Guyana Times - December 8, 2018

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Countdown to Christmas

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GBTI spreads Christmas cheer to less fortunate Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3770

Saturday, December 8, 2018

PRICE

Budget 2019

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt has no solutions for underperforming economy – Jagdeo

P14 More contraband found at Lusignan, Camp St prisons

Page 3

...Jordan claims APNU/AFC not responsible for low export earnings

Seed paddy from GRDB not germinating – Region 2 farmers Page 14

Stabroek wharf P12 relocation

Stalls still incomplete

…as vendors cite skewed payment demands

Linden officials express concern over “wastage” of food sent to P13 dorms

“Don’t do P11 anything you weren’t trained to do”– GPHC CEO

Serving those who serve you: Police Commissioner Leslie James serves lunch to new recruits at the Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary

PPP expresses worry over Battered body of Bank of Baroda pull out Page fisherman found

– Govt says nothing to worry about Elections reform

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Page 2

close to WCD home

Electronic tabulation paves the way for Page e-voting – outgoing US Ambassador 7

CGX sells P15 33% of its Corentyne, Demerara oil blocks

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Cevons, Puran to be paid before year end

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evons Waste Management and Puran Brothers Disposal are expected to resume garbage collection in the city, after assurances that they will be paid outstanding monies owed for service provided during the earlier part of 2019.

Both solid waste collectors indicated that they met with Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and officials of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Friday, where it was guaranteed that payment would be made for the owed $160 million, putting an end to the ongoing saga between collectors and the cash-strapped Council.

After “amicable and constructive” deliberations, both parties accepted the offer with the first payment expected before the ending of this year. Moreover, Cevons and Puran have also agreed to resume services in Georgetown, subject to the assent of City Hall and under the terms and conditions in the contract.

“It yielded what we be-

garbage bags of unwanted waste. Additionally, vendors at Bourda decried a slow collection process, having to wait at for days before the garbage is removed.

Residents were also pondering as to when the refuse would be removed as it is distasteful to look at.

Furthermore, they had nowhere to place to bags but to lieve to be credible assurances that settlement of the outstanding debt will commence very shortly. Our understanding is that the first payment will be made before the end of 2018. We have, without prejudice, accepted those assurances,” the service providers jointly announced.

Consideration was given to the inconvenience faced by citizens of Georgetown and its environs and as such, the current goal is “to restore a condition of normalcy in the shortest possible time” with commitment to the city’s welfare.

Presently, Puran and Cevons are awaiting the

“green light” from the Council to resume operations.

The collectors withdrew their services after being owed over $160 million which accumulated since the first quarter of 2018.

According to the companies, they wanted their June and July arrears payment

by November month end; August and September payments by December 31 and the resumption of regular payments as stipulated in their contract in February.

Several meetings were convened by Council, promising that payments would be made, without indicating when or how much. The

last appointment prompted the two firms to divulge that they have “no-confidence” in the local organ body after many failed promises.

The deadlock left the Council with no choice but to appoint five smaller agencies – Granderson, Trash Tech, Tri Star, C&S Services and Garbage Eaters – to carry out collection within Georgetown.

Within less than one week, garbage piled high throughout commercial and residential areas, a key indication that there was no collection for almost one week.

Central Georgetown saw enterprises and prominent locations all lined with black

leave them on the streets.

After numerous complaints, the Council introduced a new weekly schedule last Monday to improve their lacking effectiveness.

Monday to Friday will entail collection in different sections of the city, including commercial areas until the chief collectors resume operations.

Battered body of fisherman found close to WCD home

Dead: Mahendra Sookram Dasrat

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he bloodied and battered body of a father of three was found about one hundred feet away from his Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home on Thursday evening.

Dead is 46-year-old Mahendra Sookram Dasrat of Brick Wall Street, Anna Catherina, WCD. Based on reports received, his body was discovered at about 19:00h by three men, who were all subsequently taken into custody.

Ram Sookram, a brother of the dead man told Guyana Times that he received the news of his brother’s demise on Friday morning and went to the hospital where he saw his brother’s battered body.

Sookram noted that his brother’s face had several marks of violence and his body bore several wounds.

“From how I look at it, it look like someone beat him because some of his teeth missing… all he face got scratches and he body had bruises”, he stated.

The distraught brother explained that his brother was a fisherman by trade and was last seen alive at about 18:30h crossing a bridge which is a short distance from his home.

However, he stated that one of the men who claimed that his brother was found in an unconscious state has allegedly said that the man was involved in an accident.

This newspaper was told that that the now dead man was under the influence of alcohol and was laying on the roadway. One of the men in custody claimed that the area was dark and the driver did not see Dasrat laying on the roadway until they realised the car ran over “something” The driver, who is one of the three persons in custody, however, remained silent and is holding out that he was not involved in an accident and that they found the injured man on the roadway.

Upon seeing that the man was hurt, they picked him up and took him to the hospital to be treated but by the time they arrived at the medical institution, he had succumbed to his injuries.

The brother of the dead man believes that foul play was involved, holding out that he could have been informed the moment Dasrat was discovered. As such, he is calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.

The three friends remain in custody as detectives conduct their investigations.

Dasrat’s body was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home and is awaiting a post marten. Left to mourn him are his children and his siblings.

news

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saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Saturday, December 8 – 05:30h-07:00h and Sunday, December 9 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, December 8 – 17:00h-18:30h and Sunday, December 9 – 05:15h-06:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Budget 2019

Govt has no solutions for underperforming economy – Jagdeo

…Jordan says Govt not responsible for low export earnings

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers with light cloudy skies can be expected throughout the day, with sunny intervals in the afternoon. Partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 04:49h and 16:58h reaching maximum heights of 2.57 metres and 2.69 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:34h and 22:59h reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.53 metre respectively.

wednesDAY, december 5, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS K FREE TICKET

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FriDAY, december 7, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS

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LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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PAY DAY

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

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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aking the Government to task for its failings, ranging from lopsided agreements with oil companies to worrying economic indicators to corruption, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday lambasted Government during his contribution to the 2019 Budget Debate; a debate also characterised by walk outs.

As Jagdeo rose to address the chambers, all Government members, save for Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, walked out of the chambers.

They too subsequently left as the Opposition Leader began dissecting the budget.

Balance of Payments

Jagdeo, an economist by profession, observed that there were no measures announced in the 2019 Budget for lowering the Balance of Payments deficit or dealing with other worrying economic indices. Guyana Times has previously reported that Guyana’s overall balance of payment in the 2017 fiscal year showed a deficit of US$69.5 million.

This was a hike when compared to US$53.3 million the previous year.

According to Jagdeo, none of the themes that characterise a good budget, such as trans-formative measures for the economy or empowering citizens are actually

present.

“None of this will be achieved through this budget as it is currently configured. In fact, we believe that these goals are not only unattainable, but many of the measures outlined in the budget will run counter to those objectives. So for anyone to have an understanding of the state of the economy and the future economic health of the country, we have to do an in depth analysis.”

“It starts with the four macro accounts. In the financial sector, the most salient feature is the domination of Government borrowing from the banking sector. The second feature is the running down of our net foreign assets. Two very important variables when one looks at the well-being of the economy,” he said.

Jagdeo also pointed to the deterioration of the Balance of Payments (BoP) deficit. According to Jagdeo, Government has had to dig into the foreign reserves to fill the hole left in the BoP. That aside, the former President noted that there is also an increase in taxation.

“We have seen a huge growth in expenditure, but mainly recurrent, non-productive expenditure. If you open the first few pages of the budget, you will see that in almost every sector of our economy, lower growth. So it is very ominous for the future when the four major accounts used to analyse the well-being of the economy are all exhibiting these negative traits.”

“So we would have expected the Minister of Finance to come here and rather than speak for five hours and recycle routine data, he would say to us here is how I am going to address these problems. These are the policy measures I will put in place. That didn't happen. We got a budget full of useless statistics... this Government has elevated incompetence to a virtue!” he said.

Misplaced priorities

Besides the worrying signs for the economy and the underperforming traditional sectors, Jagdeo noted Government has very misplaced priorities in its spending. He noted that there have been decreases in spending on sectors like health and the Director of Public Prosecutions, compared to previous years.

However, Jagdeo referenced the increases in non-essential areas including personal security.

Jagdeo also debunked Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson’s assertion that there were no feasibility studies for several sectors. According to Jagdeo, a feasibility study was in fact done for the sugar sector and was a prerequisite for foreign funds.

He pointed to the existence of feasibility and marketing studies for the Berbice Bridge, the Marriott Hotel and the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. In fact, Jagdeo noted that most of this information are contained in public documents and he therefore condemned Patterson for spreading misinformation in the National Assembly.

Rebuttal

The Opposition members walked out before the preceding speaking – Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo – delivered his speech. Thus, when Finance Minister Winston Jordan rose to deliver his rebuttal, it was to empty Opposition benches.

In his rebuttal to close off the debates, Minister Jordan refuted the Opposition’s assertions regarding projected inflation. The Minister also stressed that the Government favoured the small man in the salary increases it announced in the budget. Also, Jordan noted that Government has not increased taxes or set any new taxes.

Jordan stated that Government made a number of measures, such as a reduction of the income and manufacturing tax rates. He

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

even cited the measures to allow returning students who have completed at least three years of continuous study overseas, eligibility for re-migrant status. This measure includes the proposed removal of the six-month overseas ownership stipulation.

On the matter of the underperforming economy and low foreign currency earnings from exports, Jordan cited international prices but then said he was not making excuses. According to Jordan, the old days of high earning traditional sectors are gone.

“This is not excuses we’re making. You can’t be selling timber, bauxite, rice, sugar, none of which you control the prices, and expect that tomorrow when the prices go haywire that export earnings will be stabilised.”

“This is the reality that we face in this country. They can tell you how much was earnings… They had luck with gold. They had PetroCaribe going with the rice. And sugar was still doing 212,000 tonnes. All that is gone… the past is dead. Long live the past,” Jordan stated, going on to point to projected earnings from the oil and gas sector.

Jordan also repeated utterances that had previously landed him in hot water with the Private Sector Commission. The Minister declared that the nation previously featured an underground economy and that he did not have to provide evidence.

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

Fast-tracking the CSME

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he issue regarding the slow pace of implementation of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Single Market and Economy (CSME) again took prominence during the 18th Special Meeting earlier this week of Caricom Heads of Government meeting held in Trinidad and Tobago. During the special meeting held to review the CSME, heads were challenged yet again to take the necessary steps to ensure its implementation is fast-tracked so that citizens all over the Region would begin to experience the benefits of the CSME. The CSME, conceived in 1989 and given various priority areas for focused attention over its existence, is intended to better position member states to grow by accessing and using their combined, rather than individual resources. Its successful legal and institutional measures and mechanisms include transforming regional arrangements into domestic law.

It is meant to be an integrated development strategy that is intended to benefit the people of the Region by providing more and better opportunities to produce and sell goods and services and to attract investments. It is built on five core regimes – free movement of capital, free movement of goods, free movement of skills, the provision of services, and the right of establishment.

It is well accepted that the rate of implementation of the CSME is not at the level where stakeholders would like it to be. In fact, some persons have claimed that they are yet to be directly touched by the benefits of the CSME. Hence, the Region’s Private Sector, and more importantly; citizens themselves, are demanding better results from governments and policymakers.

No other than the Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque had said while the regional grouping has significantly advanced the CSME, “we must do better”. He had stressed the need for more work to be done to fill the existing gaps.

At their most recent gathering, Heads embraced the declaration which shows that they are committed to all the major areas; both of the single market and of the single economy. Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister has stated that this declaration demonstrates the commitment of various countries in ensuring that the 10 categories of workers agreed to previously, would enjoy free movement throughout the Region. New categories were also added, among them agricultural workers, persons working in the fashion industry and related fields such as barbering and hairdressing, among others.

The Heads also agreed to a schedule of deadlines to ensure certain measures are put into effect within the next three months, at the end of 2019 and subsequently, implementation by 2020.

Even though much is yet to be achieved regarding the implementation of the CSME, its successes thus far cannot be underestimated. For instance, agreements were made to establish and operationalise various community institutions needed for the effective operation of the CSME. These include the Barbados-based Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality, the Caricom Competition Commission headquartered in Suriname, the Caricom Development Fund in Barbados, and the Trinidad and Tobago-based Implementation Agency for Crime and Security.

From all indications, work has advanced in shaping regional policies and strategies in the productive sectors to achieve increased production, competitiveness, and exports of goods and services. In agriculture, the focus has been on addressing the constraints to reducing the Region’s high food import bill, increasing exports, and achieving food and nutrition security. In the services sector, it was highlighted that strategic plans are being developed for professional, cultural, entertainment and sports, health and wellness, educational, financial, construction, tourism, and ICT services.

Additionally, under CSME provisions, Caricom nationals have a right to enter a member state and be given a stay of six months. Member states have also moved towards the use of common embarkation/disembarkation forms and the introduction of Caricom/non-Caricom lines at immigration points at ports of entry.

Over the years, there has been quite a lot of talk about the CSME and its benefits; the time has come for action.

Governments and policymakers must place greater focus on advancing the CSME so that citizens of the Region would enjoy its full benefits.

National Geographic Explorer photographer, Patrick A Martin captured two bears while they were wrestling during a rainy day. Shot producer David Y Lee remarked, “I realise that these bears are wrestling, but I interpret this moment as a human one – that they are hugging. And that makes me smile.” (nationalgeographic.com)

Nikki Haley: We can't give Saudi Arabia a pass on Khashoggi

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n an apparent break with President Donald Trump, outgoing US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley suggested the Saudi government needs to be held in continued account for the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“The whole situation with Khashoggi is, we can’t give them a pass. We can’t,” Haley said in an interview with The Atlantic magazine conducted Wednesday and released Friday. “The reason is, you have Saudi government officials that did this in a Saudi consulate. The Saudi government doesn’t get a pass. We can’t condone it, we can’t ever say it’s okay, we can’t ever support thuggish behaviour, and we have to say that,” Haley said.

Haley acknowledged that the US had imposed sanctions against Saudi individuals allegedly involved in the dissident journalist’s death, but said the US needed to continue to “push back” until there was full accountability. Asked specifically about whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman needed to be held to account, Haley said “the administration needs to decide.”

“It’s his government. His government did this, and so he technically is responsible,” she noted.

Haley’s comments stand in contrast to the staunch defence Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have launched on behalf of the crown prince. She spoke in the wake of a classified CIA briefing from which

echoed.

bipartisan senators emerged seemingly convinced of the crown prince’s role in the premeditated murder and intent on pushing the administration to take a tougher stand.

“There’s not a smoking gun, there’s a smoking saw,” Sen. Lindsey Graham said, referencing allegations that Saudi operatives dismembered Khashoggi’s body after killing him on October 2 inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey.

Trump and members of his administration have declined to draw a direct line from MBS to the murder. In a late-November statement, Trump equivocated on the crown prince’s culpability.

“It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!” the US President wrote. He defended the strategic importance of the US-Saudi alliance – a point that Pompeo has repeatedly

‘Caterwauling’ In a Wall Street Journal op-ed the day before he and Defence Secretary James Mattis briefed lawmakers, Pompeo wrote that, “the October murder of Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey has heightened the Capitol Hill caterwauling and media pile-on. But degrading USSaudi ties would be a grave mistake for the national security of the US and its allies.”

Haley’s Atlantic interview underscored the gap between her and her soon-to-be former colleagues, perhaps offering an indication of why she decided to step down at the end of the year.

Though both Trump and Pompeo have cast action against the prince as a zero-sum question in which the entire future of the US-Saudi alliance could be imperilled, Haley dismissed the notion that holding the kingdom accountable would bring about the end of their partnership on issues like Iran and Yemen.

