Guyana Times - Monday, December 31, 2018

$35M Family Fun P Park opens in Canje

13

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3791

THE BEACON OF TRUTH Monday, December 31, 2018

PRICE

Govt has lost legitimacy to govern – former AG

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Demerara criminal backlog reduces by 7% during October session

Page 3

P8

...as DPP disposes of 195 cases for 2018

“Achieving unity in Guyana is a collective job”

Page 11

…Harmon tells ACDA Forum A section of the gathering at the opening of the African Cultural and Development Association's Kwanzaa Karemu Thanksgiving ceremony

PM urges Mayors & Deputy Mayors to work with Central Govt Wanted man gunned down in front of city hotel

$32M Special Needs P12 School on track for 2019 opening

Local P13 company meeting the demand for value-added products

Page 10

Page 2

Father of 2 killed in hit and run Page 7

Enmore P2 woman allegedly takes own life after arguing with mother

2 news

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wanted man gunned down in front of city hotel

Dead: Sean Greene

A

man who was allegedly wanted by Canadian authorities was in the wee hours of Sunday killed execution style in front of a popular hotel at Forshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

Dead is 37-year-old Sean Allistair O’Brien Greene of Alberttown and formerly of Number 78 Village, Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice.

Initial reports indicated that Greene was standing in front of the hotel with a few of his friends about 04:00h when a man walked up to him, pulled out a weapon, and pumped several bullets into his body. The shooter then quickly left the scene.

Greene was reportedly rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage obtained

by Guyana Times; however, showed Greene was sitting in front of the hotel on a chair and another person

fell out of the chair and onto the ground. In addition, the CCTV footage showed that the shooter ran away from the scene. After the gunman left, a large crowd gathered and a dying Greene with several bullets to his body, including one to his face, was left lying on the roadway in front of the hotel for a long time.

He was later picked up and rushed to the hospital,

der of a 42-year-old Toronto resident which occurred in September last.

The man identified as “Chad Day” was discovered lying in a driveway on West Lodge Avenue near Lansdowne Avenue and Queen Street West, Parksdale, Toronto with injuries to his body suspected to be from a fall.

Two men were arrested in connection with the in-

The hotel where the shooting took place

was standing beside him.

The recording showed the duo was engaged in conversation when the perpetrator strolled up to them from the eastern side of Forshaw Street.

Prior to opening fire

upon Greene, the suspect, who was clad in a black long pants, light-coloured jersey and hat, apparently said something. He then began shooting at Greene which caused the other male to run for cover.

After being shot, Greene

The chair in which Greene was sitting at the time he was gunned down

but by that time, it was too late.

When this newspaper visited the scene later in the morning, persons were present there, but remained tight-lipped about the shooting incident.

Bloodstains were seen in front of the hotel along with a bullet-riddled chair.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports indicated that Greene was wanted in Canada in connection with the mur-

cident, but a third suspect was still being sought by the Canadian authorities.

The photograph that was released by the Canadian authorities was that of a man who bore a close resemblance to Greene.

Further, unconfirmed reports also alleged that Greene was deported from the United States of America. The Police are continuing their hunt for the suspect.

Enmore woman allegedly takes own life after arguing with mother

A

Dead: Shelly Parsharm Singh

22-year-old Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) woman allegedly took her own life on Saturday last following a heated argument with her mother, who resides overseas.

The dead woman was identified as Shelly Parsharm Singh, a mother

of one. She was found hanging by family members after 12:00h on the day in question.

According to reports, the young woman allegedly received a call from her mother on Saturday, but the conversation turned into an argument.

The argument reportedly stemmed from the woman not approving of Singh’s husband. Later that day, relatives discovered the young woman’s body hanging from a rafter in one of the bedrooms in her home.

Relatives are, however, crying foul as Singh’s husband was at home at the time of the incident. The matter is being investigated as Police have not ruled out foul play and have indicated that the now dead woman’s husband may be questioned.

news

3

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 31 – 13:30h-15:00h and Tuesday, January 1 – a night-time retraction at 01:00h and a daytime retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 31 – 12:45h-14:15h and Tuesday, January 1 – 13:20h-14:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals will prevail throughout the day with light rain showers in the late morning. Partly cloudy to clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 20 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 12:10h reaching a maximum height of 2.32 metres.

Low Tide: 05:37h and 18:14h reaching minimum heights of 0.94 metre and 0.90 metre.

saturDAY, december 29, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

02 03 08

09 14 25

FREE TICKET

05 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

04 05 14 16 19 LUCKY 3

8

3

7

5

Afternoon Draw

8

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03

07

09

12

13 14 16

PAY DAY

04

09

11 15

SUPER PAY DAY 17

01

03

04 14

18

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

No-confidence motion vote

Govt has lost legitimacy to govern – former AG ...proceeding with elections is best option

G

iven the many arguments being put forward following the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly over a week ago, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has said the most prudent thing to do at this point, in the best interest of the nation, is to proceed with preparing the country for elections and allow Guyanese to elect a Government.

Nandlall noted that the coalition Government has always argued that it had 33 votes and it would defeat the Opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion.

However, it turned out that the Opposition secured the 33 votes instead, in order to have that motion passed in the National Assembly. But today, the Government is trying to propose several legal arguments.

But the former AG maintained that the Government, by all means, should resign as per the Constitution.

“The Constitution is silent on time, but the language of the Constitution is couched in the mandatory tone …

Our laws are very clear. Our Interpretation and General Clauses Act says whenever a written law is silent on the time … then that act must be done in reasonable time.”

Referring to the Judicial Review Act, in which he filed an action to help bring that law into force, Nandlall said one of the arguments of Attorney General Basil Williams were that there was no timeframe. He recalled that Chief Justice Roxane George overruled that argument on the ground that whenever a law was silent, that act must be done in reasonable time.

Assuming that the no-confidence motion was unsuccessful, Nandlall said there would not have been a stopping in time for the Government not to continue in office. As such, he believes that the Government ought to have resigned already. He reminded that the Constitution only provides for the Government to remain in office for 90 days and ensure that elections are held.

“The Government will obviously remain in office with the limited powers of holding elections in three months.

The Government will be empowered to do what is necessary to ensure that elections are held within that period.

Outside of that, one can forcibly argue that Government does not have other powers … Government gets its power to rule, by the people. When they lost the no-confidence, it was a loss of the will of the people. They have lost the will to govern.”

Notwithstanding the re-

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

duced power of the coalition Government, the former AG declared that it would still have to perform the basic functions of Government, such as to ensure public safety and security, and having Parliament maintained, among others.

He said, “Government has to now address its mind to the dissolution of Parliament.

It is clear when elections is imminent, you dissolve the Parliament. The President does that…” Nandlall said the office holder, whether acting or not, has the authority to do so.

Other arguments

While rejecting the argument of 34 being a majority to pass the no-confidence motion, Nandlall says he has taken note of other arguments being proposed. He was referring to the fact that former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud was

a citizen of Canada, which disqualifies him from being a member of the National Assembly.

He said while this may be a legal argument being considered, Guyana is not the only country that has that provision in its Constitution.

Therefore, he said that the argument must be guided by case law in the Region and the Commonwealth, where similar provisions exist. But Nandlall said that Article 165 (1) and 165 (2) of the Constitution made provisions for such.

The pertinent section reads, “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the National Assembly may regulate its own procedure and may make rules for that purpose (standing orders)…The National Assembly may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership, including any vacancy not filled when the Assembly first meets after the commencement of this

Constitution, or after the dissolution of the Parliament and the presence and/or participation of any person not entitled to be present at, or participate in the proceedings in the Assembly, shall not invalidate those proceedings.”

On that note, Nandlall said if one were to assume that Persaud was not qualified or entitled to be present and participate in the proceedings of Parliament, the Constitution speaks to that and says that his presence does not invalidate the proceeding. “If his presence there was one that was wrongful, the question is does it operate retrospectively or prospectively...” he added.

The former AG said if a court declared him unqualified, but he voted in favour of budgets and laws that were passed, then that brings a whole new argument to the fore. “Let’s assume that they (Government) go before a judge and the judge said yes, he was sitting there unlawfully. Does the judge have the power to invalidate all that was done prior to that?” he questioned.

But more than that, Nandlall argued that the judge will also have to take into account that there are many more members of the National Assembly who are in similar circumstances like Persaud. He, therefore, questioned how far back the judge would go to invalidate acts in other Parliaments. On that basis, he believes that the best option is to go to the polls.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, december 31, 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

PNC choices I

n his 1859 poem, “The Rubáiyát”, Omar Khayyam presciently wrote: “The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, / Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit / Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, / Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.” It is our hope that on this last day of the year 2018, the People’s National Congress (PNC)led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition would reflect on the profound message: what has been done cannot be undone even though there may be regrets; therefore, it behoves everyone to reflect carefully before they act.

With leaders of nations, the obligation for reflection weighs even heavier since the lives of their people will be affected. Guyana is on the cusp of finally having the resources to develop our long-touted “potential” and to have our people experience the “good life”, which they have only glimpsed from afar. In the lead-up to Independence more than half a century ago, even if we concede that Mr Burnham might have accurately read the Geist of the times, his decision to break away from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and launch his own party, which became the PNC was a critical choice.

Not only was the national independence movement split, but because of historical contingencies, so was the society along ethnic/racial lines and it has remained so ever since. But while we cannot change the past, at each moment we are offered opportunities to alter the trajectory of the future and in doing so possibly rectify some of the mistakes made in that past. After Independence, such a moment came in 1968. The PNC Government was offered an opportunity to engage in some sort of rectificatory action, but sadly rigged the 1968 elections and further exacerbated the divisions.

And this was to be repeated in 1973, 1980 and 1985 with each rigging further deepening the cleavages and plunging the country further down the economic abyss that came with the lack of unity. Guyana became an object lesson for the caution, “A house divided cannot stand”.

In 1992, another opportunity presented itself at the first “free and fair” elections in 28 years, and to his credit then PNC leader Desmond Hoyte, who was President, accepted the results, albeit with some prodding from the US President, and the PPP/C was ushered into office. The “C” or Civic represented the PPP’s effort to bridge the cleavages, but it was not accepted by the PNC, which also rejected other ameliorative initiatives such as a “Race Relations Commission” headed by the widely-respected head of the Anglican Church, Bishop Randolph George.

Another choice was presented in December 1997 after the general elections – certified by a number of international observer missions, including the Carter Center – had the PPP winning. Rather than accepting the democratic verdict, the PNC made the choice to go into the streets with violent protests in Georgetown that ended with arson and widespread mayhem. The PPP’s term of office was truncated, but the PPP won once again in 2001 after constitutional changes were passed to include the PNC in governance; the PNC once again made a choice to up the violent protests with a strategy of “slow fyaah; mo’ fyaah”.

Whether it was with the connivance of the PNC or not, their choice to deny that there were criminal bandits in Buxton who were killing dozens of putative Indian PPP supporters in surrounding villages exacerbated the cleavages into chasms. Mr Hoyte’s choice to refer to the Disciplined Forces as “kith and kin” added fuel to the fire of ethnic wariness when the ineffectualness of the latter in combating the armed threat resulted in private armed militias taking matters into their own hands and killing many suspected bandits.

The present PNC-led APNU/AFC leaders have another choice to make today in reacting to the no-confidence vote, which they initially accepted but now appear to be reneging on. We hope it will be a choice that will attempt to bridge rather than widen our cleavages.

Flashback: Children of Yupukari Village, North Rupununi Region (Region Nine) making their way to school (Girendra Persaud photo)

Khashoggi murder: Book reveals “new details” about killing A lmost three months after the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in his country’s consulate in Istanbul, a new book reveals further details about the murder, the Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah reported.

Titled “Diplomatic Atrocity: The Dark Secrets of the Khashoggi Murder”, the book, written by two Daily Sabah Journalists, purports to shed light on the events that led to the writer’s murder and what transpired in the aftermath.

Khashoggi entered the Saudi Consulate on October 2 to obtain documents certifying he divorced his ex-wife so he could remarry. He was killed and dismembered inside the Consulate, in what Turkey called a “premeditated murder” orchestrated by the Saudi Government.

Saudi officials have countered that claim, insisting Khashoggi was killed in a “rogue operation”, after initially claiming he had left the building before vanishing. Turkey said the killing was ordered at the highest level of Saudi leadership, implying Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the murder. The Kingdom has maintained that the prince, also known as MbS, had no knowledge of the killing.

How the Saudi narrative of Khashoggi’s killing changed

Among the reported revelations in the book is the discovery of a new recording containing information about the moments before the murder and the moments that followed, supporting Turkey’s accusation that the crime was premeditated and carried out in cold

cate me?”

“Never worked on a warm body”

Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi

blood.

The book also discloses new names of two people who participated in the 15-man so-called Saudi hit squad that killed Khashoggi and dismembered his body.

Saeed Mu’ayyad al-Qarni and Muflis Shaya al-Musleh had posed as security guards at the consulate, but were in fact agents of Saudi intelligence who carry diplomatic passports, the book states.

A third person, Ahmed Abdullah al-Muzaini, was identified in the book as the head of the Istanbul unit of the Saudi intelligence service.

Al-Qarni and al-Musleh did not participate in the act of murder, the book said, but were part of the team that arrived a day earlier and carried out explorations in different parts of Istanbul for the purpose of getting rid of the body.

“Living in a villa”

Turkish officials have repeatedly suggested the murder trial be held in Turkey, but Saudi authorities have denied Turkey’s requests,

saying the suspects will be tried in the Kingdom.

Although Saudi Arabia reported that all members of the hit squad were arrested after they returned to the country, the book cites an unnamed source as saying that Salah al-Tubaigy, the forensic doctor accused dismembering Khashoggi’s body, is not detained at all.

Instead, the book says, Saudi authorities asked him to disappear from the limelight, and Tubaigy is now living in a villa in Jeddah with his family.

The book also says that the head of the hit squad, Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, told Khashoggi when he entered the Consulate that he would not be harmed if he cooperated with them.

He asked Khashoggi to send a message to his son Salah’s phone in Riyadh, informing him that he was safe in Istanbul and not to worry if he could not be contacted for a while. Khashoggi refused to do so, and in the recording, cited in the book, can be heard saying: “Will you kill me? Will you suffo-

According to the book, Khashoggi maintained his composure when he realised that he would not get out of the Consulate alive, after he heard Mutreb ordering five members of the hit squad to attack the writer by suffocating him with a nylon bag. The recordings indicate that Khashoggi’s last sentence was: “Do not cover my mouth. I have asthma, you will suffocate me.”

Khashoggi resisted his killers for five minutes, according to the book.

Afterwards, Khashoggi’s body was cut up by Tubaigy using a forensic saw. The book purports that the members of the hit squad, who remained present at the scene, were disturbed and nauseated by the dismemberment.

Tubaigy, however, is heard saying in a recording from before the murder “I’ve never worked on a warm body so far, but I can easily handle him [Khashoggi]”, according to the book.

“Normally, when I’m cutting cadavers, I would put my headphones on and listen to music. I’d also drink my coffee at the same time,” Tubaigy continued.

The book also states that there is no evidence of how the Saudis got rid of Khashoggi’s body, including allegations that the body was disposed of by dissolving it in acid.

