Guyana Times - Monday, December 28, 2018

Former Guyanese Attorney General, Sir Fenton Ramsahoye passes on P13

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Govt must resign as per Constitution – Jagdeo Issue No. 3788

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Friday, December 28, 2018

...writes Chief Justice not to violate See Constitution stories on pages ...Cabinet meetings illegal 3, 7 & 11 ...Clerk says “no review” to no-confidence motion; resolution already circulated ...GECOM will deliver once election date is set – PRO

Broken koker causes flooding in Wakenaam Page 14

Young driver killed after colliding with old refrigerator Page 2

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Mason P chopped to death during row at bar be cue

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P10 12 homeless after Boxing Day fire in Berbice

Brazilian farmer P13 allegedly murdered during argument over ‘wild meat’

Decomposed human foot discovered at Rose Hall Town dump P2 site

Armed men terrorise Berbice family, threaten to rape 9-year-old Page 10

"Nick-knock" on the run after killing "Overdose" P9

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fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Young driver killed after colliding Decomposed with old refrigerator human foot condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Based on reports received, Saul was proceeding along the No. 59 road in motorcar PVV 1120 when he reportedly collided with an old refrigerator that was left in the middle of the road.

As a result of the impact, the young man lost control of the vehicle, which reportedly toppled several times before coming to a halt.

Saul and Beaton were pulled from the mangled vehicle and taken to the Skeldon Hospital, but owing to the extent of their injuries, they were transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. While there, Saul died while receiving medical attention.

Guyana Times understands that the Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into the accident and more so, the manner in which the refrigerator was disposed of.

discovered at Rose Hall Town dump site

A

Dead: Reoul Drepal-Saul

young man was killed on Wednesday morning after slamming into an old refrigerator, which subsequently caused him to lose control of the car he was driving along the Number 59 Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

Dead is 20-year-old Reoul Drepal-Saul of Number 51 Village, Corentyne. In addition, his passenger, 18-year-old Akesha Beaton of the same village is listed in serious

The refrigerator that Reoul Drepal-Saul ran into on Wednesday morning

The Rose Hall Town dump site

T

he partially decomposed right foot suspected to be that of a female was discovered in the Rose Hall Town dump site on Christmas Day. The discovery was made by a resident who went to the location to dump his refuse. It is believed that the foot was dragged to the location by animals.

From all indications, the right limb was severed from just below the knee. The angle of the bone suggests that a saw was used to separate the limb from the rest of the body. At the time of the discovery, a female slipper was

attached to the foot.

The fibula was fleshless, but the instep was intact.

The toes along with their nails were visible. The Rose Hall dump site is open to the public and apart from the Town Council, businesspersons and nearby communities use it.

The dump site is situated about 1000 metres from the Corentyne Highway and a canal separates it from Rose Hall Reef, which is considered a squatting area. The decomposing body part was taken to Bailey’s Funeral Home as Police continue their investigations.

news

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fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt must resign as per Constitution – Jagdeo

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, December 28 – 10:00h-11:30h and Saturday, December 29 – 11:00h-12:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, December 28 – 09:00h-10:30h and Saturday, December 29 – 10:10h-11:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals are expected throughout the day, with clear skies in the evening. Temperatures will range between 20 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 08:58h and 21:22h reaching a maximum height of 2.41 metres at each scheduled high tide.

Low Tide: 02:26h and 14:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.70 metre and 0.85 metre.

saturDAY, december 22, 2018

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...writes Chief Justice not to violate Constitution ...Cabinet meetings illegal ...Clerk says “no review” to no-confidence motion; resolution already circulated

"T

he Government should resign," said Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo bluntly on Thursday as he called for the Administration to abide by the Constitution during a media engagement outside Freedom House on Thursday following a meeting with the Party’s Executive Committee.

“This government has lost a no-confidence motion; the Constitution has provided the clear prescription [that] you resign on losing it. They should’ve resigned by now … [I’m calling on Government] to resign now; that is what [Article] 106 (6) is – it didn’t say “may” resign, it said “shall” resign,” Jagdeo told reporters.

Article 106 (6) states explicitly: “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.”

Jagdeo on Thursday had reiterated that he was ready to have these discussions with the Head of State.

However, while Government had assured a meeting would be held between President Granger and the Opposition Leader, this was not likely until the President returns from Cuba.

“I’m prepared to meet now, [but] the President is not here … and I don’t want to be callous, so I’ll have to wait until he gets back. [But] they are just going around managing as though nothing has happened in this country. What happened last week is that the Government fell, the Government fell on a no-confidence motion,” Jagdeo asserted.

This position by the Opposition Leader comes on the heels of the coalition Administration holding a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, during which it said a report was received from the Special Legal SubCommittee on the no-confidence motion. That report, according to a statement from Government, presented a number of recommendations and as such, Cabinet discussed various options and took certain decisions on the way forward.

However, legal luminaries have questioned the legality of Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, saying that the President and his ministers should have already resigned and not continue with “business as usual” since legally there is no Cabinet. In fact, the Clerk of the National Assembly had pronounced that he would not review the no-confidence motion and the consequent resolution had already been circulated to all parties, in-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

President David Granger

cluding the Leader of the Opposition.

Jagdeo, during the brief interview with media operatives, had pointed out that Government is manoeuvring to delay its exit from office and hang on to power longer.

“They’re just hanging on now trying to change that, so you can see this is a desperate bunch out there,” he posited.

Furthermore, the Opposition Leader revealed that the PPP has written the Judiciary with regards to any legal actions that violate the Constitution of Guyana. He contends that the Constitution is explicit in what follows when a no-confidence motion is passed against a government.

“This morning we deposited a letter in the Chief Justice’s office to say any attempt to seek ex-parte arrangements to stay the no-confidence motion, we want to be heard on it [any motion filed by Government],

but we believe that the Judiciary must not engage in any action that could violate what is so explicit in our Constitution and it’s explicit that the Government must resign or else, we’ll have a judicial coup, reversing what took place in Parliament.

We cannot have that, the Constitution is clear,” Jagdeo told reporters.

While Government did not elaborate on the “various options” discussed and “certain decisions” taken, the Opposition Leader disclosed that they were privy to inside information that the coalition is looking at six options. These include arguing that there should be a 34 to 31 majority to successfully pass a no-confidence motion; and that once you’ve committed to a list of a party, then it is illegal to vote against the list.

Other options, according to the Opposition Leader, that Government is re-

portedly considering is going back to the National Assembly and replacing Charrandas Persaud – the AFC parliamentarian who voted in favour of the Opposition-sponsored motion thus allowing it to pass – seat to redo the vote on the motion in favour of government. He said they also wanted to challenge Persaud’s vote, since he has dual citizenship, as well as approaching the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland to have him reverse his ruling that the no-confidence motion was passed validly.

Another option the coalition is reportedly looking at is getting someone to file a motion, making the respondents the Attorney General and the Speaker, who may then consent to a judgement that something illegal took place in the House when the motion was voted on last Friday.

However, Jagdeo posited that, “…all of these are now legal manoeuvrings to thwart the will of the people and the Constitution. And we are vigilant about this and we will not let it happen”.

Following last week’s passage of the Oppositionsponsored no-confidence motion, Government vowed that it would uphold the law and abide by the Constitution.

President David Granger in a statement on Saturday last had said that he was “anxious” to engage the Opposition Leader on any concerns he may have going forward. turn to page 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

fridAY, december 28, 2018

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

Profound sense of desperation

G

uyana is classified as a democracy, a status that was returned in 1992 following almost three decades of struggles during which many were incarcerated and some tragically paying the ultimate price for freedom of choice. None would have been under any illusion that its safeguarding would be easy.

Events since vindicate how it was rigorously tested. Some now opine that it has reached a stage of being under threat. What followed the historic No-confidence Motion, fears of the nation’s democracy being severely endangered may have heightened, ironically by a democratic act of exercising free will.

It is now common knowledge that a Member of Parliament of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Charrandas Persaud, voted of his own volition to support the No-confidence Motion brought against the Government he is part of by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party. The configuration in Parliament is 33 Government representatives and 32 for the Opposition. It was therefore elementary that the motion would not succeed unless a Government representative supports it.

That is what Charrandas did and the motion was carried. That is how a democracy works as in the United States, where Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate vote across party lines on issues they believe in. It is a common occurrence there and in other developed countries underscoring the basic principle that while some may disagree over how someone votes, that person has a fundamental right to do so. That is the foundation of any democratic society.

Here, Charrandas is being publicly vilified and reportedly threatened by those in support of the Government. The very next day the State newspaper called him a Judas. Government and its supporters are adamant that he should not have voted the way he did, thereby betraying them in the process. He was swiftly expelled from the AFC and will also be removed from Parliament through the recall legislation.

With the unrelenting attack on Charrandas, it is clear, at least from the Government perspective, he did not have a right to vote the way he did. They even argued in public that it was not a conscience vote but one entrenched in a political mindset. That is a stark contradiction of the Government’s boast of upholding democratic principles since coming to office.

If the Government were to believe its own utterances, then an expected action in the wake of assault on Charrandas would be for it to openly and forthrightly condemn those attacks and the actions of the State newspaper in the interest of safeguarding our democracy. The noticeable absence of a condemnation thus far, would only serve to confirm the belief that our freedom of choice is being battered with a signal of it possibly becoming expunged.

The situation also exposes the duplicitous act of convenient democracy by the Government; showing support is democratic while dissent is an act of betrayal. This is now beyond the agreement to disagree at that level. While it’s expected that the Government and its supporters will feel disappointed, mature leadership would demand that Charrandas’s choice be respected since his action constitutes a basic tenet of democracy.

Similarly, the Government has an obligation to adhere to the Constitution and the process related to the successful passage of the No-confidence Motion. From what has been reported, it appears that the Clerk of the National Assembly has or is in the process of formalising that the motion was successfully and legally carried. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, to his credit on the said night the motion was passed, said the Government has to accept the vote. The Guyana Bar Association is the latest of many organisations to make known similar sentiments.

That brings into question, the preposterous pronouncement by a leading attorney and who was an executive of the AFC, now claiming that the result of the motion is illegal. His mathematical argument that 33 out of 65 is not a majority is not only illogical and laughable but bewildering to students.

Here again is another example of convenience, this time convenience of objection. He never made the same mathematical argument when the Government held a one-seat parliamentary majority while in Opposition and used the said 33-22 to cut the budget and scuttle funding for transformation projects under the Donald Ramotar Administration. The Amaila Falls Hydro Project and the Specialty Hospital readily come to mind and which by now would have been completed bringing much needed relief to Guyanese.

Whatever reason of self-interest may be driving such baseless mathematical principles, again the Government has an obligation to follow the Constitution and, more so, to debunk such attempts to clutch at straws not only in the interest on democracy, but for the upholding of the law and social cohesion, again, ironically, the Ministry of which it established.

Up to this point, instead of reiterating that the motion has been carried, the Government appointed a sub-committee to consider the argument that 33 is not the majority. That suggests that the Government is looking for solace any way it can. In doing so, it is demonstrating a profound sense of desperation in mathematical principles that have been conveniently distorted.

Editor-in-Chief of Times Media Group, Tusika Martin hands over a prize to one of the winners of the Guyana Times Christmas Promotion on Monday at its Headquarters, Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown

Saudi king shakes up Cabinet in the wake of Khashoggi crisis T

he king of Saudi Arabia announced Thursday that he is shaking up his Cabinet, capping a tumultuous period that has plunged the kingdom into its biggest international crisis since King Salman took the throne nearly four years ago.

The royal family has endured three months of intense scrutiny after Saudi agents killed and dismembered Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in October. The CIA has reportedly concluded that King Salman’s successor, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was complicit in the slaying.

The incident has drawn international condemnation and raised questions about Crown Prince Mohammed’s ability to shepherd the kingdom through a period of far-reaching social and economic reform. It has also renewed attention on the Saudi-led war in neighbouring Yemen, which has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia announced former Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf would succeed Adel al-Jubeir as the nation’s Foreign Minister. AlJubeir, the public face of Saudi Arabia during the Khashoggi crisis, was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

The king also appointed a new national security advisor and head of the National Guard, and named new Ministers for

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Education, Media and the Sports Authority.

King Salman also issued a royal decree to restructure the Political and Security Affairs Council helmed by Crown Prince Mohammed.

Thursday’s reshuffling elevates members of Saudi Arabia’s old guard who had been marginalised after King Salman took the throne and consolidated power under Crown Prince Mohammed. The move, which projects an image of stability, was widely expected throughout the rumour mill that constantly buzzes around the Saudi royal family.

It is unlikely though to silence critics of the regime or make any real difference in policy.

The reshuffling actually empowers some of Crown Prince Mohammed’s closest allies, who have been appointed to Cabinet positions, according to Ali Shihabi, founder of the Arabia Foundation. Shihabi, who has at times defended

the Government during the Khashoggi crisis, cautioned against linking the incident with Thursday’s decree.

“The recent restructuring of the intelligence agency was a direct result of the Khashoggi murder but otherwise today’s changes also address structural issues (like the need to increase the senior bandwidth in the foreign policy space) that have been on the table for a while,” he said Thursday on Twitter.

Incoming Foreign Minister Al-Assaf is best known for his role as Finance Minister, a post he held for 20 years under former King Abdullah. At that time it was an extremely powerful position, with oversight of several portfolios, including management of sovereign wealth fund assets that would eventually become the Public Investment Fund, as well as approval for many of the megaprojects championed by the former king.

Soon after King Salman came to power, Crown

Prince Mohammed redistributed both the economic and defence portfolios to fall under his direct supervision, and Al-Assaf was made a Minister of State.

Al-Assaf was among the princes and businessmen detained last year at the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh. The kingdom said the detentions were part of a crackdown on corruption, though analysts have said they also functioned as a political purge that further consolidated power under Crown Prince Mohammed.

A focus of the crackdown was graft connected to the approval process for megaprojects that Al-Assaf previously supervised. He was eventually cleared of wrongdoing and released without being compelled to surrender money or assets, Reuters reported at the time.

While many news outlets cast the shake-up on Thursday as a demotion for Al-Jubeir, Shihabi said the change reflects a division of labour.

“I understand that this is designed to allow Jubair to focus on his role as the key spokesman of the Kingdom while relieving him of the burden of day to day management of the Ministry which needs restructuring and a lot of management attention. He retains his position as a member of the Cabinet,” Shihabi said on Twitter, using an alternate spelling of the former Foreign Minister’s name.

