Guyana Times - Monday, January 21, 2019

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Agriculture self-sufficiency – a growing possibility at Mahdia Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3811

Monday, January 21, 2019

"I will not disappoint you nor my party" – PPP/C Presidential candidate

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Schoolgirl plunges out of moving car as driver tries to rape P10 her

Pages 12 & 13

Guyana P7 passport drops in visafree access rankings

…commits to reversing the "wrongdoings" of APNU/AFC coalition Page 3

Jagdeo tells supporters “deadline for election is ticking” ...says Party in full election campaign mode

AFC backtracks

"Likely" to support Granger as presidential candidate in upcoming polls Page 11

1 dead, 1 injured in hit and run Page 7

Linden municipality boosts P14 capacity with $16M equipment

UG offering Associate P8 Degree in Petroleum Engineering

ANUG P14 aims to "transform" political system

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MONdAY, January 21, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

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MONdAY, January 21, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, January 21 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, January 22 – 05:00h-06:30h.

...says Party in full election campaign mode

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, January 21 – 16:20h-17:50h and Tuesday, January 22 – 05:20h-06:50h.

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 clear skies in the evening. Overall temperatures will range between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 16:53h at a maximum height of 2.85 metres.

Low Tide: 10:26h and 22:56h reaching minimum heights of 0.54 metre and 0.35 metre.

saturDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

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FREE TICKET

21 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

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Jagdeo tells supporters “deadline for election is ticking”

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

A

lthough a date has still not been set for the next election, Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Bharrat Jagdeo has said that his party has commenced preparation and will work hard to return to Government.

Addressing thousands of supporters who gathered in Leonora, West Coast Demerara for an impromptu public meeting following the announcement of Irfaan Ali as the presidential candidate for the Party, Jagdeo reminded that every member has an important role to play to help the PPP/C to an election victory.

And while he made it clear that it was not the launch of the Party’s campaign, Jagdeo said, “We are in full preparation mode. We have one chance and we have to use that chance well in the future.

We expect the Party to go into that mode. You will see that being rolled out in the next few weeks.”

Jagdeo said “the clock is ticking” while reiterating that once March 19 arrives, the PPP/C will not recognise the Government because that is the end of the three-month period following the no-confidence vote. He noted that the international community has been alerted to this.

The PPP General Secretary also cautioned supporters not to fall prey to the negatives being peddled on social media. He accused the coalition of creating “troll sites” that are feeding several negatives aimed at creating disenfranchisement among the supporters of that party. “You are going to hear all kinds of silly, outrageous things.

Ignore them, just move on,” he told the gathering.

He accused the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) of preaching “a lot of gloom”, noting that they have failed on every promise they made.

Jagdeo noted too that the coalition was doing everything it could to hold onto power, but reminded that its time was limited.

Referring to the court cases that were filed by Government in relation to the no-confidence resolution, Jagdeo said, “They are going to lose this case… We have made it clear, that since the legislature has spoken, once you get past the 90 days, then this Government will become illegitimate and illegal.”

Manifesto

Meanwhile, the Party’s General Secretary told the media on the sidelines of the event that a committee has been set up to craft the next election manifesto of the PPP/C. That committee, according to Jagdeo, will meet today to continue the process, which begun some time ago.

“So, it is being crafted.

Lots of ideas we have already that are from the past mani-

PPP's Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali, Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at the Leonora rally on Sunday

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo walk amongst PPP/C supporters at the rally on Sunday

festo, and lots of ideas that we have already stated like the job creation and so on,” he explained.

This committee, according to Jagdeo, is made up of himself, presidential candidate Irfaan Ali, Dr Frank Anthony, Shyam Nokta and Odinga Lumumba, among other executive members.

Jagdeo said that this process was likely to be opened up to allow for the input of a wide cross-section of members and executives of the Party, with the hope of crafting the best possible manifesto.

During his address on

Sunday at a public meeting, Jagdeo reaffirmed his recent announcement that the Party plans to reopen sugar estates and work to advance job creation.

Asked whether Ali will be serving as the next Opposition Leader until elections, Jagdeo said that was not decided on as yet, but said because elections are looming, this may not change.

“We have not decided on that as yet, because we are now in a shortened period of Government. I doubt we will ever go back to Parliament,” he told media operatives on

Sunday.

Questioned on the process for a prime ministerial candidate, the General Secretary said that that process has not been initiated, but could run simultaneously with the manifesto drafting.

“That’s the position. I have not spoken with anyone on the prime ministerial candidate. This is for the party leadership [to] decide.”

He said, “A lot of things are fluid now. We have to get past the presidential candidate. This is essential for the process to move forward.”

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

Militant Democracy B

ack in the 1930s, the young constitutional scholar Carl Lowenstein noted with alarm the rise of fascism in his native Germany, with its adherents, like Adolph Hitler, using some of the mechanisms of democracy to undermine and eventually strangle it. He came up with the notion of “Militant Democracy”, which posits that “a constitutional core had to be upheld and defended against antidemocratic movements by legal instruments as well as by the people’s attitude towards democracy and its liberties. It especially seeks to limit the power of the enemy within the democratic constitutional order so that democracy could not be overthrown by using democratic means. In other words, there should be no ‘Trojan horse’ for the enemies of the democratic constitution.”