“Everything’s not black and white. That’s the hard part,” she said. “I think that the main thing is: No, we don’t condone this; no, we’re not going to continue to be your partners if you continue to use thuggish behaviour. But you know what?

That country is our complete partner when it comes to fighting Iran, and our only real partner when it comes to fighting Iran, so it’s a balancing act, but you have to do both.” (CNN)

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Get real Ramjattan! Sense of desperation (Pt 2)

Dear Editor, The experienced and erudite lawyer, statesman and politician Mr Ralph Ramkarran in his Blog –The Conversation Tree – gave sound advice when he said that, “The AFC is at a fork in the road. Logic would suggest that it should take the bend leading to independence.

Necessity for survival, as the AFC would perceive it, would force it to take the bend leading to further subservience to APNU.” This was on December 1, 2018. The choice was ‘independence’ or ‘subservience’.

However, what the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said in his 2019 Budget speech clearly dispelled any remnants of doubt whatsoever that the AFC has chosen the latter ‘fork in the road’ proposed by Ramkarran, instead they have chosen the road to ‘further subservience to APNU’, more specifically the PNC. It is amusing to see the AFC Leaders, Ramjattan, Trotman and Moses vying for the top spot!

When I read the headline in the media that, “Ramjattan sees parallel between PPP’s stance on sugar workers and PNCR Chairman’s position on jobs for supporters” I was totally dumbfounded!

But it serves to confirm that the Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC) is totally myopic and has allowed his hate not only for the PPP but for the sugar workers who refused to vote for his party to take precedence over the survival of the AFC as an independent political force.

The bashing the AFC received was simply too much so he threw caution to the wind and spewed his venom at random towards the sugar workers. He incorrectly drew this comparison: “Volda made a statement recently that she’ll get some employment for her people. You want to say that

that is wrong but when you state all the time that you got to employ sugar workers, you got to employ sugar workers that is not wrong. That is not jobs for the boys? Oh! That is not jobs for the boys. If it is anything it is also jobs for the boys. You want us to employ your people because you are very strong in the sugar estate areas and we must pump more, we must pump more.

No! We will certainly have to bring it to an end”.

It is quite unfortunate that the Vice President of this country can see a sugar worker’s job as ‘jobs for the boys’!

More so, Ramjattan so consumed in his hate for the sugar workers, failed to realise that Volda Lawrence subsequently made this statement, ‘I have learned that as a leader I must be cognisant of what I say and do, and must not allow emotions or political fervour to get in the way. So to all those whom I have offended in one way or another, I humbly apologise’. Something is definitely wrong with the way Ramjattan looks at issues!

This man who was born, bred and raised among sugar workers and farmers forgot that thousands of sugar workers voted for the AFC in 2011 and in 2015. He forgot that the same sugar workers would have comprised members and supporters of the APNU as well.

But Ramkarran hit the nail plumb on the head when he succinctly and conclusively stated that, “The PPP supporters which the AFC had encouraged to cross over have now moved away because the AFC now appears not as a moderating influence on APNU (PNCR), but as a facilitator”. May I add a willing ‘facilitator’ for a brewing dictatorship reign. This was the final nail in the coffin.

Ramjattan knows fully well that the AFC has not a glimmer of hope in deceiving the sugar workers once again so

CT scanner not operable at NA Hospital Dear Editor, The Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence was delivering her speech on Budget 2019 to justify that the Health Sector is good for Guyanese. What the Minister failed to inform the Guyanese people, is that despite having a good Health Sector the Government does not use the local health facilities, they access their healthcare overseas. What was even more disturbing is that the Minister held two photographs to justify that

the CT scan machine is in working order at the New Amsterdam Hospital, but the truth is that the CT scan machine is not working, the machine is still installing and is not operable as yet.

The Minister should ensure that information provided is accurate before it is presented to the National Assembly and the people of Guyana.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussain

it is time him to ‘nail’ them to the proverbial cross!

He seemed to suffer convenient amnesia that in order to get votes in 2015, it was the AFC and not the APNU which went into the sugar workers communities with leaflets promising ’20 per cent wage increase across the board’. I confronted an AFC member from Fyrish with the leaflet in my village and he was adamant that the AFC would give that increase.

Moreover, the AFC was on television in Berbice promising the same, one of them who now works with the Public Security Ministry had even said that “cane cutters will not get the black thing on their skin anymore”! It was a rosy picture for sugar.

Then in January this year Ranjattan claimed that God wanted sugar to fail because oil was found! He again conveniently removed the blame from the coalition.

Subservient indeed! This was scoring ‘political points’ Ramjattan!

Let me remind Mr Ramjattan that it is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that the dismissed sugar workers are being taken care of even before being severed.

It has an obligation to provide support for the livelihoods of those affected by the sugar sector reform it wants to implement (EU’s National Adaptation Strategy stipulation). Since the coalition has miserably failed to do so, then it is the responsibility of the Opposition to remind and agitate them on the dismissed workers’ behalf and it has nothing to do with political affiliation! Get real Ramjattan!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf Region Six RDC Councillor

Dear Editor, No amount of political charges and allegations will stop the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) from winning the next National and Regional Elections. The APNU/AFC coalition humiliated our older people; they took away benefits in the form of water and electricity subsidies.

As for our country’s greatest assets, the young people, this APNU/ PNC Government took away thousands of jobs from their parents and the youths cannot find jobs, which is affecting their financial security and social means to survive. The education system is deteriorating rapidly and our culture inundated with the rise in crime we are witnessing under this present regime.

To call a ‘spade a spade’ in the eyes of the coalition politicians, means something `very different in the eyes of the many citizens whose lives have been turned upside-down over the past three and a half years. In the face of even stronger survival challenges, citizens have given the strongest signals that they see no ‘good life’ in the radical and vindictive measures being actioned by the Government.

Their attempts at divergence of attention and cover-ups, requires the strongest tinted lens as these undercurrents are now seen by most as bright as the rising sun on a cloudless day.

Notable is the new threats from leading PNCR activists and APNU Ministers Joe Harmon and Volda Lawrence against PPP/C won NDC’s. These

threats do not go down lightly with the civic minded people of this country.

Key attention and necessary public notifications must and will be given to any unjustified targeting and suffering of any area of this country. NDC’s and Municipalities at the same time must work to support the balanced distribution of benefits to all residents.

The intention is to cushion the effect of the power driven dictatorship and realise best service delivery in advancing the development of communities.

It is also imperative that the outstanding issues at the Guyana Elections Commission be regularised in the in the interest of transparency and accountability.

The organisation cannot divorce itself from matters related to low voter response, as it is a wellknown fact that Public Relations matters and training are instructive as a contributing factor.

It is a matter of national concern that GYD$ 5 billion has been allocated in the 2019 Financial accountability for this agency, while for previous periods it was found to be wrought with financial anomalies according to

audits carried out by The Auditor General.

The non-audit GECOM since 2015 is of important note. Additionally, appointed Commissioners to date, are not in receipt of a budget or accounts of spending related to the GECOM activities.

The PPP/C will get stronger based on its connectivity, having better dealings and fighting for the people in Guyana.

This is very troubling to the APNU/AFC coalition and as we approach the 2020 National and Regional Elections, the Electorates will have to vote for the most vibrant and creditable List of Candidates. From the showing at the recent LGE, there is an emergence at the Local Government level a cadre of brilliant professional persons including youths.

The PPP/C list of candidates will certainly be blessed with a Young and brilliant Presidential Candidate along with men and women of substance.

With Bharrat Jagdeo’s leadership guidance, a powerful PPP victory is inevitable.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Clear sign

Dear Editor, The refusal to offer an apology or at least a withdrawal of the claim in view of proof presented, and no sanctions, not even a reprimand from the one in charge of proceedings within the hallowed Chamber,

is a clear sign of the level of autocracy the country has descended to.

This does not hold well for unity and cohesion.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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By Regina Yau and Rashad Brathwaite

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ith violence against women and girls being one of the biggest and most entrenched human rights issues in the world, many anti-violence activists, educators and charities see the next generation as our best hope for bringing an end to gender-based violence. This is because if we can inculcate today’s children and teenagers with a firm belief in gender equality and non-violence, we would be able to begin gradually changing mindsets and cultural beliefs as the old cultural guards pass away and the next generation takes over.

The importance of actively educating children and teenagers about violence against women is also of paramount important because in today’s increasingly interconnected world where kids can get online with simple a tap on their smartphones, they are likely to become increasingly exposed to violence and misogyny beyond their own communities. Therefore, it is critical that parents, guardians, mentors and teachers to begin educating children about non-violence, gender equality and violence against women and girls as soon as possible.

In this “16 For 16” article, we present 16 suggestions and tips that adults can use for teaching children and teenagers about gender equality, non-violent behaviour and the issue of violence against women and girls.

Foundation Get YOURSELF Educated!

The first step for parents and adults must is to become aware about the issue of violence against women and girls and how it impacts individuals, families and communities. There are

lots of resources online, including The Pixel Project, which can provide basic information about violence against women. Once you know the basics, you will be better prepared to set up conversations about the issue, and identify and stop potentially violent and/or misogynistic behaviour displayed by your child.

Develop open lines of communication

Enable children to feel comfortable coming to you with any question or issue.

Make sure they know that you will listen to them and that their voice matters.

Children who feel that they are taken seriously by a par-

ent or mentor are less likely to run away from their own questions and more likely to listen to the advice passed down to them. By keeping yourself approachable, you are more likely to be able to guide them towards

older children and teenagers, go to the library or bookshop together to pick out books that promote healthy respectful behaviour as well as female characters who break the usual “princess” or “damsel in distress” mode.

Positive reinforcement

making the right decisions and taking the right actions when faced with issues and experiences like bullying and sexism which are related to and/or may lead to violence against women later on in life.

Books! Books! Books!

The books that children read in school and at home are easily accessible materials that can be used to teach important lessons. Use stories to teach values such as gender equality, kindness, non-violence, and respecting others. For younger children, select books that give examples of kind, non-violent behaviour while showing the consequences of violent behaviour like bullying. For

Compliment and reward kids when they display positive, non-violent and non-sexist behaviour when solving problems and interacting with other people. In addition, simply pointing out and punishing violent or aggressive behaviour such as bullying will not help them understand why their behaviour is unacceptable. A better approach would be to show them why it is negative and to be ready to provide ready alternatives of positive behaviour that they can easily remember and use. Keeping calm and listening to the child or teenager while teaching them to handle may also help transform a potentially stressful disciplinary situation into a learning opportunity about non-violence and respect in relationships and towards women and girls.

Boundaries are good!

lent modes of discipline can help teach your child about peaceful means for resolving interpersonal problems and conflicts. Once they are able to recognise and respect boundaries, be it their own or other people’s, then they will be better able to understand the importance of consent in relationships and where to draw the line with aggressive or anti-social behaviour towards others.

It takes a village

Parents are seldom the only adult influencers in a child’s world which will eventually include some or all of the following adults: teachers, tutors, coaches, mentors, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older cousins, guardians. So don’t just focus on your particular relationship with your child or teenage.

Remember the importance of building an active network of peers by making sure you keep communication lines open with the other adults in their world and work together with them to stand united in educating the kids about the importance of non-violence and of helping to stop violence against women.

Be a good sport!

Many schools and other organisations focused on children and teenagers use sports as a way to help their

charges channel their energies in a constructive way.

Sports can help kids focus by giving them a goal to work towards while teaching team about team work and fair play. It is also a safety valve for letting off steam and aggression in a contained and controlled environment. Done right, sports can help children address and control aggressive tendencies, while learning good sportsmanship including fair play, accepting failure gracefully, and striving for success without hurting others.

Act it out!

Drama class or getting involved in plays can provide an outlet for children and teenagers to focus and learn about the issue of violence against women through storytelling and acting. If you are a parent and you know that there is a school production of a play that addresses issues related to violence against women and gender inequality, encourage your child or teenager to take part. If you are a drama teacher at a high school, make a conscious decision to select a play or musical that provide opportunities for your students to explore and talk about violence against women.

(16days.thepixelproject.net)

Establishing boundaries for your children about what is or is not acceptable is part and parcel of teaching them about healthy problem solving, healthy relationships and non-violent conflict resolution. If you see your child engaging in violent behaviour, imposing a “time out” or other non-vio-

S

tick notes to your locker with old family photographs, or build a pictorial family tree on your refrigerator. Be sure to get a grown-up’s permission before you begin.

What you need:

printed copies of old photographs scissors large, clear glass gems (available at craft stores) clear-drying glue large round magnets

Instructions:

1. Cut your photo larger than the glass gem.

2. Put a small drop of glue on the gem’s flat side and spread it around with your finger.

3. Press the gem onto the photo, centring over the face.

Let dry.

4. Use your scissors to trim the photo as close to the gem as possible.

5. Turn over the gem and glue a magnet to the back of the paper. Let dry. (familytreemagazine)

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saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Elections reform

Electronic tabulation paves the way for e-voting – outgoing US Ambassador

By Vahnu Manikchand

O

utgoing US Ambassador Perry Holloway believes that electronic tabulation might very well pave the way for the implementation of e-voting in Guyana.

The need for both electoral reform and Constitution reform has long been highlighted, and during the campaign leading up to the 2015 elections which got it into office, the APNU/AFC Coalition had committed to implementing these reforms, but is yet to take tangible steps to do so – something for which it has received much criticism.

However, having observed two Local Government Elections – 2016 and 2018 – during his three-year tenure, which has culminated, Ambassador Holloway has posited that electronic tabulation could help reduce the length of time it takes to announce the results of polling.

“I’m still a big believer that electronic tabulation can go a long way towards getting the results quicker; though I have to admit (that) the last Local Government Elections, the results were pretty timely, and kudos (are due) to GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) and everybody who worked so hard to make that happen. But it would be nice to be able to almost have near or as close as to instantaneous [results] as you could,” he asserted.

According to the outgoing US diplomat, electronic tabulation is audible, and still requires the electorate to cast their votes on ballot papers which would be placed in ballot boxes. However, the counting process changes and becomes more efficient.

“I observed one centre at the first Local Government Elections, and I think they counted those votes 12 times, and every time it was the same number; it would never change. So why are we counting? “…I guess someone didn’t like the results, and they wanted to be sure. And I understand counting two or three times, you do want to be sure that every vote counts; but I think electronic tabulation goes a long way for that, and I think it’s a way to ease in the greater electronic voting,” he opined.

E-voting

However, Ambassador Holloway acknowledged that full electronic voting might be a little difficult, given the lack of internet connectivity throughout the entire country, particularly in the deep hinterland areas.

“But the tabulation, I think, is very doable, and I think it’s a way to get started,” he contended.

According to the outgoing US Ambassador, the Guyana Government can certainly pursue this on its own, using its own funds; or approach some of the different interna-

Outgoing US Ambassador Perry Holloway answers a question posted by Guyana Times senior journalist Vahnu Manikchand (seated right) during a recent interveiw

tional organisations and even bilateral countries to possibly get some assistance to implement electronic tabulation.

Nevertheless, the US Diplomat pointed out that, having observed the electoral process here and in more than eight other countries, it is difficult to carry out any significant fraud at the actual ballot box during the tabulation process.

“Every system has its flaws, but at the actual box, it seems to me very very hard to commit any significant fraud. Yeah, one guy (can) do something, but like tens of thousands of votes? I mean, there could be other places where the system is weaker, you’d have to talk to some of the experts. But I was very impressed with the sanctity of the box there at the poll-

ing stand [in Guyana]. What happens before or after, that’s probably areas we may have to be more vigilant, and I’m sure they are,” Ambassador Holloway stated.

Over the years, there have been numerous and repeated recommendations for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to undergo reforms. In fact, Elections observer groups both internationally and regionally have been insisting that while GECOM’s purpose for existence is to administer free and fair electoral processes, Guyana should consider reforms that would

reduce or eliminate the politicised composition of the elections body, in order to ensure independence and impartiality.