(CNBC)

guyanatimesgy.com

fridAY, december 28, 2018

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

Republican democracy The ‘good life’ posse makes Persaud’s action, now in denial a good omen for Guyana Dear Editor, After the historic voting ended regarding the no-confidence motion, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said the voting process was “open and transparent” and “that is how democracy works and we are fully committed to the rule of law.”

However, for exercising his constitutional right to vote on behalf of his constituents, MP Charrandas Persaud was assaulted, issued death threats, offered protection by the minister of security, and ultimately, forced to flee Guyana in fear for his life.

Government did not let up. They characterized Mr. Persaud in the state-owned Chronicle as a “Judas at Christmas,” a Biblical reference to arguably the most famous betrayal which ended with death. It underscores the hostility of coalition electors injected into the voting process.

Our constitution prohibits Government from abridging a free exercise of religion; to disrespect Christians using the press is to limit this free exercise of their faith. The Prime Minister, a Christian, found the Judas Iscariot depiction of Mr. Persaud “distasteful” (see “Historic no-confidence vote,” Chronicle, Dec 23, 2018) as a matter of religion but not democracy.

He approves of the flawed idea of betrayal, writing that the two hundred thousand voters who elected the coalition government would

justifiably feel betrayed, but their “rage has to be tempered by the coalition’s own commitment to the norms of parliamentary democracy…”

I respectfully disagree with the Prime Minister’s version of parliamentary democracy, which sends a message of hostility. Where a law allows for a citizen to vote, the idea of betrayal is a dangerous threat to both the act of voting and the law. In short, an elector must vote without being hog-tied to party, intra-party committees, or personality.

Members of the coalition (e.g., see Sherwood Lowe, “Personal conscience irrelevant in no-confidence motion,” SN Dec 24, 2018) may find the recent press release on the issue from the British High Commissioner instructive. In it, we read: “Members of Parliament must be allowed to undertake their constitutionally mandated roles in the absence of fear or favour.”

Further, Mr. Persaud participated in Guyana’s republican form of political representation. That is, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is not a government of the coalition, by the coalition, and for the coalition.

Behind each MP that occupies a seat in parliament are, I believe, about seven thousand voters-constituents who are never invisible.

Mr. Persaud owed his alliance first and foremost to his constituents (the “peo-

ple”) in Berbice where, arguably, his action is approved (see “Some Canje residents say proud of Charrandas Persaud,” SN Dec 22, 2018).

As an elector, his conscience is most relevant as it is becomes the property of his constituents at the point of casting a vote. This is the essence of voting.

Remove it and the entire process crumbled. To paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi, even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.

Our constitution does not require an elector in parliament resign from a seat or abstain from voting, especially where one is compelled to do either due to practice or policy that opposes the tenets of republican democracy.

On the contrary, an elector’s primary duty is to confront such practice or policy by way of a vote. This is so because the power of a vote is always supreme to the power of a government.

That fateful Friday, the government saw an “irrelevant” elector in a seat, but ignored the seven thousand constituents standing behind him in accordance with the principle of republican democracy.

This republican democracy makes Persaud’s action a good omen for Guyana, but only if others vote independently, free from fear or favor.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

The envious man grows lean at the success of his neighbour

Dear Editor, I would like to respond to an article in a section of the media on December 25, 2018 edition, entitled "Rejecting Irfaan Ali as presidential candidate".

The article, inter alia, clearly sought to tarnish the image and reputation of the sitting MP with its vile and rancorous undertone.

As a party member, and having known Irfaan for over eight years. I personally found the article very misleading and despicable.

As Pliny the Younger once said, "envy always implies conscious inferiority wherever it resides".

Irfaan Ali, presumable is one of the most experienced, shrewd and humble politicians of all the potential candidates for the top post as leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Hailed from a humble family, Irfaan worked his way up through the ranks of the PPP and be-

came one of the youngest MPs, holding various portfolios, including Housing and Water Minister and, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister. At one time, he was the Minister of both Ministries, simultaneously.

As the Housing and Water Minister, he spearheaded one of the most successful housing programmes ever. Tens of thousands of house lots were distributed, specifically targeting low and middle-income families, young professionals, teachers and our medical personal. According to the 20122016 Country Programme Evaluation Report, the Low-Income Settlement Programme II, a multibillion-dollar IDB programme initiated and executed under Irfaan's tenure as Housing and Water Minister, was deemed one of the most successful housing programmes ever.

I recalled at one of the ‘One Stop Shop’ a single parent mother who was too overwhelmed with euphoria, shed tears as she praised the then Minister for providing her with an opportunity to own her own home. Though there are countless similar success stories of this kind, there are a few who didn't get the opportunity to benefit due to the inability of the Government to match the overwhelm housing demand, which unfortunately precipitated premature resentments amongst some non-beneficiaries.

Nonetheless, there is no doubt that hundreds of thousands of lives were positively impacted through improved standard of living and wealth generation, and in the eyes of the beneficiaries, Irfaan is viewed as a saviour.

Yours truly, Ian Persaud

Dear Editor, It is quite ironic that over the past years, at least after the 2011 General and Regional Elections, a parliamentary majority has always been defined by a vote of 33:32 but not unexpectedly, but quite Quixotic, the recent support of the No-confidence Motion by a vote of 33:32 is not seen as a majority by the losers of the ‘good life’. The ‘good life’ posse are now in denial. According to lawyer cum mathematician, Nigel Hughes, a majority vote in Guyana’s Parliament of 65 members is now deemed to be 34 and not 33. The number of members as determined by the National Assembly is 65.

This learned legal luminary should know that the reason why there are 65 members in the National Assembly rather than 66 is because of the need to avoid a tie and so frustrate the functions of this supreme law-making body of the land. This is no accident and certainly not coincidental and Hughes’ vast knowledge of constitutional laws and its interpretation should afford him an accurate analysis and interpretation of Article 106 (6) which unambiguously states that, ‘The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of ALL elected members of the National Assembly’.

The ‘elected members’ totalled 65 and a majority is 33. When the Opposition, on August 15, 2014, tabled a ‘no-confidence’ brought about by Nagamootoo against the PPP/C Government the majority

would have been deemed to be 33 if Parliament was not prorogued by then President Donald Ramotar. No one at the time had argued that if the ‘no-confidence’ was put to the vote that 34 votes would have been needed.

Therefore, the pertinent question is: Has this ‘majority’ changed on December 21, 2018? It is quite asinine to now think that this is so since the law is not such a jackass although it may be an ass sometimes!

Furthermore, all the Budget cuts after the 2011 General Elections should have to now be deemed illegal, the passing of the Budgets after 2015 should all be deemed illegal since all were voted with a majority of 33:32. The Constitution is not about rounding of figures since a member cannot be halved and subjected to the rounding off. The vote of 33:32 is a clear majority and many organisations recognises this fact, hence the reason for electing odd numbers so as not to stymie and obstruct the fulfilment of the functions of such organisations where voting on decisions are inevitable and vital.

Some questions need to be answered: What would have been the case if the Government side obtained 33 votes? Would Nigel Hughes have said that they needed 34? Or would the ‘No-confidence’ Motion be struck down by the Speaker?

Of course the ‘No-confidence’ Motion would have been defeated! All the members on the Government side knew this and commanded their members to the point of threatening them that they should vote ‘no’! The high

drama, the liberal use of expletives by the Government MPs, their uncouth and unprofessional behaviour of some supported this. They knew that the 33:32 is all that is needed, but now is time to deny that the false confidence of ‘bring it on’ has now resulted in no confidence.

It is heartening to see that the Guyana Bar Association has condemned and totally rejected the ‘unofficial calculation of the no-confidence’ and has called for elections

by March. The Association ‘urged Guyanese to ignore Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes’ calculation that 34 of the 65 votes in the National Assembly are needed’ to pass that motion.

I do believe that Hughes should have been more circumspect about his premature public utterance which may have resulted in possibly grave outcome. Ralph Ramkarran admitted making an error and withdrew similar statements made and I do feel that Hughes should do the same since the no-confidence vote is final!

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo has led his people out of People’s National Congress bondage in just three and a half years, the biblical Moses took 40 years to lead his people to the Promised Land.

Guyanese are now in sight of the ‘good life’ in 2019 and should not allow traitors like those in the AFC to snatch this away from them!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region Six

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Foundation

Good reasons to smile

W

hen we feel great, a smile comes naturally. It’s an outward sign of joy, happiness, appreciation, amusement, excitement, or contentment.

It’s not natural to smile when we’re sad or upset. But it turns out that smiling might be the best thing to do when you’re ready to shift into a brighter mood.

Smiling can lift a bad mood

Scientists have found that smiling on purpose can help people feel better. Just the simple act of putting a smile on your face can lead you to feel actual happiness, joy, or amusement.

Smiling on purpose changes brain chemistry. So it can be a big help to people who are dealing with depression and anxiety. But how do you smile if you’re not feeling it?

Fake it till you make it

Our body language can influence our emotions. In one study, researchers discovered that people who stood in a confident way actually felt more confident. In another study, people who intentionally put on a facial expression (like a smile or a frown) ended up feeling the emotion that went with it.

Here’s the best part: A smile helps you feel happier – and being happier helps you keep the smile going in a genuine way. Your fake smile is now a real one!

Smile like you mean it

There’s just one trick to making smiling work for you: You need to do it right. A true, genuine smile is called a Duchenne smile. It uses all the muscles in the face, including the “laugh lines” around your eyes. Engaging all these muscles is important, even in a fake smile.

If you’re smiling on purpose to help your mood, you want to smile until your cheeks lift and you feel your laugh lines crinkle. You can see how it feels by holding a pencil horizontally between your teeth as you smile.

Mindfulness M

Smiling and laughing reduce stress

Since body language and mood are so linked, it makes sense that laughing on purpose helps us too.

Smiling relaxes the facial muscles and calms the nervous system. Laughing sends more oxygen to the brain. That triggers the release of brain chemicals called endorphins. These chemicals help us feel positive. Laughing can lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and boost mood.

Here’s a simple exercise from Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh to help you tap into the benefits of smiling: As you breathe in, say to yourself: Breathing in, I calm body and mind.

Then, as you breathe out, think: Breathing out, I smile.

By repeating this simple breathing exercise several times, you’re relaxing your nervous system and countering stress.

Smiling helps us bond with others

Just like “fake” smiling, “fake” laughing turns into spontaneous real laughter, and it’s contagious. Try this: Get a group together. It can be your family, classmates, or teammates. Have everyone do some fake laughing. Now see if you can keep a straight face!

Some people tap into the relaxing power of laughing in a group setting by doing a kind of yoga called laughter yoga.

Because smiling and laughing are contagious, they help people bond. Smiling sends a friendly signal that usually results in the other person smiling back. One important purpose of smiling might be that it creates social bonds.

Scientists have even found that we connect in a physical way when we share a smile or a positive emotion. Our breathing and heart rates sync up, bringing powerful benefits to our health and well-being.

So, the next time someone tells you to “cheer up” when you’re in a low mood, own it. Your shared happiness might end up making that person feel happier too. (kidshealth.org)

What is mindfulness?

indfulness means paying full attention to something. It means slowing down to really notice what you’re doing.

Being mindful is the opposite of rushing or multitasking. When you’re mindful, you’re taking your time.

You’re focusing in a relaxed, easy way.

Mindfulness happens naturally sometimes. Let’s say you’re getting ready to take a foul shot in basketball. You carefully position your feet at the line. You look up at the hoop and feel the ball in your hands. Taking your time, you bounce the ball a couple of times. You tune out all the other sounds and take your shot. Swoosh – yes! Nicely done.

That calm focus, that way of paying attention to what you’re doing, taking your time, taking it easy – that’s you being mindful! And being mindful just helped you take your best shot.

Why do people need mindfulness?

Being mindful helps you: pay attention better be less distractible learn more stay calm under stress avoid getting too upset about things slow down instead of rush listen better to others be more patient get along better feel happier and enjoy things more

If this sounds like a superpower, it is! Being mindful helps people in just about every part of life. Learning how to be mindful when you’re young gives you a chance to get really good at it and use it always.

How does mindfulness work?

You need to practise mindfulness to get good at it.

Training the mind takes practice. The more you practice, the better you get.

If you practice mindfulness exercises, being mindful can come naturally when you need it in your everyday life. This can help when you’re stressed, when you have to do something difficult, or when you have to focus your attention. It’s a lot like learning to play the piano. Each time you practise, you’re training yourself to play a little bit better.

When you practise mindfulness, you’re training your attention. Research shows that practising mindfulness can improve attention for just about everybody – including people with ADHD, or who think they have trouble paying attention.

How do I get started?

Anyone can practise mindfulness. It’s easy to do, and it just takes a few minutes a day.

Here are the basic steps:

Sit in a relaxed, comfortable position. Pick something to focus your attention on, like a word you repeat in your head or your breathing.

Let’s say you decided to focus on your breathing. Breathe normally while you simply pay attention to your breath. If you want, you can close your eyes. As you breathe in and out, just notice each breath. Pay attention in an easy way – on purpose, but not forced.

Notice when your mind wanders away from paying attention to your breath. Maybe you start thinking about what’s for lunch, or whether you remembered to bring your soccer gear, or that funny joke someone told. That’s your mind wandering and getting distracted. It’s natural, minds do that all the time!

Whenever you notice your attention has wandered, gently remind yourself to pay attention to breathing again. That’s how you train your attention.

Keep breathing, keep relaxing, keep paying easy attention to your breathing. Can you feel the place where the air tickles your nostrils? Do you notice how the breath gently moves your body? Can you pay attention to your belly or your chest moving as you breathe? Keep bringing your attention back to the breathing every time your mind wanders. Try to do this for five minutes.

That’s it! There are lots of other ways to practise mindfulness, like eating mindfully or even mindful walking. Try picking different things to focus on to help you practise training your attention. (kidshealth.org)

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7

fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt must resign GECOM will deliver once election date is set – PRO as per... from page 3

After having the opportunity to further reflect and research the implications of the no-confidence vote, the Prime Minister was even more specific. In his Sunday column captioned “Historic no-confidence motion” three days later, he said: “Some may see it as Black Friday; others as Good Friday. But on Friday, December 21, 2018, a duly-elected government was defeated on a vote of no confidence that was tabled by the Opposition.

“The motion was tabled by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) which has 32 MPs in Guyana’s 65seat National Assembly, as against 33 MPs on the APNU+AFC Coalition’s government benches.

Passage of the motion required a majority of all elected members of the House which, in effect, translated to 33 MPs. On the surface, without the requisite majority, the Opposition had no prospect of success.

