tribunal would make on labour relations.

According to Scott, stakeholders were brought on board with the intention of fine-tuning such a plan.

“We have undertaken the establishment of either an industrial relations court or tribunal. The Ministry has engaged major stakeholders who comprise the National Tripartite Committee which is examining a proposed bill which should bring to existence a court or tribunal… the object of which would be to enhance labour relations and the quality of life of all workers.”

Besides considering the introduction of a labour court or tribunal, Scott also announced impending amendments to the various labour laws. He noted that with the oil and gas sector, there is likely to be an increase in businesses, especially from overseas.

“These laws include the Labour Act, the Legal Pay Act, the Termination of

Employment and Severance Pay Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Cooperative Societies Act, the Friendly Society Act and the School’s Thrift Chapter 36:04,” Scott said.

In particular, Scott noted that the Labour Act can be used against employees in its current form. For instance, the Minister stated that the Labour Act would be amended to make submission of records mandatory when complaints from workers are being handled.

“The need for an employer to produce the requisite employment records at the Ministry to facilitate the reasonable resolution of differences between themselves and an aggrieved worker is not provided for on a compulsory basis, making a thorough and complete investigation protracted and at times almost impossible.”

“The Labour Act will be amended to provide the compulsory submission of the necessary records to aid

Junior Social Protection Minister Keith Scott

in the resolution of complaints for the benefit of the ordinary worker,” Scott related.

Scott also acknowledged that the Labour Department has not been investigating labour related deaths in a timely manner. He was optimistic that this will change, with monies the Social Protection Ministry received from the

2019 Budget.

The Labour Department’s relations with the various unions have not been the smoothest over the past few months.

These relations hit a major low when the Department was accused of unilaterally imposing an arbitrator on the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) during its wage negotiations with the Government.

Besides the GTU, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) had criticised the decision. FITUG had also noted that the Labour Department should engage in damage control and correct its missteps.

There have been calls for some time for Government to establish a court specifically for labour issues. Some stakeholders have previously cited the backlog of industrial type cases, as well as insufficient court awarded damages to aggrieved employees.

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wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Man found guilty of raping teen relative

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smond Slowe was on Tuesday afternoon found guilty 11-1 by a jury of sexual activity with a female relative who was 14 at the time.

He pleaded not guilty to the unlawful acts which occurred on December 16, 2016 in an area in Georgetown.

His trial commenced after he entered a not-guilty plea.

Slowe was represented by Attorney Maxwell McKay. Justice Jo Ann Barlow, who presided over the mat-

ter, summed up the trial evidence before the jury was allowed to deliberate.

After two hours of consideration in the deliberation room, the panel returned with the majority guilty verdict, but the accused presented a stoic face to the court.

His sentencing was delayed to December 14 to facilitate the presentation of a probation report that Attorney McKay requested.

Prosecutor Seeta Bishundial led the State’s case.

Accused: Esmond Slowe

Georgetown man slapped with attempted murder charge

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Charlotte Street resident who allegedly stabbed his co-worker for owing him for “weed” was arraigned on an attempted murder charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday. The accused, Branson Wiltshire, 39, a pork-knocker, was not required to plead to the charge when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Police stated that on November 25, 2018, at Oko Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-

Mazaruni) with intent to commit murder, he wounded Kurt Walcott.

The prosecution’s case contended that the accused and the victim had a heated argument over the payment for the cannabis during which the accused became annoyed, picked up a knife and dealt several blows to the victim’s head and abdomen.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail on the basis that the victim remained hospitalised. The Chief Magistrate upheld the prosecution’s

Accused: Branson Wiltshire

submission and remanded the accused to prison until December 20, 2018. The

matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Teen sentenced to community service for robbery

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17-year-old school dropout of South Sophia, Greater Georgetown was on Tuesday ordered to complete four weeks of community service, after he admitted to committing a robbery when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Omar Kenneth was charged for robbing Sohan Bridgelall at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown of two Blu cellular phones worth $30,000. The teen pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to him

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

On the day in question the Virtual Complainant (VC) was on his way home when the defendant, along with another person, attacked him and relieved him of his cellphones.

An off-duty officer subsequently apprehended the defendant, and recovered the valuables. The teen confessed to the crime and was later charged.

Kenneth will report to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for the next four months or will spend three months in prison if he defaults.

Revelations…

I

…on PNC Budget n light of the PNC chair’s frank admission of her party’s criterion for hiring (and presumably) perks – having a PNC membership card – your Eyewitness suggested the Budget provided a good opportunity to pin down whether the policy could be discerned at the macro level. Unfortunately, even though there was an “apology” – not disavowal! – for the revealing statement; none of the first line of MPs tried to nail the statement as either true of false.

There were all sorts of back and forting on the vexed issue of “corruption” with the PPP Shadow Finance Minister Irfaan Ali pointing out some of the more alarming details from the Auditor General’s last report.

For instance, the widespread ‘thiefin’ highlighted in the procurement of textbooks by the Education Ministry. Of the $506 million allocated, payments of more than HALF of that sum couldn’t be verified!! But the question is – who were those lucky textbook suppliers? The public – and of course, the PNC chair – wants to know!!

Then there were pharmaceuticals. We know for sure that at least $240 million was coughed up for that bottom house warehouse in Albouystown went to a PNC fella – but how do we classify that $604 million pharma contract to ANSA?? Do they make campaign contributions to PNC or PPP? We know that illegal $367 million pharma contract to HDM labs that was tied down in 24 hours without any bidding – went to a PNC contributor!!

But back to this year’s Budget, which the Finance Minister himself assured the PNC faithful that the PNC Government hadn’t forgotten “who put them there”.

Going by the spare details in the dailies, your Eyewitness will take a stab at the “beneficiary” exercise in the interest of transparency and all that! We heard from Minister Valarie Patterson about houses the Government was building “for the poor” – 202 completed and another 52 before December. With our Guyanese housing patterns, the location of these houses can give us a pretty good signal as to whose supporters are the beneficiaries.

One hundred and forty-nine of the homes were at Perseverance, on the East Bank of Demerara, with a sprinkling at Experiment (East Coast Demerara) –17; Onderneeming, Region Three (10). Some 60 houses are under construction at Amelia’s Ward, Linden! Going forward, $204 million will be spent on houses in Region Seven. For new housing schemes, there will be four in Bartica; five in Lethem; and “more” in Greater Georgetown! Then there are all the homes in “lowincome areas” being “refurbished” by the Government!!

Your Eyewitness was happy the Government continued the annual $3 billion subsidy for Linden residents where bauxite had been downsized.

The same will be done for Wales, Rose Hall, Enmore and Skeldon? Well…if they switch to PNC!! …City Hall as a PNC governance symbol Your Eyewitness is still digesting the frank appraisal

by Chancellor (rtd) Cecil Kennard’s one-man CoI into the sordid workings of City Hall. Now there can be no question that the Georgetown municipality is run by PNC members – and even in the case of the just replaced Mayor Patricia Chase Green, an Executive Member of the PNC. Her trusty sidekick – who was reselected along with her on the all-important Finance Committee – is Oscar Clark, past Chairman, Minister and Ambassador for the PNC over a career exceeding 50 years!!

So when we hear about corruption by the PNC in the Central Government during the ongoing Budget Debate, we can simply extrapolate from the microcosm (City Hall) to the macrocosm (Central Government).

Giving out contracts to (PNC) friends and relatives on infrastructural projects? The Kennard CoI actually names these kith and kin! Trotman selling out Guyana oil revenues after flying to Texas? How about the three Musketeers from City Hall to Panama to sell the streets of Georgetown?

The PNC was formed by corruption (sellout to the CIA) and is sustained by corruption! …on interior spending One Indigenous Peoples’ MP complained about the PNC Government spending in Georgetown for tourism, when visitors really want to see the interior!

Georgetown, dear naïve MP, is home to the largest block of PNC supporters!!

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

News

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wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Scotiabank staff stand to lose Govt’s shares in Guyana Stockfeeds their jobs – financial analyst sold below value – Jordan

– advises BoG to put pause in transaction regarding acquisition

W

ith the recent announcement that the Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) plans to sell out its operations here and in eight other Caribbean countries, there have been several rigorous debates about what this could mean for the country’s local financial sector.

Washington DCbased Financial Analyst Sasenarine Singh said there is a possibility that if Republic Bank does acquire Scotiabank, it could lead to staff at the latter becoming jobless, and it would indeed have negative implications for the local financial sector.

Singh told Guyana Times on Tuesday that it is a known fact that Republic Bank is already the largest player in the financial sector and the buyout will be making them even larger.

“And what are they buy-

ing? They wouldn’t buy new locations. They are basically buying a loan portfolio and a deposit base. It’s easy for Republic Bank to get rid of most of the properties owned by Scotiabank and merge their portfolios,” he explained.

The financial analyst said too that “Scotiabank staff may lose their jobs.

Because it’s very easy for one bank to integrate their loan portfolio and the deposit base into their current network or system and once that happens they don’t need the real estate.”

Singh noted that Government is already struggling to create employment and this would only compound the issue. As such, he said they should consider this because “as a Government, you have the responsibility to the people of Guyana first. And you should not be seen as a Government that is facilitating your people being put out of employment.”

But one of the bigger risks in this issue is allowing one bank having too great a market share of the banking sector. “That is the bigger risk because they will dictate pricing of financial instruments in Guyana. But Singh be-

Financial analyst Sasenarine Singh

lieves there are more than adequate regulations to evaluate those risks from the Bank of Guyana (BoG) Act and the Financial Institutions Act. “Because you don’t want to be seen as anti-business but it must not be at the risk of domination of the fi-

nancial sector by one player. So, I think it is very important that the BoG evaluate the takeover bid and before granting their approval and take into deep consideration the financial impact on the market and the implications for things such as pricing of products, service outlays to the market,” he added.

Pause transaction

Further, Singh told Guyana Times that there was already a severe amount of complaints at the retail base and people were complaining about services offered by some of the banks, in particular the one that seems to be in the driver’s seat in this transaction. “So there are all kinds of benchmarks that the BoG should consider and I would ask that they ask for a pause in the transaction as they evaluate properly whether to give their blessing or not.”

He said in any country, as a regulator, the primary focus should be to make sure that the people who are being regulated are best serving the market place.

Singh also pitched the idea of consulting with the local Private Sector

to see who was willing to take over the assets from Scotiabank and run it as a new and independent indigenous bank. He said consideration should also be given to other banks operating in the Caribbean.

“But it is important that we watch that anti-trust issue and the possibility of monopolistic domination of the market by one player. I have nothing against Republic Bank but as a Guyanese it is important to me and many others that we get the most competitive pricing for our financial products,” he added.

Several groups and individuals have raised similar concerns urging that the BoG not allow the sale of Scotiabank’s assets to fall in the hands of Republic Bank.

Government, on the other hand, has said the agreement “raises a number of issues for the banking sector in Guyana and for the public which the Finance Ministry, the Bank of Guyana and the Government of Guyana will need to carefully consider”.

The Trinidad-based Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) said recently that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Scotiabank’s banking operations in nine Caribbean countries.

