Guyana Times - Monday, December 24, 2018

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Countdown to Christmas

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3786

Monday, December 24, 2018

US monitoring reports of Exxon vessel interception

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

30-foot male sperm whale washes up in Essequibo P2

Page 9

– as State Dept urges Venezuela to respect Guyana’s sovereignty – backs Guyana’s right to retrieve its resources in economic zone – Venezuela wants direct talks with Guyana after incident

Coalition has work cut out to regain constituencies – Dr Hinds Page 3

Annandale fatal accident

P10

Police continue hunt for Chinese national – Traffic Chief

...says governing party has to rebuild coalition from within Linden P14 businesses decry sloth in holiday shopping

P7 PPP distributes rice to sacked Rose Hall Sugar Estate workers Santa Claus listens attentively to one of the children of Santa Mission/Aratak, Kamuni Creek, Region Three, as Roraima Airways hosted its Annual Christmas Party on Sunday. The event saw more than 100 children receiving gifts and goodies

1 injured after SUV plunges into house

Page 3

“Kartel” attacks, stabs brothers

Page 3

Guyoil profits plummeted in 2017 P7 – report

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mondAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

attacks, stabs 1 injured after SUV “Kartel” brothers slams into house T wo brothers are now nursing stab wounds at the Mackenzie Public Hospital after they were attacked and stabbed by a man following an argument on Saturday night.

The injured men -25-year-old Matthew Clarke and 33-year-old Quammie Clarke, both of Lot 153 Block 22 Wismar, Linden – were reportedly with taxi driver Maitek Duncan “hanging out” at a bar in Wismar, Linden when, at about 22:30h, the suspect, known as “Kartel” or “Eggie”, lighted a firecracker and threw it in their direction.

This upset the brothers and their friend, and they approached the suspect to warn him of his behaviour and to admonish him to desist from hurling explosives.

The mangled SUV after the accident

The ensuing argument developed into a scuffle between the suspect and Duncan.

The fight was parted and the suspect left the scene; but when he later returned, he saw the two brothers and reportedly whipped out a knife from his pants waist and dealt them several stab wounds to their hands, hips and backs.

The brothers reportedly collapsed on the ground as the suspect quickly fled the scene. They were rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex, where they were admitted as patients.

The condition of each is listed as stable.

The matter has been reported to the Police, but the suspect has since gone into hiding.

30-foot male sperm whale washes up in Essequibo

The house into which the SUV slammed

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orty-two-year-old Orlando Fraser of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on Sunday at about 1:00hr, after he lost control of the red XTrail SUV he was driving and it broke a utility pole before slamming into the verandah of a home at Lot 14 Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara.

Owner of the house, Zubeda Ali, told <<Guyana Times>> that when she was awakened by the crashing

sound, she thought a vehicle had been involved in an accident; but as she got out of bed and opened the door leading to the verandah to make enquiries, she realised that the car was right in front of her eyes. As she looked closer, she saw the driver being lifted out of the vehicle to be taken to the hospital.

She said that, from all indications, the driver might have been drunk, and would have lost control while negotiating the turn.

The vehicle, she added, has been destroyed, and so has her verandah.

She said she thanks God that nothing serious had happened, and also is happy to hear that the driver is not in a critical state.

She said the driver has promised to return to look after the damaged property as soon as he has been discharged from the hospital.

The police are, however, investigating the incident.

The decomposing male sperm whale in the Essequibo River

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dead young male sperm whale has washed up in the Essequibo Islands region (Pomeroon-Supenaam) over the weekend.

The already decomposing mammal was first spotted at the Wakenaam shore on Saturday before being carried away by tides to

Troolie Island on Sunday morning.

National Wildlife Management Committee official Annette Arjoon revealed the discovery on her Facebook page. “[I] can’t be 100% sure, but it looks like a juvenile sperm whale and the photos were from Wakenaam yes-

terday and Troolie Island this morning at 6:40 am,” she posted.

Guyana Times understands that Arjoon was informed about the whale sometime around midday on Sunday by fishermen who spotted the dead mammal. turn to page 11

news

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 24 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, December 25 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 24 – 05:40h-07:10h and Tuesday, December 25 – 06:25h-07:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

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

High Tide: 05:32h and 17:47h reaching maximum heights of 2.70 metres and 2.84 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:20h and 23:51h reaching maximum heights of 0.54 metre and 0.38 metre respectively.

saturDAY, december 22, 2018

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Elections in 3 months

Coalition has work cut out to regain constituencies – Dr Hinds

…says governing party has to rebuild coalition from within

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riday’s historic passage of the no-confidence motion against the Government has come as no surprise to political analyst Dr David Hinds, who believes that this is a wakeup call for the governing party to rebuild its crumbling coalition and reconnect with its constituencies.

In an interview with Guyana Times following the outcome of the vote, Hinds noted that in three years the coalition Government had morphed into something akin to a one-party government – specifically the People’s National Congress (PNC) component.

“I’m not surprised that this happened. I’m disappointed as someone who supports the Government. But in some respects I saw it coming,” Hinds said. “And the reason for that is I have been saying that relations within the parties in the coalition were not good, despite the fact that the leaders of the Government were saying the coalition was strong.

“I think that was the major reason this happened, as (parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud) said, though he belonged to one of the parties in the coalition, he did not have a voice. And it has been one of the problems. He’s not singular with that. All the parties in the coalition, their members will tell you they did not have a voice. The parties were systematically shut out.”

Hinds acknowledged that party members who were part of Cabinet did have a say in certain matters. But he noted that in Persaud’s case, he was not afforded this privilege since he was a non-Cabinet member and as such, he effectively did not have a voice.

“If you have a coalition, you have to treat all members with respect. You need to involve all the parties in crucial decision-making. You cannot confine decision-making to one organ, the Cabinet. You have to have consultations outside of Cabinet. Failure to do so, the coalition will break down. And this is what happened.”

Moving forward

According to Hinds, who is a Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member, the PNC will have to reach out and rebuild the coalition from within. He also noted the importance of walking the walk, as they would have to convince voters that they have learnt and were genuinely committed to coalition politics.

“I can tell you that the executive of the APNU has not met for a year,” Hinds said.

“This has been one of the problems. So, they will have to rebuild the coalition from within, very quickly. They will have to assure coalition members that should they win again, there would be no

Members of the coalition on Friday evening prior to the no-confidence motion debate in the Nation al Assembly

repeat of marginalisation and alienation.

“They need to rally the confidence of their supporters and the wider country. People voted for the coalition. They did not vote for PNC or AFC. And within three years, the Government became a sort of PNC Government. And I think that turned off a lot of independent supporters.”

Elections

When it comes to the General and Regional Elections that now have to be called within 90 days, Dr Hinds believes that this will be anyone’s game. He noted that none of the parties were guaranteed a victory and they would have to work hard to get the necessary votes.

“The major problem for the coalition will be to get its base out to the polls. I think that will be the challenge. The Local Government Elections showed they were unable to energise their supporters to go to the polls.”

“The PPP (People’s Progressive Party), their big challenge will be to get the

crossover votes that they need in order to push them over the line… I think the PPP itself will have to make its case to the wider population why it should be returned to power,” Hinds added.

On Friday evening, the no-confidence motion brought by the parliamentary Opposition – the PPP/Civic – against the Government succeeded when Persaud broke ranks and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.

A total of 10 Members of Parliament (MPs) had previously debated the motion, but when a vote of division was called, Persaud’s vote changed the numbers to 33 versus his colleagues’ 32 votes against the motion.

While Persaud’s former coalition colleagues have complained about being betrayed by the vote, the parliamentary Opposition has thrown its support behind the MP’s right to vote in whichever direction his conscience leads him. Persaud has since left the country.

With the Government’s defeat, the next steps are

spelt out in the Constitution of Guyana. Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Meanwhile, clause 7 goes on to state that, “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

President David Granger has already committed to following the provisions outlined in the Constitution, facilitating early elections and engaging in dialogue with the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo.

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

Hubris, nemesis and the fall of the government

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n the movie “Patton” based on the life of General George Patton, the flamboyant WWII general is quoted: “For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: all glory is fleeting.”

It would appear that after the PNC-led APNU/AFC victory in 2015, they neglected to appoint that person to whisper the caution on the ephemerality of glory into their ears and last Friday they paid the price. The Ministers and their underlings of the government had succumbed to what the Greeks called “hubris” – cultivating overweening pride and arrogance in their behavior to a point where they completely ignored the proprieties of social life, much less practicing humility, and trampled on the feelings of others.

On Jan 1, 2017 we quoted a study on hubristic leadership in this space: “Hubris is a potentially dangerous cocktail of over-confidence, over-ambition, arrogance and pride. It is the malaise of the powerful which, when allied to contempt for the advice and criticisms of others, causes leaders to over-reach themselves significantly. As a consequence…if left unchecked, hubristic leadership undermine institutions, threaten society’s wellbeing and destabilises global security.”

Charrandas Persaud described this hubris in several of the AFC leaders who refused to listen to his concerns about the party straying from the welter of promises – explicitly stated in their manifesto - they had made to their constituents to garner the votes that made the PNC-led coalition narrowly pip the PPPC. Most Guyanese, with even the briefest encounter with these government panjandrums, can attest to their overnight arrogance once they assumed office.

From the bombastic Simona “I is” Broomes who could assault two security guards who were merely doing their job but delayed her tryst with Chinese Fried Rice, to the smirking Moses Nagamootoo who could tell 7000 sugar workers they were fired “for their own good”, hubris was the defining characteristic of the Granger administration.

While Granger himself projected an avuncular figure of rectitude and humility, at no time did he attempt to reign in his haughty Ministers and officials. In the case of Broomes, he merely said the abuse of her Ministerial office would be dealt with by her party – the PNC. Which event, not surprisingly, never occurred. In fact, directly after the noconfidence vote Broomes repeated her arrogant “boom-out” performance in the hallowed chambers of Parliament, this time, broadcasting a “cuss out” of the “Judas” Charrandas Persaud, for voting his conscience.

But in the Greek tragedies that developed the notion of “hubris”, they uniformly connect it with “Nemesis”, personified as the “Goddess of retribution”, and which hubris ineluctably precipitates. And it is Nemesis that makes the “glory” of the arrogant so transitory. In the Bible, the connection is made in the aphorism, “Pride cometh before a fall”. Persaud was the nemesis of the PNC-led coalition and the no-confidence vote merely provided him with the wherewithal to exact the retribution for their four years of unremitting arrogance.

After Nemesis would have destroyed Hubris there comes the “catharsis” – an emotional discharge through which one can achieve a state of moral renewal. This is what most Guyanese are experiencing right now. But as we said two years ago when the government arrogantly rushed to seize Red House: “It is clear that the hubristic behaviour of the Government will inevitably invoke its nemesis that will eventually destroy it. The problem is, the catharsis will only come after our country would have suffered.”

However, this catharisis will carry over into the general elections and it is hoped the new government will have someone repeat into its collective ear: “all glory is fleeting”.

The tables have turned: The Grinch dressed in Santa attire was at the Royal Castle Fast Food Outlet, Sheriff Street, Georgetown on Sunday distributing gifts to the children (Dexter Ceres photo)

Jamal Khashoggi’s final months as an exile in the long shadow of Saudi Arabia (Part 3)

By Souad Mekhennet and Greg Miller

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n June 2017, Mohammed and his supporters carried out an extraordinary power grab, detaining the designated crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a 57-year-old grandson of the founding Saudi monarch.

He emerged from his detainment to issue a humiliating public pledge of loyalty to his much younger cousin, Mohammed, relinquishing the title of crown prince.

The turbulence added to Khashoggi’s fears. In June, as Mohammed was plotting, Khashoggi made his exit, packing his bags, locking up his house and boarding a flight to Washington.

His departure triggered a further attempt to secure his obedience. This time it came not from Qahtani but the Saudi information minister, who called Khashoggi in August to tell him that the writing ban had been lifted and that the Government might be prepared to give him money to set up a pro-Saudi think tank in Washington.

The Minister, Awwad Alawwad, the former Saudi ambassador to Germany, also relayed a potentially unsettling request. “The crown prince would like to see you,” the minister said, according to a Khashoggi colleague who overheard the call. Saudi officials deny that the minister mentioned Mohammed.

Always conflicted about his relationship with the royals, Khashoggi explored the think tank offer, and even submitted a proposal, according to documents

reviewed by The Post. His plan described an entity that would be called the “Saudi Research Council” in Washington, with an initial budget of US$1 million to US$2 million.

The proposal outlined ideas such as cultivating relationships with other influential organisations, but it seemed aimed at shoring up the Saudi reputation abroad. It notes, for example, that “an irresponsible media” had unfairly maligned the kingdom over alleged connections to terrorist groups for many years, and that the council could work on behalf of Riyadh “to regain its positive role and image.”

The proposal also outlined a plan to form a team for the purpose of “monitoring potential negative news.” The team would follow emerging story lines and social media “that might explode against the kingdom” then “notify the ministry in Riyadh.”

The prospect of such a Saudi-friendly endeavour appealed to members of Khashoggi’s family who at times faced travel restrictions and other hardships imposed by Riyadh in apparent retaliation for his work.

Khashoggi’s eldest son, Salah, a banker in Saudi Arabia, and other family members urged him to pursue the think tank plan.

But Khashoggi was also being prodded by others to reject Riyadh’s entreaties, and it’s not clear that the ministry of information was ever prepared to proceed.

Khashoggi appears to have reached a fateful decision in this period to turn

further away from the only country he ever considered home. His marriage subsequently disintegrated and his eldest son cut off contact with him for months, friends and associates said.

Khashoggi’s children declined to be interviewed for this article.

In conversations, Khashoggi seemed alternately despondent and invigorated, proclaiming to one friend: “I am a free man, and I am going to change Saudi Arabia.”

Raising his voice

Khashoggi’s arrival in Washington came at an auspicious time for The Post, which was seeking writers for an online section called Global Opinions. One of its editors, Karen Attiah, reached out to Khashoggi to ask him to write on the forces roiling Saudi Arabia.

On September 18, 2017, Khashoggi’s first column for The Post appeared with a stark opening line: “When I speak of the fear, intimidation, arrests and public shaming of intellectuals and religious leaders who dare to speak their minds, and then I tell you that I’m from Saudi Arabia, are you surprised?”

The column was also a declaration of his own independence. “I have left my home, my family and my job, and I am raising my voice,” he wrote. “I want you to know that Saudi Arabia has not always been as it is now.

We Saudis deserve better.”

To hear such unflinching words from a Saudi writer was rare. The fact that they appeared on such a prominent platform would

likely have been unnerving to those around the crown prince.

Mohammed had largely succeeded in Washington at casting himself as a leader who would bring Westernstyle reforms to Saudi Arabia. He had cultivated such a close relationship with the Trump administration that he routinely traded messages and phone calls with Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, outside traditional diplomatic channels.

Khashoggi was now writing for a publication that could undercut the crown prince’s narrative in Washington. It was less than two weeks later that Khashoggi got the call that made his hands tremble.

Khashoggi did at times praise the crown prince, crediting him for reforms, including allowing movie theatres to open in the kingdom. But he also seemed to grow more bold in his criticisms.