But when the vote was taken, a Government MP voted with the Opposition. That vote made history, as this is the first time that a government has to resign from office upon the approval of a no-confidence vote.”

In addition, Prime Minister Nagamootoo had

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

said during an emergence press conference shortly after last Friday’s historic sitting that while the outcome was unpredictable, it must be accepted.

“The Guyanese must understand that the democratic process is sometimes unpredictable. You may have results that are not planned for … but the outcome has to be accepted… It may be a surprise to some, it may be a shock to others, it may be welcomed by some and others may rejoice over the results, but that is how democracy works and we are fully committed to the rule of law,” Nagamootoo had stated.

GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson

F

ollowing the successful passage of the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition last Friday, which saw the APNU/AFC Government being toppled, General and Regional Elections are now expected to be held within 90 days, and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is now tasked with pulling off these elections – which observers will keep a close watch on .

GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward, when contacted on Thursday, reassured the nation that the electoral body was well prepared to rise to the challenges considering the recent turn of events.

She stated that the Commission would uphold

Former AFC Member Charrandas Persaud

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

its constitutional mandate, and would have to immediately put systems in place to run off the elections once a date was set.

“For us at GECOM, it’s our constitutional mandate to conduct General and Regional Elections as well as Local Government Elections.

If that is the decision that we will have to conduct elections within a short period, then we will have to ensure that those elections are held as required, because it’s our constitutional mandate. I’m sure that our Standard Operating Procedures will click into gear and we will be prepared to execute elections at a time we have been asked to do,” Ward noted.

At an emergency press conference after the adjourn-

ment of Friday’s sitting of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo posited that while the outcome was unpredictable, it must be accepted.

“Guyanese must understand that the democratic process is sometimes unpredictable. You may have results that are not planned for … but the outcome has to be accepted … It may be a surprise to some, it may be a shock to others, it may be welcomed by some and others may rejoice over the results but that is how democracy works and we are fully committed to the rule of law,” he posited.

In a shocking turn of events, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC)

Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud voted with the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in favour of the no-confidence motion, which was brought by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, sending the coalition Administration into a tailspin.

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.

Jagdeo has since called for political engagement between the Government and Opposition to chart a way forward for the coming months and to plan for fresh elections.

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

Meanwhile, when asked about the medical condition of the GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson, the PRO asserted that he was still on medical leave and his return was yet to be determined.

The next statutory meeting of the Commission is slated for January 7.

More contraband found at Lusignan Prison’s Holding Bays

D

espite continued efforts to rid the local prison system of smuggling activities, authorities have once more found contraband items in the Holding Bays at the Lusignan Prison.

This discovery was made during a joint exercise conducted by ranks from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prisons Service on Wednesday morning at the East Coast Demerara penitentiary.

During the exercise, the following prohibited items were found: 32 improvised weapons; several razor blades; six lighters; three cellphones; three phone chargers; two SIM cards, and two containers of fermented wine.

Only Monday last, searches of five prison facilities across the country, Lusignan, yielded over 180 illicit items. These included: 21 cellphones; a SIM card; a memory card; six earpieces; four phone adapters; a quantity of phone chargers; several packets of cigarettes/bamboo; 61 lighters; 12 smoking utensils; 46 grams of cannabis; four metal forks/spoons; 52 razor blades; six compasses; five pieces of broken mirrors; five pairs of scissors; a large quantity of improvised weapons; a quantity of nails; 12 bottles of fermented wine; three bottles of pepper sauce; and a quantity of stones, ‘shaving bics’, triple ‘A’ batteries and

The prohibited items found in the Holding Bay of the Lusignan Prison

sand paper.

Contraband smuggling has been a perennial problem within the prison system, and this is compounded by the fact that both prison and Police Officers are facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be “big business”.

While the authorities have been struggling to curb the illegal practice, there has been a breakthrough on the apparent network among rogue prison officers.

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

These officers were subsequently charged and interdicted from duty.

In addition, two more

ranks found themselves in hot water following the discovery of illegal items at two separate prison facilities.

In Berbice, 1032 grams of suspected marijuana and 39 packs of cigarettes were found in the New Amsterdam Prison, and a prison officer admitted to conspiring with inmates to hide the contraband items that were thrown over the fence.

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

Furthermore, five other prison officers were relieved of duty back in July after they were implicat-

ed in an incident whereby a parcel containing cannabis had been thrown into the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay area.

Director of Prisons (ag), Gladwin Samuels had disclosed in September that so far for the year, some 28 prison officers have been dismissed – 11 for facilitating or directly smuggling contraband into the prison system. The Prisons Director added that there were 12 ranks currently interdicted from duty, nine of whom have been charged either departmentally or criminally for trafficking-related activities.

8 news Mason chopped to death during row at barbecue A fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

mason was on Wednesday hacked to death during an argument over a woman at a bar-be-que at Mount Sinai, Greater New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Dead is 25-year-old Karl McDonald, also called “Karlie” and “Donno”, 25, of High Dam Caracas, Angoy’s Avenue.

After receiving the chops about his body, he reportedly fell into a nearby canal and was left there for some time before he was pulled out and taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention.

His mother, Loraine McDonald, recalled receiving the news of the chopping and rushed to the scene but her son was already on his way to the hospital.

The mother related that her son left home at about 18:00h to attend a bar-beque a short distance from

Dead: Karl Mc Donald

his home.

The suspect has been identified as “Chase” who fled the scene. “He just come from nowhere and start chopping the man and then he run away,” one eyewitness said.

Another person who

claimed to have been at the bar-b-que said there was a brief argument between the now dead man and the suspect who was carrying a cutlass at the time.

McDonald recalled that there was an argument and ultimately a scuffle on

Christmas Day between the suspect and two of her nephews.

“He went to my nephews who was with this girl who use to be his girlfriend, and then my second son went up to him and apparently some hitting pass and he go away and come back,” the grieving mother said.

She added that on Boxing Day, the man returned with a cutlass and approached her nephew. However, her nephew and the girl escaped. The suspect, he noted, then turned his attention to another cousin and he too escaped.

“He fire chop at my second nephew and he run away and then he went to my son,” the aggrieved mother stated.

McDonald referred to her son as a quiet person. He leaves to mourn two children; ages 6 and 8, his mother and two siblings. Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect.

New… J

…parties

agdeo’s success with his no-confidence gambit succeeded in throwing out the PNC-led coalition Government – that we know. Don’t worry about all that flailing around with claims of “half people” to demand that 33 isn’t greater 32!! Even after animals have been killed, their muscles still twitch….it’s called “cadaveric spasm”!! And then, of course, the PNC did claim once that they received the votes of 97 per cent of the electorate when international observers confirmed that only 15 per cent showed up at the polls. It’s called PNC “voodoo” Mathematics!!

But the vote has forced lots of armchair politicians, who were pontificating to the populace via their keypads, to put up or shut up. If they want to remain relevant, they’ll have to put their bodies where their mouth is and jump into the hustings NOW – since elections are due latest end March 2019. Just like you can’t learn to swim unless you enter the water, political pontificators are useless unless they’re tested in mobilising votes.

That’s a lesson Guyanese must imbibe – talk’s cheap, but it’s the voice of the people that counts. Democracy demands those who want to represent the people to go to the aforesaid people to find out if they the latter’s mandate. For two hundred years we were convinced by “Liberals” that their high falutin’ ideas couched in fancy language entitled them to rule people, who they saw as “the great unwashed”.

Well…as Bob Dylan prophesised a while back, the times are a changin’ and in England, the US, Europe and other exemplars of democracy, the “people” decided they don’t need leaders who talk down to them. The leaders must be in the trenches with them and talking their language and about their fears.

Well the no-confidence vote has flushed out one Liberal set of gentlemen – and they are all GENTLE men – with impeccable Liberal-left credentials – who’ve launched a party which they’ve been mulling over forever. Their submission to solve Guyana’s problems is “constitutional change” to engender power-sharing arrangement that involves a President and Prime Minister from different parties – like in France.

The fly in the soup, however – which these fellas have pushed aside while continuing to drink the soup – is it’ll take the support of both the PPP and PNC to change the pertinent articles of the Constitution. But there’s also a cockroach in the soup – their presumption that the people want the two parties to share power.

In the estimation of your Eyewitness this is a pipe dream as big as the one some had in Britain about the “rationality” of remaining in the EU. Or that America should have the world keep sending their “poor and huddled masses”!!

Folks want THEIR party to win! We’ve got to deal with that.

…leaders

The accelerated election schedule also put pressure on the established political parties to name their Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates. Lucky for the PPP, the CCJ’s “sovereignty of the people” decision placed their “presidential sweepstakes” on their front burner for a year. The front runners have emerged since then. With the procedure for their choice well established: The Executive Committee (ExCo) of 15 will first recommend candidates for the positions and will pass on these to the Central Committee of 35, the final choice should be very smooth.

Over in the PNC-led coalition, things aren’t so sanguine. Some realists don’t believe the incumbent PNC and APNU leader David Granger will be running because of his illness. One WPA Executive has already asserted they must have a say in choosing their new APNU leader.

Seems he doesn’t accept this has to be the PNC leader – and since that’s the PNC Congress’ call, one doesn’t see how this demand will be met!!

Both WPA and AFC will have to take it or leave it!

…treatment

It was very poignant that President Granger had to fly off to Cuba on Christmas Day to continue his chemo treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The country wishes him a quick return!

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

9 No jobs created by Govt for young people – Charrandas news

fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

...apologises to supporters for doing nothing in 3-odd years

I

n an almost 30-minute post on his personal Facebook page, former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandas Persaud once again touched on the No-confidence Motion in which his deciding vote in support of the Opposition caused the motion to be carried.

Among other things, Charrandas detailed his reasons for voting in favour of the motion brought in the name of Opposition Leader for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo.

One of his major focal points was what he dubbed as the failure of the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/ AFC Government to create jobs for young people in Guyana. “Young people, what is in this country for you? What is in Guyana for you? What has the APNU/AFC given you?

I see nothing and I was sitting in Parliament,” Persaud chastised.

The now embattled MP noted that the Government failed to create opportunities for the young people, more so failing to prepare them for the oil and gas sector that is expected to

come on stream in 2020.

Persaud questioned why was no plan put in place at the University of Guyana for the over three and half years that this Government was in power, “to educate you, the youngsters, in oil and gas so that when you come out… you can have more than just the clean-up man’s job, why? Where is their vision, what are they doing with you?”

Further, Persaud encouraged youths to speak up and stand up against the wrong that the Government is doing.

The former MP noted that his hands were tied, and as such, he was unable to do the job that he aimed to do when he accepted a position in Parliament.

“You young people, learn not to be afraid, tell your parents that you have to stand up for the wrong that Government did, whichever Government is handling you, you need to stop it, you need to get them to work towards stopping it. I apologise because I could not do anything, I could not help the people but once the opportunity presented itself, I decided to support the vote of no-confidence and

Former AFC Member of Parliament, Charrandas Persaud

have them removed…”, he added.

Further the expelled AFC member related that whatever he did was for the best interest of the Guyanese populace.

“I don’t think that the Government has anything to offer me, the position of an MP takes me away from my job, it’s more of a detriment to me than anything else… I took the position thinking that I could have done something for the people, not knowing that my hands were tied, my mouth was gagged and I would not be

able to do anything”.

As such, he apologised to his supporters for doing nothing for them for the three and a half years he was in Parliament. The coalition Government was left stunned on December 21, 2018, when Persaud voted yes in favour of the motion.

During the tabulation, all 32 of the Opposition MPs voted in favour of the motion being carried, with the AFC MP giving them the one vote needed to have the motion passed.

When Persaud delivered his first “yes”, all hell broke loose. He received the first punch on his left arm by an APNU MP who insisted that Persaud “can’t vote against the Government.”

This was followed by a series of expletives by the same MP and surprisingly Persaud also received another punch from another APNU MP. Outside the Chambers, Persaud defended his vote against the Government claiming that he voted that way because of the AFC’s subordinate role to the majority APNU. Persaud cited examples, such as Public Health Minister Volda

Lawrence’s recent controversial statement about hiring party faithfuls, and pointed out that the AFC leadership did not condemn, but rather condoned the statement.

“I am an AFC member, and I’m extremely disappointed in the AFC team.

My reason for voting in favour of the motion is that I have no confidence in what the AFC team will do,” Persaud said, when

questioned by the media.

“We are sitting in Parliament as yes men to APNU, and we are AFC. We have not blended with the APNU, the other parties have; we’re not. Why are we doing everything they want (us) to do? We are not opposing, we are not saying no to anything.

That is where the problem is. I can’t stand that. This is a conscience vote,” he had explained.

“Nick-Knock” on the run after killing “Overdose”

P

olice in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) are on the hunt for the prime suspect in the murder of a man known only as “Overdose”.

The now deceased man was found lying on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, on Saturday, bleeding from a suspected stab wound in the stomach. He was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he died shortly after while receiving medical attention.

According to the Police, the prime suspect, who goes by the alias “Nick-Knock”, of Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown is being sought. Further information relating to the stabbing incident was not provided.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force is seeking the assistance of family members or relatives, to come forward and identify the victim so as to allow for an autopsy to be conducted.

The body is presently at Lyken’s Funeral Home.

10

news

fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Armed men terrorise Berbice family, threaten to rape 9-year-old

F

The house owned by Chandrawattie Singh and her family

our armed men executed a brazen attack on a Corentyne family on Christmas Eve during which they threatened to rape a nine-year-old girl.

The gun-toting bandits invaded the Lot 4B Number 46 Village home about 22:00h when the owner of the house was about to lock the main access door.

It is believed that the men were staking out the house and carried out the attack moments after the woman returned home with her granddaughter.

Chandrawattie Singh, also called Asha, 54, recalled that as she closed the door behind her, someone pulled it open.

“A person with black all over pull open the door. I see two other persons coming behind. One come up to me and put a gun to my face and say ‘don’t holla.’ They say they want money and

jewellery.”

She told them that she did not have any money at home. The men ordered her to sit on the floor with her granddaughter besides her. “’Tomorrow is Christmas, so you can’t tell me that you don’t have money’,” she recalled one of the men telling her. “’Bring the money. This house get money, you all doing business’,” they insisted.

Singh said she was punched to the face.

However, the bandits, all of whom, were masked claimed that Singh was a money lender, but she insisted that she did not conduct such business. At that time, the woman stated her granddaughter attempted to speak to the men. “’Me Nana [grandfather] na wuk no way; he na bring no money gie abe. He ah drink rum’,” the child reportedly said. The ban-

dits were not convinced and took a ring which Singh was wearing, after which they ransacked the two bedrooms.