It said banks being acquired were located in Guyana, St Maarten, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Further, the purchase price is US$123 million, which represents US$25 million consideration for total shareholding of Scotiabank Anguilla Limited; and a premium of US$98 million over net asset value for operations in the remaining eight countries. (Samuel Sukhnandan)

O

n the heels of calls by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall to have Government’s sale of its shares in Guyana Stockfeeds Inc (GSI) to Robert Badal investigated

by Police, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has confirmed the shares were sold below market value.

The shares were sold at $25 each in a deal passed through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Minister Jordan told a section of the media on Tuesday that his Government opted to sell off the shares since it was not receiving profits from GSI. The Government’s sold its 5437 shares which represented 6.7 per cent of the total shares.

It was outlined that Badal was the only one to indicated interest in purchasing Government’s shares. This came via his lone submission of and Expression of Interest (EoI) to purchase the shares.

However, Minister Jordan disclosed that Badal’s offer was not in keeping with the valuation price. Though Government conducted three valuations of the shares to determine the value, it accepted Badal’s offer which was lower than the valuation. He however assured that all of the valuations were similar.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall is of the view that this arrangement should warrant the institution of criminal charges as the transaction is identical to ones in which former Government Ministers under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) tenure were charged for and are currently before the courts.

Nandlall observed that when the sale was announced, there was no mention whatsoever of how the purchase price for these shares was arrived at.

Further, there was no mention that a Certificate of Valuation was used to determine the purchase price of the shares.

Nandlall later explained that “When one compares this with the transactions

Attorney Anil Nandlall

which formed the basis for the criminal charges instituted against Dr Ashni Singh, former Minister of Finance; and Winston Brassington, former CEO of NICIL, one would see quickly that they were virtually identical.”

Singh and Brassington are accused of selling various properties at prices the State contends were grossly undervalued. However, the former Attorney General opined that “They were public advertisements for those transactions and the properties were sold based on the highest bids received. Each transaction received the approval of Cabinet. Therefore, if Singh and Brassington committed criminal offences then fairness and justice would demand that charges be immediately instituted in respect of the Stockfeeds’ purchase of shares.”

Government agreed to accept around $136,000 for the NICIL shares in Guyana Stockfeeds. “If the Government is to obtain a valuation certificate from the very Valuation Officer (Rodrigues and Associates), whose name is mentioned in the charges against Singh and Brassington, I have no doubt that those shares would be valued several billion dollars,” Nandlall said on Monday.

The PPP/C executive member had also reminded that the situation is further exacerbated by the fact that in 2008, the High Court ruled that the Government owns 38 per cent of that company.

The Court of Appeal then overturned the High Court decision last year, and reduced the Government’s 38 per cent shareholding to seven per cent.

Nandlall had noted too that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration then refused to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), “thereby essentially gifting Stockfeeds billions of dollars by allowing the Government shareholdings to remain at seven per cent.”

“At the time, the PPP in a public statement, called upon the Government to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal to the CCJ. The PPP pointed out Badal’s close relationship with the AFC and alleged that this was a payback for donations made to the political campaign of the APNU/AFC. Our calls were ignored,” Nandlall said in his social media post.

He highlighted that the recent charges instituted against former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, noted that he was “charged with conspiracy to defraud.

However, Nandlall feels that when one carefully considers the facts of the sales of these shares, it reeks of a conspiracy to defraud the State of billions.

Nineteen charges deemed politically trumped-up were on Wednesday last instituted against Ali by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), in a move the parliamentary Opposition and the International Centre for Democracy (ICD) have criticised and deemed “victimisation of a political opponent”.

His arrest and subsequent charges stemmed from the sale and transfer of lands located in Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara (ECD), commonly known as “Pradoville 2”.

According to Nandlall, a formal complaint to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) will be made shortly in relation the Stockfeeds’ purchase. “We will see whether criminal charges will flow,” he said.

10 news

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

President Granger departs for Cuba …chemotherapy to end by May 2019

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resident David Granger on Tuesday morning left Guyana, accompanied by his wife, Sandra Granger, for his second round of chemotherapy in Cuba.

Prior to his departure at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the President said that the Centro de Investigaciones Médico Quirúrgicas (CIMEQ) has drafted a schedule of treatment, which will run until May 2019.

“In my first visit, I had not only the biopsy but a series of tests and examinations and I also had my first cycle of chemotherapy.

I now have to return for succeeding five cycles, so this is the second cycle and I hope to return much more quickly than I did the first visit ,because this is simply the administration of chemotherapy so presumably after the tests, which will be done today (Tuesday), I will have the chemotherapy and return by weekend,” Granger said.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, Granger will return to Cuba later this month for his third round of treatment.

“I expect that by the start of the new year, my progress, which has been gradual so far, will be sufficient to allow me to take on more duties,” he said.

The Head of State added that he was very grateful for all the prayers and get-well messages he has

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri on Tuesday

received for his full and complete recovery, especially from Caribbean Heads of Government, business leaders, his colleagues, the churches and the public, particularly those who held vigils while he was in Cuba.

“I think my illness, although personally unfortunate, has brought forth a response by the Guyanese public, not to a politician, not to a political leader, but to a national President.

I think they feel the presidency is what is being jeopardised by this threat to my health and I think what I have seen so far, both privately and publicly, are favourable national concern that the Head of State, whomever he may be, should enjoy the best health,” he said.

On October 30, 2018,

the President and the First Lady travelled to Cuba for him to undergo medical tests after he complained of feeling unwell.

It was later revealed that the Head of State was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, which is a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is part of your immune system. Clear fluid, called lymph, flows through the lymphatic vessels and contains infection-fighting white blood cells, known as lymphocytes.

He was discharged from the hospital on November 6 after undergoing a series of tests and surgical procedures. He returned to Guyana on November 20 after he was given approval by his medical team to travel.

According to webmd. com, chemotherapy targets cells that grow and divide quickly, as cancer cells do. Unlike radiation or surgery, which target specific areas, chemo can work throughout the body.

But it can also affect some fast-growing healthy cells, like those of the skin, hair, intestines, and bone marrow.

That’s what causes some of the side effects from the treatment. According to the website, some of the most common side effects of chemotherapy are fatigue, hair loss, easy bruising and bleeding, infection, anaemia (low red blood cell counts), nausea and vomiting, appetite changes, and constipation.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during his weekly post-Cabinet briefing on Friday last, disclosed that even though President Granger’s workload has been reduced, he remained in charge of the State’s business.

In May of this year, Granger and the First Lady had travelled to Trinidad and Tobago to undergo what was referred to as their annual medical check-up.

At the time, and in response to reports in the press, the Government had revealed that the couple did their examinations under a Caribbean medical insurance scheme at the Good Health Medical Centre.

Those results, Government had said, indicated a clean bill of health.

Man freed of Princes Street murder T

wenty-two-yearold former murder accused Nicholas Hercules was on Tuesday freed by Justice Sandhil Kissoon at the High Court after a no-case submission was upheld.

This was a turn of events since the defendant was set to have the trial evidence surmised by the Judge before the matter was put to the jury for deliberation.

Hercules, of Princes Street, Georgetown, was before the court charged for the murder of his relative, Carlos Solomon. The

accused reportedly murdered him on April 1, 2015, during a heated argument.

It was previously reported that the two men were arguing when matters escalated which prompted Hercules to whip out a knife, allegedly stabbing Solomon in the region of his heart. It was later revealed that Solomon had first stabbed Hercules to his knee.

It was reported that that Solomon was stabbed after he accused Hercules of setting up several males to beat him.

At Tuesday’s hearing,

Nicholas Hercules

Justice Kissoon directed that he (Hercules) be found not guilty after reviewing the case evidence.

As such, the jury formally returned a not guilty verdict.

Lawyers for the defence and prosecution had sometime prior presented closing addresses and Tuesday’s proceeding was for summing up and jury deliberation.

The accused was represented by Hewley Griffith and Compton Richardson while the State was represented by Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt.

Plain speaking

S

atiricus was groggy as he stumbled towards the Back Street Bar. As the switch-hitter man for his newspaper, he had to cover the Budget, so this time of the year was a trial for him. Not just the late nights and having to file stories at ungodly hours: it was the stultifying boredom of having to listen to all these droning speeches in Parliament that got him down.

“Hey Sato,” said Cappo effusively as he pushed a beer towards his friend who’d just sat down, “Look like yuh r’ally need wan eye-opena Bai!!”

“I need more than that, fellas,” said Satiricus with a sigh. “I need something to wake up my brain after that fella Gasket!”

“A wha’ de maan duh yuh?” asked Bungi. “”E jus’ tryin’ fuh impress ‘e fader-in-law, yuh know!!”

“I think he probably DEPRESSES his father-inlaw!” chuckled Satiricus. “And that poor fella really needs cheering up right now!”

“Well, Volga didn’t do anything to help out in that area!” chuckled Hari. “Prezzie must’ve choked to hear her language, much less what she said!!”

“Na…da na fit and prappa language fuh dem stiffup people like Grain Ja!” laughed Cappo.

“But me na see wha’ mek all ayou get pan de woman case,” said Bungi, as he finished off his beer in one long gurgle. “She jus’ seh wha abee know dem does talk ‘bout in private!”

“Mout’ open and story jump out!” exclaimed Satiricus. “But some things you just don’t say out in public!”

“It’s a different time, Sato ole friend,” observed Hari. “With all these smart phones that can record and stuff, nothing is private anymore!”

“Even befo’ smart phone, me Nanie use to tell me, mus’ watch wha’ me talk,” said Cappo. “Bush gat ea’s and dutty gat tongue!”

“Well the lady apologise, you know,” pointed out Satiricus. “She’s sorry if she hurt anybody’s feelings!”

“Budday, she na hu’t me feelin!” said Bungi. “Me done get fyaah!”

“But me wanda wha’ yuh ole fr’en’ Nagga Man ah seh when ‘e hear dem na gat wuk fuh KFC people!!” chuckled Cappo. “’E caak duck!!”

11 CLBD to be gateway for local suppliers to Exxon news

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

– over 2300 local businesses already listed – hundreds participate as 2-day business networking forum ends

By Jarryl Bryan

D

ay two of the ExxonMobil business development forum saw participation from the oil company’s sub-contractors networking with local suppliers. And while the event is over, there are still opportunities for companies to get a foot into the oil and gas sector’s proverbial door.

According to Exxon’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs Diedre Moe, the oil company’s Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) will be the interface through which the networking will continue after the forum ends.

“We’ll continue to utilise the centre to be able to talk about what’s coming up and

Exxon’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs Diedre Moe

rum because we got feedback from people who did not have an appreciation or understanding for how this particular part of the business and industry works, we’re still new. We’re three

with the Liza Phase one project. She also explained that there was a limited window of opportunity for certain businesses with the project.

“With production start-

A model of an underwater oil processing network

the centre will be a resource for businesses to be able to reach out and for businesses to continue to say what’s needed, how we can continue to get the necessary qualifications or certifications, what are the safety standards for a particular business.”

“We really set up the fo-

years in. So hopefully over the last day and a half, that understanding has gotten better.”

Asked whether there were any plans to host the forum next year, she reiterated that the event was set up based on production activities. In the case of this two day forum, Moe noted that it was set up to align

ing (in 2020), you won’t have the same type of need for these particular contractors coming forward, because we’re really in the installation type of phase. As we move towards phase two, maybe late next year or potentially into 2020, potentially as we move into phase two because we want to structure it to continue to

have that.”