Furthermore, the book dispels a widely-reported claim that after the murder, Mutreb called a superior and told him to “tell your boss ... the deed is done”, with reports suggesting the “boss” was MbS. (Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, december 31, 2018

5

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

The magic number is 33 for Time to resign a majority, research shows now, respect the Constitution Dear Editor, I was wondering if I was going senile after reading about Nigel Hughes’ bizarre claims about what constitutes a majority vote in the Guyana Parliament. Any mathematician (or Common Entrance student) will tell you that 33 is the magic number that tilts in favour of the party.

Hughes claims that one needs a total of 34 to constitute a majority in the House consisting of 65 seats.

I therefore undertook some cursory research on the issue and ‘discovered’ the following stats which would be of interest to all parties (including the Caribbean Court of Justice, if the case goes

that far): Source: TABLE FOR DETERMINING MAJORITY AND TWOTHIRDS VOTES (The Michigan State University); see https://msu.edu/~spha/

NUMBER OF VOTES CAST

MAJORITY VOTE

64 33 65 33 66 34 67 34

documents/determinevote. pdf For the sake of democracy, decency, detachment, and development, the Government should accept the results of the Parliamentary vote and prepare for elections due within the 90 days, according to the constitution.

Sincerely, Dr Devanand Bhagwan

Government is now desperate and scared (Pt 2)

Dear Editor, Editor, I have listened carefully to the venomous statements made by PNCR Central Executive Member, Aubrey Norton who chaired a low-level press conference a few days ago. Clutching at straws, he accused former AFC Parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud of taking a bribe from Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP for voting according to his conscience. This is so ludicrous; I challenge anyone to produce hard evidence. In his interview with the press, Charrandas was asked if he was paid by the PPP to which he replied that he was paid by Parliament Office for traveling expense as other MPs are entitled to.

This lie was started by an APNU letter-writer Rickford Burke, in a missive to the editor, and is now being parroted by the PNC/APNU to maliciously spread false rumors, as I’m convinced that the PNC will not allow this care-taker Government to

resign. It is this very arrogant behavior and bullyism that caused Charrandas to vote his according to conscience on December 21.

The APNU+AFC is now desperate and scared of the outcome, behaving like rats running wild on a sinking ship. They’ve grown so accustomed to the good life, they simply can’t return to living an ordinary life now.

Going to court will not help them either. The Guyana Bar Association has already issued a statement supporting the validity of the Motion which reads in part, “The Bar Council rejects as erroneous such contentions that the motion was not properly passed or that the vote is, for any reason, invalid”. But as we have seen before, Government is again shamelessly exercising its power, trampling on the Constitution to hang on to power.

It was reported that if Government fails to get the Speaker of the National

Assembly to respond favorably to its concerns about the validity of the no-confidence motion against it, it will take the matter to court.

But what is there for the Speaker to review? Nothing new has come up to compel the Speaker to reverse his decision, and the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Sherlock Isaacs has already confirmed the validity of our motion in writing.

Of course, they’re hoping that the judiciary will save them. But the judiciary will place itself on trial if it attempts to overturn the will of the people and the vote in Parliament. If through some devious means Government is able to pull off a judicial coup, this will not be accepted, and will set a dangerous precedent, one that may well lead to instability and civil unrest… “This time na like lang time.”

The judiciary has an obligation to uphold the Constituency of Guyana at all times. I expect it will con-

tinue to do so.

I suspect some in Government will want to use this opportunity to hustle as much as possible during the period leading up to new elections. I caution, this will be a big mistake. We intend to scrutinise and conduct forensic audits from December 21 to the day we get into office to recover State assets and taxpayers’ money that may disappear. So to avoid any unpleasantness and possible loss of freedom from a visit by a SOCU under new management, I expect this caretaker Government to engage in routine expenditure only. No new contracts to be awarded, no cutting of cheques for use in the new year, and certainly, all fiscal accounts must be closed by December 31, 2018 the latest. You’ve been forewarned!

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

Govt now only have responsibility to administer routine business (Pt 2) Dear Editor, The leader of the opposition and other opposition parties, will also have the responsibility of advancing their election campaign work in a manner that ensures that there is peace and harmony in our country. At the same time, the Guyana Election Commission has the mandate and responsibility to deliver ‘Free and Fair’ Elections.

It is not surprising that the fallen Government now seems to be adopting a posture of non-cooperation while suggesting the need for review. The fact is that they were caught ‘pants down’ advancing their wicked vendetta ways. This APNU/AFC coalition must therefore do the right thing and resign; dissolve Parliament and fix the date for the 2019 Regional and National Elections. While it is expected that there will be

discussions with Government and the main opposition in finalising these timelines, the process must be without delay in the interest and welfare of citizens and the country at large.

The bureaucracy created by this coalition Government must not continue. In keeping with standard elections related legislation and policy, the Government cannot spend money on any new projects and continue living a lavish big life, to the detriment of the working class. All of the overindulged extravagance must stop and only basic spending must be incurred. Importantly, the main opposition, the international community and citizens will be watching.

It is anticipated that GECOM must and will hit topgear in finalising the necessary arrangements to conduct a ‘Free and Fair’ Elections.

Coming off the recent Local Government Elections (LGE) should be advantageous to the necessary preparations, as the recent experiences would have served as self-warming appetizer of the requirements to be upheld and the adjustments that must be made.

Among the critical issues is the preparation of the voters’ list. Given the millions of dollars recently spent on the ten continuous registration for the successful 2018 LGE, GECOM needs to state its readiness.

Importantly, all Political Parties will have to ensure that the 2019 Elections are conducted in a ‘Free and fair’ manner by giving extra keen scrutiny to the process.

Recently, the public and other stakeholders have had serious questions about accountability and transparency at the GECOM Secretariat.

It is therefore very urgent and

necessary that imminent personalities from prominent International organisations are invited to look over the preparation and conduct of the 2019 Elections.

As the time of writing this column, information received indicated that many Government officials are attempting to ship fraudulently obtained monies overseas by the suitcases. Keen scrutiny must be given by the opposition. Further, this column supports the call for the immediate resignation of the President and Cabinet.

We look forward to the PPP/C selecting their Presidential Candidate and wish to state that the expectations are high for total unity in the opposition’s camp.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Dear Editor, It is no secret that the concerns raised by Charrandas Persaud against the APNU/ AFC coalition Government is factual and as such defined the performance of this Government. Some of these concerns raised by the supporter of the motion was the issue of the sugar workers and the closure of two sugar estates in Berbice which l think was key.

Since Charrandas Persaud was a Regional Member of Parliament Region Six he was mandated by the people to represent his constituency.

Berbice is suffering tremendously from the policies of this APNU/AFC coalition Government. The people who operate the businesses were left with little or no alternative but to send-home employees in large numbers.

The rice industry was not given the necessary support from the Government to accelerate its performance to reach the promised price of 9000 dollars per bag of paddy and maximising production.

The creation of jobs for young people and even persons who did not have jobs and were promised to be employed by the Government came at the cost of total de-

struction of a number of sugar workers who were severed.

The Government’s solution to employment was to mainly employ the elderly, friends, families and supporters of the People National Congress as was confirmed in a statement by the Chairperson of the PNC. Corruption is another major issue that the no-confidence motion highlighted in Parliament. So with these issues and more, the APNU/ AFC coalition Government at some point in time would have fallen.

The APNU/AFC coalition Government’s refusal to resign from Government is a definite reminder that the DNA enshrined in the PNC is slowly but surely emerging to ensure that they stay in power irrespective of what it takes. Over the years I think the most destructive weapon that was available and used by the PNC was violence before 2015.

The arguments fronted by the Government are vivid signs of desperation.

Majority of Guyanese would demand that the APNU/AFC Government resign before losing all their credibility if it has any remaining.

Respectfully, Zamal Hussain

6

mondAY, december 31, 2018

Page

Foundation

By Jennifer T ammy

L

etting the kids stay up for New Year’s may sound like a good idea… until you’re two hours past bedtime and they are bored out of their minds! Keep them happy with these fun

New Year’s crafts for kids (and while they’re occupied, consider turning the clock forward a couple hours!)

I’ve learnt the hard way that New Year’s Eve and Kids don’t mesh, so we like to celebrate early in the day and count-down to bedtime.

A fun way to build up excitement is to make some homemade New Year’s crafts and talk about your favourite parts of the past year and what you’re most looking forward to for the next year. While your kids are engaged with these fun craft ideas, they may just open

up and share some insights you wouldn’t expect!

Several of these crafts are pure fun – while others have a sentimental or thoughtful side. Try a mix when planning your New Years with kids.

Printable New Year’s crafts

Counting down isn’t the only math activity you can have fun with on New Year’s – check out this Thaumatrope for New Year’s from JDaniel4’s Mom. Find out what the New Year has in store for you with this Paper Fortune Teller Ball from Hattifant.

Make your own pretty countdown clock with this printable from Red Ted Art. Make some pretty resolutions with this New Year’s Garland from Red Ted Art. Grab this New Year’s colouring page for some quiet, reflective time. (from Twitchetts) I love the idea of making and decorating your own New Year’s Crowns. (printable from Hattifant) Reflect on the best of the year with this Printable Journal from Adventure-in-

Skip the fireworks and celebrate with bubbles – and make your own toddler-friendly bubble wands with Red Ted Art. Making your own time capsule is a wonderful activity meets craft for New Year’s. (from Meaningful Mama) What a sweet homemade New Year’s Noisemaker

from Teaching Mama.

Make some Paper Plate Party Animals with your party animals!

This Fireworks Straw Rocket from Fantastic Fun & Learning is a festive craft that works for just about any occasion involving fireworks.

So many fun New Year’s Party Ideas including a

DIY New Year’s hat are in this post from Artsy Fartsy Mama.

No matter what you’re eating for New Year’s, you can still make and enjoy these Paper Fortune Cookies!

I love how festive these Homemade Star Noisemakers are! (from Teaching Mama)

a-Box. A cute activity for kids who are too young for their

Our Paper Plate Noisemaker is a simple classic that is still loads of fun to make and play with!

What little girl could resist making her own fireworks ring?! (from Fantastic Fun & Learning) No need to spend a fortune on a mirrored ball when you can make your own New Year’s Ball with Makeovers and Motherhood.

Make your own New Year’s Clock with the Pinterested Parent (and a

paper plate).

I love this idea for DIY Biodegradable Confetti from Mother Nature! And it’s naturally coloured, too.

Make your own “ball drop” with this New Year’s Activity from JDaniel4’s Mom. Ring the bell for New Years with these DIY New Year’s Bells from the Gingerbread House. (below)

(craftsbyAmanda)

own watches – Printable Paper Watches from Hattifant.

7 Govt prepared to challenge no-confidence motion – Minister Ramjattan T news

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

he coalition Government remains firm on its stance that a total of 34 votes are needed for a no-confidence motion to be passed in the National Assembly. This was reiterated on Sunday by Vice President and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan during an interview on the National Communications Network (NCN) programme titled “Context”.

This comes on the heels of Government Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandas Persaud voting (before being expelled) in favour of the motion brought against the Administration by the parliamentary Opposition.

However, Minister Ramjattan highlighted that after careful consideration and revision of Article 106 of the Constitution, the

Government has decided to challenge the motion. He noted that there were precedents as it relates to the passage of a no-confidence motion that the Government intended to build its argument on, come January 3, 2019.

“In view of what happened on the 21st when the Speaker of the House indicated that he is going to adjourn Parliament to deal with the consequences, we have decided that we are going to argue the case that it has not been a threshold figure that was arrived at,” Minister Ramjattan stated.

He further explained that “once the threshold figure is arrived at and we are now arguing it is 34 as against 33, then Article 106 is triggered, meaning that the elections must be held within a 90-day period; however, we are saying that will

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

have to now be determined by the Speaker because the internal arrangement of the House is headed by the Speaker and if the Speaker determines there is clearly a mistake in relation to computation of what the threshold level is and that could be corrected… we feel that is

the way to go.”

The Minister said that he recognised that immediately after the motion was passed, there were statements by President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo accepting the outcome of the motion. However, he pointed out that based on the context of what took place, the statements were necessary based on what the Government had felt at that time.

Nevertheless, he said that upon realising that a mistake was made and that the Constitution must not be subverted by a miscalculation, it has to be remedied.

The question of why only now 34 votes are needed to pass a motion when there is an internal parliamentary precedent of 33 votes being a majority since 2011 was posed to the Minister, who

explained that the same was not required for a motion of this nature.

“There is a distinction, because there is an article in our Constitution that says that bills and motions can be passed save and except otherwise provided, by a simple majority of those present and voting… a confidence or no-confidence motion is a different motion above all else as the Constitution made mention,” Minister Ramjattan explained.

The Minister was making a distinction between Article 168 (1) and Article 106 (6) of the Constitution which states, “Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, all questions proposed for decision in the National Assembly shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting” and

“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 on a vote of confidence” respectively.

Minister Ramjattan further clarified that half of 65 is 32.5 which is then rounded to 33, making 33 and one half which then makes 34 the majority, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The Minister said this is why Article 106 (6) is listed in the Constitution. “It is important that people just do not follow through as what is regarded as simplicity. The law is the law and that is why the Constitution made an exception to Article 168 by having Article 168 drafted the way it is and also now, save and except this Article 106 (6).”

Father of 2 killed in hit and run A

father of two was in the wee hours of Sunday killed after he was struck down by a speeding car along the Supply Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Dead is 34-year-old Shayne Haynes of Supply Village.

Based on reports received, the now dead man left his sister’s home about 04:00h, and as he was walking along the roadway, he was struck by a speeding car which fled the scene. The impact was loud enough to wake his neighbours who, upon checking, saw the injured man lying on the roadway.

Dead: Shayne Haynes

An alarm was raised and the injured man was taken

to the Diamond hospital, but was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he died while receiving medical attention.

The Police have since visited the scene and retrieved Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage from a resident.

The recording is being reviewed in an attempt to identify the registration plates of the vehicle which caused the accident. Police are continuing their investigations.

Earlier in the month, Karamchand Khemraj was killed while his friend, Reaz Shaw was injured after they were struck down by a minibus while riding along the

Annandale Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

After hitting the two teenagers, the minibus driver continued on his way without stopping to render assistance.

Both young men were tossed off the pedal cycle they were riding and landed on the roadway. Khemraj died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital while Shaw was admitted a patient in critical state.

However, days after the accident, the minibus was found under a tarpaulin at a house in Mon Repos, ECD. The driver has since been identified as a Chinese

National. He, along with his wife, has reportedly gone into hiding since the accident.

The Chinese Association

had visited the families of the two victims and offered compensation, but it was refused.

8 news

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Demerara criminal backlog reduces by 7% during October session ...as DPP disposes of 195 cases for 2018

T

he need for more judges and expediency in the judicial system was reflected in the recent figures released by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers which saw the overall number of criminal cases in Demerara county being reduced by seven per cent at the October criminal session.

During last week, the DPP’s office disclosed that 228 cases were listed for attention in Demerara, but of this number, only 16 matters were disposed of – seven per cent of the overall figure.

Justice Sandil Kissoon gave the gaol delivery earlier in December which ended the Demerara October 2018 Criminal Assizes. He, along with Justice Jo Ann Barlow, and later on, Justice James Bovell-Drakes presided over the last session.

