Guyana Times - Monday, April 15, 2019

Shaheed Girls Orphanage reopens after devastating fire Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3895

THE BEACON OF TRUTH monday, april 15, 2019

Guyana’s external debt increases to US$1.3B - now amounts to 33% of GDP Page 3

Page 9

Guyana has growing domestic drug use problem – US report

...marijuana, cocaine most prevalent; ecstasy also present

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P7 US Ambassador urges Guyana to invest in keeping youths here

P8 Teens charged for stabbing schoolboy

P14 Drone operators complain of lengthy wait for approval of permits

Palm Sunday: Led by Reverend Reynolds, parishioners of St Sidwell’s Anglican Church joined the rest of the Christian community in celebration of Palm Sunday. The worshippers’ march led them around the community and along Cemetery Road, Lodge, where the church is located, holding palm branches. Palm Sunday commemorates the entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem before His arrest on Holy Thursday and crucifixion on Good Friday

CANU lobbies for more money to upgrade equipment at airports Berbice murder Gunmen Page 7 Daughter admits to killing terrorise, rob mother during argument business Page 10 over money …led investigators to murder weapon owners, customers

6 nabbed with over P10 16kg ganja

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Ex-soldier P11 remains on run after escaping from Lusignan Prison

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monday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

3 External debt increases to US$1.3B news

MONday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Monday, April 15 – 13:30h-15:00h and Tuesday, April 16 – a night retraction at 03:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

- now amounts to 33% of GDP

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, April 15 – 12:50h-14:20h and Tuesday, April 16 – 14:00h-15:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, followed by partly cloudy skies in the evening.

Overall temperatures will range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 01:12 and 13:36h reaching maximum heights of 2.30 metres and 2.40 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 07:07h and 19:39h reaching minimum heights of 0.92 metres and 0.73 metre respectively.

saturday, april 13, 2019

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

The East Coast road expansion is one such project being financed by a bilateral lender

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xternal debts have shown increases for 2018, as Guyana’s indebtedness to various international institutions continues to grow. This is contained in the Bank of Guyana’s annual report, which was recently released.

The report states that Government’s total public debt increased by 1.5 per cent in 2018. The report notes that this is an increase that represents 43.9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the case of external debt, there was an increase to US$1.3 billion.

The increase to external debt was 5.5 per cent and accounted for 33.9 per cent of GDP. According to the report, higher disbursements primarily from the International Development Association (IDA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) for project financing were chiefly responsible for this increase.

The report further explains that IDA and IADB’s disbursements were mostly targeting citizen security strengthening, sanitation improvement, economic diversification, education sector improvement and fiscal stability.

“Obligations to multilateral creditors, which accounted for 58.5 per cent of total external debt, increased by 8.6 per cent or US$62 million to US$788 million,” the report states.

“Liabilities to the IADB increased by 4.3 per cent to US$525 million, reflecting a change in the debt stock of US$22 million during 2018.”

“Indebtedness to the IDA expanded by 112.2 per cent or US$40 million to US$75 million. Commitments to the ‘Other’ category of multilateral creditors rose by 4.5 per cent to US$38 million. In contrast, obligations to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) decreased slightly by 0.5 per cent or US$1 million to US$150 million.”

According to the report, total bilateral debt obligations which represented 37.2 per cent of total external debt increased by 1.5

per cent to US$487 million.

Specifically, Guyana’s debt to the Export Import Bank of China (Exim) increased by 10.7 per cent or US$19 million to US$201 million.

“Liabilities to Kuwait and Libya rose by 2.9 per cent and 0.7 per cent to US$80 million and US$44 million respectively.

Conversely, obligations to Venezuela, the Exim Bank of India and Trinidad and Tobago declined by 4.7 per cent, 6.9 per cent and 64.4 per cent to US$115 million, US$16 million and US$4 million respectively.”

Meanwhile, external debt service payments increased by 27.7 per cent to US$78 million from US$61 million in 2017. This, the report says, represented 5.1 per cent of export earnings and 7.5 per cent of Central Government’s current revenue.

“Principal and interest payments amounted to US$55 million and US$23 million respective-

ly. Payments to multilateral creditors rose by 14.2 per cent to US$40 million, and represented 51.3 per cent of total external debt service,” the report says.

The US$50.2 million East Coast Road Expansion project is one project for which monies had to be disbursed from the Exim Bank of China. This project has two components. One features a four-lane expansion of the road from Better Hope to Annandale. On the other hand, the other caters for an upgrade to the existing twolane road from Annandale to Belfield.

Guyana had received a US$45.3 million concessional loan from the China EXIM (Export-Import) Bank to finance the road project, and that agreement was signed in January last year.

Initially, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government had tried to secure financing for the road expansion project, but the money was not readily avail-

able.

Hence, the then Administration decided to use local funds for preliminary works, while it awaited the release of funds from the Chinese to complete the works. The preliminary works for the four-lane upgrade were completed at the end of 2014.

With the China EXIM Bank putting up most of the finances for the road expansion, Guyana had awarded the contract to China Railway First Group for some US$42.7 million. The Chinese construction company reportedly put in the lowest bid of US$46.994 million.

In light of the increase in Guyana’s current account balance cause by a drop in exports which brings in foreign exchange, the servicing of this increased debt load will become problematical since it must be done with foreign exchange. It was for this reason the PPP had kept sugar going since it generates foreign exchange.

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MONday, april 15, 2019

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

Regulations and the new economy

E

ven though we were located firmly on the fringes of the periphery of the developed world, which embarked on its embrace of the neo-liberal economic paradigm with the election of Thatcher in Britain (1979) and Reagan in the US (1980); by 1989, when the PNC turned to the IMF for relief for the crushing debt it had accumulated, Guyana was shanghaied into its embrace.

One pillar was the “development” of our financial sector, which was forced to “liberalise”; i.e., loosen the regulatory framework, which had been painstakingly installed after centuries of struggle, on the altar of “small government”.

But the “night watchman state” was not just a matter of form, but was undergirded by a philosophy of governance that rejected Government taking any responsibility for alleviating the condition of the poorer elements of society, and instead exalted unregulated private companies, buttressing their bottom line by any means necessary.

That ethos was articulated a half-century ago by the influential US thinker Ayn Rand, and summarised in her novel “Atlas Shrugged. Basically, she derided altruism (“breeds immorality and evil”) and trumpeted selfishness (“the highest virtue”). She lionised the human ego, rejected God as an artifice for the expiation of human failures, extolled the separation of state and the economy, and promoted governmental deregulation.

Rand inspired a devoted band of followers, including Alan Greenspan, who, as Chairman of United States Federal Reserve from 1987 to 2006, put their theory into practice.

And it seemed to work. By the nineties, after Clinton had completed the gutting of substantive financial regulating by allowing banks to join the securities investment frenzy, the bullish stock market silenced all but a few, who were derided as Jeremiahs.

But the Enron scandal in 2001 saw one of the darlings of Wall Street file for bankruptcy, after it was investigated by the SEC when its stock plunged from $90 in 2000 to $1 a year later and shareholders filed a $40 billion suit.

In the words of Wiki, “Commentators attributed the mismanagement behind Enron’s fall to a variety of ethical and political-economic causes.

Ethical explanations centered on executive greed and hubris, a lack of corporate social responsibility, situation ethics, and get-it-done business pragmatism. Politicaleconomic explanations cited post-1970s deregulation, and inadequate staff and funding for regulatory oversight.”

Its $63.4 billion in assets made it the largest corporate bankruptcy in U.S. history, until WorldCom’s bankruptcy the next year. Guyana was not spared when some of the same issues forced the collapse of Globe Trust in Guyana, and a host of small investors lost their shirts.

Basically, the flaw with the neo-con model goes to the very core of their central premise: the exaltation of selfishness. They miscalculated the power of its corollary greed, which had been kept in check, however tenuously, by the old regulatory framework.

In Guyana, Chancellor Carl Singh castigated the Directors of Globe Trust for their unsecured loans made to themselves and their relatives and friends; but also the Bank of Guyana, for its dereliction of duty under the Financial Institutions Act to monitor the activities of the institution. In the US, a chastened Greenspan admitted the “flaw” in his model: self-regulation in an arena of greed unbound is performatively a recipe for disaster.

In practical terms, the model raises what is known in economics and related fields as “moral hazard” and “principal-agent” problems. Where does one then draw the line when, as in the modern corporation, ownership and management are not in the same hands, and the guiding philosophy is “greed is good”? Business and entrepreneurial behaviour is at the bottom, a matter of taking risks; and society has already created the legal framework for protecting individuals from those risks by forming corporations that are treated as “legal bodies”.

But while society is willing to have those who take risks receive the rewards, this must be predicated by the society also benefitting as well as shareholders. And this is where we have to reintroduce governmental regulation to keep financial and business institutions in line, especially as oil funds will soon balloon their ranks.

The nine delegates vying for the title of Miss Bartica Regatta 2019 were on Saturday evening sashed by their sponsors at an elaborate event in the mining community. On Saturday evening, the delegates were given the opportunity to impress the judges as they showcased their talent, creatively and intelligence (Mondale Smith photo)

APNU/AFC Government has outlived its usefulness, too late for outreaches Dear Editor, An effective government needs effective political leadership, no Ministers who understand their roles, set clear priorities, work well with their departments and cope with the demands of the job can result in so many deficiencies that are being shown by this Granger Government. The APNU/ AFC coalition Government Ministers were unable to be effective in fulfilling their promises and bring resolution to numerous issues over the past four years despite various highlighted attempts by residents especially by picketing exercises throughout Guyana.

Lack of leadership, appointment of “square pegs in round holes” for important positions, refusal to be more transparent and accountable in projects and Ministers’ increased salaries were some reasons that resulted in the loss of confidence in the APNU/AFC Government by the people of Guyana.

The announcement by the APNU/AFC coalition Government to be in Region Six to address issues is a clear sign of desperation and a continuation of the 2015 elections campaign trail of unfulfilled promises to Berbicians in order to

garner votes for the next elections.

As Berbician, we need to ask ourselves what this coalition Government has done for Berbice over the past four years without benefitting themselves.

Berbice was quickly transformed into a state of depression after May 2015 and in the most shameless method, this coalition “circus” hiding under ‘Bringing the Government to you’ is nothing else but the wasteful abuse of taxpayers monies by public officials while Guyanese are suffering in Region Six. This exclusive clique of elite rulers that make up the Granger regime is secretive, corrupt, unaccountable, dictatorial and non-transparent, enjoying the good life, while other Guyanese are suffering because of the inhuman policies of the APNU/ AFC coalition Government.

There are numerous issues that are known to the Government which they continue to disregard; eg: - The increases of over 200 new taxes - Increases of tariffs by the Guyana Water Inc despite the poor quality of water and services - The poor performance of GPL - Refusal to reinstate stu-

dents’ cash grant, but install overcrowded school buses with no insurance in case of accidents - East Bank-Berbice public road project used as a political milking cow to benefit Ministers and APNU/AFC activists -Secrecy in awarding contracts by central Government Ministries, contract documents being kept secret from regional authorities.

- Millions unaccountable at the Indian monument site at Palmyra - Streetlights not maintained in the region - Only some playgrounds are being fixed - Three excavators in one area while rice farmers are suffering - No job creation for over 6000 workers in the region; this include severed sugar workers, construction workers, laid-off workers from affected businesses etc - Increases in fees for passports, driver’s license, gun licenses etc - Increased land rental for farmers in the region - Crime rate on the increase - Streets, roads need urgent upgrade - Remove VAT from GWI, GTT and GPL bills Government must be

Apology: As a result of a technical challenge, the wrong edition of Guyana Times was printed on Sunday, April 14, 2019 and distributed in several sections of Guyana, while other sections received the correct version.

This newspaper sincerely apologises to our readership and our valued customers.

The management of Guyana Times assures that all steps are being put in place to avoid a reccurrence. Again we apologise… open because an open Government is a doctrine that citizens have the absolute right to, which involves accessing the documents and proceedings of Government so that ordinary Guyanese can exercise oversight. The APNU/AFC coalition Government has changed our country to secrecy, oppression, intimidation and threats while the epidemic of systemic corruption in Guyana ensures that monies are being syphoned off into the pockets of public officials. Granger has not been able to do anything to make Guyanese lives better.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussain

Belated and unconvincing reactions by GECOM Dear Editor, Recent public statements from President David Granger as well as representatives of the PNCR, connotes the intention of removing the names of registered citizens from the register of voters in instances where they are not proven dead at the time of the proposed house-to-house registration. It is pellucid and outright unconstitutional that such moves will realise the real disenfranchisement of voters.

Is there any merit that

because one works or studies abroad that this wicked clan disavow their rights?

The belated and unconvincing reactions by GECOM to clarify this obviously exposed plot speaks volumes and further highlights the unexplained reasons why Patterson refused to further the strengthening of voting verification mechanisms by his refusal of the further necessary action following the United Nations evaluation process.

Clandestine efforts of Vincent Alexander and his

clique a la Patterson have no place in the required institutional transparency, as it goes against the grain of GECOM’s mandate to be ready at all times for the conduct of elections. It is timely to remind the ‘loop sided spinner’ Alexander that the NCM was put in Parliament before the 2019 budget debate. That the leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo, in the interest of our people, called on the Government to produce a budget with less pressure on our people.

It was widely recognised

that the crime rate along with the serious and unbearable massive corruption by the APNU/AFC members was causing irreparable damage that our citizens will not allow to continue in Guyana. It was a decision taken after thorough discussions in our party and with numerous local organisations to alleviate our people of the unnecessary burdens.

There are enough reasons, as the pressure on our youths, pensioners, farmers, and people of all lifestyles intensify.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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MONday, APRIL 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Private Sector Association distributes over 700 kites to children in Region 3

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ore than 700 children will have a bright and happy Easter, as the Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) Private Sector Association (PSA) on Sunday distributed kites to children throughout the region.

The non-profit organisation which is made up of businesses within the region distributed kites in several areas including Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD); Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD); and Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Fifty children and relatives of Police Officers within the region also received kites from the organisation.

President of PSA, Rajesh Amishwar explained that the aim of the organisation is to spread joy to the less fortunate.

Amishwar noted that it is the social responsibility of businesses in the region to lend a helping hand to

so the cost doesn’t really matter,” the organisation’s head explained.

He has called on other businesses to come on board, noting that businesses in Region Three should strive to assist with its development.

“What we are doing is setting an example for the other business people in

In December last, toys were distributed to 1000 children in the region, while 90 elderly persons received hampers.

A computer laboratory was also commissioned in Parika by the organisation with four computers, printers and other items being handed over.

Second Sexual Offences Court to open this month end

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Children at Wales receiving their kites

those who live under harsh conditions in the region.

As such, the organisation reached out to several schools, churches and leaders in various communities to make the distribution possible.

“We know Easter is a very exciting time for peo-

ple and we are here to spread that joy for the less fortunate…We are not putting a cost to it because that is not what our ultimate objective is, we just want to help the unfortunate children, put a smile on their faces for the holidays and that is what it is,

he United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has said that the agency is eyeing April 29 for the opening of the second Sexual Offences Court.

This is according to sources attached to the agency.

The new court will be opened in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and would be the second of its kind in the country.

In November 2017, when the first Sexual Offences Court opened, plans were announced to construct similar structures in Berbice and Essequibo in an effort to reduce the increased incidence of such cases.

In declaring the court open, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards drew reference to statistics which have

Children at Leonora receiving their kites

Family pleads with public to help save 1-year-old daughter ...diagnosed with brain injury

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he parents of one-year-old Ankita Ramotar of Affiance, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are pleading with public-spirited persons to help save the infant, who has been diagnosed with a brain injury.