“But we still have the centre, throughout. And as they make relationships they’ll be able to stay in touch with companies that will have activities coming across the projects, to be able to continue to secure future contracts.”

Moe revealed that on day one of the forum, almost 400 representatives from various local businesses attended. That number, according to Moe, hiked on Tuesday as companies came in to interact directly with Exxon’s various contractors.

CLBD

The CLBD was one of several sub-contractors who set up booths at the exhibition on Tuesday. In an interview with Guyana Times the centre’s Senior Principal Specialist Natasha GaskinPeters gave details on how many Guyanese companies and small businesses have registered to take advantage of the oil and gas sector.

“The response has been good. So far we have 2,300 companies. About half of those are locally registered companies. There are many Guyanese businesses engaged with us, taking advantage of the courses and they are seeing opportuni-

An attendee at the forum makes a point to an Exxon employee

ties. We do register companies.

“They can go to our website, click on supplier register portal and they can have their business registered.

We’re there to build the capacity of local Guyanese businesses. So we’re there for support. We do this through training. We also have a mentorship programme, where we’re assisting companies to become (International Organisation for Standardisation) certified.”

There are some formalities after being registered.

For instance, Gaskin-Peters noted that the CLBD does a gap analysis of businesses who want to be a part of the sector. This analysis shows,

among other things, exactly where a business is and what it needs to do to reach its short and long term goals.

“We go to companies and we audit you. So we have a look at how you’re governed, what are some of the management systems you have in place and the record keeping. So we do a pre audit.”

“In general we have local companies who are sole traders, very micro enterprises, and then we have those that are larger. Some companies know they won’t get a direct opportunity in the oil and gas sector. But they know that by taking our courses, they are building capacity and becoming more efficient,” she said.

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wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPF recognises ranks Affected Fly Jamaica passengers who graduated from UG being refunded – source

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UG graduates posed with Police Commissioner (ag) Paul Williams and other senior ranks

he Guyana Police Force on Tuesday hosted a simple ceremony to recognise those officers who have graduated from the University of Guyana in November.

Thirty-one ranks assembled in the Commissioner’s conference room in the Force’s Headquarters where they were congratulated for their academic achievements by the Administration’s Deputy Commissioner, Paul Williams who is also

performing the function of Police Commissioner.

Williams, a three-time graduate of the University of Guyana, encouraged the ranks, especially juniors, to see the sky as the limit and urged them to apply their theoretical learnings into the practical aspects of their profession.

Similar sentiments were conferred on the ranks by Deputy Commissioner of Operations Maxine Graham, and Deputy Commissioner

of Law Enforcement Lyndon Alves as well as the Public Relations and Press Officer, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan.

Superintendent Brian Eastman, the most senior of the graduates, thanked the Administration of the Force to have afforded them the opportunity to pursue higher learning whilst working and has assured that the new batch of academics will certainly bring about positive changes in the Police Force which is currently undergoing a reformation process.

The Superintendent, who graduated with a Commonwealth Executive Master of Public Administration acknowledged that the role of the police is much greater now than in the past.

The ceremony concluded with a toast of a glass of champagne in celebration of an historic feat accomplished.

A

The crashed airplane

s inconvenienced and frustrated passengers complain of not being refunded their tickets’ cost by Fly Jamaica Airways, a source has refuted those claims by saying that passengers are being refunded.

A representative who spoke with Guyana Times just recently said, “All the flights that were cancelled or (passengers who) were affected are having a total refund. If you want to cancel from us because you need to book another carrier, I am not sure how they are gonna go about doing that, but they are free to come into the office and have that clarification done with accounting or they can call the local number and have clearer information as to how we are going about that.”

The source said that in

addition to the local office, Fly Jamaica also has international offices in the United States where queries can be made.

Although the sale of tickets has been put on hold, the source related that operations are expected to resume in January.

Just recently, a disgruntled passenger expressed his frustration in a letter to this newspaper explaining, “I had purchased a ticket before the incident to travel to Guyana on December 21 and return to Toronto in January 2019. I contacted Fly Jamaica to find out if my flight would be cancelled and if I could get a refund. They claimed that the flight will not be cancelled, and, therefore, I will not be getting a refund. Since they only have the one aircraft, it is doubtful that they will resume flights from Toronto

any time soon”.

That passenger, Mohendraauth Ganesh is being gravely inconvenienced as he already had his vacation time-off approved from his job and “cannot make any other arrangements at this time because Fly Jamaica could not guarantee whether they will have another aircraft operational before December 21”.

Ganesh complained that while he may have other options to travel to Guyana, he was unable to purchase another ticket as his funds were tied up for the flight he never boarded.

He added, “I know I am not the only one in this situation, because Fly Jamaica has made no effort to reach out to its customers and they have not released any information to the press either”.

The Fly Jamaica flight, OJ256, destined for Toronto, Canada crash-landed on November 9 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The airplane carrying 118 adults, along with two infants and an eight-member crew, took off from the Airport about 02:10h, but shortly after, the aircraft encountered hydraulic problems and as such, returned to Timehri where it crash-landed.

After the crash, the airline is now gearing up to face its second lawsuit, this one filed by a Canadian law firm to represent passengers who claimed they were injured during the crash landing.

This publication 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 destined for Toronto, but the families who were affected as a result of the crash landing at CJIA. Canadian firms Howie, Sacks & Henry and Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman filed the first lawsuit against the airline for injuries and losses incurred as a result of the crash. That lawsuit was filed on November 23, 2018.

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wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

175 Chinese among 979 foreigners allowed to stay in Guyana – another 298 granted citizenship – Felix reveals

By Shemuel Fanfair

I

t was another afternoon of heckling as the 2019 Budget debates continued on Tuesday when Opposition Members of Parliament called on Citizenship Minister Winston Felix to provide numbers on the amount of foreign nationals allowed to remain legally in Guyana.

In his presentation to the National Assembly, Felix told members that 298 foreign nationals were registered by the Citizenship Department and granted citizenship, which suggested that more non-nationals are securing the path to attain equal rights as Guyanese.

The National Assembly heard that apart from those 298 newly minted Guyanese, some 979 other foreigners were allowed to stay in the form of extensions and work permits. These numbers include 225 Cubans, 175 Chinese, 165 Americans, 120 Indians, 70 from the Philippines, 75 Venezuelans, 59 British persons, 45 from The Dominican Republic, 30 from Trinidad and Tobago and 15 Surinamese.

Felix conceded that such figures will come under great scrutiny in 2019, saying Government will work to implement policies to ensure that “Guyanese receive their fair share of employment opportunities as a result of investments.”

“The department requires all perspective employers to publish vacancies in one of the daily newspapers for over three months prior to that employment to give Guyanese

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix

a chance to compete for these employment opportunities,” Felix observed.

He however stressed that Government has taken note of some “unhealthy” employment practices and will be working with various agencies to combat this issue. Felix focused the latter part of his presentation on the Venezuelan migrant crisis which has been plaguing several South American territories and fellow Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states of which Guyana is included. Much of the migration problems are linked to the economic crisis that erupted in the Spanish-speaking country which has risen up a previously settled border controversy matter with Guyana.

Felix stated that the migrant issue with Venezuela will be around for a long time but committed that Guyana will treat those very migrants humanely as this country moves to review the migration scheme. This is in keeping with a call from the United Nations (UN) which reached

out and spoke on the general treatment of Venezuelan migrants for Guyana not to deport them, he added.

However, these humanitarian efforts as encouraged by the UN, as well as from members of the public and other groups, have not come with an accrued cost, as Felix announced that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) spent over $6 million in chartered flights, food and accommodation.

More than that, the registered 75 Venezuelans registered legally in the past year are far from the hundreds more that are residing along Guyana’s borderline communities and elsewhere in the country.

In many instances, of which Guyana Times was told, young and teenaged Venezuelan children of Guyanese parentage are living among communities across the country, especially in Demerara and Essequibo.

Many of these individuals are undocumented and face some “unhealthy” employment practices which Minister Felix said Government was moving to address.

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

It is expected that Government would have strong and comprehensive immigration policies, especially with the influx of persons coming to capitalise on

the budding oil and gas sector.

It was in July that Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge told media operatives that a Cabinet-vetted policy guideline was in place to establish how immigrants are to be treated.

Immigrants, upon entry, must fill out an arrival card that details their country of origin and proposed place of residence while in Guyana.

“Those who are returning from Venezuela… if you say

you are Guyanese, you would be required to prove it. You would be given the opportunity to establish… if you are Guyanese by birth, naturalisation or descent. If you are not Guyanese, you will be treated as non-Guyanese,” he had outlined.

The Citizenship Department in July revealed that some 22,520 persons had entered Guyana between January and April 2018.

However, there was no record of 6170 of those persons

departing which raised some concerns over illegal migration.

There were calls for more stringent efforts to reduce the missing departure numbers out of fear that persons could be caught up in human trafficking to Guyana and to other countries.

The records had also shown that 3515 Haitians entered Guyana in 2017, but only 291 were documented to have left.

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wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Works on new Leguan Stelling to commence in 2019

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onstruction work on the new Leguan Stelling in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is slated to commence next year, according to the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry noted that this project is in keeping with its national commitments.

Residents and passengers in Leguan are being assured that during the construction period of the project, there will be no change to the existing vessel schedules.

“At this time, all arrangements are therefore being finalised by the Ministry to ensure that there are no disruptions to the current operations at Leguan, and to further facilitate a smooth construction period for the provision of this new stelling to

Some of the rotted wooden supports, as well as the loose decking and panels of the stelling

residents and commuters,” the Public Infrastructure Ministry posited.

Back in July, the Ministry announced that the dilapidated stelling was on the list for pending rehabilitative works. Then in September, Government revealed that a contract,

to the tune of $413.2 million, was awarded to Maraj Contracting Services.

This project comes on the heels of outcry from residents on the island in the Essequibo River on the state of the facility. In fact, Guyana Times visited Leguan in July, one week

before the Ministry’s announcement, where residents were up in arms over the condition of the stelling among other things on the island.

The timber planks supporting the stelling have rotted, making residents fearful since heavy vehi-

cles traverse the stelling.

In addition, the decking is loose and uneven, with rails hanging on to literally nothing at certain sections on the ramp.

At that time, an outspoken resident, Hans Buer, had indicated that the issue was raised with Minister Patterson on several occasions, which resulted in the Minister responding to him on social media promising to have it fixed. Buer said the stelling has been in that deplorable state for over one and a half years and was rapidly deteriorating, but no system was being put in place to have it addressed.

The residents also indicated that a concrete-post and wood-decking stelling served no purpose; hence, they were calling for a fully concrete stelling, noting that it would last longer

with little to no repairs.

“Laden vehicles cannot use the lower ramp because it will fall out. The decking is unlevelled. You can fall. When the boat come in at nights, it is horrible, because the stelling has no lights, passengers fall over the little rails and some of the boards on the decking have holes,” Buer noted.

Guyana Times was also told that in addition to the loose decking and rotten posts, the lower ramp used to load laden vehicles onto the ferry was in such a deplorable state that vehicles were unable to access it.