A release from the DPP’s chambers revealed that of the 16 cases that were disposed of, three were nolle prosequi by the DPP after the complainants opted against pursing trial. Of the 13 matters that were actually presented at the High Court, six were for sexual offences while seven were murder cases.

There were six guilty verdicts by jury, three guilty pleas, two formal verdicts of not guilty, one hung jury and one mistrial. State

The Supreme Court of Guyana where Demerara High Court cases are heard

Counsels Abigail Gibbs, Tiffini Lyken and Seeta Bishundial prosecuted the six sexual offences matters before Justice Barlow – matters ranging from Rape of A Child under 16 years to Sexual Activity with A Child Family Member.

“In the three cases for the offence of Rape of A Child under 16 years, one accused was sentenced to life imprisonment after the court found the evidence was overwhelming. Another accused was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment while the one other case ended in a hung jury,” the release highlighted.

In two separate matters for the offence of Sexual Activity with A Child Family Member, the accused persons were each found guilty by a majority

jury verdicts; one accused was sentenced to life imprisonment while the other was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment. The accused in the one case for the offence of Rape was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment after the jury returned a majority verdict of guilty.

Notably, sex crimes dominate the Demerara list of cases and a specialised unit called the Sexual Offences Court has been established to deal with such matters. Thus far, only female Judges have been rotated to hear these cases. They were Justices Simone Morris-Ramlall, Jo-Ann Barlow and Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Next Tuesday, a new criminal session will open in Demerara. Some of the older matters have reap-

peared in the system owing to retrials ordered by the Appeal Court of Guyana.

That Court reduced 17 sentences in 2018 and ordered seven fresh trials.

There are 260 cases listed to be heard during the January session which will see Justices Navindra Singh, Bovell-Drakes, and Barlow presiding.

During 2018, there was a total of 195 cases disposed of and 129 of these cases received attention in the court. Notably, 66 matters were nolle prosequi by the DPP. Of these 129 cases, 90 were presented from the Demerara Assizes, 27 from the Berbice Assizes and 12 from the Essequibo Assizes.

There were 54 cases for murder, 15 cases for the offence of rape, 15 cases for Sexual Activity with A Child Family Member, 13 for Attempt to Commit Murder, 23 cases of Rape of A Child under 16 years, 5 for the offence of Manslaughter and one case each for the offences of Carnal Knowledge of A Girl under 15 years, Causing Death

by Dangerous Driving and Wounding with Intent.

In February 2018, acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, had revealed that some 5000 cases were listed before the courts, but this estimated number included “old rules” cases, divorce proceedings, civil cases, and full court matters.

Caribbean Meteorological Organisation Chief retires, new Chief onboard

T

he Caricom Secretariat on Saturday announced the retirement of Tyrone Sutherland, a long-serving Coordinating Director of the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation (CMO).

The Caribbean M e t e o r o l o g i c a l Organisation, established in 1973 with headquarters in Port of Spain, Trinidad, is one of the oldest Caribbean institutions.

A member organisation of Caricom, the CMO coordinates the joint activities of the Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services of 16 Englishspeaking countries in the region.

The CMO’s training arm and its climate, research, and instrument centre is the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), and is located in Barbados.

Sutherland completes a 50-year international career in meteorology that started in his native Saint Lucia back in 1968. He was one of two early meteorologists that led the development of the Saint Lucia Meteorological Service, which he headed

Dr Arlene Laing and Tyrone Sutherland – incoming and outgoing Coordinating Director of the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation

until early 1982. He then spent the next 10 years as a Meteorologist and Severe Storms Specialist with the Meteorological Service of Canada.

In 1992, he joined the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the specialised United Nations agency located in Geneva, Switzerland, which coordinates global activities in meteorology, hydrology and related geophysical sciences. He worked there as a Scientific Officer in its Tropical Cyclone Programme, then as the Executive Assistant to the Secretary-General of that

Organisation.

After resigning from WMO to take up this Caribbean post at CMO in 1999, he represented the Caribbean in WMO affairs and was elected by WMO as a member of its Executive Council, a position he retained until his retirement, becoming one of the longest-serving members of that council in the world. During that period, he served two successive terms as a Vice-President of the WMO, the second Caribbean representative to do so!

In the Caribbean, Sutherland will be remem-

bered for leading the modernisation of the Caribbean weather radar network that provides radar coverage of the region from Belize to Guyana. Under his leadership, the CMO has worked very closely with all the countries in North America, Central America and the Caribbean in ensuring that the region is served by a modern warning system for tropical storms, hurricanes and other severe weather.

He has been succeeded

by Dr Arlene Laing, a native of Jamaica. Dr Laing was selected by the Caribbean Meteorological Council, which is the Ministeriallevel governing body of the CMO, after an intensive international search.

Dr Laing has been a weather forecaster, a research scientist, a university professor, and a trainer in operational weather forecasting. She earned a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from the University of the West Indies, then completed a master’s degree and doctoral degree in meteorology from Pennsylvania State University in the United States.

Turn to page 11

Fangs bared…

Y

…by PNC our Eyewitness is still mulling over what’s behind the PNC ripping off the mask it had so painstakingly created and donned to convince Guyanese – and more importantly, the diplomatic community – it had changed violent stripes. He understood the need for the makeover.

The world had moved on from the Cold War days when the West routinely overlooked the excesses of tinpot dictators. Theodore Roosevelt’s retort when a Latin American ally was criticised: “he’s a son of a bitch; but he’s our son of a bitch”, is emblematic.

In fact, as in Guyana with the PNC, they actively encouraged thuggish and violent behaviour and even facilitated it. The problem today is, the core of the PNC still has a living memory of what got them into power in the first place and when under threat, this element is always ready to reassert itself. Robert Corbin, who in many respects epitomised the “strongman” element, has to be given credit for committing political hara-kiri when he backed David Granger as party leader against his former protégé Aubrey Norton.

With his avuncular and benign image, while a dyed-inthe-wool PNCite, being out of the day-to-day functioning of the PNC party and its modus operandi, Granger could get away with the strategy of projecting a “kinder, gentler” PNC. And he did so to such an extent, he actually was allowed to hide the beloved PNC brand within APNU!! The problem was, Granger went about downgrading the PNCdie-hards as he placed his squaddies from the Disciplined Forces in almost all the strategic State institutions.

The hard-line PNCites tried to dig in their heels against their peripheralisation, but lacked the mechanism to seize control of the party without splitting their base, which was convinced that Granger was the best thing since sliced bread!! He’d recaptured power, hadn’t he??

But what the no-confidence loss has done is to give them an issue to rally their troops. The quick acceptance of the results of the no-confidence vote by Nagamootoo – who’s not even a “born PNC” – and Volda Lawrence was a godsend to them.

With Granger – who’d gone along with the latter – out of the jurisdiction and ailing to boot, the hard-line PNCites saw an opening and seized the moment. They knew the ordinary PNC members, especially the lumpen elements in Georgetown, were chomping on the bits for a chance to flex their muscles. Their lot hadn’t improved under the PNC-led Government, but here was a chance to take out their frustrations on their old nemesis – the PPP! It’s against this background, “strongman” Aubrey Norton was dragged out from under the rock where he’d been living for the past three years to become the face of the PNC. The mask is off! …in Norton’s narrative Norton didn’t realise the Freudian slip he committed when responding to the question about the absent PNC “leaders”. Asserting they had a “plethora” of leaders, Norton said, “We are not averse to the one-man show that is Jagdeo“!! Meaning the PNC approves of “one man” leadership – epitomised, of course, by Forbes Burnham!!

The two faceless PNC functionaries who flanked Norton certainly proved the point, since they just mutely nodded and smirked throughout the presser!!

Norton said nothing new or substantive, but it was the pugnaciousness of the incendiary rhetoric, delivered with his “game face”, that conveyed the PNC message. As he emphasised, “You're dealing with a political issue, and not dealing with political priests...". Thuggery was back!!

The boast: “In any election the APNU/AFC coalition can defeat the PPP”, sounded hollow amidst his frantic delaying tactics!!

The personalising of the PNC’s attack against Jagdeo and his “criminal PPP cabal” to ensure “Guyana does not fall back into their hands” reveals the narrative the PNC will play to energise the base.

Guyana is only for the PNC!! …by Venezuela What’s tragic is the old-guard PNCites are widening fissures in our society rather than bringing it together, even as Venezuela has launched a new attack on our sovereignty.

They’d cut Guyana’s face to spite the PPP. Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

news

9

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Calls for Govt to resign continue – as WPO urges Govt to respect Constitution, set election date – former President warns that instability threatens economy

B

Former President Donald Ramotar

oth the Women’s P r o g r e s s i v e Organisation (WPO) and former President Donald Ramotar have issued calls for the Government to respect the constitutional provisions after it lost a no-confidence vote brought by the parliamentary Opposition.

According to the WPO in a statement, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Cabinet should resign with immediate effect, in keeping with Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of Guyana.

The Organisation, which is the women’s arm of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), also urged that a date be set for general and regional elections, which are constitutionally due within 90 days of the December 21

no-confidence vote.

It reminded that President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had promised they would abide by the constitutional provisions.

The Organisation quoted Granger verbatim, noting that he said on December 22, 2018 that his “government will abide by the stipulations which have been imposed on it following the passing of the no-confidence motion…”

“In the National Assembly on the night of the 21st December, 2018, the Leader of the Government business in the Parliament, the Prime Minister, recorded similar sentiments immediately after the motion was successfully carried,” they added.

“The Government fell and lost its right to man-

age the affairs of the country. Baseless and frivolous arguments are now being touted by those who seek to confuse and give a false sense of hope to their supporters. No amount of spin can cast any doubt of the demise of the Government and the ensuing resignation which must occur.”

The women’s organisation, therefore, called on the Government to “stop the charade” and to meet urgently with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in order to ensure elections could be held.

Longstanding WPO Chairperson Indranie Chandarpal

This is what the APNU/ AFC Government must do now! This is the law!

Economic recession “I wish to recall that in Meanwhile, former President Ramotar warned 2014 when the no-confidence that continuing uncertain- motion was put against the ty about Guyana’s political government that I led, I had situation could have disas- prorogued the Parliament. I trous effects on the coun- explained that I did this to try’s economy. According allow some discussions beto Ramotar, APNU/AFC tween the Government and is trying to frustrate the the Opposition in the interConstitution and the coun- est of Guyana,” the former try as a whole, which will President stated.

According to Ramotar, in turn affect investor conAPNU/AFC refused to talk fidence.

“They must resign now! back then. Ramotar not(Current Foreign Affairs ed that having failed to get Minister) Carl Greenidge in them to the table, he dea comment when, in 2014 cided to call General and the AFC tabled a no-con- Regional Elections rather fidence motion, put it over than extend the prorogation strongly. He said that when and his Government’s tena no-confidence motion is ure.

“I did that, because I passed, the Government should resign immediately was aware that with the and prepare for elections! best of intentions that my

administration had, such an act could have led to political instability. Political instability would have negatively affected the economic progress of Guyana. For me that was unacceptable!

To me, nothing should be done to affect the welfare of our people.”

“If the leaders of the APNU/AFC have an iota of concern for our people, they must demonstrate this by resigning immediately and allow for the mandated general elections within the 90 days’ period as stipulated by the Constitution. If this is not done now, the confidence in the economy will decline even further.”

Ramotar warned that if money from investors dried up, unemployment rates would increase since no investments equated to re-

duced job creation. As such, he urged Government to do the “lawful and decent thing” and resign.

On December 21, the no-confidence motion brought by the parliamentary Opposition – the PPP/Civic – against the Government succeeded when Charrandas Persaud, a former AFC Member of Parliament, broke ranks and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.

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

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

“Eventful year” for Caricom, says Holness

C

aribbean Community (Caricom) Chairman, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the 15-member regional integration movement has had an eventful year, both regionally and internationally.

“We have seen advances in the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), the signing of the new Multilateral Air Services Agreement, and we have been invited to participate in meetings of major international partners,” Holness, the Jamaica Head of Government, said in an end-of-year message Friday.

He said that a proper functioning CSME, which allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour, and services across the Region, is essential to deliver the goals of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to the people of the Caribbean, for the growth and development of regional economies.

Holness said recognising this fact, regional leaders renewed their focus on this initiative in 2018 given the need to accelerate its implementation, and t there has been progress.

He said the St Ann’s Declaration, issued after the special summit held in Trinidad and Tobago earlier

this month, “outlines the resolve that we have to move this process forward and to maintain the momentum that had been triggered from the 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government in Montego Bay last July.

“The whole-of-society approach to driving the implementation of the measures is underlined by our agreement to have a formalised, structured mechanism to facilitate dialogue between the councils of the Community and social partners — particularly Private Sector and labour.”

Prime Minister Holness said that the importance of the Private Sector to spur growth and development in the Region has been further recognised by the agreement to take all necessary steps to allow for mutual recognition of companies incorporated in a Caricom Member State.

“The trimming of the red tape within our domestic space can provide greater opportunity for intra-Community investment and cross-border fertilisation with our Private Sector,” he said, adding that in order to diversify the range of skills available under the free movement regime, regional leaders decided that agri-

PM Andrew Holness: “We have a lot to be proud of and a lot more to accomplish”

cultural workers and security guards with a Caribbean Vocational Qualification or equivalent will be added to the agreed categories of skilled nationals who will be entitled to move freely and seek employment within the Community.

“We also agreed that beauty service practitioners and barbers will also be permitted to so move and work.

These are significant additions that will help to debunk the myth that free movement of skilled personnel caters only for the elite. It will be important for Heads to deliver on these commitments.”

The Caricom Chairman said that to encourage greater use of the free movement

regime, the leaders adopted the Protocol on Contingent Rights, which will cover the rights of individuals moving to another country as well as their spouses and dependents.

“This is another historic step for our integration process taken at Montego Bay, the cradle of modern regional unity. It will give comfort to those wishing to utilise the free movement of skills provisions, but [who] have been reluctant to move without the assurance of their families being able to access services in their adopted country. Ten countries have so far signed the protocol.”

He said that Caricom has also been making significant strides on the socio-econom-

ic front, with the report of the Regional Commission on Marijuana being presented to Heads of Government.

“We have noted the Commission’s findings, conclusions and recommendations, in particular with respect to human and religious rights; the social and developmental impact of use among adolescents; the economic benefits to be derived and issues related to its classification. We, therefore, have an analytical platform from the excellent work of the Commission, for whatever further action we wish to take with respect to marijuana.”

Holness told the regional population that in 2018 he and the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise represented Caricom at the G7 Meeting in Ottawa, Canada, while he also represented the Region at the BRICS Summit in South Africa and the G20 Summit in Argentina.

Jamaica also represented the Community at all the G20 sectoral meetings throughout the year of the Argentine presidency, and Holness said that these invitations demonstrate the esteem in which the Community is held globally, being seen as a leader among small States.

He said the visit of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to Jamaica to attend the Caricom summit in July came just three months after his assumption of office when he “emphasised the special relationship which our Community and Cuba have shared over the last 46 years”.

Holness said that the strong relations with Chile were also underlined by the visit of President Sebastian Pinera to meet with Caricom leaders.

“There is no doubt that this is a Community on the move – a Community that is determined to provide opportunities for all its citizens to maximise their potential and so enhance our prospects for sustainable growth and development.