Currently, the elections oversight body is comprised using the Carter Centre model that was introduced for the 1992 elections to guide the composition of GECOM. This model provides for three members each from Government and the Opposition; and the Chairman to be appointed by the President from a list of names submitted to him by the Opposition -- a process which many say has since ex-

hausted its usefulness.

In fact, this was the position taken by President Granger back in September during a press conference, where he said that the matter will be included on the agenda to be discussed with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

In turn, Jagdeo had said he is open to having these discussions with the Head of State, but only if the new method proposed would ensure complete impartiality at GECOM. However, President Granger’s willingness to host talks on the matter comes even as he continues to face heavy criticism over his unilateral appointment of retired Justice James Patterson as the new GECOM Chairman last year, after rejecting three lists of six nominees submitted by the Opposition Leader.

While the need to end the political appointments at the elections body is evident, commentators and political activists have said it is too late now for such reforms to be realized, especially before the highly anticipated 2020 General and Regional Elections – which are to be held in the same year that Guyana will see first oil.

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saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Albouystown resident gets 9 Duo granted months jail for stealing tools bail on narcotics trafficking charge

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Jailed: Gregory Simmons

5 0 - y e a r - o l d Albouystown, Georgetown resident will spend the next nine months behind bars after he was sentenced by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a break and enter and larceny charge.

The charge against Gregory Simmons alleged that on December 6, 2018, at Bel Air Park, Georgetown, he broke into the dwelling house of Mark Thrim and stole two diagnostic meters

worth $170,000, one impact gun worth $45,000 and 20 screwdrivers worth $40,000.

The unrepresented man admitted that he committed the act and told the Magistrate, “Your worship I would like to beg for lil leniency”.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that the victim secured his home on December 5, 2018 and retired to bed. However, on the following day at about 05:30h, he discovered some window panes missing and his door open.

Upon making checks around his apartment, he discovered the aforementioned items missing.

He reported the matter to the Police and based on investigations, the man was apprehended with some of the missing items in his possession. He was taken into custody and the charge was instituted.

D

avid lynch, 41, a mechanic of Lot 112 Craig Housing Scheme; and 39-year-old Avlin Richards, a mortician of Lot 157 Cortha Street, Albouystown; appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with a narcotics trafficking charge.

The charge alleged that the duo on December 5, 2018, at Cortha Street, Albouystown had in their possession 245 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Both parties denied the charge after it was read to them.

Defence Attorney Kemoa Griffith made an application for bail for the duo while informing the court that Richards was at work when

he received a phone call detailing that Police were at her premises. On the other hand, Lynch who is employed at the aforementioned address was arrested when the drug was found in a washing machine on the premises.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield informed the court that the drugs was found in a washing machine under a stairway but had no objections to bail being granted with conditions.

The Chief Magistrate granted the duo their pre-trial liberty at $100,000 bail each and they were instructed to report to the Criminal Investigations Department, Narcotics Branch on a regular basis.

The matter was adjourned until December 28.

Foot in mouth disease…

S

…and Ramjattan

ome people just don’t know when to shut up. Or maybe they’re so desperate to ingratiate themselves with the powerful, they just can’t realise they’re making matters worse. Take the case of Volda Lawrence, newly elected chair of the PNC, who surely wishes her illadvised burst of candour as to PNC’s hiring policy (only PNC cardholders need apply!) would disappear.

With the PNC presidential candidate for 2020 seemingly up in the air, Volda was clearly trying to ground with the hardcore, lumpen elements in the Region Four district, by speaking in their vernacular and register to emphasise she was with in their corner. Now this constituency is key to solidifying the PNC voters who’d be showing up at the next Congress to select the said presidential candidate.

But before you could say, “Kabaka!”, up jumped Raphael Trotman, leader of the AFC to vouch for the good lady!!

Calling the furore over Volda’s assertion, Trotman dubbed it an “unnecessary distraction” and declaimed: “The chair, I as leader have known and worked closely with for 25 years and has never shown racial or political partisanship, but in fact, has worked tirelessly, as a politician and as a Minister of Government for the betterment of people of all walks of life and all backgrounds.”

However, Volda, apologised to those whose sentiments she might’ve hurt but not for the import of her words.

She’d rather keep the bird in the hand (the PNC lumpen crowd) than the birds in the bush (non-PNC types). The endorsement of Trotman is like the kiss of death to the PNC-diehards, who’ve never forgiven him for demanding the PNC apologise for its past thuggery. They were the ones who performed the said thuggish actions! Volda probably wanted to strangle Trotman.

Now up comes Khemraj Ramjattan of “dead meat” fame and Chairman of the AFC, to resurrect Volda’s declamation and “excuse” it – in Parliament, of all places!! Ramjattan exclaimed “So what if Volda said only PNC-types should apply for Government jobs?? By fighting to keep the sugar industry going, wasn’t the PPP saying the same thing for East Indians?”

So, while Trotman’s endorsement could’ve chased away the PNC’s bird in the hand, Ramjattan’s “explanation” will definitely push the “two (wavering) birds in the bush” into the PPP camp!! So, what’s the bottom line out of the desperate attempts of the AFC leaders to survive their “four per cent” implosion? Pissed off Volda Lawrence, who’s the front runner in the sweepstakes to lead the PNC into the 2020 “mother of all elections”!!

But Ramjattan should be ashamed of himself for brownnosing Volda so blatantly and oleaginously!!

Especially when he’s neither PNC nor her friend!!

…and David Patterson

As your Eyewitness mentioned several times, the Princeton philosopher Harry Frankfurt made a crucial distinction between lying and bullshit. You lie when you know the facts, but you misstate them to score “points”.

Bullshitting, however, is when you don’t give a damn about what you are saying – you just speak for effect! As Frankfurt showed, bullshitting is worse than lying especially with people in authority – because of the possible disastrous consequences.

When David Patterson opted to pull out assertions from his nether region about the PPP and feasibility studies, without making any attempt to check the facts, he was bullshitting big time. And as the Public Infrastructure Minister, this could destroy Guyana – even with the coming oil revenues. But what was more revealing, when nailed immediately on one of his assertions by PPP MP Irfaan Ali, Patterson swore on his Bible and promised to apologise if Ali were to provide written evidence.

Well, Ali did so provide but Patterson refused to apologise.

Proving that bullshitters have no character! …and Winston Jordan Because of the coming oil funds, Jordan boasted Guyana will attract businesses. Scotiabank immediately announced it’ll pull out of Guyana. Two weeks later, Bank of Baroda did the same!

They see Guyana as the next Angola – much money but more corruption!

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

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saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP expresses worry over Bank of Baroda pull out ...Govt says nothing to worry about

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

T

he Opposition People’s Progressive Party has expressed worry over the withdrawal of another bank from Guyana’s economy, mere weeks after Scotiabank’s sell out to Republic Bank. This time, they argue that Bank of Baroda’s exit indicates a lack of confidence in the economy.

This is according to former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who zeroed in on the surprise news that the India-owned Bank of Baroda would be withdrawing its operations from Guyana, to focus on its other international locations.

During his contribution

to the Budget Debates On Friday, Nandlall noted that commercial banks, in any economy, are a well-known barometer by which one can judge an economy’s performance and therefore urged the country not to turn a blind eye when banks are suddenly packing up shop and leaving.

He pointed to how well placed the commercial banks are in the economy and the amount of money they deal with, to reinforce that banks are better placed than most organisations to judge an economy’s financial health.

“Today, Bank of Baroda selling its operations in Guyana. That is what is happening, that is the reality on the ground. Three weeks ago, we were met by the announcement that Scotiabank was selling its operations in Guyana. And that is the reality. We can speak here in the finest of languages, using the best adjectives to describe the economy, but the reality out there is quite different,” Nandlall stressed.

Unfazed

The news did little, however, to faze Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

In fact, he claimed that the news of their impending pull out from the local market was known to the Government.

According to Jordan, in his rebuttal of the Opposition

at the end of the debate, the Government has in fact been trying to persuade the bank to reconsider.

“We tried to persuade them that doing business in Guyana (is good). What is important is what is happening generally. It didn’t start yesterday. Apparently, these banks consider doing business in these states not profitable anymore. Not that it isn’t making profit, but it’s not profitable (enough) because of the risks.”

“They have to contend with this regulation and that regulation. They have FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) to deal with. They have AML (Anti Money Laundering) to deal with. They don’t consider our territories to be profitable anymore.”

Jordan noted that the bank is not just pulling out of Guyana, but in several other territories. According to the Minister, this will present opportunities for local and overseas-based Guyanese businesses to “step up to the plate” and get into banking.

“Let us be very, very blunt. With five billion counting barrels of oil, who’s pulling out? Who’s unwilling to take a risk with five billion? American Airlines is here. United Airlines are back. And they will line up once the barrels are up. No one will run from Guyana

Border controversy

Date set for Venezuela to submit memorial – Greenidge ...says Guyana still open to meaningful cooperation with neighbour

By Jarryl Bryan

F

ollowing the submission of Guyana’s memorial on jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month, a date has in turn been set for the Venezuelan Government to submit its own counter memorial.

This was revealed by Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, during his contribution to the Budget Debates on Friday. According to the Minister, April 18, 2019 has been set for Venezuela to submit its counter memorial.

Greenidge remained optimistic that the ICJ has jurisdiction to resolve the controversy; something he noted has plagued its relations with Venezuela. According to the Minister, this issue has undermined the country’s ability to develop its sovereign territory.

“Now that the matter is before the ICJ, some observers may be tempted to ask what if anything the MoFA is doing on this matter. Venezuela remains our

The International Court of Justice

neighbour and we still have to work closely with Venezuela on matters of mutual interest within the framework of several regional and international institutions where we share common membership,” Greenidge said.

“Notwithstanding the ICJ process, Guyana remains open to pursuing meaningful functional cooperation whenever that opportunity arises.

We have sought to do just this in relation to health challenges, such as measles, malaria and other infectious diseases,” he also observed.

Greenidge pointed out

that Venezuela continues to experience a significant outflow of its citizens, who seek better opportunities in neighbouring countries in the Region. The Minister acknowledged that Guyana has in recent years found itself the source of many thousands of migrants to other states in the region.

“The Government of Guyana has been working closely with relevant regional and international organisations to agree on a humanitarian response to the massive movements of people. turn to page 15

Bank of Baroda has become the latest international bank to exit Guyana’s economy

because they see a bleak future,” the Minister stressed.

According to the Financial Express, the banking institution is looking to divest its entire 100 per cent stake in its Bank of Baroda Guyana Inc subsidiary through investment bankers. It was noted that the sale is part of a strategy to exit relatively less remunerative interna-

tional markets by the Bank of Baroda, which continues to call itself ‘India’s international bank’.

The bank is now seeking bids from investment bankers to help find a buyer. It has asked for technical and financial proposals by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the Bank of Baroda branch here has not made any state-

ment on the matter.

This move by the Indian bank comes just over a week after the Canadian-based Scotiabank announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its banking operations in Guyana and eight other Caribbean nations to Republic Financial Holdings Ltd, a deal worth some US$123 million.

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saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police recruits treated Man jailed for wounding to luncheon reputed wife

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man was on Friday jailed for two years by the Chief Magistrate after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for wounding his reputed wife.

Ivor Gills, who was represented by Attorney Adrian Smith, admitted to the offence when the charge was read to him. Police stated that on November 26, 2018, at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Keron Blaze with intent to mane, disfigure or disable her.

According to the facts of the case presented by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, the victim was relaxing in a chair at the above address when Gills requested that they speak.

The Virtual Complainant reportedly refused and in doing so proceeded to a bathroom in the house. However, as she was exiting the said bath-

A section of the trainee ranks at the Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary

Jailed: Ivor Gillis

room, the defendant used a scissors to stab her several times about her body.

Blaze was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was treated. Gills was later arrested and charged with the offence.

He was sentenced by Magistrate Ann McLennan who ordered that he seek counselling while in prison.

R

ecruits from the Felix Austin Police College who are currently undergoing training were treated to a special luncheon by senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force on Friday.

The annual luncheon saw trainees being served by officers at the Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary.

Speaking at the event was Force Training Officer, Clifton Hicken, who said the aim behind the initiative is to serve as an appreciative act to the recruits who

will be entering the Guyana Police Force soon.

Hicken noted that through this initiative, the new officers will be able to interact with their seniors on one level. He further urged the trainees to put their “best foot forward” as they enter their new professions.

“On behalf of the administrative team, I would like to extend well wishes to all.

As you go off into the world of work, I trust that you do your work to the best of your abilities,” the Deputy Police

Commissioner stated.

According to Hicken, over the years, the Police Force has seen a significant boost with more successful batches of recruits applying.

He pointed out that following this batch, another is set to begin training in a matter of weeks.

Nevertheless, the Force’s Training Officer outlined that most of the recruits who are successful during training have gone out in the field and are performing their duties excellently. In fact, he disclosed that the Force has seen more qualified recruits joining its team.

Hicken urges qualified persons joining the Police Force to do so with an open mind and be prepared to go through the necessary training and ranking structure.

Among the top officials serving the recruits at the luncheon on Friday were Commissioner of Police Leslie James, Divisional Commanders, the Crime and Traffic Chiefs, as well as heads of the various administrative departments within the Police Force.

Brazilian businesswoman, miner arraigned with human trafficking

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hief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday remanded a Brazilian national along with a miner after they were slapped with separate charges of human trafficking when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Thirty-two-year-old Christina Rodriquez Gomes and 50-year-old Arnold Melville of Iteringbang, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) were not required to plea to the indictable charge.

The indictable charge against Gomes alleged that between November 4 and 28, 2018, at her business place, the Ola Hotel, she engaged in Trafficking In Persons (TIP) by harbouring two Venezuelan women by abusing their positing for the purpose of labour exploitation.

Another charge read that on the same dates and location, Gomes confiscated their travel documents.

The accused was represented by Attorney Siand Dhurjon, who in a bail application, informed the court that his client received application from the Venezuelan women to be hired as cooks but they were hired as maids instead and were paid on a weekly basis.

He further stated that this issue stemmed from a misunderstanding between the women and their employer.

However, she was remanded to prison until January 3, 2019.

On the other hand, Melville was slapped which charges alleging that between November 4 and 28, 2018, at Iteringbang, he assisted Gomes by recruiting and transporting the two women by means of deception for the purpose of labour exploitation. He was represented by Attorney Clyde Forde who made an unsuccessful bail application. He too was remanded to prison until March 19, 2018.

His matter was transferred to the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court.

11 More dents in local drug network to come – outgoing US Ambassador W news

saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

hile positing that a lot more work needs to be done, outgoing United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, has lauded efforts by drug enforcement agencies, both local and foreign, for trying to put a dent in the illegal narcotics trade in Guyana.

Being positioned on the South American continent with strong ties to the Caribbean region, Guyana has long been identified as a transshipment point for major drug trafficking activities. It was against this backdrop that the US established a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office here.

Ambassador Holloway had played a critical role in the setting up of the DEA office here, which was done in February 2016 – less than five months after his arrival in Guyana.

During a recent interview with a group of local journalists ahead of his formal departure on December 9, after serving his three-year tenure, Ambassador Holloway asserted that it was too early to gage the success of the DEA here but noted that

more positive results can be expected in the coming years. “... The investigation of narcotics crime and the related crime of money laundering, these investigations take years and not weeks or months. So if you’re going to bring down an organisation or a kingpin type person, you don’t do that in a week or two weeks.”

He noted that the DEA has done a great job in Guyana.

“They are not Policemen, they are liaison, they are here to share information, develop information, talk to people... Now after three years with the DEA here, we are beginning to develop some stuff. But I think in the next two or three years, you are going to see a lot more positive actions coming from your law enforcement entities and them cooperating with international law enforcement,” the US Diplomat stated.