They came up empty-handed, so in a furious state, they threatened to shoot the child, but her grandmother pleaded with them and repeated that she had no money. “They say that we got to give them money or they gon kill us.”

Meanwhile, one of the intruders ventured into the lower flat of the house, where he found Singh’s husband, Doodnauth, also called “Gouyo”, 54, asleep.

The bandit took away the $11,000 he had in his pockets and put him to lie face down on the floor.

The farmer said he was gun butted by the bandit who requested that he indicate where the money was kept. Meanwhile, Singh was told to take her granddaughter and lie on the bed.

She said the men were not satisfied with the money and threatened to rape her and the child. “I hold on to my granddaughter and I begged them not to hurt we.

Every move I make in the house, I hold on tight tight to she; she did crying.”

One of the bandits then asked Singh if they made saddles to sell and she responded in the affirmative.

“He ask me if we ain’t sell saddle today, and I say yes.”

She was asked for that

money and without hesitation, she took them to the lower flat of the house and handed over the $16,000.

However, they insisted that it was not enough and demanded more. But after searching for more than an hour, they left with a gold band and two rings from Singh.

They also took a laptop computer and a cordless telephone. Police are investigating.

One of the rooms that were ransacked by the bandits

12 homeless after Boxing Day fire in Berbice

A

The remnants of the two-storey building after the fire

t least 12 persons were rendered homeless after a fire of unknown origin completely destroyed their home in Limlair Village, Corentyne, Berbice on Boxing Day. Flames were seen billowing from the house about 04:30h. The upper flat of the two-storey building was occupied by a nurse while her brother and his family occupied the lower flat.

In addition, a wooden building next door, in which several persons were living, was badly damaged.

Dale Kyte, who lived in the wooden building, along with her 76-year-old mother and a two-year-old baby, told Guyana Times that she was awakened by strange sounds. As she opened her eyes, she recalled seeing a glare through her bedroom

The badly burnt wooden structure next door

Claudia Ross, the nurse who resided in the upper flat of the completely gutted house

window, so she decided to check.

Upon looking out, she saw the upper flat of the two-storey building on fire.

“I called out to my neighbour and told him that fire was upstairs.”

Claudia Ross, 56, a nurse attached to the Port Mourant Hospital, related that on Christmas Day she spent most of the day at her mother’s home.

She said she went to bed about 21:00h on Tuesday and when she woke to use the washroom, she turned off the kitchen lights and fairy lights in the house.

“I went back and I sleep and then I heard my brother from downstairs calling me.

So when I open my eyes and jump up, I see flames in the house. So, I run to the door, but I could not get it opened; forgetting that I had turned the latch,” she stated.

She then opened the glass door and escaped the burning building via the veranda. According to Nurse Ross, she lost everything.

Asked whether she had acquired new things for the Christmas holiday, she stated that she recently purchased a bed and carpet.

Meanwhile, the lower flat was occupied by her brother, who is a farmer; his wife and two children.

The firemen arrived at the scene some 30 minutes after they were contacted. “We really need a Fire Service at Whim or in Alness. After they call out the nurse upstairs, the boys started a bucket brigade, but that was not good enough,” one woman stated.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and the fire officials are continuing their investigations.

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fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

No-confidence vote certified, will not be reviewed – Clerk of House

...needing 34 votes to secure passage defies logic – Ram

C Season greetings, Charrandas Persaud

T

he events at Parliament on December 21, 2018, reflect how a people rebel when they feel isolated and left behind by arrogant political elites. We in the silent majority can identify with the national excitement that happened on that fateful day. After three years, not even five per cent of their 2015 manifesto promises were delivered, although they spent more than a trillion dollars on mainly pageantry activities and the high life for the few in the Granger cabal (form rather than substance). They are so callous that they choose to spend GY$350 million for rum and fete at Mash rather than pay the severed Wales sugar workers in a timely manner.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) is dominated by a ‘gang of six’, and along with people like Charrandas, voted for a pension of almost GY$20 million a year for a certified People’s National Congress (PNC) thug. History will not be kind to all those who voted for that pension and thus it was good of Charrandas to make amend for his past errors by using his “one vote”.

What did the AFC do when Minister Volda Lawrence declared she’s only “giving wuk to PNC people”? The AFC leader endorsed her comments by unilaterally abrogating the voice of the AFC membership even though the Minister’s strategy would have resulted in AFC members being denied work. So was it not right for Charrandas to reclaim his voice from Raphael Trotman who operated as if he was a Caesar onto himself?

But where I can empathise 100 per cent with Charrandas was when he spoke of what this Granger cabal did to the sugar industry. Charrandas made it clear that as the regional representatives from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), he was never consulted. In Region Six, most of the economic activity is closely intertwined with the sugar industry. What happened instead was that these PNC leaders and their AFC friends in the ‘gang of six’, allowed their wolf masks to fall upon assuming office and attacked the sugar belt with a vengeance. What manner of people take bread from poor people’s mouths in such a fashion? Well the PNC/AFC did!

Charrandas also asked a very important question “What has Moses Nagamootoo done for the people of Berbice as their Prime Minister?” It was Nagamootoo and Ramjattan who promised the sugar workers at Whim in 2015 that they shall not close down sugar factories. But like classic Judas to the sugar workers, they rolled over for Granger as he supervised the closure of not one, not two, not three but four sugar estates in a short space of time. Such antipatriotic, anti-national and anti-Guyanese policy action is truly deserving of the expression of no-confidence by the majority.

What Charrandas clearly elucidated was what I found in 2014 that led to my resigning from the AFC. The ‘gang of six’ that dominates all decisions in the AFC are a bunch of Georgetown political elites who have no interest in the poor and the working class; all that matters for them is their personal pockets, and their personal perks.

So I am happy that Charrandas found the testicular fortitude to do the right thing and use the “power of one” to put to rest this corrupt and incompetent PNC-led Granger cabal. What he did has nothing to do with whether the People’s Progressive Party benefits or not. It has everything to do with a principle that good human beings live by and it begins with this phrase "Yada yada hi dharmasya…." This phrase is taken from the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 4, verses 7-8 and the English translation to the Sanskrit is “Whenever dharma (righteousness) declines, God manifests in the soul of the chosen one in order to deliver the annihilation of the evil doers so that the welfare of the people closest to the heart can be looked after (the poor and the working class).”

Charrandas’s role is now over, he did his job of bringing an end to this PNC-led oppression and deception. As he said, he is a lawyer first and he wants to go back to what he does best – the law. I wish him well.

But be clear Guyana, in spite of these challenges, those challenges will be met but it has to be met with a team that is experienced, competent and capable. There is no room in 2019 and beyond for more Granger-like trainee and political washouts. That is why I am rejecting all these small parties and third forces in 2019. It is insane to make the same mistake twice and expect a different outcome. Let us return to the lean, clean and progressive form of governance that we experienced under Cheddi Jagan.

Season greeting Please share yourCharrandas thoughts atPersaud. sasesin1@yahoo.com.

lerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs has confirmed the validity of the Oppositionsponsored No-confidence Motion, having told Guyana Times on Thursday that he has certified the vote. In fact, Isaacs also made it clear that he will not be conducting a review of the decision.

“Not me, period, that is not my duty,” the Clerk outlined. “Once approved, the motion becomes a resolution and I’m required to send the resolution to the mover of the motion among other persons which is what I did,” Isaacs told this news entity.

Later on, the Clerk of the National Assembly issued a letter responding to accusations he said Charrandas made against him, saying Isaacs stopped the vote during the division of the Noconfidence Motion after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Member of Parliament said “yes”.

Noting that he has always performed his duties with professionalism and impartiality, Isaacs said he actually paused

Expelled AFC ex-member, Charrandas Persaud

Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs

Attorney, Christopher Ram

“due to the uproar” after the now expelled AFC member’s vote.

“Mr Charrandas Persaud may be a lawyer but Parliamentary Practice may evade him. Parliamentary Practice has taught me that when there is disruption in the House during a division, the Clerk must stop taking the division. I therefore had no option but to stop and to ensure that the vote of the member was correctly taken,” Isaacs clarified.

Much of Guyana was left stunned but the dust is now settling over last week’s shock passage of the no-confidence vote against the coalition Administration which came via Alliance For Change (AFC) member Charrandas Persaud deflecting to the Opposition. Some observers are questioning the motion’s validity even as the vote has already been certified, which cleared the path for elections to be held in three months’ time.

Outspoken political commentator Christopher Ram is at a loss as to why last Friday’s vote is being questioned, alluding that 33 out of 65 constitute a majority.

“What is a majority? A majority is the greater number or the greater part so if you’re saying 34 is the majority then what are saying that we have 66 members in the National Assembly or do you take away their seats? It defies logic and it defies law,” Ram opined. turn to page 12

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fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fallen transmission poles in Berbice caused electricity supply interruption

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alling transmission poles in Corentyne, Berbice have resulted in an interruption in the supply of electricity by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) throughout the course of Thursday.

The utility company confirmed that about 07:00h, two poles on the L22 transmission line fell as a result of inclement weather and high winds.

Consequently, there was a disruption in the power supply from Auchlyne to Moleson Creek, Region Six

(East Berbice-Corentyne).

This lasted until 10:35h as a temporary re-configuration of the circuits restored power in these areas.

However, emergency crews were deployed to the site where remedial works were conducted until 17:00h.

Upon completion of the works, the utility company informed that a brief service interruption of one hour was necessary to “restore the circuits to their normal configuration”.

Just a few days ago, GPL reassured that it remained

committed to providing a reliable electricity supply during the holiday season.

The power company stated that every effort was being made to ensure the availability of its generating units. However, the inadequacies in the aged Transmission and Distribution (T&D) network continue to pose problems.

This has been exacerbated by persons accidentally coming into contact with the network.

“The most recent was December 23, when a pri-

vately-operated excavator came into contact with one of our primary distribution lines, resulting in the entire line going out of service and outages in the eastern Georgetown area for approximately an hour.

Therefore, we urge the public to exercise caution when operating machinery within close proximity to our infrastructure,” the company stated.

During pre-planned maintenance activities on the T&D network on December 16, it was indi-

No-confidence vote certified...

However, Attorney Nigel Hughes, an AFC member told State media that half of 65 is 32.5 but when rounded to the nearest whole number would be 33 as there is no half member.

He therefore suggested that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) needed 34 to secure majority. Ram however sees it differently,

having expressed his hope that the polls, due by March 19, 2019, will not be stalled.

“Mr Nigel Hughes is reading words in the Constitution that are not there. The Constitution certainly does not say that; it says a majority... I am hoping that [the comments] are for academic excitement and not intended to stall any process or to cre-

ate and sow confusion – that is my concern,” Ram posited.

In keeping with the Guyana Bar Association’s recent endorsement of the validity of the no-confidence vote, Ram said it must “absolutely” be accepted. In fact, the Kamal Ramkarranheaded Association said on Wednesday that to suggest that the recently passed No-

cated that patrols are continuing to monitor systems and ensure that issues that could cause potential widespread outages during the holidays are addressed.

In 2017, GPL recorded a total of 25 total system shutdowns.

For 2018, it has managed to reduce this to 12 so far, with one since September.

18-year-old delivers lone Christmas Day baby in Berbice

from page 11

confidence Motion was not validly passed is erroneous, disclosing that “the results and consequences of the motion be accepted and that urgent preparations for elections by the Elections Commission be started,” in keeping with Article 106(6) of the Constitution.

Government is said to be seeking legal advice on the matter but calls to senior Cabinet ministers on Thursday were unanswered.

Attempts were made to contact Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Government Chief Whip and Social Protection Minister Amna Ally and Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.

Nevertheless, on Thursday evening, through the Director of Public Information, Imran Khan, the Government in a release stated that Cabinet met and would have received a report from the Special Legal Sub-Committee on the matter with regard to the no-confidence motion.

“The Chairman of the SubCommittee, Attorney General Basil Williams SC, updated Cabinet on the matter and presented a number of recommendations. Cabinet discussed various options and took certain decisions on the way forward,” the release added.

In addition, the coalition Government via the release assures its supporters and the public that it will pursue all available options and act in the best interest of all Guyanese.

Persaud who became a parliamentarian following the May 2015 elections said he was dissatisfied with AFC MPs being ‘yes men’. The Berbician had resigned from the party in September 2013 but would later face the media and indicate that his resignation was nonexistent.

The lawyer said his vote was one of conscience since he was tired of towing party lines.

He left the country Saturday morning after saying that was threatened both online and by one of his colleagues in the National Assembly.

A total of 10 MPs had debated the motion and when a vote of division was called, Persaud’s vote changed the numbers to 33 in favour of the motion versus Government’s 32 votes against the motion. Government was previously confident that it would have won the vote.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

Hansranie Larchama and her husband, Azim Ali, with their newborn on Christmas Day at the New Amsterdam Hospital

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ighteen-year-old Hansranie Larchama, of Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice, delivered a bouncing baby boy about 03:45h on Christmas morning thus making him the lone Christmas baby to be born in Berbice. At birth the baby weighed 2.3 kilogram.

Larchama said she would have preferred if the Christmas baby was born earlier, so she could have been out for Christmas Eve, since she did not see anything special about giving birth on Christmas Day. However, the baby’s fa-

ther, Azim Ali, 18, a cane harvester who also wanted the baby to be born earlier so that he and his wife could have been together on Christmas Eve, stated that having a baby on Christmas Day was something special.

Larchama’s due date was January 19, but she was admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital on Christmas Eve and gave birth the following morning. The first-time mother was surrounded by her husband, mother, grandmother and an aunt when Guyana Times visited the hospital on Christmas Day.

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fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Former Guyanese AG, Sir Fenton Ramsahoye passes on

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ormer Guyanese Attorney General and legal luminary, Sir Fenton Ramsahoye died in Barbados on Thursday at the age of 89. Ramsahoye was a Guyanese lawyer and politician who served for over 20 years in Antigua and Barbuda.

He studied at London University where he was awarded his BA in 1949 and LLB, LLM in 1953 and 1956 respectively. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn on February 10, 1953 and was awarded a PhD in Comparative Land Law from London School of Economics and Political Science in 1959.

Ramsahoye was at the forefront of the independence movement. In 1961, he was elected a Member of Parliament of Guyana and remained in Parliament until 1973. He was the Attorney General of Guyana from 1961 to 1964 under the Cheddi Jagan-led People’s Progressive Party and a member of Board of Governors of the University of Guyana from 1962 to 1964.