“This is a Community which continues to be recognised globally as a leader – whether in the battle against chronic non-communicable diseases, against the negative effects of climate change, or within the framework of Small Island and low-lying coastal developing states,” Holness said, adding “we have a lot to be proud of and a lot more to accomplish. Let us remain resolute in the face of all challenges.” (Jamaica Observer)

10

news

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tributes, condolences pour PM urges Mayors and Deputy in for late Amerindian Mayors to work with Central Govt Affairs Minister

Vibert DeSouza

G

uyana’s first Amerindian Affairs Minister, Vibert DeSouza, passed away at his home on Saturday and ever since the announcement there has been an outpour of tributes and condolences.

DeSouza served as the Amerindian Affairs Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government in 1992. He was the first Minister to be assigned to that portfolio.

Prior to being appointed as a Government Minister, DeSouza served as Local Government and Regional Development Minister and as an entrepreneur.

He also worked at the Hand in Hand Insurance Company; as a cultural officer attached to the Agricultural & General Workers Union and a technician clerk, at the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital.

Long-standing member of the PPP/C and former Government Minister Clement Rohee paid tribute to DeSouza, saying that the former Minister was a people’s cultural icon.

“While many today were either not born as yet, in their infancy or at school, Vibert had already started out his political career as a cultural activist of the PPP/C,” he explained.

According to Rohee, DeSouza was encouraged by founding leader of the PPP/C the late former President Cheddi

Jagan to draw closer to the party to facilitate his ideological upbringing.

“Harry Persaud Nokta who served for a number of years as party organiser in the NWD (North West District) helped nurture Vibert and his two brother Marco and Deon,” he recalled.

Rohee said not only was his ability as a composer of revolutionary songs and guitar music reflecting the struggles of the Guyanese people held in high esteem, but he soon rose to prominence in the ranks of the PPP and the youth arm, Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO).

The former Minister composed the battle songs for the PYO ‘Forward with the PYO’ and for the WPO ‘Women Unite, Stand Up and Fight,’ He also composed the battle song of the sugar workers’ union ‘GAWU -The Union Makes Us Strong.’ His other musical compositions are ‘Forward Ever Backward Never,’ ‘Get on Board’ and many other people-centered songs.

Desouza has also served as a member of several organisations. He was President of Catholic Youth, Guyana (1969-1970); Member of Progressive Youth Organisation (1972-1982); Vicepresident of Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous People, Guyana (1991-1992).

Former Amerindian Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett took to social media to express her condolences.

Both DeSouza and Rodrigues-Birkett originates from Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini).

“I am saddened to learn of the death of Uncle Vibert De Souza, first Minister of Amerindian Affairs and fellow Morukan. As we give thanks for his life and service to Guyana, I also extend my deepest condolences to his wife Rita, his children, and relatives and loved ones,” she added.

Meanwhile, through a missive from the Department of Public Information (DPI), President David Granger extended heartfelt condolences at the passing of DeSouza.

DeSouza would have celebrated his 74th birth anniversary today.

Newly elected Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine taking the oath of office before Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Friday

P

rime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, while performing the duties of Head of State, swore in several Mayors and Deputy Mayors to-

central Government to enhance their townships. He noted that the townships “depend on [central government] for subvention and support in many ways.”

programmes that you have planned.”

The Prime Minister noted that having a Town Council in every administrative region allows for a decentralised model of Government and allows for the strengthening of local democracy. He explained that this decentralisation also allows for the provision of certain services such as the issuance of birth and marriage certificates, passports and documents important to their livelihood and businesses within far-flung communities.

He also urged the elected officials to develop a sense of regional pride among their constituents.

The Prime Minister remarked that the new batch of

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other Ministers of Government with the newly elected Mayors from across Guyana

day in the Credentials Room at the Ministry of the Presidency.

After administering the Oath of office, the acting Head of State encouraged the newly elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors to work closely with

“Some of the areas that you would be managing as townships, border on areas that are controlled by the central Government so you have to work with your central Government to promote those

Mayors and Deputy Mayors reflect Guyana’s rich strands of diversity and ethnicity as it includes persons from different religious backgrounds, genders and race.

news

11

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Achieving unity in Guyana is a collective job” …Harmon tells ACDA Forum

knowledges and recognises not only the principle of unity but all of the other principles on which Kwanza stands. We believe that this country of ours is for all of us, all the people of Guyana, not just one section and that is why we came into office with a promise of providing a good life for all Guyanese.

We have the confidence that we will be able to deliver our mandate, our polices and provide a good life for all,” the Minister of State said.

Further, he noted that since his assumption to office, President David Granger has been advocating for a revival in the cooperative spirit so that every section of society can grow and develop, particularly

Minister of State Joseph Harmon lights the 'Umoja' candle, which signifies a commitment to promoting and embracing unity inister of State ‘Kuumba’, which speaks Joseph Harmon to creativity and ‘Imani’ or during his ad- faith. dress at the commencement He stated that “Unity is of the African Cultural so important in our country Development Association’s today. Our Government ac(ACDA) Karemu Thanksgiving said that the observation celebrates principles that every individual can embrace, particularly unity in homes, communities and the country.

He, therefore, sounded a call for a cooperative effort in embracing and promoting national unity and harmony, noting that every Guyanese has a responsibility to do so.

Kwanzaa is focused on seven main principles: ‘Umoja’ or unity, ‘Kujichagulia’ or self-determination, ‘Ujima’ which means collective work and responsibility, ‘Ujamaa’ meaning cooperative eco- A member of the African Cultural Development Association nomics, ‘Nia’ representing a performs the libation to commence the Kwanzaa Karemu purpose to drive society and observation

M

These youngsters from the African Cultural Development Association's Youth arm perform several traditional drumming renditions for the audience

small businesses. Minister Harmon said too that he is pleased that one of the main pillars of the celebration speaks to cooperatives and how much can be achieved through pooled resources and cooperation.

“We believe that the cooperative sector is the sector in Guyana that will be utilised to move our people from conditions in which they live to prosperity so I am happy to hear you talk about cooperatives,” he said.

Harmon noted that issues which affect the lives and livelihoods of citizens are important to the David Granger-led Administration and therefore, the Government will do what it can to ensure that issues of access to education, national unity, equality, access to

information and communication technology, quality social services and celebration of culture among others are addressed.

Kwanza Karemu was first introduced to Guyana in the 1970s by a group of African-Americans residing here. However, it did not become a part of the African-Guyanese calendar until 1992 when the then newly-formed ACDA revived the celebration and held its first observance.

As the celebration goes, before December 26, the first day of Kwanzaa, the entire house is cleaned. The home is then dressed in colours of red, black and green and African motifs are displayed along with other cultural articles.

On the morn of December 26, the entire family gath-

ers around the Kwanzaa table and libations are offered to the creator and ancestors. This signaled the commencement of week-long activities to celebrate the event.

Candles are lit and the family discuss their failures, successes and their achievements in fostering unity in the family and community over the past year.

If anyone has exemplified this principle during the year, gifts are given. This ceremony is repeated with each principle being the center of discussion for the next seven days.

A community feast occurs on the seventh day and on this day, the entire community or organisation assess its successes, failures and achievements of the Kwanzaa principles.

RHC boasts of improved services in Region 6

F

ollowing criticisms of poor health care delivery in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) throughout the year, the Regional Health Committee is now boasting that there is an improvement.

Both the Plegtanker and No 76 Health Centres have been handed over to the Health Department with one commencing operations.

Just over a month ago, Guyana Times reported that the two health centres were still to be opened three years after construction.

However, Head of the Regional Health Committee Zamal Hussain recently told the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) that the Plegtanker Health Centre was opened and the other at No 76 Village is soon to be opened.

New Amsterdam Hospital

He also reported that the Dental Department at the New Amsterdam Hospital was opened after several months of complaints. In addition, he stated that the CT scan machine for that institution which was sitting for months is now being installed and will soon come into operation.

“The machine is actually in the room and there is still some fine work to be done”, Hussain told the RDC Further, he posited that there have been rapid improvements, and congratulated the Director of Health Services Region Six and team.

“The Laboratory is run-

ning on a 24-hour basis.

The Director said we are still in need of an X-ray machine urgently at the New Amsterdam Hospital because of the amount of X-rays that have to be done.”

Meanwhile, 178 vacancies exist in the Health system in the Region. Hussain said they need to be filled and pointed out that the Director of Regional Health Services and the Regional Executive Officer (REO) could not be blamed for not giving persons the opportunity to work even as Government has sent home thousands already for the year.

“The Director is advocating that the necessary agencies that they should put systems in place that we do the employments. Some of the employment might

Caribbean Meteorological Organisation...

Prior to joining the CMO, she was a scientific analyst at US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She also served as a project facilitator at the Weather Prediction Center of the US National Weather Service and spent several years as a researcher at

the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). She is the lead author of “Introduction to Tropical Meteorology”, a peer-reviewed online textbook, and co-author of the award-winning book, “Meteorology of Tropical West Africa: The

Forecasters’ Handbook”.

Both Sutherland and Dr Laing agree that the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation has provided unity of purpose for its member countries in meteorology and related sciences.

The organs of the CMO will continue to provide sci-

From page 8

entific advice and guidance to the Caribbean in an era when severe weather, climate variability, and climate change issues are expected to be among the major challenges facing the region in the foreseeable future.

be above board where the REO or other persons can do this, but we are advocating that the Public Service Commission or the Public Service Ministry put systems in place to ensure that we have these vacancies filled and filled urgently”, he noted.

He admitted that the administration has serious problems with maids, porters, and auxiliary staff including cooks.

“We need to ensure that

these vacancies are filled so that we can be able to have the system up and running.

The auxiliary staff is important to the institution just as the doctors and the administrators are important. So we need to place serious emphasis on the employment.”

The Public Service Act mandates that the REO write to the relevant agencies to have existing vacancies filled.

12 news

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GAWU to Govt: End tug-of-war between NICIL & GuySuCo

Headquarters of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL)

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is urging Government to help bring an end to the ongoing tug-of-war between the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

During the Union’s end-ofyear press conference, it was stated that there seems to be no clarity regarding the confusion that has surrounded the sugar industry, pointing out that this manifested through the Administration stripping GuySuCo of its assets relating to the closed estates and transferring them without liability to NICIL as well as shares of the

Corporation.

“At this time, the GAWU reiterates that situation cannot be allowed to continue the way it is, as it is not in the interest of anyone, especially the workers. GAWU calls on the Government to apprehend the sad situation that is prevailing. It is time to end the tug-ofwar!” it stated.

GAWU President Komal Chand recalled that a new GuySuCo Board was apparently appointed by NICIL, the Corporation’s new shareholder. That Board, which was announced with several full-colour newspaper advertisements, was quickly disowned by the Government.

The Administration explained

it had not approved the new Board though the media subsequently published a Cabinet memorandum, which confirmed that the Government had indeed approved a new Board. Chand said the Administration, which was caught with its pants down, reversed gears and said that the Clive Thomasheaded Board remained in charge.

That Board’s life came to an end in April this year and after several missed deadlines, a new Board headed by John Dow was finally appointed in the latter part of 2018.

“The clear confusion regarding sugar was also manifested when we saw musical chairs being played by the Ministers of Agriculture and Finance, with both gentlemen denying they had ministerial responsibility for the industry. Then suddenly and without any forewarning, the Agriculture Minister announced he was in charge of GuySuCo though no explanation, as far as we recall, was ever provided as to how the contradictions were resolved,” he added.

Chand said at that time, it seemed that relations between GuySuCo and the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of NICIL had reached its lowest ebb. Media reports later highlighted what seems to be an almost virtual standoff between the two bodies.

Most recently, press reports point to wrangling regarding the refurbished La Bonne Intention

GuySuCo’s assets linked to the closed estates were transferred without liability to NICIL

(LBI) Club, which from the looks of it, appears to have benefited from tens of millions of dollars in work.

“The relations between the two bodies charged with managing the sugar industry seems to be characterised by acrimony and discord, and has now, seemingly, reached a sad point, where – from all appearances – salvos are being traded in the media,” Chand stated.

The airing of these disagreements in the public, GAWU believes, cannot be helpful to the industry’s cause at this time. Chand said at this point in time, when the livelihoods of thousands of workers stand in the balance, and the Guyanese people’s assets have been essentially mortgaged to se-

cure the $30 billion financing, the confusion that reigns cannot be encouraging.

“The apparent infighting between the two sugar management bodies, in our view, has to be laid squarely at the doorstep of the Government. The Administration, through its own indecision, has, in effect, allowed the situation to reach this sad point,” he added.

The Union said it also recognised that there seemed to be some degree of confusion within the Administration regarding the sugar industry. That has now spilled over into the industry’s management, which, it said, will not help in confidence-building, essential for success.

$32M Special Needs School on track for 2019 opening

O

utgoing Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Denis Jaikarran has revealed that the Special Education Needs (SEN) School at Schoolnord,

West Bank Demerara (WBD) is on track for its 2019 opening.

He provided this update in a brief interview last week, noting that construction on the $32 million stateof-the-art facility is near

completion.

The SEN school will cater for students who have special educational needs due to severe learning difficulties, physical disabilities or behavioural problems. It has been observed that SEN stu-

The soon-to-be commissioned Special Education Needs (SEN) School at Schoonord, WBD (DPI photo)

dents faced prejudices over their physical appearance and for their slow learning. Often times, this comes down to conditions such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) and dyslexia.

Jaikarran, who is being transferred to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) in the New Year indicated that classes at the facility will commence in the early part of next year. This comes more than one year since officials in Region Three announced the establishment of the unit which will assist in expanding education delivery in West Demerara district.

Former Regional Education Officer (REDO) Penelope McIntosh had told Guyana Times in July 2017 that the school will cater to some 30 students and had

noted that its staff complement would have corresponded with the number of students enrolled. McIntosh had further informed this publication that establishing such units would see education being provided at a more holistic level in keeping with the overall education programme. As such, the Region established a similar department at the Wales Primary School in Wales, WBD in 2017.

In the case of the new facility at Schoolnord, the Department of Public Information (DPI) in November disclosed that the building was constructed at a cost of $28.5 million including “four special needs classrooms, a modernised sickbay, staff room for teachers, headteacher’s office, kitchen, four wheelchair acces-

sible lavatory facilities, two wheelchair accessible bathrooms, three entrance and exit ramps and a teacher’s lavatory”.

There is also a completed guard hut, external lavatory facility and a completely landfilled yard which all amounted to $3.5 million.

Current Regional Education Officer Annesta Douglas was quoted as saying that requisite paperwork was being prepared for the school to have an early start.

Guyana Times had reported in 2017 on National SEN Officer Savvie Hopinkinson outlining that the Education Ministry’s vision was to place SEN schools in all 10 administrative regions, with each region having its own Special Education Needs Officer.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

news

13

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

company meeting the $35M Family Fun Park Local demand for value-added products opens in Canje W

Young businessman Havendra Sookraj

T

he spanking new Outback Adventures Family Fun Park and Resort located at Gangaram, East Canje Berbice has officially opened its doors to the public. The resort is a 10-minute drive from New Amsterdam and a few minutes from the Berbice River Bridge.