One of those developments the former Ambassador spoke about is the arrest of Guyanese hotelier, Shervington “Big Head” Lovell, who was arrested in

Outgoing US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway

Jamaica last month for narcotics trafficking. He was recently extradited to the US where he faced additional charges.

According to reports, Lovell, who is the owner of Hotel Tower on Main Street, Georgetown, was arraigned before a Magistrate in a New York Court and pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to violate Maritime Drug Enforcement Law. Following months of investigation and intelligence gathering, the US issued an arrest warrant for the Guyanese businessman in August. However, his de-

tainment was strategic since authorities were monitoring his movements over the past months, which saw him meeting with associates in both Georgetown and Jamaica, as they allegedly planned a cocaine shipment to The Netherlands.

Court documents from the US revealed Lovell allegedly sought help on how to launder money from The Netherlands, since he had reportedly done so from the US and Canada. It was the first time Lovell was attempting to pursue such via the European country.

Nevertheless, Lovell’s arrest, Ambassador Holloway posited, was as a result of collaboration between the DEA office and local law enforcement agencies such as the Guyana Police Force and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).

“It just so happens he was arrested in Jamaica but there was a lot of reasons for that. He was meeting up with some other guys so it was a way to get everybody in one place at one time. That has been a small success story,” he noted.

According to the outgoing US Diplomat, he has not seen any evidence to show that transshipment has gotten worst during the three years he has been in Guyana.

However, he pointed out that the fight against this scourge of narco-trafficking has not ended.

“It is illegal so they don’t tell you how much is shipping through or not shipping through… [But] there is still drugs shipping through Guyana, there is drugs shipping through every country in South America. So Guyana is not alone in being a transshipment point,” he said.

Holloway went on to note that local authorities are working hard in trying to do whatever they can with the limited resources they have.

Against this backdrop, he posited that more needs to be done to curb narco-trafficking activities, especially those that use the country as a transshipment point.

“Guyana is so large and so under populated. I mean, there are so many places you can [go] in and out if you have the money and resourc-

es. And these guys are well funded and they don’t have to play by the rules. I think, my gut feeling is that things have gotten a little better as far as the big, big shipments going through Guyana,” the US Diplomat stated.

Asked by Guyana Times whether the DEA Office has been able to tap into the drug network that it suspected was here, the outgoing Ambassador explained that while they knew of certain individuals and organisations operating in Guyana, this is hard to prove. “[But] by coming here, we gathered a lot more information on those organisations and individuals. We have been working closely and can actually share information that we have with the Police and CANU. I think the next three years you are going to see a little bit of an acceleration of activity. Not because people were not working hard, but eventually this information reached a point where all of a sudden, it can be tied together and something can be done,” Ambassador Holloway stated. (Vahnu Manikchand)

“Don’t do anything you weren’t trained to do”– GPHC CEO

A section of the Patient Care Assistants who graduated on Friday

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hief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Brigadier Ret'd George Lewis sent a stern warning to the 56 Patient Care Assistants (PCA) to not attempt anything they were not trained to do while executing their duties.

The PCA were part of a six-month training programme which culminated with a graduation ceremony on Friday at the Georgetown Club. Although 60 persons started the training on June 5, 2018, only 56 completed the syllabus.

The CEO encouraged the graduates to demonstrate love to their patients while reminding them that they are not doctors.

“Remember that you are not doctors or you are not nurses, you are Patient Care Assistants. You’ve been trained to perform a function (so) do not attempt to perform anything that you were not trained for,” he warned.

The CEO further told

the graduates that if they attempt something they were not trained for, they are likely to make mistakes which may result in a patient losing his/her life.

He encouraged the new batch of healthcare providers to report any mistakes they make to their superiors.

“If you make a mistake ensure that you report the mistake as early as possible (because) in health care, time is of the essence and if you make a mistake and you report it early, then your

immediate superiors will be able to correct the mistake,” Lewis stated.

In addition, they were urged that if a mistake is made, the pathologist will be able to find out the reason behind the person’s death and trace it back to the individual(s).

Meanwhile, the Deputy CEO of medical facility, Elizabeth Gonsalves, reminded the graduates that they chose an interesting career and to make a difference as they enter the field.

She urged them not to think about the pay cheque but in fact serve others without prejudice.

Gonsalves' words were endorsed by the Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Kay Shako who also told new health providers to serve the patients as their families and provide equal health care regardless of ethnicity and other values.

Shako said, “Give equal health care to all patients and this is irrespective of the patient’s colour, the pa-

tient’s creed, the patient’s ethnicity, the socio-economic background the patient may come from, whether the patient has money or not, you deal with all patients the same way”.

The persons who graduated will be dispersed across Guyana, as many of the students were hauled from the hinterland areas. In fact, one of the best graduating students came from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

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saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Stabroek wharf relocation

Stalls still incomplete …as vendors cite skewed payment demands

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reparations to relocate vendors to a section of the Route 42 bus park (Diamond-Grove) will be extended for yet another week, as some stalls are yet to be constructed while others are almost completed.

During a visit to the site on Friday, the vendors were in process of detailing their arcades and ensuring that they were conducted uniformly to the specified dimensions. There are two sizes for the the stalls and as such, prices vary.

There is the smaller size, measuring five feet by eight feet with a height of 13 feet, which is set at a cost of $3,400 per month. The standard size, measuring 10 feet by eight feet with 13 feet height is priced at $6,800 per month.

Speaking with Guyana Times, a stall owner who was completing the construction process, Patrick Singh,

Stalls under construction at the Stabroek Market Square

noted that vendors were informed by City Hall that the stalls would be painted in cream, with brown outlines.

So far, only a few persons have completely painted and equipped their section with the expectation that others will follow suit before Saturday, December 15.

As it relates to payment, some vendors have complained that they were in-

formed of a $10,000 fee which is to be paid to the Council. While only some were briefed about this ‘arrangement’, others are under the impression that it is not a standard agreement but as a result of staff trying to “squeeze” monies out of their pockets.

During a previous visit in November, stall owners explained that they were

working assiduously to finish construction before the month of December since consumers would make preparations for their holiday shopping. Consequently, this did not materialise and works were delayed for another two weeks.

“Well we have like two more week till the month end so that should be good way. Now is the time that everybody hurrying cause not too long they mark off the stand number,” said a vendor who was positive about a timely completion.

As per requirements

by City Hall, merchants have spent their own monies to construct the stalls to the tune of $400,000 for one spot. The area which was previously cordoned-off with steel barriers has been changed to chain-link fencing.

City Hall presented a budget of $23M which was used to erect barricades and groundwork. As such, it was determined that the Council could not stand the cost of constructing stalls for some 82 vendors. It was decided that the vendors would be solely responsible for the construction exclusive of electrical lighting.

This decision was taken after the question was raised as to whether the Council could’ve taken up the mantle of producing the stalls to which the Town Clerk, Royston King responded, “We don’t have the money to do it.”

The wharf remains on the agenda for rehabilitation and this is slated to last for two years at the cost of some $400M. A recent fire engulfed a section of the wharf and the estimated damages were not announced. Until the relocation, the Route 42 buses (Diamond-Grove) will remain on Bugle Street.

Eco-industrial parks can reduce waste, energy consumption – US economist

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o effectively lessen waste generation, reduce energy consumption and improve social growth in Guyana’s manufacturing sector, there is a window of advantages if eco-industrial parks are established at key locations.

This is the opinion shared by a senior economist of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Ralph Lucan on Thursday evening, who presented the idea after taking a look at some sites on the coast.

According to Lucan, an eco-industrial park is one where “People collaborate in managing environment and resource issues and they interact. The community of business seeks collective benefit that is greater than the sum of individual benefits.

Each company would realise by optimising its individual performance.”

While there are a few negative implications, the positive outcomes far outweigh these setbacks. As companies utilise the waste materials such as steam from another plant, less greenhouse gases and chemicals are generated.

“There are benefits of an eco-industrial park and there are several around the world.

There is reduced use of waste of raw materials [and] water energy chemicals, minimise greenhouse gases; reduce waste through resource circularity or industrial symbiosis,” said the economist.

He added, “There is reduced economic environmental social risks; recycling of activities, improve competitiveness and profitability, better jobs, health and safety, better access to new technologies and finance by sharing ideas.”

However, such a concept must be carefully executed using a park management performance initiative to keep

US economist, Ralph Lucan

track of the growth rate and if companies are benefiting as they should. Employment generation is greatly influenced by this mechanism.

“Park management performance focuses on environmental performance in terms of energy management, waste management, water management. They think about the social performance in terms of the social structure, community outreach and there is improved productivity in employment generation, local business SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). The idea is more along the lines of sustainable development.”

He noted that in these cases, there must be adequate facilities on site to cater for emergencies including fires and industrial accidents.

Waste removal can pose as a major issue as large generation of unwanted materials are produced.

In Guyana, Lucan alluded to areas such as Coldigen, East Coast Demerara which is known for furniture making and woodworking activities. A similar setup can be seen at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt on the East Bank Demerara and there are possibilities for these areas to become primetime eco-industrial parks.

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saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden officials express MP calls for programmes to concern over “wastage” tackle child sexual abuse cases of food sent to dorms ...after 2018 half-year figures rise

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Councillors at the statutory meeting in Linden

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fficials at the Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) have expressed concerns over reports of "wastage" of food and a lack of accountability surrounding items sent to school dorms within the region. These issues were discussed on Thursday when the Council met for the hosting of its final statutory meeting for 2018, with numerous concerns being raised.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Orrin Gordon made reference to instances where large quantities of juices, for example, are sent by the Education Ministry that are just a few months away from the expiration date. The REO said in such a case, it is difficult for the students to consume the amount in the specified time allotted before expiration.

"We get juice, for example... about four or five hundred boxes came into the dorms, sent to the dorm; the juice, they are expired in October and November and

they come in September.

There's no way that the children can drink out the juice in that short space of time. So we had to do a set of things really, you know, to get that juice out as early as possible before the expiry date," Gordon told members of the Council. Councillors also pointed out that large amounts of food items are often disposed of, under these and other circumstances.

Gordon pointed out that large amounts of canned items are sometimes held inside the Council's storage which are obtained at a cheap cost since they are presumably close to expiration date. As such, he said the administration is working on cutting down on the purchase of canned items and has opted to focus on the consumption of fresh fruits.

"So, one of the things we've done is try our best to cut down on the amount of tin stuff that we are using.

Even the issue of the juices.

Certain juices we shouldn't even be buying. We said better you buy fruits and give

the children. But you know some habits are a bit hard to ease but piece by piece we will be able to deal with it," he said. Regional Chairman Renis Morian noted that there is need for better accountability regarding food sent into dorms.

"The overarching matter is this, we don't want wastage. We want our children to be adequately fed and we want good accountability as it relates to the stuff that is sent in. And then there must be some sort of knowledge base to know if you're buying in excess, etcetera," he said.

Over the course of the year, issues regarding food items at a few school dorms in the Region have been discussed. The Council had previously expressed concern that some food items which were being sent into dorms to be utiliSed were suspiciously not reaching the students but were allegedly being carted off instead. This had led to the suggestion by Morian for dorm staff to be rotated.

eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Vindhya Persaud has decried the reduced allocations to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) in the 2019 Budget.

This comment was concurrently made what another offender was found guilty and handed a life imprisonment sentence in the Sexual Offences Court at the Supreme Court for raping a one-year-old toddler.

Speaking on Thursday, Dr Persaud told members of the National Assembly of the alarming reports of child sexual abuse in Guyana, highlighted that 418 cases were already recorded for 2018.

“We cannot be immune to the paedophilia that occurs and we read about in the newspapers. Over 4000 cases of child sexual abuse were reported in 2017.

For this year along in the first six months, 481 cases; when will we wait, before it gets to a 1000 before a comprehensive programme is rolled out?” the MP questioned.

She stated that Social Protection Minister Amna Ally “did not mention” those numbers in her last Budget speech, adding that it was a “very thin document.” In fact, the PPP/C member stressed that she has been saying the same things over and over to no avail.

“I sound like a broken record when every year I keep asking for counsellors in school. I have asked for specialists to provide therapy for children who are suffering from post-trauma disorder of abuse and sexu-

PPP/C MP, Dr Vindhya Persaud

al abuse. By the Minister of Social Protection’s admission, there is one psychologist in the whole country.

There are 88 case workers that service the children’s home and centres,” she expressed.

“Clearly, the Child Care and Protection Agency needs more money as was espoused at a recent meeting, needs more financing but what is the money being used for – fences and the CC&PA capital budget has been slashed by 50 per cent.

Is this how we take care of our children?” Persaud quipped.

She is of the view that Guyana’s health sector is “caught in the troughs of mismanagement”, having noted that there are “crippling shortages” which are paralysing the health sector. She stated that there is a lack of transparency which dogs the Public Health Ministry. She added that rather than expending sums on children and those vulnerable in society, Government rather spends funds on cultural celebra-

tions among other “unnecessary” expenditures.

“What bothers me and what is bizarre in the lengthy budget is that pensioners, women, children, youth, the sugar workers have zero to miniscule allocations but compare that $713.6 for the provision of furniture under Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Adding $5000 to the pension would be half of this amount. $350 million for Jubilee Republic initiatives under the Ministry of Social Cohesion but I certainly don’t see the social cohesion happening. But should we do that by more frenzied and unnecessary spending at the cost of the taxpayers.

I think taxpayers want some money in their pocket, they will forgo an arch or two,” she said.

She expressed that none of the aforementioned expenses contribute to the growth and development of Guyana’s economy but noted that these expenditures are “stark reminders of waste, extravagance and the reality of economic instability and stagnation.”

Up to June 2018, Guyana recorded an increase in reported cases of sexual abuse against children as was noted by Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ann Green. Green had outlined that she believed the high number exposed itself only due to intensive work by the department.

She had encouraged that more persons report abuse as she noted the half-year numbers were just ‘tip of the ice berg’ as abuse, especially sexual abuse, is often hidden and goes unreported.

Students need to accept GBTI spreads Christmas individuality in schools – UG VC cheer to less fortunate

“W

e are on the cusp of a political season where a whole host of differences will be accentuated…we are not all IndoGuyanese, we are not all Afro-Guyanese, we are not all Portuguese and Chinese decedents (but) we have got to be able to respect and celebrate who we are in the individuality that we bring to our society and our young people, our students will need to be the champions of maintaining that respect, beginning in the schools.”

Those were the sentiments shared by the University of Guyana (UG) Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Ivelaw Griffith during an award ceremony hosted earlier this week.

While speaking about ethnic relations and how it affects children, Griffith pointed out that often times the manifestation of disrespect takes place in the

Vice Chancellor of UG, Professor Ivelaw Griffith

home, while parents downtalk other ethnicities.

It is because of this that he urged the students who attended the event to be respectful to each other.

The Vice Chancellor also reminded the children that they are obligated to be honest in their schools, while condemning the recent incident where firefighters were caught stealing from an air-craft that crash-landed at the Cheddi

Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

He did not exempt the ranks from the Guyana Police Force who were also fingered in the theft of a model aircraft at an international conference.

He advised students that while they may want to pursue 15 or 20 subjects, achieving their goals is an important factor that they should be mindful of.

Some of the NGO representatives receiving their cheques

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he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Limited recently hosted its annual Christmas Cheer Program which saw children from several communities benefiting

from its humanitarian efforts.

According to GBTI, it will continue to give back to those communities since the initiative is part of their corporate social responsibilities.

This year the company again signaled its support to several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) through its usual financial contribution. turn to page 14

14 news More contraband found at Lusignan, Camp St prisons A saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

joint exercise carried out by officers from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service on Friday resulted in the discovery of even more contraband items at two prison facilities.