In Guyana today, it is very clear that democracy is under threat from the poisoned rhetoric and actions of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led coalition in the wake of the success of the People’s Progressive Party’s noconfidence motion, which was reaffirmed by the Speaker of the National Assembly and transmuted into a binding resolution. Nothing could be clearer than the intent of the framers of the Constitution when they crafted Article 106 (6). They commanded that the President and Cabinet “shall” resign if a no-confidence motion was carried. Even if the Government has taken the matter to the courts, this does not vitiate the order of the Constitution. The President’s and Cabinet’s resignation must work in tandem with Article 106 (7), which specifies that the GOVERNMENT continues until the elections, held as per Article 106 (6) in three months, creates a new government.

From the experience of Great Britain, this means that in the interregnum, the country must be governed by both the sacked Government and the Opposition. There can absolutely be no initiatives of major import undertaken without the acquiescence of the Opposition. The Natural Resource Bill – which is the name of our Sovereign Wealth Fund – that would control the spending of our oil revenues, however, was passed by the “sacked” Government when the Opposition was not even in the National Assembly. This was akin to using a weapon of mass destruction on our democracy as undergirded by our Constitution.

For the Government spokesman to now assert that the Government will now proceed “as normal” is a direct attack on our democratic norms that have been honed over the centuries in Great Britain, where our parliamentary model of governance was founded. In 1979, Margaret Thatcher, leader of the Conservative Party, called a vote of no confidence against the Labour Government of James Callaghan and won 311-310. Callaghan did not take recourse to the courts to claim that 311 was not the majority in a House with 621 members. This was democracy in accordance when there was not even a written constitution: civilised democracies stick to the spirit of their democratic practices.

The concept of “majority” in democratic political institutions that were devised to legitimise the will of the people had been accepted through the ages as the subset that is greater than all the other subsets combined. To resort to the sophistry of inventing “half-bodies” to demand that the majority should be 34 is another weapon of mass destruction deployed against our democracy. For the PNC-led Government to claim, after accepting that 33 seats gave it the majority in our National Assembly to form the Government in 2015, that those same 33 seats are now not a majority to remove it is an absurdity that cannot be countenanced.

It presents the identical scenario witnessed by Lowenstein where Hitler was able to seize the German Government for his fascist agenda.

This is the time when all Guyanese who are concerned that we do not return to the Burnhamite dictatorship of 19681992 must rise to the defence of our nation by practising Militant Democracy. The courts must rule that the PNC is estopped traducing democracy through their casuistry and the nation must say, thus far and no further.

We must all practise Militant Democracy now.

Situated near the heart of Cork, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral is the most recent ecclesiastical site located where the saint is believed to have founded his monastic school in the 7th century. The present Neo-Gothic cathedral, designed by English architect William Bruges, is made from Cork limestone and marble, as well as Bath stone. This Church of Ireland cathedral was consecrated in 1870 (James Deeges photo)

How a hacked phone may have led killers to Khashoggi

By CNN Wires

J

amal Khashoggi probably thought the messages he was sending to fellow Saudi dissident Omar Abdulaziz were hidden, cloaked in WhatsApp security. In reality, they were compromised – along with the rest of Abdulaziz’s phone, which had allegedly been infected by Pegasus, a powerful piece of malware designed to spy on its users.

Abdulaziz, as CNN reported last month, is suing the creators of Pegasus, Israel-based cyber company NSO Group, accusing them of violating international law by selling the software to oppressive regimes.

NSO has denied any involvement in the death of Khashoggi, insisting its software is “only for use fighting terrorism and crime”.

The company was condemned as “the worst of the worst” by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden during a video conference with an Israeli audience last November.

“The NSO Group in today’s world, based on the evidence we have, they are the worst of the worst in selling these burglary tools that are being actively currently used to violate the human rights of dissidents, Opposition figures, and activists,” Snowden said.

Big threat I witnessed the power of Pegasus two years ago. Mobile security experts at Check Point, one of the world leaders in cyber security, showed me how they could hack a phone with one click, gaining complete access to its microphone, camera, keyboard, and data.

They say the malware they used was similar to Pegasus: An apparently innocent message appeared on my phone asking me to update my settings, and that was all they needed to access the phone.

Cyber security expert Michael Shaulov launched a cybersecurity startup in 2010, partly in response to what he saw as the potential threat of Pegasus.

“Even when [NSO Group sells] the software to specifically the law enforcement agency that specifically bought it, in the case that those guys want to go after what we call illegitimate targets, NSO has no control [over it],” he says.

“They cannot really prevent it.”

NSO Group says it follows up all claims of misuse, and has the ability to terminate a contract if misuse is uncovered, or if a client running its technology refuses to allow it to carry out an investigation.

The company’s technology takes advantage of what is known as “zero days” — hidden vulnerabilities in operating systems and apps that grant elite hackers access to the inner workings of the phone. The term is derived from the fact that software developers have had no time to fix them.