The $35 million project is a 23-year-old University of Guyana student’s brainchild. Since its official opening three weeks ago, Outback Adventures has become the premier hangout destination in Berbice.

Havendra Sookraj, the young entrepreneur, stated that the resort offers the public a spacious swimming pool for both adults and kids, a swim-up bar and poolside space, both indoor and outdoor dining facili-

ties, a restaurant with the most appealing line of cuisine, spacious benabs and boat rides.

“It is one of a kind in Berbice. We decided to introduce this Fun Park in Berbice because we saw that it was a market opportunity and also because of the lack of recreational facilities in here,” he explained.

The young businessman further stated that “We wanted to create an atmosphere where persons can go and unwind.”

According to the young man, with the availability of a large plot of land owned by his parents, he began draft-

ing several designs before approaching them with his final plan for the park. After several months, his parents decided to commence the construction works.

The Business Economics major student told Guyana

Times that it is just one of several plans his family has in the works that will tremendously boost tourism opportunities in Berbice. The resort currently does not offer stay-in accommodations, however, it is in the pipelines.

“Because of the nature of the project we realise that some persons would want to come and overnight so we decided that in the future we want to work on creating some sort of accommodation.”

“Contraction of the facility began in November 2017.

The weather and construction material somewhat de-

layed the execution of the project,” he explained.

Sookraj noted that while Outback Adventures will now satisfy Berbicians, it has been built to also attract visitors from outside the ancient county.

hat started as a healthy lifestyle choice for a diabetic mother of five and her family is now on the cusp of being a thriving business that could generate employment for others.

Hafeeza Smith, 35, of Lot 718 Number One Road, East Berbice Corentyne, is the proud manufacturer of a variety of locally produced organic products such as extra virgin coconut oil, macerated carrot oil, coconut flour, coconut snacks, among others under her company, King Chezomi Manufacturing Enterprise.

Smith explained that after being diagnosed as a diabetic and having difficulty finding economically healthy products, she decided to begin experimenting in 2015 with extra virgin coconut oil. The innovator noted, when she began producing the oil it was on a small scale for herself, as well as friends and family.

However, after receiving positive feedback, she was encouraged to increase her production. She said her friends would also share with others, and some customers took samples overseas.

According to a feature done by Department of Public Information (DPI), Smith managed to perfect the formula in 2017 and heeded President David Granger’s call to become an entrepreneur after her husband suffered an injury and was out of a job for over three months.

She began selling to neighbours who helped spread the word and the demand for her extra virgin coconut oil continued to increase.

“After my husband’s injury … the money I was making came in useful, then I started to think should something happen to him what could I do because I was just a housewife. I tested the local market but many persons didn’t know much of the extra virgin coconut oil and only buy the regular ones.”

The mother of five said she was determined to get others to eat healthily and approached a local printing company to assist in making her product labels more appealing. Smith said she then targeted the markets outside her region and overseas.

Realising that people were

Owner and Manager of King Chezomi Manufacturing Enterprise, Hafeeza Smith

craving healthy food, Smith decided to invest in mills and other equipment to produce on a larger scale while ensuring she maintained a high standard of consistency by working in hygienic conditions.

Smith also attended a one-week workshop on add-

gluten allergies, persons suffering from diabetes and hypertension.”

Smith has set her sights on producing breadfruit flour, breadfruit chips, tomato powder and powered pepper among many other products in the near future.

“My whole plan is to do healthy products which Guyanese can afford. There is no reason for us to use things that have ingredients in them that we can’t pronounce or things people say are good for us and we end up spending a lot of money but have no benefits.”

Having grown up humbly and understanding the struggles of a housewife and working with a small budget for her five children aged two and a half to 15, she has decided to market her products at affordable prices to encourage customers to practice a healthier lifestyle.

She is appealing to

A variety of the oils produced by Smith’s company King Chezomi Manufacturing Enterprise

ing value to agro-processing, hosted by the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA). She now has plans to further enhance her already special extra virgin coconut oil by adding flavours and other unique ingredients to make it more appealing.

Having gained the trust of her loyal customers and heeding their call to introduce more products, the enterprising innovator has moved on to producing coconut flour that can be used for everyday cooking and baking. The flour, she remarked, “is high in fibre and gluten-free, very healthy for persons who have

Guyanese, especially Berbicians, to get off the “import bandwagon.”

“We have many locally produced items that are organic and healthier but many have this mindset that because it is a local item it is not good. We have to move away from that and invest in proper packaging and better conditions for maintaining excellent quality. The same items we refuse are being sold elsewhere for a lot of money,” Smith said.

Smith’s ultimate goal is to expand her business and see her products lining the shelves of local supermarkets and stores countrywide.

14

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What is your New Year’s resolution?

Kelvin Sitaram “My New Year resolution is to become a better me.

Continue my pursuit of photography and work on my craft. Hopefully I could be established and get jobs with my skill! Continue spending time with the people I love and make memories!”

Dave Bacchus “I intend to be a better person by attending church more often and I also want to have a better reputation for the New Year.”

Ryan Bassoo “To make a step towards making Guyanese live in unity... stop the fighting...live as a family...for the generations to follow to see a great harmony.”

Cameron Defreitas “Let’s see where to start, first off I would like to become a better person in terms of widening my knowledge and help people in any way I can and to make my parents and friends, for example, make Leah Hernandez proud at my upcoming CXC examination and, well, afterwards to pursue my dreams of Information Technology.”

Caesar McAlmont “My New Year’s resolution is to be closer to God. As long as I have life anything else is possible.”

Denisia Liddell “I plan to continue to renew my faith and journey in Christ and to be closer to my family and friends.”

Sunil Tulsidas “All I want for us is a productive 2019, where progress can been made all over the country and all over the world.”

Ganesh Basdeo “My New Year’s resolution is to be a better person, keep working hard and stay away from fake people; always plan for the future because you never know what tomorrow holds.”

Andrew Khan “Meet new people: When we get stuck in a rut, we usually end up staying at home most of the time, missing out on a lot of interesting opportunities for networking and having fun.

Meeting new people can be beneficial to your mental wellbeing and help your career, so don’t be afraid to get out there and make some friends.

Overcome your shyness, get some knowledge and go and get to know new and interesting people.”

Sosheana Bhagwandin “I plan to be more disciplined and focused in achieving my goals that I set out to do. I plan to build more on my career while also building myself academically - two of my main goals come 2019.”

Sheik Asween “Finding a better job … something I can enjoy doing.”

Candacy Famey “The resolutions that I have set to achieve in the upcoming year varies, however, there are a few main ones I’d like to work towards, which would be meeting new people ,travel, continue my studies in business management, hoping to go gain another job and learning new skills so I will be able to contribute to society and yeah, that’s basically it.”

Ranfred Williams “Launch our Georgetown and Brazil Stores for Quantum Technologies.”

Melissa Nurse “Well my New Year’s resolution is to see Guyana move forward as a country and for all its people to live as one…other than that I would just like to focus on my goals.”

news

15

mondAY, december 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bleak Xmas for exPetrotrin workers

The Petrotrin refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre which is closed (file photo)

D

efunct oil company Petrotrin has promised to pay its former temporary and casual workers all outstanding back pay money on or before January 15, 2019.

Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (Petrotrin branch) President Christopher Jackman, who led workers in a protest demonstration on December 17, said over 1000 temporary/casual workers have not received their severance or back pay after the company’s closure on November 30.

In a telephone interview on Sunday, Jackman said the company issued a memo after that protest, telling the former workers that payments would be made by the middle of January.

“So we holding them to their word there. People went through Christmas without pay, but at least we have a date as to when payment would be made.”

Jackman said the Christmas season was “very bad” for some of the former workers as several did not even have money to pay rent or buy food for their families.

“It was very bad. What we did as a union, we pooled

together resources among ourselves and gave small donations to as much temporary, casual workers as we could just to see them through.

“We tried our best to help them. We couldn’t help everybody, but we had to identify the dire cases.”

Jackman also said the company’s board had given the union’s executive three weeks to provide the relevant documents regarding the union’s proposal to take over the refinery, port and hospital.

“The response from the board and PM is that they would not be going on any request for proposals until they give us three weeks to close off our submissions.

The executive of the union is doing a lot of work to get that process closed off.

“Whether they are being genuine or not, in terms of offering the union first preference, time will tell.”

Jackman also noted that fishermen were also requesting the union’s assistance regarding the non-importation of regular gasoline as the switch to super gasoline was not economically feasible. (Trinidad Guardian)

Border patrol chief defends agents in child deaths

T

he head of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Sunday defended his agents’ handling of two sick children who died in their custody, saying they did everything they could to get medical help for them in difficult circumstances.

The deaths have intensified the debate over US immigration policy as President Donald Trump holds onto his demand that lawmakers give him US$5 billion to fund a wall along the border with Mexico.

The impasse over Trump’s border wall resulted in a partial government shutdown that entered its ninth day on Sunday.

CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told ABC’s “This Week” it had been a decade since a child had died in the agency’s custody and that the loss of two Guatemalan children in three weeks was “just absolutely devastating for us on every level”.

Felipe Gomez Alonzo, eight, died on Christmas

Day. In early December, seven-year-old Jakelin Caal died after being detained along with her father by US border agents in a remote part of New Mexico.

On Saturday, Trump blamed Democrats for the deaths of the two children in a Twitter post, drawing criticism that he was politicising the tragedies.

The standoff over his demand for wall funding will be a test for Congress when it returns this week with Democrats in control of the House of Representatives.

Trump sees the wall as vital to stemming illegal immigration, while Democrats and some Republicans see it as impractical and costly.

After the death of the second child, the CBP said it will conduct secondary medical checks on all children in its custody, with a focus on those under 10.

“Our agents did everything they could, as soon as these children manifested symptoms of illness, to save their lives,” McAleenan said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Climate change challenges as serious as those faced in World War II – Brown

C

alifornia Democratic Governor Jerry Brown warned that America and the rest of the world are falling behind in the fight against climate change and likened the challenge to fighting the Nazis in World War II. In an interview for Sunday's "Meet the Press," the outgoing Governor called on President Donald Trump to take the lead in addressing the issue. "Instead of worrying about tariffs, I'd like to see the President and the Congress invest tens of billions in renewable energy, in more-efficient batteries, to get us off fossil fuel as quickly as we can," Brown said.

"I would point to the fact that it took Roosevelt

many, many years to get America willing to go into World War II and fight the Nazis. Well, we have an enemy, though different, but perhaps, very much devastating in a similar way. And we've got to fight climate change. And the President's got to lead on that."

President Trump has repeatedly downplayed the importance of addressing climate change during his presidency.

Last month, he brushed aside a federal climate report that warned of a “cascading effect” from climate change that could hurt both the planet and the economy, telling reporters “I don’t believe it.”

Last year, he pulled America out of the inter-

national Paris Agreement meant to align the world’s nations toward reducing emissions and curbing the effects of climate change.

And his administration has also rolled back a handful of Obama-era environmental regulations aimed at reducing the impact of climate change.

Trump visited Brown and his home state earlier this year to survey wildfire damage. Brown admitted that while he appreciated Trump approving disaster funding for the state in the aftermath of the fires, he doesn't think he made any progress convincing Trump about the dangers of climate change.

"He is very convinced of his position. And his position is that there's nothing

abnormal about the fires in California or the rising sea level or all the other incidents of climate change," Brown said.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire who has made climate change a key piece of his work outside of public office, also lamented Trump's views on the issue. "It would be a lot more helpful, if we had a climate champion, rather than a climate denier, in the White House," Bloomberg said. "You know, I've always thought, Trump has a right to his opinions. But he doesn't have a right to his own facts. And the truth of the matter is this country and this world is in trouble”. (Excerpt from NBC

News)

Latin America, Caribbean economies to grow 1.7% in 2019 amid great uncertainty – ECLAC

T

he year 2019 looks to be a period in which global economic uncertainties, far from waning, will intensify and will arise from different fronts.

This will have an impact on the growth of the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, which, on average, are seen expanding 1.7 per cent, according to new projections released by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The United Nations regional organisation unveiled its last economic report of the year, the “Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2018”, at a press conference led by its Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena, in Santiago, Chile.

According to the document, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean will confront a complex global economic scenario in the coming years, in which less dynamic growth is expected, both for developed countries as well as emerging economies, along with increased volatility of international financial markets. On top of this, there is a structural weakening of international trade, aggravated by trade tensions between the United States and China.

The economic growth projection for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2019 is 1.7 per cent, slightly below what ECLAC released last October (1.8 per cent), while the estimate for the current year (2018) was also trimmed to 1.2 per cent (from the 1.3 per cent forecast in October).

The greatest risk to the Region’s economic performance continues to be an abrupt deterioration in the financial conditions for emerging economies, the report adds. During 2018, emerging markets, including Latin America, showed a significant reduction in ex-

In its stocktaking of the current year, 2018, ECLAC’s report indicates that economic growth was led by domestic demand

ternal financing flows, while at the same time sovereign risk levels increased and their currencies depreciated against the dollar. The text indicates that new episodes of deterioration in future financial conditions cannot be discounted, and that the consequences for countries will depend on how exposed they are in terms of their external financing needs and profiles.

Fiscal policy

“Public policies are needed to strengthen sources of growth and cope with the scenario of uncertainty at a global level,” Bárcena indicated. “The active role of fiscal policy in the region in terms of revenue and spending must be bolstered. In this sense, it is essential to reduce tax avoidance and evasion and illicit financial flows. At the same time, direct taxes and also health-related and green taxes must be strengthened.

In terms of expenditures, in order to stabilise and invigorate growth, public investment must be reoriented toward projects that have an impact on sustainable development, with emphasis on public-private partner-

ships and on productive reconversion, new technologies and green investment.

All of this while protecting social spending, above all in periods of economic deceleration, so that it is not affected by cutbacks,” the senior UN official added.

Bárcena also warned that public debt profiles must be taken care of in light of the uncertainty that could increase their cost and levels.

As in previous years, in its “Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean”, ECLAC projects a growth dynamic with varying intensities between countries and subregions.

This reflects not only the differentiated impacts of the international context on each economy, but also the dynamics of spending components – mainly consumption and investment – which have been following different patterns in economies of the north and of the south.

In this vein, it is forecast that Central America (excluding Mexico) will grow 3.3 per cent in 2019, South America 1.4 per cent and the Caribbean 2.1 per cent. On a country level, the Caribbean island of

Dominica is seen leading regional growth with a 9.0 per cent expansion, followed by the Dominican Republic (5.7 per cent); Panama (5.6 per cent); Antigua and Barbuda (4.7 per cent) and Guyana (4.6 per cent). At the other extreme, Venezuela will suffer a -10 per cent contraction in its economy, Nicaragua -2.0 per cent and Argentina -1.8 per cent. The Region’s biggest economies, Brazil and Mexico, are seen growing 2.0 per cent and 2.1 per cent, respectively.

In its stocktaking of the current year, 2018, ECLAC’s report indicates that economic growth was led by domestic demand. Fixed investment showed a dynamic of recovery, while private consumption remained the main source of growth, even though its growth rates moderated since the second quarter of 2018.