Vehicles have to wait until the tide is high enough for them to access the high ramp to load or offload, which affects the business community, since critical goods could not be delivered in time and farmers’ produce would perish.

UN team satisfied with Guyana’s Education Ministry hosts preparation to host CRIC17 Annual Festival of Choirs …aims to promote more singing in Guyana

GL&SC Commissioner Trevor Benn addresses the visiting delegation

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ommissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), Trevor Benn, has assured a visiting mission from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) of Guyana’s full support as the country prepares to host the 17th session of the Committee for the Review of the implementation of the Convention (CRIC17).

The conference which is slated for January 28-30, 2019, at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre is expected to see the participation of 197 countries.

The visiting UN delegation, which is led by the Chief-of-Staff of the UNCCD, Rajeb Boulharouf, is currently in Guyana to undertake a second round of assessment of the conference venue and other facilities that will be used for the conference.

Other members of the visiting delegation include Somarajan Pillai, Administration/Budget

and Finance Officer; Carmen Alina Margina, Conference Affairs Officer; Omer Sebat, Information Systems Assistant; Kayhan UI, Logistics Assistant; Fernando Garcia Lopez, Regional Security Advisor; and Masud Rana, Documents Management Officer.

“I want to say once again that I am very pleased that the decision was taken to host this conference in Guyana. This is a clear indication of our commitment to issues relating to sustainable land management, desertification, drought and the social issues resulting from improper land management,” Benn said to the visiting delegation. “This is an opportunity that we have as a country to showcase to the rest of the world that even as a small country, we are prepared to accept the challenge,” Benn stated.

He reminded that he has attended several conferences of similar nature and said while Guyana may not be able to provide all the

amenities that the more wealthy countries were able to, the Government and the people of Guyana commitment to fulfil its obligations to host the conference is unwavering.

Meanwhile, Boulharouf said his team is satisfied with the level of commitment, goodwill and preparation shown thus far. He reminded that the host country agreement was recently finalised and signed and this sealed the deal for Guyana to host the conference in late January, making it the first country in this part of the world to host the CRIC conference.

The UN official also took the opportunity to commend Guyana’s efforts in the global climate change arena and its long-standing commitment to sustainable development.

CRIC assists the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and is an integral part of the Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System.

Winners of the Choir Festival

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he Education Ministry hosted its annual Festival of Choirs which saw the Bishops High School, South Ruimveldt Secondary School and Supply Primary School emerge as winners in their respective categories at the National Cultural Centre.

The competition saw the participation of several schools from five administrative regions and Georgetown.

The winning school in the Primary category sang “Song of Hope” while in the Secondary and solo categories, the schools performed “Let us Co-operate” and “My Guyana Eldorado” respectively.

Coming in at second position in the Primary Category was Mahaicony Primary while Berbice Secondary copped the sec-

ond spot in the Secondary category and Novar Primary and St. Roses High scooped up the third position in their respective categories.

Acting Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts, Lorraine Barker-King explained that the aim of the festival is to be able to reach children from all 11 educational districts and also to expose them to music.

“Studies would have shown that children who are involved in music actively preform exceedingly well in their academic subjects because of the discipline and all the benefits that music attracts”.

Nevertheless BarkerKing underscored that the Ministry is looking for a larger audience and more participations from schools across the nation as plans are afoot for the hosting of

Choir festival 2019.

“Next year we will raise the bar, we will be taking it higher in terms of better music selection and so on that is why we are encouraging more schools to take part in this festival”.

Further she noted that the Ministry was already placing focus on the children’s Mashramani competition since like music, it plays an integral role in the social upbringing of children.

The competition involved a combined choir presentation, where students from primary and secondary schools in their region or district came together to form a choir.

Each choir was required to perform a national song and a song of its own choice.

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wednesdAY, december 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations TCV hosts workshop to tackle social ills BUDGET 2019 – Clueless, W

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heartless; promises rice farmers drones, but nothing for dams

udget 2019 again neglected the rice industry and rice farmers. The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) is clueless and heartless. There are no provisions for better access roads and better paddy prices, no indication that increased taxes, lease and drainage and irrigation fess will be reversed, but the Finance Minister dreamed of rice farmers using drones to seed their paddy fields.

In fact, Minister Winston Jordan who cannot promise rice farmers better access dams, insists Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) farmers Dr Leslie Ramsammy are already using drones.

I cannot find any of those farmers.

In spite of their hostility to the truth, even the APNU/ AFC no longer deny Guyana’s economy has been spiralling downwards, faster than any other economy in the Caribbean Community (Caricom). Every sector has contracted in the period since 2015. In this gloomy milieu, the rice industry has been one bright spot for APNU/AFC. Rice farmers, in spite of many challenges and a tone-deaf Government, have succeeded in maintaining record production reached in 2014. A sensible Government would have ensured maximum support for the one industry most responsible for Guyana still reporting a positive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

Instead, by its policies and by its actions, the APNU/AFC has done everything to stifle the growth of the rice industry, and, therefore, creating hardships for the economy as a whole.

In 2014, production had reached 637,000 tons of rice (more than 1,000,000 tons of paddy). The target for 2015 was 700,000 tons and for 2020, 1,000,000 tons of rice. While the 2018 production is still not complete, we know that Guyana will fall short by a significant amount from reaching 700,000 tons of rice. After the first crop in 2015 reached more than 398,000 tons of rice, expectation was high for the 700,000 tons milestone. But APNU/AFC immediately made poor decisions which led to a drop in the second crop production.

Guyana fell below 300,000 tons for that crop, failing to reach the annual target of 700,000 tons in 2015. Guyana failed again in 2016 and 2017 also.

The reasons for Guyana not being able to build on the sound 2014 rice platform are several. The loss of the Venezuelan export market – which accounted for between 200,000 to 250,000 tons of rice – is one of the major reasons why the upward trajectory for production stalled. That market not only accounted for a large amount of the national production, but paid a price that provided farmers with a descent profit margin. The farmers, therefore, looked to cultivate every inch of available land. The loss of the Venezuelan market could not be compensated for by the Mexican market, which is purely a paddy market and which pays price per ton of paddy on the low end.

There were other equally significant reasons. The APNU/ AFC took a hands-off approach, claiming that the rice industry is a Private Sector business and Government has no role to play in pay disputes between farmers and millers. Farmers have been forced to take low prices for their paddy, in spite of the APNU/AFC’s pre-2015 election promise guaranteeing farmers $9000 per bag. Adding salt to the wound, farmers have been forced to wait an unreasonably long period for their payments. The APNU/AFC abandoned the practice of Central Government intervening with bridge payment to the farmers.

Making matters worse, rice farmers have been forced to pay significant increases in lease and drainage and irrigation fees, while dealing with increased paddy bug and other problems without any meaningful assistance from Government. During this crop, farmers in Region Two had to abandon and burn more than 1000 areas of pest-infested rice fields. During poor weather conditions, such as flooding and prolonged dry spells, the Government has been essentially missing in action (MIA). Rice farmers have repeatedly cried out for relief from the deplorable conditions of many access dams. On top of all of this, vital support such as duty-free fuel and equipment have been removed.

The APNU/AFC has struggled to maintain the growth of Guyana’s economy which before 2015 had grown for nine successive years at an average GDP growth rate of about five per cent. Guyana’s growth rate for the decade before 2015 ranked as Caricom’s economy with the best overall growth.

The APNU/AFC squandered the opportunity to further elevate Guyana’s economy. The growth of the previous decade had seen Guyana moving from a Least/Low Developing Country (LDC) and a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) to a Middle Income Country, according to the categorisation of the World Bank. Instead, under APNU/AFC, since 2016, the economy has stagnated with little to no growth, other than that pushed by rice. Yet, APNU/AFC’s Budget 2019 has heartlessly neglected rice, again.

ith the aim of tackling a range of issues prevalent in the lives of adolescents and adults, The Caribbean Voice (TCV) in collaboration with Seva4Life (a Canadabased Non-Governmental Organisation) and the Yakusari Humanitarian Mission on Sunday last held a training workshop.

The workshop was housed at the Yakusari Resource Centre, Black Bush Polder, Region Six, which saw an acceptable turnout of teens and adults.

The sessions were deemed interactive as key focal points such as suicide and prevention – warning signs, depression, coping skills, self-acceptance, self-esteem, and self-care were among the topics covered – and abuse in all its forms, especially domestic and sexual abuse, were discussed.

These sessions also in-

A section of the workshop

cluded role plays and even question-and-answer and feedback segments.

The TCV personnel were also overwhelmed by requests for help to deal with a range of issues, including rape, gender-based violence, depression and dysfunctional relationships, since these issues deeply affect the community.

While TCV is working to provide the necessary help, it also has plans to conduct follow-ups on clinical outreaches so as to be able to identify additional needs and address them.

The workshop panellists included: Dr Patrick Sixtus Edwards, Psychologist/ Director of TCV; Ascena

Jacobs, Probation and Social Services Officer/ Volunteer with The Guyana Foundation; Carol Mancey, a Counsellor; Bibi Ahamad, an activist, advocate, and mentor counsellor of TCV along with volunteers Chandra Waston, Indi Ram, and Indra Ramcharran-Constantine.

GPF defeats GDF counterparts in fitness assessments

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he women of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have been constantly making the organisation proud in their dominance in many areas which is already public knowledge.

As the Guyana Association of Women Police celebrates its sixth anniversary, last Friday during the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) fourth quarterly fitness assessment at Base Camp Stephenson, a female contingent from the Police Force emerged victorious from among six other female teams, after having won the previous quarterly competition.

On Friday last before the commencement of the Obstacles Crossing, the Police teams (Females A & B and Male Teams) were privileged to be given a “pep talk”

by Police Commissioner Leslie James which without a doubt motivated his subordinates to achieve the remarkable feat, especially at a time when a large contin-

The victorious GPF female team

gent of female officers from Trinidad and Tobago is visiting.

The teams participated in nine disciplines over a two-day period (Thursday, November 29 and Friday, November 30 and the

Female A Team under the command of Sergeant 23949 Alita Moore amassed 609 points and dominated in the following areas.

Other members of the winning team are Corporal Stacy Wilson, Lance

Corporal Dellie Williams, Constable Tiffany Carto, Constable Kiticia Pellew, Constable Eva Harry, Constable Luncianna Bernard, Constable Tenisha Isaacs and Constable Onika Eastman.

Repairs commence on burnt-out Wismar Post Office

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our months after it was torched during a foiled robbery, repairs have commenced on the burnt-out Wismar Post Office in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

This comes on the heels of the inking of a contract funded by Government and facilitated by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

According to Regional Chairman Renis Morian, the repairs will be executed in phases and is expected to be completed within the next four weeks.

Morian said he was happy that things are moving apace, citing that he was not pleased with the inconvenience and discomfort currently being experienced by the community's senior citi-

The Wismar Post Office

zens who depend on the services offered at the location.

Pensioners were forced to utilise services at the Mackenzie Post Office in Linden following the incident, which has since been plagued by overcrowding and other issues.

Since then, the RDC has

lobbied for the swift repair of the Wismar Post Office and has since made calls for it to become an agency to be budgeted for in light of difficulties in securing funds to conduct the repairs.