In November, Khashoggi compared Mohammed to Russian President Vladi­ mir Putin just as a brutal new crackdown began in the Saudi capital. Hundreds of wealthy Saudis, including members of the royal family, were detained at the RitzCarlton hotel, many of them reportedly beaten while being interrogated, accused of corruption and forced to surrender billions of dollars in assets. Khashoggi criticised Saudi Arabia’s policies in Lebanon, its bombing campaign in Yemen, its blockade of Qatar, its repression of women and its opposition to a free press. (The Washington Post)

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Charrandas did not Renewed hope for Guyana cave in to bullyism

Dear Editor, In conversations and written communications, the Guyanese diaspora in USA, UK, Canada, and Trinidad describes Member of Parliament Charandass Persaud and Opposition Leader cum PPP leader Bharrat Jagdeo "as heroes" for their roles in bringing down the "discredited" coalition government over its misrule, unforced errors, racial discrimination, poor governance, arrogance, mishandling of the economy, and corruption. It is the talk among Guyanese everywhere (in Guyana and the diapsora) and even non-Guyanese people from the greater Caribbean region. People, even many APNU (PNC) supporters, are pleased that the coalition government has fallen and would like to see a change in government when elections are held in three months’ time. How could the coalition not expect this result when it governed so badly and in so biased a manner against supporters of the PPP? Those who did not know Charandass know him now -- a man of principle and unmatched courage.

It is incredible that a APNU+AFC government that enjoyed so much goodwill when it was installed in office 42 months ago could lose so much support in so quick time. Even those who did not vote for the coalition in 2015 said they wanted to see it succeed and hoped the coalition would take meaures to transform their lives for the better.

Instead, the coalition pursued vindictive policies targeting supporters of the PPP. The peoples' standard of living worsened over the last three years. People lost confidence in their future wellbeing under this regime.

They had enough of the government. This is one of the reasons they voted against the coalition in local elections in November giving the PPP a landlside victory as accurately predicted by a NACTA poll.

In Guyana, some had a racist outburst against Charandass for voting against the government.

In Parliament, some expressed racist expletives.

But democracy was at work.

Charandass said he voted "his conscience". At the same time, the sober people in the diaspora say they want to see the back of this government, the sooner the better, for deceiving them.

They say they could not take any more abuse from this regime. What is unfortunate is the AFC has so many good officers but they would not speak out against the wrong doings of the regime.

Ministers and MPs of the ruling coalition refuse to accept that people have had enough of them; the Ministers were far re-

moved from the reality on the ground.

Those who helped get the coalition in office complained they could not find an appointment to meet with the Ministers or top bureaucrats to discuss their grouses. Instead of chastising the government over its errors, AFC leadership praisied APNU/PNC Ministers .

Almost everyone in the diaspora who visited Guyana over the last three years agreed that the country was better off under the PPP administration that governed between October 1992 and May 2015. Guyanese in Guyana also agree that the country was better off under PPP governance as revealed in recet NACTA polls.

One person after another in the diaspora and in Guyana expressed how pleased they were/are that Charandass decided to take measures in his own hands and vote down the government -- they support his vote of "good riddance".

They salute Charandass for his courage recognizing his life would be at stake. Not many would stand up for his belief and vote his conscience asthe AFC MP did.

But Charandass took a principled position against the government's racist policies, as he eloquently articulated in his press conference post-confidence vote.

Charandass did not cave in to "bullyism" from agents of the coalition and threats to his life. Even after he voted down the government, they insulted and ridiculed him.

But Charandass stood his ground.

The diapsora, and even some in the PNC/AFC/WPA, see Charandass as a person of integrity and honesty.

Even those who do not support his action praised him for defending his belief and standing up for something unlike the leadership of the AFC that they say betrayed the trust of their supporters.

They wish if the AFC leadership had displayed similar courage as Charandass who they say "voted like a boss" repeating the campaign them of the coalition in 2015. Instead, they said the AFC MPs voted like "an ass".

Those who were pleased to see a change in government in May 2015 welcome the action of Charandass in voting against the government holding it accountable for its countless missteps and abuse of power. They praise Charandass for his courage viewing him as the only one in the ruling coalition as having "the cojenes" to stand up to the regime for its authoritarian and unaccountable policies that discriminated against people based on political and racial affiliation. They want to know if Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, Rafael Trottman, and Jaipaul Sharma have lost their sense of reasoning for supporting the terrible policies of the coalition administration over the last three and a half years. Had they stood up for fairness, they would have recovered the support they lost over the years.

And people thank Jagdeo for having the foresight to bring the government to account to parliament and the population. Jagdeo's political stocks has risen as a result of the no confidence vote that brought down the regime.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, December 21, 2018, will be engraved in Guyana’s history as the day where the PPP/C as an opposition party tabled a no-confidence motion against the APNU/AFC coalition Government. The no-confidence motion was able to gather traction where a coalition Government member of parliament Charrandas Persaud voted in support of the motion to topple the most oppressive Government in Guyana's history. While Charrandas Persaud would be considered a hero in the eyes of most Guyanese, the architect, in creating this opportunity must be recognised and commended.

The Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the PPP/C Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, a 'political genius' was not

even sure that this no-confidence motion would have been able to gain traction but went on a fishing expedition hoping that several Members of Parliament on the Government benches would have voted in favour of the motion because of the enormous amount of deficiencies that existed within the coalition Government.

Over 20 000 voters voted for the APNU/AFC coalition in the 2015 regional and general elections but because Berbice is a PPP/C dominated region, the APNU/AFC coalition Government purposely discriminated against Berbicians, and took them for granted, notwithstanding a quiet political revolution that touched the consciousness of Charrandas Persaud, forcing him to vote in favour of the PPP/C

no-confidence motion. The membership of the People Progressive Party Civic at the last Congress in 2016 entrusted the management of the PPP/C to the General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo who has elevated the PPP/C to a stronger force over the last two years. The scientific management of Jagdeo and his team contributed to the demise of the APNU/AFC coalition Government in such a short period. The leadership and membership of the PPP/C must continue to support the vision and leadership of Bharrat Jagdeo.

Guyanese are grateful to Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP/C and Charrandas Persaud for the renewal of hope for a better future.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussain

Issues at GECOM must be addressed forthwith

Dear Editor, On November 12, 2018, it was indeed sad to discover that the Presiding Officer at Peters Hall switched the votes and allotted the PPP/C votes to the APNU. It was only after quick observation and strong objections the result was corrected. The attached security at many polling stations on the voting day were involved in lapses and mal-practices which would not auger well for 2020.

The Deputy Chief Elections Officer was also sailing in respect to the preparatory work for the Disciplined Services voting.

It was widely reported that again, there were ‘Phantom’ staff on the GECOM payroll. As for the

voters’ education program, millions of dollars was spent without any scrutiny and accountability. Further, it can be argued that the programs employed did not serve to effectively inform the populace, which was partly evident by the numerous queries from persons and the low turnout of voters. Information from the Secretariat in relation to critical issues was untimely, in addition to the many late starts, and delays of many advertised GECOM activities.

Currently, many in the inner-circle at GECOM are very suspicious of the millions of dollars that were spent on meals and transportation. Information received from sources at the Secretariat also indicate that

the audit queries in respect to the 2015 rigged elections and the massive stealing, would have resulted in unaccountability for over one hundred million dollars. The fact that the GECOM accounts were not audited since 2015 is most worrying.

With the appropriations exceeding 150 per cent of the 2018 position in 2019 Budget, the situation is demanding forensic scrutiny. This nation cannot sit back and allow all the thieving to continue at GECOM. There are serious and numerous problems and it is imperative that all these issues are addressed forthwith.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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By Susan Alexander Yates and Andrea Gutierrez (Continued from Sunday)

Take the time to ask

Jane, from North Carolina, was hosting the family gathering. Weary from the pressure of planning, Jane wondered how she was going to make it through all the season's special events. How would their time together be this year?

As she frantically fixed dinner one night, Jane's mother-in-law began to unload and reload the dishwasher. She didn't do it the way Jane usually did it, and she'd put things away in the wrong place. Exasperated, Jane blurted out in a sharp tone, "Don't touch my dishes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ever again." Stung, her mother-inlaw left the kitchen and decided that in the future when she came to visit, she would stay elsewhere rather than with her son's family.

Jane realised she'd let the holiday stress stand in the way of everyone having a nice time together. She recognised that, in the future, not everything would go as planned. She needed to lower her expectations!

If you find that you don't want help in the kitchen, politely suggest for grandparents to take a grandchild on an outing or to help entertain the kids

Foundation

with a board game. However, understand that grandparents may not be used to the chaos that children can create. Give them permission and space to rest or get away for a bit.

Most likely, your parents and inlaws truly want to please you. But they may not know how, and you cannot expect them to guess. You might begin by saying, "We are looking forward to time with you. While you are here, we'd love it if you would_____________." Be specific and be grateful. You may also consider planning a few outings or projects for the whole family to participate in, such as volunteering at a soup kitchen, carolling in the neighbourhood or delivering baskets of Christmas goodies.

Set aside painful issues

The holidays always follow Election Day. And while it's tempting to share your enthusiasm for politics and social issues, Christmas isn't the best time to offer your perspective on potentially divisive topics. Although some families can navigate touchy topics with finesse, focus instead on celebrating Christ's birth. Family gatherings are a time to celebrate what is good.

In addition, Christmas holidays are not the best time to have "the difficult talk" with your in-laws about observations you've made. Likewise, don't use the occasion to confront your own par-

ents about their level of involvement or their parenting style. Recognize that no parent sets out to "ruin" his or her child. Your parents (or in-laws) may have done the best they could â&#x20AC;&#x201D; given the family they themselves came from.

It helps to go back a generation and recall what their parents were like.

Christmas is not the time to deal with past wounds. Take positive steps in the relationship so you can more constructively discuss the difficult topics at another time.

Give grace

The stereotypical portrayal of a harmonious family roasting chestnuts by the fireside is a rarity. There are no perfect families. We are all broken, and each one of us needs to experience the unconditional love of Christ. Each one of us is going to disappoint someone in our family this season. And someone is going to disappoint us. Healing begins when we ask for forgiveness and when we grant it. Bitterness grows when we don't. We need to be quick to forgive each other for those annoyances and offenses. Resist the temptation to keep a list of wrongs.

As Christmas approaches, pray for your time together and determine to be a "grace granter." After all, Christmas is all about grace through Christ Jesus.

By Clement Clarke Moore

'T

was the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; "Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

(Focus on the Family)

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

(teachervision.com)

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mondAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP distributes rice to sacked Rose Hall Sugar Estate workers

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he Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) on Sunday distributed in excess of $400,000 worth of rice to workers who were sacked from the Rose Hall Sugar Estate.

That Party’s Regional Supervisor Zamal Hussain explained that the donation of the rice was made by a

Families of sacked sugar workers collecting the donation of rice on Sunday

city businessman.

He noted that the donation was a timely intervention to assist the former Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) workers, so that they can enjoy the holidays with their families.

“It is not much, but it could be of some assistance to persons in this area (East

Canje). We know that this area has turned out to be a depressed area whereby hundreds of sugar workers in this area have been affected in a very hard manner, so the Peoples Progressive Party, the General Secretary and the Executive Secretary, urged that we make some contribution to these former

GuySuCo workers,” Hussain related.

In December last year, Government closed the Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne).

In fact, last year, 1851 workers were sacked from the Skeldon Sugar Estate; 1181 from the Rose Hall

Estate; 1480 from the East Demerara Sugar Estate, and 251 from the Wales Sugar Estate.

Region Six had depended heavily on sugar, and closure of two of the three sugar estates in the Region has caused all other sectors to be affected.

After several months of

protest action taken by the dismissed workers backed by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Government gave the former workers half of their severance packages.

“You can see the urgency and need for what we are distributing, and that can tell the level of hopelessness and desperation that exists among the former sugar workers,” Hussain said as he referred to the crowd, members of which had each gathered to collect a bag of rice.

“They have been affected so badly that some of them are not having a square meal for the day,” Hussain added as he described the impact of the Estate’s closure one year later.

The party official urged the workers to have some hope, and to stay united so that when his party returns to office they will received the ‘Good Life’ as promised.

He also took the opportunity to wish the entire region an enjoyable and incident free holiday.

Guyoil profits plummeted in 2017– report T

he Guyana Oil company (Guyoil) has recorded reduced profits for last year compared to previous years, as the company’s earnings from motor gasoline is on a downward slide, to which efforts are being made to arrest.

This was according to the company’s 2017 Annual report which was recently laid in the National Assembly. According to the report, the company recorded a gross profit of $4.7 billion for 2017. Its net profit, after tax, was $1.8 billion.

All of this is a decrease from 2016 when its gross profit was a significantly higher $6 billion and its net profit after tax was $2.6 billion. This means its gross profit decreased by 20.76 per cent and its net profit by 29.13 per cent. In the report, Guyoil explained why this happened.

“The major contributory factor was the performance of motor gasoline, which accounted for 58 per cent of revenues in 2017. Gasoline sales and the associated gross profit both declined by 4.67 per cent and 21.5 per cent respectively in 2017 as compared to 2016,” the report stated.

While profits are down, the company’s total revenue for the year has increased to $35.2 billion, as compared to $31.9 billion in 2016. This, the report notes, is an increase of $3.3 billion or 10.394 per cent.

“During 2017, Guyoil lost market share with respect to its flagship product, motor gasoline. Efforts have to be made in 2018 to arrest this decline,” the report states, adding that “the company’s drive to expand its market share for fuel and lubricants dictat-

equipment and $19.9 million.

Industrial relations

Questions have been raised before about what GuyOil’s losses really are

ed an aggressive posture.”

According to Guyoil, there was a deliberate emphasis on aggressive pricing strategies, as well as continuous staff training and development initiatives. The company noted that the environmentally friendly Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) was introduced to local markets.

However, it acknowledged that there is a need for general improvements to customer service.

Questions about Guyoil’s financial performance have been raised before. When Finance Minister Winston Jordan had previously said that Guyoil lost market share in 2017 owing to its performance, questions were raised about the facts he presented when a former high-ranking official at the State agency had denied this.

Eric Whaul, who worked at Guyoil as its Sales and Marketing Manager until his services came to a sudden end earlier this year,

worked at the State entity throughout the 2017 fiscal year. Questioning the data being fed to Jordan, Whaul had revealed to Guyana Times in an interview that the entity sold 23,000 more barrels of fuel in 2017 when compared to its sales in 2016. Whaul officially took over the portfolio of Sales and Marketing Manager in May 2016.

“Guyoil did not lose market share in 2017,” he had insisted. “In 2017, Guyoil Aviation Services Inc sold 34,500 barrels aviation fuel above its 2017 budget and more than what it sold in 2016.” He added, “In 2017, Guyoil sold 145,000 litres lubricant more than what it sold in 2016.”

“In 2017, Guyoil surpassed its budgeted after-tax profit. Guyoil revised its after-tax profit upwards in 2017 to $1.89 billion and we achieved $1.85 billion. Guyoil was 4700 barrels ahead of its 2018 Budget at the end of February 2018.”

While he acknowledged that Guyoil fell short on its budgeted volumes in 2017, Whaul pointed out that the entity exceeded its original budgeted after-tax profit. However, the marketing specialist noted that the business climate has not been a productive one.