In terms of fiscal policy, consolidation deepened in 2018 and the process of fiscal adjustment led to a reduction in the primary deficit (from 0.7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product in 2017 to 0.6 per cent of GDP in 2018), although this was accompanied by a small increase in public debt.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, december 31, 2018

Regional

Colombia condemns “plot” to kill President, arrests Venezuelans

C

olombia’s Foreign Minister condemned an alleged plot to kill President Ivan Duque on Saturday and said three Venezuelan citizens had been arrested in possession of weapons.

“With immense concern and the utmost condemnation, I want to inform the international community that, in effect, for several months, there have been intelligence probes into possible attacks against the life of the President,” Carlos Holmes Trujillo said in a video posted on the Ministry’s social media accounts.

He added without elaborating that three Venezuelans in possession of “weapons of war” had been arrested in connection with such plots and appealed to Colombians to share any information they have that could affect Duque’s safety, before thanking unnamed foreign intelligence agencies for helping to protect the

Colombia’s Ivan Duque took office in August promising to diplomatically isolate Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro’s Government [File: Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]

President.

In a separate statement, Trujillo said that the threats came from “internal and external actors.”

Blu Radio, based in the Colombian capital, Bogota, reported that the Venezuelans were arrested in the northern Caribbean cities of Valledupar and Barranquilla this month and had in their possession an assault rifle with a telescopic sight, a 9mm miniUzi submachine gun, ammu-

nition and a stun grenade.

Citing sources it did not identify, Blu said any alleged plot would have likely had the support of Colombian left-wing armed groups, who Duque has vowed to clamp down on.

The announcements came amid heightened tensions between the two neighbours following the mutual expulsion of officials from both countries and the presence earlier this month of Russian long-range bomb-

ers in Venezuela.

Duque – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s harshest regional critic – has urged “countries that defend democracy” not to recognise Maduro’s Government, which he calls a “dictatorship”.

Colombia is one of seven countries that have presented an unprecedented petition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in September to investigate Maduro for crimes against humanity.

It is the first time ICC member countries have asked for a probe into a fellow member. The investigation was initially proposed

by Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru, with Canada and France later adding their support.

Maduro, who has not commented publicly on the arrests, will begin his second six-year term on January 10 after winning a controversial election in May. (Excerpt from

Venezuela offers help probing alleged planned attack on Colombian President

V

e n e z u e l a ’ s Government is willing to help investigate a plot to assassinate Colombian President Ivan Duque, in which three Venezuelan nationals arrested in Colombia may be suspects, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said.

The alleged assassination attempt comes amid tense relations between the two neighboring South American countries. Duque has been a strong critic of the socialist Government of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, who he calls a “dictator,” and Maduro regularly accuses Duque of plotting to over-

throw him.

In a late Saturday night statement, Arreaza said Venezuela was willing to provide “the necessary police and intelligence cooperation” and had asked Colombian authorities for more information on the three Venezuelans arrested.

Earlier Saturday, Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo had said in a video message that there was intelligence indicating “credible” plans to target the right-wing Duque, who took office in August. Three Venezuelans were arrested in recent days with “weapons of war,” he added. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil moving its embassy to Jerusalem matter of “when, not Incoming Caricom Chairman commits if” – Netanyahu Al Jazeera)

to combating chronic NCDs in 2019

I

ncoming chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Prime Minister of St Kitts Nevis, Dr Timothy Harris, says 2019 will be the year to combat chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) across the Region.

In his New Year’s message, Harris said Caricom would enter 2019 with “a renewed vigour and determination to maintain the momentum with which we ended 2018”.

He added that at the core of the Region’s thrust for growth and development was a well-educated and healthy workforce.

He said chronic NCDs was a threat to the Region’s sustainable development – a concern highlighted at a meeting at the United

Prime Minister of St Kitts Nevis, Dr Timothy Harris

Nations earlier in the year.

“Our Community’s commitment to battle against the ravages caused by chronic Non-Communicable Diseases is unrelenting.

Our Ministers of Health have agreed on a pro-

gramme called Caribbean Moves which seeks to create a culture of regular physical activity and healthy eating through exciting, fun and supportive programmes where people live, work, study and play. It is a

whole society approach that we must embrace to tackle this continuing threat to our greatest resource – our people.”

The St Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister also said 2019 would be the final year of the Region’s first five-year Strategic Plan and preparations have already begun for the second Plan, which would build on the accomplishments of its predecessor.

“There is no doubt that the caricom Single Market and Economy is the linchpin of our efforts at sustainable growth and development and in the coming year we will be looking to further advance its implementation from what has been achieved in 2018,” he said.

(CMC)

Trini boys stranded in Syria Antigua: Cop in

A

n international nonprofit organisation is trying desperately to secure travel documents for two T&T bothers currently stranded at a camp for women and children linked to Isis in Syria.

Mahmud Ferreira, 11, and his younger brother, Ayyub, 7, are at Camp Roj and are among an estimated 1200 foreign children stranded in Syria since Isis was driven out of Raqqa in October 2017.

However, there is no word from Government on whether it is supporting efforts by the nonprofit group Reprieve, to reunite the boys with their mother, Felicia Perkins-Ferreira, who lives in Petit Valley.

According to a report in Saturday’s UK Guardian, the boys were taken out of the country in 2014 by their father, a former ISIS fighter, It is believed that

their father was killed and they were abandoned on the roadside by their Belgian stepmother in Turkey. They were picked up by the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces and have since been alone in Camp Roj, a home for families of dead or imprisoned militants. However, their lives may be at risk if a planned strike of the city by Turkish forces materialises.

There are concerns that the boys might now be at risk following the decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw the 2000 US special forces who have been providing a buffer between Syria’s Kurds and neighbouring Turkey. There is an increasing possibility that Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdo?an may follow through on his threat to invade north-east Syria. (Trinidad Guardian)

custody for illegal possession of bullets

A

police constable was arrested late Saturday after his colleagues allegedly found him with bullets he is not licensed to possess.

According to well-placed sources in the police force, a search warrant was executed at the cop’s home in Parham where over 90 rounds of assorted ammunition were discovered.

The officer is said to be attached to the Minor Offences Unit and prior to that, he worked at Grays Farm Police Station and the Special Services Unit.

The Policeman-now-suspect has approximately 20 years of service. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Birds fly on a foggy day near the Dome of the Rock, located in Jerusalem’s Old City on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, Jerusalem, January 2, 2018

I

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Brazil’s President-elect Jair Bolsonaro told him that it was a matter of “when, not if” he moves his country’s Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

The far-right Bolsonaro, who takes office on Tuesday and is hosting Netanyahu and the leaders of other countries for his inauguration, has said he would like to follow the lead of US President Donald Trump and move the Embassy.

But he has come under intense pressure from Brazil’s powerful agriculture sector not to do so, as it could hurt Brazilian exports to Arab nations. Despite Netanyahu’s comments, a senior official from Brazil’s incoming Government told Reuters on Sunday no decision had yet been made on the issue.

Such a move by Bolsonaro would be a sharp shift in Brazilian foreign pol-

icy, which has traditionally backed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Arab League had told Bolsonaro that moving the Embassy to Jerusalem would be a setback for relations with Arab countries, according to a letter seen by Reuters earlier in December.

“Bolsonaro told me it was ‘when, not if’ he moves the embassy to Jerusalem,” Netanyahu said on Sunday during a meeting with leaders of Brazil’s Jewish community in Rio de Janeiro.

“We attach enormous importance to Brazil, and Brazil in the context of Latin America,” he added. “This heralds a historic change.”

Netanyahu, who met with Bolsonaro on Friday, said that the Brazilian accepted his invitation to visit Israel, a trip that is likely to take place in March.

Netanyahu is the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit Brazil. (Excerpt from Reuters)

17

mondAY, december 31, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Graham more upbeat on Syria troop Bangladesh election: Opposition demands new vote withdrawal after Trump meeting

A

B

a n g l a d e s h ’ s Opposition has condemned what it has called a “farcical” election and demanded a new vote.

Prime Minister Sheikha Hasina is heading for a fourth term with a huge majority that continues to grow as results come in.

But there have been claims of vote-rigging.

“We urge the Election Commission to void this farcical result immediately,” Opposition Leader Kamal Hossain said.

“We are demanding that a fresh election is held under a neutral government as early as possible.”

The Bangladesh Election Commission told Reuters news agency that it had heard vote-rigging allegations from “across the country” and would investigate.

At least 17 people have

Voters queue in the capital, Dhaka

been killed in clashes between ruling party supporters and the Opposition.

Sheikha Hasina’s Awami League has run Bangladesh since 2009, but one of the leading Opposition parties has accused it of using stuffed ballot boxes.

A spokesman for the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) alleged there were “irregularities” in 221 of the

300 seats being contested.

Soon before polls opened, a BBC correspondent saw filled ballot boxes at a polling centre in the port city of Chittagong. The presiding officer declined to comment.

Only ruling party polling agents were present at that and several other polling centres in the second-largest city of the country. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Morocco: 15 suspects face Judge over Scandinavian hiker murders

The two students were found beheaded on December 17

of Reuters TV]

F

ifteen people suspected of links to the murder of two Scandinavian women in the Atlas Mountains have appeared before a judge in Morocco.

The Attorney General’s office in Rabat said in a statement on Sunday that the prosecution requested the investigation of the suspects for “setting up a gang to prepare and commit ter-

[Screenshot

rorist acts, premeditated attacks on life and advocating for terrorism”.

The statement said seven other detainees would be referred to the prosecution in the coming days.

It was unclear whether the suspects, who were brought to the Court of First Instance in Sale, near Rabat, in a convoy of four Police vans amid tight security, included a Swiss-Spanish man

arrested in Marrakech on Saturday.

The two students – Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, of Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, of Norway –were found beheaded on December 17 near the village of Imlil, on a route to Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak and a popular hiking and trekking destination.

Moroccan authorities have arrested about 20 people over their alleged links to the double murder, labelled a “terrorist” act by Rabat.

Among those arrested was the Swiss-Spanish man living in Morocco who allegedly had links to some of the suspects, teaching them social media skills and archery.

He subscribed to “extremist ideology”, according to Morocco’s central office for judicial investigations.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China says it is “ready to work with US”

C

hina has said it is “ready to work” with the United States, suggesting progress in trade talks between the two countries.

It said it would be willing to work with the US to “implement the important consensus” reached at December’s G20.

At the Buenos Aires summit, the two countries agreed to suspend new trade tariffs for 90 days to allow for talks.

China’s statement comes after President Donald Trump tweeted “big progress” was being made in relations after a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In Saturday’s tweet, the US President said “talks

senior Republican US Senator said he emerged from a White House meeting with President Donald Trump on Sunday reassured that Trump was committed to defeating the Islamic State even as he plans to withdraw American troops from Syria.

Senator Lindsey Graham had warned that removing all US forces from Syria would hurt national security by allowing the Islamic State to rebuild, betraying

US-backed Kurdish fighters of the YPG militia battling remnants of the militant group, and enhancing Iran’s ability to threaten Israel.

During a morning television interview, Graham said he would ask Trump to slow down the troop withdrawal, which was announced earlier this month and drew widespread criticism.

An ally of Trump, although he has opposed some of his foreign policy decisions, Graham was more upbeat after the meeting.

“We talked about Syria.

He told me some things I didn’t know that made me feel a lot better about where we’re headed in Syria,” Graham told reporters at the White House.

“We still have some differences, but I will tell you that the President is thinking long and hard about Syria – how to withdraw our forces, but at the same time achieve our national security interests,” Graham said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

DR Congo election: Presidential poll hit by delays

S

unday’s vote for a new president in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been hit by a series of delays that have left people frustrated.

The failure of new electronic voting machines in some polling stations was one of the challenges.

Polls have now closed in an election that is expected to bring the country’s first peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1960.

President Joseph Kabila is stepping down after 17 years in power.

The final result is expected be announced in a week’s time.

The election should have taken place two years ago, but was repeatedly post-

Queues formed nationwide, including here at Sake in North Kivu

poned because of logistical problems, officials said.

The run-up to the poll had been hit by violence and controversy over the decision to exclude some 1.26 million out of an electorate

of nearly 40 million from voting.

Polls officially closed at 17:00 (16:00 GMT), but people still in the queue at that time were allowed to vote.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Israel protests against Jordan Minister stepping on Israeli flag

I

srael says it has filed a complaint to Jordan over a picture of a Jordanian government minister stepping on an image of the Israeli flag.

Minister of State for Information, Jumana Ghuneimat was pictured last week stepping on the flag design when entering a meeting at a trade union complex in Amman.

Footprints were also print-

ed on the flag design.

The image of the flag has been affixed to the floor at the entrance to the complex for several years to protest against Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories and Jordan’s normalised ties with Israel, union officials say.

Israel called Jordan’s Ambassador in for clarifications on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said.

Ghuneimat was not answering her phone on Sunday and did not issue any public statements.

Majed Qatarneh, spokesperson of Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, confirmed that Israel had sought clarifications over the incident and the Ministry was handling the issue through “diplomatic channels”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

University official urges students to violence

A Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are trying to end a trade tariff war

were moving along very well”.

Sunday’s statement from Lu Kang, the spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, appeared to confirm President Trump’s optimism.

“China stands ready to

work with the US to implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Trump in Argentina, expand co-operation on the basis of mutual benefit, manage differences on the basis of mutual respect,” Lu said. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

top official at an Indian state-run university urged his students to “murder” fellow students if confronted instead of complaining to him, amid a wave of violence being reported from across the state where the school is based.

“If you’re a student of this University, never come crying to me,” said Raja Ram Yadav, Vice Chancellor of Purvanchal University, in a speech, video from Reuters

partner ANI showed.

Adding: “If you ever get into a fight, beat them, if possible murder them, we’ll take care of it later.”

Yadav was speaking on Friday at a college event in Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state.

In the same city a police officer was stoned to death during violent protests on Saturday, though there is no indication of a link with Yadav’s remarks.

Uttar Pradesh is notori-

ous for communal tensions and crime, and has been plagued by incidents of mob violence in recent weeks.

A senior police officer and another man were killed in another incident of violence earlier this month after local residents protested because they say they had seen some people slaughtering a cow, an animal sacred in Hindu culture. That was in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district. (Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, december 31, 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)

You may want to consider how you want to head into the upcoming year. Look at your qualifications and redo your resume to fit the direction you want to pursue.

Make a promise to yourself to do and look your best next year. Step things up a notch when dealing with a loved one and make your feelings and intentions known.

You’ll be easily tempted into doing something you should probably walk away from. Moderation and making up your own mind will save you from a mistake.

If you socialize with people who inspire and motivate you, you will come up with an idea that will help you turn next year into something special. Partnerships look promising.

Use your intelligence to ward off a problem with someone you are emotionally connected to. Make positive suggestions to turn a dispute into a collaboration. Don’t take risks while traveling.

You are best off spending time with people who put you at ease. Take a break from your everyday life and go somewhere special. Romance will enhance your life.

Surround yourself with LIBRA (Sept. 23- the people you find most inOct. 23) teresting. Make and enforce a resolution that will promote positive emotional, mental and financial change.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD – ACTUATOR (ACTUATOR: AK-cha-way-ter: A mechanical device for moving or controlling something.)

SUDOKU

Pony up if you have any CAPRICORN personal debts. Clear the (Dec. 22- path ahead in order to avoid Jan. 19) wasteful detours. Positive change will eliminate stress.