The interior of the building was reportedly set ablaze in the wee hours of

August 2, 2018, after bandits forced their way into the building. They reportedly encountered difficulties in accessing monies from a safe which was believed to contain monies to pay old age pension.

The bandits retaliated by setting the building alight.

Pensioners who turned up to receive their Old age Pension the next morning were unable to access payments since the Post Office had remained closed.

The incident has led to calls by residents and officials for the need for more security at the Wismar Post Office, which has been hit several times by bandits. No arrests have been made in relation to the most recent incident.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, december 5, 2018

Regional

Migrants jump border fence 4 members of abducted in Tijuana to try to reach US T&T family at safe house – dad still at hospital

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Conditions in the shelter by the border had become unsanitary, and many faced with worsening conditions and a long wait some decided to jump the fence with their children. The children were lifted and pulled up in an attempt to cross the border fence, while others climbed onto the shoulders of their fellow migrants to get across the metal fence

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bout two dozen migrants climbed over the border wall separating Mexico from the US near Tijuana on Monday.

While some ran to evade capture, most handed themselves in to border guards.

The attempt to cross into the US illegally came just days after the migrants were transferred from one temporary shelter to another after it had become unsanitary.

Thousands of people have left Central America for Tijuana in the hope of crossing into the US. They arrived in mid-October after travelling more than 4000km (2500 miles), much of it on foot. The group, dubbed the “migrant caravan”, have been camping out in a sports complex turned into a temporary shelter by the local authorities.

Last week city authori-

ties bussed them to a concert venue that now acts as a federally-run shelter, 22km to the South. Officials said conditions at the Benito Juárez sports complex on the border had become untenable after parts of it flooded.

Many say they are fleeing gang violence in their home towns and want to apply for asylum based on “credible fear”, while others are hoping for better job op-

portunities in the US. But applying for asylum is not an easy process, and according to a report

by Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (Trac), 65 per cent of immigrants seeking refugee status in the US in the 12 months to September 30 had their requests refused, up from 42 per cent in 2012.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Tackle CSME issues head on, urges Caricom Chairman

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aribbean Community (Caricom) Chairman, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, has urged a “head on” approach to tackling of complex issues during the Special Caricom Heads of Government Meeting on the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) underway in Trinidad and Tobago.

The two-day meeting, which wraps up later today, is addressing the rate of implementation of the CSME and making sure its benefits are available for Caricom nationals.

“The issues slated for discussion at this Special Meeting of the Conference are of varying complexity.

Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque (left) and Caricom Chairman, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica

Some will no doubt evoke different, even conflicting views but we must confront them. We must also tackle ‘head on’ the imperatives

if we are to make this important regional integration process deliver on its promise,” Prime Minister Holness said.

Holness said he was nearing the nearing the end of his chairmanship with mixed feelings. He said he felt a sense of pride in the renewed energy placed behind efforts to make good on commitments to Caricom’s estimated 16 million citizens, but was concerned about lack of implementation.

The Jamaican leader noted that some leaders had demonstrated their firm commitment to ensure that the CSME regimes not only work for the principal beneficiaries but also their families, through the signature of the Protocol on Contingent Rights, but more was required. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

hree members of the Sooknanan family and their relative were discharged from the San Fernando General Hospital on Sunday night. However, the head of the family unit, Aaron Sooknanan, remained warded under Police guard at the hospital nursing injuries he sustained during their ordeal. Investigators said he was being kept in an area away from the general public as there may still be a threat to his life.

Sooknanan’s wife Paola Sanchez-Sooknanan, 26; their children Ricardo, five; Isabella, three; and the mother’s cousin Roxanna Gonzales, 37, a Venezuelan national, were discharged and are staying at an undisclosed location.

Investigators said the family was doing well, but they were very traumatised by the incident.

Sooknanan was severely beaten during their 33-hour ordeal after gunmen broke into their home at Jhulai Trace, Penal Rock Road, Penal, and adducted them.

The entire family was also treated for cuts and bruises as they were assaulted both in their home and in the forest where they were held hostage.

While a motive for the kidnapping was not given, police said they were told of a possible personal grievance.

On Saturday, hours after the kidnapping, Penal CID arrested two men from the area with a vehicle that was linked to the crime. Another suspect was held on Sunday night, but after hours of interrogation he was released.

Investigators are searching for three more suspects they believe abandoned the family in the forest as they got word the Police were closing in on their location.

The Sooknanans subsequently trekked several hundred kilometres through the forest until they were found off Oropouche Road Trace, South Barrackpore by officers from the South Western Division Police and Special Operations Response Team.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Cuba’s economy needs to become efficient, says President

Brazil’s top court approves ECCB calls for calm, as it investigation into reviews application for sale Bolsonaro Chief-of-Staff of Scotiabank’s operations

B

razil’s Supreme Court said on Tuesday it had authorised a federal investigation into allegations that the incoming Chief-of-Staff for far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro had taken illegal campaign donations.

Brazil’s Prosecutor General Raquel Dodge asked the top court to allow an investigation into whether Onyx Lorenzoni, who will serve as Bolsonaro’s Chiefof-Staff and long-time federal congressman, took illegal campaign donations from the world’s largest meatpacker JBS SA. Executives of JBS said they made 200,000 reais (US$52,290) worth of such payments to Onyx between 2012 and 2014. They made the accusation in plea-bargain testimony, part of a deal with prosecutors that saw J&F Investimentos SA, the holding that controls JBS, pay a record 10.3 billion reais fine for bribing over 1800 politicians at

all levels in Brazil in recent years.

Sweetheart contracts with governments and State loans helped fuel growth at J&F over the past decade, enabling it to assert control of JBS while expanding into fashion, dairy production, pulp processing and banking.

JBS grew from a midsized slaughterhouse in Brazil’s Midwest into one of the world’s top-three food processing companies in over a decade through acquisitions partially funded by Government-supplied money.

The investigation is the second graft allegation made against a top member of Bolsonaro’s incoming government, a thorny issues as the leader was elected on a law-and-order platform a vow to end widespread political corruption exposed by the sprawling “Car Wash” investigation and other probes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T

he Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has encouraged residents in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) to remain calm, following the news of an agreement that will see Trinidad-based Republic Financial Holdings Limited acquire the Bank of Nova Scotia’s operations in nine Caribbean territories.

The territories are St Maarten, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

In a statement issued, the Central Bank said it received an application from Republic Financial Holdings on Tuesday, November 27, “seeking regulatory approval to acquire the Bank of Nova Scotia’s operations and businesses in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU),” and that it has since commenced a review of this application, pursuant

to the Banking Act. The Central Bank noted that changes in ownership of banks are not uncommon and that the proposed transaction is the latest in a series of consolidation moves by the Canadian banks.

Addressing concerns about the ownership of banking assets in the ECCU, as a result of the proposed acquisition, the central bank said, “At present, 55 per cent of banking assets are owned by three Canadian banks and Republic Financial Holdings and 45 per cent of banking assets are owned by indigenous (national) banks. The proposed acquisition, if approved, would not fundamentally change that ownership distribution, as 55 per cent of the banking assets would be owned by two Canadian banks and Republic Financial Holdings and 45 per cent of the banking assets would continue to be owned by our indigenous (national) banks.” (Excerpt from

Caribbean News Now)

C

President Miguel Díaz-Canel

uba is immersed in an unprecedented economic battle, amidst the tense financial situation it faces, worsened by the aggressiveness of the United States, said President Miguel DíazCanel on Thursday last in Guantanamo.

Summarising the visit of the Council of Ministers to Guantánamo to evaluate the progress of socio-economic programmes in the province, Diaz-Canel was confident that “we will move forward, if we make better use of the resources and human potential available to us.

He described this battle as immediate, fundamental and rigorous, with the objective that economic development reaches domestic life, an advance that is part of the changes that the people expect from the Cuban

state, and that cannot be postponed.

This context demands, he said, careful planning, and that it be capable of preventing bureaucratic methods from immobilising it. The Cuban President noted that “we are going to present to the National Assembly conceptual ideas to defend the 2019 economic plan, which will mark a moment of adjustment, consolidation and implementation of innovative ideas, among them that the budget is not burdened with funding directed to the unbudgeted activity”.

The President added that the structures and economic management teams in this struggle to advance the country should take advantage of the talent of economists, academics, scientists and specialists from various branches. (Excerpt from Caribbean News

Now)

17

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Macron makes U-turn on fuel-tax increases in face of 'yellow vest' protests

F

rance’s Prime Minister on Tuesday suspended planned increases to fuel taxes for at least six months in response to weeks of sometimes violent protests, the first major U-turn

by President Emmanuel Macron’s Administration after 18 months in office.

In announcing the decision, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said anyone would have “to be deaf or blind” not to see or hear the roiling anger on the streets over a policy that Macron has defended as critical to combating climate change.

“The French who have

donned yellow vests want taxes to drop, and work to pay. That’s also what we want. If I didn’t manage to explain it, if the ruling majority didn’t manage to convince the French, then something must change,” said Philippe.

“No tax is worth jeopardising the unity of the na-

tion.”

Along with the delay to the tax increases that were set for January, Philippe said the time would be used to discuss other measures to help the working poor and squeezed middle-class who rely on vehicles to get to work and go shopping.

US Army chief says death toll of Afghan security forces is unsustainable

T

he death toll among Afghanistan’s security forces will not be sustainable, even with the stalemate in the fight against Taliban militants, according to the Pentagon’s pick to be the next head of US Central Command.

“Their losses have been very high. They are fighting hard, but their losses are not going to be sustainable unless we correct this prob-

lem,” Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said during a Senate armed services committee hearing.

The assessment comes as both western-backed security forces and the Taliban have pushed to gain momentum as the US has stepped up efforts to find a peaceful settlement to end the 17-year-long war in Afghanistan.

Afghan President

Ashraf Ghani said last month that since 2015 more than 28,000 members of the Afghan security forces had been killed.

McKenzie said the US would have to work with Afghan forces to improve how they recruit, train and carry out missions.

He added that Afghan forces were not capable of securing the country without help from the nearly

Earlier officials had hinted at a possible increase to the minimum wage, but Philippe made no such commitment. He warned citizens, however, that they could not expect better public services and lower taxes.

The so-called “yellow vest” movement, which start-

ed on November 17 as a social-media protest group named for the high-visibility jackets all motorists in France carry in their cars, began with the aim of highlighting the squeeze on household spending brought about by Macron’s taxes on fuel. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

US gives Russia 60 days to comply with nuclear treaty

14,000 US troops deployed there. “If we left precipitously right now, I do not believe they would be able to successfully defend their country,” McKenzie said.

He said he did not know how long it would take for Afghan forces to be self-sufficient and that the number of Taliban fighters was estimated at 60,000.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

British PM suffers setbacks as Brexit debate starts in Parliament T

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends a news conference during the NATO foreign ministers' meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, December 4, 2018

B

ritish Prime Minister Theresa May suffered embarrassing defeats on Tuesday at the start of five days of debate over her plans to leave the European Union that could determine the future of Brexit and the fate of her Government.

May wants to secure Parliament’s approval for her deal to keep close ties with the EU after leaving in March, but opposition is fierce, with Brexit supporters and opponents alike wanting to thwart or derail her plan.