The child’s mother, Kameela Persaud, said time is running out for her daughter. Local doctors detected the brain injury and recommended overseas treatment.

According to Persaud, little Ankita, after birth, started to suffer from frequent seizures, and they sought treatment at the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital in Georgetown.

There it was discovered that their baby girl had a brain injury that is causing her to have frequent seizures.

The doctors also recommended that the infant have immediate treatment overseas.

The mother told Guyana Times that she was able to get an appointment date with John's Hopkins

Little Ankita with her mother

Hospital in the United States (U.S.), where the child will get the necessary

medical treatment needed.

However, the family would first have to raise 12 million Guyana Dollars to cover the expenses. As such, they are appealing with the public to be sympathetic to little Ankita and help to save her precious life.

Bhowanie Ramotar, father of the year-old girl, said Ankita is his little baby daughter, and as a taxi driver, he is very hurt to see her dying right in front of his eyes and he does not have money readily available to save her.

On this note, he too is pleading with all kind-hearted citizens to help save his baby girl.

This newspaper understands that the family has already secured a sixmonth visa to the U.S., and is now trying to raise the money needed to travel there and pay for little Ankita to be treated.

Anyone wishing to contribute to saving little Ankita’s life can contact the family on 626-8805 or 644-7171.

Belated and unconvincing reactions...

We just cannot survive with this skyrocketing cost of living neither would the people tolerate an unconstitutional Government.

The APNU/AFC Government insisted that the List was ready for Local Government Elections in

Region Three to follow , we have a responsibility to fulfil and we are appealing to the business people to assist in any way that they can, not only for the people for anything that could be done to help Region Three.

To be a much more successful community, that will be most welcome,” Amishwar appealed.

2016 and 2018. They were ready to test their strength in both elections and was ultimately humiliated in both instances. They are now running away from facing our citizens at the polls. The people of Guyana demand transparency at GECOM

towards free and fair elections.

Only the dead can be legitimately removed from the list of registered voters by GECOM and we demand appropriate steps towards immediate preparedness for the holding of elec-

CONTINUED FROM PaGe 4

tions, in anticipation of the Caribbean Court of Justice upholding the constitutional directives as advanced by the Opposition.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

shown that sexual offences have been on the rise both regionally and locally.

She pointed out, “When we look at statistics, more than 50 per cent of the cases for the Demerara Assizes over the last two sessions showed us that sexual offences comprised half of the list. So if half of the list comprised sexual offences, it meant that the other indictable offences like robbery and rape took second place…that is something we have to address”.

The acting Chancellor reminded that sexual offences affect victims emotionally, psychologically and physically and those effects could be both long or short term and it could also affect the development of the victims. These victims, she said, require specialist treatment on the part of everyone concerned, be it the police, investigators, medical practitioners, NGOs, prosecution or the court.

During the last quar-

ter of 2018, Police statistics showed that rape cases have increased.

Top Cop Leslie James told the media that rape cases had increased by seven per cent, with 202 cases reported in 2018 compared to 189 cases in 2017.

The Sexual Offences Court was birthed out of the Sexual Offences Act 2010, which was spearheaded by former Human Services and Education Minister Priya Manickchand. The former Minister had led what was then called the “Stamp it Out” campaign in 2010 which saw widespread consultations around the country with regards to sexual offences and other major human rights issues facing Guyana.

A Sexual Offences Court is different from other courtrooms as it includes features which will make victims more comfortable while testifying against their attackers.

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Foundation h c a t t a d l i u to b with your ment

Baby

By Stephanie Brown

S

ometimes parents get mixed signals when it comes to attachment. You might hear that you are spoiling your baby or a friend might tell you that it seems like your child is “attached at the hip” in a negative tone. Rest assured that if you practice the following with love and make sure to balance your own needs for rest, adult contact and intellectual stimulation, then your child will grow to be independent and secure. The first years of life are when this groundwork is laid, and a strong, healthy attachment is the key.

Wear your baby

Let’s face it. You’re a parent or other caregiver and you’ve got a lot of things to accomplish in a day. There’s laundry to be done, meals to be cooked, and if you have other children their needs must be attended to as well. At the end of a day, it might seem like you haven’t had time to even brush your teeth. A sling is not a magical cure for the time crunch of parenting, but it can help. The greatest benefit of all goes to your baby, however. While it helps free your hands for jobs around the house or the market, it also gives your baby close contact to your body. For very young babies, the motion is soothing and similar to the womb. It can often help calm babies with colic, as well.

Read and talk to your baby

This is especially important if it’s just you and your baby together for the majority of the time. Since you are the primary caregiver, it’s important that your baby learns to understand and trust you. Much of this understanding comes from verbal cues. Good early books to read with infants are picture books with one-word descriptions of everyday objects on each page or books with short rhyming patterns. Don’t be under the impression, though, that you must provide a non-stop flow of chatter for your baby all day long. This can cause your baby to become overstimulated and tune you out. As your baby grows, he’ll learn that there are times for talking, laughing, and reading and times for quiet as well. If you use language carefully now and make reading times routine, your child will be able to discern later when it’s important to listen.

Play lap games with your baby

Games like peek-a-boo and patty-cake help children develop skills like fine motor skills and object permanence, but more importantly, they provide times of closeness for you and your child. It also provides a good example – your child might see you working all day on household chores or other tasks, so make sure he sees you take time out for play too.

Massage your baby

guyanatimesgy.com

Infant massage has been getting a lot of press in the last decade as an important way to build attachment and soothe fussiness. It’s especially useful for babies that get worked up quickly and have a hard time calming down, and for babies who aren’t able to self-soothe. If you’ve ever seen a baby form an attachment to a pacifier, you know how quickly they can

calm down when it goes in their mouth. For babies who are given frequent massages early in life, it has the same effect.

In later months, it takes just a moment of touch to help them relax and regain control. But don’t wait until he’s fussy to give a massage. Set aside time before or after a bath or during diaper changes, too

Look at your baby while you are feeding him

Looking at your baby promotes attachment, of course, but it also helps him develop his own sense of identity. When you gaze into his eyes during a feeding, there is prolonged, intimate contact coupled with the warmth of being nestled in your arms, and skin-to-skin contact if you are nursing. When you change sides you offer him a different view of you and help him develop both sides of his brain and body.

When you have an attachment to someone, it is because you are close to them and you know them. You know when your best friend is feeling down and you know how to make her feel better. You know what your significant other’s favourite food is and you probably know just when to cook it to make him or her feel comforted.

The same holds true with your baby. When you know your baby and respond to his cues, you build trust and a sense of security that all his needs are going to be met and anxiety is lessened and often eliminated. You don’t have to run at breakneck speed the instant your baby starts to make hungry sucking noises, but that’s a good time to respond verbally and let him know that food is coming. That response lets him know you are aware of his needs and that “help is on the way.” It also gives you time to gather a glass of water or a snack before nursing or allows you to prepare a bottle before his cue turns into a desperate demand.

And one last tip – ignore anyone who says you are spoiling your baby. You’ll be able to prove them wrong when your child is secure enough in your love to venture out on his own to explore the world. (verywellfamily.com)

Kiss your baby

Kissing is an intimate activity and a sign of affection that can help promote attachment. The kiss of most parents is even known to “cure” a whole host of ailments and boo-boos.

Talk to your baby when you are out of sight

Soon enough, your baby may lose that “out of sight, out of mind” mindset. Many babies become frightened when they realise a parent or caregiver has left the room, and this can be frustrating every time you need to answer the phone or use the bathroom. If you start early, you can help alleviate this fear. As you are leaving the room, talk to your baby about what you are doing or where you are going. You don’t need to speak loudly or keep your voice going the entire time, but just hearing your voice is a reassuring reminder that you aren’t far away. In time, your baby will gain the sense that all is still well when you leave the room and there’s no need to fear.

Be there when your baby wakes up

You don’t have to set an alarm or stand over your sleeping child just waiting for the moment he rises. If you know your child always wakes from a nap at a certain time, though, make it a habit to occasionally be nearby when he wakes up, ready with a hug. This is especially true if you have a child who always wakes up crying or seems afraid upon waking.

Knowing you are nearby can help alleviate this.

Bathe with your baby

Again, the skin-to-skin contact here is elemental toward developing attachment and it’s a routine that provides stability and builds trust between you and your baby. It’s not necessary to bathe with him each and every time, but it’s a fun time for you and your baby to share together.

Learn your baby’s cues and respond to them quickly

Each baby has his own set of cues, but many are universal.

Babies will begin rooting, mouthing their hands or making sucking sounds when hungry and will eventually cry, for example. In time you will learn what all your child’s signals are if you pay close attention to what’s going on before the diaper change, feeding, nap or bedtime.

DAD, does your child feel like they can depend on you?

By Robert Myers, PhD

M

oms play an important role in the family. They’re the nurturers, the caregivers, and the ones that kids often turn to when they need help. However, dads are critical to health, happiness and wellbeing too.

Dads are just as important as moms. So how can you make sure your child knows they can depend on you?

Responsive play

Dads are great for playing with kids. However, it’s important that this play time is on the child’s terms – meaning that it needs to be supportive and responsive. If the child is getting tired throwing the ball, dad needs to recognise this and modify the game or change it. Children can feel pressured to live up to dad’s expectations. Let loose and just have fun.

Be positive

Children are more likely to turn to you for advice and support if you can be supportive and positive. When they’re struggling with something, strive to let them handle it unless they ask for help. Rather than solve the problem for your child, show them how they might solve it themselves.

Offer positive guidance, rather than criticism or by telling them what they should do.

Relax a little

Dads often view themselves as the disciplinarians. They don’t tolerate any backtalk, disrespect, or disobedience.

While it’s not good to let your child walk all over you, consider relaxing a little rather than jumping on your child and reacting to their bad behaviour. Let them know that the behaviour isn’t appropriate. Believe it or not, children standing up to their parents is a positive thing because it shows that they’re confident in themselves and secure in their relationship with you.

One size does not fit all

Realise that your child is an individual, and you cannot raise two different children the exact same way. By knowing your child and being responsive to their temperament and unique needs, they’ll intuitively know that you are a parent they can depend on and turn to in a time of need.

Finally, remember that children learn from watching your actions more than they learn from listening to your words. When you model that you are someone who is reliable and trustworthy in your relationships, they in turn take that in and remember it. When your child has a problem, an issue they want to discuss, or they’re in need of significant help, it’s good to know that they can depend on their dad. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

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monday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

US Ambassador urges Guyana to invest in keeping youths here The graduates will continue to work with life coaches who will support them in job placement and ongoing workplace and life coaching for up to 12 months post-graduation.

According to the US diplomat, this is something she would like to see be built upon and carried out throughout Guyana in order to produce more responsible and success-driven youths in the country.

Ambassador Lynch with facilitators and graduates of the USAID BLES programme in Corriverton

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ewly appointed United States (US) Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, is urging Guyana to invest in keeping its youth here, especially with the impending oil and gas industry expected to create tremendous opportunities here.

During a recent interview with a group of local journalists, Ambassador Lynch pointed out that Guyana will be earning billions of dollars in revenues when US-based ExxonMobil commences oil production early next year and as such, advised that the necessary steps be taken to ensure that the country and its people benefit optimally from the new found wealth.

The three areas she suggested that Guyana should invest in are: diversifying the economy, bio-diversity and its people.

“It’s going to be tough managing expectations because as citizens hear this, and we are all human, and the thought is ‘Wow, this is going to change my life tomorrow’. That may not be true. It may be true, but it may not be (tomorrow).

So I would encourage the Guyanese Government and people to look at short-term gains but really take the long view in working with these resources (to)… investing in its people and infrastructure – and by that, I mean more than roads and electrical grid but the educa-

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

tion system, the health system etc…,” she asserted.

To this end, the US Ambassador underscored the importance of focusing on the country’s youths, especially with the abundance of opportunities that will emerge over the coming years.

“I think you want to keep your youths here to exploit those opportunities.

My understanding is that a great number of young people when they get their degrees, they look for opportunities elsewhere. Well now Guyana is going to be the place to be so I think that would be interesting to look at this group; make sure they have the skills, the interest and the desire to reinvest in their country and stay here to see (and be party of) the tremendous growth and development,” Ambassador Lynch contended.

Currently, the US

Agency for International Development (USAID) has extensive programmes here that focus mainly on health, environment, citizen security and largely on youths, particularly at risk youths.

According to Ambassador Lynch, over the years these programmes have been placing emphasis on young people who are at risk of, or have already turned to, a life of crime and violence. These programmes, she added, not only benefit youths but their families and communities by extension.

In fact, she noted that only recently, she attended two events – in Georgetown and Corriverton, Berbice – where approximately 85 youths graduated with certificates in various vocational areas and life skills set they received via participation in the Basic Life and Employability Skills (BLES) programme under USAID’s Community, Family and Youth Resilience (CFYR) Project.

With the aim of strengthening opportunities for atrisk youth to enter the work force and succeed at their jobs, the CFYR Project targets young women and men who reside in the communities of East La Penitence, East Ruimveldt, Lodge and Sophia.

These young people recently completed BLES training programme, a fiveweek peer-to-peer workforce development programme.

To this end, she noted that her Government’s support to Guyana is part of a continuum process on a “journey to self-reliance”, whereby it is preparing the country to look within its borders for ways to continue human development.

“Guyana as well is along that continuum of self-reliance. So there maybe opportunities to work in other areas and to provide other assistance if request-

ed… But what we’ve seen in Guyana is a tremendous opportunity to connect with the Private Sector.

We can help leverage those connections and catalyse new public private partnerships so that the Private Sector can really take off because that is really the engine of change if you will and the progress for any country,” Ambassador Lynch stated.

Gunmen terrorise, rob business owners, customers

P

olice in Berbice have arrested three persons in connection with an armed robbery that was committed on Indra’s Grocery, Beer Garden and Superbet business located at Galaxy Street, Canefield, East Canje, Berbice.

Reports are that about 22:30h on Saturday evening, three men, two of which were armed with handguns and the other with a cutlass, robbed both the business and its customers.

The bandits also stole a motorcar as they escaped. The car was, however, found on Sunday abandoned at Smithfield, New Amsterdam.

It has been reported that about twenty customers were in the shop at the time of the robbery.

The customers were all forced to lie on the floor face down and were relieved of their valuables. Most of them lost cellular phones, cash and jewellery.

Premchand Seelochan, the owner of the business, explained that he and his wife were in the kitchen when the bandits attacked.

He was unaware of what took place outside until one of the bandits walked into the kitchen.

“All you out there and got this mad man walking in this house”, the businessman shouted to his staff and customers.

The business that is being operated by Seelochan

The businessman was then ordered to hand over all his valuables including cash and jewellery.

The 62-year-old businessman was relieved of a gold finger ring and a wristwatch.

His wife was then taken into the shop where the bandits searched for money as well as demanded a quantity of phone cards.

“Well we don’t sell phone cards. Then he called one of them from outside and he come in with a gun and point it to me”, the businessman explained.

However, the bandit who was carrying the cutlass took the businessman’s wife to the upper flat of the business and relieved her of a gold chain she was wearing.

At that time, she was struck to the head with a

cutlass, causing her spectacles to fall and break.

Meanwhile, the businessman’s son was outside of the business at the time of the attack.

As he made an attempt to go into the house, he realised that something was amiss and armed himself with an empty glass bottle but before he could enter the building, one of the gunmen noticed him and gun-butted him.