“It is no secret that companies were complaining all year about the decrease in business, and in September 2017, the numbers showed that reported fuel imports were down by over four per cent. In fact, in that same printed article, growth rate for 2017 was reported at 2.1 per cent against projected growth of 3.9 per cent.”

The company’s books were audited by Chartered Accountants PKF Barcellos Narine and Company, on behalf of the Audit Office of Guyana. Auditor General Deodat Sharma has said that the consolidated financial statements are an accurate reflection of Guyoil’s finances at 2017 yearend.

Meanwhile, the company declared final dividends of $1.2 billion for 2017. The company’s capital expenditure for the year amounted to $777.5 million. This includes $457.7 million on construction works, $256.1 million on motor vehicles, $30.5 million on office furniture and fittings, $13.1 million on machinery and

Finances aside, Guyoil reported that its industrial relations remained stable throughout the year.

It pointed to the 2-10 per cent across the board salary increases it gave its employees retroactive to January, in accordance with Government salary increases. In addition, an annual incentive bonus of four weeks was paid to employees.

“Training continues to be an integral part of the company’s management strategy. Staff attended training seminars on supervisory management, customer service and occupational Health and safety, HIV.” “Customer sales representatives attended seminars on customer service, marketing and product knowledge. During the year, some 3,960 man hours of in-house and external training were conducted,” the company added.

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mondAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

New NDC officials of Regions 5, 6 sworn in

Moving on…

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Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan along with NDC Councillors and officials from Region 5

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and the newly-sworn-in NDC Councillors of Region 6

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ommunities Minister Ronald Bulkan said he has noticed an ongoing change in governance at the community level in Guyana, in that a decentralised and fully autonomous system of governance is emerging.

Then delivering the charge to the Councillors in the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) of Region Five, (MahaicaBerbice), in the compound of the Fort Wellington Secondary School on the West Coast of Berbice (WCB), Bulkan said the current change allows people at the grassroots level to have a direct say in the development of their communities.

“This system was entrenched in the Constitution of Guyana, but had been ignored by the previous administration,” Bulkan said.

“The APNU/AFC Government has restored the system, and is committed to improving it and having it entrenched in the governance system to the extent that no future Government would ever be given the right to dispossess grassroots citizens of their rights to self-determi-

nation, entrenched in the laws of Guyana.”

Minister Bulkan noted that Local Government Elections (LGE) held on November 12th this year have been the fourth such to be held in Guyana in nearly half a century; and the 2016 LGE, which were followed by the 2018 LGE, were the first ever to be held consecutively in the country after a dearth of 23 years.

He assured Councillors of a “hands-off guarantee” from Central Government, citing Article 75 of the Constitution of Guyana, which gives Municipalities and Councils full autonomy for their activities without influence from Central Government.

Minister Bulkan said: “Article 75 of the Constitution says that Parliament shall ensure that Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) shall be autonomous. That is, have the right to manage their own affairs.”

He stressed that the Coalition Government had, in just over three years, ensured that the democratic credentials of the Local Government Councils are intact, and had provid-

ed considerable support by way of training and capacity building within councils.

“We have been putting our money where our (mouths are),” he underscored.

Minister Bulkan observed that there is more to be done, and he said Government would be aggressively pursuing a programme for the further empowerment of the local government system of governance in Guyana. “We are in a new era, an era of people’s empowerment”, he declared.

The intention of the Coalition, he noted, is to have the system of decentralised governance so entrenched that citizens all across the country would realise the utility, validity and superiority of this approach to governance and would resist any attempt to resuscitate the old and discredited model of centralised governance.

The Chairpersons for the ten Neighborhood Councils in Region Five were sworn in to office by Regional Executive Officer Ovid Morrison.

Other attendees at this exercise included the

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emil Mc Garrell; senior staffers of the Communities Ministry, senior officers of the Regional Democratic Councils, overseers of the NDCs, and other special invitees.

The newly elected NDC leaders in Region Six, East Berbice-Corentyne, took the Oath of Office before Regional Executive Officer Kim Williams-Stephen on the Lawns of State House in New Amsterdam.

Region 6 Chairman David Armogan called on the leaders to allow the people to participate in activities, and he said the leaders should be servants to the people, instead of things being the other way around.

“Democracy is consulting with the people, allowing them to participate in the process of decision making; and that is what we expect from our newly elected councillors and vice chairs,” he said.

Armogan also called on the community leaders to be fair in all aspects of the execution of their duties, and serve in a way that would make the lives of the citizens more comfortable.

…to the elections

ell, this might be the first Christmas Eve in the history of Guyana wherein the “jump up” may take second place to the political gyaaf!! And for the politicians, we can do away with the “may”!! Imagine: they’ll have to prepare for elections within three months! Back in the days of his callow youth, your Eyewitness learnt that “catalysts” speed up reactions but remain unchanged at the end. This Charrandas fella has certainly speeded up the political reaction in Guyana, but we wonder how “unchanged” he’ll be after his elevation to “hero” status. Or “zero” by the PNC – including Nagamootoo!!

So, let’s unpack some of what has to get done within three months. First, there’s the literal conducting of the elections by GECOM. Do we have new indelible ink now that we used all the old ink to stain fingers after voting? How about the printing of ballots?? What’s the lead time there? How about the communication logistics? Well, things ran pretty smoothly for the LGE a month ago, so that shouldn’t be a problem. The joker in the pack is the health of the GECOM Chair; but when you come down to it, he just has to stamp a piece of paper attesting that the election was kosher.

More urgently is the selection of Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates. Everyone was fixated on the PPP, which has promised to get their presidential choice out of the way by early January.

This has given them a head start in this department, since the process of selection has been explained ad nauseam and the front runners have been on display as recently as during the no-confidence debate.

While young, these individuals are known to the people, and they can hit the ground running.

Unfortunately, the PNC – which is what the APNU/AFC has boiled down to – is in a fix in their presidential sweepstakes. The unfortunate illness of PNC leader President Granger and treatment of that illness (which can be worse than the illness) puts them in a bind, since he will not be in a position to go into the hustings. With their need to have a Congress vote on any new candidate, this will take some organizing – especially with the jockeying of the presidential aspirants for the pole position.

Then, of course, comes the messaging and the manifesto. Guyana is on the cusp of seismic changes, not only in the economy, but also in the nature of the society. How do you segment the voters, now that we are a nation of minorities, to deliver a majority?

Ah…the work of the politician is never done!! But with the stakes so high, you’ll be surprised what’s possible!!

…From the useless budget debate

Your Eyewitness hates saying, “I told you so”, but he did gripe about the Government wasting over $100 million on a Budget Debate that would prove useless, since the new Government after the noconfidence vote would immediately throw it out of the window! Or, more appropriately, into the dustbin, so as not to pollute the environment under their Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) that will be reinstated!!

So here we are, with a $300 BILLION budget and no one to direct its spending. You may retort that the present Government will remain in place until the new elections boot them out. But seriously folks, do you see these Ministers spending any time to make sure – say – the bypass road is initiated? Or GHPC gets a new CT machine? Pleeease!! For them, it’s survival time, and they’ll be spending every second – including this Christmas Eve -- whipping up votes to ensure the said survival that’ll allow them to keep all those black SUVs, mega salaries, and first-class tickets to the great yonder!!

Incentives! Incentives! Incentives!!

…To confront the venezuelan threat

The Venezuelans will be looking to exploit our distractions during the next three months, since our case on their border controversy is passing through the World Court like a dose of salts!!

Janet was a Cassandra to bring Exxon to our side!!

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

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mondAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

US monitoring reports of Exxon vessel interception – as State Dept urges Venezuela to respect Guyana’s sovereignty – backs Guyana’s right to retrieve its resources in economic zone – Venezuela wants direct talks with Guyana after incident the Government of Guyana on this matter.

Meanwhile Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo noted that the Opposition gives its full support to the Government on any matter relating to infringement of Guyana’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.

By Jarryl Bryan

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oth the United States (US) and the Venezuelan governments have spoken out about Saturday’s incident in which the Venezuelan Navy forced an ExxonMobil research vessel to cease conducting its work in Guyana’s Stabroek block, leading to suspension of seismic data collection.

In a message on the US State Department’s social media page, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino revealed that the US Government is monitoring the reports of the Venezuelan Navy’s actions against vessels operating on behalf of ExxonMobil, a multi-billion-dollar US company.

A statement has also been issued by the U.S. Department, which is headed

by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging Venezuela to respect the rights of its neighbours and to adhere to international law.

“On December 22, the Venezuelan Navy aggressively stopped ExxonMob?il contracted vessels operating under an oil exploration agreement with the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in its Exclusive Economic Zone.

“We underscore that Guyana has the sovereign right to explore and exploit resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone. We call on Venezuela to respect international law and the rights of its neighbours”, that statement declared.

Suspended

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo

The Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry has since released a communiqué from its Minister, Jorge Arreaza, in which Venezuela said the research vessel was found by its navy during regular patrols.

“It is important to note that in the exchange of communication with the captains of the exploration vessels, they claimed to have a permit from the government of the Guyana,” the communiqué states.

According to the Ministry, the navy “proceeded to apply the appropriate international protocols.” Referring to the “sensitive” nature of the incident, the Venezuelan Government called for renewed talks with Guyana.

“Based on the Bolivarian diplomacy of peace, (we reiterate) to Guyana’s cooperative republic the call to reestablish direct and respectful dialogue on this sensitive matter, while at the same time guarantee-

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

ing its firm determination to defend the territorial sovereignty of the republic and the interests of the Venezuelan people,” the communiqué added.

In a broadcast on Saturday, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge condemned the actions of the Venezuelan Navy, which he noted were both illegal and aggressive, their having occurred in the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf of Guyana.

According to Minister Greenidge, it was reported by Exxon that the Venezuelans intercepted the vessel, the Ramform Tethys, at approximately 10:30 on Saturday morning at a position of N 09 deg 17.19 min / W 058 deg 16.20 min at an approximate distance of 140 km from the nearest point to the provisional equidistant line with Venezuela. Greenidge noted that the vessel had a crew of 70, including the captain, on

MP confused by Govt’s sudden need for PPP model – points to Govt’s unwillingness to honour Berbice Bridge agreement

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lose to six months ago, Government laid a Public-Private Policy (PPP) Framework document in the National Assembly. This document is an institutional and legal outline that encourages the private sector to participate in the procurement and financing of public projects.

More recently, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, declaring Government’s intention to prepare for the modernisation of Port Georgetown, said Government was looking to attract private sector financing, but a feasibility study would first have to be done before commencement of the project.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill has said he welcomes the fact that there is a follow through with this idea, but he has reminded that it had been under active consideration before the People’s Progressive

Opposition MP Juan Edghill

Party/Civic (PPP/C) had demitted office in 2015, and had been discussed at Cabinet level.

“The development of Port Georgetown is not a new development by the coalition Government. It is the Shipping Association and the private sector (which) had long indicated the need for the Government to do something…so that we can carry greater capacity to reduce freight,” he explained.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Edghill told Guyana Times on Sunday that the PPP model had been used by the PPP/C as a developmental tool to garner financing to advance Guyana’s development. He recalled that it had also received heavy criticism from the then Opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC). turn to page 10

Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza

board.

“The Government of Guyana rejects this illegal, aggressive and hostile act perpetrated by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which once again demonstrates the real threat to Guyana’s economic development by its western neighbour; an act that violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be bringing this latest act of illegality and blatant disrespect for Guyana’s sovereignty by Venezuela to the attention of the United Nations,” Greenidge said. “It is also in the process of informing the several Governments of the seventy crew members of the threat to their safety.”

According to Greenidge, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela would also receive formal communication from

Exxon’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Diedre Moe, on Saturday revealed in a statement that in the wake of the incident, the oil company has decided to suspend its seismic operations in the Stabroek block.

“3-D seismic data acquisition of the western portion of the Stabroek Block began this month,” she explained.

“At this time, seismic operations on the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana have been paused until they can be safely continued.”

According to Moe, the oil company’s main concern is for the safety of the Ramform Tethys crew members and others who may be in the area. She noted, however, that ExxonMobil is in communication with the necessary authorities.

This incident comes at a time when Guyana has an ongoing case with Venezuela in regard to territorial integrity. Guyana has, since last month, submitted its memorial on Jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and a date has

been set for the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelan to submit its own counter memorial.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge made this disclosure only a few weeks ago during his contribution to the budget debates. According to the Minister, April 18, 2019 has been set for Venezuela to submit its counter memorial.

Coincident with US oil giant ExxonMobil announcing the first of multiple oil finds in local waters in 2015, Venezuela renewed its claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.

Venezuela has been against Guyana exploring for oil in its Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits have been found by ExxonMobil, and has since renewed its claims to Guyana’s Essequibo region.

On January 30, 2018, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres concluded that the Good Offices Process under which the parties had engaged for almost 30 years had failed to achieve a solution to the controversy. He therefore chose the ICJ as the next means of settlement for the border controversy. This is a solution for which Guyana has long been advocating.

Sir Shridath Ramphal and Ambassador Audrey Waddell are assisting Minister Greenidge in this regard; and the United States has since announced that it supports Guyana’s case.

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mondAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Business incubators to come Police continue hunt on stream in 2019 – SBB for Chinese national T – Traffic Chief Annandale fatal accident

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Dead: Karamchand Khemraj

fter more than one week of hunting for a Chinese man who is believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident on the Annandale Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Police are yet to make an arrest.

Traffic Chief Linden Isles confirmed on Saturday that there has been no development in the investigation as Police are still searching for the driver of the minibus, which struck down the two teenagers on the evening of December 9, 2018.

On the evening in question, 15-year-old Karamchand Khemraj of Lot 44 Annandale North, ECD, and 16-year-old Razid Shaw, of Lot 35 Annandale Public Road, were heading home from the shop when they were struck down by a minibus that continued on its way. Khemraj died while receiving medical attention

Injured: Reaz Shaw

at the Georgetown Public Hospital while Shaw was admitted as a patient.

The identity of the driver was revealed after the vehicle that was involved in the accident was found hidden in a makeshift bond at Mon Repos, ECD by Police.

The silver Hiace Pitbull minibus was found covered with a tarpaulin; after checks, an indentation was found on the right side light while the rear-view mirror was broken. The vehicle was taken to the police station where it was impounded.

Guyana Times also received information which indicated that the suspect, along with his girlfriend, is currently attempting to flee the country.

According to the Police, their investigations disclosed that the two young men had just ridden out of a northern access road onto the main road when

the minibus, which was proceeding east along the northern carriageway, collided with the bicycle.

As a result of the impact, the youths were tossed onto the road surface and sustained head injuries.

The driver drove away without rendering any assistance. A few days after the Chinese national was identified as the driver who caused the fatal accident, a member of the Chinese Association accompanied

by Attorney-at-Law James Bond visited the families of the two young men and offered to compensate them.

Both families, Guyana Times was told, refused the offer, but Bond told sections of the media that the Chinese Association was making the offer out of remorse.

Meanwhile, Shaw, who sustained injuries to his lungs and head, remains hospitalised.

wo business incubators – one at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Belvedere Industrial Estate, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) – are expected to come on stream in the new year to nurture micro and small businesses in those regions.

This is according to Small Business Bureau (SBB) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Lowell Porter.

“Coming for 2019, we want to have those incubators up and running. We also want to have security for those, because it is important that we have people who will protect those buildings,” Dr Porter disclosed during the Bureau’s year-end press conference last week.