On the first day of debate, before the main vote on December 11, her Government was found in contempt of Parliament and then a group of her own Conservative Party lawmakers won a challenge to hand

File photo: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina December 1, 2018

more power to the House of Commons if her deal is voted down.

That could reduce the likelihood of Britain leaving the EU without any deal, prompting sterling to recov-

er some of its losses after the vote on contempt drove it down to levels not seen since June last year.

The debates and final vote on December 11 will determine how, and possibly

even if, Britain leaves the EU as planned on March 29, in the country’s biggest shift in foreign and trade policy in more than 40 years.

May’s plans are vulnerable to more change at the end of the debate, and advice from a senior EU legal aide that Britain had the right to withdraw its Brexit notice opened yet another front in her battle to win the approval of Parliament.

If lawmakers do not back her deal, May says, they could open the door either to Britain falling out of the EU without measures to soften the transition or to the possibility that Brexit does not happen. The Opposition Labour Party said May needed to get a better deal or step aside and let them govern. (Excerpt from Reuters)

he United States delivered Russia a 60day ultimatum on Tuesday to come clean about what Washington says is a violation of an arms control treaty that keeps missiles out of Europe, saying only Moscow could save the pact.

NATO allies led by Germany pressed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at a meeting in Brussels to give diplomacy a final push before Washington pulls out of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, fearing a new arms race in Europe.

“Russia has a last chance to show in a verifiable way that they comply with the treaty... but we also have to start to prepare for the fact that this treaty may break down,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters.

NATO Foreign Ministers

agreed to formally declare Russia in “material breach” of the INF treaty in a statement in support of the United States, after Pompeo briefed them at the alliance headquarters in Brussels on Russian violations and on US President Donald Trump’s stated aim to withdraw from it.

Russia denies undertaking any such development of land-based, intermediate-range Cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads and hitting European cities at short notice.

Germany, the Netherlands and Belgian are concerned about the deployment of US missiles in Europe – as happened in the 1980s, touching off large anti-American demonstrations – while being caught up in nuclear competition between Moscow and Washington.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

DR Congo: Deadly clashes in South Kivu ahead of elections

A

t least 18 people have killed in clashes between the Democratic Republic of the Congo's army and rebels loyal to a renegade former general in the country's eastern region, according to military sources.

The latest round of vio-

lence comes less than three weeks before crucial elections to replace long-time President Joseph Kabila.

Fighting killed 14 rebels and four soldiers in Fizi, a region of South Kivu, a mineral-rich province which is prone to ethnic tensions, a military spokesman and

other sources said.

Violence in the troubled eastern region is just one complication before the December 23 elections in DR Congo, which has not seen a peaceful transfer of power since independence from colonial Belgium in 1960.

Under international

pressure, Kabila has agreed to step aside, but critics worry he will try to engineer a win for his handpicked successor, former hardline Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

The eastern clashes pit the military against rebels loyal to a former army

general, William Amuri Yakutumba, whose militia is one of the armed groups operating in the region against Kabila.

The militia is allied to rebels of the National Liberation Front based in neighbouring Burundi, according to several region-

al sources. In September last year, the Yakutumba rebels attacked the town of Uvira on Lake Tanganyika near the Burundian capital Bujumbura.

UN forces pushed them back with Congolese support. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, december 5, 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)

assisting

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — HOROSCOPE

SUDOKU

Average mark 37 words

Can you find 52 or more words in HOROSCOPE? The list will be published tomorrow.

seine senate sent seta sine site sixteen snit stain stein

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

Take care of business and move on to projects you find more enjoyable.

Preparations for functions you plan to attend or for a date night with a loved one look promising.

Take better care of your health. You may be in the mood to cut loose with friends and overdo it, but it won’t be worth it. Stick to a healthy lifestyle.

Don’t let your emotions interfere with what’s right.

Don’t take a chance that could cost you emotionally or financially. Avoid unpredictable, disruptive individuals.

Plan a get-together with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. Interacting with someone from your past will revive memories and remind you of goals you have yet to accomplish.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t leave anything to chance. Clear up unfinished business so you don’t have it hanging over your head when you want to kick back and enjoy the festivities.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — ANXIETIES

tense tine tinea saint sane sate sateen satin seat seen

You’ll have trouble seeing clearly if you let someone sway your opinion.

Don’t get involved in something you cannot afford or that will lead to loss. Joint ventures should be avoided.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Time limit 60 minutes

ease east eaten enate exist exit taxes taxi tease teens

Make a physical change that will attract attention. A sophisticated yet bold statement will give you that look of success. Romance is on the rise, and professional goals can be reached.

Study all the pros and LIBRA (Sept. 23- cons before you sign up for Oct. 23) something that close friends and family may not like. Get the go-ahead as well as the pertinent details first.

(HOROSCOPE: HOR-uh-skope: An astrological forecast.)

anise ante anti axis neat nest next nisei nixes inset

You need an outlet, but it shouldn’t be something that could get you into trouble.

As long as you are moderate and associate with reliable people, positive things will unfold.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Do what comes naturally and head in whatever direction will bring you the highest returns. Refuse to let anyone use guilt tactics to take advantage of you emotionally or financially.

Don’t make a change because someone has fed you false information or is pressuring you. Know who and what you are up against before you make a decision.

You can accomplish plenty if you do things for yourself. Don’t let anyone lead you astray or take advantage of you. Use your intelligence and intuition to outsmart perpetrators.

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018

19

BCB/Da Silva Motor Spares Under-13 Tournament

Salim Khan’s 8-for leads Port Mourant to title I

t was Port Mourant’s first major club title since 2005 when they emerged as champions of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Under-13 tournament. They easily defeated Rose Hall Town (RHT) Poonai’s Pharmacy on first innings points to claim a major ti-

tle, since they won the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club (RHTY&SC) Busta Champion of Champions.

The Under-13 tournament was the second of its type to be organised by the Cricket Board in its 79 years of history.

Scottsburg won the Ricks & Sari Under-13 tournament, which was organised by the Keith Foster-led BCB nine years ago.

Port Mourant won the toss and decided to bat first, scoring 93 for 5 from their allotted first innings quota of 25 overs. Openers Rampersaud Ramnauth

and Salim Khan gave them a solid opening stand of 35 in 14 overs before Khan was caught off the bowling of L Singh for 19. Ramnauth went on to top score with 48, which included four boundaries, while K Naglen scored 12. Bowling for RHT Poonai’s Pharmacy, Nelroy Hicks took 2 for 16 and L Singh, 2 for 21.

Needing to score 94 in 25 overs to obtain first innings points, RHT Poonai’s Pharmacy was dismissed by a brilliant spell of off-spin from the Upper Corentynebased Khan. Khan bowled 9.2 overs to finish with the remarkable figure of 8 for 21. RHT Poonai’s Pharmacy were bowled out for 40 in 18.2 overs with only Matthew Pottaya reaching double figures. A Munroe (1 for 10) and Tourah Shaundeo (1 for 6) supported Khan.

In their second innings, Port Mourant Cricket Club had reached 26 for 1 when the match was called off early with one hour remaining.

Rampertab Ramnauth had 18 not out while Pottaya took the one wicket to fall for 12 runs from 10 overs.

BCB President Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to Da Silva Motor Spares Managing Director Flavio Da Silva for his investment in Berbice cricket and stated that he was pleased with the level of play by the Under-13 cricketers. The Da Silva Tournament would serve as a feeder for the Under-15 level, and Foster predicted that players like Khan, Pottaya and others would go on to represent Guyana in the future.

The BCB President congratulated Port Mourant Cricket Club President

Vickram Suebarran for his leadership of the Club and coach/manager Leslie Solomon for his supervision of the team. Foster disclosed that he was willing to assist the Port Mourant Cricket Club in any way possible to return to their glory days.

Da Silva stated that he was delighted to be associated with Berbice cricket and urged the players to always be disciplined. Da Silva also spoke of the importance of hard work and listening to advice from seniors.

The BCB would like to acknowledge the contribution of Anil Beharry and Ricky Deonarine. The champions and runners-up received trophies while each player in the final carried home a souvenir and trophy. Man of the Final Salim Khan received a supply of educational materials and a trophy.

the 48th and 55th minutes.

Meanwhile, in the first scheduled game on Sunday, Mahaica Determinators failed to make an appearance giving Rosignol United a free pass into the semi-finals.

The competition continues on Friday with a double header: Cougars Under-20 will take on Number 5 and Georgetown Police will do battle with Hopetown A. On Sunday, Monedderlust will be in action when they face Soccer City in what is expected to be a scorching encounter.

Game two will bring together Golden Star and Rosignol United, both battling for a semi-final berth.

This is the second year for the tournament.

The final is set for January 5, 2019. At stake in the competition is $600,000 for the winner and $300,000 for the runner-up team. The third-place team will receive $200,000.

Additionally, $50,000 each will go to the MVP, best goalkeeper and the person scoring the most goals. (Andrew Carmichael)

Paradise into GT Beer football semi-finals Turbo Knockout Tournament

Final 4 clash tonight A fter postponement last week owing to inclement weather, the semi-finals of the Turbo Knockout football competition will kick off tonight at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue.

The double-header kicks off with Mahaica Determinators going head to head with the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) for a spot in the final.

The Georgetown-based side will have to ensure two things are done if they are to secure victory.

T h e y must accumulate an early lead over their East Coast counterparts if they are to set the plan in motion and they must be able to defend late into the game.

Mahaica have shown t h e i r domi n a n c e in

the

tournament well after the 75th minute with a number of their goals coming then.

Meanwhile, game two is an all-Georgetown affair as Northern Rangers play Santos. The Rangers have been increasing their team play gradually and this semi will definitely be a test of that.

Their ability to play patient football could be a major asset here when they come up against Santos. Meanwhile, the pace of Santos is not something that should be underestimated. Their ability to play on the break and make opponents pay for the slightest mistake could mean a quick game changer.

The tournament will see a total of $1.5 million in cash prizes up for grabs with the winners walking away with $800,000, the runners-up will pocket $400,000, third $200,000 and fourth, $100,000.

The winning Paradise FC team

P

aradise have become the first team to secure a place in the 2018 Candy Boss and Antics GT Beer eight-a-side football knockout tournament.

Paradise recorded a convincing win over Hopetown on Sunday.

The game seemed to be an even match-up most of the time, but the scoreline told a different story – 4-nil in favour of Paradise.

The goal scorers were Olvis Mitchell in the 12th minute, Jawell Fraser in the 23rd minute, Carluis Paul in

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018

National 15s Rugby training…

Fitness is key ingredient for players – Coach Grant Stewart

I

n preparation for the Rugby Americas North (RAN) eliminator match that is scheduled for Saturday, February 9, 2019, in the Cayman Islands, the National 15s players are presently involved in intense training sessions.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport, in an exclusive interview, National 15s Head Coach Grant Stewart told this reporter that the rugby players had undergone training for six days thus far. Stewart highlighted that a few players have not been released from their respective jobs to participate in training sessions held at the National Park, but the squad has been building perfectly.

Throughout the month of December, the team’s focus is

on fitness and ball skills until the holiday break is taken before January. After the Christmas break, emphasis will be placed on rugby techniques, whereby the National 15s players will be placed under the microscope.