As of 2006, he held the record for making the most appearances before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the Caribbean. Ramsahoye was appointed Senior Counsel in Guyana in 1971. From 1972 to 1975 he was Deputy Director of Legal Education for the Council of Legal Education in the West Indies and head of Hugh Wooding Law School as a professor.

Ramsahoye was a Queen's Counsel and a member of

Sir Fenton Ramsahoye QC, SC

the Bars of England and Wales, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, the territories of the Eastern Caribbean including Montserrat, and the British Virgin Islands.

He was knighted in 2006

by Governor General, Sir James Carlisle during a ceremony at Government House in Antigua.

In a statement issued by the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), it stated that it mourns the passing of Sir Ramsahoye, noting that Guyana has lost a great asset to the legal fraternity.

DPP Shalimar Hack said Ramsahoye was a great legal legend of Guyana, the Region and the Commonwealth. He served selflessly throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean Region particularly at the Privy Council and the Caribbean Court of Justice.

“He distinguished himself academically and subsequently in his practise at the Bar especially at the fi-

nal Courts of Appeal for the Region, The Privy Council and the Caribbean Court of Justice. While doing so he also served his native country as its first local Attorney General with distinction. So distinguished was his service that he was knighted by the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth,” she noted in her statement.

Reminiscing, the DPP said despite having knowledge of Ramsahoye’s failing health, his death still came as a shock. She explained that he appeared for the State in many criminal appeals at the Caribbean Court of Justice, the most recent being the case of Mark Royden Williams and James Anthony Hyles, more commonly referred to as the Lusignan Massacre case.

“The legal community, especially in the Caribbean Commonwealth Region has lost a human encyclopedia where legal matters are concerned, be it criminal, civil or constitutional. He was a bottomless well when it came to the law which he expounded from his memory, including the history of the law.

Despite being well versed in many areas of the law he was always willing to learn about new aspects. I saw this with him with the introduction of modern anti-money laundering laws. His writing and eloquence is another aspect to be recognised, commended, remembered and emulated. He is truly an icon in the law. He had a command of the understanding of the law and applied it with diligence, astute finesse and integrity,” she noted.

In addition, the Bar Association of Guyana hailed Ramsahoye’s commitment to the practice of law.

“For over 50 years, since the publication of his treatise ‘The Development of Land Law in British Guiana’ in 1966 when he was 37 years old, lawyers have been thumbing its pages as the standard text on land law in Guyana.

Regionally, Sir Fenton has been earning acclaim since the 1970s in the area of human rights in the many cases argued by him at the

regional appellate level and in the Privy Council in England from a variety of Caribbean countries. Since the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice in 2005 and until recently, Sir Fenton utilised his considerable legal skills in representing litigants in the region’s highest Court,” the Bar Association said.

Meanwhile, his Excellency David Granger extends heartfelt condolences at the passing of Sir Fenton Harcourt Ramsahoye.

“Sir Fenton, who passed away earlier today in Barbados at the age of 89, was a distinguished Guyanese attorney who authored the book, The Development of Land Law in British Guiana”, a missive from the Government stated.

Ramsahoye passed away of natural causes.

Throughout the Caribbean, governments hailed Ramsahoye’s commitment to the practice of law while mourning his death.

Brazilian farmer allegedly murdered during argument over wild meat

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he body of a Brazilian national was discovered on Wednesday last in Moco Moco Village, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) hours after a confrontation with another man over wild meat.

The dead man has been identified as 44-year-old Elvis Aulicio, a farmer of Bonfim, Brazil. It is suspected that the farmer was killed, since his body bore wounds to the back and forehead.

He was found on a track in the open savannah at Moco Moco Village sometime around 02:00h on Christmas Day. According to initial investigations, the now dead man was imbibing at a house in Moco Moco e on Tuesday, but left about 22:00h. After a few hours, his body was discovered.

It was reported that a male was arrested and was being questioned in relation to the murder.

Guyana Times understands that on the night in question, Aulicio and the suspect had an argument over wild meat. A scuffle ensued between the two men, during which the farmer sustained the injuries.

The injured Aulicio reportedly left the scene and collapsed while on the track in the open savannah, where his body was discovered hours later.

The body of the Brazilian farmer is presently at the Lethem Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a post- mortem examination.

Young entrepreneur opens “1st of many stores to come” in Parika Boodhoo, for their relentless support in getting the project completed.

Among those gathered were members of the business community and other residents. Deonauth’s pastor, Reverend Motie Singh, blessed the opening ceremony and provided a brief word of exhortation.

Several well-wishers spoke of the young woman’s

Little Zarah, being assisted by her mom, Sonia Deonauth, in cutting the ribbon to officially declare the store open to the public on Saturday evening. Also in photo are Sonia's parents and other well-wishers

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he childhood dream of a Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) young woman became a reality on Saturday as she officially declared open the first of her “many stores to come” in her home village.

Thirty-year-old Sonia Deonauth was all smiles as she stood in front of her newly-constructed store, "Zarah's”, at Lot 68 Parika, in the company of her family, friends, pastor and congregation members.

In her brief remarks, the young woman said that the

planning stage to the actual construction of the building took almost one year. The store was named after her first-born, who will be six later this year.

Deonauth related that from a very young age, she wanted to become her own boss. As such, she started saving all the money she got on her birthday and at Christmas so that she could put it towards achieving her dream.

Her aim is to develop her own brand into a household name. She explained

that her passion is to provide a unique shopping experience for customers by offering products in the line of fashion, home furnishings, lifestyle products and much more.

"This is the first of many stores to come. My idea is to provide a unique one-stop shopping experience to persons within the community and other regions," she said.

The businesswoman explained that though there were several challenges in sourcing the right type of materials for the project

such as lighting and fixtures, etc, the finished project was well worth it. The young entrepreneur, with the help of her contractor, designed the building in which Zarah's is housed.

The proud young lady also related that in spite of the terrible state of the economy at the moment, she is determined to succeed and would continue to look at ways in which she could capitalise on business opportunities in Guyana.

She expressed thanks to her parents, Lorna and Roy

determination, drive, enthusiasm and hard work in making her dreams a reality.

She used the opportunity to encourage young persons in the community to dream big and to never give up when certain challenges arise and, most of all, to pray and trust God to provide the right guidance in order to make good decisions.

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fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Broken koker causes flooding in Wakenaam

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Democracy is a messy affair – Sometimes conscience can make it right

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everal homes in Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) were under flood waters on Boxing Day after the door for the koker at Maria’s Pleasure gave way, causing the water level to rise approximately 12 inches between 08:30h and 10:00h.

Scenes from Wednesday’s flooding

Region Three Regional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikarran confirmed that some 36 homes were affected, although he informed that the situation was resolved about 13:00h on Wednesday.

He said a regional team would soon be assessing various kokers in the region

ahead of future spring tides.

Jaikarran added that the regional team and representatives from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) distributed cleaning agents to the affected residents.

Reports stated that the Maria’s Pleasure koker was last repaired in April of this year. No damage to livestock

and farmlands were recorded. Sea defence workers and Region Three officials were earlier on the ground with machinery carrying out repairs before the next tide arrived.

Wakenaam sits in the mouth of the mighty Essequibo River and is one of Guyana’s largest islands.

WCD flooding

No compensation for festive season

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illagers on the West Coast of Demerara who were affected by mass flooding back in March were expecting to be compensated for their losses for the festive season but this never materialised despite Government’s promises.

After confirmation by the regional officials that no assistance was given thus far, Guyana Times spoke to some of the affected persons and moreover those who suffered.

Karamchand Singh, whose fence was destroyed by the breach, explained that he was unable to repair the structure due to other losses he suffered when his livestock died in the water during that same period.

With constraints to produce an income, he was unable to fix any structures on his property which were damaged. Voicing his concerns along with other persons, he explained that Central Government has made no effort to engage the residents after the flooding.

“The only thing we hearing is that they have to do an

Waves pummelling over the seawalls during the breach

assessment and they repairing the seawall. We though we getting this help for the Christmas but like we might never get anything. A lot of us had plenty losses during that time and some people still yet to return to where they used to live,” a distraught Singh related.

Two houses away from him, a widow with three children explained that her one-flat house was completely inundated during the flooding, and she was left to discard most of the items in her house.

“My children clothes and everything get damage. I had to stay by my sister not too far from here till the water go away and by then, the

stove and everything damage… We thought we getting something from the Government to help out we but nothing.”

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had informed Guyana Times some time ago that his last visit to the area surfaced discussions about the compensations and it was agreed that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) of Tuschen-Uitvlugt would make a ‘proper assessment’ of the damages that were cause.

However, the Minister of State posited that no response was generated from the NDC and related that he

is awaiting that assessment before a decision is taken on the allocation of monies to the hundreds of affected residents.

Harmon was quoted as saying, “I haven’t heard back from the CDC or from the NDC Chairman. So I think that is where it is.

Once that is done, then we can make a decision where that is concerned.”

However, the TuschenUitvlugt NDC Chairman, Vishal Ambedkar told Guyana Times when contacted that the CDC was engaged in separate consultations with a few residents, the Council is unclear as to whether their calculations were ‘comprehensive’ and all the factors surrounding the damages were considered.

Since March of this year, waves from the Atlantic Ocean which were generated during a spring tide battered the seawall, leaving several villages completely inundated by the floodwaters. At that time, the waves pummelled 20 feet over the structure.

Diamond Secondary fire

Government Electrical Inspector to determine cause of fire

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he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is yet to make a pronouncement on the cause of the fire which gutted a section of the Diamond Secondary School earlier this week.

GFS Fire Prevention Officer Andrew Holder told Guyana Times on Thursday that they would have wrapped up their investigation, but have been awaiting confirmation from the Government Electrical Inspector so as to determine the cause of the fire.

“I am awaiting some

A section of the administrative facilities that were gutted by the blaze

information

from

the

Government

Electrical

Inspector. We were both on the scene. I have concluded my aspect of the investigation and I’m waiting on him to say whether he found anything that would suggest that it is electrical,” said Holder.

The fire of unknown origin destroyed the administrative section of the school.

Persons living in close proximity to the school were awakened by screams of fire after the security guard at the facility noticed the flames. continued on page 15

oes a Member of Parliament have a right of conscience or must he exercise blind loyalty to a party or a political leader?

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) colleagues insisted that loyalty to the Dr Leslie Ramsammy party and party leader is a democratic expectation. One of their MPs, Charrandas Persaud, believed that his right of conscience is supreme and on December 21, 2018, in the Parliament of Guyana, he exercised that right.

The No-Confidence Motion introduced by the Leader of the Opposition was thrashed as a waste of time by Prime Minister Nagamootoo and by the leadership of APNU/AFC. As it turns out, the Parliament approved the No-Confidence Motion by a vote of 33 to 32. One Government MP, Charrandas Persaud, representing Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) as a Member of the APNU/AFC coalition Government, agreed with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Opposition that the Government has not met its obligations and that the Parliament, speaking for the people, has lost confidence in the Government. As a consequence, elections are now due within 90 days, according to the Constitution. Thirty-three MPs decided that the people must have a chance now, rather than wait until August 2020, to put into place a new Government.

While the Government and some of its supporters may find this inconvenient, it is democracy at work. Democracy is not always smooth; it can be a messy affair. Winston Churchill once said: "No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise.

Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time". Charrandas Persaud demonstrated the messiness of the democratic process. He was expected to adhere to party loyalty, he preferred his conscience.

Immediately after Persaud announced his vote, he was pounced upon, deemed by his colleagues, many of whom are his close friends, a Judas, and a traitor. The Government paper enshrined this designation for eternity as it had a full front page with Persaud's picture and the caption "JUDAS". He was threatened and in the process had to leave the country in fear for his life. The Public Security Minister and the Government now seek praise for granting Persaud safe passage. At no point did they consider that this was not a favour done on behalf of Persaud, but that this was a constitutional obligation on the Government to ensure safety for all citizens. He may have voted to end the Government's tenure and for new elections, but he was exercising his right and he not only deserves safe passage, he has a right to safe passage. As hurtful as his action maybe to those in Government, he was exercising his democratic rights and his Government had the obligation to ensure his safety.

Persaud conceded that he voted for the motion of NoConfidence because his conscience would not permit him to continue excusing the corruption and abuses of the Government he helped installed and kept in power the last three-and-a-half years. His conscience told him that the Government had failed the people, particularly the people who live next to and near him, many of whom are his friends and family. He saw these people every day, he saw their agony, he saw them plunged into poverty by the uncaring and insensitive Government for whom Persaud had to vote for every time he attended Parliament. He admitted that for three-and-a-half years he voted according to instructions from his party leaders, even though many times it was against his conscience.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo insisted, however, that Persaud did not have the right to conscience. Nagamootoo demanded party loyalty. In his perspective of parliamentary democracy, party loyalty was supreme. Persaud countered that his right to conscience was supreme in the democracy that we live in or then it would not be a democracy, but an autocracy.

In Persaud's perspective, conscience cannot be subsumed by cultish bigotry and loyalty to a party or party leader.

What played out in Parliament on December 21, 2018, was the arrogance of democracy, demanding full subservience, versus the gentle pull of conscience. While it is important in a parliamentary democracy to maintain discipline among MPs, these MPs are also accountable to people. The people's dissatisfaction, their perils and their agony must be able to move an MP's conscience beyond cultish subservience to a leader. The thousands of sugar workers who lost their jobs, the thousands suffering because of high tax burdens and because of corruption and abuses of their Government moved Persaud's conscience. It proved that conscience is a powerful tool to stop those excesses that make democracy imperfect.

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fridAY, december 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Natural Resources Fund

Modify proposed fiscal rule to better promote fiscal sustainability – NRGI …recommends reduced responsibilities for Macroeconomic Committee

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he worldwide-based Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), in reviewing the green paper on Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund (NRF), has recommended that the proposed fiscal rule be modified to promote better fiscal sustainability, effect smooth overall fiscal expenditures, allow for escape in times of crisis and reduce complexity.

The report, published in November, explained that the NRGI’s analysis of the green paper establishes a commendable framework for addressing some of the most severe risks, including a system of multi-layered internal accountability aligned with international good practice; listing eligible asset classes consistent with a low-to-medium-risk investment strategy; limiting investments exclusively to foreign assets; requirements to publish quarterly

and annual reports; parliamentary review of annual reports and approval of withdrawals; and fiscal rules whose objectives are to prevent over-spending.

The NRGI has a wealth of experience in the field of natural resources and Sovereign Wealth Fund governance issues. The institute indicated that it played no part in crafting Guyana’s NRF and has no commitment to the Government.