These searches were carried out at the Lusignan and Camp Street Prisons.

At the Lusignan, East Coast Demerara penitentia-

ers, four improvised weapons, 30 razor blades, nine needles, a pair of scissors, a piece of broken glass, two metal nails, three geometry set compasses, one metal spoon, two cellphone batteries, six cellphones, five earphones, seven chargers, five sim cards, two memory cards, and a quantity of wires.

Meanwhile, over at the Georgetown prison, the ex-

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

According to the Police Force, there were no incidents during the two exercises.

Contraband smuggling has long been a perennial problem within the prison system and this is com-

The contraband items found at the Lusignan Prison

The prohibited items found at the Camp Street Prison

ry, the search commenced at 06:00h and ran until 08:15h. During the exercise, a number of prohibited items were found in the possession of inmates.

These include four small plastics containing a quantity of cannabis, 10 light-

ercise there lasted much longer. It started around 06:05h and went till 09:13h.

The following illicit items were found in the possession of inmates: 13 cellular phones, three cellular phone chargers, eight packs and 10 loose Bristol ciga-

pounded by the fact that both prison and Police Officers are facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be a “big business”.

While the authorities have been struggling to curb the illegal practice, there has been a breakthrough

on the apparent network among rogue prison officers.

In fact, only in October, four prison officers were arrested after they smuggled a bottle of rum and a pack of cigarettes into the Lusignan Prison the weekend prior.

These officers were subsequently charged and interdicted from duty.

In addition, another two more ranks found themselves in hot waters following the discovery of illegal items at two separate prison facilities.

In Berbice, 1032 grams of suspended marijuana and 39 packs of ciga-

rettes was found in the New Amsterdam Prison and a prison officer had admitted to conspiring with inmates to hide the contraband that were thrown over the fence.

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

Furthermore, five other prison officers were relieved of their duties back in July after they were fingered in an incident whereby a parcel containing cannabis

had been thrown into the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay area.

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

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

Seed paddy from GRDB not germinating – Region 2 farmers

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ssequibo Coast, Region Two ( P o m e r o o n Supenaam) rice farmers are worried that they are in more financial trouble as hundreds of acres of seed paddy from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) are not germinating.

This was revealed on Wednesday during a site visit by Regional Chairman Davanand Ramdatt and the media where farmers complained that hundreds of acres of rice fields along the Essequibo Coast, sown with the GRDB 10 seed

paddy are not germinating. The farmers said those who sowed the GRDB 10 have started replanting their fields using different varieties of seedlings, which is an additional cost to them. According to several farmers who were present during the site visit, the entire Region Two rice industry is in trouble since farmers are not being treated equally and millers are taking advantage of their situation.

One farmer complained that millers in some cases are holding on the payments for very long periods

Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt during the site visit earlier this week

‘We can’t speak about eliminating abuse and continue to beat children in schools’ – NGO

“W

e can’t honestly speak about preventing sexual and gender-based violence or gender against women and girls while we continue to beat children, insult and degrade them,” said a passionate representative of Food For The Poor at a recent domestic violence forum.

The representative, Danuta Radzik, shared her sentiments on the matter, at a time in Guyana when violence has undoubtedly peaked.

It is because of this reason Radzik shared, “As a country we must abolish corporal punishment as a disciplinary method and implement alternative, non-vi-

Food For The Poor representative, Danuta Radzik

olent measure to replace corporal punishment in all schools, at all levels”.

In fact, she believes teachers should be trained

in classroom management and alternative disciplinary measures to avoid children from being hit in schools.

She said, “We need to introduce strategies and training to promote violence freeschools, based on gender equality, human rights and non-discrimination with support and engagement from students, parents, civil society and the community”.

The representative added that, “An effective response and referral system is also needed to be in place in addressing sexual and gender-based violence and other related issues.

Negative gender socialisation patterns are learnt very early in a child’s life, so the earlier this kind of inter-

vention, the better the outcome”.

Presently, corporal punishment is allowed to an extent. This newspaper spoke with a teacher who revealed that although hitting children was prohibited it was somewhat revised to an extent.

According to that teacher, only senior educators are allowed to punish children in that manner.

When Guyana Times contacted the Public Relations Officers at the Education Ministry, the two officials were unable to give the Ministry’s position on the matter and referred this media outlet to the Welfare Department which was unavailable at the time.

without considering any interest.

Farmers also complained that they are losing confidence in the GRDB, noting that that the field

officers are not doing their jobs by visiting the farmers and monitoring the industry. According to farmers, since the new Government took office and removed the subvention from Rice Producers Association (RPA), the GRDB is the only body left to monitor the rice industry and give technical support.

During the last crop, over 1000 acres of paddy was set on fire due to blast and paddy bugs cauing some farmers to lose the entire crop.

Region Two is an agricultural area and residents are heavily depended on the rice industry for survival. Ramdatt during the visit said the Government must stop playing politics and seriously look into the industry before it’s too late.

GBTI spreads... from page 13

Among those receiving the support were Help and Shelter, Artists in Direct Support, Uncle Eddie’s Home, the Salvation Army, Dharma Shala Benevolent Home, Guyana Red Cross Society, Guyana Society for the Blind, Guyana Relief Council, Guyana Society for the prevention of cruelty to Animals and Food for the Poor.

According to a representative of the company “We recognise that the work of these organisations often go unnoticed and so

at this time of year, in the spirit of goodwill and good corporate citizenship, our hearts are opened to supporting those in need and those who provide for those in need.”

Meanwhile the staff of GBTI also opened their hearts to the children of Hararuni this year by gifting them - through the Guyana Red Cross - a total of one hundred gifts which will be shared at a special party in the village located along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

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15

saturdAY, december 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

CGX sells 33% of its Corentyne, GPHC main pharmacy, records department to be relocated Demerara oil blocks C GX Energy Inc (CGX and Frontera Energy Corporation announced earlier this week that they have entered into a letter agreement to enable CGX to finance the drilling costs related to two shallow water offshore blocks in Guyana, currently 100% owned and operated by a subsidiary of CGX. The agreement also provides financial support as a critical step in a series of transactions that CGX is seeking to undertake in order to restructure its liabilities and provide for sufficient working capital to enable it to advance its offshore exploration projects in Guyana.

Under the terms of the letter agreement, Frontera and a wholly owned subsidiary of CGX, CGX Resources Inc, will enter into a farmin joint venture agreement covering CGX's two shallow water offshore Petroleum Prospecting Licenses in Guyana, the Corentyne and Demerara Blocks. Final approval for the farm-in is required from the Government of Guyana. Upon completion of the agreement and receipt of regulatory approval for the farm-in, Frontera will acquire a 33.33% working interest in the two blocks in exchange for a US$33.3 million signing bonus. Frontera has agreed to pay one-third of the applicable costs plus an additional 8.333% of CGX's direct drilling costs for the initial exploratory commitment wells in the two blocks. CGX would be the operator with assistance from Frontera.

Professor Suresh Narine, Executive Chairman and Executive Director (Guyana), CGX, have since said that “with the Frontera joint venture, CGX will be positioned to accelerate development of the Corentyne and Demerara Blocks, CGX's two largest offshore concessions. We plan to raise

additional capital on a basis that will allow shareholders to participate. Our shareholders, who have supported CGX through its difficult times, will thereby be able to benefit from the exciting opportunities ahead for the company. I'm very optimistic about the future of CGX, our relationship as a commercial partner to Guyana and the value that can be created for our shareholders and stakeholders. CGX is widely held as Guyana's only Indigenous Oil and Gas Exploration company and we remain firmly committed to Guyana and the Guyanese cultural and social fabric. I would like to thank the Government and people of Guyana for their confidence in CGX over the past few years, and I also want to thank the CGX and Frontera teams for all their hard work getting us this far."

Meanwhile, Gabriel de Alba, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Frontera, added that, “we are very excited to work with CGX through this new strategic joint venture in Guyana.

Together, we will be well positioned to advance the exploration and development of the most exciting offshore basin in the world.

Combining CGX's long history and deep roots in the country with Frontera's technical depth and financial strength creates great opportunities for success for the benefit of CGX, Frontera and the people of Guyana.

This joint venture forms an important part of Frontera's plans to build growth for the future."

Richard Herbert, Chief Executive Officer of Frontera, commented , "Offshore Guyana has emerged during the last few years as one of the most exciting exploration areas in the world. CGX's offshore exploration blocks

have been significantly derisked by exploration activity in the basin to date and contain multiple play types which offer significant opportunity. Once executed, our farm-in agreement with CGX will give the Company a direct interest in the significant exploration potential of both the Corentyne and Demarara Blocks. We look forward to building on our relationship with CGX and the people of Guyana as Frontera expands its medium- and long-term opportunity set in the north Andean region of South America and the Caribbean."

Pursuant to the letter agreement, Frontera and CGX have also agreed to arrangements to provide additional financial support for CGX. Upon the closing of the JV Agreement, CGX will repay Frontera approximately US$17 million of debt which is currently in default and owing to Frontera.

This debt will be extended to March 31, 2019 and is expected to be repaid earlier by way of an offset against the US$33.3 million signing bonus payable to CGX. The Corentyne block contains 1,125,000 net acres offshore Guyana in shallow water, adjacent to the ExxonMobil Stabroek block which has encountered nine discoveries since May 2015. The Utakwaaka well is required to be drilled by November 27, 2019 with an additional exploration well to be drilled

by November 27, 2022.

The Demerara block contains 750,000 net acres offshore Guyana in shallow water, adjacent to the ExxonMobil Stabroek block which has encountered nine discoveries since May 2015.

An exploration well is required to be drilled on the block by February 12, 2021 with a further exploration well by February 12, 2023.

T

The Georgetown Public Hospital

he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will be receiving a sum of $524.6 million from the 2019 Budget; most of which will go towards several projects which will commence in the new year.

One of the main projects high on the sector’s agenda is the construction of a four-storey building within the Hospital’s complex which will house the Hospital’s main pharmacy and the medical records department.

According to Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence in her 2019 Budget Debate presentation, “this will allow the Corporation to commence and roll out the Health Management Information Systems (GHIS) across the

Hospital.”

The GHIS which is currently being piloted at the East La Penitence Health Centre is the Government’s first step towards creating paperless health facilities while capturing, storing, managing or transmitting health information and data of persons within the health system.

Among other items on the Hospital’s budgetary agenda is the completion and furnishing of the Waterloo Street staff quarters. This will provide a better living arrangement for GHPC staff needing to stay at the facility.

Also, slated is the rehabilitation and extension of the pre-and-post-natal maternity wards (old building) and the upgrade and trans-

formation of the Mental Health Clinic at the GPHC into a mental health ward.

The Minister is quoted by the Public Information Department as saying there will be the construction of a trauma centre which will facilitate the upgrade of the existing Accident and Emergency Unit. The Government is currently in discussions with development partners to facilitate this aspect. This new trauma centre will make a way for an increase in the number of in-patient ward space, with the bed capacity at the GPHC increasing from 483 to 1000; more outpatient clinic space and an increase in the number of theatres from five to 12, including two separate theatres for Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Bosai gifts compactor truck to Linden municipality

(PRNewswire)

Date set for Venezuela to...

from page 9

The Government of Guyana has also sought to address the inflows into our own territory. Of course, we have been a destination for irregular inflows from several states in the Region such as Haiti and Cuba,” Greenidge said.

“We have therefore found it necessary to give consideration to modified or new rules and regulations to govern this migration. The objective being to recognise the movement of persons was taking place without material means and often without means of identification let alone passports. In those circumstances we would not want to criminalise migrants simply for inadvertent breaches of immigration rules.”

On November 19, 2018, Guyana submitted its memorial on jurisdiction to the ICJ, an important step as

the country moves forward to have the controversy over the 1899 arbitral award settled. The memorial states that Venezuela is not correct in arguing that the controversy must be resolved exclusively by friendly negotiations, a claim which Guyana says is not justified in the terms of the final 1966 Geneva Agreement to which both parties agreed.

It adds that the boundary was set out between Guyana and Venezuela in 1897 before the October 1899 award. In January 2018, the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres chose adjudication by the Court as the means for finally resolving the controversy, with Guyana filing its case in March of this year.

When US oil giant ExxonMobil announced the first of multiple oil

finds in 2015, Venezuela renewed its claim to twothirds of Guyana’s territory.

Venezuela has been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits were found

by ExxonMobil, and has since renewed claims to the Essequibo region.

On January 30, 2018, Secretary General Guterres concluded that the Good Offices Process – which the parties had engaged in for almost 30 years, but it failed to achieve a solution to the controversy – and chose the ICJ as the next means of settlement, for which Guyana has long been advocating. Sir Shridath Ramphal and Ambassador Audrey Waddell are assisting Minister Greenidge.

The United States has since announced that it supports Guyana’s case.

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The new compactor truck that was donated to the LM&TC

he Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) on Friday received a new compactor truck to aid in its garbage collection efforts from the bauxite mining company Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI). The company's General Manager, Eric Yu, handed over the truck's registration and keys to Linden’s Mayor Waneka Arrindell during a simple handing over ceremony held in BMGGI’s compound in Linden. Yu in his remarks

said it was a pleasure to donate the truck to the municipality, noting that it was a delight to share in the development of the town.

The compactor truck was promised to the municipality during former Mayor Carwyn Holland’s tenure and had arrived in the country earlier this year. Yu said the paperwork was only recently finalised. The Mayor, who received the truck, expressed gratitude on behalf of the municipality and the town. "I do know that this will not just serve

the Council, but the entire Linden, we want to say thank you to Bosai.

This truly will assist us greatly in alleviating the problem of solid waste management in our township and we will make sure that what it is presented for is what it will be used for,” the Mayor said. According to the mayor, the truck will greatly assist with solid waste management in the community. It is also expected to serve larger areas such as Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, december 8, 2018

Regional

Caricom Competition Commission monitoring sale of Scotiabank

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he Suriname-based Caricom Competition Commission (CCC) says it will assess any impact of the proposed acquisition of Scotiabank by the Trinidad-based Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) in accordance with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) that governs the regional integration movement.

Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana have expressed reservations about the proposed acquisition, with St John’s indicating that it would not be issuing a vesting order to facilitate the move.

A RFHL statement said that the banks being acquired are located in Guyana, St Maarten, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and

Justice Christopher Blackman

the Grenadines.

It said that 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.

The CCC, which was established by Article 171 of the RTC, is mandated to promote and protect competition within the Community and according to its chairman, Justice Christopher Blackman, in its monitoring of business activity in the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), it has taken note of the planned sale.

The Commission said it has further noted the concerns of bank customers and governments across the region regarding the proposed acquisition of Scotiabank.

“The Commission advises that it shall continue to monitor these developments in the banking and insurance sectors. Any impact to the Community market by the proposed acquisitions will be assessed in accordance with the RTC,” Justice Christopher Blackman said.

(CMC)

Hostages die in foiled Brazil bank robberies

A

t least five hostages, including a child, have died as armed police battled robbers who had tried to raid two banks in north-east Brazil.

Six other people also died in the gun battle in the city of Milagres, reports say. It is not clear if they were robbers or police officers.

The mayor of Milagres, in Ceara state, said the hostages were killed by their captors as police moved in.

Two suspected robbers were arrested, Brazilian media reported.

Four of the hostages, including the child, were all from the same family, city mayor Lielson Landim told Radio Band News.

According to initial reports, police surprised the robbers in the early hours of the morning and engaged them in a shootout. The

anada has deported more than 160 Haitians during a ninemonth period this year, according to figures released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

It said that the 168 Haitians were expelled during the period April 1 to November 15 and that up to September

it had rejected more than 32, 000 asylum requests of all nationalities including Haitians.