The business incubators aim to provide appropriate spaces for businesses to engage in certain types of activities and attract investments in the value-added sectors as well as service sector. These facilities will facilitate the start-up of small businesses for the first three years to ensure that they can sustain themselves afterwards.

They will take away some of the responsibilities which new entrepreneurs will have such as research, marketing and all these services, thus guaranteeing them a better opportunity of succeeding.

Among the facilities that will be offered by the business incubators to budding entrepreneur are: space, equipment and services such as training, market-

SBB CEO, Dr Lowell Porter

ing, consulting, organisation, and management as well as legal, financial and other advisory services.

This project falls under the purview of the Business Ministry, which has done extensive research on the need for such a facility, and will be managed by the SBB. The construction of these two facilities is currently underway. In fact, only in October, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin went to the National Assembly and got $193 million in supplementary funding to facilitate payments under the Lethem and Belvedere Industrial Development projects. Gaskin had explained that the money was needed, based on the significant advancement of infrastructural works and the need for another access road to the business incubator at Lethem.

In the 2018 Budget, some $350 million was allocated for the completion of works on the Lethem Industrial Estate and the Belvedere Industrial Estate this year.

These facilities are expected to have a combined capacity

of about 250 to facilitate value-added production while benefiting from economies of scale.

In fact, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had stated that support to micro and small businesses will continue next year through the creation of additional business incubators and accelerators, in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), at a cost of $36 million.

“These structures will foster the growth of businesses by facilitating the provision of support services, such as business registration, documentation, and capacity building.

Further, through the establishment of business registration hubs, like the one opened in Lethem (Region Nine) this year, and the upcoming one in Mahdia (Region Eight), we will continue to improve the ease of doing business. In 2018, four other business registration hubs will be established in Regions One, Five, Six and 10,” the Finance Minister further stated.

MP confused by Govt’s...

“As a matter of fact, they saw a jumbie behind every tree when it related to the PPP arrangement, and they had a lot of negativity… They painted it as if it was something that was causing Government to be giving away projects to friends and families,” the MP also recalled.

He also said it is heartening that the Government would like to move forward with a PPP model for Port Georgetown; but the former Junior Finance Minister said this development is of major concern because that same model had been used to produce an infrastructure development project such as the Berbice Bridge. “…which has been constantly attacked, so much so that they have taken over the arrangements of the bridge and (are) unwilling to honour the agreement in the PPP arrangement… I am particularly confused and concerned, and I believe that every Guyanese ought to be…,” he added.

Edghill is question-

ing the intent of the Government. “Is it to have a policy of PPP arrangement for infrastructure development? Or (do) they want to see it to benefit a particular or selected group of individuals? Because if they are faithful to the PPP model, then their treatment and handling of the Berbice Bridge in terms of negotiation, those who took the risk are not left at a disadvantage…or breach the contract and not wanting to honour the concessions in the agreement,” he explained.

“So it is troubling to me to find out how they would like to advance a PPP model for Port Georgetown while continuing their rhetoric, and moving beyond their rhetoric to actual attacks on the signal PPP which was used for the Berbice Bridge.”

Further to that, he said the PPP framework document that was laid in the National Assembly earlier this year has not yet been debated and publicly ventilated. He also said

from page 9

it carries with it a list of concerns, particularly the total elimination of National Procurement and Tender Administration where, in that framework that they have, established a single sub-committee which supersedes the procurement laws.

According to the framework, the Government’s intention is to encourage innovation in as many ways as possible. It said PPPs have been applied to the infrastructure sector, in particular areas of electricity, telecommunications, water, transport and solid waste.

The Government plans to use the model for a number of key areas of development. These include the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the LindenLethem road link, the Deep-Water Harbour and container port, the Mini and Maxi Hydro plants and energy farms, and milk plant for Guyana, among others. (Samuel Sukhnandan)

11 “Don’t take Venezuela’s threats for granted” — former Foreign Affairs Minister news

mondAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

A map outlining the area known as the Essequibo region that Venezuela is claiming over Guyana

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n light of a recent move which saw the Venezuelan military forcing a seismic vessel belonging to ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary out of Guyanese waters, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey believes that nothing should be taken for granted and careful attention must be paid to this matter.

ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary has suspended the 3D seismic operations it started only a month ago in Guyana’s Stabroek Block after the appearance and approach of the Venezuelan military on Saturday, which forced the company’s seismic vessel to pack up shop and vacate the area.

The vessel in question is the Ramform Tethys, which is owned by Norwegian company Petroleum and Geo Services (PGS) that was contracted by ExxonMobil to carry out tests and acquire seismic data.

The incident happened less than a day after a no-confidence vote in the

National Assembly saw the coalition Government being toppled, paving the way for fresh elections in three months.

Dr Jeffrey said, “If they are willing to come into our waters and attempt to arrest a ship that has been given legitimate permission by us, I can’t tell what else they can do.” As such, the former Government Minister is urging the Administration to step up security in the area.

While he opined that there should not be any attempts to spread fear, he thinks that Government should perceive that the Venezuelans could go further. “You don’t know how far they would go … They have infrastructure out there and those infrastructure, they have to be protected,” he added.

Dr Jeffrey posited that Government should also be seeking intelligence on what was taking place on the ground in our western neighbour. He believes if the embattled Venezuelan

President Nicolás Maduro was using this to get people’s support, he may likely “do more of it”.

He said: “You can’t take it for granted that the Venezuelans will do nothing else. There is more to come; yes, of course. It’s a normal response in international relations.”

However, the former Foreign Affairs Minister pointed out that the Americas (not Guyana) and the “more radical elements in the region” have been talking about invading Venezuela and getting rid of Maduro.

As such, Dr Jeffrey is of the opinion that Maduro will, of course, use friends to make a point about any claim.

“They are refusing to go to court and the court will decide, but in the meantime if they do this, they can do other things. It’s not like the <<<Anadarko>>>>, they took it and they went away,” he added.

As it pertains to the Government’s response, Dr

Jeffrey said that for the most part, it has been doing the right thing to make representation and to condemn these actions, both nationally and internationally.

“Of course, they will have to talk with the Venezuelans. I don’t see what else they can do. It has been flagrant breach of our rules and laws and we have to talk about it,” he stated.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has condemned the actions of the Venezuelan military, which he noted were both illegal and aggressive, having occurred in the Exclusive Economic Zone on the continental shelf of Guyana.

According to the Minister, ExxonMobil reported that the Venezuelans intercepted the Ramform Tethys at approximately 10:30h on Saturday.

Greenidge noted that the vessel had a crew of 70 on board, including the Captain.

“The Government of

Guyana rejects this illegal, aggressive and hostile act perpetrated by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela which once again demonstrates the real threat to Guyana’s economic development by its western neighbour; an act that violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be bringing this latest act of illegality and blatant disrespect for Guyana’s sovereignty

by Venezuela to the attention of the United Nations,” Greenidge said. “It is also in the process of informing the several Governments of the 70 crew members of the threat to their safety.”

According to Greenidge, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will also receive formal communication from the Government of Guyana on the matter.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on

Saturday contacted Foreign Affairs Minister Greenidge after receiving information about the incursion and interception of the ExxonMobil seismic vessel.

Jagdeo notes that the Opposition gives its full support to the Government on any matter relating to infringement of Guyana’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.

Less than two weeks ago, Russia flew two of its bomber aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons to Venezuela. They are TU-160 supersonic bombers, known as “White Swans” by Russian pilots.

Reuters said these bomber aircraft landing was a show of support for Venezuela’s socialist Government that has infuriated the United States Administration in Washington.

Guyana has taken its border controversy case with Venezuela to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

30-foot male sperm...

The fishermen are reportedly tracking the animal as it continues to move with the tides.

This discovery comes just over four years since a six-year-old male sperm whale measuring 45 feet was washed up at the Kitty seawall.

According to Arjoon, she was “disturbed then [and] more disturbed now” given that it is “almost to the exact date”.

On December 16, 2014, the 30-ton mammal was found dead at the Georgetown shore after it was first spotted two days before in the Mahaicony area. According to reports, the whale had caught in the net of a fisherman out in the Atlantic and the man it closer to shore to get help to release the an-

imal.

However, the gigantic whale put up a fight and to prevent the vessel from sinking the fishermen had to seine and let the mammal go. The relevant authorities were informed and the following day, a search was launched but the animal was not found until the next morning when it washed up at the Kitty seawall.

At the time, the mammal, dead but still warm, had the fishing net wrapped around its mouth with blood was coming out of the blowhole. As the morning progress, news of the whale spread and thousands gathered to get a glimpse of the mammal.

Initially the authorities wanted to bury the whale along the Linden-

from page 2

Soesdyke Highway with the intention of retrieving its skeleton in the future to be placed in a museum for educational purposes. However, advice obtained from several overseas experts resulted in the mammal being buried in a 22-foot grave a short distance from the spot it had washed ashore.

Meanwhile, about a month later in January 2015, another 15-feet whale was found entangled among fishing seines along the seashore at No.37 Village, West Coast Berbice.

The discovery was made by fishermen early in the morning and efforts were taken immediately to free the animal, which unfortunately died in the process.

12news Enmore Association of NY celebrates elderly, children mondAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Enmore Association of New York members pose with some of the invitees

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or the 17th successive year, the Enmore Association of New York (EANY) staged its annual Christmas party for the elderly and children of the East Coast Demerara community.

The event, held on Saturday, December 22, 2018, at the residence of Ayube Mohamed (Wise Man), catered for over 500 persons, who were treated to lunch and the presence of Santa Claus bringing holiday cheers and gifts.

The elderly folks also received a hamper and a monetary contribution, compliments of members and well-wishers of the EANY. The celebration was once again made possible through the collaborative efforts of former residents of Enmore, residing in New York.

The individuals and families graciously and generously donated financially and otherwise to make the event a reality, while several persons in Enmore did the coordination on the ground to ensure it was a success.

Manzoor Rahaman, a member of the association, told the gathering that the EANY is extremely happy to be the bearer of glad tidings

Santa Claus is mobbed by an eager bunch of children

Ayube Mohamed (left) and Seeratan Persaud (right) share a moment with Santa and the six children who won backpacks

at this time of the year.

“One of the things that I find quite interesting is that we’re able to serve you and give back to you because the older folks, if it wasn’t for you we would not be here… so we owe you a debt of gratitude, and because of that we try as much as possible to make sure you’re comfortable and taken care of too,” Rahaman said.

One of the contributors to the event, Seeratan Persaud, said the contributions the older folks have made to the community cannot be overemphasized.

“You guys have done a tremendously good job in raising kids in this community, and we’re proud of what you have done. Hopefully, we can replicate what you guys have done, although that would be a really uphill task,” Persaud stressed.

Journalist Avenash Ramzan, who also delivered remarks at the event, echoed similar sentiments.

“I’m proud to see so many of the older folks here, whom I believe, and a lot of us would agree, are the heroes of this community. You are the reason Enmore is what

it is today - you’ve produced doctors, lawyers, teachers, salesmen and you’ve put Enmore on the map, and I think you should all be proud of yourselves and the contributions you’ve made,” Ramzan noted.

A raffle was also held and six lucky children won backpacks and school supplies ahead of the new term.

The event was made possible through contributions from Sheila Shakoor and family, Steve Kim, Yuri Chandisingh, Elaine McKee, Gavin Anthony, Ravi Etwaroo (Cricket Zone

USA), Tina Singh, Aleesha Mohamed, Randolph and Anjanie, Fazal and Shamin Haniff and family, Amar, Salina and Jennifer Prashad, Central Plumbing Specialities, Kim Clarke, Lena Pinto, Geeta Nathai, Art Denson, Prakash and Sirmati Persaud, Balraj Khemraj, Zabida and Romeo Sue, Amna and Jonathan Jagroop, Sam and Safoora Ali, Rennie Bacchus, Abbas family, Seeratan Persaud, Jimmy Baichand, Suresh Persaud, Naresh Persaud, Lawrence Mootoo, Ricky and Sharon Persaud, Hamid

family, Ramesh and Lily Lall, Madho Singh, Steve Toor, Jennifer Selberstein, Elegant Hardware of the USA, Nick and Sham and Shano and Julie.

The executive members of the EANY (Ayube Mohamed, Debbie Singh, Roupchan Hardowar, Amar Prashad, Surujpaul Singh, Akbar Khan, Rudy Persaud and Prakash Persaud) would like to express immense gratitude to all the donors and wish everyone in Enmore a Merry Christmas and a productive 2019.

NGO spreads holiday cheer at annual Christmas toy giveaway

Founder of Give another chance Foundation, Miranda Thakur-Deen (fourth from left) along with other Members of the foundation

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he foundation which stemmed from simply deciding to give a gift to a child has now blossomed into a Non-profit Organisation (NGO) known as the ‘Give Another Chance Foundation”, which is solely grounded in doing charitable work for the 8-years of its existence.

The foundation on Saturday, put smiles and excitement on the faces of children as it hosted its fourth Christmas toy giveaway drive at the National Gymnasium where 350 children from across Georgetown participated.

Founder and Executive Director of “Give Another Chance Foundation”, Miranda Thakur-Deen told <<<Guyana Times>>> that she was eager to host the event because she has a zest for sharing, and has seen

the foundation grow over the past years.

“This event, I’m very excited for because I’ve seen us grow from year to year, and this is our fourth year in Georgetown, and every year the foundation aspires to give over a thousand gifts…every year I’m in the background, I observe to make it better every year, and this year we had a successful event” she said.

Additionally, President of Foundation, Alisha Amos said that the Christmas season is the perfect time to give back, especially to the children. The foundation refers to such events as “the way of hope”, a pillar on which it functions so as to meet the aims of sharing and entertaining the children several times during the year, which includes Christmas.

“We would just like to give back to the children in Georgetown…but our foundation is about sharing and giving, and this season we want to give back and put smiles on the children’s face, we are looking to distribute 350 gifts today.”

As was explained, the foundation caters to distribute over a thousand gifts while it seeks to take the event at different areas, the next one being Baramita, Region 1( North West District). Additionally, the foundation hopes to make their events superior in the future as they grow and succeed in these charitable acts.

The children played games and were also entertained by different cartoon characters such as Minnie and Mickey Mouse. They even shared photo moments with Santa Clause.

news

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mondAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana working with int’l bodies to establish intellectual property strategy

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he Guyana Government is working with a number of international organisations including the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) on the draft Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Copy Right legislations, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge.

“We are working with WIPO, which is the Office in Geneva that deals with intellectual property rights.

And the idea there is that we would develop a National Intellectual Property Strategy (NIPS), which will be a blueprint so that we can move forward. Copyright is an aspect of this… This is an area where the WIPO secretariat is to work with us on and we are also working with them and CARICOM in that area,” Greenidge said at his Ministry’s year-end press conference last week.

According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, WIPO would need approximately six months to complete its work with the NIPS and by mid next year, they should deliver their work.

Earlier this year, Government had announced that it was in the process of

CIOG calls for respect of democratic process

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n the wake of the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on Friday evening, the Central Islamic Organisation in Guyana (CIOG) calls on citizens to respect the country’s maturing democracy.