In the report, it commended the framework but cited there is a tremendous risk that the NRF will not function as intended without several key improvements, particularly in the area of the fiscal rule.

The recommendations for changes, includes managing citizen’s expectations transparently, professionalising the management of the fund, utilising a custodian bank, and reducing the responsibilities of the

Macroeconomic Committee among several others.

In the green paper, Government says the fiscal rules under consideration recognises the development gaps, both in terms of human capital and physical infrastructure, that exist and the need to accommodate development spending via the National Budget.

It added that “it envisages an initial frontloading of spending to address critical development gaps, in the earlier years, and subsequent progression to higher savings ratios in later years. The proposed rule would acknowledge that, notwithstanding the above, Government is determined to avoid the pitfalls that other countries have encountered that led to paths of poor economic management.”

The green paper also speaks to the establishment of a Macroeconomic

GNBA reiterates broadcast disability requirements ...highlights fines, jail time for those errant

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head of its February 2019 implementation, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has once again emphasised the need for broadcasters to comply within the timeframe set out in the Persons with Disabilities Act 2012 that makes provisions for the inclusion of sign language or subtitles.

Chapter 36:05 Section 26 (1), (2) of the Act stipulates that (1) within 10 years of the coming into operation of this Act or a later date that the Minister may prescribe, the person in charge of every national television station shall provide a sign language inset or subtitles in at least one newscast programme daily and special programmes covering events of national significance.

Further, (2) any person who fails to comply with subsection one (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The GNBA in a statement issued on Thursday stressed its firm commitment to the development of a broadcasting landscape which makes provi-

GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers

sion for all Guyanese, irrespective of their differences.

It was after the Authority’s Stakeholder Engagement and Christmas Luncheon, on December 14, 2018 that Board Chairman Leslie Sobers announced that the GNBA would have been placing emphasis on creating “an accessible broadcasting environment for all, with a particular focus on persons with disabilities.”

Sobers had pointed out that the Board which he heads would be focusing on ‘levelling the playing field’, through equal access to information and/or broadcast content for all citizens.

“GNBA is cognisant of the need for equality and the rights of those persons with

particular needs, who find it onerous to understand what is being broadcast on television. The implementation of closed captioning or sign language will essentially alleviate many of the challenges experienced by persons with hearing impairment,” Sobers indicated.

The Authority urged broadcasters to put themselves in order as part of their social responsibility.

It had been explained by the Chairman that all broadcasters should be compliant by 2022 in keeping with the 10 year-period.

Sobers had noted that about 50,000 people comprise Guyana’s persons with disabilities population. Of this population, he had outlined that 9.1 per cent or 4406 people suffer from hearing impediment. Moreover 30 per cent or 14,525 persons, he noted, suffer from visual impairment.

Guyana Times had reported that the GNBA had not consulted with local broadcasters on the matter; with some saying they were not even aware of any such law and would have sought legal advice.

Government Electrical Inspector...

Reports are the guard noticed flames emanating from the front building in the compound about 02:00h and immediately raised an alarm. With the assistance of public-spirited citizens, the fire was contained before fire-fighters arrived at the scene.

The Education Ministry stated that the fire began in the administrative building, which housed the head teacher’s and deputy head teacher’s offices along with the computer laboratory and the library.

According to the Ministry, checks were

from page 14

made by the GFS to ascertain whether there was a power surge affecting that area before the blaze and it was found that there was no issue with the electricity supply.

Regional officials were then engaged to cater for the smooth operation of the school when it reopens.

Committee which would determine the Economically Sustainable Amount and would consist of the following five members appointed by the Finance Minister.

The Committee would comprise of a representative of the Finance Minister, who shall also be the Chairman, a Private Sector representative nominated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana, Bank of Guyana representative nominated by BoG’s Governor, a Private Sector representative nominated

by Leader of the Opposition, and a leading expert in macroeconomics appointed by the Minister with the approval of Cabinet.

Among the responsibilities of the committee is the considerations of inflation; the real effective exchange rate; the balance of payments; economic growth, particularly in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors; the composition of public spending; and external debt.

NRGI, in its report, said it advises that Government to reduce excessive discretion of the Macroeconomic Committee on economically sustainable amount.

“We have reservations as to the Committee’s ability

and authority to determine the “economically sustainable amount” as well as the necessity of an economically sustainable amount in addition to other elements of a fiscal rule. We recommend eliminating the economically sustainable amount element and having the Macroeconomic Committee be tasked with providing independent revenue forecasts for benchmark calculations, approving the temporary suspension of the fiscal rule in the eventuality of force majeure, and monitoring the functioning of the rule,” it writes.

In providing options for the Government to explore, NRGI said the fiscal rule is complex in its current form, which could cause comprehension issues and added that a well-defined escape clause and procedural guidance on how the Government may revise rule targets in a transparent and open manner in the case of major shocks.

NRGI said that consensus building is critical to the success of any sovereign wealth fund or fiscal rules, as politicians and oversight bodies are unlikely to enforce the rules unless they have a feeling of ownership over them.

“There are many models of consensus building, from parliamentary debates to public surveys to political ententes. In Ghana and the Northwest Territories (Canada), the Ministries of finance toured the country before the establishment of their funds to request citizen views on the management of natural resource revenues. In Norway, the political parties negotiated the fiscal rules so that each would abide by the rules once they entered Government. We would encourage the Government of Guyana to follow suit and engage in a cross-country consensus-building exercise before establishment of the fund,” it said.

Guyana is on the verge of becoming an oil-rich country. In absolute terms, Guyana’s petroleum wealth is modest, representing approximately 0.2 per cent of global reserves, which places the country 26th globally. However, it possesses the world’s seventh-largest oil reserves per capita, second-largest in Latin America behind Venezuela.

If revenue estimates from the Liza field prove to be accurate, Guyana could become one of the world’s largest per capita oil producers over the course of several years in the mid2020s. According to independent projections, fiscal revenues from the petroleum sector could range between US$7 and 27 billion over the next 30 years.

Between 2025 and 2028, revenues could peak at between US$800 million and $2.5 billion in a given year, at least doubling Guyana’s National Budget in some years.

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friDAY, decEMBER 28, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

T

he place you want to be on Old Year’s Night is Guyana’s premier night club, Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown, for one of the most anticipated parties to ring in the New Year.

The party titled, “Bollywood Masquerade” will feature Karma Band out of Trinidad and Tobago, comprising Ravi B, Nesha B and reigning Chutney Monarch, Nishard M. The artistes are known for their energetic performances and without a doubt, they will entertain their fans to the last drop. In addition to the live performances, the Pritivi Tassa Boys will be in the house to add some flavours to the event.

As well, some of the most versatile deejays and selectors will be in the house. These include Selector Carl, Deejay Energy, Selector Diamond, Gully Ras and Mix Master, Tony. It will be a night to remember with the best music and party around town.

VIP admission to the event cost $25,000 per person and will include access to the Kokomo Room, drinks, dinner and breakfast.

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s Guyanese prepare to ring in the New Year, they are hoping to do so with a bang and with this mind in, the entertainers are making sure dreams come through so that patrons can wash away the old and ring in the new.

One such party is planned by Team MMR, titled “CSI” (Chutney Soca India) at 704 Night Club, Lamaha and Albert Streets, Georgetown.

The first event in 2017 was a huge success and this year is expected to be bigger and bet-

I

ter. Apart from moving the party from District Ultra Lounge, there will be a number of deejays to rock the house and set the place on fire.

These include Deejay Golden Chyld, Deejay Breeze, Selector Biggs and Selector Andy along with the party boss himself, WR Reaz. Patrons can expect a wide range of music ranging from Soca to Chutney and India. This will be the official party after “Uncensored” which will be held at the National Cultural Centre.

Admission to CSI is $2000.

n a matter of hours, the National Cultural Centre will be in an uproar as the 10th edition of “Uncensored” is set to invade the entertainment centre. The comedy show will be held on Saturday, December 29 and Sunday, December 30.

Known for its class acts, “Uncensored” provides comedians with a stage that has removed certain limitations, allowing them the liberty of expressing themselves and making the kind of jokes they would not otherwise be allowed to make anywhere else. Thus, the show caters to adults only.

Both nights will be completely different shows, with the first night seeing a line-up of comedians competing for the coveted title of “Uncensored King or Queen”. Who will dethrone Odessa Primus?

Or will she keep her crown? That is the question on everyone’s minds. The second night will see the comedians in a clash which promises to be a roasting session. Most people are anticipating the clash between Kirwyn Mars and newcomer Kunchi Reynolds, also known as “Miss Pepper”.

The show will feature other comedians such as Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones; Michael Ignatius; Mark Luke Edwards; Kirt “Chubby” Williams; Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson; Jermaine Grimmond; Mark Kazim, also called “Chiney Man”; Paul Burnette; Marlon Jacobs; Randolph Critchlow; “Granny Ivelaw” Campbell; and Annie.

Tickets cost $1000, $2000 and $3000 and are available at the National Cultural Centre, Gizmos and Gadgets, Giftland Mall, Elegance Jewellery, Payless Variety and Kirwyn Mars. The show is billed to start at precisely 20:00h. Dress code is in effect.

However, after the show, all roads will lead to the 704 Night Club for Team MMR’s CSI party. It will be a night of frolic and fun.

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fridAY, december 28, 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)

Keep an open mind when dealing with people who don’t share your beliefs or opinions. It will help you avoid getting into a heated debate that could ruin an important relationship.

If you share your thoughts, someone you respect will offer some good ideas that will help you reach your goals. Romance will bring you closer to a loved one.

Don’t let bargains and pressure tactics lead you to make purchases you don’t really need. Clear your head and focus on spending time with someone who stimulates you mentally.

Do something creative or make plans to spend time with a loved one. Make changes that will improve your life and a relationship with someone special.

Get involved in something that will make you think. An intellectual challenge that tests your knowledge and experience will give you incentive to learn something new or change your lifestyle.

Put your effort into something that will change someone’s life. If you help those who need assistance, you’ll learn something new and gain greater insight into your life.

You may crave change, but LIBRA (Sept. 23- talking about it won’t make it Oct. 23) happen. Stop procrastinating or letting someone dictate your actions, and head in a direction that suits you and fulfills your aspirations.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — ALLEGES (ALLEGES: uh-LEJ-ez: Asserts without proof.)

SUDOKU

Can you find 17 or more words in ALLEGES? The list will be published tomorrow.

TUESDAY’S WORD — BEDRIDDEN

bird bred breed bride brine eddied eider ended erne deed deer denied

denier deride died dine diner dire drib dried rebid redden redid reed

rein rend ridden ride rind inbred inbreed indeed need nerd

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

Taking short trips, spending time with friends or volunteering for a community event that will bring a little joy to those less fortunate will stir your emotions and make you feel good.

Less partying, spending SAGITTARIUS and talking will leave you (Nov. 23- more time to purge. Letting Dec. 21) go of the past will make you feel good and enable you to clear the way toward a better future.

Average mark 14 words Time limit 25 minutes

bedded been beer bend bender bidden bidder bide bier bind binder bine

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle

View the changes othCAPRICORN ers make from a distance.

(Dec. 22- Don’t feel that you must get Jan. 19) involved in something that will not benefit you. Choose your battles and accomplishments carefully.

Take care of paperwork AQUARIUS that needs to be updated (Jan. 20- before the year comes to a Feb. 19) close. Don’t let anyone mislead you regarding a financial matter that could affect you.

Do what you can for those PISCES (Feb. 20- who can’t do for themselves.

March 20) Your kindness will make someone’s day. A little will go a long way if you execute your plans with love.

fridAY, december 28, 2018

19

Olivier bags 11, South Africa need 149 to win

I

n a dramatic turn of events, South Africa inched closer to a 1-0 series lead after Pakistan suffered a collapse for the second time in the game. The visitors, who started off in fine fashion in their second essay, lost their final nine wickets for the addition of just 89 runs to leave their bowlers just 148 to defend on the third day of the first Test against the hosts.

While the honours were even in the first session, Pakistan took control in the second following a resolute performance by their top order. But the final session saw the hosts make a terrific comeback thanks to Duanne Olivier, who picked up another five-wicket haul to finish the game with 11 scalps.

Quinton de Kock's efforts to fetch his side a handful 42run lead proved to be of little use initially when Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq started off in fine fashion.

While Zaman was watchful, Imam pushed the scoring rate courtesy four boundaries behind the wicket. The pair erased the deficit before Zaman was dismissed against the run of play when

with plenty to do.

The left-hander looked in terrific control and had managed to tackle the short ball to perfection against South Africa's menacing pace attack, even pulling OIivier for a six at one point. While wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals at the other end, Masood's attempt to go for another six over cow corner

led to his dismissal as South Africa cleaned up the tail after a small, jittery period of play in which Mohammad Amir throw his bat around for a handful of runs. 15 wickets on the opening day, 15 wickets again on the second day and only if 10 more falls on the third, Pakistan can manage to avoid a defeat that looks certain. (cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD

he smashed a leg stump half volley straight to fine leg.

The wicket didn't deter the visitors with Shan Masood batting cleverly alongside Imam.

Pakistan had all the momentum going their way at the tea break, leading by 58 runs. The final session though began on a disastrous note with Imam getting dismissed in the very first over.

Unable to tackle the rising ball, Imam saw an inside edge rattling the stumps, much to the home side's delight. Olivier struck again, for the third time in the innings when a short ball was reluctantly pulled by Azhar Ali, only for the top edge to be pouched by a running Kagiso Rabada.

The onus was now on the experienced Asad Shafiq to

stem the rot but after surviving a lbw call with a review, the right-hander went after a wide away moving delivery from Steyn to edge it to the keeper. Babar Azam, who had a fruitful outing in the first innings, was the next to depart as a peach from Rabada shattered his offstump. The slide continued with Sarfraz registering his second duck, leaving Masood

Pakistan 1st Innings 181 all out South Africa 1st Innings 223 all out Pakistan 2nd Innings 190 all out Imam-ul-Haq b Olivier 57 Fakhar Zaman c Rabada b Olivier 12 Shan Masood c Maharaj b Steyn 65 Azhar Ali c Rabada b Olivier 0 Asad Shafiq c †de Kock b Steyn 6 Babar Azam b Rabada 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (c) † c du Plessis b Rabada 0 Mohammad Amir b Rabada 12 Yasir Shah c †de Kock b Olivier 0 Hasan Ali not out 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi c Markram b Olivier 4 Extras 17 (b 6, lb 10, w 1)

TOTAL 190 all out (56 Overs, RR: 3.39, 265 minutes) Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Fakhar Zaman, 12.6 ov), 2-101 (Imamul-Haq, 28.5 ov), 3-103 (Azhar Ali, 30.2 ov), 4-134 (Asad Shafiq, 38.6 ov), 5-142 (Babar Azam, 44.6 ov), 6-142 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 46.2 ov), 7-158 (Mohammad Amir, 48.6 ov), 8-159 (Yasir Shah, 49.2 ov), 9-185 (Shan Masood, 54.2 ov), 10-190 (Shaheen Shah Afridi, 55.6 ov) Bowling D Steyn (15, 4, 34 ,2) K Rabada (15, 4, 47, 3) D Olivier (15, 3, 59, 5) K Maharaj (11, 2, 34, 0)

Rose gets 'MVP' chants in Chicago return, Spurs edge Nuggets

M

i n n e s o t a Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose made a triumphant return to Chicago in the NBA on Wednesday.