He was then asked to join the customers who were on the floor. After committing the robbery, they fled the scene in one of the victim’s motorcar. Seelochan has been operating the grocery and game shop for the past twenty years.

The police are on the hunt for the third suspect.

8 News

monday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teens charged for stabbing schoolboy

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wo juveniles on Friday made an appearance in the Children’s Court to answer to the charge of unlawful wounding committed on another teenager.

It is alleged that on February 28, 2018, the two juveniles, while being in the company of others, unlawfully wounded Shemuel Pierre at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara.

On the day in question, Pierre was making his way home from school when the two teenagers along with two others stabbed him to his chest with a pair of scissors and made good their escape.

The injured child was as-

Injured teen: Shemuel Pierre

sisted by a teacher who was passing and noticed that the child was bleeding profusely. Pierre was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted as a result of the severity of the injuries.

He was stabbed twice to his chest with one wound causing injuries to his lungs.

The medical report also revealed that the teen was stabbed two times and both lungs were punctured, thereby making the injuries life-threatening.

The teen was hospitalised for five days and upon being discharged, he was taken to Woodlands Hospital for further treatment due to complications that developed after surgery.

In court, the injured teen was represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay, who told the court that the two suspects are known to the law since both of them have pending matters which include armed robbery and narcotics possession.

He further stated that his client’s injuries were life-threatening and, therefore, both accused should be remanded.

The Police Prosecutor also stated that the teens should be kept in custody because one of them went into hiding after committing the act but was later apprehended by police ranks.

It was further stated that both teens had confessed to the crime The teens were placed on $10,000 and $40,000 bail respectively and the matter is expected to be called again on May 23, 2019.

Special Constable nabbed with 2.2kg ganja

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Special Constabulary officer is being processed for court after he was arrested on Saturday evening with 2.2 kilograms of cannabis.

Based on information received, police ranks on a mobile patrol were on Success Railway Embankment on the East Coast of Demerara when they observed the suspect acting in a suspicious manner.

As the ranks approached him, he reportedly stopped his motorcycle and dropped a bag.

The bag was subsequently retrieved and a search was conducted on same. It was then that three parcels of the illegal drug were unearthed.

The suspect is said to be a member of the Special Constabulary, stationed on the East Coast of Demerara and resides in Sophia, Greater Georgetown. An investigation was launched into the discovery.

Where…

A …are the Haitians?

“Ministry of Citizenship” was carved out of the Home Affairs Ministry (the rump was renamed “Public Security Ministry and given to the chump Khemraj Ramjattan) after the PNC-led coalition won the 2015 elections, and it was handed to Winston Felix, former Commissioner of Police (CoP). Apart from Roger Khan claiming a “relationship” with him, Felix was also caught on an infamous taped conversation with the Chairman of the PNC. At the time, there were furious denials about the revealed insider links between the CoP and the PNC politician – especially since they were discussing the Agricola Massacre and how to head off the PPP Minister of Home Affairs.

Well, after Felix was made minister, there could be no denial of his political allegiance; although, unlike Granger, he didn’t come out and openly admit he was a member of the PNC all the years he was in uniform. But the question arose as to why Felix was given the specially created portfolio. And the answer, not surprisingly, had to do with “fixing” the list of electors by fiddling with the data that go into making that list. And all of this data – records of births, deaths, registration, etc – passes through the Felix new bailiwick!

After all, it was by fiddling with these records that Burnham “fixed” the first post-independence elections in 1968. So the PNC would’ve known all the ‘ins and outs’ about rigging elections. The US declassified records reveal that Burnham had taken a page from Eric Williams’s playbook over in T&T and also brought in some West Indians from the smaller islands in an effort to bolster his minority numbers against the PPP at that time. The islanders, however, couldn’t take the “rough and tough” hinterland experience, and that experiment suffered a premature death.

So when the PPP heard about 5485 Haitians allowed into Guyana by Felix, with no records of them leaving, could you blame the PPP for their antennae sticking up to attention??

Well, after some hanky-panky over some naturalisation pics in the press, questions were raised about whether the Haitians had been given citizenship.

But guess what?? Felix released some numbers that just don’t make sense. He claimed that, since 2015, only 888 persons IN TOTAL have been granted citizenship!! And of these, THERE HASN’T BEEN A SINGLE HAITIAN!!

The question, of course, is: Where have all the Haitians gone?? Felix now says they are just “passing through” on their way to French Guiana!! But how come none of them was detected by the Felix Immigration officers on the Corentyne?? If nearly six thousand persons can slip over the Corentyne River undetected, surely something’s rotten in the state of Guyana. Rigging?

Right Bannuh??

…fools rush in

PM Nagamootoo certainly has a lot of time on his hands; but then, he just has a weekly Chronic column to eke out!! This week, he claimed “the regime’s surrogate media have unleashed a brutal, X-rated campaign of rage and hate against the APNU+AFC Coalition and its officials.” Whew!!

To which the acting President said unctuously, “As always, the Coalition Government would issue righteous responses, buttressed by the biblical exhortation, a gentle or soft word turns away wrath”!

Your Eyewitness, however, was sorely disappointed that Nagamootoo didn’t utter any “biblical exhortation”, since he referred to some comments of yours truly. This being Sunday and all that! Against the background of his Housing Minister’s husband executing contracts from the CH&PA, which falls under her remit; and the Minister of Communications’ company being awarded a contract from the Department of Energy, this is what Nagamootoo had to say: “I know that ALL of (our Ministers) have fully supported the Code of Conduct that prescribes standards of integrity, accountability and transparency”!!

He even forgot the Code’s been deep-sixed?

…a quote is more apt

To authorise his effusions, Nagamootoo quoted Maxim Gorky, but not the one that best applies to him: “A good man can be stupid and still be good. But a bad man must have brains.”

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

news

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monday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana has growing domestic drug use problem ‒ US report

...marijuana, cocaine most prevalent; ecstasy also present

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United States (US) State Department report has declared that while Guyana has a comprehensive drug demand reduction strategy, the use of drugs like marijuana and even cocaine is a growing problem.

This information is contained in the recently released 2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which has a section dedicated to Guyana’s pro-

during the first nine months of 2018”, the report detailed.

The report notes that during the first nine months of 2018, authorities seized 164.9 kilograms (kg) of cocaine and 889kg of cannabis. It also states that local authorities initiated 358 prosecutions and convicted 24 individuals for drug trafficking.

The report has expressed faith in Guyana’s demand reduction strategy, not-

According to the report, marijuana and cocaine consumption is a growing problem

file.

Notwithstanding the trafficking, the report notes, actual consumption of these drugs is a growing problem. According to the report, marijuana is the most commonly used drug.

The document also noted reported seizures of synthetic drugs like Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA), most commonly known as “ecstasy”, and detailed Government’s response to the scourge.

“The Government of Guyana’s National Drug Abuse Control Unit trains public health officers, teachers, social workers, and civil society groups as part of the Government’s supply reduction strategy,” the report states.

“The Guyanese Government has a drug enforcement presence at its international airports, post offices, and to a lesser extent at seaport and land-border entry points. Control agencies reported several interdiction efforts and drug-related seizures and convictions

ing that it adequately addresses drug rehabilitation.

It named the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Social Protection as the relevant Ministries responsible for addressing demand reduction. ”Non-governmental organisations also offer rehabilitation services, with the Government providing financial assistance.

“The Georgetown Public Hospital provides free rehabilitation services for drug users. The University of Guyana has a demand reduction curriculum in place through OAS/CICAD funding”, the report detailed.

“The Government of Guyana conducts anti-drug awareness sessions in secondary schools, and has plans to create drug treatment courts. As part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the United States supports Guyana through targeted training for law enforcement and maritime officers”, the report declared.

Guyana’s laws currently provide for a mandatory three-year jail sentence for anyone found in possession of small amounts of marijuana and other illicit drugs.

This has led to the incarceration of petty offenders and, persons have opined, has contributed to an overcrowding of the country’s prisons.

There has, however, been a push to remove custodial sentencing for possession of small amounts of marijuana through legislation.

As at January 2017, there was a total of 2,043 inmates in Guyana’s five jails, although the largest one - the Camp Street pris-

on - was subsequently gutted in a fire. At the time, the Georgetown prisons had 963 inmates, 521 of whom were on remand; Lusignan had 153, of whom 32 were on remand; Mazaruni had 360 and Timehri had 130 inmates including 28 remanded inmates.

All of the aforementioned prisoners were male, while New Amsterdam had a male prison population of 352 and a female population of 85. One hundred and fifty of those men and 31 women were on remand.

The Camp Street Prison reached the end of the line on July 9, 2017, when pris-

oners set that facility on fire, occasioning its complete destruction, except for a newly built brick building which is still standing intact.

Following that jailbreak, over 1000 prisoners were displaced.

While some were moved to Mazaruni or granted ear-

ly release or bail, others had remained at Lusignan under straightened circumstances.

It was then that another contingent escaped.

Since these two jailbreaks, all but one prison escapee - Paul Goriah - have either been recaptured or killed.

10 news CANU lobbies for more money to upgrade equipment at airports A monday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

lthough ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are legally mandated to stop and search outgoing passengers at Guyana’s main airports, the agency is hoping to use more modern equipment to do so instead of making physical contact. In the last budget, the Unit was awarded $349 million.

However, according to a source close to the drug enforcement unit, there are some genuine cases where persons have been stopped and searched due to suspicious behaviour, but taking into consideration the humanitarian aspect of executing such duties, it is believed that additional equipment at the ports of entry will minimise this.

“We are humans and we are dealing with humans so to avoid the negativities of executing our duties then the use of more technology, more equipment to do scans at the airports would be ideal. In fact, CANU is supposed to be pursuing this recommendation to the Government quite soon. Also, we are hoping that we are given the go-ahead to have a physician join the team,” the source stated.

In other countries, physical searches are still conducted and to various extremities based on reasonable suspicion, but the use of modernised technology to conduct

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport located at Timehri, East Bank Demerara

such searches has been proven to be more ideal in ensuring that the rights of persons are not violated.

As it is, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), located at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, and the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, are allegedly not properly equipped with such technology.

This is according to a senior police source attached to the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF’s) Narcotics Branch.

He told this publication that it does not reflect a good image internationally for the country and law enforcement officials when outgoing passengers are nabbed in oth-

es we conduct, we have been able to thwart a number of persons over the years who attempted to smuggle things and illegal drugs, outside of Guyana. However, the airports need more equipment so that they can help us to minimise the hassle and delays that some outgoing passengers may be exposed to due to them having to be searched.

Yes, there may have been some cases where physical searches led to no arrests but had to be carried out due to reasonable suspicion but more equipment would do no harm,” he noted.

Quite recently, there has been

The Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara

er countries after passing through the tight security at the two main airports.

“Through the physical search-

an uproar on social media, and even in the news about what they deem “a violation of rights” for the

extreme searches being conducted on passengers by agents of the CANU and the Police Narcotics Branch.

However, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin explained that the two agencies have the right to search someone if they had, what the laws of Guyana recognise as “reasonable suspicion” that the person was committing, about to commit or had just committed an offence.

He stated that these rules are intended to rely on the integrity of law enforcement officials which means that they must exercise proper judgement as to what is reasonable suspicion.

“So, reasonable suspicion can’t be that you’re acting on you know, very nebulous facts, it has to be that you are acting on specific facts. Now, as it relates to the search, as it relates to the very intrusive cavity search that was apparently required [recently], that is in itself an area of law for which there is much controversy because the suspicion would then have to relate that the person is concealing the narcotics in their body…Could she have refused the search? Not really, in most cases that arise, if the police have reasonable suspicion and they ask you to search you could say no but you really don’t have a right to stop it.”

Berbice murder

Daughter admits to killing mother during argument over money …led investigators to murder weapon

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lmost two days after a 47-year-old woman found her mother in a pool of blood with her throat slashed, she has confessed to murdering the woman during an argument over money.

The suspect, Cameela Jameer, confessed to murder during intense interrogation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 67-year-old pensioner, Rookmin Jameer.

This was confirmed by Commander of B Division, Paul Langevine, who told Guyana Times that the suspect’s male partner was also taken into custody.

“In relation to him, we

don’t have anything yet about him being involved.

But he is still in custody as investigations continue. The daughter so far has admitted to the murder.”

This publication understands that after the confession, Cameela took investigators to the scene of the crime, where she led them to a chopper in the house, stating that it was the weapon she used to murder her mother.

Police have since taken possession of the alleged murder weapon as investigations continue.

It is expected that the file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)

Murdered pensioner: Rookmin Jameer

on Monday for legal advice.

The pensioner was found with her throat slit near her kitchen door on Friday last and her daughter at that time

had told police that she made the gruesome discovery.

According to Police, the woman was found at about 17:00h with a gaping wound to the throat.

Preliminary investigations revealed that nothing was stolen from the home nor was the house ransacked hence robbery was ruled out.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the dead woman’s son, Shaieed Jameer, said he was at work when he received the dreadful news.

He explained that when he arrived at the house, the police were already there and he was not permitted to enter. “The police stop me so I couldn’t see she,” he relat-

ed while noting that his sister reported that when she returned from church, she found their mother lying at the door.

Reports are that there was an alleged ongoing feud between the mother and daughter.

According to Police sources, there was an alleged scuf-

fle between the two women on Tuesday last and her other children had advised her to report the matter to the police.

However, on the day of the alleged scuffle, the elderly woman was reportedly locked inside the house as a means of preventing her from reporting the matter.

6 nabbed with over 16kg ganja

P

olice in Berbice on Sunday during two well-coordinated operations found almost sixteen kilograms of compressed cannabis thus resulting in the arrest of six males.

The first was conducted at about 16:00h where ranks intercepted a hire car at the police checkpoint on the eastern end the Berbice Bridge Access Road and conducted a search on the driv-

er and three passengers and found nothing but a search of a speaker box in the trunk revealed ten parcels of cannabis with a weight of 4593 grams.

Sometime later, another hire car was intercepted in New Amsterdam and two large parcels of cannabis were found in the truck.

The prohibited substance was weighed and amounted to 11 kilograms.

NEWS

11

monday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPDI looking to launch pilot programme

...to integrate renewable energy on small scale

I

n keeping with the times, Power Producers and Distributors Incorporated (PPDI) has embarked on plans to ‘convert’ at least one of its engines in an effort to determine the logistics of introducing renewable energy into the grid.

In a brief interview with this publication, PPDI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Arron Fraser explained that the initiative is a pilot project, but there is the possibility of expansion if success is achieved.

“It is a pilot project,” Dr Fraser explained to this publication. “It involves retrofitting the engine. And we have a partner on board.”

Back in 2017, PPDI officials had announced that a three- year strategic plan to combine the use of hydropower and associated natu-

PPDI’s operations

ral gas to generate electricity was being prepared.

Mined from deep beneath the earth’s surface, associated natural gas is composed of methane as well as both hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases. Not only is it a fossil fuel, but it is also non-renewable.

This plan was to have been executed at the New Kingston and Vreed-en-Hoop

power plants, once Guyana starts oil and gas production. Asked about this energy plan, Fraser said this was currently a work in progress.

In Guyana, the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL’s) Demerara interconnected system is fed with power by the PPDI, which replaced Wärtsilä, a company from Finland which for two decades maintained over a

Ex-soldier remains on run after escaping from Lusignan Prison

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he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Prison Service have intensified their hunt for John Lambert, who escaped from the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD), in the wee hours of April 7.