Although a few of the eligible National 15s players are abroad, the players in training are capable of winning the eliminator match in the Cayman Islands.

Stewart added that more players were available on the weekends and practice games were held at the National Park. The training sessions are expected to conclude at the end of January. List of eligible 15s players: Props – Jacques Archibald; Rondel McArthur, Jason Tyrell,

Delroy Gordon, Cloyd Prowell, Malcolm Rhodius, Keyfo Lopz, Ahmad Isaacs, Vallon Adams, Demar Haynes and Selwin Henry Second Rows – Kevon David, Dwayne Schorder, Daniel Anderson, Kevin Jorden, James Osbourn, Phabian Joseph, Kurt Hunt, Rashad Butcher, Elton Crawford and Grantly Williams Hookers – Allen Crawford, Rickford Cummings, and Delroy Fordyce Flankers – Richard Staglon, Jamal Angus, Toby David, Sean Phillips, Glynroy Pool and Kareem McKenzie Scrum Halfs – Ryan Gonsalves, Osie McKenzie, Daniel Dabreu, and Leaon Greeves Backs – Peabo Hamilton, Kevin McKenzie, Claudius

National 15s players at the training session at the National Park

Head Coach of the National 15s team, Grant Stewart

Butts, Godfrey Brooms, Troyton Brathwaite, Oneal Charles, Lancelot Adonis, Ronald Mayers, Joseph Rahaman, Blaze Baily, Avery Corbin, Akeno James, Patrick King, Kevin Wills, David Felescian, Quayce Kendal, Kesta Mars, Elwin Chase and Michael Barrow (Brandon Corlette)

Hafeez to retire from Test cricket after ongoing Pestano’s brilliance Abu Dhabi game BCB/Brian Ramphal Double Wicket Tournament

leads RHT Gizmos & Gadgets A to title – BCB completes record 22 tournaments

“P

romises fulfilled, mission accomplished.”

Those were the words of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster at the presentation ceremony last Sunday night under lights at the Albion Sports Complex.

The tournament was the 22nd to be successfully completed by the BCB and fulfilled a promise by the hardworking Foster to organise 22 tournaments in 2018. In addition to the 22 completed tournaments, five more tournaments are currently in progress while the BCB is expected to start another four before year end.

The Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets A pair of Clinton Pestano and Kevin Sinclair comprehensively defeated the Albion A pair Jonathan Foo and Kevin Umroa by 51 runs in front of a sizeable crowd. Pestano was at his brutal best, smashing 10 boundaries and two huge sixes in a 16-ball 53. His partner Sinclair was left not out on 11 as their team scored 71 runs from their allocated four overs. Albion A lost Foo, who was bowled by Sinclair, for 5 at 10 for 1 in the second over. A fired-up Pestano then scattered the stumps of Kevin Umroa for 8 as Albion A were bowled out for 20 in 2.3 overs, handing the

RHT Gizmos & Gadgets A pair a comprehensive victory.

Earlier that evening in the semi-finals between Rose Hall Town and Tucber Park, Pestano struck 45 to lift his pair to 47 from 3.2 overs after Sinclair was dismissed by the lightning quick Nial Smith for a duck in the first over. In response, Tucber Park could only manage 28 in their four overs, with Mark Barker contributing 20.

The Brian Ramphal First Division Double Wicket Tournament was the first of its kind to be organised in the 79-year history of the BCB. Board President Foster announced that every promise and commitment has been fulfilled by his administration in 2018.

Foster expressed gratitude to the United States-based Ramphal for his continued investment in Berbice cricket.

The Double Wicket Tournament was one of several programmes/events organised by the Board with the $1 million donated by Ramphal. Pestano and Sinclair received $75, 000 and a trophy while the second- and thirdplace teams won $40, 000 and $20, 000 respectively. The pairs were supported by six of their club members in the field while each pair had to bat four overs.

Clinton Pestano was in blistering form at Albion (Brandon Corlette photo)

Mohammed Hafeez

P

akistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez, 38, will retire from Test cricket after the ongoing third game against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi, having informed chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq that he wants to focus on his limited-overs career.

“Today, I want to announce my retirement from the Test-match format so that I can focus my energies on playing for Pakistan in the white-ball formats,” Hafeez said after the second day’s play. “I am eyeing to represent Pakistan in the ICC World Cup next year.

I feel honoured that I represented the country in 55 Test matches, including the opportunity of captaining the team. I feel satisfied that I performed to the best of my abilities in my 15 year-long Test career.

“I wish the Test team the very best for their upcoming assignments starting with the tour to South Africa, the team management especially the coach and captain have worked very hard in forming an exciting core of players that can serve for long.”

PCB chairman Ehsan Mani paid tribute to Hafeez, saying his contribution in Test cricket “will be remembered for a long time”.

“Hafeez gave some memorable and matching-winning performances for Pakistan in the Test match format,” Mani said. “He lent great balance to the XI with his bowling abilities.”

One of the longest-serving international cricketers left in the game, Hafeez made his debut in both Test and ODI cricket in 2003. He marked his international debut with a half-century in a seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka in Sharjah that April, in Pakistan’s first ODI since their disappointing showing at the 2003 World Cup. In all he made 10 Test hundreds in his 15-year career, all of them coming in Asian conditions, including a best of 224 against Bangladesh in Khulna in 2015. His highest score elsewhere was a hard-fought 95 against England at The Oval in 2006, that would surely have set his team up for victory but for the subsequent forfeiture of the match due to a ball-tampering furore.

Hafeez announced his decision after he had managed only 39 runs in four innings and went wicketless against New Zealand. Having been dismissed by Trent Boult for a duck on Tuesday, he could have one final chance to add to his 3644 Test runs, should Pakistan return to bat in their second innings.

Hafeez’s international career appeared to be winding down after he was downgraded in Pakistan’s central contract list in August this year, and he even contemplated retirement. But his wife Nazia, along with the former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, talked him out of it.

After a late call-up to the Pakistan Test squad for their two-Test series against Australia in October, Hafeez marked his return with a hundred in a double-century opening stand with Imamul-Haq. Their 205-run partnership in the first Test in Dubai was was only the 10th double-century opening stand made against Australia in Test cricket.

However, in seven innings since his 126 in Dubai, he has not passed 20. (ESPNcricinfo)

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Johnny Grave

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave is worried over the fact that Caribbean players could likely be lured away to other countries by virtue of lucrative contracts.

Speaking on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decision to revise their non-English player eligibility criteria which now sees Barbados-born pacer Jofra Archer being set for a fasttrack into the England team, Grave outlined recently his concern about the possibility of other players from the Caribbean being poached by

similar means.

Archer, who was born in the “Land of the Flying Fish” to an English father and Bajan mother, played Under-19 cricket for Barbados and eventually the West Indies in 2013, but picked up an injury which put him on the shelf. After being readmitted into the sport, the all-rounder has become a mainstay in the Sussex team before now being one of the most sought-after players in franchise cricket as well as a must-have for the English international set-up.

The 23-year-old was apparently on the Windies ra-

dar for the 2019 World Cup, but he instead signalled his intentions to represent the Three Lions which now makes his likely debut next year against the Windies, who are set for the biggest home series against England in a decade. Archer, who is set to become a full-fledged English cricketer from March 2019, could find himself in the mix versus his Caribbean countrymen for the T20 series which follows the Test and ODIs. Previously, the ECB had made a rule that non-English players must have seven years of residency under their belts in order to represent the country, but recently shaved some four years off the stipulation, rendering eligibility to just three years now.

Speaking on the situation, Grave said: “We respect Jofra’s decision; the rules allow him to [switch country].

But on a personal level, and as an Englishman, I don’t like the concept of the ECB poaching players who have been part of another system up to the age of 19.

“I hope no other West Indian cricketers follow that

path, and hope it doesn’t lead to counties doing their talent ID in the Caribbean, taking our players into

the public school system and then on to offering them lucrative longterm county contracts and then possibly on to playing for England.”

(Clifton Ross)

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2-day competition planned for Dec 14 & 21 C

ognisant of the teams’ and fans’ disappointment that the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Competition has been pushed back to January 18, 2019, organisers of the event have scheduled a two-day tournament which will be staged on December 14 and 21, at the National Cultural Centre

Tarmac.

This was confirmed by Banks DIH Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, who spoke with Three Peat Promotions recently.

According to Baptiste, the decision to push back the tournament to January was made following a review of this year’s competitions.

Baptiste said they wanted to make the tournament more compact, meaning that instead of the stop and start format where a zone is completed and then fans and teams have to wait a few months, they were now going to run the zones every month so as to have continuity until the National Play-offs.

However, Baptiste said they have considered the understandable disappointment of the teams and fans and have decided to stage a two-day competition later this month in appreciation of the effort usually shown by teams and fans.

More details will be forthcoming shortly.

“Play to Conquer” junior table tennis tournament set for December 16 & 17 Ninvalle, Jomal Nichols and Isaiah Layne compete across categories ranging from U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15 to U-18.

One big downside to the tournament will be the ab-

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Thuraia Thomas

uyana’s top junior table tennis players will assemble on December 16 and 17 as the Titans Table Tennis Club bring down the curtains for 2018 with their “Play to

Conquer” Tournament.

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) will come alive for the two days from 10:00h daily as players the calibre of Jasmine Billingy, Thuraia Thomas, star player Kaysan

sence of two of the country’s top male youth players in Jonathan Van Lange and Krystian Sahadeo. The youngsters will miss the event as they are currently on a month’s tour of the United States of America.

Titans Table Tennis Club President Dwain Dick praised the National Sports Commission (NSC) for throwing its full support behind the tournament, adding that 2018 was a good year for the Club. “It’s our last event for the year; we can say we had a very active year after hosting three tournaments and a summer camp”.

Also, the tournament offers a B Class category for players of all ages who would simply like to just play table tennis.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018

Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers U-18 Football League…

Bishops’ trump Marian Academy J

ust one match remains before the Petraorganised Guyoil/ Tradewind Tankers School Under-18 Football League enters its final round over the weekend at the Ministry of Education Ground.

The action in the 12team League continued on Monday afternoon with a double header, which saw victory being claimed

by Queen’s College and Bishops’ High School.

Marian Academy and Bishops’ High were the only two sides to take the field on Monday to contest their fixture, which saw the latter win 2-nil.

Lynford Isles scored in the 31st minute while Kacey Carter made it a two-posses-

Part of the action on Monday between Bishops’ High School and Marian Academy

sion game in the 63rd minute, a goal which put some comfort on the path to victory.

Scheduled to compete against Queen’s College in the first match, Dolphin Secondary failed to field a team at match time and, as a result, gifted the opposition with three welcome points. This walkover win took Queen’s College to six points, but they’re still 10th in the League.

In their next match, they oppose Marian Academy, who are ninth with six points.

Meanwhile, this weekend, the tournament wraps up with six matches on the card, but the real fight is between the League’s front runners.

Lodge Secondary currently lead the League with

27 points, with Annandale right on their tails with 27 as well but a weaker goal difference.

Linden’s ChristianburgWismar Secondary are third with 26 points and are the only undefeated team in the tournament.

The closest rival to these three top runners is Vergenoegen Secondary who are just out of the race for a podium finish. They have 22 points; a loss or victory over the weekend will still see them finishing fourth.