In a statement issued by the religious body on Sunday, it stated: “Guyana belongs to all Guyanese, regardless of race, creed, or religion. Our country is on the cusp of a massive transformational economic and social trajectory that can only be undermined by a divided Guyana.”

As such, the CIOG calls on all Guyanese to reject separatism and ethnic fear mongering for these would damage Guyana, harm its citizenry and benefit only economic mercenaries.

“As we progress through a turbulent political climate, CIOG categorically states that our politicians, citizens, and civil organisations have a moral and ethical responsibility to work together to safeguard our birthright, protect our democracy, and ensure the well-being of each and every Guyanese,” the CIOG stated.

updating and enforcing the IPR legislation. The IPR legislation allows creators to safeguard their work through patents, trademarks and copyrights, resulting in prevention of plagiarism with the relevant laws as artillery should the need arise. In fact, the US Embassy here, in an attempt to get the consultation process started, hosted a panel discussion back in April during which focus was placed on the importance of IPR and how it would affect and benefit Guyanese artistes.

Meanwhile, with regards to the Copy Right’s law, which according to Minister Greenidge has proven to be a more “vexing and contentious” area, a review of Guyana’s draft legislation was completed. However, he noted that there are some other areas where more work will have to be done.

“What we are supposed to do, is to work with them on the Industrial Property Legislation – that’s another arm of it. And also, they are proposing to work with the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs on the question of geographical indications,” the Foreign Affairs Minister noted.

However, he pointed out that the work with Caricom in this regard is proving to be a bit more difficult since there are more countries involved. Nevertheless, he stat-

ed that 2019 will see some of the reports come out on areas including Intellectual, Industrial, and Copy Rights.

Following Government’s intention to table copyright legislation, stakeholders are worried about the impact this could have on the local economy, as many small businesses could possibly close as a result of the incoming change.

In fact, several CD and DVD vendors have already expressed concerns over the effect this will have on their trade which sustain their livelihoods.

Moreover, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, weighed in on the issue saying, “I hope that people will understand… it will be a revolution in Guyana… every video store in this country will have to close that sells these bootlegs. And every store that sells music now… the way they currently do, it will have to shut those down too, as well as the guys who are doing the push cart, they can be charged too”.

While acknowledging that some may be in disagreement with the position, he clarified that Government should place more emphasis on protecting local intellectual property rights rather than focusing on safeguarding international content.

Over the years, local musicians have lamented that being a performer in Guyana is a somewhat risky business, since persons have the constant fear of having their work copyrighted, especially since there are only small fines for infringements under old laws.

The current legislation, the 1956 Copyright Act, which Guyana inherited from Great Britain follow-

ing Independence in 1966, has never been revised, even though its former colonial master has long repealed the legislation that deemed copy-

right infringement a civil wrong.

Though the current Act does provide protection of literary, musical, dramatic

and artistic works, the fines are extremely low, ranging from £5 to £50 (GY$1750GY$17,500).

Minister Harmon, family fete West Demerara children

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Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and family on Sunday

inister of State, Joseph Harmon, and his daughter Danielle Harmon-Klien, on Sunday, at their annual Children’s Christmas Party, feted over 400 children drawn from communities on the West Bank Demerara.

The activity was held in the West Demerara Secondary School’s auditorium.

The children, coming from the communities of Phoenix Park, Pouderoyen, Best Village, Vreed-en- Hoop and Malgre Tout, among other communities, were delighted to receive Christmas presents and goodies.

This year marks the 12th year that Minister Harmon

and his family have hosted the Christmas party for children living in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Region (Three).

Every year since its inception, the Christmas Party has grown, and it consequently can no longer be kept at the Minister’s Phoenix Park home.

The Minister of State believes in giving back to the community, and he said he remains committed to contributing in a tangible way to the development of youths.

He said that as a member of Government, there are both personal and professional considerations for children and young people, and he

noted that the APNU+AFC Government would continue to invest in youths.

Mrs Harmon-Klien, who is based in the United States, has said she looks forward to spending time with the children each year.

Ten-year-old Alisha Moideen of Best Village said she is happy to have been invited to the party. Two other children, Ms. Zaynab Providence and Ms. Badieh Williams of Phoenix Park, each thanked the Deputy Regional Executive Officer of Region Three, Mrs Jenifer Ferreira- Dougal, as well as other regional officials, for having them attend the Christmas party.

14 news

mondAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden businesses decry More migrant families receive hampers sloth in holiday shopping

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ith just one day left before Christmas, businesses in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are still hoping for an increase in sales.

While it is customary for business to bloom around this time of year, many businesses in the community have complained that things have not "picked up" as yet.

According to some, this may be due to late payment of salaries and bonuses for some employees.

Others have indicated that shoppers are now shopping smart and refusing to overspend or are simply "living from day to day" .

Guyana Times ventured into the streets of Linden to get an understanding of the atmosphere as it relates to holiday shopping. Zeroing in on one of the main shopping areas – the Mackenzie Market Square, persons were observed shopping for household items, including decorations, vinyl and other items to enhance their homes.

Long lines were also observed at commercial banks and a few shoppers were very much appalled at the steep increase in the prices of items, especially eggs which are being retailed for $1300 to $1600 per crate.

"I pay $16,000 a crate for eggs. These people does just want exploit people in this place," a female shopper remarked.

This publication spoke with a few food vendors who noted that customers usually would wait until the last few days before Christmas to purchase vegetables, but this has reduced significantly.

As such, they noted that they were optimistic that things would improve as the day progressed. "Well, they can’t get it to stay long so they does buy last minute.

Vinyl and so people would buy early,” the proprietor of Curtis Greens Stand and Groceries noted.

"Last year around this time was better, I could've afford to stock up my shop more . But now I frighten ...because people ain't get the spending power ... most

Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe along with Major Sean Welcome distributing hampers to the families

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A few shoppers buying vinyl in Linden

cores of Venezuelan migrant families residing in the Khan Hill community, Region One (BarimaWaini) on Sunday received food hampers in time for the Christmas holiday.

The hampers contained basic food items such as canned beans, oil, milk, and biscuits. This initiative was a collaborative effort of the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry; the Civil Defence Commission; the International Organisation for Migration (IOM); the Regional Democratic Council and the Guyana Defence Force.

According to the Two customers taking a look at clothing

people living day to day," he added.

The businessman also pointed to a lack of jobs in the community which, he noted, is another contributing factor to the poor sales.

Another vendor indicated that holiday shopping was the same last year and the year before was even worse. As a result, he said he has been stocking up "lighter" each year to avoid losses.

"Things ain’t looking so perfect yet. It just getting worse and worse every year. I think things will pick up Christmas Eve day alone. You see, plenty people need these things, but they ain't get the spending power. Linden want more jobs. That is one of the main problems. When jobs deh, money does come.

Bosai is the only place right now that really contribut-

ing to jobs. If that place close down now, we might not see people," he opined.

This newspaper also spoke to a few business owners who sold decorations and household items and they indicated that sales have been slow.

Overall, businesses seem to be awaiting an increase in sales. Over the past few years , vendors in the community have complained about the sloth in sales around the holiday season .

Over at the Wismar market in Linden, the situation is no different, with vendors complaining.

Recently , in an effort to revive shopping at the location, Regional Chairman Renis Morian and a team from the Regional Democratic Council organised a Christmas promotion there.

Department of Public Information, Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe was on the ground leading the undertaking.

The Minister said it was Guyana’s international obligation to make sure that our neighbours were cared for. “We are here to ensure that they have an enjoyable Christmas” Garrido-Lowe added.

The Minister said that with the number of migrant children at Khan Hill, she would ensure they receive toys for the holidays.

Further, preparations

are being made to assist Venezuelan families in other areas in Region One. Last week, a similar exercise was conducted in Kaikan in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) for the migrant families living there.

Over the past few months, Guyana has seen an increase in the number of Venezuelans crossing the border to escape the political and socio-economic crisis in their homeland.

The Government has been working to ensure that these migrants are documented and vaccinated upon entry and housed in reliable shelters.

Zadok Ministers Fellowship launches, hopes to forge unity

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inisters representing more than 100 local churches and ministries across Guyana assembled for the formal launch of Zadok Ministers Fellowship earlier this month at the Grand Coastal Inn on the East Coast of Demerara with hopes of forging unity among Guyanese.

The launching was held under the theme “We are better together”. The goal of the Ministry is never to be divisive, exclusive or sectarian, but rather, embrace church ministers and churches within the 10 Administrative Regions.

After being engaged in a formal way for several years, undertaking dozens of initiatives together

in various locations countrywide, the church ministers believed that it was under wise counsel of Almighty God to form a network for ministers who are broadly located and without a local network of fellowship.

The ministers acknowledge that their experiences, struggles, victories and strengths provide an opportunity for sharing and development. All are welcomed to be a part of this new initiative despite age, race, gender and history.

Endorsements of the Fellowship were made by Apostle Safee Rahaman of Grace.

Zadok Ministers Fellowship is by no means exclusive and thus extends

an invitation to other independent or non-independent churches to come on board; the Fellowship meets every third Saturday at 10:00h.

The first meeting for 2019 will be hosted at the Revealed Word Christian Centre, 56 William Street, Kitty on Saturday, January 19.

The word Zadok in its simplest form can be equated to “Kings of Righteousness”.

Therefore, as a fellowship, the ultimate aspiration is to ensure a high quality of ministry, example and to be a collective voice that speaks to the nation. This forum will be a place where accountability, order and impartation are manifested.

Residents of Tapakuma get new access road R

esidents of the Amerindian community of Tapakuma, Essequibo welcomed the completion of their access road.

The Hill Top Road was done after the intervention of Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson who visited the area and listened to the complaints of residents.

Residents are very thankful for the work done by the Regional Administration. Small business owners in the community told Guyana Times that in the past, they had no other choice but to discharge their goods at

the Hill Top and fetch them into the Village. Now, taxis and minibuses are operating in the area which is much more convenient for them.

Tapakuma can be promoted as a tourist destination in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), but owing to the condition of the roadway, visitors preferred places with easier access.

The village of about 400 residents sits on the bank of the Tapakuma Lake, which is about 10 miles from the Anna Regina Public Road.

The road leading into the Tapakuma Village

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monDAY, december 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What are your thoughts on the no-confidence motion recently passed in Parliament?

Ronaldo Debidayal “Tell them Ronaldo said let the spending begin because 'we' Government, and by we Government I mean the People’s Progressive Party/C gonna turn up soon. They will continue doing what they got to do to help them-

selves, but what I know for sure is that all the Berbice and West Side estate people getting a nice Christmas for sure, especially all those estate workers the APNU/ AFC Government closed down. All those workers are gonna rejoice because definitely those estates really need to be opened back for all those thousands of workers that had to be laid off from working, and besides isn't sugar one of Guyana's resources? If they knew how to handle - matter a fact - if they had known exactly to run the country they fought so badly for, they would know how exactly, or what exactly they needed to do to keep those estates going and to keep how many thousands of worker employed, but no, they want to help themselves by stealing the money for their own use and benefits. Mister C Persaud did Guyana a tremendous favour by voting yes!”

Lennox Gasper

“My general reaction concerning the results of the no-confidence motion is shock

and disbelief to the extent that this (Sunday) morning I made it my duty to go and have a copy of all the newspapers to ensure that what I heard last (Saturday) night was not a dream and it was really true.

I also watched back the video that was on Parliament Live and I'm still processing it...We have a situation where our Government, we, to some extent maybe tell ourselves that we're too big to listen to some people. We have some time to ensure that we do some fixing of the house. We have 90 days to get it together and for me, at this point it may very well take a divine intervention..."

Delvon Mcewan

“I'm of the view that the timing of it is not the best for the country, since we're at a crossroad of attracting numerous foreign investors which in turn is expected to boost the economy and create employment opportunities. However, this motion may cause potential investors to halt such investments and await the outcome of upcoming elections.”

Rayanna James

“Well, I think it's bad because he is a snitch. He is not supposed to go against the party that he is involved in. And the thing is, the Opposition Leader ran Government for a very long time and some people may just choose them because they are racist; I think he should be penalised for it.”

Gladstone Edwards

“In my view, everyone should be able to speak their conscience about any issue without fear of favour. Mr Persaud should have spoken his mind a long time. Why wait until now? I can only assume that all this appears to be a set-up.”

Levi Rawlins

“Everyone is entitled to choose a side. The moment there is suspicion about a person's motives, everything he does becomes tainted. Mr Persaud's decision has tainted the mind of some, while some are rejoicing. Whatever motivated him must be worth it. I trust that all Guyanese be responsible for the action they take.”

Akanni Blair “It was one of the greatest political achievements of any political party in the history of our country. Never before was there a successful vote of no-confidence against a Government...Many people are of the view that it was a sell-out, it was a buyout

... but anybody with a good conscience would know that this no-confidence motion, as long as it was going to be heard, it was always going to be successful, given the fact that the Government of the day would have failed the people of Guyana miserably and many of the parliamentarians who were unwilling to step forward are disenchanted and disgruntled with the style and leadership of the APNU/ AFC...Charrandass would have stood his ground. He would have proven to be an independent minded person...

It is clear from his utterances that he was disenchanted, they were basically ignored as AFC members ... for many Guyanese, Charrandass is now a hero; for some Guyanese he is a traitor, but I believe most Guyanese believe that he is a hero...”

Lauren Bazillio

Sheik Asweem

“Excellent...it tells the Government that racism is only a perception … and whenever a Government decides to pressure the ordinary citizens … they can be removed.”

“I think our leaders have lost a great percentage of confidence from the population even before the motion because of how they are running the affairs of the country. At this point, the only resolution as a citizen is to ask God to take charge of the way forward and pray for the best!

Tzaddi Franklin “The no-confidence motion passed recently gave me a shock due to the way it transpired. I am prepared to vote for March 2019.

The event cannot be undone; I will execute my right next year.”

NGO continues to spread Christmas cheer T

he Sunrise Centre, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) came alive on Saturday as the children were treated to a Christmas party, organised by the Guyana Foundation which saw over 200 children in attendance.

The Foundation Trustee, Che Jian Ping travelled to Essequibo Coast, where she distributed gifts to children from various villages who are part of the Foundation’s after-school programme.

Children were served snacks and drinks along with goodies, compliments of the New Thriving Restaurant. The children also participated in games, singing of carols, and dancing.

On Wednesday, a children’s Christmas party was also held at the Health Centre in Mashabo – an Amerindian village across the Ituribisi Lake on the Essequibo Coast.

Despite the inclement weather, there were over

Santa entertaining the children

100 children who were entertained, and received gifts and party bags for the holiday.

The children had their faces painted and enjoyed games such as pinning the tail on the donkey. Each child was rewarded with confectionery for their attempts.

Gifts were distributed by the village’s Santa Claus, Deputy Toshao Pliston Charles.

The villagers expressed gratitude to the members of the Guyana Foundation for choosing their village to host a Christmas party.

According to the NGO, they are looking forward

to making it an annual feature.

“This was indeed a festive occasion with Christmas carols in the air and so much to eat and drink and the kids clutching unto their gifts and party bags with smiles lighting up their faces. What fun and happiness!”

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, december 24, 2018

Regional

UNC feeds off Guyana Govt’s collapse, Chinese accused of forcing out wake-up call for PNM – Lee local contractors in Barbados

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he Guyana Government’s collapse last Friday is a cautionary tale for the Dr Keith Rowley Administration.

