Guyaan Times - Friday, January 25, 2019

Guyana joins calls for end of political crisis in Venezuela P

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...PPP supports Govt's position Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3815

Friday, January 25, 2019

PRICE

Mandatory Art 106 90-day due elections

GECOM seems to be in “stalling mode” – PPP Commissioners Page 3

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Cocaine in lumber

Customs Officer, businessman P12 jailed for 5 years …2 acquitted

…Chief Whips, Commissioners to meet today

PPP will not honour privatisation of estates – Jagdeo Page 7

…maintains $30B bond could have sustained industry

Newborn dies after allegedly dumped in latrine

Page 7

Incursions into Guyana’s maritime, land space must stop – Granger Page 9

Region 6 admin to write Govt P17 on hijacking of agriculture budget

Ali promises to address rice farmers’ woes

– as PPP takes countrywide outreach to Essequibo Coast P10

…tells GDF to always be prepared to defend

15-year-old Mae’s student commits suicide Page 12

P12 3rd child succumbs at GPHC after receiving injection prior to chemotherapy – doctors transferred to another ward

P8 Police Superintendent charged for raping teen

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo along with Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Mrs Anu Mahalingam, PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali and Mrs Ali, share a light moment at India’s 70th Republic Day celebrations at the Marriott on Wednesday evening (Adam Baksh photo)

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

Mandatory Art 106 90-day due elections

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, January 25 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, January 26 – 09:00h-10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

GECOM seems to be in “stalling mode” – PPP Commissioners …Chief Whips, Commissioners to meet today

Friday, January 25 – 07:40h-09:10h and Saturday, January 26 – 08:30h-10:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals will prevail throughout the day, with clear skies in the evening. Overall temperatures will range between 19 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 07:41h and 20:02h at maximum heights of 2.63 metres and 2.62 metres.

Low Tide: 13:34h reaching a minimum height of 0.61 metre.

wednesDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

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thursDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 DAILY MILLIONS

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

PPP Commissioner Bibi Shadick

PPP Commissioner Robeson Benn

GECOM Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

GECOM’s Chairman Justice James Patterson

t has been 34 days now since the historic no-confidence motion was passed in the National Assembly activating Article 106 of the Constitution which mandates that fresh elections be called within a 90-day period, but the President is still to announce a date for elections and according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Commissioners at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the entity seems to be in stalling mode.

GECOM, which successfully ran the Local Government Elections (LGE) in November 2018 less than three months ago, is being blamed by Government for not being ready, but it is the President of Guyana who has to give a date for elections and not GECOM as being touted.

On Thursday, GECOM’s Commissioners met for the first time to discuss the readiness of the Commission for the March 21, 2019 deadline for mandatory elections as stipulated by the Constitution of Guyana. However, that meeting, which lasted more than five hours did not bear much fruit.

Speaking to the media following the meeting, PPP Commissioners Sase Gunraj, Bibi Shadick and Robeson Benn all expressed their disappointment that GECOM seems to be in a stalling mode.

According to Gunraj, during the morning session of the meeting, there seemed to be consensus that elections could have been held within the constitutionally mandated time; however, during the afternoon session, there were a number of issues raised and consensus went out of the window.

“What we saw was a whole host of issues being raised.

There is a valid list that ought to be used for the holding of elections. That list was certified on October 30 (2018) and has a validity for six months.

Because the law says so,” Gunraj noted.

He indicated that the Government’s Commissioners seemed to be pushing for a house-to-house registration process to be conducted along with claims and objections. He added that the list was active and there was no need for that list to be refreshed since it was used during the November 12, 2018 LGE and will expire on April 30, 2019.

“This morning (Thursday) a document was presented dated January 23 and offers the holding of elections on or before April 30 and we are now hearing that it is now not possible. How will you now say

that is impossible?” he questioned.

He noted that the document was presented by the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) along with several others with no clear timeline indicated.

“I maintain that the documents that have been presented to us earlier by the Secretariat under the hand of the CEO and his officers show clearly that we can hold elections under the constitutionally-mandated period. Unfortunately we are now hearing other considerations being put forward that militate against the holding of elections and again I said earlier and I find that very distasteful,” Gunraj said.

He said when hosting an election, the Commissioners are supposed to be presented with a work plan and they would have requested that at Tuesday’s meeting, but to date have not received any such plan from the CEO. He said that the work plan is populated by tasks and their duration and when juxtaposed with dates a critical path is derived.

He said that all they have seen are poorly thought-out proposals which do not indicate the readiness or not of the Elections Commission for the hosting of the constitutional-

ly-mandated elections.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Shadick said that while consensus has not been arrived at, it is solely because of the Government’s Commissioners coming up with new issues that are minute with the intention of delaying or avoiding the constitutional requirements. She explained that she would have produced a timeline that would allow for the hosting of elections within 50 days. She expounded on that indicating that since the Commission would have trained over 11,000 persons for the LGE, it would train every day as opposed to just weekends as well as doing other tasks simultaneously.

“I am convinced that the CEO in trying to please all his masters is prepared to go back on the submissions he gave us and is a thoroughly confused person and at this point I said that he is not fit for the job. We moved the date to meet with the Whips so that they can get together and call their principals so that the President can call a date for elections and GECOM will have to hold that elections because once an election date is announced then GECOM has to meet that date because that is the constitutional mandate of GECOM,” a seemingly upset Shadick told

reporters.

She said that GECOM is failing the people of Guyana and that it needs to get its act together.

Commissioner Benn accused GECOM of not playing its part since the passage of the no confidence resolution. Meanwhile, Government Commissioner Vincent Alexander said that the reason GECOM is not ready is because the voters list needs to be fixed.

He added that there was no budgetary allocation for the hosting of an election and that it was previously discussed and chronicled in the document of the Commission that at least 180 days are needed to prepared for the hosting of an unscheduled election.

The GECOM Commissioners requested that COE Keith Lowenfield provide them with feasible timelines based on the operational and legal timings for the conduct of election. He presented those options for them to deliberate on at Thursday’s meeting.

The meeting between GECOM and the Opposition and Government Chief Whips will take place today. That meeting was delayed after GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson was on medical leave.

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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

Caribbean’s fight against HIV

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ecently the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) conducted research in the Caribbean, which found that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention response is inadequate in key populations.

According to the research, which was conducted between April and November of 2018, the Caribbean has made progress in responding to the HIV epidemic, but the impact of the prevention response has been inadequate, particularly among key populations.

Statistics provided by the organisation revealed that the annual number of new HIV infections among adults in the Caribbean declined by only 18 per cent from 2010 to 2017, from 19,000 to 15,000. However, the majority of the new HIV infections, which represented 68 per cent of the total population was accounted for by men who have sex with Men (MSM), Sex Workers (SWs) and their clients, transgender persons, and persons who use drugs, PANCAP disclosed.

Notably, new infections among children also fell from about 2300 in 2010 to 1100. Although significant progress has been made in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, available data showed that HIV-infected pregnant women receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to reduce HIV transmission declined from 92 per cent in 2014 to 79 per cent in 2015 and 75 per cent in 2016 and 2017 respectively, illustrating a significant decrease that requires investigation.

Global leaders had signed up to the Sustainable Development Goals, with the aim of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030. The UHC framework now lies at the centre of all health programmes. To complement the global campaign the World Health Organisation says it will be seeking to highlight the need for all 36.7 million people living with HIV and those who are vulnerable and affected by the epidemic, to reach the goal of universal health coverage.

In the Caribbean region, we can boast of several successes in relation to our HIV response. Programmes to prevent motherto-child HIV transmission, reduce new HIV infections and treat people living with the virus have yielded encouraging results.

Additionally, the Caribbean is the only developing region that has approached the near-universal coverage of antiretroviral medicines to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Some 75 per cent of pregnant women living with HIV now access treatment to prevent passing on the virus.

Here in Guyana, there was a steady decline in the number of new reported cases of HIV infection among a significantly higher number of persons coming forward to be tested, but in 2017 that changed when the country recorded an overall increase in HIV cases. According to statistics provided by the Public Health Ministry, in 2015 there were 705 cases, 855 in 2016, and a whopping 961 cases were confirmed in 2017.

Region Four recorded the highest number of cases. Trailing Region Four was Region Three, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, with 130 cases of HIV in 2017. For the same year, Region Eight, Potaro-Siparuni, was documented as the Region with the least number of cases, since a mere three persons were diagnosed with the virus there.

The Caribbean, including Guyana, cannot become complacent. In order to sustain the advances made, Governments and international donor partners need to put more money and effort towards ensuring that their HIV programmes can be sustained. For example, more needs to be done to address the prejudice and social inequities that operate to make some people, both more vulnerable to HIV infection and less likely to access prevention, testing, treatment and care services. Young people, men who have sex with men and sex workers are among the populations that need targeted investments and more protective environments through a combination of social dialogue and increased tolerance.

HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 35 million lives. According to WHO, one million people died from HIV-related causes globally.

There were approximately 36.7 million people living with HIV with 1.8 million people becoming newly infected globally.

According to WHO, it is estimated that currently only 70% of people with HIV know their status. To reach the target of 90%, an additional 7.5 million people need to access HIV testing services. While there is no cure for HIV infection, effective antiretroviral (ARV) drugs can control the virus and help prevent transmission so that people with HIV, and those at substantial risk, can enjoy healthy, long and productive lives. International development partners and governments must continue to do what is necessary to win the battle against HIV/AIDS.

The Essequibo Islands-West Demerara’s Children’s Mashramani competition continued at the Leonora Synthetic Track and Field Centre. The competition saw primary school students competing in the areas of dramatic poetry, group dance and calypso singing among others. In photo, participants of the ring dance/games Children Play 5 to 7 categories presenting their piece (Education Ministry photo)

Justice will be served

Dear Editor, An old Guyanese saying goes ‘if oil a float, water deh ah battam’ meaning a little evidence can tell the whole story. The Auditor General’s report for fiscal year 2017 uncovered seven rooms in a local hotel packed with drugs belonging to the government. Upon investigation, no documentary trail could be uncovered to explain why government drugs were in Ocean View hotel rooms. Surprisingly the Guyana Police force was not called in to investigate. An excuse by an unnamed official at the Ministry of Public health “that the Ministry had sought the assistance of cor-

porate citizens to have the items stored at the offsite locations temporarily since the construction of bonds was ongoing” was accepted and recommendations made.

Editor, the facts outlined in the AG 2017 Report are; there was no written agreement for use of rooms for storage; No rental charged for 7 hotel rooms; Plenty of air-conditioned bond space available; No inventory of drugs ‘stored’ was available for accountability; No Ministry official stationed at the hotel to control access; No delivery slips; No receipt for storage; No security for untold millions of dollars’ worth of pharmaceuticals; No re-

cord of any ministry official requisitioning drugs from this ‘storage’ facility exists; No written record of any kind to track entry and exit of the ‘store’ rooms; No paper trail in a country known for paper based bureaucracy; No paper or electronic trail of emails and/or notifications to health facilities of this new ‘storage’ location.

The inescapable conclusion is that this was a largescale theft of drugs bought with taxpayers monies; that the hotel was being used as a transshipment or pickup location far from prying eyes and ears; that when discovered there was a conspiracy to cover up this theft and that

cover up must have included anyone in the Ministry of Public health professing belief that there were valid reasons for the use of these rooms as ‘storage’.

To the perpetrators of this scheme to defraud the taxpayers and deprive the people of Guyana of much needed pharmaceutical supplies, I offer two more old Guyanese sayings ‘time longer than twine’ and ‘moon ah run till day ketch am’. There will be a law enforcement investigation into this blatant scheme soon enough and justice will be served.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

APNU/AFC Ministers MIA

Dear Editor, It is an understatement that rice farmers across Guyana have no confidence in the Minister of Agriculture or in the APNU+AFC government. The No-Confidence motion of December 21st 2018, in fact, wholly captures the sentiments within the rice industry and within the agriculture sector. Rice farmers and millers have played a significant role in helping to keep Guyana's economy afloat in the midst of under-performance from every other sector in the country. In the midst of a stagnant economy, gross mismanagement and incompetence from the APNU/AFC government, the rice industry has continued to shine bright. But the APNU/ AFC government has only been visible in its policies and programs to stymie the rice industry. This government has been missing in action when it comes to helping the rice industry.

At this very moment, rice farmers are struggling to irrigate their rice fields in Region 6, with almost 600 acres of rice fields under threat of being entirely lost. Similar struggles are evident in Region 2. Rice farmers in Region 2 are still struggling with non-payment, as are pockets of rice farmers in other regions. Rice farmers across Guyana are strug-

gling to cope with rising lease and D&I fees. The Minister of Agriculture has remained totally silent, seemingly totally oblivious of the struggles of these rice farmers. For rice farmers across Guyana and for rice millers, this Minister has been MIA since May 2015, always seemingly unavailable, always absolutely disinterested.

While rice farmers have ensured they sustain high production of rice, the potential for expansion is being squandered by an incompetent and disinterested APNU+AFC and a Minister who has been missing in action, totally MIA. In 2014, Guyana produced 640,000 tons of rice and was set to achieve 700,000 tons in 2015. In the first crop of 2015, Guyana produced almost 400,000 tons of rice and, therefore, was set to easily achieve the 700,000 tons target for 2015. Guyana failed because of the sabotaging policies of APNU/AFC. It failed to achieve the 700,000 tons target in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Yet no one can dispute that if the Minister and the Minister of Agriculture supported the rice farmers, Guyana can easily surpass 700,000 tons.

Minister Noel Holder is the responsible Minister for the rice industry. There should be no need to state this obvi-

ous fact. But in this instance it is necessary, it is a call to Minister Holder to remind him that the rice industry is part of his portfolio. This Minister is in the running for the title of the MOST MIA MINISTER. Not only is Minister Holder MIA whenever there is a problem in the sector, he appears to always be running far away from the problem. In the past, he has insisted that rice is a private sector business and he has no authority to intervene.