According to the organisers, the last match of the penultimate round is scheduled to be contested today at the same venue between Marian Academy and Queen’s College.

Bravo, Brathwaite 4 teams record victories return to ODI squad

BCB/Ivan Madray Memorial 100 Balls Tournament

– Rovman Powell appointed Captain

in historic tournament

– Davis, Sinclair, Jawahir top performers 16.

C

Rovman Powell

Carlos Brathwaite

Darren Bravo

ricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel has named a 15-member squad to play Bangladesh in three OneDay Internationals (ODIs).

The three ODIs are scheduled for December 9, 11 and 14 in Bangladesh.

The quality left-handed batsman Darren Bravo has returned to the ODI squad, along with T20 International Captain Carlos Brathwaite.

Additionally, Roston Chase,

who had been brilliant in the India Tests, has been rewarded with selection in the ODI squad. Recent debutants Fabian Allen, Chandrapaul Hemraj and Oshane Thomas retained their places following the ODI series against India last month.

Owing to the absence of regular Captain Jason Holder, CWI’s Board of Directors has approved Rovman Powell as interim

Captain, as the West Indies seek to reverse the recent 2-1 home series defeat they sustained at the hands of Bangladesh in July 2018.

Chairman of Selectors Courtney Browne said, “With two more ODI series before the 2019 World Cup, the Bangladesh series allows us to narrow our search for our final 15-member World Cup squad. In the absence of Captain Jason Holder, the panel believes the team can still be competitive, especially with the return of Darren Bravo. Darren’s experience will add value to the batting, which in turn will place selection pressure for spots in the squad.

The selection panel, therefore, takes this opportunity to wish the team much success in Bangladesh.”

The full ODI squad reads: Rovman Powell (Captain); Marlon Samuels; Devendra Bishoo; Roston Chase; Chandrapaul Hemraj; Shimron Hetmyer; Darren Bravo; Shai Hope, Carlos Brathwaite; Keemo Paul; Keiran Powell; Fabian Allen; Kemar Roach; Sunil Ambris and Oshane Thomas.

Junior Sinclair

E

arlier this year, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) created history when it became the first Cricket Board in the Caribbean to host a hundred-ball tournament at the SecondDivision level.

On Sunday last, the Board hosted the opening rounds of the Ivan Madray Memorial 100 Balls Tournament at two venues. The knockout Tournament involves nine FirstDivision teams and is being held in memory of the late legend, Ivan Madray, the third Berbician to play Test cricket after John Trim and Rohan Kanhai.

Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets, Albion Community Centre, Tucber Park Cricket Club and Young Warriors Cricket Club recorded victories to join Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club who drew the bye in the second round.

At Albion: Albion Community Centre defeated Police Cricket Club by eight wickets.

Police batting first were dismissed for 91 off 98 Balls.

Philbert Wilburg (21); Delbert Hicks (23) and G Barron (23) were the chief scorers as left-arm national spinner Gudakesh Motie took 3 for 12 and West Indies spinner Veerasammy Permaul, 2 for

Albion Community Centre, in reply, reached 96 for 2 with Kandasammy Surujnarine (29); Adrian Sukhwa (33 not out) and Anthony Bramble (21 not out) being the best batters.

The second game at Albion Ground saw Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets easily defeat West Berbice by 27 runs. National Under-19 player Junior Sinclair struck an elegant 66 while his elder brother Jason supported with an unbeaten 30 as Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets reached 138 for 6. Steffan Adams took 2 for 12 and Sherwin Mc Pherson 2 for 17 for West Berbice, who in reply could only reach 111 all out in 15.4 overs as Kevin Sinclair (3 for 17) and skipper Shawn Pereira (3 for 26) led the opposing team’s strong bowling attack. R Mitchell (34) and Keith Fraser (14) were the main batters in a losing cause.

At Port Mourant Ground, Joel Davis captured 4 for 9 and National Under-17 allrounder Leon Swammy took 2 for 18 as Tucber Park bowled out Port Mourant Cricket Club for 63 in 13.5 overs. Samuel Kistasammy and Joshua Ramsammy were the only Port Mourant batsmen to reach double figures. Tucber Park, in response, raced to 64 for 2 in just six overs with Nial Smith and Clifton Lindie scoring 25 and 15 respectively. Dimitri Cameron took 1 for 14 for Port Mourant.

In the second match, Young Warriors Cricket Club amassed 152 for 5 to record the highest score in the opening round.

National Under-19 opener Alex Algoo (46); Berbice Under-19 player Trevlon Stanislaus (26) and Suresh Dhanai (23 not out) were the principal scorers as Marvin Prashad (2 for 30) and Seon Glasgow (1 for 23) bowled well for Blairmont

Joel Davis

Community Centre.

Allrounder Kevin Jawahir then fought a lone hand with a solid 73 as Blairmont ended on 122 for 6 from their 100 balls.

Devendra Ramoutar with 3 for 20 and Trevlon Stanislaus 2 for 18 were the best bowlers for the winners.

The Tournament is being organised by the BCB with sponsorship provided by the Madray and Chintamani families. The second round of the Tournament will be played on Saturday at the Port Mourant Ground, with Albion Community Centre clashing with Young Warriors at 10:30h while Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets and Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club will play at 13:30h.

The winner of the Albion versus Young Warriors match would advance straight to the final scheduled for December 16, 2018 at the Port Mourant Ground. Tucber Park Cricket Club will play the winner of the Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets and Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club match in the lone semi-final on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at the home of Ivan Madray, Port Mourant Ground. The Ivan Madray Memorial 100 Balls is the 26th cricket tournament to be organised by the BCB to date in 2018.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018

23

Cricket West Indies Regional 4-Day championships

Confident Jaguars square off against Volcanoes on Thursday (Vice Captain); Trevon Griffith; Tagenarine Chanderpaul; Anthony Bramble; Veerasammy Permaul; Gudakesh Motie; Akshaya Persaud; Christopher Barnwell; Clinton Pestano; Romario Shepherd; Keon Joseph and Tevin Imlach.

By Brandon Corlette

T

he defending champions, Guyana Jaguars will clash with the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the opening round of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional 4-Day tournament.

The opening match of the tournament that will be played at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia is scheduled to bowl off from 14:00h today.

Guyana will be led by their courageous captain, Leon Johnson and will be assisted

by Vice Captain Vishaul Singh.

The Jaguars squad includes three players that represented the West Indies at the Test level, but the likes of Windies A players Keon Joseph, Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie have experience playing different Test nations in 4-Day cricket.

The Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium has different surfaces, but pace is expected to play a huge role across the four days of play. Trevon Griffith has been in form recently, and he will be the first choice opener along with Tagenarine Chanderpaul. The Captain, an elegant left-handed stroke maker, will bat at number three followed

by Vishaul Singh. The middle order will consist of Christopher

Barnwell, who is a useful bowling option; Anthony Bramble and Akshaya Persaud. The spin department will be led by spin twins Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie. Shepherd, Clinton Pestano and Keon Joseph will make up the pace attack.

Meanwhile, former Barbadian Captain Kirk Edwards will lead the inexperienced Windward Islands Volcanoes team.

Edwards, a former Test player who was privileged to be the 14th West Indian to score a Test century on debut, is among the few players in the squad with Test experience. Axed Test spinner Shane Shillingford, the former Captain, will offer support to Roland Cato, who is the newly-appointed Vice Captain.

The 2017-2018 Regional Super50 star player in the final, Alick Athanaze, a West Indies Under-19 ace batsman, will be among the bright prospects this season. One of the few left-hand pacers in the Caribbean, Delron Johnson is expected to trouble the Jaguars’ batsmen.

The Windward Islands squad reads: Kirk Edwards (Captain); Roland Cato (Vice Captain); Tyrone Theophile; Tarryck Gabriel; Kavem Hodge; Alick Athanaze; Denis Smith (wicket-keeper); Shane Shillingford; Audy Alexander; Ryan John; Delorn Johnson; Ray Jordan; Josh Thomas.

The Guyana Jaguars squad reads: Leon Johnson (Captain); Vishaul Singh

2018-19 Windies tour of Bangladesh ODI series…

Hetmyer likely to improve ODI rankings – batsman raising stock across all formats

By Clifton Ross

G

uyanese and Windies batting sensation Shimron Hetmyer continues to improve his brand of cricket with every match following his move up the Test levels and now he has another chance to further climb the One-Day International (ODI) ladder.

The Berbician, who shot up to 26th place on the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings following a successful tour of India, recently eased his way to 52nd place, but could soon leapfrog the Virat Kohli-headed list.

Hetmyer finished the Bangladesh Tests with 222 runs and is six shy of 600 Test runs from 10 matches. Although he narrowly missed his maiden Test ton

in the last game when he was out for 93 in the second innings against the Tigers, the left-hander now heads into the ODI series with a chance to further up his limited overs rankings.

By far the most in-form batsman in the Windies team, the Guyana Jaguars opener hit phenomenal form in 2018, dating back to the initial home series against Bangladesh where he thumped the Tigers around the Caribbean, including at his home ground of Providence, where he scored a maiden record ton. Going on to the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the 21-year-old lit up the tournament playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors who made the final.

The Windies U-19 World Cup winning skipper

showed his maturity during the India series; especially in the ODI series where he pummelled 259 runs over the five matches. His magical 106 earned him further praise while his 94 could have easily allowed him to etch his name in the books.

He ended the ODI series against a battery of class India bowlers, namely their spinners, with an average of 51.80 before managing a few starts in the T20s. Hetmyer would then relive his encounter against the Tigers; this time in their backyard as he counterpunched the Bangladeshis amid a dismal batting performance from his teammates.

He hit 63, 93, 39 and 27 in the two-Test series which saw him jump a number of spots to his current place.

Now with the ODI series

looming, it will be critical to see how the Windies use him given his form this year against the hosts. A shift in form could see a more dangerous version of the Guyanese batsman who now fetches a healthy ODI average of 43.41, excellent stats for any batsman with just 17 One Dayers to his name.

His conversion rate in ODIs is also impressive with two fifties and three hundreds, evidence that once he passes fifty, it is likely he will score 100.

Bangladesh will likely field a slightly different squad from the Tests’ with Tamim Iqbal and skipper Shakib Al-Hasan back in the green colours, but it will be interesting to see their plan of attack for Hetmyer, who has been toying with all their bowlers during 2018.

Also, with Shai Hope being the other in-form batsman in the side, the re-inclusion of Darren Bravo and others for the ODI series could see Hetmyer batting up the order with a new partner or likely remaining in the still uncustomary position in the middle – where he has been carrying his weight.

Hetmyer and the West Indies will meanwhile lock up with the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI on Thursday for their 50Over tour matches, with the first of three ODIs – a day-night affair bowling off on Saturday at Dhaka.

Shimron Hetmyer

wednesdAY, december 5, 2018

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

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BCB/Da Silva Motor Spares Under-13 Tournament

Salim Khan’s 8-for leads Port Mourant to title Page 19

The winning Port Mourant Cricket Club team pose after the match

Hafeez to retire from Test cricket after ongoing Abu Dhabi game

Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers U-18 Football League…

Page 22

Page 20

Part of the action on Monday between Bishops’ High School and Marian Academy

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