YESTERDAY’S WORD – MACROCOSM corm cram roam room orca scam scar scram soar sora

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Put your heart on the line and make it clear how you feel. Put what isn’t working behind you so you can head into the new year with a fresh start.

Do your best not to get SAGITTARIUS caught up in the moment (Nov. 23- and overdo it. Too much of Dec. 21) anything will cause problems that will hold you back when you should be moving forward.

Average mark 20 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 27 or more words in ACTUATOR? The list will be published tomorrow.

macro marc moor mora arms carom coca coco cocoa coma comma

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle Look at the bright side of AQUARIUS any situation you face and (Jan. 20- turn a negative into a posiFeb. 19) tive. It’s up to you to bring about the changes that will make your life better.

A physical improvement PISCES (Feb. 20- will make you feel good and March 20) help you ring in the new year with a little style. A loved one will make you feel special.

mondAY, december 31, 2018

19

UFC 232: Jones beats Gustafsson to reclaim light-heavyweight title – Nunes demolishes Cyborg to create history

J

Jon Jones was constantly scoring with his signature elbow strikes

on 'Bones' Jones returned to the UFC with a clinical display to beat Alexander Gustafsson and win the vacant light-heavyweight title - then called out old rival Daniel Cormier for a third fight in 2019.

Both American Jones, 31, and Swede Gustafsson, 31, returned to action at UFC 232 in Los Angeles after lengthy lay-offs, but the former world champion looked sharper as he outstruck Gustafsson in the first two rounds.

Jones pushed the pace in the third to take Gustafsson to the mat, take his back and finish the fight with

heavy ground strikes.

Jones beat Gustafsson in their first meeting in 2013, in what was described as one of the greatest fights in UFC history.

On Saturday, Jones reclaimed the belt he never lost inside the octagon as he returned to the top of the sport following a turbulent week that saw him under suspicion once again after a pre-fight drug test registered an abnormality stemming from a failed test in July 2017.

The United States AntiDoping Agency (Usada) exonerated Jones of any wrongdoing, and UFC head

of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky said the abnormality was because of a "pulsing effect" following another failed drugs test in 2016.

Despite clarification that Jones was cleared by Usada and would gain no performance-enhancing effect from the metabolite detected, the Nevada State Athletic Commission would not clear him to fight without holding a hearing to discuss the case.

With no time to wait for a hearing, the UFC opted to switch the event from Las Vegas to Los Angeles at six days' notice - a controversial

move which was met with significant criticism from fans, fighters and the media.

But the fighters on the card delivered a string of eye-catching performances, with 10 of the 13 bouts - including both world title fights at the top of the card - ending inside the distance.

After his win, Jones turned his attention to his old rival Cormier, who relinquished the title the day before UFC 232 rather than be officially stripped of the belt on fight night.

First, Jones mocked Cormier for relinquishing the title, telling UFC co-commentator Joe Rogan: "I know there's a guy who's been calling himself 'champ champ'.

"I mean, what guy just gives up his belt because somebody else made it home? Daddy's home, DC." Then Jones issued a challenge to current UFC heavyweight champion Cormier to move back down to the light-heavyweight division for a third matchup between the pair at 205lbs.

"Prove to the fans you're a 'champ champ'," he said.

"Come get a taste, I'm here. Get your belt back. I'll be waiting right here."

Cormier made a thinly veiled reference to Jones' past anti-doping indiscretions in his assessment of his performance, tweeting: "Dude starts with a head start every time."

Although many in the sport feel Jones should step up to face Cormier for the heavyweight title, former Olympic wrestler Cormier hinted that he might be persuaded to move down to 205lbs to challenge Jones for a third time if the drug-testing arrangements were increased.

He tweeted UFC bantamweight champion and co-commentator Dominick Cruz: "You just said outside of all the testing stuff.

Is there really stuff outside of the testing? Or we just do more testing and neither of us fail. That would be best case! We do that I'll be back at 205!!!!!"

Amanda Nunes became the first female Two-division title holder in UFC

Nunes stuns Cyborg

In the night's other world title fight, women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes spectacularly knocked out featherweight champion Cris Cyborg in only 51 seconds to become the first female athlete in UFC history to hold two world titles simultaneously.

Victory over her fellow Brazilian means Nunes, 30, has now beaten the three biggest female fighters in UFC history.

Nunes submitted Miesha Tate in the first round to capture the bantamweight title at UFC 200 and knocked out Ronda Rousey in 48 seconds in her first title defence at UFC 207. (BBC Sport)

Russia set to miss endof-year Wada deadline

Hopman Cup: Federer & R Bencic beat Norrie & Boulter

R

oger Federer outplayed Britain's Cameron Norrie as defending champions Switzerland swept Great Britain aside with a 3-0 victory at the Hopman Cup. World number three Federer defeated Norrie 6-1 6-1 before team-mate Belinda Bencic beat Katie Boulter 6-2 7-6 (7-0) in the women's singles to win the tie.

The Swiss pair then completed the victory with a 4-3 (4-0) 4-1 win in the mixed doubles in Perth, Australia.

Norrie, 23, and Boulter, 22, play Serena Williams' USA on Thursday.

They defeated Greece in

Roger Federer is the defending champion at the Australian Open, which begins on 14 January

their opening tie in the tournament on Saturday.

The Hopman Cup comprises two singles matches and a mixed-doubles contest between nations in a

round-robin format with two groups of four.

The winners of both groups will contest Saturday's final. (BBC Sport)

ussia is set to miss Monday's end-of-year deadline to hand over data from its Moscow anti-doping laboratory.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) controversially lifted a three-year ban on the country in September on the strict condition samples were sent by 31 December.

But senior Wada officials now privately accept the deadline will lapse.

Last week, Wada admitted its inspection team had been denied full access to the Moscow samples.

Wada's experts have yet to return to Russia.

Russia's anti-doping agency (Rusada) appealed to President Vladimir Putin to help break the impasse, but the country is now at serious risk of being banned once again from international events following a state-sponsored doping scandal.

Rusada director general Yuri Ganus with Wada president Sir Craig Reedie

Wada's Compliance Review Committee meets on 14 January in Montreal, Canada and will be under intense pressure to recommend another suspension to the global watchdog's executive committee.

The news will also be highly embarrassing for Wada's leadership, which was heavily criticised by athletes and

national anti-doping agencies when Rusada was reinstated three months ago.

On 15 November, Wada President Sir Craig Reedie said he was "confident" Russia would meet the deadline.

"I find it very hard to believe that the guarantees made to us by the Russian authorities - that they won't deliver," he said. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, december 31, 2018

Pogba scores twice in Man Utd’s 3rd straight win C

aretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he is not solely focused on "attacking football" after Manchester United scored their 12th goal in three games in a scintillating victory over Bournemouth.

A cavalier display in the first half at Old Trafford saw United score three times, with Paul Pogba netting his second double in successive matches and Marcus Rashford grabbing the other.

Solskjaer's side conceded their third goal in as many games when Nathan Ake headed in before substitute Romelu Lukaku fired home a fourth.

United, in sixth, are now only three points behind fifth-placed Arsenal, having trailed by eight following the morale-sapping 3-1 defeat at Liverpool earlier this month.

"Everyone thinks I'm looking for attacking football all the time," said Solskjaer.

"But the foundation is how you defend - keep a clean sheet and you have a decent chance to win a game of football.

"Training sessions have been high quality. The tempo and sharpness has been really good, but we will get better and we are working towards a clean sheet."

Pogba poked in his first after Rashford had mesmer-

ised both Ake and Diego Rico on the right, before the French World Cup winner headed in from Ander Herrera's precise delivery.

It was 3-0 when Anthony Martial, back in the XI after recovering from a bug, provided a wonderful cross for Rashford to slide his shot past Asmir Begovic.

Bournemouth, who had looked dangerous on set-pieces, pulled a goal back in firsthalf stoppage-time when Ake headed in following good work by David Brooks.

Lukaku scored United's fourth from Pogba's pass two minutes after coming on, before defender Eric Bailly was shown a straight red card for scything down Cherries midfielder Ryan Fraser.

This victory means Solskjaer has emulated Sir Matt Busby and Jose Mourinho by winning his first three league games in charge.

The Norwegian will be looking to make it four at Newcastle on Wednesday, while Bournemouth remain 12th in the Premier League.

United rediscover old swagger

The loss at Anfield on 16 December seems like an age ago. On that day United's players trudged off the field having been overwhelmed by their arch-rivals.

Paul Pogba (left) has now been involved in six of Manchester United's 12 goals under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (four goals, two assists)

Since Solskjaer replaced Mourinho, the Red Devils have reverted to type, playing a style familiar to those who watched attack-minded teams sweep to 13 league titles under Sir Alex Ferguson.

They are not at that level but the watching Ferguson, who turns 77 on Monday, would have been impressed with the way United went about opening up the Cherries' defence from the first whistle.

Pogba and Rashford led the charge. The first goal was all about the Englishman's trickery on the right, as he left both Ake and Rico trailing before striking a low

cross which was turned in by Pogba.

Pogba's second was reminiscent of goals scored by former United captain Bryan Robson, as he arrived late to power home a cross from Herrera.

Rashford's strike from close range should have capped off a perfect half of football for United, but Ake's header kept the second half interesting.

United continued to drive at Eddie Howe's side after the break but Lukaku's strike, with his weaker right foot, was the only goal they managed for their efforts.

Pogba was denied his hattrick by a brilliant Begovic save and the post, and the Bosnian keeper also rushed out to block Rashford's shot.

United only took their foot off the accelerator when Bailly received his third red card while playing for club, 11 minutes from time. The Cherries might argue that Ashley Young should have also been sent off for the reckless manner in which he won the ball from Joshua King in the first half.

Man City win to reduce Liverpool’s lead

Manchester

City

sur-

vived a brief scare to beat Southampton and reduce league leaders Liverpool's advantage to seven points.

Southampton responded to David Silva's early opener when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg took the ball off Oleksandr Zinchenko and fired it into the top corner.

City had luck on their side when Raheem Sterling's shot deflected off James Ward-Prowse to make it 2-1.

Sergio Aguero's backpost header completed the scoring before half-time.

Southampton goalscorer Hojbjerg - who had only just returned from suspension - was shown a straight red card for a lunging tackle on Fernandinho with just over five minutes to go.

City had a number of decent chances as Silva, Aguero and Riyad Mahrez all went close in the first half and Aguero smacked the crossbar after the break.

Southampton threatened too and Charlie Austin was twice denied by City keeper Ederson in the first half before Hojbjerg's equaliser.

But the Saints were ultimately undone by Pep Guardiola's free-flowing side, who move up to second place in the table. (BBC Sport)

Dinnage changes mind on Premier Kickboxer confident as boxer vows to League chief executive role 'entertain' in exhibition J Susanna Dinnage wants to stay in broadcasting at Discovery

T

he Premier League says its prospective new chief executive, Susanna Dinnage, has told the organisation she will not be taking up the position.

Dinnage was named as the replacement for Richard Scudamore in November and was supposed to take up the role early in 2019.

"The committee has reconvened its search and is talking to candidates," said a Premier League statement.

"There will be no further comment until an appointment is made."

Dinnage was supposed to join from media organisation Discovery, where she was the global president of the Animal Planet channel.

However, she had reflected on the role in recent weeks and informed the Premier League that she had decided that she wanted to stay in broadcasting at Discovery.

She apparently had not

apanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa has vowed to "take down" boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in their threeround exhibition match in Japan on Monday.

Former five-weight world champion Mayweather, 41, will come out of retirement to fight Nasukawa over three rounds of boxing in Saitama.

given a precise start date as she had a long notice period to serve.

The Premier League is comfortable with acting chief executive Richard Masters and interim chair Claudia Arney continuing for longer as they resume their search.

Prior to joining Discovery in January 2009, Dinnage worked for 10 years at Channel Five and she started her career at MTV. (BBC

Sport)

Nasukawa competes in the RIZIN Fighting Federation in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts.

"People in Japan, listen. I will take down Mayweather," said the 20-year-old.

"You should look forward to it."

Speaking at a news conference, Mayweather, who beat UFC's C o n o r

McGregor in a boxing match in August 2017, promised to "entertain".

Monday's fight will follow boxing rules and consist of three, three-minute rounds, with Nasukawa forbidden from kicking.

Both Mayweather and Nasukawa are undefeated in their respective sports but neither's perfect record w i l l be on the line because of the exhibition nature of the bout.

(BBC Sport)

Tenshin Nasukawa (right) has a 27-0 record in kickboxing and a 4-0 record in MMA

CLASSIFIED ADS mondAY, december 31, 2018 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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

Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne.

Weddings and anniversaries: Rental or full service: Banquet Hall & Catering.

Aracari Resort 264-2946 Alex Wayne.

Aracari Hotel, WBD (Near Harbour Bridge) – All modern amenities, rates from $25. Phone 264-2946-8 Salon/Spa. Cosmetology – full course $100,000, technician $40,000. Aracari Salon and Spa, WBD 264-3312

sports

Wagner, Boult bowl New Zealand to record win N

ew Zealand required only 14 deliveries to wipe out Sri Lanka's tail and claim a 423-run victory in the second Test at Christchurch, by extension winning the series, and

HERBAL TREATMENT MIRACLE HERBAL PRODUCTS HAVE TREATMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING: 1 CANCER CAN BE CURED, 2 DIABETIC FOOT (COMPLETE HEALING WITHIN 6 WEEKS), 3 GALL STONES ASTHMA, 4 HORMONE IMBALANCE, 5 PROSTATE, 6 THYROID, 7 COUGH & COLD, 8 HEART (BLOCKAGES), 9 CIRCULATION PROBLEM, 10 PAIN ( JOINT, MUSCLE ETC), 11 CUTS/ BRUISES, 12 SNAKE BITE, 13 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, 14 KIDNEY STONES, 15 AND MANY OTHER HEALTH ISSUES. CONTACT MAHADEO LALL ON 612-8944/ 6883663 OR VISIT HIM AT LOT 869 NEW SCHEME TUSCHEN, EBE.

SERVICES Looking for the best Jeweller?

Come on down to us at R. Sookraj Jewellery! We remake and remodel to your specification and choice.

We are number one in the business. Check out our location on the Second Floor at Giftland Mall, or contact us on 223-6156, 222-7292, 612-2125.

Looking for a reliable key cutter?

Visit R. Sookraj Jewellery at the Giftland Mall or Camp Street location or call us on 223-6156, 2227292, 612-2125

TO LET 3 BEDROOM TOP FLAT, AGRICULTURE ROAD, TRIUMPH ECD TEL# 220-0430

VACANCY ARACARI - (VERSAILIES, WEST BANK DEMERARA) - VACANCY, FRONT DESK SUPERVISOR - EXPERIENCED IN ALL FRONT DESK OPERATIONS - FAMILIAR WITH ALL HOTEL OPERATIONS - EXPERIENCE IN CUSTOMER RELATIONS - HAVE SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE. CALL 600-3927 OR 264-3312 OR EMAIL sase_shewnarain@hotmail.com

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word

Call: 223-7230 Ext 35

moving up the No. 3 in the Test rankings.