This is the same minister that once disowned SUGAR, when he insisted that GuySuCo is not his responsibility, but that of the Ministry of Finance and NICIL. In fact, there are over 7,000 sugar workers who lost their jobs because four sugar estates were closed and these workers and their families are struggling to stave off debilitating poverty, but Minister Holder has never acknowledged that his Ministry has responsibility.

In fact, this Minister is MIA as the country demands answers as to the whereabouts of the $30B taken as a loan by NICIL on behalf of GuySuCo. No one knows where this money is, even as GuySuCo /NICIL must pay $2.5B in interest for this loan.

Indeed, this Minister is suppose to oversee a sector that largely helped to limit the

deficit in balance of payments, that is the balance between our export earnings and import expenditures. At the end of 2014, Guyana maintained only a small deficit because we managed to earned as much $US in exports as we spent on imports. Yet in 2018, the deficit has ballooned to almost US$100M. This is because export earnings have been reduced by almost US$300M. Most of that export earnings losses have come from reduced sugar, rice and fish exports.

The Minister of Agriculture has been shamefully silent.

Agriculture has always been the strength of Guyana's economy, the sector that employs the largest number of Guyanese. It is the sector that feeds our nation and is responsible for Guyana being a food-secured country. We need an active, attentive Minister of Agriculture, interested in every problem that plagues the sector. As rice farmers struggle, they need the interest of their minister. But Minister Holder only offers a worrisome disinterest, always missing in action, MIA. This is why rice farmers and other farmers have no confidence that APNU/AFC can manage Guyana.

Sincerely, Leslie Ramsammy

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

Long live respect and loyalty to the Constitution!

Dear Editor, Last week the Greek Parliament had before it, a “Noconfidence Motion” which after discussion and debate resulted in the Motion being defeated by a one vote majority, the Government survived.

Likewise, the British Parliament faced a Noconfidence Motion brought by the Opposition. That Motion was defeated; hence the Government was not required to resign.

During the said week in the British Parliament, a day before the No-confidence Motion there was another Motion on “Brexit” as presented by the Prime Minister. It was not passed!

Why? Because 118 members of the party in power with a significant majority in the house voted against the Motion. The Motion failed. There was no vilification or derogation of those Government MPs who voted against the Motion. It was seen as a democratic process, not a betrayal of trust. Instead, it reflected a democratic process and the entrenched tradition of the British Parliament and its people.

In Guyana, when the Opposition moved a Noconfidence Motion on the 21st

December, 2018 in the National Assembly and a member on the Government side supported the Opposition, it appeared to some persons as an act of infamy and repulsive to parliamentary norms.

After the Government member voted “yes”, hell broke loose in the Assembly. There were efforts to halt the counting of the votes, also reported abuse, threats and assault of the perceived offending member. The Government members realized at that stage that it was the end of their tenure as it would lead to a 33/32 vote which would be a majority vote.

It signaled the premature end of the Government in office.

From behavioural patterns of the Parliamentarians in the Assembly on that day, it was obvious that at critical stages the members of the Assembly knew, understood, recognized and accepted the implications of a 33/32 vote in favour of the Opposition. The Motion was duly carried. This was confirmed by the Clerk of the Assembly and pronounced on by the Speaker. The Prime Minister conceded that the Noconfidence Motion was legally passed and he formally accepted that position and alluded to

the various things which have to follow. He announced that the Government had fallen.

The democratic trees bloomed only a short while.

Laws Laws are made for the security of citizens and the harmonious development of society so that each and every citizen will enjoy and preserve his/her entitled rights.

In like manner institutions created under those laws, rules, regulations, traditions and conventions are equally embraced to assure the security and development of the citizens.

This goal is accepted by the leaders of the entire society.

The separation of powers in which three (3) branches of government are independently established being the Executive, the Parliament and the Judiciary ensure the effective working of a Democratic process.

The Nation is now confronted with national issues including qualification of sitting members of Parliament and what constitutes a majority.

Majority It will be naïve to separate the voting on the No-confidence

Motion on the 21st December, 2018 from what has been the established historical norm and current practice that obtain in the National Assembly.

There is no ambiguity in stating that 33 is greater than 32. Those known 33/32 figures have guided the business and decisions in the Assembly over many years.

On the question of majority, it is necessary to determine what happens in the Assembly when there is an equality of votes. Article 168(1) and (2) of the Constitution states: “(1) Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, all question proposed for decision in the National Assembly shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.

(2) Except as provided by the next following paragraph, the Speaker or other member presiding in the Assembly shall not vote unless on any question the votes are equally divided, in which case he shall have and exercise a casting vote.

(3) A Speaker elected from among persons who are not members of the Assembly shall have neither an original nor a casting vote and if, upon any question before the Assembly

Ali has delivered on manifestos, policies Dear Editor, I am amazes and somewhat shocked to have read Mr Oscar Ramjeet’s comment in one of the daily newspapers harshly criticizing Irfan Ali’s candidacy and nomination for president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

I take this opportunity to remind Mr Oscar Ramjeet and his friends in the diaspora that Mr. Irfan Ali did not drop from the sky; he has been actively involved in Guyana’s politics for over twenty years.

Former Presidents, Donald Ramotar and Bharrat Jagdeo give him high praises in the competent manner in which he managed his ministry as Minister of Government and as a member of the PPPParliamentary Opposition since 2015.

It is a fact that Mr Ali has

delivered on the manifestos and policies of the PPP by completely transforming the housing land scape of this country and regularizing squatting areas with large housing schemes in various parts of Guyana.

Further, under his leadership Guyanese living in Guyana or abroad; irrespective of race, political persuasion or creed were the recipients of over 50,000 affordable house lots and turnkey houses so that they can have the assurance, security and comfort of their own homes with portable, purified water, asphalt roads and electricity supply.

This former, honorable minister of government has created many industrial zones so that thousands of skilled, semiskilled and ordinary workers can have employment. Moreover, this public servant has dedicat-

Support from Grove/ Diamond Villages for Irfaan Ali

Dear Editor, It is with sincere pleasure and profound pride, that the Grove/Diamond PPP/ WPO/ PYO groups express congratulation to Cde. Irfaan Ali on being elected to the post of PPP/C Presidential Candidate 2019!

We wish to pledge our steadfast support to you and our Party and re-commit our energies in order to take back our rightful place in Government and a majority in Parliament. We have full faith in you Comrade Ali

and our General Secretary Cde, Bharrat Jagdeo, in taking Guyana back on the road of progress and prosperity for all Guyanese.

The PPP/C is the only party that can stand alone and charter VICTORY at the next General and Regional Elections in this Country.

Once again, we extend our Congratulations to you as WE BLAZE THE TRAIL to victory.

Sincerely, Vickram Bharrat

ed all his unwavering energy to the service of this country.

I urge Mr Ramjeet to be reminded that Mr. Ali has gained wide support from the Central Executive of the PPP with approximately 70% of the votes cast on Saturday, January 19, 2019.

I therefore question, how this learned gentleman has the gall to say that President Jagdeo was the cause for the PPP’s loss at the 2015 polls. I need to inform you that if President Jagdeo didn’t step in and make a late intervention the PPP would have lost by a far greater majority.

Ramjeet, you must also understand that President Jagdeo is the lighting rod in the PPP, and the champion for the cause of the disenfranchised Guyanese people

in the unending downward spiral spin whether you like it or not; Sir, I guarantee you he will be there for a long time to come.

I am confident that Mr. Irfan Ali and the Central Executive Committee members of the PPP will deliver a victory for all Guyanese in the eagerly awaited upcoming general elections.

Finally, I agree with Mr Ramjeet that his favored presidential candidate Mr Anil Nandallal is articulate and bright, but the Central Executive of the PPP has spoken and all the nominees have given their support to Mr Ali. The entire team is now united by his victory and this will be sold to the populace.

Yours sincerely, Hanna Mohamed

when such a Speaker is presiding, the votes of the members are equally divided, the motion shall be lost.”

The vote being 33 to 32 carried as pronounced by the Speaker was a majority.

Ineligibility Arguments have been made claiming that the vote of the Government member who supported the Opposition Motion should be disregarded. The rationale given is that the said member of Government Bench is a citizen of a foreign country and ought not to have been in the National Assembly.

However, Article 165(2) of the Constitution states: “(2) The Assembly may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership (including any vacancy not filled when the Assembly first meets after the commencement of this Constitution or after any dissolution of Parliament) and the presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present at or to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly shall not invalidate those proceedings. That Article negates the argument that a perceived disqualified member who participated in the proceedings and voted that such a vote lacks validity. In law there is the established maxim which addresses the presumption of regularity and it appears that Article 165(2) above preserves that concept.

Recent reports in the media suggest that members of the Government, including Ministers, fall into the same category of that member of Parliament whose vote they want to nullify.

Assuming but not admitting that the vote of the questioned member is a nullity, what is the legal consequence in relation to the volume of laws

passed in the said Assembly, in which members of identical status of the questioned member voted ‘yes!’?

It is inviting anarchy if all of those laws are to be annulled, especially the budgetary laws.

What is the consequence of a No-confidence Motion with which has been properly passed and validated by the speaker?

The consequence is captured by Article 106(6) of the Constitution which states: “(6) The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”The honourable Speaker of the National Assembly is worthy of the highest commendation for being fair, firm, fearless and resolute in his refusal to rescind the decision pronounced by him in the National Assembly on the 21st December, 2018 that cannot be changed.

As the poet observed: “The moving finger writes and having writ moves on nor all thy piety nor writ shall lure it back again to cancel half a line or all thy tears wash out a word of it.”

(Simply put, what’s done cannot be undone) This matter has now moved away from the legislative arm of Government to the judicial arm.

The citizens, politicians, various organizations, the international community, Caricom and the world at large await the pronouncement of the Court. Democracy is alive!

Long live respect and loyalty to the Constitution!

Sincerely, Jailall T Kissoon and Vibert Parvatan, Former Ministers of the Government

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Foundation

W

e hear lots of advice about helping our family eat better, exercise more, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. So much advice, in fact, that sometimes the real message gets lost.

Nemours Health and Prevention Services (NHPS), a non-profit organisation focused on children's health, makes it easy to get the facts straight.

Its formula — called 5-2-1-Almost None — helps parents and kids remember the basics of a healthy lifestyle.

Limiting screen time to 1 hour a day or less for children two to five years old.

No screen time, except video-chatting, for kids younger than 18 months.

Next time your older kids complain "there's nothing to do" but watch TV, offer these alternatives: Ask them to help make dinner, work in the garden, play outside, or just turn on some music and have fun together.

Go to the playground or take a walk around the neighbourhood. Do it together as a family — it's a great opportunity for conversation and physical activity.

Encourage reading, playing, and crafts. Have books, magazines, board games, puzzles, and balls readily available.

Give your kids a screen time allowance. Help them choose only the shows they really want to watch.

Turn off the TV and have dinner together. Ask every person to share the best and worst parts of the day with each other.

What's involved?

5: eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily 2: limiting screen time to no more than 2 hours a day 1: getting 1 or more hours of physical activity every day almost none: drinking almost no sugary beverages The guidelines in the 5-2-1-Almost None formula have been shown to help people prevent obesity, maintain a healthy weight, and improve their overall well-being.

Lots of fruits and vegetables

We were all told as kids to "Eat your veggies!" And now we're telling our kids the same. And why not? Most fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients and naturally low in calories and fat, making them a healthy choice.

They're also full of water and fibre, which makes them filling.

5-2-1-Almost None recommends 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily. A serving size equals ½ cup of chopped fruit or vegetables or a full cup of raw leafy vegetables, like spinach.

Here are some ways to get more servings in your kids' diet: Have fruits and vegetables in kids' view on the counter or in the fridge; pre-cut them to make it easier to grab and go.

Ask kids to help choose different vegetables and fruits for mealtime.

Get kids involved in washing, chopping, and cooking fruits and vegetables. They'll love to eat what they prepare.

Offer fruit or vegetable options at every meal.

Be creative: Add fruits and vegetables to pancakes, cereal, oatmeal,

Get active

scrambled eggs, pasta, tacos, and sandwiches.

Offer new fruits and vegetables and old favourites together. It can take several tries before kids accept a new food, so if they don't like it the first time, try it again soon.

Limit screen time

Screen time includes watching me-

dia on TVs, tablets, and smartphones; playing video games; and computer use that's not related to school. While some screen time can be an excellent way to educate and entertain kids, too much is associated with an increased risk of becoming overweight.

Experts recommend: No more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day for older kids.

Most kids don't spend enough time moving their bodies. At least one hour of physical activity is recommended every day for kids six years and older. Toddlers and preschoolers should be active for at least 90 to 120 minutes every day.

Regular physical activity helps kids to have strong and healthy hearts, bones, and muscles, and to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. Those who are active may have an increased ability to learn, feel more energetic, and sleep better.

Here's how to get your family moving: Schedule a regular time for daily physical activity.

Use physical activity as family bonding time; be active together.

Set your weekend in motion by planning active family fun. Try a hike, a walk through the zoo, a dip in the local pool, or toss a Frisbee in the park.

Make physical activity part of things you already do. Park farther away from store entrances and take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Play outside whenever possible.

Set up a safe area in your home where active play is OK — don't let nasty weather be an excuse to be idle.

Avoid sugary drinks

Besides causing dental cavities, sugary drinks are one of the main culprits behind the childhood obesity epidemic.

But what's considered a "sugary drink"? You may be surprised to know that it's not just soda. Juice drinks, lemonades, sweetened iced teas, sports drinks, and coffee drinks are also loaded with sweeteners and offer little nutritional value.