The 24-year-old ex-soldier made his escape less than three days after being sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for narcotics possession.

Director of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), Gladwyn Samuels told Guyana Times on Sunday that the ex-soldier is still at large but that the manhunt by law enforcement officials to recapture him continues.

“We are not giving up the search for him. As long as he is out there, we will keep looking, the manhunt is still on.

It has not been called off,” he stated.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officials are asking that if anyone knows the whereabouts or has seen Lambert, to please make contact with the nearest police station or call 911.

Two Sundays ago, at about 03:39h, Lambert escaped from the penitentiary by scaling a fence on the south-eastern side of Holding Bay Three at that facility. Since then, the GPS has been collaborating with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to recapture the

Prison escapee and ex-soldier John Lambert

prisoner.

Upon his escape, acting Director of the Prison, Kevin Pilgrim had stated that during Lambert’s escape, a rank at the Operational Post of the prison spotted the convict and verbally warned him to desist but eventually had to engage the young man in order to prevent him from getting away. However, the rank’s attempts proved futile.

“A rank would have engaged him and had to discharge several rounds in that direction which actually raised an initial alarm. There is police on standby right at Lusignan and you also have a Prison Task Force which complements that.

When they would have heard the gunshot, they would have obviously responded not knowing exact-

ly what they were responding to, all but they knew was that it was an emergency,” he explained.

Guyana Times was further told that upon responding to the alarm that was raised, the teams automatically reverted to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for such cases.

“They managed to have picked up trails of the jersey, the general area that he was in but as you know, he is an ex-military person so he is more prone to have been tactical about his escape. It was not just wild and acted out of impulse, he would have been more precise based on what he is doing because that was exactly the case even for him escaping.

It was very precise, he just used his training for not a good purpose today, but he will still make some mistakes too because once you take good training and try to put it to bad use you will make some mistakes”, Pilgrim added.

According to the Prison’s records, Lambert was incarcerated on Friday, April 5, 2019, following his appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, West Coast Demerara (WCD), for the offence of trafficking in cannabis (1456 grams).

He was sentenced to pay a fine of $30,000 as well as serve four years’ imprisonment.

dozen engines for the utility company. Energy costs remain a prohibition, however.

In an interview with this publication on the sidelines of a workshop last month, Private Sector Commission (PSC) Executive Ramesh Dookhoo shared his thoughts on oil and gas. According to the businessman, the price fluctuations and high cost of fuel prohibits Guyana from being competitive with other countries.

“We still have a huge challenge, as a manufacturing country, with the cost for electricity. I would urge the Government to continue to look for sustainable supplies and initiatives in energy. Fluctuations that govern the price of oil affect us and put Guyana in a place where we’re not competitive to ex-

port and compete with countries that have cheaper energy,” Dookhoo explained.

He expressed need for renewable energy, like hydropower, to be integrated into the system, so that costs can be lowered. He also cited the previous Government’s approach of adjusting the excise tax in order to stabilise prices for consumers.

“The way I see it, we either do hydropower or set up other systems; or we will be in the same position ten years from now. There is talk about getting some of the gas here. I don’t know how much it will cost,” Dookhoo declared.

“There has been a call by manufacturers to the Government to try and adjust the duties. Most of the diesel prices have gone up tremendously. What the previous Government did was

PPDI CEO, Dr Arron Fraser

adjust the duties so that the price could be stable and predictable,” he said.

According to Dookhoo, this practice seems to have now been abandoned by the current Government. He was, however, hopeful that other ways of reducing the cost of fuel would be pursued.

12 NEWS Police yet to identify culprits for death of inmate monday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

...Investigations currently ongoing into the matter – Prisons Service Director

M

ore than one week after Shaheed Ali was beaten to death in the holding area of the Lusignan Prison, the perpetrators responsible for the incident have not been identified.

Director of Prisons, Gladwyn Samuels, told Guyana Times that the matter is not closed and that the police are presently still conducting their investigations in this regard.

Ali, who hailed from Albouystown, Georgetown, had been severely beaten by several prisoners following a dispute at the Lusignan penitentiary on April 2 and had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for emergency medical treatment.

The now dead 30-yearold prisoner had undergone surgery for several injuries including a fractured skull on April 5, but succumbed to his injuries, at the GPHC.

who is leading the investigations. We at the GPS are awaiting a full report as it relates to the actors [perpetrators] who are involved in this death. The police visited the area, the holding bay at Lusignan on Friday night, and investigations are continuing,” Pilgrim told this newspaper.

According to Pilgrim, the holding bay where the assault against Ali occurred is very large, with a large number of inmates. He said that the prison service has been cooperating with the The Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara, where Ali was badly beaten

Reports are that at about 22:58h on the night of the beating, Ali was in Bay One at the Lusignan Prison when several other prisoners began to beat him following a dispute. The injured inmate was taken to the GPHC where he was admitted as a patient. However, on April 5 at about 20:50h,

he succumbed and a report was subsequently made to the police.

The then acting Guyana Prison Service (GPS) Director, Kevin Pilgrim, when contacted by this publication had said that the incident is being investigated by the police.

He explained that the

protocol of any assault that occurs inside the prison which results in death stipulates that the police spearhead the investigation.

“The police have been called in to the matter, in fact, when the assault took place they were notified, and now that this is a murder case, it is the GPF

investigation and has made provisions for all staff who worked during the night of the beating to be available to the police for questioning.

“Even if there are 500 inmates there at Lusignan, the GPS will make each of them available to the police for the investigation process. Also, all our prison officers we will make available to the police so that this matter can be fully investigated so that we will know who needs to be charged or held accountable,” Pilgrim added.

4 dilapidated markets to be rehabilitated soon

The Kitty Market

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fter much lobbying had been done for the city’s markets to be rehabilitated, the structures -- which are currently in an appalling state -- will finally undergo rehabilitation works soon.

Contractors are presently filing bidding documents to carry out works on the Bourda, La Penitence, East Ruimveldt and Kitty Markets.

Attempts to get a comment from Communities Minister Ronald Bulkhan proved futile, since calls to his mobile phone went answered, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emil Mc Garrell, has said he is unable to comment on the extent of rehabilitation works that have to be done.

The Kitty Market Rehabilitation project commenced over two years ago, but was stalled several times owing to unavailability of funds and materials. As a result, City Hall has been forced to approach the Communities Ministry for assistance, since the first phase of the works is about 70 per cent completed for the upper flat and 45 per cent completed for the lower flat.

During a site visit to the Market, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan pledged $25 million to complete the project. The Communities Ministry has said that phase one of the project is expected to cost in the vicinity of $25 million, and the scope of works in-

clude construction of 15 external stalls, the sanitary block and the administrative office, inclusive of a revenue collection section.

Bourda Market vendors have meanwhile been appealing for the structure to be fixed, as it has been in a deplorable state over the years.

Guyana Times understands that some $14 million have been set aside for works to be undertaken at the La Penitence Market.

Last June a concerned citizen wrote this publication to complain of the unsanitary conditions at that market.

Anu Bihari complained that the largest, most vicious and audacious rodents and other pests in Guyana call the La Penitence Market home. She also said, “But witticism aside, the La Penitence Market — if you wish to call it a market — is the grimiest, darkest, and dankest bazaar in this hemisphere. The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown should be ashamed of themselves for subjecting stall holders and shoppers to the squalid conditions at that market while collecting substantial stall rents and property taxes from the citizens”.

The vendors over at the East Ruimveldt Market have also cried out for rehabilitation works to commence there soon. They have complained of leaking roofs among other issues affecting them there, despite paying taxes to operate.

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14 NEWS

monday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Drone operators complain Shaheed Girls Orphanage of lengthy wait for approval reopens after devastating fire of permits

Police Commissioner Leslie James

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number of persons desirous of operating drones in Guyana’s airspace have expressed concerns over the lengthy processing time for those approvals to be granted.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has cautioned importers and owners of these aerial devices, and has indicated that a permit is necessary to operate them. The GCAA has said that Guyanese are not permitted to use any such devices once a camera has been thereto attached or provision has been made for a camera to be thereto attached, unless they first obtain a permit is this regard.

Applicants for permits to operate drones have indicated that they are willing to adhere to the GCAA’s instructions, but they complain that months have passed and they still have not been able to receive an update on their applications, except that they were told that their applications are at the Police Commissioner’s Office.

“I applied, and they said it will take a month maximum; but months (have passed) and I’m still waiting. I trying to follow up, and the GCAA told

me it’s at (the Police) commissioner’s office awaiting final approval. I can’t get any updates from there. This is ridiculous. You try to adhere to the law to avoid trouble, but the system is so long and stressful,” an applicant told Guyana Times on Saturday.

In response to recent questions from the media on the drone applications, Police Commissioner Leslie James has said he is unaware of any backlog of applications. “I am not aware of any backlogs.

We expedite with all matters,” he said.

He added that the process starts with an application being submitted to the GCAA, which is forwarded to his office. Those applications, he said, are then sent to other

departments for processing, after which they are returned to the GCAA. He noted, however, that the only reason an application may be delayed is due to an applicant having issues with security or related issues.

The GCAA has issued a statement which detailed that anyone desirous of using such a device must submit a request in writing to the Authority.

“Said request must in-

clude the name and address of the applicant and the name of the company for whom he is working, if applicable. The request must also include details of the aircraft to be used, including the make, model, serial number and dimensions of the aircraft, as well as the type of power plant installed on the aircraft, and any other information requested by the Authority” the GCAA said.

Moreover, the GCAA has said it is sending out a reminder that the Customs and Trade Administration of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has detained a large number of recreational drones imported into the country without the required permit.

Additionally, the GCAA has said that using a drone without the necessary permit is a crime punishable by the laws of Guyana. Application for the drone permit must be made to the Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, 73 High Street Kingston, Georgetown.

The application, which includes the required security clearance from the Guyana Police Force, can take up to thirty (30) working days to be processed.

The newly-constructed Shaheed Girls Orphanage at Oleander Gardens, ECD

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he Shaheed Girls Orphanage, which was completely destroyed by a fire in late October 2018, was officially reopened on Sunday with a ceremony held at its Oleander Gardens location.

The new building houses eighteen girls ranging from ages 4 to 16 years old.

In attendance were Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

Chief Executive Officer of the Shaheed Girls and Boys Orphanage, Raheema Rahaman speaking with Guyana Times on Sunday said that the reconstruction of the home is a huge success story after lots of obstacles and negativity.

“The building was burnt flat to the ground.

Everything was lost. All that was left were the clothing the children were wearing at the time,” she said.

Rahaman said the experience of the fire was a trau-

Immigration officers benefit from customer service training

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cores of officers attached to the Immigration Department of the Guyana Police Force benefitted from the first session of a five-month training entitled “Delivering Quality Service” organised by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with The Caribbean Tourism Organisation.

The training, held between April 2 and 4, focused on educating and empowering officers who interact with travellers and visitors in the areas of customer service, visitors’ welcome and hospitality techniques.

The training was also organised with the aim of improving first impressions and the overall quality of a visitor’s experience at all of Guyana’s international ports of call.

Officers from various ports of entry and departments within the Immigration Department, including Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Eugene F Correia International Airport, Moleson Creek, Criminal Investigation Department, Parika and Immigration Headquarters participated in the three-day course which was held at the Officers Training Centre at Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Deputy Director of the GTA, Carla Chandra explained that the training was designed to raise awareness of the

The participants at the three-day training hosted by the Guyana Tourism Authority

importance of customer service and hospitality in Guyana and the impact it has on incoming travellers and citizens returning home.

“The training created an understanding of the role each individual play in delivering quality service, the importance of first impressions, and the value of each individual’s personal brand, impact and attitude. This initiative is helping to boost the quality of service at our various ports of entry, passport office and police clearance office and immigration staff as a whole,” She stated.

Additionally, the training was facilitated by trainer and owner of Solution Pro Group Inc, Marlon George along with Deborah Clementson from the Travel Industry Development and Operations Division within the GTA. The GTA encourages those persons who are interested in an upcoming tourism-based training in May through August 2019 to contact Davina Layne at 219-0091 or davina@guyanatourism. com for more information as the agency stays committed to elevating Guyana’s tourism sector.

matic and emotional one for her and the children as they lost everything.

She added that with limited resources and a small budget, she faced major difficulty in making any progress with obtaining materials to begin the reconstruction of the home and it was at this time that she reached out to former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who she said was always readily available to assist in any way possible.

As a result of his “determination and heart of gold,” she was able to receive every piece of material she needed for the reconstruction of the home to commence.

She expressed gratitude to Nandlall and others who helped to rebuild the facility which is a safe place for vulnerable girls.

She added that more work is still needed in getting the home back to where it was in terms of facilities for the girls. “We still need ACs, fans, TVs and computers and so on and Mr Nandlall said he will continue to work on getting assistance for us in this regard.

He said he is working to ensure that every child gets a computer,” Rahaman said.

She also expressed gratitude to all the neighbours and others who played a part in getting the orphanage back on its feet.

The girls that were temporarily being housed at the Shaheed Boys’ Orphanage returned to the newly-constructed building last week and are settling in well.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment on Sunday, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall said that he is privileged to have been afforded the opportunity to assist in the rebuilding of the orphanage which has been around for several years.

That home, he said, has produced a number of wholesome citizens that have returned to society and have made significant contributions. Some of which were in attendance at Sunday’s ceremony.

“One of them is a member of the Guyana Police Force and his sister is married and has assisted in the rebuilding effort,” Nandlall said.

He is hopeful that the publicising of the event by the press will bring further awareness of not only the existence of the orphanage

but its functions because it survives based on contributions from members of the public who have generously donated over the years. “It is hoped that those contributions continue,” he added.

He noted that he is currently working with the orphanage to supply computer systems to them. “At least a personal computer to each child, both the boys and the girls and I look forward to the public’s support in this regard,” he said.

Nandlall pointed out that computers and access to computers will be a sure way in educating the children and education has been tested and proven to be one of the surest ways to extricate one from poverty.

“The education of these children is vital. Just imagine if you didn’t have institutions like these that take our children off the streets, imagine the destitution, the prostitution, the crime and everything else that they would have been embroiled in,” he added.

These institutions, Nandlall said, play a vital role and the Government and civil society must partner in ensuring that these institutions continue to function.

He expressed thanks to dozens of persons who have responded to his calls for contributions and donations. “That building is an amalgamation and a result of the efforts of so many kind, giving and hardworking Guyanese and I want to thank them and recognise them for that,” he added.

Nandlall also received a certificate from the institution recognising the integral role he played in the rebuilding process.

“I am humbled by the gesture by Shaheed Boys and Girls Orphanage for recognising my simple contribution and it’s a stepping stone for a lot more that has to be done and I will continue to make whatever simple contribution I can towards the upliftment in the lives of those unfortunate children,” he said.

The Shaheed Girls Orphanage is a Muslim orphanage which was established in the 1930s. The institution provides care, home and other services for orphans, vulnerable and destitute children.

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news

monday, april 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

Police Commissioner Leslie James recently threatened to prosecute persons caught giving bribes to traffic ranks along with the traffic ranks themselves. What are your thoughts on this?

Ameer Boodram “The bribes would still continue to take place even though Leslie is threatening to prosecute these individuals.

I think the time he’s taking to put that out to public he should go and try harder to get these criminals locked up!”

Dan Rahim “I personally think Mr James is trying to work a miracle after all his salary was not disclosed to the public but the other small police salary is known and now a days is not a bribe it’s a token of appreciation so how we going to get charge or the police will get charge.?”