Angelo Mathews, who retired hurt with hamstring trouble at tea on day four, did not come out to bat, which meant that only three

SCOREBOARD

ARCHITECTURE MIKHAIL AHMAD FOUNDER AND CEO OF L.A ARCHITECTUREGY DESIGNS AND PLANS. CALL 610-1232 OR 2533173. VISIT FACEBOOK PAGE L.A architecturegy. INSTAGRAM @ laarchitecturegy OR www.laarchitecturegy.com

21

New Zealand - 178 & 585-4d Sri Lanka 1st Innings - 104 Sri Lanka 2nd Innings (target: 660 runs) M Gunathilaka c †Watling b Southee 4 F Karunaratne c †Watling b Boult 0 L Chandimal (c) c Nicholls b Wagner 56 B Mendis c sub (MJ Henry) b Wagner 67 A Mathews retired hurt 22 A Silva c †Watling b Wagner 18 N Dickwella † b Southee 19 M Perera c Williamson b Wagner 22 R Lakmal b Boult 18

P Chameera lbw b Boult 3 C Kumara not out 0 Extras 7 (b 4, lb 2, w 1) TOTAL 236 all out (106.2 Overs, RR: 2.21, 468 minutes) Fall of wickets: 1-1 (FDM Karunaratne, 0.6 ov), 2-9 (MD Gunathilaka, 1.5 ov), 3-126 (BKG Mendis, 54.5 ov), 3-155* (AD Mathews, retired not out ), 4-158 (LD Chandimal, 76.2 ov), 5-181 (N Dickwella, 85.1 ov), 6-208 (ARS Silva, 95.4 ov), 7-233 (RAS Lakmal, 104.3 ov), 8-233 (MDK Perera, 105.2 ov), 9-236 (PVD Chameera, 106.2 ov) BOWLING: TA Boult (28.211-77-3), TG Southee (2713-61-2), C de Grandhomme (10-1-23-0), N Wagner (29-1048-4), AY Patel (12-9-21-0)

dismissals stood between New Zealand and the series win.

This was a record fourth consecutive series win for New Zealand, with the team having beaten West Indies and England at home in the last summer, and having defeated Pakistan in the UAE earlier this month.

Trent Boult claimed two of those dismissals, bowling Suranga Lakmal with the third ball of the day, before trapping Dushmantha Chameera in front of the stumps with the first ball of his next over. Boult finished with match figures of 9 for 107, having taken 6 for 30 in the first innings.

In between those two Boult wickets, Neil Wagner bounced Dilruwan Perera out, having him caught in the square leg region by Kane Williamson, who ran towards the boundary to complete a good overhead catch. Having taken three vital wickets on day four,

Trent Bolt (L) and Neil Wagner (R) ripped apart Sri Lanka

Wagner finished with wickets of 4 for 48 from his 29 overs in the second innings.

The margin of victory is the greatest for New Zealand in matches not involving an innings result, beating their 254-run wins

over Zimbabwe in 2016. It is also Sri Lanka's heaviest defeat not involving an innings result, with the 304-run loss against India last year being their previous worst.

(CRICINFO)

Tourists win by 137 runs in Melbourne to take 2-1 lead into final Test

I

ndia saw off Australia by 137 runs in the third Test in Melbourne to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

The hosts began the final day on 258-8 chasing an unlikely 399, but after rain delayed the start, India needed only 4.3 overs to wrap up the win.

Jasprit Bumrah, who took career-best match figures of 9-86, had Pat Cummins edge to slip for 63, before Nathan Lyon gloved Ishant Sharma behind.

The fourth and final Test starts in Sydney on 2 January.

Bumrah's haul was the best by an India pace bowler in Australia and the 25-year-old leads the series standings with 20 wickets, three more than Australia John Wall spinner Lyon.

Virat Kholi

"Credit has to go to the bowlers. I think they have been outstanding, especially Jasprit. The way he bowled in this Test match was outstanding," said India captain Virat Kohli, whose side will retain the Border-

Gavaskar Trophy. "The mindset he has at the moment is what separates him from anyone else in the world right now. He looks at a pitch and he doesn't think it's a hard toil, he thinks wickets, he thinks 'how can

I get a breakthrough for the team'. "What I've seen in the last 12 months is the way he has matured in Test cricket and the way that he is bowling so soon, so quickly in his Test career, I think is a very scary sign for all the bats-

men around the world.

"I mean, in Test cricket if there is a pitch like Perth, I wouldn't want to face Jasprit Bumrah, to be honest, because once he's on a roll he can really crank it up." (BBC Sport)

Wizards guard Wall undergoes season-ending heel surgery W

ashington Wizards All-Star point guard John Wall will undergo season-ending surgery on his left heel next week and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight months, the team announced on Saturday.

Wall, who has reportedly been dealing with bone spurs in the troublesome heel for several years, sat out Washington’s loss to Chicago on Friday and the victory over Charlotte 24 hours later.

The 28-year-old five-time NBA All-Star saw a specialist about the chronic ailment and will have bone enlargements on the back of his heel removed and an Achilles tendon injury repaired.

“He’s battled this throughout the year, and we tried to manage it,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks told reporters.

“He’s done a good job of managing it certain games, and certain games it wasn’t as good. But he never, ever complained. Never complained to me.”

The announcement comes as a major blow for a Wizards team already struggling at 14-23, with Wall averaging 20.7 points and 8.7 assists in 32 games this season. (Reuters)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, december 31, 2018

Thomas set to miss Trophy Stall on board with UDFA GT Beer Year-End BPL after failed NOC R

angpur Riders were seemingly dealt a blow ahead of the January 5 start to the 2019 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) after speedster Oshane Thomas failed to secure his No

his handful of T20s and ODIs, it is iffy on the selectors behalf to have one of their main strike bowlers play in the BPL rather than a few domestic games before a mega series.

Cottrell, on the oth-

Oshane Thomas

Objection Certificate (NOC) from Cricket West Indies (CWI).

With the Regional 4-Day Championships set to resume on Thursday, January 4, a day prior to the start of the BPL, it was no surprise that the 21-year-old pacer was not given the go-ahead from CWI to play in the franchise league.

Jamaica Scorpions have not gotten the strongest of starts with Guyana and Barbados sitting 1 and 2 respectively, more so with Thomas’ direction heading to Bangladesh could mean the Scorpions are without one of their main weapons heading into the most crucial stage of the tournament.

The Riders picked up the Jamaica fast-man during October’s official BPL draft, where he was set to play alongside Windies and T20 batting legend and fellow countryman Chris Gayle.

However, with the NOC not approved and Thomas being named in the Scorpions side, it is likely that the regional batters will have to contest with the right-arm pacer as the CWI would unlikely give permission to play in the BPL. Rangpur will not be without an ace bowler as it is alleged that another Jamaican Windies fast bowler could likely replace Thomas in the squad. Leftarm quick Sheldon Cottrell was tipped as the man who the Riders will turn to now that Thomas is unavailable.

Also, with Joe Root and his men set to land in the Caribbean later in January for the biggest Caribbean series in a decade, Thomas could remain fixed within the Region. The pacer shot to fame during the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) where he was among the top-honoured stars of the tournament, before being shot into the Windies T20 and ODI teams.

Meanwhile, the Windies selectors have not yet named the squad for the England series, but given the hype and the results given by Thomas in just

er hand, will be a great addition to the Rangpur team following his confirmation on Sunday. The left-arm pacer, known for his army salute send-off, was among the key players in the Windies T20 series win versus Bangladesh just a week back, bagging seven victims in the three-match series.

The 2019 BPL will bowl off from January 5 and concluded on February 9.

(Clifton Ross)

Football Tournament T

rophy Stall once again has assisted in the sporting world with its recent involvement in the hosting of the sixth edition of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) GT Beer Year-End Football Tournament.

The proprietor, Ramesh Sunich recently donated the winner’s trophy for the ongoing tournament to the organising team.

The 10-team tournament commenced on December 9 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground and is approaching its finale.

It has completed five of the seven playing days so far and wraps up on January 1, at the same venue from 19:30h.

In the third-place playoff, Winners Connections FC take on Botofago FC for $400,000, with the fourth placed finisher having to

settle for $200,000.

In the feature game, League champions Eagles

FC will face off with the league's runners-up Net Rockers for the top prize

of $1.2 million and the second-placed team will cart off $600,000.

Australia skipper Paine keen to have Smith, Warner back

T

Sheldon Cottrell

Ramesh Sunich (left) presents the first-place trophy to Terrence Mitchell, the President of the Upper Demerara Football Association

im Paine admits Australia are in need of the experience of stars Steve Smith and David Warner as they continue to serve 12-month bans.

Smith and Warner were both suspended for a year

by Cricket Australia, with Cameron Bancroft ruled out for nine months, due to their involvement in the national team's ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March.

And Australia, led by Paine following skipper Smith's sanction, have struggled in the absence of their key men, most recently losing the third Test to India by 137 runs in Melbourne on Sunday.

David Warner

Marnus Labuschagne has subsequently been called into the squad for the fourth match in Sydney, but Paine believes experience is needed and referenced Smith and Warner as he discussed the problem in his news conference.

"I think its inexperience, it's pressure," the captain said. "India's bowling attack is probably as good as most of us have ever played.

"I think it's pretty clear that if you take two or three of the best players out of anyone's lineup around the world, you're go-

Steve Smith

ing to struggle a little bit at times and you are going to have inconsistent performances.

"The silver lining is that we do have world-class players that are available soon to come back into this side, and clearly, when they do, they will make a huge difference.

“Paine’s men

must defeat India in Sydney to draw the series and deny the tourists a first Test series win away to Australia.

Meanwhile, Bancroft made his competitive professional return in Australia later on Sunday, having served his ban, but he failed to impress in Perth Scorchers' Big Bash League defeat to Hobart Hurricanes.

(Sportsmax)

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, december 31, 2018

GFF/ExxonMobil International Futsal Festival…

3 intense nights in the bag

Part of the action on the third night

T

he GFF/ ExxonMobil International Futsal Festival continued on Saturday and was scheduled to be concluded on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Homestretch Avenue.

Saturday night’s action saw Georgetown, East Coast, Trinidad & Tobago, ZV All Stars and Galacticos De Roraima record victories.

In the match which headlined the night, East

Coast cruised to a comfortable victory over the West Demerara All Stars, 7-4.

The West Demerara side started their match with persistence as they scored the first goal in the fourth minute thanks to good anticipation by Stephon Jupiter.

Four minutes later, East Coast equalised as the inform Dwain Jacobs added his name to the tally.

East Coast then went on to quickly capitalise with three more goals in a matter of six

minutes as Jacobs, Quason MaClean and Selwin Williams took the score to 4-1.

West Demerara, having a three-goal deficit, went on to score their second goal as Trayon Bobb scored in the 22nd minute which was shortly followed by Jupiter to take the score to 4-3.

However, East Coast rallied on to take the lead as Selwin Williams scored in the 23rd minute, Phillip Williams in the 26th and Jacobs the

30th minute to wrap up the match despite Jupiter returning in the 29th minute to score a consolation goal.

In the other match-up, Guyana All Stars went down to the in-form Galacticos De Roraima 4-3 in a nail-biting encounter.

The Brazilian side took control of the match early as they drew first blood, compliments of Raphael Lopes in the fifth minute Five minutes later, Leilson Dasilva capitalised on an opportunity and took the score to 2-0.

Needing two goals to equalise, the Guyanese side scored three minutes apart as Colin Nelson and Deon Alfred added their names in the 12th and 15th minutes, respectively.

With the scores deadlocked at 2, the Brazilians sensed victory on the horizon as they clamped down on the host side when Raphael Lopes and Lucas Martins scored in the 20th and 38th minutes to give them victory, despite Nelson’s goal in the 35th minute.

In the other fixtures, Trinidad defeated the Georgetown All Stars 5-3 and ZV All Stars trounced Linden All Stars 5-4.

GUMDAC Open to kickstart GBA's 2019 season

23

GFF/Stag Super 16 Year-End Tournament…

Throne awaits new champion

A

– finale unravels at GFC Ground

fter seven days other intense action in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/Stag Super 16 YearEnd Tournament, on Tuesday, a new champion will be crowned when finalists Buxton United and Den Amstel square off for top honours at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground.

In the match which precedes, Western Tigers will battle Fruta Conquerors in the third-place showdown.

On Friday, the semi-finals were contested at the same venue. In the first match-up of the night, Den Amstel faced off against the mighty Fruta Conquerors in an allout affair which saw the former upstage Conquerors 2-1 to advance.

Jamal Harvey wasted no time in attacking as he planted one in the back of the Conquerors’ net in the 14th minute to give Den Amstel the lead.

Six minutes later, Harvey returned to defy the opposition’s defence and make it a comfortable 2- 0, which lasted until the halftime whistle was sounded.

After the break, Conquerors pulled one back thanks to their captain, Eon Alleyne. But with only just over five minutes left in the match, an equaliser was a task too tough for Conquerors.

In the other match for the night, Buxton United defeated Western Tigers by the same margin. Following in the footsteps of Den Amstel, the Buxtonian side played on the defensive for the earlier part of the match-up as neither team conceded any goals in the first 30 minutes.

However, Dillon Wright’s 37th-minute goal got things pumping.

Four minutes later, Western Tigers’ Kelsey Benjamin produced the equaliser which kept the game level until half time.

In the second half, both teams shared possession in search of the decider, but it was the Buxton side that had the last laugh as Shemar Fraser put the final nail in the coffin in the 89th minute, to stun Tigers and end the night on a high note.

Kelsey Benjamin

Flashback! Priyanna Ramdhani tackles Sekhar Mallampati

T

he Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) will kick-start what is expected to be a rigorous New Year filled with activities with the annual GUMDAC Open Doubles Tournament set for late January early February of 2019.

GBA head Gokarn Ramdhani confirmed recently that the event, which will entering in its sixth year come 2019, will be staged early in the year. The tournament, which is sponsored by Darrell Carpenay, the Managing Director of GUMDAC, has been a cru-

cial part of the badminton players’ schedule as they usually open up the new year with the exciting event.

With Ramdhani stressing on the GBA’s plan to emphasise more on spreading the sport throughout more schools in Guyana, thus nurturing a younger base of potential players for the future, the tournament will serve as ideal preparation for a packed 2019, which features numerous overseas events such as the Pan American Games.

Over the years, the competition has been good for

earmarking in- and out-ofform players who coaches then are able to work and rectify problems from an early stage. The elite class players meanwhile continue to perform at the highest level regardless of time and get themselves adequately prepared for the more intense events on the calendar.

While the GBA has had a solid 2018, thanks to their juniors as well as the sibling duo of Priyanna and Narayan Ramdhani, who is currently on the road to the Olympics, an early competitive start to the new year is

critical for athletes across all sports, especially coming off of the holiday season.

The 2018 event was a resounding success with a number of stars, including Priyanna, Ronald Chang Yuen, Carpenay and Jonathan Mangra emerging winners in the respective divisions.

Meanwhile, 2019’s tournament could see more players coming out while the senior players who are locally based will be eager to get themselves up and running as they prepare for an arduous 2019. (Clifton Ross)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

GFF/ExxonMobil International Futsal Festival…

3 intense nights in the bag Page 23

GUMDAC Open to kick-start GBA's 2019 season

Page 23

Priyanna Ramdhani

GFF/Stag Super 16 YearEnd Tournament…

Throne awaits new champion

– finale unravels at GFC Ground

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.