For kids two years and older, water and fat-free or low-fat milk (1%) are the best choices for drinks.

Limit 100% fruit juice to no more than one serving (4-6 ounces) per day for kids 1-6 years old, and no more than two servings (8–12 ounces) for kids 7-18 years old. As an alternative, add flavour to water by throwing in a few lemon or lime slices. Your kids will enjoy a refreshing beverage that's good for them, too.

Here are more tips for getting your kids off the sugar-packed soft drinks: When you go shopping, buy healthy beverages instead of sugary drinks. Your kids learn from you, so let them see you choose healthier options.

At dinner, offer low-fat milk or water. Reserve soft drinks for special occasions.

When thirsty, choose water. Keep it on hand to quench thirst at the big game and pack a water bottle in school lunches.

So try to make 5-2-1-Almost None part of your family's life, and share the formula with your kids.

It can help prepare them to make good decisions on their own about the foods they want to eat — and that can lead to a lifetime of healthier choices. (kidshealth.org)

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fridAY, January 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP will not honour privatisation of estates – Jagdeo …maintains $30B bond could have sustained industry

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ow that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has submitted its report and recommendations on the three closed sugar estates, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has warned against privatisation during this period, noting that once the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) gets back into Government, it will not recognise any such deal, since the Government has fallen following the December 21, 2018 no-confidence resolution.

Jagdeo made the statement at his weekly press conference on Thursday.

In 2017, Government announced plans to minimise the local sugar industry with only three estates in operation, and divest the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s remaining assets. Since then, several entities have expressed interest in acquiring the assets.

On Tuesday, it was reported that PwC has submitted its report and recommendation on three bids made for the privatisation of the Enmore, East Coast Demerara; Skeldon, Berbice and Rose Hall,

the former President added.

Jagdeo told reporters that the only investor that would enter into a deal with a fallen Government is one that is into underhand businesses and with the intention of getting a lucrative deal before a new government gets into office.

Recommendations

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Berbice estates to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

However, the Opposition Leader pointed out that instead of selling off, steps should be taken to resuscitate the industry in full capacity so that the workers can start earning an income again.

“We are not recognising any

deals. That is not the routine. When I spoke about the routine functioning of Government, it does not involve privatisation now. Any privatisation done in this period with a Government that has fallen, with a Government that should had resigned, with a Government that is on a caretaker capacity would be seen as an illegal arrangement,”

Newborn dies after allegedly dumped in latrine

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25-year-old woman is under Police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital following the death of her newborn baby, who was allegedly dumped in a pit latrine aback her Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home.

Based on reports received, the woman gave birth on Thursday to a baby boy, but was unhappy, since she was under pressure from her family about not knowing the child’s father.

After delivering the baby, the woman allegedly placed him in the garbage bin and instructed her five-year-old child to dispose of the newborn in the latrine at the back

of the yard.

Guyana Times understands that a relative subsequently went to use the toilet and realised there was blood present. Upon investigation, he saw the baby in the pit. At the time, the baby was still moving. He immediately raised an alarm and the baby was pulled out and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, but despite the efforts by doctors to save his life, he died. Initially, the woman claimed that the baby was not hers, but later admitted that she felt contractions and later gave birth. A Police source told Guyana Times that relatives informed the ranks at the La Grange Police Station of the in-

cident and as such, the woman was arrested. The source related that during investigations, the seemingly confused woman told ranks that she went to use the toilet and it was then she delivered.

He added that while interrogating the woman, the ranks realised that something was amiss.

The woman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was currently receiving medical attention while being under guard. In addition, the baby’s umbilical cord was discovered in a drain in close proximity to the home. Police are continuing their investigations. (Bhisham Mohamed)

In the report submitted to NICIL, PwC offered its recommendations with regard to three qualified entities as well as the way forward. Additionally, PwC said that the information would be forwarded to Cabinet which has the option of accepting the recommendations or rejecting them and restarting the process.

Initially, the latest information prior to the report suggested that some five companies were interested in the three estates; however, in the final report PwC said that it narrowed those companies to the chosen three based on a number of criteria. Additionally, the two rejected companies did not raise an objection when they were informed according to the PwC’s Wilfred Baghaloo, who spoke to the State media on Monday.

However, on Thursday, Jagdeo said what was revealing about the report is the fact that it spoke nothing to the valuation of the closed estates.

“We are worried about the Pricewaterhouse report and you notice that one thing has not come out the valuation of the sugar estates. Part of their TORs [Terms of Reference] is to place a value to the sugar estate and we have not seen the Government releasing their figures of what they have valued these estates at. So we will continue to be very vigilant in this regard,” he told the media.

Since coming into power, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government embarked on a mission to downsize the sugar industry claiming that it was a sinking ship. To date it has closed the estates at Wales, Enmore, Skeldon,

and Rose Hall leaving more than 7000 persons without a job. The closures began in 2016 and to date Government is yet to come up with a plan to cushion the ripple effect the massive loss of jobs has had on the social development of the country.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to sustain the minimised GuySuCo and bring it into a state of profitability and financial stability, NICIL set up a Special Purposes Unit (SPU) and secured $30 billion, being sought in the form of a syndicated bond, to support the industry.

Since this announcement, concerns have been raised about Government’s vision for the industry and the genuineness of its actions thus far, since that very $30 billion could have gone into restructuring the industry while keeping all of the estates open and GuySuCo’s workforce employed and engaged.

Ever since Jagdeo has maintained that the $30 billion should have been used to maintain the industry without closing any estates.

He reiterated this position at his press conference, adding that if re-elected, the PPP would reopen the closed estates while outlining the plan for doing so.

He noted that the PPP would have to subsidise the industry for a period while he aims for profitability, but noted that the multifunctional; benefits are too many to ignore. Pointing to those benefits, he explained that drainage and irrigation was top class in those communities, benefitting not only cane farmers but others as well.

Additionally, the contribution to the National Insurance Scheme and the Guyana Revenue Authority are far too large to ignore.

“The bottom line is it would not be profitable immediately, but it is about keeping people in jobs. It is doable and we have to look at the multifunctional benefits. We can finance the sugar industry…we did that before and kept the economy going,” Jagdeo said.

8 news

fridAY, January 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

51-year-old charged for Sophia Police Superintendent businessman’s murder charged for C raping teen olin Blaire, of D Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was on Thursday slapped with a murder charge and appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Blaire was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on January 20, at D Field, Sophia, he murdered Godfrey Phillips.

He was unrepresented and was remanded to prison until March 12, 2019 when the case is called again.

Phillips, a businessman, was stabbed to death in front of his business place as he attempted to make peace between a man and his reputed wife. The 48-year-old man

Dead: Godfrey Phillips

of Lot 3028 D Field, was reportedly stabbed once to his

left abdomen and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Based on reports received, the now dead man had already closed his business for the night when he heard an argument. As he ventured out, he saw the suspect arguing with his reputed wife and cautioned them about their behaviour.

The suspect, of Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, reportedly became annoyed, whipped out a knife, and inflicted the fatal blow on Phillips.

After committing the act, the suspect, along with his reputed wife, fled the scene, but he was later arrested and charged for the heinous crime.

Colombian charged for entering Guyana illegally

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Colombian was on Thursday remanded to prison by acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus when he appeared before her charged for illegally entering Guyana, and a psychological evaluation was ordered.

Jose Valencia, a 32-yearold cook, admitted that he entered Guyana without presenting himself to an immigration officer on October 22, 2018 at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu).

He was, however, arrested by

Police on January 19, 2019, and taken to the Rose Hall Police Station, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where he failed to hand over his passport.

According to the prosecution’s case, an investigation confirmed that Valencia entered Guyana illegally.

In court on Thursday, with the aid of an interpreter, the defendant told the court that upon his arrival in Guyana, he was taken to the Immigration Office where he presented himself and was granted a three-

month stay.

Further, he explained that he was sleeping at the Stabroek Market during his stay when his suitcase containing his documents and belongings were stolen. After observing the defendant and listening to his claims, Magistrate IsaacsMarcus asked that he be psychologically evaluated after which she would hand down her sentence.

As such, he was remanded and expected to return to court on February 12, 2019.

Delusion...

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Rape accused: Seecharran Singh

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n Assistant Superintendent of Police found himself on the wrong side of the law after he was placed before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl.

Seecharran Singh stood before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

Singh is accused of engaging in sexual activity with the minor between June 17 and June 18, 2018 on the East Bank of Demerara.

After the charge was read, the senior cop was remanded to prison. The case will continue February 5, 2019. The accused was represented by Attorneyat-Law, Bernard DaSilva.

….in the AFC he AFC says they're meeting to decide on who'll be the PNC-led coalition's Prime Ministerial candidate!! Now, to your Eyewitness, this just confirms that these fellas have completely lost it...they've gone bananas; cuckoo; pagalee; or stark raving mad. Have they forgotten what's been going on between them and the PNC since 2015? The only thing your Eyewitness can figure is they're so desperate to keep their perks, they've decided to place some pressure on the PNC by thinking they'll present them with a fair accompli! And this just reinforces their complete break from reality.

Didn't they try that stunt just before the LGE when Trotman – full of confidence that they would've made a killing at the polls – plotted to force the PNC to eat humble pie? But even the most optimistic reading of the results confirmed that Ramjattan's "dead meat" prediction had been fulfilled! The question is why would the PNC hand the Prime Ministership to this bunch of losers – even when the office has been so degutted it's belly is touching its backbone!!

The PNC has problems of its own at this time with picking their Presidential candidate. Never mind various and sundry officials reaffirming their confidence in President Granger... that simply confirms their predicament! What else are they expected to say? But as your Eyewitness has said time and again, there's also no way in hell or heaven they can know for sure what the man's condition will be by election time – be it three months or a year.

So what's been going on behind the scenes is a vicious battle to be "the candidate in waiting"! And each one of them have their own ideas as to who'll be their flunkey in the PM's office. But one thing they all agree on is it won't be Nagamootoo or any other token Indian from the AFC. Their betrayal of their constituency from Berbice to make them dead meat and the decision by Charrandas to nail them at the no-confidence vote has made the PNC to a man (and woman) leery of tying bundle with any Indian AFCite.

Why should they give away so much for nothing? For Old Lang Syne? The AFC should know that politics isn't charity – much less charitable! What the PNC will do is to float their own home-grown Indian who they'll have complete confidence in not to have a succession problem, in the event Granger does become the candidate and falters.

Someone, say like the young Pandit from the Maha Sabha who they made into the Mayor of Georgetown. This allows them to say with a straight face they have someone even younger than Irfaan in their lineup...a heartbeat away from the Presidency! But back to the AFC: do they have any utility to the PNC any longer? Of recent, they've been the most fervent and vociferous defenders of the status quo on new elections in three months. But that doesn't earn them any kudos, does it?

It was Nagamootoo, after all, who conceded they'd been defeated fair and square right after the vote, didn't he? He's only cleaning up his own mess – not to mention the sorry topic of Charrandas, who they'd sponsored!!

Naah...the AFC's just spinning wheels and will embarrass Nagamootoo and themselves further if they were to "name" a PM candidate.

What they should do at their meeting is to decide to merge into the PNC As the other micro parties have done!! ...on silk The AFC, in the person of their Minister of Business – who just happens to be a British citizen and the son in law of the President – just demanded that "the government" clear up the "confusion" over the conferral of silk – or more to the point.

It's withdrawal – from that other British citizen Jonas. Oh what a tangled web...

Isn't this a bit a bit rich for Gaskin to call on his father-inlaw to "do the right thing" after embarrassing him so? And as an insider, so to speak, shouldn't he know about the culture of the PNC after dealing with his father-in-law, who swore he was a dyed-in-the wool PNC since 1965?? The history of the PNC shows they'll brook no opposition – especially when it's from "their own". If Gaskin wasn't in Guyana when it occurred – being British and all – didn't he hear at the Rodney COI what the most "condign" treatment from such "betrayers" could be?

He should consider Jonas lucky Burnham isn't around! Like the Mad Queen from Alice in Wonderland, "off with his head" was one of his favourite expressions.

As it is, the protocol officer may be asked to fall on his sword! Never mind it was Granger who decided not to accept the Chancellor's recommendation! ...of Maduro Maduro's counting on the international norm for countries not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries to cling on to power.

But with 3 million Venezuelans refugees in neighbouring countries, the latter are rethinking their position.

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

news

9

fridAY, January 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Incursions into Guyana’s maritime, PPP Executive Committee to decide on PM candidate land space must stop – Granger …tells GDF to always be prepared to defend resources but because of the terrain of the hinterland region.

Moreover, he noted that in addition to working to boost recruitment to 50 per cent of the strength of the regular Force, the army is also working with frontier villages to protect its territory and natural resources as well as to repel threats to human safety.

“The Force is the vanguard of national defence.

The Force is conscious of its duty to preserve our territory, protect our people and develop the economy by imCommander-in-Chief, Brigadier (retired) David Granger inspecting the Guard of Honour ahead of plementing our national dethe opening ceremony of the Guyana Defence Force’s Officers Conference fence doctrine. The Defence ust over a month after sel and drill ship, the C. E. sovereignty. The influx of Force has been, and always the Venezuelan navy Thornton, from Guyana’s more than 3,000 migrants must be, ready to deter agattempted to intercept waters. fleeing economic and politi- gression, defend sovereignty a vessel conducting 3-D seisThese, according to the cal distress in Venezuela ne- and ensure the development mic oil exploration activities Head of State, all occurred cessitates stronger controls of our country as a safe, secure and strong state,” the offshore Guyana, President within recent memory and along borders,” he asserted.