Ivor Rajnarine “I don’t think it’s going to work at all. It’s just a waste of time and words because how sure are they that the chances of catching these persons and the ranks are high. How many officers would admit to the act, this revelation will only make these rogue officers more smart and slick in how they go about collecting bribes as well as the persons offering the bribe to them.”

Denesia Liddell “I think that would be good.

Something should definitely be done about bribes in Guyana.”

Mareta Jacobs “I must commend you Sir. Hats off to Mr. James for making such a wise and impartial decision where bribery is concerned. For too long this has been going on, and it’s really good that not only the public offenders will be prosecuted, but likewise the Officers that falters in their duty because part of the Officers motto is to “STAY HONEST”.”

Wendy Hernandez “It is a good thought to prosecute those ranks and the civilians involved. But what measures will be used to ensure that these persons are caught in the act, how will they go about doing it effectively so that it actually reduce these bribery occurrences, because in most instances to keep themselves out if trouble a rank would not admire to accepting bribery which makes it useless to ask in the first place. Nevertheless the entire scourge needs to stop and it takes our few honest officers to take their stand and not indulge in this act.”

Natasha Juan “I agree with the prosecute of the person and the police being charged or prosecuted reason being persons are fully aware that it’s illegal to bribe someone, it’s an offence more so to bribe a police officer .The police officers would not have been able to collect the bride if it wasn’t given to them so in this case both individuals should be charged.”

Kevin Alli “It cant change unless the government increase the salary of police officers. And a batter system needs to be implemented and then this issue with decrease.”

Shabazza Douglas “Excellent approach to tackling the issue of bribery in Guyana it’s holding both parties accountable for their actions.”

Shanette Persaud “It is great unprofessionalism when persons chose to break the laws, especially when they commit an offence and bribe officers.

It’s a good recommendation if it can be implemented successfully. However, I don’t think an officer who denies to accept this bribe should be prosecuted.”

Caesar McAlmont “That’s a great idea but at the same time they need to look at ranks salaries and benefits. Is it sufficient to prevent them from taking bribes?”

Youths in Mashabo, Wakenaam and Essequibo Coast benefit from skills training

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n a move to reduce or possibly eradicate cases of poverty in Essequibo, the Guyana Foundation has been offering a number of training programmes, specifically in Mashabo village, Wakenaam and Zorg-enVlygt.

These programmes, which include training in fabric design, home economics and cosmetology, represent training of the first of its kind, since they are all being conducted at the same time while being facilitated by different trainers.

In the village of Mashabo, situated on the Ituribisi Lake in Region Two, an ongoing fabric design programme is being conducted

by Abiola Ulele Garraway, an accomplished craft maker and agriculturalist. Semifinished products that were made by the participants are already being shipped overseas to have the finishing done.

Persons on Wakenaam Island, situated at the mouth of the Essequibo River in Region Three, are benefitting from home eco-

Some participants involved in the catering class on Wakenaam Island

nomics courses facilitated by Glynis Streete. These courses are being taught with the aim of assisting those participants to become entrepreneurs.

Persons residing in ZorgEn-Vlygt village, on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two, are benefitting extensively from a cosmetology course conducted by Gem Britton, a beautician and

business owner. The training has seen 24 participants presently, who are being trained to do pedicures, manicures and facials.

Founder of the Guyana Foundation, Supriya SinghBodden, has said, “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you. Our mission is to bring a ray of light

into people’s lives; it is up to them to make it burn bright to uplift themselves and their families.”

In keeping with its vision, the Guyana Foundation has, over the years, been offering extensive training programmes in a variety of disciplines with the aim of giving persons a chance to learn how to generate income.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONday, april 15, 2019

Regional

Venezuela crisis: Maduro calls for Children in Central America will million more militia members be allowed to join parents in US

President Nicolás Maduro addressed a rally in Caracas

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enezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has said he wants a million more people to join his civilian militia by the end of the year. The call to expand the militia – which answers directly to Maduro – comes as Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó seeks to persuade the Venezuelan military to abandon the President.

So far the military has stayed loyal. US-backed Guaidó declared himself acting President on January 23, saying Maduro's 2018

election was flawed.

According to the BBC's Americas regional editor Candace Piette, Maduro's call to increase the militia numbers will be seen as an attempt to shield himself further both politically and physically.

The President praised the civilian militia for its readiness to "defend, with arms in hand, (the) peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence and the life of our homeland", during a rally in the

capital, Caracas.

But he also called on the existing two million members to get involved in agriculture, as Venezuela continues to struggle with a spiralling economic crisis which has left people struggling to afford food.

"With your rifles on your shoulders, be ready to defend the fatherland and dig the furrow to plant the seeds to produce food for the community, for the people," Mr Maduro told the crowd of militia members.

Guaidó, meanwhile, called on people to take to the streets to "start the final phase of the end of the usurpation". He told an anti-government rally in the capital they needed to redouble efforts to oust Maduro from office.

Guaidó blames Maduro for the skyrocketing hyperinflation, power cuts and shortages of food and medicine which have crippled the country in recent years. (Excerpt

The Central American Minors programme, closed in 2017, benefited children from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Many of the parents have fled natural disasters and conflicts

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p to 2700 children in Central America will be allowed to reunite with their parents living under protected status in the US, a court has ruled. It follows a lawsuit that challenged the Trump administration's cancellation of a programme that gave the children the right to join their parents.

The Central American Minors programme, closed

in 2017, benefited children from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Many of the parents have fled natural disasters and conflicts.

The case was brought against the government by 12 children and parent applicants to the Central American Minors programme and immigrant advocacy group CASA. Last month, a judge at

the United States District Court in San Francisco ruled that the applications must be processed.

Under the ruling, the government must finish processing children who were in the final stages of their application.

Linda Evarts, attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project, said: "We are so pleased that after many years apart our clients will finally have the opportunity to reunite with each other in safety."

According to the group, the government anticipates that most applicants will be approved for parole and allowed to travel to the US. Last month, President Donald Trump cut off aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in a bid to push their governments to stop migration into the US.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

from BBC News)

Trinidad Police discover bodies of family Haiti’s President confirms Lapin as new Prime Minister members in suspected murder/suicide

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aitian President Jovenel Moise on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Jean Michel Lapin, who has served as acting Prime Minister since March 21, following the removal from office after a mere six months of the Government of Jean Henry Céant.

Lapin is Haiti’s third since February 2017 to direct the affairs of 11 million residents and a country facing a record US$450 million deficit this year.

Government corruption, dysfunction, law-breaking and contempt for the rule of law have been mainstays

of the dismissal of previous Governments. This has been accompanied by violent street protests and security concerns, prompting a level four travel warning from the US State Department.

Lapin will be required to form a new Government with the approval of both chambers of Parliament, utilising his extended years of service in public administration and service to the last four Haitian Presidents as a courier in the public administration and the former Culture and Communications Minister.

The capacity to tackle economic challenges and

manoeuvre within a failed system to create an institution for economic growth and investment to gain confidence in Haiti and the international community is of utmost importance.

Lapin’s political programme faces challenges of US$290 million deficit, and a national budget estimated at US$1.8 billion. Lack of job creation has unemployment at 50 per cent; the rising cost of living has inflation at 17 per cent, while 60 per cent of the population is living under the poverty line, compound the country’s economic problems. (Excerpt from Caribbean News

Now)

UN votes to shut down Haiti Police mission

In this file photo taken on November 21, 2018, members of United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) patrol the streets of Port-au-Prince during the third day of strikes

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he UN Security Council on Friday decided to shut down a Police mission in Haiti and replace it with a smaller UN political presence even as it admitted that the poor Caribbean nation faces major problems.

The 1000-strong UN police force known as MINUJUSTH was deployed in 2017, replacing the fullfledged MINUSTAH peacekeeping mission, which was sent after a devastating 2010 earthquake.

MINUJUSTH will be gradually drawn down over the coming months and end on October 15, according to a US-drafted resolution that the council adopted on Friday. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 13 in favour in the 15-member council. Russia and The Dominican Republic abstained.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was tasked with drawing up plans for the new political mission to take over in

October to coordinate the work of UN agencies and cooperate with donors to help Haiti's Government.

Haiti is still recovering from widespread riots in February, when thousands of people took to the streets across the country – one of the world's poorest – to demand better living conditions and the departure of the Head of State.

A new prime minister, Jean-Michel Lapin, was confirmed by the Haitian lawmakers this week and will begin piecing together a government to confront the country's problems.

US Acting Ambassador Jonathan Cohen said the resolution marked the end of UN peacekeeping in Haiti after more than 15 years.

The five Police units that make up the mission will hand over all security responsibilities to the Haitian National Police. (Excerpt From Jamaica Observer)

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olice in Trinidad are investigating the death of four people, including two children, whose bodies were found in a vehicle in an apparent murder/suicide.

Police said that the bodies of Barry Choon, a doubles vendor; his wife Shalini Soodeo Choon; and their two children, sevenyear-old Akeila; and seven-month-old Jacob, were found in a secluded back

road in Toco, the most North-easterly village on Friday.

Media reports said that the children and the wife may have been killed by Barry who then turned the weapon, a box cutter, on himself. Police are still on the scene and are hoping an autopsy, would shed light on the situation.

The Police said that a passer-by peeked into the window of the family's ve-

hicle and saw the grisly scene. One newspaper reported that the father, mother and eldest child all suffered from wounds to the throat but the baby did not bare any wounds.

Police believe baby may have suffocated in the car.

Sangre Grande/Toco Regional Corporation chairman Terry Rhondon described the situation as “sad.”

“The people of Sangre Grande/Toco Regional Corporation extend their deepest condolences to the family. This is a family-oriented village so we look out for each other here. I wish I were here to tell that man to stop what he was doing,” he said, calling on the nation to pray so that such a situation would not be repeated. (Jamaica Observer)

Bombing damages Colombia pipeline, second spill under investigation

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bombing damaged a section of Colombia’s Trasandino pipeline, state-run company Ecopetrol said on Saturday, and the company was investigating a crude spillage from the Cano Limon pipeline to determine if it was also caused by an attack.

The attack on the Trasandino took place late on Friday in Barbacoas municipality in southwestern Narino province, Ecopetrol said in a statement. The company was assessing the extent of the damage, it said. Photos post-

ed by Ecopetrol on Twitter showed oil-slicked grass and a puddle of crude next to the damaged pipeline.

The Trasandino was not operating at the time of the attack, the company said.

Ecopetrol is working to verify the cause of a crude spillage from the Cano Limon pipeline in Tibu municipality in eastern Norte de Santander province, it said in a second statement.

There were reports of a loud explosion and crude has spilled into two ravines in the area, it said. There have been around 20 at-

tacks on Colombian pipelines so far in 2019. The 485-mile (780-km) Cano Limon pipeline was kept offline for most of 2018 because of more than 80 bombings.

Although Ecopetrol did not name the group responsible for the Trasandino bombing, the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, regularly attacks pipelines.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONday, april 15, 2019

17

Around the World

3 die as jet hits parked helicopter Sudan protesters demand swift at takeoff near Mount Everest civilian rule after ‘revolution’

The airport is used by thousands of trekkers and climbers heading for the Everest region each year

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small passenger plane has crashed into a parked helicopter during takeoff at the only airport in Nepal’s Everest region, killing at least three people and injuring four others, officials said.

The crash occurred on Sunday morning as the jet was trying to take off from Lukla for the capital, Kathmandu, according to aviation official Raj Kumar Chhetri.

He said the plane, a Twin Otter belonging to Summit Air, skidded off the runway, hitting the helicopter of Manang Air. Following the crash, authorities suspended services at Tenzing Hillary Airport at Lukla, the gateway to Mount Everest.

The airport is often referred to as the world’s most dangerous because of the short runway and difficult approach. It is open only to

helicopters and small fixedwing aircraft.

Sitting at an elevation of 2845 metres, it is used by thousands of trekkers and climbers heading for the Everest region each year. It is particularly busy in April as the spring mountain climbing season begins.

In May 2017, a cargo flight was landing in Lukla when it lost altitude and crashed into a mountain below the runway, killing both pilots. Poor visibility was blamed for the accident.

Air crashes are common in mostly mountainous Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountain peaks, including Mount Everest.

In February, a helicopter flying in bad weather crashed into a mountain in northeastern Nepal, killing all seven people on board, including the country’s Tourism Minister. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

Sudanese demonstrators protest against the army’s announcement that President Omar al-Bashir would be replaced by a military-led transitional council, near Defence Ministry in Khartoum, Sudan April 12, 2019

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udan’s main protest group demanded the immediate handover of power to a civilian transitional Government on Sunday, saying it would keep up the street demonstrations which ousted former President Omar alBashir last week to achieve its aims.

Sudanese Professionals’ Association (SPA) called for the establishment of a transitional council which would

be protected by the armed forces, adding it would exert “all forms of peaceful pressure to achieve the objectives of the revolution”.

The head of the military council that replaced Bashir, who was ousted on Thursday after three decades in power, has said a civilian Government will be formed after talks with the opposition in Sudan.

A sit-in in the Sudanese capital, which began on

April 6, was the culmination of a protest movement that began nearly four months ago, triggered by a worsening economic crisis.

Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdelrahman called a meeting on Sunday which was largely attended by unknown politicians and parliamentarians who are known to be loyal to Bashir’s party, a Reuters witness said.

It did not include SPA and the other main opposition parties, which together make up a group known as the Forces for Freedom and Change.

Lieutenant General Yasser Atta, a member of the military council, said they had hoped the opposition would come together to choose an independent candidate for prime minister, while another member of the council said they would give the opposition one week to submit their suggestions.

Polls close in Finland’s elections Ivanka Trump in Ethiopia to ‘promote women’ with leftists poised to win

The Social Democrats ― led by Antti Rinne ― have not held the Prime Minister position since 2003

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olls have closed in Finland’s general elections which is expected to usher in the first leftist Prime Minister in two decades.

The opposition Social Democrats, the nationalist-populist Finns Party and the conservatives were in a tight race on Sunday for

gaining majority seats in a new 200-seat Parliament.

Recent opinion polls suggested the Social Democrats would become the largest party, which traditionally offered the post of Prime Minister, with just under 20 per cent of the vote.

The party led by Antti Rinne ― has not held the top job since 2003. Rinne favours work-related immigration to compensate for Finland’s ageing population, but also allowing in some refugees on humanitarian grounds, as the country has done thus far.

The Finns Party are running second with 16.3 per cent support, after scoring rapid gains since the start of the year when cases of sexual abuse of minors by foreign men emerged.

The next Government

will inherit some unfinished business, including a reform of the healthcare system that has been debated for over a decade.

With the European Parliament election less than two months away, the Finnish ballot is being watched in Brussels.

A strong result for the Finns Party could bolster a nationalist bloc threatening to shake up the European Union’s policy-making.

Anti-immigration parties have announced plans to join forces after the May 26 EU election in a move that could give them a major say in how the continent is run.

In July, Finland takes over the rotating EU presidency from Romania. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

Ivanka Trump (R) with Sara Abera who founded clothing company Muya Ethiopia 16 years ago

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resident Donald Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, is in Ethiopia to promote a US Government initiative aimed at advancing women’s participation in the workplace.

The initiative aims to benefit 50 million women in developing countries by 2025.

Ivanka Trump toured a female-run textile facility in the capital, Addis Ababa.

The US policy in Africa

under President Trump has prioritised the war on terror and checking the influence of China.

When his Administration’s long-delayed policy on Africa was finally unveiled at the close of 2018, many observers of the continent were quick to point out that it did not include the favoured American staples: promotion of democracy, free and fair elections, political and civil rights.