Last month, the Canadian Department of Immigration temporarily suspended the deportations of Haitians because of the on-going political situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Community country where opposition par-

ties have been staging street demonstrations calling for the removal of President Jovenel Moise from office.

Media reports here said that the deported Haitians had arrived in Canada in 2017 after illegally crossing the border. (CMC)

Buju Banton released from US prison

G

rammy Awardwinning reggae artiste Buju Banton has arrived in Jamaica.

The entertainer, who was released from the McRae Correctional Facility in Georgia, arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston on Friday evening. Scores of people had gathered outside the exit of the airport hoping to see the Grammy Awardwinning singer, however, reports reaching Observer online are that the entertainer was routed through another exit and taken to the police Harman Barracks for processing. Buju Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie, was arrested on cocaine charges in

Buju Banton being escorted through the Norman Manley International Airport by police Friday evening

2009 and given a mandatory 10-year sentence in 2011.

He was previously scheduled to be released in 2019, however, his release day was last year changed to December 8, 2018. Days after

his conviction, Buju Banton won a Grammy Award for his album Before Dawn. His other albums include 'Til Shiloh (1995), Inna Heights (1997) and Unchained Spirit (2000).

(Jamaica Observer)

Judge stopped me from winning elections – Lula

B A wrecked car stood outside one of the banks targeted by the gang (Reuters photo)

gang then fled, reportedly grabbing the hostages on their way.

Landim, quoted by Brazil’s Globo newspaper, said the gang had blocked a road with a truck and seized the family from a vehicle that was forced to stop.

“The criminals killed the hostages and the police killed the criminals,” he

added.

However, a spokeswoman for the state governor said that 12 people had died, including six police officers.

Security officials said police had seized guns and explosives used by the gang.

Three vehicles had been used in the attempted robberies on two bank branches, they added. (BBC)

12 T&T prison officers held with contraband this year

T

welve prisons officers are among 21 people who have been arrested so far this year for attempting to smuggle in contraband items into the nation’s prisons.

The latest arrest came on Wednesday when a Prison Officer with five years’ service was arrested at the Golden Grove Remand Yard trying to smuggle in over 400 handmade cigarettes, three cellphones with sim cards and a quantity of marijuana. The arrest was made at about 15:30h by special officers assigned to the Operations Unit.

Speaking with Guardian Media Thursday, Commissioner of Prisons Gerard Wilson said the drive

Canada deports more than 160 Haitians C

Commissioner of Prisons Gerard Wilson

for tighter security at the prison facilities “is no joke.”

“Well, it would appear that officers and visitors might be taking the zero-tolerance approach to contraband as com-

ical. The Operations Unit has stepped up its drive to apprehend these culprits and we are seeing the results,” Wilson said. Wilson said three officers were arrested in April, two in March, one in August, four in September, one in October and one (so far) this month.

He again warned officers who are intent on breaking the law that they will be caught and brought to justice.

Recently, Wilson placed a ban on visitors taking in fruits for inmates after two visitors were held taking marijuana into the Golden Grove facility in apples and grapefruits.

Visitors must now purchase fruits for prisoners from the prison canteen. (T&T Guardian)

razil’s former president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, says he was jailed to prevent him from winning the 2018 presidential election which saw far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro elected.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC via letters from his cell, Lula said Judge Sergio Moro “did politics and not justice” when he sentenced him.

Moro says the verdict was upheld by an appeals court and was not “a one-man decision”.

Lula is serving a 12-year sentence.

A month before the election, an electoral court banned Lula from running on the grounds that he had been sentenced, and that sentence had been upheld on appeal.

Lula’s Workers’ Party replaced him on the ballot with his running mate Fernando Haddad on 11 September.

Brazil's former president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

With less than a month to campaign as presidential candidate, Haddad struggled to match Lula’s name recognition.

While he made it into the run-off, Haddad lost to Bolsonaro by 10 percentage points.

Banned from giving faceto-face or telephone interviews, Lula answered questions posed by Brazilian journalist Kennedy Alencar

for a BBC TV documentary via letters.

In them, Lula said that “Bolsonaro only won because he did not run against me”.

Lula was sentenced by Judge Moro to nine and a half years in prison after being found guilty of corruption in July 2017 over a scandal linked to oil-giant Petrobras.

In his letters, Lula argues that his guilty verdict was politically motivated. (BBC)

T&T has 91 illegal ports of entry – Coast Guards

S

enior members of the TT Coast Guard say drug traffickers have been able to smuggle large quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the country because they are better organised in terms of technology and the way they conduct their business.

Officers estimate that there are 91 illegal ports of entry in TT. On Tuesday police searched a Westmoorings apartment and seized cocaine and marijuana valued $15 million.

Intelligence sources said the drugs entered the country on Monday through an illegal port of entry behind a gas station in the West.

According to Coast Guard sources they

have heard of the area being used as a drop off point but the Coast Guard has not been able to make any seizures there because the drug runners are well organised and may be in possession of knowledge where the patrols are when drugs are supposed to come in. (T&T Newsday)

17

saturdAY, december 8, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Huawei executive faces fraud charges over Iran Eiffel Tower, Louvre to close amid fears M of weekend protests eng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, is facing fraud charges relating to alleged breaking of US sanctions on Iran, a Canadian court has heard.

Details of the charges were revealed when a publication ban was lifted by a judge in Vancouver.

Meng, daughter of Huawei's founder, was arrested in the city on Saturday and faces extradition to the US. The court is deciding whether or not to allow bail.

China has demanded Ms Meng's release, insisting she has not violated any laws.

On Friday, the Supreme Court of British Columbia was told that s Meng had used a Huawei subsidiary called Skycom to evade sanctions on Iran between 2009 and 2014.

Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou

The court was told that she had publicly misrepresented Skycom as being a separate company.

Meng faces up to 30 years in prison in the US if found guilty of the charges, the court heard.

Court reporters said she was not handcuffed for the hearing and was wearing a green sweatsuit.

A Canadian government lawyer said Meng was accused of "conspiracy to defraud multiple financial institutions".

He said she had denied to US bankers any direct connections between Huawei and SkyCom, when in fact "SkyCom is Huawei".

The lawyer said Meng could be a flight risk and thus should be denied bail.

The arrest has put further strain on US-China relations.

The two countries have been locked in trade disputes, although a 90-day truce had been agreed on Saturday - before news of the arrest came to light on Wednesday.

Huawei is one of the largest telecommunications

equipment and services providers in the world, recently passing Apple to become the second-biggest smartphone maker after Samsung.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Friday that China had been assured that due process was being followed and Ms Meng would have consular access while her case was before the courts.

"Canada is a rule-of-law country and we follow our procedures, our laws and our agreements," she told journalists during a press teleconference.Huawei executive faces Iran fraud charges "Due process has been, and will be, followed in Canada."

Freeland reiterated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim that Meng's arrest had "no political involvement".

(BBC)

Merkel's choice elected ruling party leader

G

ermany's ruling Christian Democrat Union has chosen Annegret KrampKarrenbauer as its new party leader, ending Angela Merkel's 18-year reign.

The CDU general secretary narrowly beat Friedrich Merz, a millionaire lawyer, in a run-off vote in Hamburg.

Kramp-Karrenbauer, or AKK as she is also known, received 517 of 999 votes.

Merkel, who plans to serve out her term as chancellor until 2021, gave an emotional farewell speech on Friday at the special party conference. As the head

of Germany's largest party, Kramp-Karrenbauer could now become the next German chancellor.

The 56-year-old former prime minister of the state of Saarland was the favourite for party leader and Merkel's choice to succeed her.

Earlier, during her farewell speech as party leader, Mrs Merkel praised AKK for her 2017 electoral success in Saarland, in a clear hint of the chancellor's personal preference. Popular in her home state of Saarland and Berlin, she has an unpretentious style and a reputation

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (left) and Angela Merkel

for calm analysis, as well as political acumen. KrampKarrenbauer joined the CDU as a student in 1981

and rose up the ranks of state-level politics. She was seen as Ms Merkel's heir apparent and protégé. (BBC)

OPEC, Russia agree to slash oil output despite Trump pressure

O

PEC and its Russialed allies agreed on Friday to slash oil production by more than the market had expected despite pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to reduce the price of crude.

The producer club will curb output from January by 0.8 million barrels per day versus October levels while non-OPEC allies contribute an additional 0.4 million bpd of cuts, in a move to be reviewed at a meeting in April.

Oil prices jumped about 5 percent to more than $63 a barrel as the combined cut of 1.2 million bpd was larger than the minimum 1 million bpd that the market had expected.

Saudi Arabia, de facto leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, has faced demands from Trump to help the global economy by refraining from paring supplies.

An output curtailment also would provide support

to Iran by increasing the price of oil amid attempts by Washington to squeeze the economy of OPEC’s third-largest producer. Asked whether the decision to cut could sour Riyadh’s relations with Washington, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters the kingdom was ready to pump more should a major supply outage occur.

“We will not squeeze consumers beyond what they can afford,” he said, adding that given the United States had

recently become the biggest oil-producing nation, its energy companies were “breathing a sigh of relief”.

Further complicating Riyadh’s decisions this week was the crisis around the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.

Trump has backed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite calls from many US politicians to impose stiff sanctions on the kingdom. (Reuters)

In more staff changes, Trump taps Attorney General, UN envoy

I

n another senior staff shake-up inside his often-turbulent administration, US President Donald Trump said on Friday he has picked the two people he wants to be the next US attorney general and the next US ambassador to the United Nations.

He said he will nominate William Barr, who was attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush in the 1990s, to fill that top job again at the US Justice Department.

Barr would replace Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who has been in that position since Trump forced out Jeff Sessions as attorney general a month ago.

Trump also said he will put forward State Department

William Barr

spokeswoman Heather Nauert as ambassador to the United Nations. Nauert, a former host at Fox News Channel, would replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would resign at the end of this year.

Both appointments would

require US Senate confirmation.

Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, also said he would make a personnel announcement concerning the Pentagon on Saturday.

“It will have to do with

the joint chiefs of staff, the succession,” he told reporters outside the White House, suggesting he may name a new top US military officer.

Separately, CNN reported on Friday that John Kelly is expected to resign in coming days as White House chief of staff, citing unnamed sources.

Reuters has not independently confirmed the report.

The proposed changes come as the Republican president faces another difficult stretch.

Democrats are promising aggressive oversight of Trump’s administration and business activities when they take control of the US House of Representatives in January following their gains in last month’s elections.

F

rance is bracing for yet another weekend of protests that could rock Paris and other parts of the country.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the government was deploying 89,000 security force members across France -- including 8,000 in the capital -- in case the demonstrations turn violent again.

Many of the capital's famed sites -- including the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée Delacroix and the Paris Opera -- will close over the weekend in advance of the protests, organized by the "gilets jaunes," or "yellow vest" movement.

Their name comes from the high-visibility yellow vests that drivers are required to keep in their vehicles for safety reasons.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner vowed to deploy all the means available to ensure the latest yellow vest protests are not hijacked by what he said

were "10,000" people, "a small minority" of the movement who have been "radicalized and fallen into violence and hate."

The Eiffel Tower, seen Friday, will be closed to visitors over the weekend because of expected "yellow vest" protests.

"We have to guarantee the safety of protesters and the right of citizens to move around freely," Castaner told a news conference Friday.

Stores along the capital's famed Champs Elysees avenue have also been advised to remain shut this weekend. Many shop owners were boarding up their stores on Friday amid fears of further disorder.

Amid heightened tensions, police seized 28 petrol bombs and three homemade explosive devices on Friday at an area blockaded by protesters in Montauban, southern France, a spokesman for the Tarn-et-Garonne prefecture told CNN. (CNN)

As Yemen's rival sides talk peace, bombs continue to fall

R

epresentatives from Yemen's government and Houthi rebels are attending UN-sponsored talks in Sweden for a second day but, back home, a SaudiUAE coalition has continued its deadly air attacks.

The Houthi-affiliated AlMasirah news outlet reported early on Friday that at least three air strikes targeted Hodeidah's al-Tahita district hours after representatives from the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels met for the first day of talks in Rimbo, a town around 50km north of the Swedish capital Stockholm.

According to Al-Masirah, at least 60 air strikes had targeted Houthi-held areas over the past 72 hours, with three women reported killed.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the reports.

Aid agencies have long warned that fighting in the port city of Hodeidah, a lifeline for millions of Yemenis, risks escalating the humanitarian crisis in the country

where about half the population - some 14 million people - could soon be on the verge of famine.

The UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has been seeking to introduce a set of confidence-building measures at the talks that will eventually pave the way for future negotiations between officials from President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government and representatives from the Houthi movement.

The warring sides are not expected to meet faceto-face, but the expected confidence-building measures will include negotiating a ceasefire in Hodeidah, large-scale prisoner swaps, the reopening of Sanaa international airport and the payment of salaries to civil servants in Houthi-held areas.

The Yemeni government proposed re-opening Sanaa airport and on Friday said that one of the conditions was that planes be inspected in Aden or Seiyoun airport. (Aljazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturdAY, december 8, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

You’ll have choices to make that could affect your reputation and future. Take the high road and bring about the changes necessary to improve your life. Learn from experience.

Business meetings will appear to go well. Present your offer, but get what you want in writing as well.

Intellectual property theft could be a problem if you don’t legally own your concept.

Focus on partnerships.

Both personal and professional dealings will be filled with mixed emotions. Stick to basics and only allude to what you know you can produce.

Love, festive fun and preparations for big events will bring out the best in you. Make the most of your time by including others in your plans. Shopping, entertainment and family fun should be your priorities.

You’ll be tempted to overschedule, which would result in you falling short of your promises to those you care about. Slow down and focus on what matters most.

A short trip to visit old, familiar places, relatives and friends will lift your spirits and bring back memories. A change in lifestyle will be an eye-opener.

Get out and have some LIBRA (Sept. 23- fun, but don’t put yourself Oct. 23) in a vulnerable position by being indulgent or giving in to someone who has ulterior motives. Don’t share personal information.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — PAISLEY (PAISLEY: PAZE-lee: Printed with colorful curved abstract figures.)

SUDOKU

Average mark 21 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 32 or more words in PAISLEY? The list will be published tomorrow.

dupe aged agog ague aped apogee gage gape

gauge geed geode goad gouge ogee updo

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

Plan an unusual day with someone you love.

Trying new things or visiting places you’ve never been before will build memories that will bring you closer together.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Say what’s on your mind and sort out any differences before you lose sight of who you are and what you want.

Revisit old goals and reconnect with people who once shared your dreams.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — PEDAGOGUE

page pegged pugged edge egged epode deep dope

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

If you want others to understand you better, share your feelings. Much can be accomplished if you break the silence. You’ll discover how someone feels about you. Romance is in the stars.

Make a lifestyle change that is conducive to better health. If you sport a new look, you’ll receive plenty of compliments. Resolve to make personal improvements.

Strive for perfection, to get things done and to help others. Emotional matters should be handled responsibly. Face reality and clear up a mess you left sitting around.

SATURdAY, december 8, 2018

19

Ashwin, Head dominate see-saw battle on Day 2 R

avichandran Ashwin helped India overcome their batting debacle in the Adelaide Test with a fine spell that got him three wickets while Travis Head's battling fifty ensured that Australia were not completely blown away. At the end of the second day, India had their nose slightly ahead with Australia trailing by 59 runs but with three wickets still in hand. India's recent unfavorable run-ins with lower-order batting, however, would make them wary despite having a good day overall.

In the first session of the day, three wickets fell but for a large part of it, Australia showed more discipline in staying in, with a patient Usman Khawaja leading the way. It took Australia just one ball to end India's first innings on Friday (December 7) as Mohammed Shami gloved one down the leg-side to the 'keeper off Josh Hazlewood to finish the innings on the overnight score of 250.