David Granger has stated while Guyana remains comThe Commander-in- Commander-in-Chief assertthat these incursions into mitted to ensuring that the Chief said the GDF must al- ed.

Meanwhile, Chief-ofGuyana’s maritime and land Caribbean and continent ways be ready to deter agspace must be stopped. of South America remain a gression, defend national Staff, Brigadier Patrick The commander-in-chief zone of peace, these incur- sovereignty and ensure the West, in echoing the sentimade this statement during sions should end. development of the country ments of the President, also his feature address at the “Incursions have oc- as a safe, secure and strong assured that the GDF will continue to execute its manopening ceremony of the curred not only in our mar- state.

Guyana Defence Force’s itime space but also on land.

“The Guyana Defence date, particularly as it reAnnual Officers’ Conference Illegal mining, illegal log- Force therefore, must main- lates to upholding the counon Thursday. ging, illegal arms, narcot- tain itself in a state of read- try’s territorial integrity According to President ics, people and wildlife traf- iness to secure our entire especially in light of ongoGranger, Guyana has al- ficking and the smuggling of country and protect it from ing exploration activities offways been victim to claims – precious minerals have con- present and future dan- shore Guyana.

This year’s GDF Officers

by Venezuela and Suriname tinued. They have to stop,” gers,” he stated.

– on its territory despite in- the President insisted.

Referencing the Defence Conference was held unternational recognition of its He pointed out that cit- Act, President Granger add- der the theme: “Effective land mass, territorial bor- izens have been killed, es- ed, “The Force therefore Transformation for Total ders, territorial sea and ex- pecially those living in the is obligated to secure the National Defence”. clusive economic zone (EEZ). frontier villages. As such, he state and safeguard the enHe specially men- underscored the need for the tire territory from invasion, tioned the December 22, safety of these communities incursion and insurrec2018 incident whereby the from transnational crime. tion. Incursions must be deVenezuelan Navy corvette, “The persistence of trans- terred. Insurrections must the Karina PC-14, made national crime alerts us to be suppressed. The state a hostile incursion into the need for continued vigi- must remain secure.”

Guyana’s EEZ, some 144 ki- lance to protect our airspace, The Head of State went lometres from the boundary land borders, coastline and onto acknowledge, however, that separates the two coun- territorial sea. Over-flights the number challenges the tries. A helicopter on the and landings by aircraft sus- army is faced with includplatform of the naval cor- pected of involvement in il- ing its inability to effectivevette attempted to land on legal activities undermine ly man the borders not only the Ramform Tethys – an our territorial integrity and as a result of lack of human unarmed vessel contracted

by ExxonMobil to undertaking seismic surveys at the western end of the Stabroek Block. The incursion forced the vessel to discontinue its operations at that time.

The Head of State posited this recent aggression by Venezuela is the second naval assault against Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He reminded of the incident back in October 2013, where a petroleum exploration vessel – RV Teknik Perdana – conducting a survey in the Roraima block offshore, in Guyana’s EEZ, was intercepted by a Venezuelan Navy frigate and ordered to cease its. That vessel was ordered to sail to Margarita Island, where it was seized for six days before being subsequently released.

Furthermore, President Granger also recalled an incident involving Guyana’s Dutch neighbour. Back in June 2000, the Suriname Navy expelled a CGX licensed exploration ves-

J

soon – Jagdeo

…work on manifesto already commenced

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ow that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has already elected its presidential candidate the focus is now on who will the party choose as its Prime Ministerial candidate as it completes its ticket in preparation for the constitutionally mandated March 2019 General and Regional Elections.

According to the party’s General Secretary and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, the party’s PM elected would be determined by the Central Executive Committee. The process is expected to commence as early as next week, Jagdeo said at his weekly press conference on Thursday.

“When the executive meets, we will not meet this week, so probably next week we will start the discussion. We have put that on the agenda what timeline we need for this to resolve…We have to go through that process and that takes time and that is why we have to move it along simultaneously.

Now that the presidential candidate has been sorted out the Prime Ministerial candidate will be sorted.

I will put it on the agenda next week, but I do not know what timeline the Executive will set, but I will definitely put it in the

agenda,” Jagdeo informed.

He stated that at this time the party is simultaneously compiling its lists since the regional structures have been submitting names for those to be added on the regional list. He noted that the process is an extensive one since it includes vetting hundreds of names to ensure that those who make it on to the list are reflective of what the party stands for.

Jagdeo noted that the PPP slate is one of the most diverse slates, adding that it is committed to promoting diversity and representing all of the people.

When asked about speculations that he may have influenced the January 19 vote that saw the CEC electing former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali as its presidential candidate, Jagdeo noted that the process was a democratic one, which by no way was influenced.

“We had a secret ballot and 35 members voted and Irfaan Ali got 24. I have one vote and I spoke subsequently about the qualities of Irfaan Ali of how he will make a great president. He would not be a President who is aloof. I never publicly stated my preference…”

Jagdeo noted.

Turn to page 12

10 news

fridAY, January 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ali promises to address rice farmers’ woes …as PPP takes countrywide outreach to Essequibo Coast

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eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/) P r e s i d e n t i a l Candidate Irfaan Ali was cheerfully greeted in Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), on Thursday as he took the Party’s countrywide outreach to the Cinderella County.

As Ali interacted with the residents, chief among the issues raised was the failing rice sector in the region.

The PPP presidential candidate met with hundreds of farmers and residents at the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Seed Paddy Bond in Anna Regina.

He assured the gathering that he will work hard to ensure relief is brought to those suffering such as the farmers.

Ali noted that once elected into office, the PPP/C will negotiate with the commercial banks to reschedule farmers’ loans, develop a strategy to bring down the cost of production for rice and also seek new markets.

He noted that the Party is committed to the rice industry and will work closely with farmers to ensure it is remains viable.

During the interactions, RPA member and former Anna Regina Mayor

While there, he told residents that he intends to be a president for all Guyanese.

He also committed to fulfilling the promises that will be outlined in the PPP’s manifesto. Pointing out that Guyanese are being “taxed to death” by this Government thus crippling all the sectors, Ali said a PPP administration will reverse this and instead, give incentives to businesses and allow them to grow.

entertainment and travelling when that money can be spent on critical areas to enhance the social standing of citizens. These include financial assistance to school children and incentives to elders.

One day after being elected the presidential candidate, Ali commenced his national outreach with a massive rally in his home-community – Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara Sunday. He then

On Thursday, the PPP presidential candidate was wrapping up meetings and about to leave the venue at Anna Regina, when three apparent APNU supporters turned up in a dark blue 212 Toyota motor car, without any number plates, and attempted to disrupt the proceedings.

The Police were informed and PPP supporters, who witnessed this, are calling on the Police to take immediate action against these

Irfaan Ali being greeted during his walkabout on Essequibo Coast on Thursday

Rabindranauth Mohan highlighted that rice millers in the region are taking advantage of the farmers, paying them “how they feel and when they feel”. To this end, Mohan called on the PPP presidential candidate, when he gets into Government, to meet with the millers and put a fair system in place to end the misery of farmers.

In response, Ali gave assurance that he would address the farmers’ troubles.

Further, he told the farmers that unlike the present Government putting VAT on everything, including equipment and machinery for key sectors, thus sending up cost

of production, his government will find means and ways to reverse this.

Ali added that he will undertake to build a better Guyana for everyone, not just farmers, in order to move the country forward. He promised to create job opportunities especially for youths, re-open the three sugar estates that were closed by the coalition Government in 2017, upgrade the health care system and other government services as well as opening of new opportunities.

Meanwhile, the PPP presidential candidate also visited Charity during his outreach on Thursday.

A section of the gathering at the meeting at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast where rice farmers met with PPP presidential candidate Irfaan Ali

He made mention of what he described as Government’s wasteful spending some $10 to 15 billion on dietary, security,

visited residents in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Tuesday and Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) on Wednesday.

persons especially for driving around in a vehicle without any registration number on display – which is an offence.

S RAIGHT The Granger regime has totally failed on new investments

By SASE Singh; MSc - Finance, ACCA

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any of my friends living in Guyana are telling me that policy paralysis is at an all-time high today especially on the investment front. I would not have believed it if I did not see it for myself in October 2018. Nothing significant is moving forward today under President Granger because decisions in support of businesses are much delayed and the rampant need to grease the machinery to advance your cause is a prevalent feature. To add to that situation, investors are very concerned about the infantile political environment which is unpredictable and which materially contributes to the weakening of public institutions that support investments. When ineptitude drives us into a structure that not much progressively gets done, the outcome will be poverty augmentation. Isn’t this what has been happening in Guyana since 2017?

Thus I was not surprised when the majority of the representatives of the people, expressed their NO CONFIDENCE in the now embattled regime in the National Assembly. This political development is a manifestation of a gross rejection of Grangerism with it associated attitudes of ethnic supremacy, wanton and wasteful spending and policy immobility.

As a clear example of their incompetence, one only has to look at the state of investments deeply. Nothing has changed since 2014.

Actually, it has gotten worse. Guyana is having one of its slowest years ever for corporate deal-making, as investors continue to evaluate the risks and continue to invest their cash in other jurisdictions leading to one of the most intense periods of capital flight ever experienced in its history. If one is to discount the oil investments, the Guyanese investment profile is estimated to have declined by more than 5% per year since 2017, which would have made it into second worse economy in the entire Western Hemisphere (only the Venezuelan dictatorship would have done worst). In spite of the oil investments, Guyana remains in the bottom quarter when it comes to economic growth, in the Western Hemisphere.

Other than the oil investors, other companies and investors alike are going to wait out this period of political uncertainty. That very act will bring great harm to the nation. As expected, Guyana is degrading into a bureaucratically sclerotic situation. The longer we delay the elections, the less attractive the investment climate will become, which brings great harm to the poor and the working class.

If one is to study the graph below they would realize that since 2016, Guyana’s total investments have been flat. What is of key note is that public sector investments have been crowding out private sector investments as the Government continues to borrow in your name to spend on projects that have no chance of generating the required income to pay back these debts. Thus the only policy option left for the next Government is to divert the oil revenues to pay for these debts or tax the people more. Can you see the options clearly now? DO NOT COUNT ON THE OIL REVENUE BEFORE 2025, because this Granger administration has already committed it to pay off the debts that they have incurred.

If there is any reason to reject Team Granger this is it.

On Page 22 of the APNU/AFC 2015 Manifesto, President Granger and his Team promised this nation that they will “stimulate higher levels of savings and investments”. THEY DID NOT! The graph above illustrates, if it was not for the borrowing and spending by the public sector, the investments in Guyana would have tanked. If you take away the oil investments in the sea, private investments would have also declined markedly. So do not let them fool you?

Since Mr Granger came to office he and his Team has done a lot of foreign travels but very little of it was to spearhead efforts to deepen the diversification of the economy and drive the new investments as they promised in 2015. Actually, they found time to waste days at jaunts at the World Mercury Conference in Switzerland and World Tamil Conference in India with zero investment returns for the nation. As the financial evidence reveals the collective travel related cost of Team Granger since 2016 increased by more than a billion dollars each year. These people enjoyed the GOOD LIFE at your expense. Unless future Governments of Guyana find new ways to expand the economy and pursue multiphase strategies to reposition the private sector Please your sasesin1@yahoo.com. today, theshare working classthoughts will neverat feel the GOOD LIFE.

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FRIdAY, January 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

12 news

fridAY, January 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

3rd child succumbs at GPHC after receiving 15-year-old Mae’s student injection prior to chemotherapy commits suicide …doctors transferred to another ward

Six-year-old Sharezer Mendonca

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fter six-year-old Sharezer Mendonca received an injection before starting chemotherapy which left her battling for her life at the Georgetown Public Hospital, her family said that she died on Thursday.

Mendonca was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Public Hospital

after she became unresponsive having been administered an injection prior to her chemotherapy sessions.

Her father, Michael Mendonca told this newscast earlier today that his daughter was admitted to the ICU after being placed in the paediatric ward for a few hours.

He noted that after receiving the injection, her face became swollen, but relatives were not allowed to touch her.

During the same period, which Mendonca was admitted, three-year-old Roshnie Seegobin also visited the medical institution for chemotherapy but after returning home, her condition deteriorated. She was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Seegobin’s mother, Pranita Harripaul explained that her daughter woke up the following day and complained that her feet were aching. A few moments after, she was unresponsive

Three-year-old Roshnie Seegobin

and she was later taken to GPHC where she was admitted. Doctors on duty then informed that she was in need of saline to dilute the medication, which would take at least one week.

“Normally, when she would take the medication, she would be a normal kid.

We went for a check-up and her labs and blood count

Cocaine in lumber

Customs Officer, businessman jailed for 5 years …2 co-accused acquitted

The four accused: Sherwayne DeAbreu (jailed); Stephen Vieira (acquitted); Nazim Gafoor (acquitted) and Tazim Gafoor (jailed)

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ormer Customs Officer Sherwayne DeAbreu, of Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, and businessman Tazim Gafoor, of Menzies Street, Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, were on Thursday sentenced to five years in prison after they were found guilty of trafficking 84.986 kilograms of cocaine in dressed lumber.

In addition to the prison sentence, the two men were fined $178.4 million.

The two other accused, race car driver Nazim Gafoor and motorcycle ace rider Stephen Vieira were found not guilty owing to lack of evidence. This was the ruling of Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool at the conclusion of the trial at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

The decision did not go down well with the defence attorneys and as such, they related that the ruling would be appealed.

The quartet was initially charged for aiding Hakim Mohamed to traffic the cocaine between March 1 and May 2, 2017. Mohamed was

not charged, but was used by the prosecution as the main witness during the trial.

The men were represented by a team of high-ranking lawyers, including Latchmie Rahamat, Everton LammySingh, Glenn Hanoman, and Nigel Hughes while the State was represented

by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford.