The Women’s Global

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Development and Prosperity (W-GDP), which was launched in February, coincides with President Trump’s proposed cuts to foreign aid, and a ban on US aid to health groups that promote or provide abortions.

The W-GDP initiative aims to train women worldwide to help them get well-paying jobs.

According to the W-GDP’s website, low participation of women in the formal labour markets impedes economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries.

Ivanka Trump, who serves as an adviser to her father, will also attend a World Bank policy summit while in Ethiopia.

She will visit Ivory Coast later in the week and is set to visit a cocoa farm, as well as participate in a meeting on economic opportunities for women in West Africa.

Egypt’s President meets Libyan commander Haftar in Cairo Ukraine: Poroshenko holds one-man ‘debate’ before runoff

E

gypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday met in Cairo with Khalifa Haftar, the commander of eastern-based Libyan forces, who is under international pressure to halt an advance on the capital Tripoli.

Egypt has close ties with Haftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA) controls the east and swept through the mainly desert south earlier this year before moving to Tripoli ten days ago in a major escalation of conflict.

His move is the latest in a cycle of conflict and anarchy since the 2011 toppling of former dictator

Muammar Gaddafi.

Haftar has projected himself as the scourge of Islamist militants and of the militias that grew powerful after the uprising. His rivals say he has fuelled conflict and risks returning Libya to authoritarian rule.

Egypt and the United Arab Emirates publicly support UN-led peace efforts in Libya, while being seen as Haftar’s closest regional allies. Sisi, a former army chief, has led a far-reaching crackdown on Islamists with Egypt and has blamed Libya-based militants for some cross-border attacks.

Haftar, a former general in Gaddafi’s army who

later turned against him, had long talked of a move on Tripoli, in Libya’s west, where an internationally-recognised Government sits.

His campaign has disrupted efforts by the United Nations to bring rival eastern and western administrations to the negotiating table to plan an election and end the turmoil.

As well as thwarting the UN plan, the flare-up threatens to disrupt oil supplies, boost migration to Europe, let Islamist militants exploit the chaos, and worsen Libyans’ suffering.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

A

comedian tipped to become Ukraine’s next President has skipped a debate with the incumbent candidate Petro Poroshenko days before a high-stakes runoff vote.

The expected no-show by actor Volodymyr Zelensky prompted Poroshenko to stage a solo appearance on Sunday at Kiev Olympic Stadium as several thousand supporters flooded a nearby square.

Two podiums were set up at the stadium’s makeshift press centre and a moderator set down rules in front of journalists.

With one week to go be-

fore the vote, Poroshenko, 53, accused his rival, a 41-year-old political novice, of avoiding hard-hitting questions.

Poroshenko has been scrambling to recover lost ground in a bruising campaign as polls show Zelensky easily defeating the incumbent for the leadership of a country locked in a war with Moscow-backed separatists.

Zelensky, whose political experience is limited to playing a President on TV, has shunned traditional rallies, instead, performing satirical shows.

But he capitalised on frustration over main-

(Excerpt from BBC News)

stream politics, war with Kremlin-backed rebels, poverty and corruption to defeat Poroshenko in the first round of voting on March 31.

Support for the comedian among voters has doubled to 61 per cent since then, with Poroshenko at 24 per cent, according to the Rating pollster.

Poroshenko has touted himself as the only candidate able to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin and repeatedly urged the comic to hold several rounds of policy debates.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Clear up unfinished business. Put your responsibilities before someone else’s requests or demands. Practicing a moderate lifestyle will help you avoid getting into trouble with someone who tends to be excessive.

CANCER

It’s OK to be different. If you let your intuition guide you, you will come up with an interesting way to use your skills to help others.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Make choices for the right reasons. If you stretch your budget or make promises you cannot keep, you will experience setbacks.

Stick to what you know and do best.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Show everyone what you’ve got going for you. A presentation will lead to suggestions, connections and a chance to bring about a positive lifestyle change.

Sometimes you just have to go after what you want.

Follow your heart and embrace challenges that are meant to teach you and guide you toward a better future.

Sometimes you just have to go after what you want.

Follow your heart and embrace challenges that are meant to teach you and guide you toward a better future.

If you find out more about your heritage, you will understand how to use your attributes to the fullest. Refuse to let anyone discourage you from striving to enrich your life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take an interest in something you’ve never done before, or engage in talks with people who come from different backgrounds. A change will do you good and will hatch innovative ideas and friendships.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Emotional matters should be kept under control. If you let anger take charge, someone will use it against you. Concentrate on personal growth and self-improvement, not on trying to change others.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Take care of domestic matters, home improvements and finding ways to lower your overhead. Get your personal documents in order and adopt a healthy lifestyle if you want to decrease your stress levels.

Share your thoughts and offer help to someone you want to see succeed. Your input will change the dynamics of a relationship and will lead to an interesting agreement.

A professional change is apparent. If you connect with a former co-worker, you will be offered information regarding a position that interests you. Romance is highlighted.

sunDAY, april 14, 2019

19

Kohli, de Villiers’ mastery trump ‘Gayle Storm’

R

oyal Challengers Bangalore finally found reason to smile in IPL 2019. They broke a sequence of six consecutive defeats with their first victory of the season, an eight-wicket victory against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali.

Like several Royal Challengers’ wins in the past, this was built on the batting combination of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, although the choke the spinners applied in the middle overs after Chris Gayle had rocketed off played its part too. Kohli made a 53ball 67, while de Villiers was unbeaten on 59 off 38.

The win wasn’t achieved without a scare, as Royal Challengers saw a comfortable equation of 57 off 42 go to 38 off 18, before de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis biffed the ball around to seal the win.

The knocks by Kohli and de Villiers put to shade Gayle’s 99 not out, with the Kings XI opener becoming in IPL history only the second batsman, alongside Kohli, to end not out while one short of his century. Suresh Raina and Prithvi Shaw have both been out on 99 in the IPL. Kings XI also let themselves down with their fielding, dropped catches and sloppy out-fielding making the task tougher for themselves. The dew that set in during the second half didn’t help either.

Gayle’s start-stop-start innings The Gayle template for a T20 innings has stayed largely the same over several years.

Start slowly, get your bearings, and then make fielders and/ or boundaries irrelevant.

In this game though, Gayle flipped things around, with circumstances dictating it to some extent.

Gayle blasted off at the start, first taking a shine to Umesh Yadav, and then dismantling Mohammed Siraj.

At the end of the Powerplay, Gayle was on 48 off 23. Kohli then turned to his spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Moeen Ali, and the Kings XI momentum ground to a halt.

In the middle overs, till the end of the 16th, Gayle could add only 20 more runs in 27 balls.

He picked up the pace again at the death, not coincidentally with the pacers back in operation, and smashed 31 off his last 14 balls.

The Gayle slowdown mirrored his team’s innings, with only 67 runs coming in the 10 overs after the Powerplay had yielded 60. The last four overs brought 46.

The Chahal-Moeen choke Chahal came on to bowl immediately after the Powerplay, and was greeted by a huge six, with KL Rahul dancing down the crease and sending him over long-off.

Rahul tried to repeat that next ball, but Chahal hung it back just a bit, and got it to dip and turn past him for an easy

AB de Villiers watches closely as he shapes to scoop

SCOREBOARD Mumbai Indians Innings (20 overs maximum) BATSMEN RG Sharma (c) c Buttler b Archer 47 Q de Kock † c Buttler b Archer 81 SA Yadav b Kulkarni 16 KA Pollard c Gopal b Archer 6 HH Pandya not out 28 Ishan Kishan c Buttler b Unadkat 5 KH Pandya not out 0 Extras 4 (lb 1, w 3) TOTAL 187/5 (20 Overs, RR: 9.35) Did not bat: AS Joseph, RD Chahar, JP Behrendorff, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-96 (RG Sharma, 10.5 ov), 2-117 (SA Yadav, 13.1 ov), 3-136 (KA Pollard, 16.2 ov), 4-163 (Q de Kock, 18.3 ov), 5-175 (Ishan Kishan, 19.2 ov) M R W BOWLING O 3 K Gowtham 0 39 0 4 DS Kulkarni 0 38 1 4 JC Archer 0 39 3 JD Unadkat 0 36 1 4 S Gopal 4 0 21 0 1 LS Livingstone 0 13 0 Rajasthan Royals Innings (target:

F

Alex Hepburn

The earlier trial in January had failed to reach a verdict.

The court heard that Hepburn was part of a WhatsApp group that kept a score of the women its members had slept with as part of a “conquest game”.

Worcestershire chairman Fanos Hira said in a statement on the club’s website that they were appalled by the details reported.

Kohli, de Villiers take charge K o h l i

188 runs from 20 overs) BATSMEN AM Rahane (c) c Yadav b KH Pandya 37 JC Buttler c Yadav b Chahar 89 SV Samson † lbw b Bumrah 31 SPD Smith c Ishan Kishan b Bumrah 12 RA Tripathi c HH Pandya b KH Pandya 1 LS Livingstone b KH Pandya 1 S Gopal not out 13 K Gowtham not out 0 Extras 4 (lb 2, w 2) TOTAL 188/6 (19.3 Overs, RR: 9.64) Did not bat: JC Archer, JD Unadkat, DS Kulkarni Fall of wickets: 1-60 (AM Rahane, 6.2 ov), 2-147 (JC Buttler, 13.2 ov), 3-170 (SV Samson, 16.5 ov), 4-171 (RA Tripathi, 17.1 ov), 5-174 (LS Livingstone, 17.6 ov), 6-174 (SPD Smith, 18.1 ov) BOWLING O M R W JP Behrendorff 3 0 31 0 S Joseph 3 0 53 0 RD Chahar 4 0 34 1 JJ Bumrah 4 0 23 2 KH Pandya 4 0 34 3 HH Pandya 1.3 0 11 0

Cricketer found guilty of raping sleeping woman ormer Worcestershire county cricketer Alex Hepburn has, at a retrial, been found guilty of orally raping a sleeping woman as part of a sex game conducted on WhatsApp. The BBC and Sky television reported that the jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict on one count of oral rape after deliberating for nearly 11 hours.

The 23-year-old Australianborn was cleared of a second rape charge involving the same woman, who had earlier had consensual sex with teammate Joe Clarke in his Worcester apartment after a night out with friends on April 1, 2017.

Hepburn had denied both charges.

He will be sentenced at Hereford Crown Court on April 30, with the judge warning a custodial sentence is inevitable.

stumping.

Chahal repeated that six-and-out sequence with Mayank Agarwal. Having seen one smoked over extra cover with whippy wrist-work, he bowled the ball of the match.

It made a nice arc, sending Agarwal on the back foot, before drifting and dipping and then whizzing past to knock off-stump. Agarwal was left squared up, looking completely lost.

Moeen, meanwhile, bowled all four overs in one spell, and conceded only one boundary. None of the batsmen was able to get on top of his bowling, and with only 19 runs given in his four overs, he was the one who established the middleovers’ strangle that stalled Kings XI.

The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) said the case provided “a stark reminder to all PCA members of all requirements and behaviours demanded of a professional cricketer”.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wall of West Mercia Police welcomed the conviction and said Hepburn had been in “a position of trust and power” at the time of the assault.

“I hope it will offer some comfort to the victim, who has shown great courage and strength in coming forward in reporting this to us, throughout the investigation and in giving evidence in court,” he said.

Hepburn was handed a one-year contract extension at Worcestershire on October 12, 2017, but was suspended from playing any form of cricket after he was charged with two counts of rape on November 9 that year.

looked assured from the start, settling into the chase with two peachy boundaries off Mohammed Shami in the second over. For the first half of the Royal Challengers innings, it was a typical Kohli chase, with the batsman looking in control and the asking rate never

Royal Challengers would have another heartbreak with Kohli getting out, de Villiers seized the baton and ran with it.

De Villiers had begun in his usual busy fashion, but was chugging along without quite exploding. When Kohli fell, though, he seamlessly shifted gears. There was a slapped six off Andrew Tye when the equation was getting steeper, and a trademark de Villiers’ slog-paddle-sweep off Shami that ensured only six runs would be needed off the final over. In between, he ran the galloping twos swiftly. too far away.

It’s not often that the The latter chasing team finds itself half of the on the losing side when de m i d d l e Villiers stays unbeaten. It had overs saw happened against Mumbai the chase Indians earlier this season, but dawdle there was no way de Villiers a little, was going to let it happen a but just Virat Kholi laid the second time. when it platform for RCB looked like with a brilliant 67

SCOREBOARD Kings XI Punjab Innings (20 overs maximum) Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings (target: 174 runs from 20 overs) BATSMEN BATSMEN KL Rahul st †Patel b Chahal 18 CH Gayle not out 99 PA Patel † c Agarwal b R Ashwin 19 MA Agarwal b Chahal 15 V Kohli (c) c M Ashwin b Mohammed Shami 67 SN Khan c †Patel b Mohammed Siraj 15 AB de Villiers not out 59 SM Curran lbw b Ali 1 MP Stoinis not out 28 Mandeep Singh not out 18 Extras 1 (w 1) Extras 7 (lb 2, w 5) TOTAL 174/2 (19.2 Overs, RR: 9.0) TOTAL 173/4 (20 Overs, RR: 8.65) Did not bat: MM Ali, AD Nath, P Negi, UT Did not bat: N Pooran †, AJ Tye, R Ashwin Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, YS Chahal, NA Saini (c), Mohammed Shami, M Ashwin Fall of wickets: 1-43 (PA Patel, 3.5 Fall of wickets: 1-66 (KL Rahul, 6.2 ov), ov), 2-128 (V Kohli, 15.3 ov) 2-86 (MA Agarwal, 8.5 ov), 3-110 (SN Khan, BOWLING O M R W 12.6 ov), 4-113 (SM Curran, 13.5 ov) 0 31 0 3 BOWLING SM Curran O M R W Mohammed Shami 4 0 43 1 4 UT Yadav 0 42 0 4 R Ashwin 0 30 1 NA Saini 0 23 0 4 4 M Ashwin 0 24 0 Mohammed Siraj 0 54 1 4 4 AJ Tye 0 40 0 4 YS Chahal 0 33 2 SN Khan 0.2 0 6 0 MM Ali 4 0 19 1

Linden Town Week Football

Winners Connection looking to knock out Shattas; Blueberry Hill tackle Net Rockers

T

wo rather interesting matches are set for tonight, when the final set of quarterfinal matches in the Linden Town Week Mayor’s Cup Football tournament are played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Another large following is anticipated, since, regarding results, the clashes are not as straightforward as one might want to feel.

The first game kicks off at 19.00hrs, and will have the number three-ranked Haynes and Lewis Winners Connection going all out to stamp their authority on their opponents, Silver Shattas. Having edged past Shattas in their last meeting, Winners Connection will field a unit that would have players like skipper Marmalaque Davidson, who is now experienced, and in tandem with Javon Smith and Errol David, should be able to make Connections advance.

However, Shattas will not be push-overs, and with Kellon Major in goal, they have more than a goalkeeper there; while their defence is hinged around Deshawn Freeman, Jonah Simon and Jehu Regis, with Robin Adams on the strike line.

The other game, from 21.00hrs, will see Net Rockers hoping to roll over Blueberry Hill, after coasting past them in the GTT League.

Planning to get past this highly ranked Net Rockers side, Blueberry Hill’s midfield will be led by Mark Liddell, Troy Miller and Orin Scott; while Wayne Wilson will strike and Kelon Neblett is due for a return to duty between the uprights.