Contacted on the issue Saturday, People’s National Movement deputy leader Marlene McDonald said she heard of the Guyana development, but could not comment just yet. Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses did not answer and other Ministers didn’t reply to queries.

However, UNC Deputy Leader/Whip David Lee said: “This intriguing development is a wake-up call for everyone in the Caribbean region. It’s particularly interesting, since the person who tipped the no-confidence vote against the Granger Government was a member of that government. It means to say that people in the Granger Government had apparently thought long, hard and carefully about the situation in Guyana and took a con-

UNC Deputy Leader/ Whip David Lee

science vote.

“This development has implications for Caribbean politics and right here at home. As we know, the Rowley Administration is on a slippery slope with public opinion.

“This is one of the worst Christmas seasons for av-

erage citizens and businesspeople also. We know the public’s feelings will filter back to MPs in the ruling PNM, particularly PNM backbenchers – so this is a cautionary tale for the Rowley Administration.”

He added: “You can run but you cannot hide from your own members, or MPs as the case might be. We’ve been considering a number of matters to come in the new year, including no-confidence motions against several people on the Government. So who knows?

It’s happened in Guyana and T&T is a Caribbean leader. Therefore, 2019 will be a very interesting year.”

T&T has its own case in 2000 when the Basdeo Panday administration collapsed after then-MPs Ralph Maraj, Trevor Sudama and Ramesh Maharaj fell out with the United National Congress and voted against Government matters in Parliament. (Excerpt from Trinidad

Guardian)

T&T: Deadly gun attack after love affair ends

A

deadly gun attack by the jilted former boyfriend of a 19-year-old woman in Penal, Trinidad before he took his own life, has left the community in shock.

Police said Dillon Bedassie, 24, of South Oropouche, went to the home of his ex-girlfriend Trisha Ragoonathsingh around 3:30h on Friday where he first fired several shots at the house.

Ragoonathsingh’s brother Jonathan Moore, 17, who was standing outside the house, was shot in the chest and foot during the attack. Bedassie also fired at Ragoonathsingh’s mother when she opened the door after hearing the shots and her son screaming. She was forced to close the door and retreat inside to preserve her own life.

Police said Bedassie then shot himself to death on the steps of the house.

Moore was expected to undergo a second surgery on Sunday at the San Fernando General Hospital. Police said he was in stable but serious condition.

When the Sunday Guardian visited Moore’s home, neighbours said no one has been at the house since Friday night. They said the family recently moved into the area and they had no contact info for them.

“That was really shocking, we still traumatised by this whole thing,” said a neighbour, who did not want to be named.

The Sunday Guardian also visited Bedassie’s home, but a person on the property said his relatives were not at home.

The story sparked a debate on social media. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

The only building at Sam Lord’s Castle where substantial construction has taken place (Picture by Maria

D

Bradshaw.)

isputes between the Chinese and local contractors at Wyndham Sam Lord’s Castle Resort are threatening to stall construction of the multimillion-dollar hotel.

Reliable sources have told The Nation local contractors do not feel as if they are getting the royal treatment by the Chinese, and many of them have either pulled out or are refusing to work on the project.

It is understood that disputes have aris-

en over differences in building techniques, culture, ethics and even payment. Nation investigations revealed that at least two major local contractors are owed millions of dollars and are involved in arbitration.

So serious was the situation that a source said China National Complete Plant Import & Export Corporation, the Chinese contractor, has applied to the Immigration Department to bring in more Chinese workers. (Nationnews)

Cuban legislators to approve final draft of new constitution in February

C

uba’s National Assembly on Saturday approved an update of the country’s constitution, the final step before a national referendum expected to approve the new charter in February.

The draft new constitution, which has 229 articles and will replace a Cold War-era one, will maintain the Communist Party as the country’s guiding force and the State’s dominance of the economy, according to State-run media. A copy has yet to be distributed to the public.

The document, however, also legitimises private business – which has blossomed over the past decade – acknowledges the importance of foreign investment and opens the door to gay marriage.

It imposes age and term limits on the presidency, after late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and his younger brother Raul Castro ruled the country for nearly six de-

cades, and introduces the role of a prime minister, as well as provincial governors.

The current draft incorporates into an original one published in July hundreds of mainly small changes proposed by citizens during a three-month public consultation at community meetings nationwide. It will go to a referendum on February 24.

“This process is a genuine and exceptional demonstration of the practice of power by the people and, therefore, of the markedly participative and democratic nature of our political system,” President Miguel Diaz-Canel told the National Assembly in a speech closing its week-long, twice-yearly session.

The 58-year-old took office from his mentor Raul Castro in April although the latter remains head of the Communist Party until 2021. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Colombian guerrilla leader killed by security forces

A

Colombian guerrilla leader has been found and killed, the country’s President says.

Walter Arízala, known better under his alias Guacho, was wanted for the murder of two Ecuadorean Journalists and their driver earlier this year.

On Friday, Colombian President Ivan Duque said he was killed in an operation near the Ecuadorean border.

In a statement, Duque described him as “one of the most horrendous criminals the country has known”.

“The message is clear, we won’t take a step back in the defence of legality, life, honour and the property of Colombians,” Duque said.

On top of killings, Guacho was also suspected of drug trafficking and extortion.

to 80 combatants operating around the ColombiaEcuador border area.

The group came to international attention earlier this year after kidnapping two Ecuadorean Journalists – 32-year-old reporter Javier Ortega and 45-year-old photographer

Paúl Rivas – along with their 60-year-old driver Efraín Segarra.

Two weeks after seizing the three, the group announced they had “died” when the army came close to where they were being held. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Unidentified man murdered in Montego Bay

P

Colombian President Ivan Duque (centre) announced the death

The 29-year-old was a former member of Colombia’s FARC rebel group. He is one of thousands who have refused or-

ders to lay down arms after the guerrilla group signed a peace deal with the Colombian Government in 2016.

Guacho broke away from the FARC and founded the Oliver Sinisterra Front – a dissident gang thought to have about 70

olice in Montego Bay, St James are reporting that the death of an unidentified man, whose body was found on Orange Street on Friday, December 21, is now being treated as a murder.

According to the constabulary’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), passers-by saw the body lying along the road

about 18:00h on Friday and called the Police. Residents took the man to hospital; however, he was pronounced dead.

CCU said forensic crime scene investigators processed the body on Saturday, December 22 and found that it had a stab wound to the chest and a wound to the head. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

17

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guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Indonesia tsunami kills hundreds, Huge crowds as Japan’s Monarch gives emotional farewell more than 800 injured

Cars were rolled over after the tsunami hit Sunda Strait, in Anyer, Banten [EPA-EFE/BNPB]

T

he death toll from a volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia has risen to more than 220, with over 800 people injured, officials said on Sunday.

"Two hundred and twenty-two people are dead, 843 people are injured and 28 people are missing," Indonesia's national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

"This number is predicted to increase because not

all victims have been successfully evacuated, not all health centres have reported victims and not all locations have got complete data," he added.

The tsunami hit both sides of Indonesia's Sunda Strait on Saturday, sending a wall of water crashing about 20 metres inland and sweeping away hundreds of homes and hotels, officials and witnesses have said.

Scientists from

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, also known as BMKG, said it could have been caused by undersea landslides from the eruption of Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island formed over years from the nearby Krakatau volcano.

They also cited tidal waves caused by the full moon.

The worst affected area was the Pandeglang region of Banten province in Java, which encompasses the Ujung Kulon National Park and popular beaches, the disaster agency said.

In the city of Bandar Lampung on southern Sumatra, hundreds of residents took refuge at the Governor's office.

Alif, a resident in Pandeglang district, said the tsunami reached about three metres high. He told MetroTV station that many people were still searching for missing relatives. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

Emperor Akihito delivers his last birthday address alongside his wife Empress Michiko

M

ore than 80,000 people have paid their respects to Japan's Emperor Akihito as he gave his final birthday address before his abdication in April.

The emperor, 85, said he took "deep comfort" that his reign had passed without Japan again engaging in war.

He became emotional as he thanked the people of Japan and his wife Empress Michiko for their support.

Akihito is the first living

Syria conflict: Macron Sudan doctors strike as protests enter 5th day criticises Trump's withdrawal decision F

F

rance's President Emmanuel Macron has said he deeply regrets President Donald Trump's controversial decision to withdrawal all US troops from Syria.

"An ally must be dependable," said Macron, who reportedly called Trump to warn him against the plan.

The US said the Islamic State (IS) group had been defeated, a claim disputed by allies and US politicians.

France, a key part of the US-led coalition against IS in Syria and Iraq, said its troops would remain in Syria.

Some 2000 US troops have helped rid much of Syria's north-east of the jihadist group, but pockets of fighters remain.

Critics of Trump's decision say it could lead to

a resurgence of the group, and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis resigned over the issue.

Speaking on a visit to French troops in Chad, Macron said: "To be allies is to fight shoulder to shoulder.

It's the most important thing for a head of state and head of the military."

Trump's sudden announcement on Wednesday and General Mattis' resignation sparked concern even among Republican supporters of the President.

The US special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat IS, Brett McGurk, also quit over the decision.

Meanwhile, the French president paid tribute to General Mattis, calling him a "reliable partner". (Excerpt from

BBC News)

resh anti-government protests have erupted in Sudan as doctors said they would go on strike to increase pressure on President Omar al-Bashir.

An independent group of medics said that from today they would focus on treating wounded protesters.

On Saturday, Sudan's Main Opposition Leader said security forces had killed 22 demonstrators. Officials say the toll is lower. Protests began on Wednesday after bread and fuel price rises were announced.

Over the past year, the cost of some goods has more than doubled, inflation has risen to nearly 70 per cent, the value of the Sudanese pound has fallen sharply and shortages have been reported in cities, including the capital Khartoum.

Footage on social media appeared to show continuing

protests in a number of areas.

The Central Sudanese Committee of Doctors said its members had seen protesters in hospitals with gunshot wounds and said there had been a number of deaths and injuries.

On Saturday, the authorities arrested 14 leaders of the National Consensus Forces, an opposition coalition, including the grouping's 85-year-old leader Farouk Abu Issa, a spokesman said.

"We demand their immediate release, and their arrest is an attempt by the regime to stop the street movements," spokesman Sadiq Youssef said.

On Saturday, Sadiq al-Mahdi, leader of the main Opposition Umma party, condemned "armed repression" and said the protests were fuelled by the "deteriorating situation" in the country. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

monarch to relinquish the Chrysanthemum throne in nearly 200 years.

The Emperor, who has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, will be succeeded in April by his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito.

His three-decade reign is known as the "Heisei" era, which means "achieving peace" in Japanese.

During his brief address, Emperor Akihito also offered condolences and sympathy to Japanese who had

lost family members or suffered damage – a reference to the earthquakes, severe storms and heatwaves that have hit the country over the past year.

Although his position is ceremonial and he has no political power, Akihito has spent much of his reign spreading awareness of Japan's actions during World War Two under the rule of his father, Emperor Hirohito.

He has expressed regret over Japan's military actions in both China and the Korean peninsula, and has also visited several Pacific battlefields to honour the dead, actions that have brought him into conflict with right-wing groups at home.

Ahead of his birthday he told reporters: "It is important not to forget that countless lives were lost in World War Two... and to pass on this history accurately to those born after the war."

(Excerpt from BBC News)

BJP President attacks Chief Minister over controversial Delhi Assembly resolution

S

etting an optimistic tone for 2019 Lok Sabha polls with a convention of over 16,000 booth presidents from Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Sunday lashed out at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress President Rahul Gandhi while urging the party workers to leave no stone unturned to make Narendra Modi Prime Minister once again.

On the controversial resolution in Delhi Assembly, Shah said it was “like rubbing salt on the wounds of the victims and AAP should be ashamed of itself.” The resolution, moved by an AAP MLA, was however not passed.

Shah asserted that the “when the next BJP Government at Centre will identify each and every infiltrator and throw them out

of the country”. Shah chose to specifically target Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal since Congress and AAP are the key rivals of BJP preparing to repeat the victory on all seven Lok Sabha seats of Delhi in 2019.

“The lies of Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi outweigh all the lies spoken since independence in the country. The victims of the 1984 riots did not get the justice till now because the perpetrators of the riots were being protected. Modi government formed a SIT to ensure that the victims get justice and now the victims are getting justice and Congress leaders are getting punished.

It has been proved that the riots were carried out under the watch of those in power at that time and the violence was carried out by Congress leaders,” Shah stated. (Excerpt

from Times of India)

Turkey bolsters military on Syrian border as U.S. readies pull-out

T

urkey began reinforcing its positions on both sides of its border with Syria on Sunday, a Reuters witness said, as Ankara and Washington agreed to coordinate a US withdrawal from Syria.

The heightened military activity comes two days after President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would postpone a planned military operation on Kurdish YPG militia east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria following the US decision to pull out.

He also said Turkey would take over the fight against Islamic State militants.

The Turkish presidency said Erdogan and US

A wall along the border between Turkey and Syria is seen in Kilis province, Turkey, January 30, 2018

President Donald Trump in a phone call on Sunday agreed to establish military and diplomatic coordination to prevent an authority vacuum from developing as the United States withdraws.

Earlier in the day, footage from broadcaster TRT World showed some Turkish convoys entering Syria via the Turkish border town of Karkamis, which is located some 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of the northern Syrian town of Manbij.

The convoys are crossing into an area controlled by the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a Turkish ally, and are heading to the frontlines of Manbij, TRT World said.

Manbij has been a major flashpoint between Ankara and Washington. In June, the NATO allies reached an agreement that would see the YPG ousted from the town, but Turkey has complained the roadmap has been delayed and said Turkish forces would enter the town if the United States does not remove the Kurdish militants.

The YPG has been a main US ally in the fight against Islamic State. Ankara says the militia is a terrorist organisation and an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in Turkey since the 1980s.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

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mondAY, december 24, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Be careful how you deal with superiors or people who can influence the outcome of a plan you want to pursue. Look for any defects or problems that may stand in your way.

Short trips will give you reason to rethink your current position and plan for the future. Suggestions made by someone with more experience will be worth listening to.

Anger is a waste of time.

If someone tries to manipulate a situation, take a step back and do your own thing.

Avoid indulgent people and those who tend to overreact.

A steady pace will help you take care of all the finer details that need to be put into place. If you use your imagination, good things will transpire.

Share a moment with a good friend or make a personal change that will give you something to look forward to. Shop for practical items and avoid waste.

Time spent with younger and older individuals will be insightful. Peoples' comments will make you fully aware of something that has been confusing you or causing you uncertainty.

Spend time with peoLIBRA (Sept. 23- ple who appreciate and enOct. 23) courage you. If someone complains, do your best not to indulge such behavior.

Keeping the peace is a much better option.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — JABBERED (JABBERED: JAB-erd: Talked rapidly or indistinctly.)

Can you find 29 or more words in JABBERED? The list will be published tomorrow.

SATURDAY’S WORD — CAJOLING

alnico along jail jingo join oilcan lacing laic lain ling lingo

lion loan logic loin long icon nail noil gain goal

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Put more time and effort into how you present yourself. A new look or a positive attitude will lead to interesting comments and suggestions.