It was reported that during the trial, Mohamed told the court that DeAbreu, along with another man, had taken 99 cocaine bricks to Narine Lall’s lumberyard where he worked and that Tazim Gafoor was on hand to uplift same.

Magistrate Liverpool, during her ruling, told the court that the main witness had given detailed information implicating DeAbreu and Gafoor, noting that her sentence should reflect society’s condemnation of drug trafficking.

Last May, ranks of the Unit swooped down on a lumberyard at Lot 227 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), where they conducted a

search on a truck that was laden with several pallets of 1×6 dressed lumber that was being prepared for export to the United States.

A total of 84.986 kilograms of cocaine was discovered stashed in the lumber.

An investigation led to the arrest of the Gafoors, Vieira, DeAbreu and Mohammed. The Gafoors and Vieira appeared before Magistrate Liverpool and pleaded not guilty to the charge read to them.

That charge stated that between March 1, 2017 and May 12, 2017, they aided Hakeem Mohammed in trafficking 84.986 kilograms of cocaine at Narine Lall’s Sawmill at Lookout, Parika, EBE. They were all remanded to prison.

However, acting Chief Justice Roxane George granted bail to the younger Gafoor and Vieira when their Attorneys, Latchmie Rahamat and Stanley Moore made a bail petition in the High Court. The older Gafoor, along with DeAbreu, was also later granted bail.

were okay and they told us to come for treatment on January 4. She was normal until the Saturday when she woke up and then she told me that she couldn’t walk.

She said her foot was hurting,” Harripaul said.

She added, “We put her on the bed and she was not responsive to us. I took her to the hospital.”

After her daughter’s condition deteriorated further, Harripaul reportedly questioned this occurrence. The response she received was that her child was injected to her spine, which affected the functioning of her nervous system. Seegobin died at the hospital shortly after.

“On Sunday, she couldn’t sit up and balance her neck, so I keep asking ‘why is my child like this’. They didn’t respond to me and said it was the side effect of the medication. I later heard that they inject her on her spine which affect her whole nervous system,” said the aggrieved mother.

This publication understands that another child, Corwin Edwards, also passed away during this period after undergoing similar treatment.

In response to these alarming incidents, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) indicated that an investigation was launched earlier in the week to discover why there was an ‘adverse’ reaction to the medication provided.

According to the institution, usage of the medication was stopped.

“The administration of the GPHC is aware of this situation and has launched an investigation to determine the reason for the adverse reaction to the medication. That investigation involves the interviewing of all medical persons directly involved, along with an assessment of the medication administered. Further, the usage of that medication has been discontinued,” the Hospital said in a statement.

The doctors at the centre of the investigation have since been transferred to another ward.

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sixth form student attached to Mae’s Secondary School died while receiving medical attention at a private city hospital on Thursday after she started to vomit profusely in her classroom.

The teen, 15-year-old Vanica Schultz of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, allegedly ingested several carbon tablets.

Guyana Times understands that the teenager was seen vomiting during the lunch recess and as such, teachers in the school were alerted. Eventually, the teen was placed in a vehicle and rushed to the hospital.

The Police were summoned to the educational facility and an investigation was launched.

Reports are the now dead teen was part of an investigation following the alleged discovery of ecstasy pills on the school premises some time ago. The students were instructed to inform their parents to visit the school so that the matter could be dealt with.

This newspaper understands that following the decision to inform the parents, the now dead teen reportedly threatened to take her life, since she did not want her parents to know about her involvement in the ecstasy investigation.

However, the school has since denied the incident. During a press briefing on Thursday afternoon, the school’s administration refuted claims that the teenager ingested ecstasy.

Director of the school’s secondary division, Paul Burnette also refuted claims that the drug, which was popularised at raves as a sensation-enhancing drug, was found on the school’s premises at any time. Schultz did not commit suicide owing to an investigation into the pills, he asserted.

In addition, Burnette de-

nied reports, which suggested that the teachers delayed taking the child to the hospital. In fact, he added: “I immediately rushed with her, shouting to the teacher to get her car so that we can take her to the hospital...It didn’t take her 10 minutes to get to the hospital.

I stood there…in awe as I saw them work on her, flushing her stomach and all of that,” he added.

The director also told the press that the now dead teen confessed to ingesting carbon tablets. The motive for taking her own life remains a mystery, but, according to Burnette, Schultz arrived at school as normal and distributed letters to her friends.

The letters, according to the school’s administration, revealed that the teen had apologised to her peers for the wrong things she had done in the past and encouraged them to continue performing well in school. The school reported that the student came through the primary section and was never a problem child.

Late last year, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) revealed a worrying trend of ecstasy being sold to students in at least five schools across Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

The anti-drug enforcement agency is working with education officials to address the illegal practice.

Ecstasy is making its way into the nation’s schools after being already popular among many affluent members of society, CANU Deputy Head Lesley Ramlall had stated.

While it was not revealed if, or how many of these affluent individuals were charged, Ramlall said CANU was working to track down the drug mules and was not inclined to carry out full-fledged investigations in schools.

PPP Executive Committee...

Jagdeo has earlier indicated that based on the formula the PM candidate will come from the Civic side party. However, Jagdeo noted that the Central Committee does have the power to change the methodology used to select the prime ministerial candidate. According to the General Secretary, however, no one has indicated that the model of selecting the prime ministerial candidate from the Civic side of the Party needs changing.

Manifesto

On the issue of developing the ideal manifesto to lead the party into the elections, Jagdeo said that the Manifesto Committee was primarily the core com-

mittee, but that has since changed and expanded to approximately 20 persons.

“The Manifesto Committee is not the Executive of the party. It was core group and now it grown, and we have assigned responsibilities to people so now it has grown to include about 18-20 people for various sectors and we have already been receiving views,” he explained.

He notes as the party goes ahead and prepare its manifesto, it intends to include all of the Guyanese people by meeting with representatives from various areas to ensure that the issues affecting their development are addressed.

Giving an insight of some of the intended tasks, Jagdeo

From page 9

said that rolling back taxes would be a big part of the PPP’s plan of action if elected to office following the elections.

“Reversing harmful decision this Government has taken and resuming the social programmes and so on will happen when the PPP resumes office and we have already started talking about what we will be doing in the future because clearly job creation is important,” he said.

“You heard our presidential candidate even gave a number because we have looked at this internally and that is entirely doable. The 50,000 new jobs in five years and we have started looking at the reality…” the former president said.

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Region 6 admin to write Govt on hijacking of agriculture budget …after Cabinet instructs $$$ be handed over to NDIA

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he Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) administration has taken a decision to write Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan on its disappointment by moves by the Agriculture Ministry to have the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) take over the agriculture budget for that region.

The decision was made at a special sitting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Wednesday.

Regional Chairman David Armogan told the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) that it was a Cabinet decision to have the $114 million from the capital budget transferred to the NDIA. The Region has a capital budget of $221 million for agriculture and of that amount $106 million will be spent to purchase a bulldozer.

Armogan also noted that a further $108 million, which represents the current budget, is also to be transferred to the NDIA. The entire agriculture budget for the region is $370 million.

He said the administration was informed by a letter from the NDIA of the situation.

However, there was no memorandum from Cabinet.

He explained that the Region has 18 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and many could not adequately provide all the needed services for residents and as such, the regional administration would include in its budget projects for those NDCs. “These works would have entailed the continuation of the primary drainage system

Regional Chairman David Armogan

as well as the sluices and other structures that are related to drainage and irrigation. So it is not only clearing of the primary system, it also has to do with sluices…”

Armogan also noted that the regional administration has responsibility for drainage and irrigation, outside the declared NDIA cultivation areas.

No consultation

Addressing the issue, Councillor Zamal Hussain argued that there was no consultation with the RDC on the issue nor was any approval given by the RDC for its budget to be handed over to the NDIA. “It (RDC) is the second-tier government of the governance of this country. It is being constituted by an election with voters from the Region. The people of this region have mandated the Regional Democratic Council to make decisions for them at any level. In any democracy, there should be re-

spect for an elected council,” he noted.

He said the NDIA has not been performing as expected in Region Six, adding that several pieces of equipment have been out of service for several months.

“The mini-excavators – they have 12 and only one is working. The large excavators, they have six and most of them are down,” Hussain added.

He said if the NDIA is allowed to have the regional agriculture budget, hundreds would lose their jobs. These, he added, are persons in the Region who work on the maintenance of canals utilising funds from the current budget.

“It is a political move. The RDC needs to wake up and enforce the law.”

Hussain added that the RDC would welcome the NDIA to monitor its work, but it must respect the RDC.

Cabinet’s decision

Another Councillor Haseef Yusuf, weighing in on the issue, pointed out that the National Budget was approved in December 2018 and questioned when Cabinet made such a decision, noting that such a decision was in violation of Article 9 of the Constitution.

He also quoted President David Granger, who at the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs in July 2018, said that RDCs and NDCs were bound by the Constitution to provide certain services, which include drainage and irrigation.

He called on Cabinet to withdraw its decision.

Drug eradication

Police unearth more ganja, ammunition

One of the ganja farms, which were unearthed by the Police

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ore marijuana camps were destroyed and a quantity of ammunition retrieved at 7 Miles, Millie’s Hideout, Upper Demerara on Wednesday as Police ranks in E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) continued a mass drug eradication exercise.

One person has since been arrested and taken into Police custody following the exercise, which was conducted between 06:00h and 13:00h. The Police destroyed eight fields totalling 13 acres, which con-

tained some 15,000 marijuana plants ranging from two to seven-and-a-half feet.

A nursery containing about 3000 seedlings and 1500 kilograms of dried cannabis, which was already processed, was also discovered.

A total of five camps were discovered at the location.

Additionally, Police found five live 12-gauge cartridges, three 12-gauge empty casings and a 1.45 spent shell.

A farmer of Kuru Kuru, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, who was discovered on the first farm, has since been arrested. The farmer, who was allegedly tending to the marijuana plants at the time of the discovery, reportedly took ranks to the other farms. He has since been processed for court.

A camp that Police found during their drug eradication exercise in Upper Demerara River

Councillor Zamal Hussain

“They are trying to hijack the sovereignty of the people of Region Six,” he said.

Prime Minister Regional

Representative Gobin Harbhajan, in his capacity as a Regional Councillor, told the RDC that he communicated with the Agriculture Minister and the Head of the NDIA, Frederick Flatts prior to the meeting.

He said he was told by Flatts that there was a consultation in the Region with the Regional Executive Officer (REO).

“I don’t know how it was done … Minister told me that a committee was set up headed by the Minister of Communities, the Minister of Public Works and (Agriculture) Minister (Noel) Holder.”

He said the committee came up with two proposals – 1) to have the RDC take care of the entire D&I system or 2) to have the NDIA and Central Government handle the re-

gional D&I system.

Both proposals Harbhajan said were presented to Cabinet.

Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop explained that in 2018, the NDIA was unable to give the two Water Users Associations their subventions and as such, it was the RDC that had to chip in.

He also noted that the NDIA did not clear any of the three outfall channels along the Corentyne Coast last year, forcing the Region to utilise its savings to undertake that project.

Following the debate, a decision was then taken to first pen a letter to the Communities Minister. The RDC has also agreed to write the Agriculture Minister on the issue.

UN executions expert to visit Turkey to lead Khashoggi inquiry …investigation comes as Saudi efforts to normalise relations with West move on to Davos

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United Nations expert on executions is to travel to Turkey next week to lead an “independent international inquiry” into the death of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi Arabian Journalist killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October.

Agnes Callamard, the special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, said she would evaluate the circumstances of the crime and “the nature and the extent of States’ and individuals’ responsibilities for the killing”. She will report on the findings from her five-day visit to the UN human rights council in June.

In an email to Reuters, Callamard said the inquiry was being conducted at her request and that she would be accompanied by three experts, who have forensic expertise among other skills.

She declined to name the experts for now.

Earlier on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu, said it was time for an international investigation and that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an had ordered preparations to be made.

The development came as Western businesses moved towards normalising relations with Saudi Arabia at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Riyadh has sent a large-scale ministerial delegation, which has expressed sorrow at Khashoggi’s death while at the Swiss resort.

Patrick Pouyanne, the chief executive of the French oil company Total, and James Gorman, the chief executive of the US investment bank Morgan Stanley, spoke alongside the Saudi Finance and Economy Ministers at a panel at the Swiss ski resort.

Gorman said the murder of Khashoggi was unacceptable, but added: “What is the alternative for a company like Total? To boycott Saudi Arabia? We are always against sanctions and boycotts. Who suffers from boycott and sanctions? It’s the normal people, the people on

Jamal Khashoggi

the street.”

Long since dealt with case

Switzerland President Ueli Maurer said his country had moved on and wanted to build strong relations with Saudi Arabia, a rich oil-producing kingdom, and major global investor. “We have long since dealt with the Khashoggi case… We have agreed to continue the financial dialogue and normalise relations again,” Maurer said.

Saudi Ministers expressed pleasure at the return of business interest in the Kingdom. Its finance minister, Mohammed alJadaan, said it was “absolutely sad, what happened to Jamal Khashoggi”, but added the fact that a US$7.5 billion Saudi bond was heavily oversubscribed earlier this month showed investors were regaining confidence.

The CIA has concluded that Khashoggi’s murder was probably ordered by the powerful Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and his death has left the US scrambling to provide cover for the Kingdom, relations with which have been a bedrock of American foreign policy under Donald Trump.

The Saudi effort to normalise relations with the West is facing pushback in Turkey, the UN, and in British political circles. Çavu?o?lu claimed on Monday that some Western countries were trying to cover up the Khashoggi murder, and said the route to justice

may lie through a UN-led international investigation.