Ishant Sharma started well for India, getting Aaron Finch to drag a big

ting the former to nick behind. Ishant managed to get skipper Tim Paine with just seven more runs added to leave Australia tottering. However, Head who had overcome a nervous start against Ashwin, and Pat Cummins batted with patience and common sense to put together a 50-run stand for the 7th wicket against a rapidly softening ball. With that, also came India's rush towards the second new cherry which yielded imme-

Ashwin picked up three Aussie left hander

inswinger onto the stumps.

The first four deliveries of the day had seen two wickets for no run, but thereafter, Australia buckled down through Khawaja and debutant Marcus Harris.

While Ishant remained a persistent threat due to his fuller length, his newball partner Jasprit Bumrah was guilty of not keeping the pressure on from his end.

The runs came at a trickle for both left-handers, but they remained disciplined

to steady the innings with some resoluteness and added 45 for the second wicket.

The introduction of Ashwin's offspin saw Harris become a little more adventurous and even saw him successfully loft one straight back over the bowler for a boundary. But Ashwin managed to win that battle eventually; beating Harris with some drift, to have him caught bat-pad at silly point for 26. That was Ashwin's first success through an un-

Wilder v Fury II: WBC sanctions 'direct' rematch

T

he WBC has sanctioned a "direct rematch" between heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.

Britain's Fury and American Wilder shared a controversial and thrilling draw in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Both fighters have said they want a rematch, while Fury is pushing for it to be in the UK. The WBC said in a statement there was a "unanimous agreement" to sanction a rematch in a meeting of the board of governors.

"Wilder and Fury gave boxing one of the best fights in the heavyweight division in a long time, which has created tremendous popular demand for the fans to see a rematch," it said.

"The WBC is happy to confirm a direct rematch has been approved."

Wilder's mandatory challenger is Dominic Breazeale but this decision by the WBC clears the way for him to fight Fury again next without being stripped of his belt. Although Fury was knocked down in the ninth and 12th rounds, many ob-

A rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder is a step closer

servers thought the 30-yearold Briton should have won the bout, which was scored 115-111 for Wilder, 114-112 for Fury and 113-113.

Fury's promoter Frank Warren said he and the British Boxing Board of Control would write to the WBC demanding another bout and asking for an explanation of the scoring, with Mexican judge Alejandro Rochin having awarded Wilder seven of the 12 rounds. Fury said he had "never seen a worse decision in my life" and described it as a "gift" for his opponent.

In an Instagram post in response, Wilder, 33, said:

"You saw the best Fury but you did not get the best Wilder and I still managed to get the job done."

Wilder also questioned if referee Jack Reiss' count was too slow in Fury's remarkable rise from the canvas in the 12th round, which Reiss denied. Fury and Wilder both want the rematch but I'm not sure where it will be. Had Fury got the decision I am convinced the rematch, 100%, would be in May in this country. I think there will already be an offer in from Las Vegas given how many Brits will go. Don't be surprised if we are going to Vegas in May. (BBC Sport)

changed spell of 22 overs across the two sessions. In the second, he had Shaun Marsh driving and dragging onto the stumps for 2 before piling on the pressure from his end. Khawaja was done in by extra bounce after a patient 125-ball 28 and became Ashwin's third victim as Australia slipped to 87/4.

Peter Handscomb and Head put on a resolute stand until the second break. But Bumrah, broke through soon after get-

diate dividends. Bumrah had Cummins shouldering arms to big incoming delivery and pegged Australia back, yet again.

There were more nervous moments for both Head and Starc as edges flew beyond the reach of the fielders with Ashwin wheeling away gamely, two short of a five-wicket haul. But both batsmen managed to see it through and gave Australia some hope going into the third day. (cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD

India 2st innings – 250 all out Australia 1st Innings AJ Finch b I Sharma 0 MS Harris c Vijay b Ashwin 26 UT Khawaja c †Pant b Ashwin 28 SE Marsh b Ashwin 2 PSP Handscomb c †Pant b Bumrah 34 TM Head not out 61 TD Paine (c) † c †Pant b I Sharma 5 PJ Cummins lbw b Bumrah 10 MA Starc not out 8 Extras 17 (b 6, lb 9, nb 2)

TOTAL 191/7 (88 Overs, RR: 2.17)

Yet to bat: NM Lyon, JR Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-0 (AJ Finch, 0.3 ov), 2-45 (MS Harris, 21.1 ov), 3-59 (SE Marsh, 27.6 ov), 4-87 (UT Khawaja, 39.3 ov), 5-120 (PSP Handscomb, 57.3 ov), 6-127 (TD Paine, 62.6 ov), 7-177 (PJ Cummins, 80.3 ov) BOWLING: I Sharma (15-631-2), JJ Bumrah (20-9-342), M Shami (16-6-510), R Ashwin (33-9-50-3), M Vijay (4-1-10-0)

Trojans eye ‘final cut’ against mighty Pacesetters

F

ollowing conclusion of the semi-final playoffs in the first and second division leagues of the Rainforest Water/ Malta Supreme/Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League at the Burnham Hardcourt, attention has now been turned to the under-23 division playoffs, which have the final four duking it out for a spot in the final.

In this regard, the UG Trojans will take on Pacesetters on Sunday from 18:30 hrs.

Speaking with GUYANA TIMES SPORT, coach of the successful under- 23 side, Warren Wilson, in response to being asked about the confidence of the team, said, “I don’t want to sound overconfident and make it sound like the Pacesetters are some kind of walkover team, because to me they are one of the best teams in the league at the moment, but we are confident that we are going to have a good showing in the semifinals; because we have been working on specific strategies to play against the Pacesetters, and we are hoping that as we hit the court tonight, everything is

executed well and we come out on top.”

Wilson says he believes he also is ready, as he has been working on his game management skills and is excited to put his hard work to the test. He relayed that a lot of teams in the competition have star players, and they just depend on unification of the squad.

Wilson believes his side has a chance of making the final cut, despite knowing that their abilities do not equal those of their opposition. “What we have is the drive and the hunger to win

this competition, (and) it is one of our biggest driving forces coming into the semifinals tonight. The guys have been looking forward to this for a long time, (and) I know we’ve come a far way, as our defence and offence have improved a whole lot; but we have to see what will happen when we hit the field,” he said.

Wilson has also said he would like to thank UG Sports Organiser Lavern Fraser for the overwhelming support she has given the team from commencement of the tournament.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

SATURdAY, december 8, 2018

Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/ Village KO Cup…

Champion to be decided on Sunday F

ollowing weeks of exciting clashes, this year’s Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/ Village KO Cup is expected to conclude with riveting action when the final is played tomorrow at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground on the West Side.

In the fixtures, Sophia are set to take on Newtown, Kitty in what is anticipated to be a scorching affair that would set the tone for the rest of the evening. Sophia will be led by the Smith combination of Ernie, Peter and Simon, along with Jason Clarke; while Newtown, Kitty’s charge for victory will be spearheaded by Pernell Schultz, Anthony Sancho, Steffon Reynolds and Simeon Moore.

Central Mackenzie then go up against Mahaica, and this encounter should see

– Den Amstel CC venue for final

the former start as firm favourites to advance, with their hopes being pinned on solid performances coming from players such as Seon Barrett, Marvin Sullivan, Orlanzo Thurman and Emanuel Atkins.

Mahaica’s chances of progressing will depend heavily of the wizardry of Michael Amsterdam, Kurt Roberts, Quincy Holder, Ewart Abel and Troy Morris.

Charlestown then square off against Mahaicony, and it would be almost suicidal to bet against the Georgetown juggernauts, who will be led by the tournament’s top goal scorer Jamal Cozier, whose efforts would be supplemented by the likes of Devon Charles, Kareem Knights and Curtez Kellman.

Mahaicony, having in their lineup players of the calibre of Ruel Chester,

Trayon Bobb

Kenroy D’ Aguiar, Jason Wronge and Mark Roberts, will no doubt be aiming to register a huge upset against the star-studded Charlestown team.

Uitvlugt and Crane will then face each other in an All West Demerara affair for a place in the last four.

CONCACAF Nations League…

Jags’ chances of Gold Cup qualification heighten

G

uyana’s chances of qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup have been given a boost owing to a favourable response from the CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee to sanction the Barbados Football Association (BFA) for fielding ineligible players in the match against Guyana, played on September 6, 2018.

This decision has resulted in Guyana being awarded the three points – which now puts Guyana in eighth position, with six points. Guyana is now placed behind Curacao, Haiti, Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, Martinique and Bermuda. The top 10 teams will qualify for the Gold Cup. A CONCACAF release issued on Thursday detailed: “After due examination of the evidence, the Committee determined that the Barbados Football Association infringed the applicable articles of the Tournament Regulations and the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statuses in relation to the eligibility of players to play for representative teams by fielding ineligible players Hallam Hope and Kystian Pearce.

In accordance with articles 55 and 31 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the BFA is considered to have lost the match against Guyana

GFF Technical Director, Ian Greenwood

by a score of 3 – 0.”

In an invited comment, Jags Head Coach Michael Johnson said the position taken is great for the preservation of the integrity of the sport. “We acknowledge the strength and conviction of the governing bodies to uphold the integrity and the honesty which the game demands.

We now look forward to the game in March, which should be a wonderful celebration for the country as we strive to make history. Simple win and we are there in the Gold Cup.” Jags Technical Director Ian Greenwood endorsed the sentiments of the Head Coach by saying, “We can now create history with an extremely talented group of players; our destiny is now in our own hands. It’s very simple, we beat Belize in March and we qualify for Guyana’s first ever Gold Cup.” While Guyana’s last qualifier against Belize is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, in Guyana, the country has had a favourable display in the CNL, with an original 2 – 2 draw against Barbados; a win against Turks and Caicos by an 8 – 0 margin, and a defeat against French Guiana by 2 – 1.

Uitvlugt’s most popular ball weaver, Trayon Bobb, will most likely be excited at the prospect of producing a sizzling performance for his side, and it is virtually certain that top players Seon Bobb, Keon Duke and Daniel Floy will be sharing his ambition.

Crane’s quest to stun what is anticipated to be a large turnout will rest on the shoulders of Kwesi Henry, Jamal Mounter, Taylor Wharton and Oswin Boyce.

The Ministry of Citizenship has sponsored the first prize of $400,000 and the winning trophy, while John Fernandes Ltd has done likewise for the losing finalist with a prize of $200,000 and a trophy.

The Highest Goal scorer and Most Valuable Player will each collect gifts, compliments of China Trading and A.H. & L Kissoon Limited. They will also receive trophies donated by Javon Dazzell.

Among the other sponsors on board this event are: Courtney Benn Construction Services, Techno Mills, IPA, Alfro Alphonso, Sattaur

GCA cricket fixtures continue M

atches organised by the Georgetown C r i c k e t Association (GCA) will continue this weekend with some interesting fixtures, weather permitting.

Over the weekend, the highly anticipated two-day finals of the Noble House Seafoods 2nd division tournament will be concluded with Police taking on Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) at Bourda. This match is scheduled to bowl off at 10:15 hrs on both days.

Today will see a double-header being played in the Under-17 Friends of Cricket Tournament, as Transport Sports Club (TSC) play Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), and Everest do battle with Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC).

TSC may be in good form, so they are expected to put up a fight. Their batting has definitely flourished throughout the tournament, so they cannot be

taken for granted, even though the opposition may be a tournament favourite. That match is scheduled for the Muslim Y o u t h Organization ( M Y O ) Ground on Woolford Avenue.

In the other fixture for Saturday, Everest will do battle with Malteenoes; while on Sunday, DCC will see off Georgetown ECO on home turf. Both matches are expected to start at 9:30hrs. The New Building Society (NBS) second division 40-Over 2018/2019 season will continue today with Sophia taking on the in-form Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at the GNIC ground on Woolford Avenue, while MSC attempt to overthrow

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Before the football fireworks begin, there will be three winner-take-all exhibition matches that will see the winning teams receive $25,000 and a trophy. In the fixtures, hosts Den Amstel tackle Soesdyke for the cash and trophy sponsored

by MACORP. In the next encounter, Goed Fortuin square off with Timehri for the cash and trophy sponsored by Sterling Products Ltd; while the other engagement pits Pouderoyen against Liliendaal for the cash and trophy sponsored

by Muneshwers Ltd.

2017/2018 winners, DCC, at the DCC Ground. On Sunday, the action will continue with the GDF duking it out with Everest, while the UG Trojans will seek to add more points to their tally as they take on MYO at home. GNIC will attempt to find some form as they battle MSC at GNIC. Matches are scheduled to commence at 10:30 hrs on both days.

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21

Inaugural Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers Schools Football League concludes on Sunday A

s weeks of intense action now come to a close, the inaugural Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers Schools Football League promises an action-packed weekend, with many crucial games being played before the curtains come down on the league this Sunday at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

Twelve schools were selected from Georgetown, West and East Demerara, and Linden to compete in eleven rounds for the title. The competition has thus far seen schools such as Lodge Secondary asserting their dominance with 27 points, and arch- rivals Annandale seated in second position with the same amount of points but trailing by an inferior goal difference.

Christianburg

-Wismar are seated in third position with 26 points, but have thus far scored 51 goals in their ten games. A win for Annandale would hand them the championship should Lodge lose, but should Lodge win, Lodge would no doubt cart off the title.

The Linden-based third place occupants, Christianburg-Wismar, still have a shot at the title, but would have to register a win and hope

The fixtures of the weekend are: Saturday December 8, 2018 Round 11 Day 22 15:30 HRS St Roses vs Queenstown Secondary 17:15 HRS Bishops vs Charlestown

Sunday December 9, 2018 Round 12 Day 23 11:30 HRS Annandale vs Queens College 13:15 HRS Marian Academy vs Uitvlugt 15:00 HRS Dolphin vs Vergenogen 16:45 HRS Wismar ChristianBurg vs Lodge Secondary

for upsets befalling the two top teams. The winning team will them compete alongside the runners-up, Annai Secondary School of Region 9 and

Shiva Boys’ Hindu College of Trinidad and Tobago, in the KFC Goodwill Schools Tournament which is scheduled for December 18-22, 2018.

Big names on board inaugural Media Appreciation

– MACORP, Banks DIH, NexGen among organisers

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exGen Global Marketing, in association with local business giants Banks DIH, MACORP, and New Trend Auto and Party Castle, will be hosting the first ever Media Appreciation Awards Ceremony, set for December 20 at 18:30h at Bookland Gardens, at the corner of Woolford Avenue and Albert Street, Georgetown.

With local media operatives continuing to play an invaluable role in the world of sports, business and culture, these major companies have come together to show their appreciation for the remarkable efforts made by the media in the various areas over the past year.

Media houses will be given opportunity to nominate for awards journalists who have been outstanding in their respective fields during the course of 2018.

Several awards are set to be given out.

Local pro golfer Guillermo Escarraga, new Head of the Machinery Corporation of Guyana (MACORP) -- which recently celebrated 25 years of operation in Guyana and has played a key role in the local development of golf -- speaking on the move to hail the local media fraternity for not only its work in sport, but in business and other related areas, said his company “felt it was a great initia-

tive to celebrate the efforts made by the media houses”, and that his company was “proud to be a part of this event."

Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) and NexGen head, Aleem Hussain, said the move was geared towards showing appreciation for the media, which have played the main role in projecting what each sponsor, company and athlete represents.

"Without the extra efforts made by the members of the media, we could not have accomplished the goals we set in 2018, and informed the public in such grand fashion. The companies (which) have joined together are some of the elite busi-

nesses in the country, (and they recognise) the media plays an important role in ensuring that vital and necessary information is passed on to the public in a timely manner," Hussain said.

Sport has been on the radar both locally and internationally in 2018, with a number of athletes representing the country at international and/or regional levels. Guyana has also seen significantly more exposure being given to youth and culture, as well as to the ever prominent business sector.