Be careful what you say to SAGITTARIUS friends and relatives. Giving (Nov. 23- someone the wrong impresDec. 21) sion will cause a ruckus that won't be easy to quell. Keep a low profile and a reserved outlook.

Average mark 21 words Time limit 35 minutes

clan clang cling clog coal coil coin cola conga acing align

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle

Express your thoughts CAPRICORN and feelings and make a (Dec. 22- loved one happy. A kind Jan. 19) word or gesture will help bring you closer to the people who make a difference in your life.

Share your thoughts AQUARIUS with someone who can con(Jan. 20- tribute to your success and Feb. 19) figure out a way to turn your wishes into reality. Change starts with a good idea.

Follow through with your PISCES (Feb. 20- plans for celebrations and fun March 20) surprises for loved ones. It will prove difficult for certain parties to keep sensitive information secret.

mondAY, december 24, 2018

19

BCB/Busta 40-Over 1st Division

Another tournament won

by Rose Hall Town The giant ‘Jaguar’ Clinton Pestano

– Pestano wreaks havoc as Young Warriors capitulate to enemy fire

By Brandon Corlette

T

he dominant Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets cricket team brushed aside a weary Young Warriors cricket team by 51 runs in the final match of the BCB/Busta 40-Over First Division Cricket tournament played on Sunday at the Cumberland ground in East Canje, Berbice. This has happened for the second time in as many First Division final matches the two teams have contested for 2018.

The home ground of the Young Warriors Cricket Club at Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice -- stomping ground of the phenomenal Shimron Hetmyer – was made somewhat soggy by overnight showers that had swept across the so-called Ancient County and

seeped under the covers. This, however, did not deter the Shawn Pereira-led Rose Hall Town team, who won the toss and took first strike through their opening batsmen, Kevin and Junior Sinclair.

Junior Sinclair was removed by his Berbice Under-19 teammate Trevon Stanislaus for zero, and left-arm seamer Devendra Ramoutar removed his older brother, Jason Sinclair, likewise without troubling the score. Thus Young Warriors had a dream start to their match with the score on 5 for 2.

National Under-19 player Kevin Sinclair and Guyana Jaguars’ team member Clinton Pestano then painstakingly rebuilt the Rose Hall Town innings with a 46-run third wicket partnership, in which Sinclair stroked an elegant 36

and Pestano chipped in with 19. Sinclair’s knock included two boundaries and one six, while Pestano hit four boundaries. Kevlon Anderson, with 19, and Vidal Crandon, with 22, then ensured Rose Hall Town post 133 all out.

Veteran off-spinner Ishwar Singh grabbed 3-7, while leftarm spinner Trevon Stanislaus grabbed 2-22. Suresh Dhani, Devendra Ramoutar and Linden Austin each picked up one wicket in a disciplined Young Warriors’ bowling performance.

In pursuit of the relatively tiny target of 134, Young Warriors attempted to employ smart batting, but they ran into a blitzkrieg from the star-studded Rose Hall Town bowling unit. Explosive Guyana Under-19 batsman Alex Algoo, with 36, and Ishwar Singh,

with 23, were the chief run-getters of the Young Warriors team, who were blown away by the explosive fire power of the Rose Hall Town bowling unit.

Nine Young Warriors batsmen failed to reach double figures, six of them even scoring ducks, as the giant ‘Jaguar’ Clinton Pestano demolished seven of their wickets. The Young Warriors team were bowled out for an embarrassing 82 runs in 14.1 overs as Pestano ended with 7-28 while Berbice youth spinner Keith Simpson snatched 2-21.

The victory means the Rose Hall Town team have earned their fifth title for 2018, even as they are on the verge of completing their sixth title win in 2018; that is, if they defeat the same Young Warriors team in the Ivan Madray 100-Ball tournament.

Warrington beats Frampton, eyes US unification bouts J

osh Warrington hopes to take his IBF world featherweight title to the USA and unify the division in 2019 after an enthralling win over Carl Frampton.

Warrington beat Northern Ireland's Frampton on points in Manchester in a fight promoter Frank Warren called "the best I've ever seen in a British ring".

Asked if he wants to chase the WBC, WBO or WBA belts, the 28-year-old Englishman said: "100%. I don't want steady pay days.

"I want to test myself and keep going."

The Leeds fighter added: "It's the big nights that get me up for it.

"I like it busy. It keeps me going and next year we will go State-side and the journey continues.

"I'd like an away trip. I went there in 2017 to watch Frampton v Leo Santa Cruz and took a little moment to see Carl's fans there on the Las Vegas strip. I was thinking I could see the Leeds fans there so that's what I'd like next."

Warrington will rank high on the list for British fighter of the year having upset the odds to win the

Josh Warrington lands a lefthanded punch during his unanimous points victory over Carl Frampton

world title from Welshman Lee Selby at Leeds' Elland Road in May before again defying bookmakers to beat 31-year-old Frampton - a former two-weight world champion.

Globally, he sits alongside Mexicans Santa Cruz and Oscar Valdez, who hold the WBA and WBO titles respectively, and American Gary Russell Jr, who has the WBC belt.

"He proved today he was top echelon," said promoter Warren. "I think he is the best featherweight in the world. He's young, hungry and he has an engine which is unbelievable. Who can

keep up with that?"

Warrington, who is trained by his father, said he may have fractured his hand late in Saturday's contest, which took place in a frenetic atmosphere at Manchester Arena.

He began at a relentless pace and felt he could have possibly stopped his rival in the second round - but he later praised Frampton for being "a tough, tough man".

"My family are on a journey," added Warrington.

"I'm pleased for my dad. We are a small team. We don't have a massive reputation but we keep going against the odds and proving people

wrong.

"It's for my fans and followers too. They have stuck with me through thick and thin.

"I'm not the fastest, strongest or most intelligent boxer but I go in there and always wear my heart on my sleeve.

"There were times today when I went through an emotional rollercoaster thinking: 'How have I got to this level?'

"When I stepped in this arena there was no way I was getting beaten. It would have taken a lot to stop me tonight." (BBC Sport)

Paul jumps 42 spots in T20 rankings – Lewis bursts into top 5

W

indies stars Keemo Paul and the big hitting Evin Lewis made rapid strides in the latest ICC T20 rankings, after a thrilling 2-1 series win over Bangladesh.

The left-hander, who smashed 89 off just 36 balls in the decider, jumped to no.4 spot, moving 11 positions up from his previous ranking.

Keemo Paul, who was the star with the ball, registering figures of 5-15, moved 42 positions to reach no.30 spot in bowlers ranking. His T20 exploits have also helped him earn an IPL spot with the Delhi Capitals.

Batsman Shai Hope too was rewarded for his consistent efforts throughout the three games, including a fifty in the first game, earning a massive 82-place leap to No.82.

The other Windies batsmen making gains were Nicholas Pooran (16 places to No.88) and Rovman Powell (26 places to No.110).

As for the bowlers, Cottrell and Allen made a huge upward movement.

Cottrell, who finished the series with seven scalps, jumped 64 places to No.88, and Allen moved up 86 places to No.99.

Skipper Carlos Brathwaite became the top-ranked Windies bowler with an eight-place leap to No.22, finishing one above Samuel Badree, the Windies leg-spinner.

For Bangladesh, it was skipper Shakib Al Hasan who made noteworthy gains in all three departments. He climbed one place to the second spot in the all-rounder's column, three spots to No.7 in the bowler's list, and seven spots to No.37 in the batting chart.

However, in team rankings, both Bangladesh and West Indies continued to languish at the foot of the table, ranked no.7 and no.10 respectively. (News18)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, december 24, 2018

Stevenson awake after 5 weightlifters suspended after London 2012 retests 3 weeks in coma

Ukraine's Oleksiy Torokhtiy wins gold as he performs a successful lift in the men's 105kg Group A weightlifting clean and jerk competition at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games

F Canada referee Michael Griffin lifts the arm of Adonis Stevenson after his victory over Andrzej Fonfara (not pictured) in their WBC boxing championship bout at the Bell Centre

C

anadian boxer Adonis Stevenson has regained consciousness after three weeks in a coma following a Dec. 1 knockout loss, his girlfriend said on Saturday.

Simone “Sisi” God said in a statement posted on Twitter that the Haiti-born 41-year-old is awake.

“Despite recent reports being leaked to media, I wanted to clarify that Adonis is awake,” God said.

“He is healing from his injury in the private company of his family and his dedicated medical team.

“Adonis is a world champion in the ring and is exhibiting that same grit, strength and determination in his recovery.”

Boxing promoter Yvon Michel had told reporters in Canada on Thursday that the light heavyweight boxer remained unconscious.

But his girlfriend said

“Adonis is spending time enjoying music and spending time with his family and sends his love and appreciation to you all.”

The former light-heavyweight world champion was taken to hospital for treatment after a knockout loss to Oleksandr Gvozdyk of Ukraine in Quebec City on Dec. 1.

He had defended his title nine times since 2013 before the loss. (Reuters)

Premier League…

ive weightlifters, including two Olympic champions, have been provisionally suspended after retests of their samples from the 2012 London Olympics came back positive for doping, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) said.

Ukraine’s Oleksiy Torokhtiy could now be stripped of the Olympic title he won in the 105-kg category in London while Azerbaijan’s Bulgaria-born Valentin Hristov could lose his bronze medal from the 56-kg category.

“The International Olympic Committee is responsible to decide about any consequences relat-

ing to the athletes’ participation in the 2012 London Olympic Games,” the IWF said.

“In all cases where it is determined that an AntiDoping Rule Violation was committed, the responsibility to conduct results management will be transferred to the IWF in terms of consequences extending beyond the athletes’ Olympic Games participation.”

Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Nurudinov, who came fourth in the 105kg in London, Armenia’s Melanie Daluzyan and Belarus’s Mikalai Novikau were also suspended after the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) re-analysis discovered adverse an-

alytical findings, the IWF said in a statement.

Nurudinov won the Olympic title in Rio in 2016 as well as the world title in Poland in 2013 and the gold medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta this year.

Weightlifting, which featured at the first modern Olympics in 1896, is under fire over widespread doping offences and the IOC has threatened to remove it from the Paris 2024 Games if it fails to improve its record. The sport remains on probation. The IWF has adopted a tougher anti-doping policy this year under which repeat-offender nations can be banned outright from the Olympics.

Tottenham Leeds defeat Aston sink Everton Villa to go top (Reuters)

Tottenham's final Premier League away game of 2018 ended in a 14th top-flight win on the road

T

ottenham produced an outstanding performance to brush aside Everton and move two points behind second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino's side had to come from behind at Goodison Park after Theo Walcott swept home Dominic CalvertLewin's low cross from Gylfi Sigurdsson's defence-splitting pass.

Everton's lead was shortlived as Son Heung-min pro-

duced a sublime equaliser from a tight angle following a mix-up between Kurt Zouma and Jordan Pickford.

Dele Alli put Spurs ahead for the first time after reacting first to Pickford's save from Son, then Harry Kane made it 3-1 when Kieran Trippier's curling free-kick hit a post and rebounded into the England captain's path.

In an entertaining game, Christian Eriksen's sublime first-time shot extended Tottenham's lead before

Sigurdsson scored a consolation against his former club.

Son added the fifth and produced the cross for Kane to make it six, yet victory came at a cost for the free-scoring visitors.

Alli was forced off after a challenge with England team-mate Pickford, which former Three Lions captain Alan Shearer described as "disgusting".

Spurs are five points ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal, who are fourth and fifth respectively. (BBC Sport)

Kemar Roofe drills home Leeds' stoppage-time winner at Villa Park to put the Whites back on top of the Championship

A

ston Villa boss Dean Smith called Leeds United "the best side we've played" after they came back from two goals down to claim a stunning 3-2 stoppage-time win and go back to the top of the Championship.

Villa led 2-0 at halftime as Tammy Abraham's seventh goal in his past four home games - a closerange finish set up by John McGinn's bursting run - was quickly followed by Conor

Hourihane's beautifully placed low left-foot curler.

But Leeds struck twice in five second-half minutes to draw level as half-time substitute Jack Clarke's stunning right-foot curler - his first goal for the club - was followed by a Pontus Jansson header.

And they won it five minutes into injury time when top scorer Kemar Roofe found the bottom corner to send the noisy visiting fans into raptures.

Relive Leeds' comeback win at Aston Villa Marcelo Bielsa, the Leeds head coach, suggested that he would have settled for a point before Roofe scored.

"We were satisfied with the draw," Bielsa said. "But we felt a lot of euphoria to win, especially as it was in the last minute. And we deserved to win. We put in a lot of effort. The performance of the players was all very good." (BBC Sport)

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21

GFF/Stag Super 16 Tournament…

Kings, Ann’s Grove

secure wins A ction in the Guyana Football Federation/Stag Super 16 Year End Tournament continued over the weekend with a double header which saw Ann's Grove United and Victoria Kings securing victories at the Golden Grove ground on the East Coast of Demerara.

In the first matchup of the night, Ann's Grove brushed aside the Falcons 3 – 0 to storm in to the next round. Taking command of the match in the 16th minute, Phillip Williams of Ann's Grove netted one to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Needing an equaliser, the Falcons maxed out their substitutions in a vain search for the breakthrough.

When the Grove side sensed both an imbalance and lack of communication in the Falcons unit, they quickly went on to score their second goal 15 minutes into the final half, as Quincy Barry took the score to 2-0.

Quinsi Holder

From there it was smooth sailing for the eventual victors, so much so that Ryan Sears put the final nail in the Falcons’ coffin with a goal in the 63rd minute.

In the showdown of the night, Victoria Kings made a thrilling comeback to defeat Buxton Stars 2 – 1. Eon Abel utilised the opportunity given in the 42nd minute to give the Stars the lead. However, in the second 45 minutes, the King's dug deep and equalised through a Quinsi Holder goal in the 52nd minute.

Two minutes later, Holder returned with a bang to deny the Stars as the Kings took the lead for the first time; a lead which they held until the regulation time whistle.

Everest Masters defeat Media XI T

he festive season kicked off on Saturday with one of the most anticipated cricket matches of 2018 – the encounter between an Everest Masters side and a Media XI side.

Guyana’s most successful Masters cricket team hosted members of the local media fraternity in a friendly 20-over contest on Saturday at the Everest Cricket Club ground from 13:00h.

The Media XI, taking

first strike, posted 1606 off their allotted overs.

Their batting was opened

by Rajiv Bisnauth and John Ramsingh (18). Ramsingh, however, retired and Bisnauth was left to carry on.

Ryan Banware then came to the crease, and he compiled a resistant 20 before he was stumped off the bowling of B Persaud.

Bisnauth proceeded to strike a well compiled half

century, but eventually retired on 53. The only other member of the Media team who was able to add a meaningful figure to the score was Siddiq Mohamed, who made 26; the other four Media wickets fell for 21 runs.

Needing only 161 to win off 120 balls, the iconic club started their chase with former West Indies batsman Dr Shivnarine Chanderpaul and stalwart Saheed Mohamed opening the in-

nings.

Chanderpaul and Mohamed dictated the Everest innings from the first ball they faced, as they demolished the poor bowling of the out-of-form Media XI to score 55 and 62 runs respectively.

By the time they had retired, the platform for victory had already been set. From there, on R Jaisingh and R Banware took Everest over the line with 10 and 14 runs

respectively to give Everest Masters a commanding win.