Saudi Arabia has refused to cooperate with Turkey, and is conducting its own judicial proceedings against 12 suspects. The case is not held in public, so the evidence and defence being mounted are not known.

In the UK, one of the Saudi regime’s strongest sympathisers in Parliament urged the Riyadh to signal its commitment to reform by allowing a British panel of Members of Parliament (MPs) to visit Saudi Arabia to investigate allegations that women’s rights activists were being tortured and sexually harassed in detention.

Crispin Blunt – who lost the chairmanship of the Commons foreign affairs select committee partly because of his support for UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia – has so far been stonewalled by Riyadh in his efforts to access the eight detained activists.

The women were arrested between May and July and then branded traitors in the Saudi press.

Blunt, a Conservative MP, has written both to the Saudi Ambassador in London and to the New Foreign Minister, Ibrahim al-Assaf, for permission to travel to Saudi Arabia, but has not yet been given any reply.

Speaking at a briefing in London, Blunt said the panel would publish its own findings on the allegations of torture if the Saudis did not cooperate by the end of the month.

Human Rights Watch claims there have been credible reports from members of the women’s family that they have also been denied medical access, as well as being maltreated.

Blunt said: “These women are celebrities of the international women’s movement so there is an enormous global focus on what is happening to them. There is a clear opportunity for Saudi Arabia to send a signal that things have changed and they could amplify that by engaging with our panel.” (The Guardian)

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Guyana joins call for end of political crisis in Venezuela …PPP supports Govt’s position

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s the political and economic crisis continues to worsen in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Guyana has joined calls for an end to the impasse in the Spanishspeaking nation.

In a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Thursday, the Guyana Government said it was gravely concerned at the deepening of the political crisis in Venezuela.

The Government said it “supports calls made at both the regional and international levels for immediate dialogue involving all political and social actors, with a view to the preservation of the democratic process and a return to normalcy.”

Furthermore, Guyana is calling on all parties in the neighbouring country to desist from actions that might lead to further violence and loss of lives.

“The Government of

Guyana remains firmly supportive of efforts to resolve the crisis through peaceful means and with full respect for human rights and the rule of law,” the Government added.

PPP support

Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Opposition has also thrown its support behind the calls made by the coalition Government.

At his weekly press conference on Thursday afternoon, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters that he had a briefing on the situation in the neighbouring country via a phone conversation earlier in the day with Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, who is currently in Washington.

“We don’t have all the details at this point, but I assured him that we don’t want to do anything right

now that in a major way will be inconsistent with the Government’s action…

We, at this time, would like to associate ourselves with [Government’s] statement,” Jagdeo said.

In recent years, Venezuela has been experiencing worsening economic turmoil following the decline of oil prices on the world market. The country is now in its fifth consecutive year of recession with hyperinflation at an all-time high.

Reports coming out of the Spanish-speaking State reveal that there are massive food shortages and limited access to basic health care and basic amenities such as electricity in certain parts. Additionally, there continue to be rampant outbursts of looting and violence across some of the most affected cities in the neighbouring country. These conditions have forced millions to flee the

country, with thousands seeking refuge in Guyana.

Meanwhile, there seems to be an international divide on the political situation in the South American nation, which has given birth to a parallel government, putting the nation into unchartered territory – with two presidents.

Following snap elections in May 2018, Nicolás Maduro – who has led the oilrich nation since 2013 into its worst economic freefall – was re-elected President for another six-year term.

But the elections suffered widespread Opposition boycott and claims of rigging. However, attempts to challenge the polls by the Opposition were banned by the pro-Maduro Supreme Court. Hence, his assumption of office on January 10.

The Venezuelan Constitution allows citizens to rebel against a Government that takes

power from the legislative branch and gives the head of that branch the authority to become an interim president in the absence of an elected one. Hence, the recognition of Opposition Leader Juan Guaido as President.

The 35-year-old declared himself acting leader on Wednesday, receiving the backing of a large number of countries such as the United States and Canada as well as a majority of Latin American and South American nations, including Venezuela’s neighbours Brazil and Colombia.

While Guyana has steered clear of throwing support behind either side, the Organisation of American States (OAS) – of which Guyana is a member – has since recognised Guaido as the interim president.

“Our congratulations to [Juan Guaido] as acting President of Venezuela,”

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro said in a tweet on Wednesday.

However, the support of these countries for Guaido has resulted in Maduro – who still enjoys control over the courts, central bank and the military – breaking diplomatic ties with the US. In fact, soon after US President Donald Trump tweeted his formal recognition of Guaido as President of Venezuela on Wednesday, the socialist leader Maduro subsequently told a gathering outside the presidential palace in Caracas that he was giving US diplomats in the country 72 hours to leave Venezuela, accusing the North American nation of attempting to govern Venezuela from Washington.

“We’ve had enough interventionism; here we have dignity, damn it! Here is a people willing to defend this land,” Maduro stated.

Venezuela crisis: US vows to Brazil's 1st openly gay congressman 'disconnect' Maduro's funding quits due to threats, leaves country

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he Trump administration is trying to cut Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro's revenue streams, US National Security Adviser John Bolton says.

The comments come one day after Maduro cut diplomatic ties with the US. He was angry after they recognized an opposition figure, Juan Guaidó, as interim president on Wednesday.

Bolton told reporters outside the White House the issue was "complicated" but they were working on a plan to funnel funds to Guaidó instead.

Figures from the Trump administration are continuing to try and compound pressure on Maduro as the international community remains divided in its support of him.

Russia has condemned foreign powers for backing Guaidó, saying the move violated international law and was a "direct path to bloodshed".

Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, has now requested a UN Security Council

meeting be held on the issue on Saturday.

At a meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Thursday he described Maduro's government as "morally bankrupt" and "undemocratic to the core".

President Trump has said that "all options are on the table" in response to the unrest.

Large protests were organized against, and some in support of, Maduro on Wednesday.

At one demonstration in Caracas, Guaidó, Venezuela's National Assembly leader, declared himself as the country's interim leader.

He said articles within the country's constitution allow him to assume interim power because he believed Maduro's election, and therefore presidency, was invalid.

He has vowed to lead a transitional government and hold free elections.

Within minutes of his declaration, Trump recognized Guaidó as the country's legitimate head of state. A number

of South American nations, as well as Canada and the UK, have now followed suit.

The government of Mr Maduro, who has maintained the military's support, described Guaidó's actions as an attempted coup.

Maduro has labelled the US comments a "big provocation" and broken off diplomatic relations.

On Thursday, he ordered the closure of Venezuela's embassy and consulates in the US. The US state department meanwhile has ordered non-essential staff to leave Venezuela.

Maduro's sovereignty has been backed by China and Russia, who both have strategic interests in his country's economy.

Others, including Mexico and Turkey, have also stood by Maduro.

A Caracas-based NGO, the Observatory of Social Conflict, says that at least 26 people have been killed in demonstrations so far this week. (BBC News)

J

ean Wyllys, Brazil’s first openly gay congressman, said on Thursday he will not serve the new term for which he was re-elected due to death threats and he now plans to live abroad.

But Wyllys’ Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) said his seat in Brasilia will go to a substitute lawmaker who is also gay: Rio councilman David Miranda, the husband of Pulitzer Prize-winning US Journalist Glenn Greenwald.

In a letter to the party explaining his decision to leave Brazil, Wyllys said death threats made his life unbearable and he hardly left his Rio home. His siblings and his mother had also been threatened, he said in the letter released by the PSOL. Wyllys said in a newspaper interview that the climate of violence in Brazil, which had one of the world’s worst murder rates last year, had worsened since the October election of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has disparaged gays and other minorities.

Wyllys said he was tired of living with bodyguards since the execution-style murder last year of popular Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco, a fellow PSOL member.

“It was not Bolsonaro’s election itself.

It was the level of violence that has increased since he was elected,” Wyllys told the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper.

A legislative aide in Brasilia con-

firmed that Wyllys will not return to Brazil from his current travels in Europe.

The presidential press office declined to comment.

Wyllys told Folha that he was the target of constant death threats and defamatory campaigns on social media and got pushed in the street even with bodyguards.

“I don’t want to sacrifice myself,” he told Folha. “I want to take care of myself and stay alive.”

The last straw, he said, were revelations that Bolsonaro’s son Flavio had employed on his Rio state assembly staff relatives of a fugitive former police officer suspected of involvement in Franco’s assassination in March. (Reuters)

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n what is expected to be the biggest sound clash in Guyana, Empire Media Inc is set to host Armageddon Clash 2019 on Saturday, January 26 at the National Park tarmac.

The sound clash industry has seen a passion for this form of entertainment, and fans have given tremendous support to the events over the past three years.

The organisers have upped the bar this year and fans can expect an explosion of musical war when six sound systems battle for $1 million, a trophy and one year’s bragging rights.

Doing battle will be Kanabis Sound out of Antigua, Notorious International, Slingerz Family, Exodus Nuclear, Trinity Sound, and Afrikan Vybz.

There will be five rounds in the competition.

Rules of the competition:

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wenty Soca artistes are expected to create a storm on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at the Linden-Georgetown Minibus Park as they clash in the semi-final of the Carib Soca Monarch with the ulterior motive of securing a spot in the final billed for February 16 at D’Urban Park, Georgetown.

This year, several newcomers will hit the stage while a few of the stalwarts have returned. One such artiste is threetime Carib Soca Monarch Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo with his newest single, “Tribute”, which has been creating quite a vibe on the local airways.

Steven Ramphall, who is known to participate in the Chutney competition, has joined the Soca party this year with his tune, “Ah Feeling De Vibez”. He intends to use his experience in the Chutney field as he competes with the big guns for the first time.

Another person to look out for is the reigning Carib Soca Monarch, Brandon Harding, who recently stated that he was ready to defend his title despite the return of Primo. Harding will be performing “Alone” on the night of the final.

Then there is “Vanilla”, who is pushing her tune “One Voice”. Already in the mood to perform, she is expects to do so to the best of her ability. She is also the reigning Road March Queen. Diana Chapman is also in the line-up with her song “Blessed”. She will undoubtedly score some points since the entire mining town will be rooting for her.

And then, there is “Lil Red”, who has been trying his best to make it in the top five for the longest while, but, for some reason, he chokes at the finals. This year, he will be performing, “Free Up Yuhself”. Ernesta Nelson is coming this year with “Beating Palm” and is ready to entertain her fans. She, too, has been participating in the Carib Soca Monarch Competition for some time, but has never reached the top.

The others who are competing in the competition this year are: Ryan T with his tune “Waan Feel the Vibes”; Alisha Hamid with “Shaha Me Lode Jammin”; Sherwin Rose, also called “Natural 1”, will be performing “Cat & Dog”; Collis Mc Donald, “Push Back”; Shaima Muna will be performing “Sexy Berry”; Melissa Pestano “I Don’t Watch No Face”; Quincy Boyce “Come to Badder Bamba” and Euclid Samuels with “Arrowhead Stand Tall”.

In addition, Marlon Simon, also called “Blaze Anthonio”, will come strong with “Woman”; Oxbert Cain with “Soca King”; Clifton Adolphus, also known as “Passion”, is ready to perform “Miss J’ouvert” and finally Nton & Kempton Richards will take to the stage with “Jam”.

Round 1: Introduction Round Anything goes, Dubplates & 45's, no eliminations Round 2: Unleash the Beast Anything goes, Dubplates & 45's, one elimination Round 3: Anything goes, Dubplates & 45's, two eliminations Round 4: Challenge Round – one elimination

There are four categories in this round and including ‘Badman’ tunes, ‘Ganja’ tunes, ‘girls’ tunes and ‘God Bless’ or ‘righteous’ tunes.

The DJs remaining will pull a category and will play from that for five minutes.

Round 5 (1st to win 5 tunes or rounds): Dub for Dub, Dubplates only. Tunes must feature a singer or vocalist, but combinations can be played.

The Armageddon Sound Clash will be judged by a show of hands by the fans – not noise, while the rules will be enforced by the host. Early juggling will be provided by Evolution Fraternity, One Voice Family, Determine Immortal Sound and Sel Shaq Sound.

Tickets for the event are $2000 and are available at: Grill Kings (Mandela Ave); Siderz Music Centre; Nigel’s Supermarket Depot; Ingrid's Mackeson Bar (Plaisance); Guinness Bar (Plaisance); Wings & Things (Mandela Ave & Trench Road) and Digicel (Stabroek Market).

For more information you can check the Facebook page “Empire Media Inc” or call 680-6720 or Whatsapp 862-233-0494.

All set for G

rammy Award-winning singing sensation from Britain, Joss Stone is expected to send her Guyanese fans into a frenzy on Monday, January 28 at the Eucalyptus Garden Amphi-Theatre of the Theatre Guild of Guyana, in Georgetown.

Stone, who won the Grammy in 2007 for best R&B singer, is on the last leg of her Total World Tour this month in the Caribbean.

She is currently in Cuba and will perform in Haiti next week before heading to Guyana the following week and then to Suriname. Stone’s performance kicks off the growing Guyana season of Jazz and R&B, which will culminate in the much-anticipated G-Jazz Festival in April 2019.

Among the local artistes lined up to perform alongside Stone are Lerone Souvenir and Atajah, Mikey Smith, MaszkaJazz with Indus Voices and Gavin Mendonca.

Stone will perform in Guyana for the benefit of two charities – Help and Shelter and The University of Guyana’s Artist in Residence Programme.

The event is a partnership between the Joss Stone Foundation, the Theatre Guild, The University of Guyana, Guyana’s Ministry of the Presidency’s Culture Department’s Music Department and the Ministry of Business’s Tourism Department.

The British High Commission in Guyana is also a collaborator.

The concert on Monday is set to commence at 19:00h and will last for two and a half hours with nonstop music.

Tickets for ringside chairs cost $6000 and $3000 for grass seats; children are welcome.