The Rockers will look to have their familiar lineup on the field, among whom are gifted players like Orande Wills, Denzil Pryce, Deshawn Joseph and Clarence Huggins.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monday, APRIL 15, 2019

Sunrisers Hyderabad lose 8 for 15 and their third successive game

K

ane Williamson returned from injury and Sunrisers Hyderabad rang in four changes, but their brittle middle order cost them their third successive match in IPL 2019. This after incisive bursts from quicks Khaleel Ahmed and Bhuvneshwar Kumar had limited Delhi Capitals to 155 for 7.

David Warner and Jonny Bairstow built a strong platform in the chase, putting on 72 off 59 balls for the first wicket. However, from 72 for 0 and then 101 for 2, Sunrisers crashed and burned to 116 all out with seven balls unused in their innings.

This was Capitals’ third successive win on the road, and it moved them up to second on the points table, behind only Chennai Super Kings, who have a four-point lead at the top.

Kagiso Rabada and Keemo Paul played starring roles for Capitals, claiming seven wickets and six catches between them, including a sharp caught-and-bowled chance.

Welcome back, Khaleel and Munro

From out of nowhere, Khaleel bolted into India’s limited-overs squads last year, but fell out of the World Cup plans after repeatedly erring in his lines and lengths in New Zealand earlier this year. He then let it rip for Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, emerging as the highest wicket-taker for his state with 12 scalps at an econo-

3

SCOREBOARD

Kagiso Rabada is mobbed by his teammates after taking two in two

my rate of 6.47, despite playing only four games.

Injury meant he wasn’t immediately available in the XI for six games, but he recovered for this game, coming into the XI alongside Williamson. This Hyderabad track offered some early zip to the quicks, and Khaleel ably exploited it with his splice-jarring lengths.

In his first over, he cramped Prithvi Shaw for room and had him edging a cut to the keeper. In his next over, he properly dug one into the middle of the pitch and drew a top-edged hook from Shikhar Dhawan.

Capitals were 20 for 2 in the fourth over, but Colin Munro teed off to give the innings a leg-up.

Colin Ingram had returned to South Africa on paterni-

ty leave, but the other Colin checked in with rasping cover-drives and leg-side pickup shots. Just when Munro was threatening to launch into top gear, left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma unfurled a back-spinning legcutter to dismiss him.

Delhi Capitals lose their way

Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant put on 56 for the fourth wicket, but they couldn’t get enough big hits away.

Vijay Shankar, Abhishek, and Deepak Hooda filled in for the fifth-bowling option, giving away only 35 runs among them. Rashid Khan strangled them further with his fizzing legbreaks and wrong’uns.

Iyer then went searching for runs against Bhuvneshwar, but he got one

to burst off the deck and had Capitals’ captain tickling behind for 45 off 40 balls. In the next over, Khaleel took down Pant for 23 off 19 balls to expose Daredevils’ brittle lower-middle order. Capitals managed just 34 runs for the loss of four wickets in their last five overs. Sunrisers would fare worse in the chase.

Sunrisers get swamped

With the ball sliding onto the bat in the early exchanges, Warner and Bairstow shaved 40 runs off the target of 156 in the Powerplay.

Enter Keemo Paul. The pitch stared to tire and he bowled a variety of slower balls, including ones in the 90kph range to force Sunrisers to manufacture the pace for themselves. When Bairstow

Delhi Capitals Innings (20 overs maximum) PP Shaw c †Bairstow b Ahmed 4 S Dhawan c Kumar b Ahmed 7 C Munro c †Bairstow b Sharma 40 SS Iyer (c) c †Bairstow b Kumar 45 RR Pant † c Hooda b Ahmed 23 CH Morris b Rashid Khan 4 AR Patel not out 14 KMA Paul lbw b Kumar 7 K Rabada not out 2 Extras (lb 5, nb 1, w 3) 9 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 7.75) 155-7 Did not bat: A Mishra, I Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-11 (PP Shaw, 1.5 ov), 2-20 (S Dhawan, 3.2 ov), 3-69 (C Munro, 7.6 ov), 4-125 (SS Iyer, 15.5 ov), 5-127 (RR Pant, 16.2 ov), 6-133 (CH Morris, 17.6 ov), 7-152 (KMA Paul, 19.3 ov) BOWLING DB Kumar (4-0-33-2) KK Ahmed (4-0-30-3) S Sharma (4-0-30-0) DJ Hooda (1-0-8-0) A Sharma (1-0-10-1) V Shankar (2-0-17-0) Rashid Khan (4-0-22-1) Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings (target: 156 runs from 20 overs) and Williamson attempted to do that, they were both caught by Rabada.

Local batsman Ricky Bhui, who was promoted to No.4 ahead of the in-form Vijay Shankar, laboured to 7 off 12 balls before Paul got him too, this time with a seam-up ball.

Suddenly, Sunrisers were left needing 52 off 24 balls and were up against

DA Warner c Iyer b Rabada 51 JM Bairstow † c Rabada b Paul 41 KS Williamson (c) c Rabada b Paul 3 RK Bhui c Patel b Paul 7 V Shankar c †Pant b Rabada 1 DJ Hooda b Morris 3 A Sharma c Paul b Morris 2 R Khan c Paul b Morris 0 B Kumar c & b Rabada 2 S Sharma not out 1 KK Ahmed b Rabada 0 Extras (nb 1, w 4) 5 TOTAL (18.5 Overs, RR: 6.15) 116 all out Fall of wickets: 1-72 (JM Bairstow, 9.5 ov), 2-78 (KS Williamson, 11.4 ov), 3-101 (RK Bhui, 15.2 ov), 4-106 (DA Warner, 16.2 ov), 5-106 (V Shankar, 16.3 ov), 6-110 (DJ Hooda, 17.2 ov), 7-110 (Rashid Khan, 17.3 ov), 8-112 (Abhishek Sharma, 17.6 ov), 9-116 (B Kumar, 18.4 ov), 10116 (KK Ahmed, 18.5 ov) BOWLING I Sharma (3-0-19-0) K Rabada (3.5-0-22-4) CH Morris (3-0-22-3) AR Patel (2-0-23-0) KMA Paul (4-0-17-3) A Mishra (3-0-13-0)

Rabada. The South Africa fast bowler took down Warner and Vijay off successive balls to hasten Sunrisers’ collapse. While Warner was undone by a 114kph slower one, Vijay was blasted out by a ball that was 34kph faster. Chris Morris followed it up with three wickets in the next over to put the game beyond Sunrisers’ reach. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Hamilton wins F1’s race 1000 in China

L

ewis Hamilton took a comfortable victory in the Chinese Grand Prix to hold the championship lead for the first time in 2019.

The Mercedes driver passed team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who started from pole position, off the line and controlled Formula 1’s 1,000th race from there.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel took third, after the team ordered team-mate Charles Leclerc to let him by in the opening laps.

The decision led to Leclerc losing fourth place to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.

And Ferrari’s young driver - in his third race for the team - questioned the decision over team radio, saying: “But I’m pulling away.”

Ferrari will face questions about the wisdom of their approach to the race and to team orders in general - but Hamilton was serenely distant from such concerns.

After taking the lead, Hamilton edged away from Bottas, building a five-second lead before his first pit stop on lap 22.

Mercedes’ decision to bring Bottas in first to protect from Vettel behind dropped the lead to less than two seconds, but Hamilton soon pulled away again to take his second victory in a row.

It was Hamilton’s 75th career victory, and it came

That’s win number 75 for Hamilton: he’s the second most successful F1 driver of all time in terms of wins, but still 16 behind Michael Schumacher

on a weekend on which he had struggled throughout practice but pulled a lap out of the bag to grab a front-row spot, which proved the foundation for his win.

Ferrari team orders controversy heats up

Ferrari were running third and fourth in the opening laps, with Leclerc ahead of Vettel after passing his team-mate at the first cor-

ner, when they made the call to switch drivers.

Vettel was sitting a second behind Leclerc and appeared to be able to go faster, so Ferrari ordered the Monegasque to let him past.

The decision was in line with Ferrari’s stated policy to favour Vettel in 50-50 situations, as reconfirmed by team boss Mattia Binotto earlier in the weekend. And it was made in an attempt

to try to challenge Mercedes.

But it triggered a set of circumstances that led to Verstappen beating Leclerc to fourth place.

Letting Vettel by cost Leclerc time and ensured Verstappen was closer to him. Vettel was unable to pull away - Leclerc sat just as close to his team leader as the German had to him.

And he summed up the situation over the radio by say-

ing: “Now what?”

It was a perceptive comment. With Verstappen just two seconds back, Red Bull triggered the pit-stop period.

That guaranteed he would pass Leclerc if he had pitted on the next lap, so Ferrari pitted Vettel to protect his position.

Vettel kept third - just - and now Ferrari thought about running Leclerc long to give him a tyre advantage later in the race.

But that did not work either, and Leclerc pitted on lap 22, only five after Verstappen, rejoining now 11 seconds behind the Red Bull solely because of his weaker strategy.

Leclerc began to catch Verstappen and had the lead down to three seconds within 10 laps only for Red Bull to out-think Ferrari again, bringing Verstappen in for a second stop on lap 34.

Again, Ferrari had to respond with Vettel - and Mercedes then also did to secure Hamilton and Bottas’ positions - and again Leclerc was the loser.

He was briefly into second place, but Bottas soon passed him and Vettel and Verstappen began to haul him in. Ferrari eventually pitted Leclerc on lap 42 and he rejoined now 14 seconds behind Verstappen - too much of a gap to make up in the remaining 16 laps.

Could Ferrari have better

protected third and fourth if they had left the cars in their initial order? Is the decision to back Vettel for their title assault the right one?

These questions will hang over Ferrari for some time to come.

Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly took sixth, in a race of his own - too slow to keep up with his team-mate and and too fast for everyone else.

Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo was seventh, ahead of Force India’s Sergio Perez and Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen.

The final point was taken by Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon, a fine drive after starting from the pit lane in a car rebuilt after his huge accident in final practice on Saturday.

Albon had pressure from Haas’ Romain Grosjean on the final lap but just managed to hold on.

McLaren had a dire day.

Both cars were hit and damaged by Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat on the first lap.

Kvyat lost control of his car and it snapped into Carlos Sainz, and then bounced into Lando Norris, who was on the outside of the track. The Russian was given a drive-through penalty for the incident, which he felt was harsh.

Norris and Kvyat ended up retiring and Sainz finished 14th. (BBC Sport)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONday, APRIL 15, 2019

21

Woods wins 2019 Masters at Augusta to claim 15th major

T

iger Woods produced a scintillating finish to win a fifth Masters title and end an 11-year wait to claim a 15th major.

There were raucous celebrations around the 18th green as Woods finished with a two-under-par 70 to win on 13 under, one clear of fellow Americans Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka.

Overnight leader Francesco Molinari’s hopes sunk with two double bogeys on the back nine and he had to settle for a share of fifth on 11 under.

Woods, written off by so many so often as he battled back problems in recent years, punched the air in delight, a wide smile across his face, before celebrating with his children at the back of the green.

“I’m a little hoarse from yelling,” said the 43-yearold. “I was just trying to plod my way around all day then all of a sudden I had the lead.

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“Coming up 18 I was just trying to make a five. When I tapped in I don’t know what I did, I know I screamed.

“To have my kids there, it’s come full circle. My dad was here in 1997 and now I’m the dad with two kids there.

“It will be up there with one of the hardest I’ve had to win because of what has transpired in the last couple of years.”

Woods’ triumph saw him come from behind in the final round to win a major for the first time. It was also his first Masters victory since 2005.

He is now just one behind Jack Nicklaus’ record of six wins at Augusta National and three behind his fellow American’s overall major tally of 18.

Victory caps a remarkable resurgence for Woods, who missed the 2016 and 2017 Masters with back problems before finally undergoing back fusion surgery in April of that year.

A superb 2018 followed where he challenged at The Open before finishing joint sixth

and pushed eventual champion Koepka close at the US PGA Championship.

He then capped off the season by winning the Tour

After a nervy approach to the 18th, Woods has two putts to win his 15th major. The first lips the cup and the second drops.

After 11 long years, Woods is a major champion

Championship for his 80th PGA Tour title and this victory puts him one behind the record of 82 held

by Sam Snead.

No stopping Woods’ march to glory

Perhaps the crucial hole in the story of this year’s Masters was the 12th on the final round, the treacherous par three where any errant tee shot risks being sucked back into Rae’s Creek.

Molinari, who played with Woods in the final round as he won The Open last July, dumped his tee shot into the wa-

ter at the front of the green and walked off with a double-bogey five.

Tony Finau, also in the final group, followed Molinari in the water to drop back to eight under.

The more experienced Woods, who was playing his 22nd Masters, played to the heart of the green and two-putted for par to join Molinari at the top of the leaderboard on 11 under.

That par was cheered like a birdie by the thousands of patrons who have followed his every stroke this week, alerting more and more to join the party and roar Woods home.

Others were challenging from behind with Schauffele and world number two Johnson posting four-underpar 68s to set the clubhouse target at 12 under.

Molinari faded further after hitting his third shot into the pond guarding the 15th green and from that moment there was no stopping Woods’ relentless

march to the title.

A par on the 17th left the world number 12 with a lead of two shots going up the last - only Koepka, who has won three of the past seven majors, could realistically put any pressure on but the American missed an eightfoot birdie putt to stay at 12 under.

Woods appeared to fluff his second shot to the 18th, leaving it well short of the green and could only chip on to 14 feet, but a straightforward two-putt sealed the win.

“I was as patient as I have been in years. I kept control of my emotions, shots, placement,” said Woods.

“To see that leaderboard it was a who’s who. And it all flipped at 12 when Francesco made a mistake.

All these scenarios started flying around.

“It was an amazing buzz to figure what was going on while staying present and focused on what I needed to do.” (BBC Sport)

Shields unifies middleweight division Injured Joseph likely to miss

A

merican Claressa Shields m a i n tained her unbeaten record and unified the women’s middleweight division with a unanimous dec i s i o n win over Christina Hammer o n Saturday.

All three judges scored in favour of the 24-year-old 98-92 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Her WBA, WBC and IBF belts and Hammer’s WBO belt were up for grabs in the bout.

“I am the greatest woman of all time, give me that,” Shields, whose record moves to 9-0, said after the fight.

Hammer, 28, had held

Claressa Shields also won the Olympic middleweight gold for the United States at London 2012 and Rio 2016

the WBO middleweight title since October 2010.

“You all told me I couldn’t do it,” said Shields, who won Olympic middleweight gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

“Women’s boxing is on fire. I cannot wait to see the next super fight, whoever is in between.

“Right now, I’m the undisputed champion of the world.”

Shields called out undis-

puted female welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus and challenged her to a fight.

“Respect to Claressa Shields for becoming the Undisputed Champion tonight. Tonight was not my night but I will be back,” Hammer wrote on Twitter after the fight.

Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry tweeted her support for Shields, dubbing her a “star of the sport”. (BBC Sport)

remainder of IPL season

W

indies and Mumbai Mumbai Indians’ Indians pacer 187 with three Alzarri Joseph is likely to miss the rest Alzarri Joseph of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season after suffering an injury to his bowling arm.

In Saturday’s contest against the Rajasthan Royals the 23-year-old injured the limb while fielding. It was a bad afternoon all round for the young bowler.