Individual prizes were then given to: Basil Persaud, who was adjudged man of the match for his 4-33 and 14 not out; Rajiv Bisnauth, who scored 53 for the Media team; and Saddiq Mohammed, who was adjudged the Media Team’s best bowler.

This event was sponsored by proprietor of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich.

“I am new to international cricket, I made a mistake” - umpire Tanvir Ahmed U mpire Tanvir Ahmed, whose erroneous no-ball calls during the third T20I between Bangladesh and West Indies had caused an eight-minute halt in play, has admitted that he had made a mistake.

Off what was supposed to be the final ball of the fourth over of Bangladesh's chase of 191, Tanvir wrongly pulled up the West Indies fast bowler Oshane Thomas for overstepping. Replays confirmed that Thomas had had some part of his foot behind the line. The incident came minutes after Tanvir had called another erroneous no-ball off Thomas, off the fifth ball of the same over. The free-hits that followed both no-balls were hit for sixes.

The second no-ball call led West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite to protest against the decision, which held up play for about eight minutes. He spoke to the fourth umpire Sharfuddoula

Carlos Brathwaite protests with Masudur Rahman about a controversial no-ball call by umpire Tanvir Ahmed (right)

and match referee Jeff Crowe near the boundary line, where he was told that the no-ball couldn't be reviewed.

Tanvir, who officiated in all three matches of the T20I series - his maiden international assignment - said he had a good track-record as umpire, and that he wasn't focusing on the backlash he

has been facing.

"In terms of a no-ball, there is always the issue of the foot and the line being close to each other," Tanvir told Prothom Alo. "And if the bowler jumps quickly, there are occasions when it is difficult to spot it. I am new to international cricket, I made a mistake.

"If you look at my past, I

don't have a bad history. It was one mistake. Inshallah, I will come back well. Every person has good days and bad days. Yesterday I had a bad day. The match just ended yesterday. I am not focusing on anything else. I am thinking about my mistake."

West Indies went on to win the match, but during

the post-match press conference, Brathwaite reacted strongly, saying that he was ready to risk sanctions for protesting such on-field calls.

Brathwaite also said he had already had a word with Crowe about other contentious umpiring decisions after the second T20I on Thursday.

During that game, umpires Tanvir and Gazi Sohel had given one lbw decision each against West Indies' batsmen when they had inside-edged the ball onto their pads. West Indies managed to overturn both calls successfully after opting for reviews.

Tanvir is no stranger to on-field controversy. During a Dhaka Premier League List A match in 2016, he had staged a walkout after an argument with Abahani Limited captain Tamim Iqbal over a stumping decision, which resulted in the match getting postponed.

(Cricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, december 24, 2018

Hope, Hetmyer the core of Windies batting in 2019

By Clifton Ross

their team in recent runs.

The IPL 2019 bound

T

he inform Windies duo of Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope wrapped up their tour to the Indian sub-continent as the leading run-getters of their team, thus entering 2019 -- more so the upcoming England tour in January -- with much to prove and much responsibility resting on their shoulders.

Both batsmen were standouts during the recent tour to Bangladesh, given the extent of their massive contributions.

After losing the Test and ODI series, it was evident that the Windies needed to bat smartly around the two in-form scorers, who have been the leaders for

Shimron Hetmyer, a leading run-getter in the Indian tour, ended the Bangladesh series with 261 runs across all formats of the game, but was outdone by the stylish Bajan righthander Shai Hope, who racked up 450 runs against the Tigers during some of the toughest times on tour.

Hetmyer was more assertive in the Tests, looking to further establish himself in the longest format of the game as he piled on 222 runs. But a dismal ODI and T20 series accounted for the remaining runs, which showed a dip in scoring by the Guyanese.

Despite not getting out of the blocks in the shorter formats of the game, Hetmyer remains one of the main scorers -- along with Hope -- for the West Indies in 2018.

Hope certainly put his hand up in the completely opposite role, as he is more renowned as a classical Test batsman, but he sent a strong message during his rapid scoring in the ODIs

and T20s, wherein he ended with 114 runs. In the One-Dayers, Hope was savage, hitting 297 runs overall, with two centuries, one of which was a magical 146 not out.

Both batsmen carried the Windies through the hard times in India, and they have both raised their World rankings in Test and ODIs after a stellar patch with the bat. The pair was then tasked with major responsibility for the team’s batting, thanks to the lack of form or to careless batting from their peers.

The England tour will be crucial for both Hope

and Hetmyer, their having dominated a strong Indian side before showing their class against the feisty Bangladeshis. The more dangerous England side will prove a big test for the inform pair, who would want to make a huge impression on home soil.

With his phenomenal scoring, Hope had a good outing against England a while ago; while Hetmyer could easily build his immensely growing reputation as a world-class batsman by performing well next year.

With the Joe Root-led England side set to arrive in January for their biggest

tour of the Caribbean in decades, West Indies will be desperate to get themselves organised after the holidays and arrival of the New Year.

Much will revolve around their younger batters, like Hope; Hetmyer; Guyanese all-rounder Keemo Paul; Kraigg Brathwaite, who was out-of-touch this tour but is still a big player; Nicholas Pooran, who showed glimpses of talent but needs to temper his aggression; and players like Guyanese Chandrapaul Hemraj and Sherfane Rutherford, who constantly drift in and out of the team.

Ramdhani hails GBA, players for stellar 2018 – says Narayan’s 2020 Olympic path crucial

The head coach told Guyana Times Sport on Badminton Coach Gokarn Sunday that he was pleased Ramdhani has dubbed 2018 with the GBA’s feats this a fruitful year for not only year. He added that apart the Guyana Badminton from the road to the 2020 Association (GBA), of which Olympics for Narayan and he is president, but for na- Priyanna, as well as her tional players Narayan and brother’s 2019 Pan American Priyanna Ramdhani, who Games’ qualification, he have endured a phenomenal wants to focus on the junior year. crop of players as well as students, as introducing the sport to schools is among the main objectives for 2019.

“We had a very successful 2018. Our players did well at the various camps, and we achieved much because we are now ranked 32 in the World, thanks to our junior players.

Narayan has been doing well in his high-perforGokarn Ramdhani mance camp in Canada, w h i l e Priyanna is currently 151 in the world rankings.

We also won about 8 medals during the Senior and Junior W o r l d champion-

for individual participation in the Pan American Games in 2019. He said the other players would form a strong team with the brother/sister duo, giving Guyana a better chance at the team events.

In regard to building the

By Clifton Ross

Narayan Ramdhani

ships,” he declared.

Narayan is a strong prospect to represent Guyana at the Olympics, and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) member said it is mandatory for this Guyanese star to play 5 games before he could be considered qualified for Olympic participation.

The senior Ramdhani explained that while two tournaments are already outlined for Narayan in 2019 -- a Pan Am tournament in Peru and the Caribbean Championships -- the badminton ace still needs to play in 3 other recognisable events in order to secure the mandatory requirements.

The GBA Head has said he is hopeful the GOA and National Sports Commission (NSC) can map a path forward to ensure Narayan plays his 3 other mandatory games, thus he can gain the necessary ranking to put Guyana on the map for the 2020 Olympics.

Regarding the local players, the senior Ramdhani has said emphasis would be placed on finding additional players to accompany Narayan and Priyanna, who have already qualified

Priyanna Ramdhani

next generation of badminton players, a key dream of the GBA President, he disclosed that a massive schools’ programme would spike off next year to facilitate students learning the fundamentals of the sport, while free gear, including racquets and nets, would also be distributed.

Thanks to the success of the juniors this year, Guyana had impressive returns; but the coach has said it is crucial for the youngsters to immediately be prepared for next year’s tournament, because he believes they could perform better.

This veteran coach/GBA executive has commended all his players and the die-hard supporters of the sport for making a massive success of all of the local events as well as the players’ international endeavors during 2018. He has confirmed that the first tourney of 2019 would likely get underway in late January/early February.

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, december 24, 2018

23

KFC Goodwill Tournament 2018….

T&T’s Shiva Boys claim inaugural title T

he Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown was the preferred place to be on Saturday evening, as four secondary school teams competed for supremacy in the KFC Goodwill Tournament, with the Shiva Boys College of Trinidad and Tobago carting off the inaugural championship trophy.

The finals of this threeday competition saw Annai Secondary taking on Annandale Secondary, before Christianburg-Wismar Secondary battled Shiva

Boys Hindu College of Trinidad and Tobago. There could not be a better script to the climax of this final night, as Annai and Shiva Boys each needed to win in order to take home the championship trophy.

In the first encounter, a spirited Annai side played valiantly, proving they are indeed one of the best school teams in the country. Having stumbled in their first game against Shiva Boys, Annai had their soccer skills on full display in this encounter against Annandale. Mindful that goal difference would be

an important factor, Annai’s improved attacking style discomfited Annandale from the get-go.

The Annandale goalkeeper should have scooped up the ball, but he squandered the collection twice, resulting in Annai's first two goals. Highest goal scorer of the tournament, Annai’s Niazz Mohammed, then netted a goal of his own in the 28th minute, to push the score to 3-0.

With an already convincing lead by half time, Annai rubbed salt in Annandale’s wounds with

The Trinidadian unit battled a strong Linden lineup and was fortunate to prevail

Annai dominated possession throughout the encounter

another three goals; scored respectively by the prolific Niazz Mohammed, Junior Rodrigues and Naidison Daniels. Thus Annai humbled Annandale with an emphatic 6-nil victory.

Having done their part, Annai’s fate now rested in Christianburg-Wismar pulling off a win over Shiva Boys to give Annai the championship ahead of the visiting Trinidadians.

Christianburg-Wismar were well on their way to accomplishing this mission, matching pace and skills with the visitors, being often in control of the ball,

and having countless near misses at goal. Shiva Boys had now met their match in the tournament, and had to fight hard to hold off the determined Lindeners.

The first goal eventually came from Stevon Thomas of Shiva Boys in the 39th minute, but this only provoked the Lindeners’ determination to equalise. This, unfortunately, did not materialise until the second half, when Tyrese Lewis found the back of the Shiva Boys net in the 60th minute. And just when it seemed that the contest would be plunged into penalties, the Shiva Boys struck

luck in the 81st minute when they were awarded a penalty.

Gesiah Bishop made no mistake with the shot, which eventually won the game for his team and broke the hearts of both Christianburg-Wismar and Annai Secondary.

The individual presentations saw Annai's Leston Smith being adjudged the best goalkeeper, and his teammate Niazz Mohammed being recognized as the highest goal-scorer. Shiva Boys' Nikel Rawlings was awarded the tournament's MVP.

BCB/Ivan Madray 100-Ball Cricket

Anderson, Sinclair lead Rose Hall Town into final

Kevlon Anderson (Brandon Corlette photos)

By Brandon Corlette

T

he star-studded Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets Team defeated the Tucber Park Cricket Club by five wickets in a semi-final match of the BCB/Ivan Madray 100-Ball First Division Cricket tournament played at the Albion Community Centre on Sunday last.

Each team had in its lineup one member of the triumphant Guyana Jaguars; Romario Shepherd was playing for the Tucber Park Cricket Club, while Clinton Pestano was playing for the Gizmos and Gadgets Cricket Team.

Because of overnight showers, venue for the game was changed from the Port Mourant ground to the Albion ground as exciting cricket continued over the weekend.

Under beautiful sunshine, the Romario Shepherd-led Tucber Park team took first

strike, their opening batsmen Malcolm Mickle and Steve Deonarine taking no chances in the power play segment.

Cautious batting, however, led to the loss of Mickle’s wicket, the Berbice Under-19 batsman being dismissed by left arm-spinner Keith Simpson for 09.

With the score on 13-1, former Berbice youth player Clifton Lindie partnered

Deonarine, and the pair set about to secure their wickets.

Eight runs later, Deonarine (12) was removed by Junior Sinclair with a ball that kept low, hitting the stumps. Lindie followed soon after, reducing Tucber Park to 40-3.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Hakeem Hinds and former National youth player Anthony D’ Andrade joined forces, but Tucber Park wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

Hinds (18), D’Andrade (04) and Devon Clements (03) fell cheaply as Tucber Park found themselves precariously hanging on at 60-6 at one stage.

With the 100-run mark seemingly a million miles away, Romario Shepherd took to the crease, and his intention was obvious from the getgo. Shepherd hit a quick-fire 22, which included two huge maximums, before he was removed by his Guyana Jaguars team mate Clinton Pestano.

Nial Smith (09), Garfield Benjamin (03*) and Leon Swamy (01*) eventually saw Tucber Park to 100-8 when

Shepherd bowls to Jason Sinclair

their 100 balls expired.

The economical and effective off-spinner Junior Sinclair finished with mesmerising bowling figures of 3-9 in three overs. Eon Hooper grabbed 2-21 in 4.2 overs; and Kevin Sinclair, Keith Simpson and Clinton Pestano picked up one wicket each for Rose Hall Town.

In pursuit of Tucber Park’s 100 scored in 100 balls, the Rose Hall Town batsmen were required to employ sensible batting, picking up singles and double runs. But when off-spinner Devon Clements removed the talented Kevin Sinclair for a golden duck, Tucber Park had the perfect start.

For a brief moment, Junior Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson repaired the early damage -- until Junior Sinclair was trapped in front by the veteran Clements. Thus Anderson, who recently returned from the West Indies Under-19 Training Camp, was once again thrust into the role of Mr Dependable.

Whereas Vidal Crandon and Jason Sinclair were run out for 02 and 28 respective-

ly, Kevlon Anderson was composed, batting with the authority of a Shepherd.

With the score on 71-4, Tucber Park wasted the brilliant start they had obtained, the game changing direction when a Leon Swamy over was hit every which way for 20 runs. Brutal in his stroke play, Pestano hit Swamy for half a dozen over the long-on ropes, and straight down the ground with beautiful timing. The over seemed a long one for Swamy when Anderson pummeled one through midwicket for four.

By the time the brilliant Romario Shepherd had removed Kevlon Anderson with a great yoker that shattered his stumps, the damage was already done: batting with an authority reminiscent of the awesome Indian

batsman Virat Kohli, Anderson had effectively milked the Tucber Park bowling by scoring 22 singles, two three-shots and one two-shot in compiling a match-winning 42 that included three boundaries.

Pestano (09*) and Hooper (01*) eventually saw their team to a compelling 5-wicket victory.

Devon Clements was the best Tucber Park bowler, with 2-18 in four overs, while Shepherd captured one wicket.

The overwhelming favourites, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, are in yet another final, and they will be seeking to conclude 2018 on a winning note when they clash with Young Warriors Cricket Club in the final of the Ivan Madray 100-Ball, scheduled to be played at Port Mourant.

Junior Sinclair

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

KFC Goodwill Tournament 2018….

T&T’s Shiva Boys claim inaugural title Page 23

BCB/Busta 40-Over 1st Division

Another tournament won by Rose Hall Town

Paul jumps 42 spots in T20 rankings – Lewis bursts into top 5

Page 19

Keemo Paul celebrates the dismissal of Shakib Al Hassan

– Pestano wreaks havoc as Young Warriors capitulate to enemy fire

Clinton Pestano's RHTYSC added another title to their 2018 cabinet (Brandon Corlette photos)

Page 19

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