These tickets are available at the University of Guyana’s Office of Philanthropy and at the Theatre Guild on weekdays from 10:00h to 17:00h and on Saturdays from 10:00h to 14:00h. For reservations, fans are encouraged to contact the organisers on 614-2244, 662-5036 or 6698989.

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T

ugging on our emotional strings is something a great musician is well-versed in, and it is one of the qualities that come somewhat naturally to 20-year-old Chris Ramphal.

Chris hails from the village of Adelphi in East Canje, Berbice and has been singing for a number of years now.

Like most singers he has a back story of how he got into music and credits the push he received in church as one of the driving forces.

The former Tagore Memorial Secondary School student remembers life not being so easy for him and his family. His father was a sugar worker and after Chris finished school, he did not have time to sit around and decide what he wanted to do with his life.

Though still young, Chris

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, january 25, 2019

says he immediately started working in a supermarket, because he needed to supplement his family’s income, but deep within, he always felt somewhat empty because of the need to be in a better job.

“I grew up in a middle-class family and we were happy, because we had each other. I realised that I needed to make something out of myself, so I always try to do my best at what I did. One year later (after working at the supermarket), I got a call from Nand Persaud and Company Limited for a job interview which I passed and [am] currently working there at the moment. That was the happiest moment of my life, because I know with this opportunity I would be able to make a name out of myself,” he said.

Reminiscing on how he

he Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts, in collaboration with Women Across Borders, will be hosting Inspire You 2019 on March 3 at the Pegasus Hotel as part of Women’s Month celebrations.

The team is working overtime to ensure this event truly makes a difference in the lives of people.

Last year, some amazing speakers from around the world, the Caribbean, and right here in Guyana spoke on various topics that totally inspired the audience.

Among those were Dr Jackie Evans from Connecticut, Hilda Bourne from Mississippi, two USbased Guyanese living in New York – Christine Neblette and Linda Felix-Johnson, who are also co-authors of Women Across Borders; GTT Marketing Consultant Samantha Gooden, Attorney Ayanna McAlmont from Guyana and Sherry Ann Dixon from the United Kingdom.

got into music, Chris said that he first started in the church singing gospel, because as a church leader he needed to set an example for the younger members.

However, music was not new to him, since he grew up in a family that deeply appreciated music.

He got more into singing after he recorded a song called “Tere Bin”, which basically translates to “Without You” as after that he was booked for performances in the Ancient County. Ever since, he has been blazing his own trail and is now stepping into the local Chutney arena.

“I knew I would’ve been a great singer, because of my love for music and I had people who pushed me to it. Being in a field of music requires a tough skin, because there is always a competition; all you have to do is learn how to deal with disappointments and continue to work towards your goals,” he notes.

Chris’s entry track for this year’s Chutney Monarch Competition is called “Sundar Larki”, and it has already snagged him a place in the semi-finals.

He notes that the song title translates to “beautiful girl” and the record not only speaks to physical attraction but also urges persons to follow their dreams.

Patrons can see Ramphal and other contenders perform at the Chutney contest rehearsals at the bandstand, Kingston Seawall on January 27. The semi-finals of the Chutney Monarch Competition are slated for

“V

February 10 at the Bath Settlement Community Centre Ground, and the final is booked for February 17 at the Anna Regina Community Centre, Essequibo Coast.

anilla”, as she is popularly referred to, is creating a storm on social media, especially Facebook, with her music video “1Voice”, which has received over 25,000 views in less than 48 hours of its online release.

“1Voice”, written by Burchmore Simon, speaks of Guyanese working together to truly achieve the goal “One People, One Nation and One Destiny”, to eradicate racism and racial divisions.

“Vanilla”, who was named Melissa Roberts by her parents, is a self-motivated individual who pushes herself to the extreme.

She is heading into the Carib Soca Monarch Competition with her eyes set on the crown after placing second three times. She is encouraging her fans to come and support her and the competition.

“Vanilla” is presently getting people fit and ready for the Mash season via Digicel’s Mash Fit workout session at the GCC Ground, Bourda.

In addition, she is at Banks on the Avenue for a special Mash Party Fitness Session.

When asked where she gets the energy, “Vanilla” smiles and simply says it comes naturally and “I’m generally a happy person”.

The artiste notes that success is not an easy road and gives credit to her label Kross Kolor Records, Banks DIH, Eco Atlantic Investments International, Digicel, Cerulean Group Inc, the Public Telecommunications Ministry, radio stations and DJs, old and new fans, and family and friends, especially Phillycia Burke.

She also encouraged everyone to support Mashramani, since it is one of the festivals that create opportunities for the creative industries as a whole.

The feedback was powerful, and this year the objective is to be more impactful.

Inspire You is an event that will encourage you and show you how to give the world the best version of yourself and with this empowering line-up of women, they will do just that.

Bourne and Neblette will be returning to the stage, along with a dynamic group of young women from Guyana, including Attorneyat-Law Thandi McAllister; Mariska Fiedtkou Jordan; Ramps Logistics Business Development Manager, artiste, radio & TV hostess and entrepreneur, former Miss Guyana Ruqayyah Boyer; Soarers Video Production Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ruth Wilson; and Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre teacher Joan Jackie Butcher.

Also joining the line-up virtually will be celebrity make-up artist and bestselling author Jacqui Phillips and author Bethany

Hanna from the United States.

It is important for everyone to be exposed to a growth environment and people who can motivate you.

Motivation gets you going, but it is the discipline keeps you growing. It doesn’t matter how talented you are, because talent only is not good enough.

It is the discipline, consistency and focus that set you apart from the others.

These phenomenal women will be sharing their journey and giving you an insight why quitting is not an option.

This year, persons will have the option of attending the 13:00h session, the 18:00h session or both. “I can assure you that you will not leave this event the same you came. It will be transformational, for God’s willing,” the institute’s founder Sonia Noel said.

Limited tickets are available at the Pegasus.

sports

CLASSIFIED Trojans make it 3 games in a stretch (3-0)…

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The victorious UG Trojans

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21

By Timothy Jaikarran

I

n their bid to defend their title at the University Games in Colombia in May 2019, the UG Trojans have continued their winning ways as they defeated the Eagles 81-54 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue.

After defeating the Rosehall Jammers in two games, the Trojans were handed the uphill task of facing off against the Eagles in their third game. The Trojans hit the court with a chip on their shoulders as

they intended to make light work of the Eagles with whom they were very familiar.

As the first period commenced, the teams exchanged points scoring at a slow rate as they played on the defensive; however, the first period went to the Trojans 13-5. Having a deficit of eight points, the Eagles needed to redeem themselves early before the lead was lengthened, but things did not go as planned, as the Eagles lost the second period 13-12 to be at a nine- point disadvan-

tage and sink further into a hole they could not escape.

The Eagles then changed their strategy as they pulled out all the stops substituting players as they needed to get rid of the nine-point lead the Trojans had over them. But it seemed that the Trojans were too strong for the Eagles as they flew away with the lead in the third period of the game 22-13; by that time, the Eagles were flustered and frustrated as they not only saw defeat on the horizon, but it brought back memories of how the Trojans whipped them

in the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Under-23 Division.

Now having a deficit of 18 points going into the final quarter, the Eagles played as if they had given up and lost all hope, as they did not put as much effort into their final quarter as they did in the first quarter, resulting in them losing 33-24 and handing the game to the Trojans 81-54 to give them three games in a stretch as debutant Lugard Mohan Jr top-scored with 20 points.

Trojans Coach Warren Wilson said, “These three games really have encouraged not only me but the team that as long as we put the work in, by God's Grace we will reap the rewards.

I am confident we can win ... because we have added some fresh talent and they are hungry for the win.”

The Trojans will face off against the Plaisance Guardians

next Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson S p o r t s Hall in a FirstDivision matchup.

Debutant Lugard Mohan Jr top-scored with 20 points

BCB/New York Business Group Under-19…

Deodat’s ton secures 137-run victory for Blairmont G

uyana Under-17 player Nigel Deodat led the Blairmont Cricket Club to a resounding victory over the West Berbice Under-19 team.

Fellow national youth player Marvan Prashad and Neil Persaud added solid performances for Blairmont.

The powerhouse Blairmont team took first strike and racked up 3657 in their allotted 50 overs.

Deodat cracked an impressive 134 while Prashad continued his brilliant performance with a solid 82.

Deinauth Persaud and Guyana youth player Seon Glasgow had scores of 51 and 40 respectively.

Marvan Prashad

Neil Persaud

Nigel Deodat

Deodat took a liking to the bowlers, as the right-handed batsman, who is known for his steady left-arm spin

bowling, proved his worth with the bat, and destroyed the West Berbice bowlers.

Shamar Angel was the best

West Berbice bowler with 2-34.

In reply, West Berbice were out of sorts and were

bundled out for 229.

The elegant Navindra Persaud top-scored with a composed 84 while Nick Singh missed out on a half-century, scoring 48.

Prashad, who was once the most valuable player at the Under-15 level, returned with his troubling off-spin and grabbed 3-48.

Deodat, with his attractive left-arm spin, bowled with great control and had economic figures of 2-20.

Glasgow, who bowls off-spin, supported with 2-22 in an allround bowling performance

by Blairmont. The Blairmont team ended the match winning by 137 runs. (Brandon Corlette)

Rain denies Independence victory

…match ends in no result …semi-final to be replayed on Sunday

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223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

ction continued in the West Demerara Cricket Board’s 50-over competition in semi-final two at Joe Vieira Park, which saw the in-form Independence Sports Club (ISC) do battle in a rain-hit thriller that saved Zeeburg from defeat.

Owing to inclement weather, the match commenced with each team having to face 45 overs. ISC won the toss and elected to bat first on the damp pitch as they intended to post a commanding total as they

did not want a reoccurrence of semi-final one. Batting on the damp track, Independence were skittled out for 188 in 33.2 overs, as the bowlers from Zeeburg were just too good. Despite not batting their full quota of overs, Independence lost quick wickets at regular intervals to peg them back from passing the 200 mark.

The pressure was then left on Vivian Buckles, who scored an elegant 54, which included two fours and five maximums; Javon Hector, who supported with 32 (2x4s 3x6s) and Ceenauth

Bisessar, who chipped in with a quick-fire 30 that included three maximums. Bowling for Zeeburg were Malcolm Hubbard, who had figures of 5-45 off 8 overs, and Yutesh Dhanpaul with 2-33 off his eight allotted overs.

As play was about to resume, the rain had other plans, reducing the 45 overs per side to 30 overs with Zeeburg having to chase 127 runs for victory via the Duckworth-Lewis method. The Zeeburg batsmen faced an uphill task as they hit the field; despite needing 127

runs off 180 balls, the team had to deal with the fact that the pitch was extremely damp, thus making harder to bat as the ball would stick to the pitch rather than carry on.

In their chase, Zeeburg lost wickets at key intervals as they struggled to hold their innings together – the pitch was definitely unplayable.

Eventually, Zeeburg were saved by the rain as they were left tottering on 77-6 off of 12 overs. Scoring with the bat were Hubbard with 21 (2x4s 2x6s);

Cornelius Raising 27 (2x4s 2x6s) and Dhanpaul, who remained unbeaten on 21* (1x4 2x6s).

Bowling for Independence Sports Club were Mahendra Dhanpaul with figures of 2-26 off 6, Jagnarine Etwaroo 2-23 off 4 and Arshad Azim 2-10 off 1.

With the rain forcing a noresult in semi-final two, the match will be replayed at the same venue on Sunday, while the final will be played on February 3, 2019, at a venue to be announced at a later date.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, January 25, 2019

Road RAN eliminator match…

Jamal Angus to lead National 15s Rugby Team Members of the head table at the rugby press conference

T

he Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), led by Peter Green, hosted a press conference at the Guyana Olympics Association on Thursday last.

At the press conference, it was revealed that Jamal Angus will lead the National 15s team that will play the defending champions, Cayman Islands on Saturday, February 9, 2019.

The Guyana 15s Rugby team will travel to the Cayman Islands under Coach Grant Stewart to play in the Rugby North Americas (RAN) eliminator match.

The newly-appointed captain, who came through the ranks having played at

the Under-19 level, is confident of taking up the leadership role. Angus has over 11 national caps and has shown progress over the years, which saw him gaining selection as captain.

Coach Stewart highlighted that Angus has shown tremendous success and the selection panel saw him as a suitable captain.

Angus explained that he was fully equipped to lead the team to victory, highlighting that he was ready for the challenge. Among the challenges Angus face is the reality that the rugby season in Guyana has been a stop-and-start process; however, this time around, the team have been training on

a consistent basis.

In terms of preparation, Head Coach Stewart sees his team as a 95 per cent fit unit and the players are fully aware of the mistakes made previously. The team will be aiming to step-up against the Cayman Islands and have been undergoing various training sessions at the National Park, where Stewart is fine-tuning the players’ role within the team.

The National 15s team will be looking to play a positive brand of rugby when they meet the Cayman Islands in February 2019.

Stewart, who was not permitted to list the final 23man squad, stated that

GFF selects Guyanabased Golden Jags

four overseas-based players would join the 23-man squad.

The GRFU President is looking ahead to the match: “The Cayman Islands track

that the match is expected to play is not up to standard, and it is a small pitch that will suit most of the players,” Greene explained. However, the Cayman Islands players may be at an advantage with the match playing at home and all of the players being familiar with the conditions.

According to Greene, the GRFU has not raised funds and the players would wing out with Caribbean Airlines, but some eight players are expected to overnight in Jamaica owing to financial issues.

Meanwhile, the GRFU is aiming to develop rug-

by; in the year 2019, the organisation will be hosting beach rugby and numerous youth rugby competitions.