After claiming record figures of 6 for 12 in his debut to last weekend, Joseph expe- balls rienced the flip side of the spare. coin. He bowled the most According to reports, expensive three-over spell Joseph has a tear in his right ever seen at the tourna- arm, which was dislocated ment. Joseph was targeted during the fielding incident. for 53 off his three overs, the Although there has not been third the worst of all as he an estimate for the length was the victim of some sav- of time the player will take agery from Jos Butler. to recover, the player seems Butler smacked six set to miss the rest of the boundaries in the over to season. With the ICC World take 28 runs. He ended the Cup just over a month away, night with 89 from 43 balls Joseph will hope to recover as the Royals chased down in time. (Sportsmax)

Salah scores stunner as Liverpool reclaim lead

M

ohamed Salah’s wonder-strike helped Liverpool beat Chelsea and ensured they remain two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

Almost five years since Liverpool’s title chances were ruined by a 2-0 defeat in the same fixture, the hosts kept themselves in the hunt for a first league title in 29 years with two goals in the space of two minutes that saw Anfield erupt.

After a nervy first half in which both sides had chances, Liverpool emerged from the break with added purpose and took the lead via Sadio Mane’s header.

There was a huge sense of relief inside the ground, but that became a deafening roar when Salah smashed a left-footed angled drive into the

Mohamed Salah (second right) scored his 22nd goal of the season for Liverpool

top right corner from 25 yards for his 19th Premier League goal of the season.

Chelsea, who had been unbeaten at Anfield since 2012, almost hit back six minutes later when Eden

Hazard shot against the post before the Belgian saw another effort saved by goalkeeper Alisson.

But Liverpool could have extended their lead before an exultant Kop greeted the final whistle with

roars of delight and Jurgen Klopp punched the air after his 200th game in charge.

Manchester City, 3-1 winners at Crystal Palace in Sunday’s other match, still have a game in hand on the Reds, but with games at home to Tottenham and away to Manchester United among their five remaining fixtures, their task looks tougher than the one facing Liverpool, who meet Cardiff, Huddersfield, Newcastle and Wolves.

Chelsea remain fourth, a point behind Tottenham, who have a game in hand on their London rivals. Maurizio Sarri’s side could also be overtaken by sixth-placed Arsenal, who are three points behind them, when they face Watford on Monday. (BBC Sport)

22

monday, APRIL 15, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

CBB captures inaugural Female Festival Volleyball title

C

lassic Ball Blasters (CBB) outplayed Castrol Strikers in three straight set to claim the inaugural title of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) Female Festival which was recent contest at the National Gymnasium.

CBB won 25-15, 2522, 25-13 to claim top honours after being led by Most Valuable Player and Best Striker Tiffany Whittington.

Leanna Miller was also instrumental in the clubs win; she carted off with the Best Server award.

Castrol Strikers’ Famke David and Cassandra Ron were adjudged Best Setter and Most Improved Player, respectively. The other individual award, Best Blocker, went to Phitame Simpson from Port Mourant.

In an invited comment from President of the Federation, Levi Nedd, he

The top performers of the GVF Female Festival

stated that he is pleased to be the organizer of this

Bartica Regatta Motocross

BLB racing team revving for this weekend’s showdown

T

he Annual Motocross event speeds off at Mongrippa Hill ground in Bartica this Saturday, as part of the town’s activities for the annual Regatta festivities.

And much like the consistency of the Bartica Regatta, which has been the town’s annual marquee event for decades, defending 125cc champions BLB racing team aim not only to defend their title, but to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

In a correspondence to the media, the Bartica-based racing team -- consisting of Andrew Wong with his 2018 KTM 125cc dirt bike, Bobby Rasul with his 2019 YZ Yamaha 125cc bike, and Stephen Vieira with his 2016 YZ Yamaha 125cc bike – have expressed confidence of a repeat of their impressive showing last year.

At the 2018 Bartica Regatta Motocross event, Rasul and Vieira were tied for the cham-

programme which was not played for some 41 years in

CWI Regional U-15 championships…

Dindyal ton in vain as Guyana lose to B’dos

T

he Guyana U-15 Team failed to replicate their winning performance in the first round of the CWI Regional U-15 tournament, an d instead suffered a 95-run defeat against defending champions Barbados at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Played on Sunday last, that match saw Barbados winning the toss and scoring 332-7 in 50 overs. In re-

cate that their machines are in prime working condition, while reports from Bartica have revealed that the Mongrippa Hill ground has in place all systems for keen rivalry among bikers from Georgetown, Essequibo and Bartica.

ply, West Indies U-16 batsman Mavindra Dindyal led the charge with a brilliant 126, which proved insufficient, as Guyana managed 237-8 in 50 overs.

Earlier, Barbados reached 332 on the back of Kamario Grant’s 89 and Joshua Morris’s 72. Bowling for Guyana, fast bowler Isai Thorne had 2-66, while off-spinner Alvin Mohabir had 3-52.

In pursuit of Barbados’s 333, Guyana lost Anthony

Khan (16) and Rampertab Ramnauth (08), who were out via the run-out route. In came Mavindra Dindyal at number three, and scored 126 from 120 balls batting for 137 minutes. He struck 17 fours and one six in his top innings.

Alvin Mohabir scored 31 as Guyana came up short by 95 runs, finishing on 237-8 when the 50 overs expired.

Guyana will play Windward Islands on April 16 in their third round fixture.

Malta Supreme 40-Mile Road Race…

Team BLB bikers. From left: Bobby Rasul, Stephen Vieira and Andrew Wong

pion biker accolade in the 125cc event, after each had notched one win, one second and one third place finish in the three races in which they had competed; while Wong had won the third race.

News from Team BLB indi-

Guyana. He added, tournaments also brings out the talents in the females and it was good to see the comradery among the three teams both on and off the court which is good for MVP Tiffany Whittington receiving her the sport. award from GVF President Levi Nedd This competition was made from a number of former possible with the support players.

Grant-Stuart reigns supreme

O

ne day after placing seventh in the 35lap feature event of the Universal Auto Spares 11-race cycling programme that was held on the inner circuit of the National Park, Walter Grant-Stuart took his talents to the West Side, and sprinted away with top honours in the 2019 Malta Supreme 40-Mile Road Race on Sunday.

He clocked a time of one hour, 42 minutes and five seconds in winning this eighth edition of the event, which commenced at Schoonord and proceeded to Bushy Park, before returning to the point of origin for the finish.

Grant-Stuart is a veteran cyclist who has one arm, and aspires to one day medal at a Paralympics event. He led break-away mates Marcus Keiler and Deeraj Garbarran onto the podium; while Adelie Hodge, Romello Crawford and Paul DeNobrega filled out the top six rewarding positions of the 31-man peloton.

This is the first win for the differently-able former national road race champion for 2019.

Other category winners were Jason Sampson (junior), Junior Niles (veteran un-

Walter Grant-Stuart

der 50), Shane Bourne (Mountain Bike) and Denise Jeffrey (Female).

The cycling season continues on Easter Sunday with another road race.

Linden Town Week Schools Basketball…

Wins for Christianburg-Wismar and Linden Foundation

T

– 2 matches on today

he Linden Town Week Schools Basketball Championships began on Saturday with an exciting overtime victory for Linden Foundation Secondary against home side Mackenzie High.

Christianburg-Wismar Secondary, however, wasted no time in disposing of New Silvercity Secondary with a 38-26 final score at the Mackenzie High School basketball court.

In what was the first game of the two-group preliminary round matches, ChristianburgWismar Secondary’s Kobe Tappin scored a game-high 17 points, while teammates Odennie Reece added 11 and Daniel Hutson eight. New Silvercity Secondary’s best player was Delroy Belle, who scored 15 points, while Omar green had eight.

The second game was a close encounter, and after regulation play had ended, was

Emmanuel La Rose

Kobe Tappin

knotted at 30 points between Mackenzie Hugh School and Linden Foundation Secondary.

However, Emmanuel La Rose with a game-leading 23 points, and Leon Thom with 10, saw Linden Foundation Secondary home, as Savoury Suaving and Ming Wong, with 10 and eight points respectively, failed to bring Mackenzie High the win.

This afternoon (Monday)

Wisburg Secondary meet New Silvercity Secondary, who must win to remain in contention of reaching the final four of this six-team tournament.

The action starts at 14.30hrs.

Game two sees Linden Technical Institute opening their campaign against Linden Foundation Secondary, who could nail down a semifinal spot with another win.

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019

23

BCB/Shimron Hetmyer Intermediate 40 Overs cricket…

Simpson, Anderson power Rose Hall Town into final

Pameshwar Chatterpaul looked solid for No 72 All Stars

By Brandon Corlette

R

ose Hall Town got the better of No 72 All Stars in the BCB/Shimron Hetmyer Intermediate 40 Overs cricket tournament when they registered a comfortable 87-run victory on Sunday last at the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground.

Watched by a vocal gathering, the Rose Hall Town Bakewell Team scored 189-8 in 40 overs, batting first. Former Berbice U-19 player Keith Simpson played a gem of an innings, stroking an even 50.

In reply, Kevlon Anderson’s masterpiece of 4-24 with the ball restricted the No 72 All Stars to 103 all out.

Earlier, on a typical Port Mourant track that saw a few balls coming on to the bat, Rose Hall Town lost Kevin Sinclair for two when he was out bowled with the score on 9-1. Arguably the best youth batsman in Guyana, Kevlon Anderson partnered Junior Sinclair, and the dynamic duo took the score to 32-2 within five overs.

Anderson was eventually out stumped for

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Tournament, East Coast…

Uprising fail to defend title

10, but the left-handed Surrendra Kissonlall consolidated the innings at number four.

When Junior Sinclair fell for a shot-filled 25, including two fours, in came the flamboyant Keith Simpson, who scored fluently in his breezy half-century.

This all-rounder smashed two fours and one six on the large Port Mourant ground outfield, the six being hit out of the ground and was easily the shot of the day.

After Simpson’s innings ended on 50, Kissonlall scored 31 while Berbice U-17 player Jonathan Rampersaud scored a promising 21. Bowling for the No 72 All Stars, Tameshawar Baichan had 2-25 while Kameshawar Chatterpaul had 2-26.

In reply, No 72 All Stars ran into a Kevlon Anderson road-block which caused Gavin Chatterpaul to fall for a duck when he was out caught at mid-on by Rampersaud off the bowling of Erva Giddings. At 12-1, Giddings and Junior Sinclair controlled the new-ball, with off-spinner Junior Sinclair removing Mahendra Bhhoj for two, edging one to

Shemaine Campbelle at first slip.

The floodgates were opened when Kevlon Anderson rushed the batsmen from the topend, bowling some searing deliveries. He began his wrecking mission when he bowled Trishan Ramdass for 22.

Thereafter, he removed Samdatt Singh (00) and Amardoo Hemchan (05), both via outside edges that were safely taken by former Berbice U-17 wicket-keeper Chanderpaul Govindhan.

At 68-7, the No 72 All Stars looked far from reaching 100, but Pameshawar Chatterpaul stood tall against a raucous crowd in his sparkling innings of 36, until Keith Simpson put an end to the No 72 All Stars innings at 103 all out.

Anderson finished with 4-24 in eight overs of steamy seam bowling that included one maiden. Junior Sinclair had 2-12 in his quota of eight overs, while left-arm spinner Keith Simpson returned figures of 2-19 in 6.5 overs.

Rose Hall Town will play either Albion or Courtland in the final of this tournament.

GNRA Smallbore Section .22 Precision Pistol Match – Persaud, Shiwdin claim senior & junior titles

– final set for Easter Monday

T

urned the hunted following their debut achievement last year, defending champions Uprising could not reproduce the performance required to successfully defend their crown, and were booted from the main draw in this year’s East Coast Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Competition.

Witnessed by another capacity crowd on the second night of action at the Haslington Market Tarmac, the former champs failed to win any game in the round robin phase, losing to Belfield Warriors and Paradise ‘A’ respectively to make their exit from the main draw.

They, however, could redeem themselves if they manage to win the Plate Competition, which has a winner-take-all prize of $60,000 plus a trophy.

They first lost to Belfield Warriors 1-0 via penalty kicks, after a nil-all draw in regulation time; before conceding their next encounter 1-0 to hot favourites Paradise ‘A’, who are rightly considered the team to beat.

Paradise will now face Liliendaal Hustlers, who turned on the heat on BV ‘A’ to secure their semi-final spot via goal difference.

Also making the last four are Melanie ‘B’ and Victoria Church Yard, who will collide for a place in the final.

Full results:

Guinness Goals

Goal-[GG]-2

Game 1

Melanie ‘B’-1 Liliendaal Hustlers-0 Odel Gulliver-7th

vs

S

Senior and junior competitors of the GNRA Smallbore Section .22 Precision Pistol Shoot

urujbali Persaud and Rawatte Shiwdin did enough to separate themselves from the competition and emerge as top senior and junior shooter respectively, when the Smallbore Section of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) held a .22 Precision Pistol Match on Saturday last at the Tactical Services Unit Range of the Guyana Police Force, Eve Leary.

Competition staged in the 5m, 7m and 10m ranges respectively turned out to be intense, especially for second and third positions. Persaud tallied

Part of the action between Liliendaal Hustlers and Melanie B which the latter won 1-0

Game 2

BV’A’-1 vs Buxton Diamond-0 Delroy Deen-16th

Liliendaal Hustlers-3 vs BV’A’-0 Tevin Fowler-[GG]-18th Stephon Reynolds-8th

Game 3

Game 3

Victoria Church Yard-1 vs Belfield Warriors-0 Rashleigh Morrison-6th

Game 4

Paradise ‘A’-1 Uprising-0 Quincy Adams-15th

Paradise ‘A’-1 vs Victoria Church Yard-0 Tyreek Cummings-6th Uprising-0 vs Belfield Warriors-0 Belfield won 1-0 on penalty kicks

Round 2 Game 1

Buxton Diamond-0 vs Melanie ‘B’-0 Melanie ‘B’ won 1-0 on penalty kicks

Game 2

Game 4

Semi-final matchups

vs

Melanie ‘B’ vs Victoria Church Yard Paradise ‘A’ vs Liliendaal Hustlers

Plate Semi-final matchups BV ‘A’ vs Uprising Belfield vs Buxton

145 points to win the senior class ahead of Michael Tang (135/1) and Chad Melville, who were edged out on 135 points.

Smallbore Captain Dale Hing informed that unlike the traditional ‘Bulls Eye Target’, Saturday’s target was a 2-inch circle at all three distances; therefore any shots outside the circle didn’t count. This accordingly made the competition very challenging for both categories.

Hing further informed that there was need for a shoot-off between the three senior shooters (Tang, Melville and Joshua Ramlakan) for the 2nd and

3rd place placements, since they were all tied on 135 points.

A similar situation existed for the 3rd place placement between juniors Jason Cox and Clayton Charles, who were tied on 90 points each. The former eventually prevailed, as he also had one ‘V’ bull.

This category was won by Rawattie Shiwdin, who had 110 points; with 2nd place going to Vyvian Crandon, who managed 95 points.

The next match on the calendar will be an Action Pistol Shoot at the Timehri Ranges on Sunday, April 28. Only 9mm pistols will be used.

MONday, APRIL 15, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CBB captures inaugural Female Festival Volleyball title Page 22

The top performers of the GVF Female Festival

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Tournament, East Coast…

Uprising fail to defend title – finale set for Easter Monday

Page 23

Simpson, Anderson power Rose Hall Town into final Page 23

Part of the action between Liliendaal Hustlers and Melanie ‘B’ which the latter won 1-0

Kevlon Anderson celebrating one of his four wickets (Brandon Corlette photos)

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