Back in Chicago, where he starred for eight seasons, Rose scored 24 points and handed out eight assists in a 119-94 win over the Bulls.

The crowd greeted Rose, the 2011 NBA MVP, with chants of 'MVP' during his performance.

"I had to crack a smile ... it meant a lot," Rose said afterward (via NBCS ).The San Antonio Spurs defeated the visiting Denver Nuggets 111-103. The loss knocked Denver (21-11) out of first place in the Western Conference. They are now a half game behind the Golden State Warriors, who were idle.

DeMar DeRozan scored

30 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 27 as the Spurs (19-16) won for the fifth time in six games.

Dynamic Dinwiddie

High-scoring sixth man Spencer Dinwiddie scored a career-high 37 to lead the Nets to a double-overtime win over the Hornets.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points and 20 rebounds in the Timberwolves' win over the Bulls.

Devin Booker poured in 35 points to help the Suns escape with a 122-120 victory over the Magic. Rookie star Luka Doncic scored 21 points and added 10 assists and nine rebounds in the Mavericks' 122-119 win over the Pelicans. Kent Bazemore scored 32 points in the Hawks' loss to the Pacers. (SPORTSMAX)

Misery for Murray

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray made only four of his 19 shots and had a minus-20 rating in Denver's loss to San Antonio.

Wednesday's results Detroit Pistons 106-95 Washington Wizards Phoenix Suns 122-120 Orlando Magic Indiana Pacers 129-121 Atlanta Hawks Brooklyn Nets 134-132 Charlotte Hornets Toronto Raptors 106-104 Miami Heat M i n n e s o t a Timberwolves 119-94 Chicago Bulls

Memphis Grizzlies 95-87 Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks 122119 New Orleans Pelicans San Antonio Spurs 111103 Denver Nuggets Los Angeles Clippers 127-118 Sacramento Kings

Celtics at Rockets

A nice inter-conference matchup that would have fit right in with the marquee slate on Christmas Day. After a rocky patch in late November and early December, the Rockets have now won seven of eight. However, Chris Paul is out with a strained groin and James Harden is questionable (bruised calf). The Celtics are coming off a big overtime win against the 76ers on Christmas Day, led

by Kyrie Irving (40 points).

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, december 28, 2018

James Harden reaches 'another level' with JCA determined to pick local coach NBA's best 30-point streak in 2 years M

ike D'Antoni feels James Harden has reached a level not seen before after the reigning MVP led the Houston Rockets to a Christmas Day win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Harden's 41 points ensured the Rockets won 113-109 at home to give the Thunder (2112) a second consecutive narrow defeat, in what was one of the NBA's five marquee festive fixtures.

The 29-year-old has now scored at least 30 points in seven

straight matches, the first player to do so since Russell Westbrook recorded a run of eight in November 2016.

James Harden

Despite Harden's past achievements in the game, Rockets coach D'Antoni does not think he has seen him perform with such quality.

"We've got a lot of guys playing at a high level right now," he told reporters. "So many guys contributed.

We try not to get too ahead of ourselves, but [we are] playing better.

"James, like I said, is up to another level that I don't know maybe he's been there before. It's hard to tell once he gets to that altitude, but he's playing great."

"Clint Capela has gone up a level I think from last year," D'Antoni added of the in-form center who had 23 rebounds, setting a new record for Christmas Day fixtures.

"We are a more complete team, and we can handle adversity with Chris [Paul]

James Neesham and Doug Bracewell return to New Zealand ODI side

All rounder James Neesham and fast bowler Doug Bracewell

A

llrounder James Neesham and fast bowler Doug Bracewell are back in New Zealand's ODI squad after a gap of more than a year.

They have both found places in the squad for the threematch ODI series against Sri Lanka, which begins on January 3 in Mount Maunganui.

Also in the squad is wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert, who is set to make his ODI debut with the regular keeper Tom Latham rested. Also rested is the allrounder Colin de Grandhomme.

Neesham has not played an international of any description for almost 18 months, but has earned a recall on the back of excellent domestic form. His batting was especially instrumental to Wellington Firebirds' run to the Ford Trophy List A title over the last two months, as he scored 503 runs at an average of 63.87 and a strike rate of 111. He also claimed 13 wickets in the tournament.

er wicketkeeper-batsman named in the squad. "Tim's also been rewarded for his strong New Zealand A form and we've been impressed by the development of his allround game," Larsen said.

In general, New Zealand would like to use the Sri Lanka series as a testing ground for World Cup prospects, Larsen said. "We want to win the one-day series against Sri Lanka, and we want to gain as much new information as possible while doing so."

Perhaps the most notable omission from the squad is left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who was in New Zealand's ODI squad for the recent tour of the UAE, though he did not play a 50-over game.

Legspinner Ish Sodhi is the frontline slow bowler in the squad.

Mitchell Santner, meanwhile, recently returned to action in the Super Smash after nine months out with a knee injury. The spin-bowling allrounder could be back in the reckoning soon, Larsen indicated: "Mitchell made a promising return in the Burger King Super Smash over the weekend and we'll continue to monitor his progress closely."

Bracewell, meanwhile, who last played for New Zealand in January this year, returns to the side on the back of strong performances for New Zealand A against India A in October and November. It was in the unofficial Tests - rather than the List A games - in which Bracewell impressed, however, taking eight wickets at 28.75, in addition to producing two solid innings with the bat.

"Doug and Jimmy have performed well on the domestic scene and showed during the recent New Zealand A series against India A that they're ready for international cricket," selector Gavin Larsen said.

(CRICINFO) Also part of that A team series had been Northern Districts wicketkeeper batsman Seifert, who New Zealand ODI squad: made 123 runs at 42.66 Kane Williamson (capt), across three innings Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, in the unofficial ODI Lockie Ferguson, Martin series. He has played Guptill, Matt Henry, Colin seven T20Is, and is al- Munro, James Neesham, Henry most certain to make Nicholls, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish his ODI debut against Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor Sri Lanka with no oth-

being out and James Ennis being out because now we have more of a slate of players."

And Rockets debutant Austin Rivers was relieved he no longer has to guard Harden.

"No more step-backs, now I just get to smile," he said after a 10-point appearance off the bench.

"He did a couple, man, I was just like, 'Goodness gracious'. He's the best offensive player in the NBA with the ball in his hands. There's nobody like him."

After a miserable start to the season, the Rockets have now won seven of eight, improving their record to 1815.

Harden said: "[Our] record isn't where we want it to be, but it's getting there.

"We're preparing for a postseason. We're not going to be at our tip-top right now, which is a great thing, so we've got something to build to. We've had that confidence all year."

Westbrook narrowly missed a triple-double with 21 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, while Paul George had 28 points and 14 rebounds.

"We had some bad bounces which got them a couple of extra possessions which got them some open 3s," reflected George. (Sportsmax)

for Scorpions job

President of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Wilford "Billy" Heaven

P

resident of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, says the new year will bring with it, a new head coach for the Jamaica Scorpions, a local one.

According to the JCA president, the talent pool of coaches in Jamaica is so vast, he doesn’t envision the board picking someone from outside after its decision to sack, Robert Samuels.

"We have 12 level-three coaches in Jamaica, and, of course, Mr [Courtney] Walsh is one of them, and he is practising his trade in Bangladesh, and Mr [Andre] Coley is also another level-three coach, and so, we are satisfied that we will be able to find a local coach to groom the national team," he said.

"We are not going overseas because I believe we have competent coaches here who can take the national team and make it into what we want it to be," added Heaven.

Samuels was axed after a string of poor results in the last two years of the West Indies Championship, and in particular after a batting collapse where they lost a game against the Barbados Pride with just a target of 107 to get.

“With full consideration given to on-field performances and off-field areas which needed improvement, the Board concluded that a change was necessary,” the JCA had said in a statement.

"We are looking at early January for a replacement for Samuels. I would say not later than the end of January, but I am hoping that the arrangements can be finalised before," said Heaven. (Sportsmax)

Serena backs WTA increased ranking protection for new mothers

S

erena Williams has praised the introduction of more ranking protection for new mothers on the WTA Tour.

Players coming back from childbirth or injury can use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a three-year period.

In addition, they will not face a seeded player in an opening round.

"I think it's great," said Williams who gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September 2017 and returned to action in February 2018.

"Women that are younger can go out there and have kids and not have to worry about it, and not have to wait until the twilight of their years to have children, and I think it's a really great rule."

Williams, 37, was not seeded at the French Open, her first Grand Slam appearance following her return, but was given a seeding of 25 for Wimbledon, despite being outside the top 32 in the rankings. She is now ranked 16th and will be seeded for next month's Australian Open.

The WTA's rule change comes after the organisation canvassed the opinions of players earlier in the year.

World number one Simona Halep and fivetime Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova had both offered their support to Williams, but others like Petra Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka and Johanna Konta expressed reservations.

Williams added: "I think h a v ing gone through the experience myself really

opened my eyes. Would have I done it sooner had there been different rule changes? I don't know. But now there is an opportunity, people don't have to ask that question."

The 23-time Grand Slam champion will be in action against sister Venus in Abu Dhabi on Thursday in her first match since September's US Open final defeat by Japan's Naomi Osaka. That match was overshadowed by her outburst at chair umpire Carlos Ramos, whom she called a "liar" and "thief".

She was docked a game for verbal abuse following a point penalty for racquet smashing and a code violation for coaching.

She was subsequently fined for her outbursts.

Serena Williams

sports

CLASSIFIED GFF/Stag Super 16 Tournament…

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ACCOMMODATIONS Conferences and retreats – full service: Hotel, Catering & Facilities.

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Tigers, Buxton, Conquerors,

Den Amstel secure wins A

ction in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/Stag Super 16 Year End Tournament continued December 2526, with double headers which saw Western Tigers and Buxton United securing victories at the Golden Grove Ground while at the New Track and Field Centre (NT&FC) in Leonora, Fruta Conquerors and Den Amstel both advanced to the next round.

In the first match-up of the night at the NT&FC, Fruta Conquerors brushed aside Milerock FC 4-1 to storm into the next round.

The Fruta Conquerors wasted no time in asserting their dominance as they showed their attacking prowess from ball one which resulted in Eon Alleyne hitting the back of the net in the second minute. But, Alleyne was not finished with Milerock as he struck

$5+VAT per word

Call: 223-7230 Ext 35

Part of the ongoing action in the GFF Super 16

once again in the 11th minute to take the score to 2-0 in the early stages of the game.

In search of a goal, Milerock tried every tactic to throw the Conquerors off their game but it was futile as Nicholas McArthur blasted one home in the 33rd minute to take the score to

3-0 at half time.

In the second half, Delon McArthur of Milerock Fc managed to bypass the Conquerors’ defence in the 66th minute to give the team a glimmer of hope of what looked like a potential comeback. However, the Conquerors clamped down

and defended their territory, keeping them at bay; in the 90th minute of the game, Nicholas McArthur put the final nail in the coffin as the Conquerors wiped the floor with Milerock to advance to the next round.

In the final showdown of the night, Den Amstel con-

tinued with their impressive form to defeat Victoria Kings FC 2-0.

Kester Jacobs utilised the opportunity given to him in the 31st minute to give Den Amstel the lead. From there on, Den Amstel played defensive ball as they defended their goal until halftime. Needing an equaliser to bring them back into the game, the Kings searched in vain as they created many windows of opportunity, but could not capitalise. In the 82nd minute of the game, Jacobs returned to score as he outsmarted the Victoria side to take the score to 2-0 until fulltime.

In the other fixtures on December 25, Western Tigers FC defeated Ann’s Grove 1-0, as Kelsey Benjamin scored in the 45th minute, while Buxton United caused a major upset as they defeated GDF FC 3-2 to end the night’s play.

Monedderlust secure emphatic win in Candy Boss tournament F

ootball action will resume in the Ancient County of Berbice this evening as the Candy Boss and Antics GT Beer 8-a-side tournament continues in New Amsterdam.

The tournament has delivered weeks of scintillating football action thus far and is set to heighten the thirst for football as the competition continues, with six teams remaining.

In the recently-concluded matches, Monedderlust recorded a resounding win over their fellow villagers, Number Five Football Club

in New Amsterdam, while Paradise edged Rosignol United out of the semi-final running.

Monedderlust were determined to cement their spot and showed this intention from very early on in the match. By the end of the first half, the writing was already on the wall with the score being 4-0 in favour of Monedderlust, but no one could say how many more would follow in the second half.

Travis Henry opened the scoring in the ninth minute and one minute

later, Kevin Layne made it 2-nil.

Akeemo Watts found the back of the net in the 23rd minute and just before the halftime whistle sounded, Travis Henry scored again to take his tally to two.

After the resumption, Seon Watts netted a double, scoring back to back in the 45th and 48th minutes before Teron McDonald joined the scoring party and added one more a minute later for Monedderlust’s 7-0 win.

However, that was only

game two of the double header.

In the first game, Paradise needled Rosignol United in their race for a semi-final spot. The encounter began quietly and Rosignol United seemed unbothered by Paradise’s early goal, knowing that they had time to recuperate.

However, the second half saw Rosignol United fighting to the death to equalise, but it was to no avail as Paradise’s defence worked overtime. As it turned out, Aubrey Joseph

scored the game’s lone goal in the 19th minute.

Six teams remain in the competition and are divided into two groups in a round-robin playoff format.

Group A: defending champions Police FC, Paradise and Number Five while Group B consists of Golden Stars, Monedderlust and Rosignol United. Police have already secured a 3-2 win over Paradise.

The Candy Boss and Antics GT Beer 8-a-side action will continue today.

Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sport Facility…

Commemorates 5 years of passing of founder and horse-racing stalwart Marcel Crawford

T Classified Ads

21

he Alness race track, now renamed the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sport Facility which was founded in 1975, is celebrating horse-racing stalwart Marcel Crawford, as it marked over the holidays the fifth year since the passing of the sports enthusiast.

The Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club over the years has continued to impress as it hosted some of the most highly-anticipated horse racing meets in Guyana, featuring some of Guyana’s top horses.

The second of seven children, Crawford was born on October 13, 1937 at Salton Village (Little Alness) on

the Corentyne. Five years after his passing, Crawford’s name continues to be a household one in the Ancient County of Berbice as he is remembered as a successful lawyer, a very generous person, a former cycling champion and horse racing aficionado. Crawford was always a high flyer. He was one of the top performers in his school not only academically but athletically and set out on a career in cycling in 1956. In 1960, he was selected to represent Guyana at the Olympics in Rome, but his dreams were cut short as there were no financial measures set in place for him to be in Rome. Following that disappointment, he

moved abroad to England to study medicine, but was introduced to law by former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Retired Justice Cecil Kennard. From there on, his career as a lawyer began to shape its course, with a high point being him becoming a Senior Counsel, which at that time was the highest level-ever achieved by anyone in the county. During his stay abroad, he became involved in horse racing, which would then lead to the many successes that the Facility is reaping currently.

Crawford is survived by his two sons, JR Crawford and Ryan Crawford, a practising lawyer.

In an interview with

<<<Guyana Times Sport>>>, Club President JR Crawford stated that he would like to thank all his sponsors for their continued support namely, Kanhai’s Electrical on Regent Street, Curtains and Drapery Designs, Stag Beer, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Candy Corner, and Attorney-atLaw Poonai, who have all continued to support his father’s vision throughout the years.

Marcel Crawford

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, december 28, 2018

Reflections on Windies Cricket in 2018 Part 1

Gabriel, Dowrich top Test performers in 2018 – Windies record lone Test series win

By Brandon Corlette

W

est Indies supporters will describe the Test team’s performance in 2018 as ordinary; having played four Test series, nine Test matches and registering only one series win. Shane Dowrich finished 2018 as the leading Test batsman for West Indies, scoring 474 runs at an average of 36.46, inclusive of one century and three half-centuries. Roston Chase (396); Kraigg Brathwaite (391); Kieran Powell (391); Shimron Shannon Gabriel

Hetmyer (376) and Shai Hope (344) were the other top Test batsmen during 2018.

The bowling chart saw Shannon Gabriel leading the way with 37 wickets in 2018, inclusive of three five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket match haul. It was Jason Holder’s breakthrough year as a bowler, grabbing 33 wickets inclusive of four five-wicket hauls. Kemar Roach (19); Devendra Bishoo (15) and Roston Chase (11) were among the wickets in West Indies’ 2018 Test season.

The West Indies played their first Test match in 2018 June 6-10 at Port of S p a i n ,

Trinidad, against the touring Sri Lankans. It was Shane Dowrich’s Test match, as he registered a masterful century in a player-of-the-match perfor-

mance.

West Indies went on to win the first Test match comprehensively, registering a 226-run win. Captain Holder won the toss and batted first as the Caribbean team racked up 414-8 declared on the back of wicketkeeper-batsman Dowrich unbeaten on 125. Sri Lanka, in reply, were sent packing for 185 with the fast bowlers showing a glimpse of greatness, sharing eight wickets among themselves. In the second innings, West Indies declared on 223-7 setting a target of 453 for Sri Lanka to register an unlikely win.

Eventually, Sri Lanka fell short as they were bowled out for 226.

The second Test match of that series was a hard fought draw, but Gabriel made it his own. He grabbed 13 wickets in the match – a first innings haul of 5-59 and a second innings haul of 8-62. A record-breaking spell that put Gabriel in an elite group of fast bowlers was

not enough for Indies to register a victory and wrap up the three-match Test series. Dowrich was once more among the runs as he backed up his century with a solid half-century. The Sri Lankans set a target of 296 for Windies, but the Caribbean men finished on 147-5 with Kraigg Brathwaite scoring 59*.

In the series decider in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sri Lanka won the Test by four wickets to level the series. Holder was outstanding, capturing nine wickets in the Test – 4-19 and 5-41.

He was deservingly awarded the player of the match, but the Pereras from Sri Lanka played defiant knocks as Sri Lanka recorded a historical Test win in the Caribbean.

In addition to Holder’s nine-wicket match haul, he scored 74 along with the inform Dowrich who scored 71, in a 115-run partnership.

After a drawn Test series against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh played the West Indies in a two-match Test series. The confident Windies team whitewashed the lower ranked opposition 2-0 in the Test matches played in Antigua and Jamaica. In the first Test match, the Caribbean team registered a resounding win against Bangladesh by an innings and 219 runs.

Bangladesh were inserted to bat and were bowled out for 43; Player of the Match Kemar Roach grabbed 5-8 in the first innings. The West West

Indies batsmen then raced thumped the West Indies away to 406 on the back of by 10 wickets. Roston Chase Kraigg Braithwaite’s 121 scored 106 as Windies scored and half-centuries from Shai 311; Holder continued his Hope and Devon Smith. brilliant year in Tests snarThe game was easily head- ing another five-wicket haul. ing in Windies’ direction; For the second time around, Bangladesh were bowled Umesh Yadav completed his out for 144 with the light- first 10-wicket haul in Tests ning-quick Gabriel snar- after Windies set India a ing 5-77, as the fast bowlers slim target of 72 for victory. shared all 10 wickets among KL Rahul and young Prithvi themselves.

Shaw ended Windies’ misWest Indies were pre- ery in their winless Test sesented the opportunity to ries in India. win a rare Test series in the Then came the twoTest tour to second and final Test match match against Bangladesh at Bangladesh; West Indies Kingston, Jamaica. It was continued downhill as they the better of the two possi- succumbed to Bangladesh ble outcomes for the West 2-0. In what was the perfect Indies, winning the Test by revenge plot for Bangladesh 166 runs and wrapping up after they lost to Windies in the series. Their courageous the Caribbean, the Jason captain was the Player of Holder-less team lost by 64 runs. the Match, picking up 11 Bangladesh wickets. Holder rode on bowled with conPlayer trol, grabbing 5-44 and 6-59 in the of the resounding victory.

Kraigg Brathwaite was the best batsman scoring 110 as the Test match was completed in three days.

After the brighter days, then came the darker days for the West Indies Test team. It was the worst pos- Match sible outcomes for the touring West Indies team to India. India humbled the West Indies by an innings and 272 runs. The dominant India scored 649-9 declared as West Indies were bowled out for 181 and 196.

In the second and final Test match played Shane Dowrich in Hyderabad, I n d i a

Mominul Haque’s hundred as they posted 324 all out.

Jomel Warrican and Gabriel were the pick of the bowlers grabbing four wickets each.

However, the Caribbean team failed to chase 204 for victory as Bangladesh took the lead in the first Test.

It was a bigger defeat for West Indies in the second and final Test; Bangladesh posted 508 and bowled West Indies out twice for 111 and 213. The rare shining light from the application-less West Indies batting group was the aggressive Shimron Hetmyer who blazed nine sixes in a 92-ball 93.

Having played nine Test matches in 2018 and winning only three of those matches, West Indies will be aiming to perform better in the 2019 Test matches.

The number eight-ranked West Indies team will play the number two-ranked England in a three-match Test series in January 2019.

2018/19 CWI Regional 4-Day Championships…

Jags set to wing out on January 2 ahead of 3rd round A

fter a dominating opening phase in the 2018/2019 CWI PCL Four-Day Tournament, reigning champs Guyana

Trevon Griffith

Jaguars will resume their title defence when they wing out on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

The four-time champions battle the Barbados Pride in round three at the Kensington Oval, but will be missing opener Trevon Griffith, Tevin Imlach and youngster Akshaya Persaud. They are out of the third round, according to the official Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) release.

Further, Windies all-rounder Keemo Paul injured his finger during the last match in Bangladesh, while leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo was still in the USA at the time of selection.

Star batsman and Indian Premier League (IPL)– bound left-hander Shimron Hetmyer has requested to be rested following his non-stop action

Sherfane Rutherford

since the home series in the Caribbean versus Bangladesh back in the summer.

Meanwhile, the pugnacious Sherfane Rutherford returns to the side along with

Chandrapaul Hemraj and Raymon Reifer.

The 13-man squad : Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Leon

Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Raymon Reifer, Christopher Barnwell, Sherfane Rutherford, Anthony Bramble, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton P e s t a n o , Gudakesh Motie, a n d Keon Joseph.

The team is led by Manager/ Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith while Esaun Crandon stands as the Coach.

Physiotherapist Neil Barry Jr will also accompany the team.

Keemo Paul

guyanatimesgy.com

fridAY, december 28, 2018

23

Peek into the future

Alex Algoo aiming to make the most of 2019 – one of the few to represent Guyana at Under-17, Under-19 in same year

By Brandon Corlette

Y

oung Warriors may be the home of West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer and Amazon Warriors’ Gajanand Singh, but it is the home of other great ambassadors.

Alex Alvin Algoo, the hard-hitting right-hand-

ed opening batsman, will be seeking similar success as his fellow club opener Shimron Hetmyer.

Speaking to >>>Guyana Times Sport<<<, Algoo reflected on his breathtaking local season that earned him selection to the Guyana Under-19 team.

“My 2018 season was a bit poor regionally, but local-

ly it was good to score heavily with the bat on home soil,” Algoo told this reporter.

Born on December 21, 2018, Algoo explained that working hard in the new year is the main goal. The well-built player has also been privileged to play for Police Cricket Club, where he smashed a rare feat – hitting six sixes in six balls.

The son of Naiomee and Arjun Algoo, Alex resides at 14 West Canefield Settlement, East Canje Berbice.

The ambitious stroke maker started playing cricket at a tender age of 13 and represented Guyana at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels, in a threeyear period. Berbicians recognise Algoo as a big hitter, who has the ability to change the course of the game rapidly.

Currently, his highest score is 198 against a strong Port Mourant bowling line-up.

One of the many batting prospects from the Ancient County, Algoo, who bats at the top of the order, recorded one of his better centuries in the 2018 Hand-in-

Hand Under-19 three-day tournament. His innings came against the Cinderella County, Essequibo, and it was half the team’s total.

Rewinding the clock to the 2017 inter-county tournament, Algoo played a splendid knock where he smashed 119 that included 10 huge sixes and 9 timely fours. The knock that came against Essequibo was a career-defining knock where Algoo announced himself to all Guyanese.

Algoo told this reporter that he was striving for the best – playing cricket at the highest level and wearing the maroon colour is his ultimate goal. Unsurprisingly, Algoo emulates Shimron and Seon Hetmyer, who have both influenced the former Berbice High School student in his blooming career. In addition to the influential brothers, “I gained support from my father and great uncle to take the game of cricket seriously”, Algoo related.

“My parents and my family continue to encourage me to train hard and keep in line, but my cricket coaches have

all played significant roles,” he concluded.

The year 2019 will be Algoo’s final opportunity to gain selection for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, but the right hander will have to score the bulk of the runs at the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-19 tournament. In the 2018 CWI Regional Under-19, Algoo played one limited-over

match and scored one run while he was given the opportunity to play two three-day matches. Algoo batted four innings, but his highest score was 14. The gifted power player is expecting more as the 2019 season looms and will be hoping to join the likes of Kevlon Anderson, Sachin Singh, Ashmead Need and Kevin Umroa in the West Indies Under-19 squad.

Kohli, Steyn break Test records as 2018 fades – broke records left by their countrymen

By Clifton Ross

V

eteran speedster Dale Steyn bowled his way to being South Africa's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, while Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s phenomenal scoring saw him rack up the most runs in a Calender year; as players continue to squeeze in last minute records with 2019 just days away.

Steyn has had a rough time as of recent battling a heel injury and missing time off from cricket to recover but not before finding his way back into some domestic cricket before making a steady return to the rigors of international cricket.

The pacers’ 422 victim was Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman who was dismissed during the Centurion game.

The 35-year-old surpassed countryman and one of South

Africa’s most legendary players in Shaun Pollock; who bagged 421 wickets during his career, thus

Dale Steyn

leaving more than a decade long legacy which was recently broken.

Regarded as the best pacer of the modern century, Steyn leapfrogged some South African greats on his way to the top of the list.

World-class bowlers like Makhaya Ntini (390

wickets), legendary pacer Allan Donald (330 wickets), Jacques Kallis (291), former new-ball partner Morne Morkel (309 wickets) and even as of recent Vernon Philander (205 wickets); all had their tallies surpassed by the speedster from Phalaborwa.

Despite playing just seven Tests in the last two years and four months while currently 12 matches away from his milestone; the pacer now in the prime of his cricket life has further revealed that he would like to play 100 Tests and could easily achieve his feat should he maintain his physical condition.

King Kohli

While Steyn etched his name in the bowling book of records,

Indian skipper ‘King’ Kohli found his way into the books by surpassing one of his country’s most prolific batsmen; as his magical powers as a batsman seems to increase with every game.

The right-hander racked up the most run by an Indian in Test for 2018 after making 82 a few days ago; further establishing himself as one of the best run-getters for the year.

Rahul Dravid, the ex-Indian skipper and veteran batsman, previously held the record of 1,137 runs from 11 matches back 2002.

Kohli surpassed the legendary ‘Wall’ when his knock at Centurion saw him reach 1,138 runs from 11 Tests this year with a staggering average

with 1,212 runs from 11 games during the year 2008. West Indies batting legend Rahul Dravid

of close to 55 with 4 tons and 5 fifties.

Kohli, with knocks:5, 28, 153, 5, 54, 4, 149, 51, 23, 17, 97, 103, 46, 58, 49, 0, 3, 34, 123,17 and 82 in 2018, joined elite company in ex-South Africa Captain Graeme Smith w h o holds the record

Sir Viv Richards racked up 1,154 runs in just seven Tests back in 1976; with the Indian captain now sitting among prestigious ranks in Test cricket.

Virat Kohli

Shaun Pollock

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Reflections on Windies Cricket in 2018 Part 1

Gabriel, Dowrich top Test performers in 2018 Page 22

– Windies record lone Test series win 2018/19 CWI Regional 4-Day Championships…

Jags set to wing out on

The number eight ranked Windies test team

Peek into the future

Alex Algoo aiming to make most of 2019

One of few to represent January 2 ahead of 3rd round –Guyana under 17, under 19 in same year

Page 22

Shimron Hetmyer has been rested from the Jags next round

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