The GRFU will be aiming to spread awareness of the game, by hosting competitions outside the capital city, Georgetown.

The names of final 23man squad will be released in early February; the four overseas players that are expected to join the team in Cayman Islands are Blaze Bailey, Valad Adams, Richard Stagnan, and Ronald Myers. (Brandon Corlette)

National 15s Head Coach Grant Stewart, National 15s Captain Jamal Angus and GRFU President Peter Greene

GCA fixtures continue

…following Talent ID

A

n extended Guyanabased national squad will this weekend commence the Guyana Football Federation’s two-month preparations for the final CONCACAF Gold Cup and Nations League home qualifier against Belize on Saturday, March 23.

The squad of 35 players was chosen following a GFF Talent ID process and selection meeting involving GFF technical officials and top lo-

cal coaches. Guyana is in a strong position to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in its history, with the top regional competition slated for June and July this year. The Golden Jaguars are eighth in the qualification table going into the final round of matches, with the top 10 teams joining Mexico, USA, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama and Honduras at the Gold Cup. “We are excited by the

large, diverse pool of local talent that we have identified with the help of some top local coaches and GFF technical experts,” said GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood.

“Each of these players now has the golden opportunity to work hard and prove their worth over the next two months as Head Coach Michael Johnson assesses local and overseas talent for the final squad.”

The GFF Talent ID Panel consisted of: Charles Pollard, National U-20 Head Coach Wayne Dover, GFF Coach Mentor and Fruta Conquerors Head Coach Sampson Gilbert, Den Amstel Head Coach Oneal Heywood, GFF Technical Development Officer Eon DeViera, Western Tigers Head Coach Calvin Allen, GFF Youth Development Officer and Milerock Head Coach Bryan Joseph, GFF Coach Education Director Wilson Toledo, GFF Head of Recruitment Faizal Khan, and the GFF Technical Director.

The local squad will be put through their paces in a series of fitness tests on Saturday and Sunday at the GFF National Technical Centre at Providence. The players will then train three times a week to compete for places in the final squad for the Belize clash.

M

atches organised by the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) will continue this weekend with some crucial fixtures.

The GCA launched three competitions for the year 2019: namely, The Gise/ Star Party & Trophy Stall Competition, Noble House Seafood’s Second-Division Competition, and the Noble House Next Gen Under-19.

Of the three competitions launched, the Noble House Next Gen Under-19 100 overs will commence tomorrow with Zone A and Zone B competing for the chance to top their respective tables. In Zone A, Queens College will kick start the first match-up against GNIC at GNIC Sports Club while Gandhi Youth

Organisation will do battle against Transport Sports Club at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC). The final fixture for Zone A will see Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) duke it out with ECO Champs at DCC. Zone B will commence with Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) facing off Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) at MSC. The iconic Everest Cricket Club will then do battle with GCC at Everest. All matches are scheduled to commence at 09:30h sharp.

The New Building Society (NBS) Second Division 40Over 2018-2019 season will continue on Saturday with one match as Ace Warriors take on Police, who will be looking to bounce back after their loss to GDF. This match will be played at

MYO. The cricketing action will continue on Sunday with five fixtures at various venues across Georgetown.

GCC will kick start their morning as they take on the in-form Transport Sports Club at GCC, while DCC will do battle with MYO at DCC as they fight for the top spot. The final two matches will see Sophia attempting to overthrow Police as they look to add consolation points to their standings at Eve Leary, and MSC will be aiming to carry on their winning ways when they face off against the UG Trojans at MYO. The final match will see Everest duking it out with Diplomats SC at Everest. All matches are scheduled to start at 10:30h on both days.

guyanatimesgy.com

fridAY, January 25, 2019

23

Roach shines on 18-wicket day T

here was a lot of talk about the current Windies pacers rekindling memories of bowlers from the days of their dominance on social media and in the commentary. For as fine a performance as they delivered on Thursday, it was nothing new to those who have observed them troubling team after team at home in the past year and a half. Their dominance at home only got a stronger testimony as they demolished England for 77 in just over a session to completely flip the contest in their favour.

While the procession of wickets in the post-lunch session headlined Day 2, it wasn't the end of the drama as 18 wickets fell, with Windies reaching 127 for 6 at stumps, to keep both teams in contention for a possible win.

The day began with Alzarri Joseph providing good support to Shimron Hetmyer in the first 45 minutes of the morning to help extend Windies’ first innings score to 289 after a late collapse on the opening day. While Joseph didn't score a run, he hung around to allow his more established batting partner to do the run scoring.

SCOREBOARD

Windies 1st Innings 289 all out KC Brathwaite c Root b Stokes 40 JD Campbell lbw b Ali 44 SD Hope c †Foakes b Anderson 57 DM Bravo lbw b Stokes 2 RL Chase c Root b Anderson 54 SO Hetmyer c †Foakes b Stokes 81 SO Dowrich † c Buttler b Anderson 0 JO Holder (c) c & b Anderson 5 KAJ Roach c Root b Stokes 0 AS Joseph c Buttler b Anderson 0 ST Gabriel not out 0 Extras 6 (lb 5, nb 1) TOTAL 289 all out (101.3 Overs, RR: 2.84) Fall of wickets: 1-53 (JD Campbell, 18.1 ov), 2-126 (KC Brathwaite, 46.4 ov), 3-128 (DM Bravo, 48.2 ov), 4-174 (SD Hope, 65.2 ov), 5-240 (RL Chase, 82.5 ov), 6-250 (SO Dowrich, 84.6 ov), 7-261 (JO Holder, 86.6 ov), 8-264 (KAJ Roach, 89.2 ov), 9-289 (AS Joseph, 100.4 ov), 10-289 (SO Hetmyer, 101.3 ov) Bowling JM Anderson 30-13-46-5, SM Curran 12-3-54-0, BA Stokes 25.3-2-59-4, MM Ali 12-1-59-1, AU Rashid 17-1-56-0, JE Root 5-0-10-0 England 1st Innings 77 all out RJ Burns b Roach 2 KK Jennings c Hope b Holder 17 JM Bairstow b Roach 12 JE Root (c) lbw b Holder 4 BA Stokes lbw b Roach 0 JC Buttler c †Dowrich b Roach 4 MM Ali c Joseph b Roach 0 BT Foakes † c †Dowrich b Joseph 2 SM Curran c Hope b Gabriel 14 AU Rashid c Holder b Joseph 12 JM Anderson not out 0 Extras

10 (b 4, lb 6) TOTAL 77 all out (30.2 Overs, RR: 2.53) Fall of wickets: 1-23 (KK Jennings, 8.6 ov), 2-35 (RJ Burns, 11.5 ov), 3-44 (JM Bairstow, 13.5 ov), 4-44 (JE Root, 16.2 ov), 5-48 (BA Stokes, 19.4 ov), 6-48 (MM Ali, 19.5 ov), 7-49 (JC Buttler, 21.1 ov), 8-61 (BT Foakes, 24.2 ov), 9-73 (SM Curran, 29.5 ov), 10-77 (AU Rashid, 30.2 ov)

James Anderson completed his 27th five-wicket haul

Joseph was eventually done in by a fine delivery from James Anderson that caught the edge of the tail-ender's bat with an outswinger that reached the 'keeper’s hands safely to hand Bowling him his 27th Test fifer.

KAJ Roach 11-7-17-5-1.54-0-0, ST Gabriel 7-2-15-1-2.14-0-0, Hetmyer didn't last long JO Holder8-3-15-2-1.87-0-0, AS thereafter, edging a slog to the Joseph 4.2-1-20-2-4.61-0-0 keeper and giving Ben Stokes a four-fer in his 50th Test.

Windies 2nd Innings 127-6 England openers waded off KC Brathwaite lbw b Ali 24 the first hour of their innings JD Campbell c Jennings b Stokes 33 safely, but Keaton Jennings SD Hope c Jennings b Stokes 3 fell late in the morning DM Bravo c Stokes b Ali 1 session failing to resist the RL Chase c Stokes b Ali 0 temptation of going after a SO Hetmyer c Buttler b Curran 31 delivery outside off. But the SO Dowrich † not out 27 JO Holder (c) not out 7 real disaster was to strike after Extras the first session.

1 (b 1) The Windies were led by TOTAL Kemar Roach, who, in a spell 127/6 (36 Overs, RR: 3.52) of 4.3 overs, conceded four Yet to bat: KAJ Roach, AS runs and picked five wickets Joseph, ST Gabriel to reduce England from 35 Fall of wickets: 1-52 (KC for 1 to 49 for 7: Rory Burns Brathwaite, 16.5 ov), 2-60 (JD Campbell, 19.2 ov), 3-61 (DM and Jonny Bairstow played Bravo, 20.2 ov), 4-61 (RL Chase, on, Ben Stokes was trapped, 20.4 ov), 5-61 (SD Hope, 21.2 ov), Jos Buttler caught behind and 6-120 (SO Hetmyer, 35.1 ov) Moeen Ali top-edged a pull to BOWLING Joseph at fine leg. The key to M-R-W, JM Anderson 4-1-9-0, his exploits was the pace and SM Curran 7-0-28-1, MM Ali bounce, apart from operating 12-2-41-3, BA Stokes 11-2-31-2, in the right areas that caused AU Rashid 2-0-17-0 the English batsmen to be in awkward positions while

playing their shots.

Jason Holder didn't return with as handsome figures, but played a crucial role from the other end while Roach was leading the carnage. He bowled tight lines, troubled the batsmen with awkward bounce, and bagged the biggest wicket of them all – Joe Root – trapping the English skipper with an incoming delivery.

Sam Curran and Adil Rashid went on the attack despite England's delicate position in the game, but it proved too little as Joseph bagged two lower-order wickets to end their response on 77. Windies had the option of enforcing the follow on, but decided against that.

The decision looked fine for as long as Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell were at the crease as they put on their second consecutive half-century stand. However, yet again, both the openers were dismissed soon after getting good starts. However, only this time, their dismissals triggered a collapse. In a matter of 28 balls, the Windies were reduced from 52 for no

loss to 61 for 5. Ali was on a rampage. Stokes joined the party from the other end as well. And all of a sudden, the decision to bat again seemed to have backfired.

Brathwaite got into a tangle while rocking back after looking to play the offbreak off the front foot and got himself

trapped in front of stumps. His partner, Campbell, got out in a bizarre manner, edging a slap to a wide and short delivery

by Stokes to the cover fielder.

What followed thereafter was a procession. Darren Bravo registered his second failure in the Test, edging a conventional off-break to slips. Roston Chase followed in the same over in a similar manner.

The momentum to go with some sharp bowling from Ali got England a bit too excited, Stokes especially. In a bizarre decision, Stokes influenced the team to take a review for a delivery that Hetmyer had left alone to the 'keeper. For the third time in the day, England wasted their review.

However, soon after, he made up for his mistake with a fine delivery that jagged back and got the inside edge of Shai Hope's bat on its way to Jennings at forward short leg to leave Windies reeling at 61 for 5.

However, Windies revived their innings courtesy of a 59run stand between Hetmyer and Shane Dowrich. The sixth-wicket pair responded with calculated assault and caution before the former fell late in the day to Sam Curran.

Windies finished the day with a lead of 339. (cricbuzz)

Roach leaves the field after his destructive spell of 5-17

Guyoil makes good on tournament promises A

fter hosting their inaugural Under-18 tournament last year with the assistance of the Petra Organisation, Guyoil and Tradewind Tankers have come full circle with the rewards for the winning teams.

In September of 2018, the Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers and the Petra Organisation collaborated to launch the first-ever league tournament at the Under-18 level.

After 12 weeks of competition between secondary school teams from Georgetown, East Coast, West Bank and Linden, and a total of 61 games played, Annandale Secondary emerged as champions.

Without a doubt, the competition was one to watch with the high point being 29 goals scored on one day.

With 17 goals scored, Omari Glasgow is the tournament’s MVP. He receives his trophy from Guyoil’s Ashmin John

As such, the competition saw many successes with 278 goals scored, the most by a player in a match being five from Uitvlugt Secondary’s Anthony Benn.

The tournament did not go without its share of celeb-

rities as former international player Jorge Abukhalil of Tradewind Tankers made a special visit, where he interacted with players and presented the participating teams with a collection of balls.

Reflecting on the efforts of the companies, Marketing and Sales Manager Jacqueline James noted that the entities are committed to improving the quality of the tournament in 2019.

“I believe that these tour-

naments do not only bring out the best in the students, but it also gives you an opportunity to meet new people and to see life differently. We at the Guyana Oil Company will be committed in 2019 towards this tournament; and we don’t want to see it just at the level where it was in 2018, we want to see bigger and better things,” James said.

Furthermore, James announced that Guyoil and Tradewind Tankers would be seeing the school projects through until completion.

“I just want to mention it publicly today that the Guyana Oil Company will support all the schools with whatever project they’ve selected. I think Annandale would be doing their school ground, so we know more football will be played at

that school. So we’re supporting the project from the inception to the conclusion,” she disclosed.

Vergenoegen Secondary finished in fourth place while the third-place position was taken by Lodge Secondary.

Christianburg-Wismar finished as runners-up and Annandale Secondary were champions.

Vergenoegen Secondary were also seen as the most disciplined team.

In the individual awards, Makayah Smith of the Bishops’ High was adjudged the best goalkeeper and Tyrice Lewis of Christianburg-Wismar copped the highest goal scorer award with 18 goals.

Annandale’s Omari Glasgow is the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the inaugural tournament.

fridAY, January 25, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Roach shines on 18-wicket day Shimron Hetmyer scored 81 and 31 in the match

Page 23 Kemar Roach takes 5-17

Annandale Secondary were crowned champions after fighting hard to seal their victory on the final day of the league

Guyoil makes good on tournament promises

Page 23

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