Carlton Joao of Banks DIH has saluted the decision to recognise the media corps by saying, "The (DIH) decision to participate was

made without hesitation.

Banks DIH is one of the largest sponsors of sports in the country, with contributions to almost every type of sporting (activity) in Guyana".

Entrepreneur and business owner Rudy Ramalingum, of the New Trend Auto and Party Castle enterprise, applauded the event and expressed the opinion that without the contributions of the media, the general public would never know all that is happening in the country. "These are the eyes and ears of the people, and they, too, need to be rewarded for their time and hard work," he said. (Clifton Ross)

Smalta Girls U-11 Football Tournament…

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Battle on for top spots today T

he action intensifies in the Smalta Under-11 Girls Football Tournament, which enters its semifinal stage today at the Ministry of Education Ground.

Confidence will be high as these young ladies highlight the day with both semis, one of which involves defending champions South Ruimveldt taking on the resolute North Georgetown team for a spot in the final round. South, who have obviously performed well this season, are just two wins from retaining the crown.

They brushed aside St Angela’s 2–nil in the final in 2017 to capture the championship. The other semi,

which will be run simultaneously, would involve a replay of the 2017 third place playoff between West Ruimveldt and St Pius.

However, one of these two sides would have qualified for a shot at the title when the regulation time whistle sounds. On the cards are other placement fixtures, which include Genesis Primary going head-to-head with St Stephen’s Primary, and Tucville clashing with Enterprise in the battle for fifth to eighth places.

To get proceedings started, St Margaret’s will oppose Smith’s Memorial in a battle for ninth place at 13:30hrs.

The semis are scheduled to kick off at 15:00 hrs.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

SATURdAY, december 8, 2018

Worth watching: Women’s cricket is rapidly rising – World T20, Big Bash, Kia Super League – Is there a Women’s CPL coming?

Mithali Raj is the leading run scorer in Women’s ODI

By Brandon Corlette

T

he recent Women’s World T20 tournament that was held in the Caribbean will be remembered as a revolution in women’s cricket. Most of the players that were involved in the World T20 tournament are presently playing in the Australia Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Among the overseas international players

are West Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor and vice-captain Hayley Matthews.

Women’s Big Bash has had some diversification in recent times, with Indian players participating. In addition to the Women’s World Cup and Women’s Big Bash, the Kia Super League in England is a major women’s tournament. The inaugural Women’s Caribbean Premiere League (WCPL) is certainly not too far away.

Top performers in Women’s Cricket

The current women cricketers look up to New Zealand player Suzie Bates, who is already considered a legend of the women’s game. Bates is the leading run scorer in women’s T20 Internationals, with 3007 runs to her credit; in contrast with Martin Guptill’s 2271 runs leading the batting chart in the men’s game. Bates has played 108 T20 Internationals, averaging 30 and scoring 20 half centuries and one T20 century. The 31-year-old Bates is the joint record holder of most T20 Internationals played in men’s and women’s T20 Internationals, tied with Shoaib Malik on 108 matches.

Calm and composed in character, West Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor is the second leading run scorers on the T20 International batting charts, having scored 20 half centuries and 2748 runs in 93 matches, and being regarded as among the better captains in world cricket.

In addition to her extraordinary batting, Stafanie

Taylor bowls staggering offspin, and is ranked fourth among the leading bowlers in the history of Women’s T20 Internationals.

Taylor’s counterpart, Australian captain Meg L a n n i n g , i s among the leading

women’s stalwart Anisa Mohammed is ranked third, with 146 ODI wickets; while Sana Mir, Katherine Brunt and Ellyse Perry are among the leading wicket takers.

Cricket is not a game only for gentlemen, it has greatly evolved and is continuously developing into a women’s game. Women’s cricket is still in its formative stage, but already young aspiring girls around the globe see themselves becoming the next Mithali Raj or the future Suzie Bates.

Amelia Keer is the youngest person to ever score a ODI double century across men’s and women’s cricket

Internationals.

Mithali Raj, the most consistent performer in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and perhaps the women’s cricket version of Sachin Tendulkar, has 6550 runs in 197 ODIs, averaging 51.17, which is beyond imagination. Raj leads the top 10 leading run scorers’ table, which includes Suzie Bates and Stafanie

Taylor.

On June 13, 2018, New Zealand’s Amelia Keer smashed a record breaking 232* in a Women’s ODI game; and what is mind-blowing about that feat is that she was then only 17 years old.

India’s suave and unruffled seam bowler Jhulan Goswami has taken the most wickets in Women’s ODI -207 wickets. Windies

Suzie Bates is the leading run scorer in T20I across men’s and women’s cricket

Archery Guyana represented for 2nd consecutive year at the 3rd BOA Independence Invitational Games Anisa Mohammed is the leading wicket taker in T20I

T20 batters, having scored 2315 runs, among which are one century and 12 half centuries.

Windies batter Deandra Dottin, the only woman with two centuries in Women’s T20 Internationals, has the fastest women’s T20 century, made off just 38 balls.

The year 2018 has been a run-fest for Suzie Bates, who scored the most runs in a calendar year: 670; while India’s T20 captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, has 663 runs in T20 this year.

With 99 matches to her name, the illustrious Anisa Mohammed is the leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals, with 113 wickets. The West Indies spin queen has the most five-wicket hauls in Women’s T20 Internationals, with her best bowling performance seeing her snare 5 wickets for just 10 runs.

Australia’s Ellyse Perry has taken 100 wickets, and is considered an outstanding all-rounder in women’s T20.

Anisa Mohammed, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole and Pakistan’s Sana Mir are the few bowlers who have registered hat tricks in Women’s T20

L

ocal archer Dwayne Grovesnor has represented the Golden Arrowhead with pride and dignity as he participated in the 3rd Annual 2018 Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) Independence Invitational Games.

The two-day event, held on November 10 and 11, saw archers congregating from participating countries like Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Bahamas, and doing battle at two locations: Coverlet Terrace and Carrington College, in the capital city of Bridgetown.

Recurve and Compound men and women shot over 4,000 arrows at a distance of 50 metres, with things getting underway with competitors shooting 12 rounds consisting of 6 arrows in each end; for a total number of 72 arrows, with a maximum possible score of 720 points.

The archers were forced to contest not only with each other, but with the inclement weather conditions, which were not suitable for shooting because of overcast skies for most of the morning sessions. In the end, it was a valiant effort by the Guyanese, who ended in the 6th spot out of the top 7 spots.

Local archer Dwayne Grovesnor (third from left) during the recently concluded BOA Independence Invitational Games

The Archery Guyana representative shot bravely against seasoned archers, and eventually racked up 539 points; but it wasn’t enough to deter the class of Frenchman Christian Comte of Martinique, who shot an amazing 618 points to walk away as champ.

When the scores were posted, archers were informed which other archer he/she would be paired with for match play elimination rounds, wherein archers shot 5 rounds of 3 arrows each, with a top score of 30 points.

In the match play against Trinidad & Tobago,

Guyana took the first set 24 to 23, but Trinidad came back to win the next set 24 to 21, as Guyana could not find the form that won the first set; and lost sets 3 & 4, missing out on a spot in the finals, thus making it an all-Trinidad affair.

Archery Guyana hereby commends the organisers of the tournament, and congratulates all the winners, as the Caribbean as a whole moves forward to promote Archery as a sport. (Clifton Ross)

List of winners:

1 (MTQ) Christian Comte 2 (TTO) Sherwin Francis 3 (TTO) Kamil Sadahanan 4 (TTO) Mondol Riaz 5 (TTO) Rollin Betrand 6 (GUY) Dwayne Grovesnor 7 (BAH) David Rahming

618 points (bye) 607 points 602 points 569 points 549 points 539 points 370 points

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SATURdAY, december 8, 2018

23

CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Jaguars in firm control after minor hiccups – Pestano 4-for dents Volcanoes

By Brandon Corlette

T

he Guyana Jaguars have ended day two’s final session of play on 115-3, enjoying a lead of 152 at stumps. Leon Johnson top-scored with 51, while Tagenarine Chanderpaul was left unbeaten on 29.

Clinton Pestano had earlier set the tone for the Jaguars by picking up two wickets in the opening over of the day, to finish with four wickets, while Permaul captured three wickets.

The Volcanoes were bowled out for 187 in 59.1 overs, with Delron Johnson and Alick Athanze scoring 34 runs each.

After a see-saw opening day at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia, the Guyana Jaguars took firm control early in the second day’s play, which commenced with the fiery Pestano continuing where he had left off on day one. In the first over of the day, Pestano removed Taryck Gabriel (07) and Roland Cato (03) in the space of one run, the pink ball zipping through

to Jaguars wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble as the fast bowlers continued to prosper.

Guyana Jaguars has been a team known for utilizing more spinners, but in seam-friendly conditions, Pestano, Shepherd and Gabriel were brilliant.

Kavem Hodge and Alick Athanaze looked to rebuild the Volcanoes innings at 374, but were contained by the Jaguars. After 12 overs, the Jaguars had removed Hodge (19) in the thirty-first over with the score on 74-5; and when West Indies under 19 batsman Alick Athanaze was joined by wicket-keeper Dennis Smith, the pair defied the probing Jaguars bowlers as they added 56 runs together for the sixth-wicket partnership.

That was until Shepherd was finally rewarded with the wicket of Smith (20).

Volcanoes wicket-keeper Smith was positive in his stroke play, but that led to his demise -- when he chased a wide delivery on the off-stump that was comfortably pouched by Johnson in the slip cordons.

It was after the interval that Smith was removed, and the typical cricketing term of “one brings two” was applied by the Jaguars.

Athanaze is among the best youth batsmen in the Caribbean. He played, in the 2017-2018 Regional Super 50 final, a match winning innings that ensured the Volcanoes secure the title.

However, this match was a different scenario for the young man. Athanaze was out two runs later, when he followed a delivery down the leg side and was bowled

by Permaul as the score slumped to 133-7.

Athanaze’s promising innings ended with him scoring 34 runs from 80 balls, which included three fours.

Shane Shillingford and Delron Johnson showed signs of occupying the crease, but Shillingford faced 35 balls and was run out by Shepherd for seven.

Volcanoes were still behind at 171-8, but Delron, with his big hits, took Volcanoes closer to the Jaguars’ first innings total.

Then Permaul, the seasoned spinner, wrapped up the

Volcanoes’ innings by claiming the final wicket with the score on 187.

Pestano was the best bowler on show, with 4-46 from 14 overs, inclusive of five maidens; while Permaul captured 3-13 in 6.1 overs.

Shepherd and Keon Joseph picked up one wicket each.

Having obtained a handy 37-run lead, the Jaguars openers Chanderpaul and Trevon Griffith were confident heading out to bat in the second innings. Griffith was the aggressor in the opening stand, but was the first batsman dismissed, with the score on 42-1 in the 11th over.

Griffith hit two sixes off Ray Jordan, but was dismissed for a shining 36-ball 23, being brilliantly run out

by Kirk Edwards.

Captain Johnson, who scored a century in the final practice match at Providence, showed early signs of positive stroke-play.

Johnson joined Chanderpaul and the pair was up to the task against the Windward Islands Volcanoes bowlers.

Occupying the crease as per norm, Chanderpaul

played a supporting role to the aggressive Johnson. The pair batted with a sense of maturity, and in the process, Johnson reached his half-century with a streaky boundary that got past the wicket-keeper and first slip.

Continuing on an offstump line, Jordan captured the prized scalp of Johnson, who failed to convert yet another half-century.

Chanderpaul continued to play the anchor role for the Jaguars, at one stage facing six consecutive maidens from Shillingford. Vishaul Singh, who was the mainstay in the first innings, fell cheaply when he was adjudged leg before wicket to Shillingford for three.

With a few overs left in the day, Pestano, the night watchman, survived along with Chanderpaul.

Day three continues today from 14:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul at one stage faced 6 maidens

West Indies vs Bangladesh 1st ODI…

In-form Tigers hunting timid Windies

By Clifton Ross The fired up Tigers of Bangladesh will be stalking the out-of-sorts West Indies team as they look to draw first blood in Saturday’s opening ODI Series, a day/night affair to be played at the Dhaka Stadium.

Having lost the Test series, the Windies lost further momentum when they succumbed to Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar’s twin tons in Thursday’s practice game. However, it must be considered that the visitors have been playing with a young side, and were hit with a few blows when the likes of skipper Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel were brought down by injuries and suspension prior to, and during, the Test series.

T h e Windies’ guiding light for the year continues to be Shimron

Mustafizur Rahim

Hetmyer, who has maintained the form he displayed in the initial Home series in the Caribbean versus the Tigers, wherein he slammed his first ton. He has now, with the bat, dominated the current Away series.

The Guyanese has jumped to career best spots in both ODIs and Tests; but despite some impetus from Hetmyer, Shai Hope in particular, and Roston Chase, it was bits and pieces with regards to the runs scored by the other batsmen.

With a shift in formats, the Tigers will also carry the momentum from the last series which they won in the Caribbean, and coupled

with the fact that they pulled off such a heist with the likes of Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Sheldon Cottrell, Ashley Nurse and Holder in the Windies team, the hosts will be rearing to pick up where they left off.

The Windies will be looking for a definite turnaround of their fortunes, but with Bangladesh having a seasoned batting order, with a number of prolific knocks coming in 2018 from Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al-Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad, who have been carrying the side, that achievement would not be easy in coming.

The Bangladesh top-order is one of the more dangerous, if risky, ones in limited overs cricket, and for the Caribbean side to topple them, the Windies would need some fire from pacers Oshane Thomas and Kemar Roach up front.

The Windies secondary lot of bowlers includes Carlos Brathwaite; Devendra Bishoo, who will provide some spin; and possibly Keemo Paul, who missed out to Sherman Lewis on playing in the last Test.

Guyanese left-hander Chandrapaul Hemraj will likel y open the batting

and get a chance to further his international career, with his countryman Hetmyer a possible candidate at the top of the order.

Rovman Powell, playing his

Rovman Powell

first match as skipper, would have a lot of pressure placed on him, given that it’s his first run in that capacity and this is an international stage wherein the Windies have been looking for a way up. The Jamaican’s form with the bat in the recently concluded T10 series, wherein he smashed 80 and 61 both unbeaten, could inspire some confidence in the Windies, especially with the Tigers playing a variety of spinners.

At 37, Marlon Samuels, the oldest player in the side, has been one of the foremost underperformers for the latter half of 2018.

After scoring 101 versus Canada in the Regional Super50, Samuels failed to get past 25 in the Indian tour, with 24 being his highest score.

His class is undeniable, but as

the most senior batsman in the side, he should be desperate to show his worth, especially with a number of talented youngsters sitting on the sidelines.

Mashrafe Mortaza is a good leader, and has been doing a fantastic job as 50-Over skipper, leading with the ball and down the order with some handy knocks. As lead-

er of the bowling unit, Mortaza will want the likes of Rubel Hossain and the star Mustafizur Rahman to carry their weight in the fast-bowling department.

Class spinner Mehedy Miraz Hasan, who ended the last Test with 12 victims, will provide handy support to Shakib and possibly Mahmudullah’s part-time spin.

The young Caribbean side, with a new skipper and enormous talent in the set-up, could easily regain their lost momentum and assert themselves as contenders in limited overs cricket.

Bangladesh would meanwhile want to retain their psychological advantage over the visitors, and continue on their way to possibly sweeping the series. The match is set to bowl off at 3:00hrs on Sunday.

SATURdAY, december 8, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI Regional 4-day Tournament…

Jaguars in firm control after minor hiccups Page 23

– Pestano 4-for dents Volcanoes CONCACAF Nations League…

Jags’ chances of Gold Cup qualification heighten Page 20

West Indies vs Bangladesh 1st ODI…

In-form Tigers hunting timid Windies

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