Companies like NSO have teams of

researchers continuously reverse-engineering Apple and Android operating systems to find bugs in the code they can then exploit, Shaulov says, describing the process of finding zero days as an “art” in the largely black and white world of cyber security.

NSO Group’s singular focus on mobile devices has made them the “alpha dog” in the market, Shaulov says.

Finding a zero day can take anywhere from a few months to more than a year, and there is little guarantee of its longterm effectiveness. But if the weakness isn’t fixed, it can be exploited repeatedly to hack phones. Software developers such as Apple and Google have teams devoted to finding and fixing vulnerabilities, but it’s no easier for them than it is for hackers to find the weak link. In addition, developers’ priorities may lie elsewhere, so even known bugs remain unfixed.

“Unless Apple or Google fixes that bug, that vulnerability … can stay for many, many years and NSO can continuously sell software that can go through those bugs in the software and infect those phones,” says Shaulov.

Researchers at the Toronto-based Citizen Lab have tracked the use of NSO Group’s Pegasus software to 45 countries where operators “may be conducting surveillance operations”, including at least 10 Pegasus operators who “appear to be actively engaged in cross-border surveillance”.

Khashoggi: “God help us” The software, able to infect a phone

after a single click on a link in a fake text message, then grants hackers complete access to the phone. Data stored on the phone, messages, phone calls and even GPS location data are visible, allowing hackers to see where someone is, who he or she is talking to, and about what.

In the case of Khashoggi, Citizen Lab researchers say the text message went to Abdulaziz, disguised as a shipping update about a package he had just ordered. The link, which Citizen Lab says it traced to a domain connected to Pegasus, led to Abdulaziz’s phone becoming infected with the malware, giving hackers access to virtually his entire phone, including his daily conversations with Khashoggi.

In one text, before his death on October 2 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Khashoggi learnt that his conversations with Abdulaziz may have been intercepted. “God help us,” he wrote. CNN was granted access to the correspondence between Khashoggi and Montreal-based activist Abdulaziz.

Two months later Khashoggi entered the building for what he thought was a routine appointment to pick up papers that would allow him to marry his Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz.

Minutes later, he was killed in what the Saudi Attorney General later acknowledged was a premeditated murder.

The Saudis have presented shifting stories about Khashoggi’s fate, initially denying any knowledge before arguing that a group of rogue operators, many of whom belong to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s inner circle, were responsible for the Journalist’s death.

Riyadh has maintained that neither Crown Prince Mohammed nor King Salman knew of the operation to target Khashoggi. US officials, however, have said such a mission – including 15 men sent from Riyadh – could not have been carried out without the authorisation of Crown Prince Mohammed.

NSO speaks out In the first interview given by NSO Group since the company was implicated in the Khashoggi case, CEO Shalev Hulio categorically denied any involvement in the tracking of the Saudi Journalist or his killing. Calling his death a “shocking murder”, Hulio said that following checks carried out by NSO Group, the company would have known immediately if their software had been used to track a journalist.

(Excerpt from fox2now)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONdAY, January 21, 2019

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

Irfaan all the way APNU/AFC cabal must answer our citizens at the polls for President Dear Editor, I first met Mohamed Irfaan Ali in 2009. He was a member of a cricket team I managed for a match in Wakenaam Island and despite being the Housing Minister at the time, Irfaan willingly subjected himself to my “tough” style of management without complaint. I was impressed by how this young man (he was 28 at the time) handled the pressure of expectation from the large crowd, his ease of interaction with everyone and his willingness to be a minor team player.

Irfaan made 4 runs, not the fastest runner, but he nevertheless put serious effort in when called on in the field and even bowled a few overs. The crowd loved it and he received a standing ovation on his return to the pavilion. It made for a wonderful day and many people still remind me of that match from time to time.

During the tussle with the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Cricket Board, Irfaan and I were on opposite sides of the fence. Irfaan did not change his attitude towards me, instead of becoming hostile as was expected of a powerful Government Minister; he expressed admiration for my willingness to stand for what I believed to be right. It was at that point I stopped believing the stories being peddled about the PPP/C and started my quest for

the truth.

Robin Singh won v the Attorney General and remains a landmark CCJ decision. I became vocal in matters of Government, I spent more time learning how government works, asking endless questions of my friends in the legal fraternity. I began writing my opinions on issues and suggesting solutions via the letter columns in local newspapers.

People began taking notice and I was asked to join or meet with various political parties over the years. I always found ways to politely decline.

I watched the PPP/C suffer from a well-orchestrated public vilification rife with what we now call “fake news”, allegations of massive corruption totalling five times the annual budget, allegations so ludicrous that I soon realised that Hitler’s theory that "People will believe a big lie sooner than a little one, and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it."

Irfaan Ali was delivering on promises; he was innovating, taking the “One Stop Shop” for housing to the people; house lots were being distributed at a record rate; wells were being built, construction was booming; special projects were being implemented with the Young Professional and Re-migrant Schemes.

During this period we would

run into each other at various events and he would take my inquiries about his “mansion” in good grace and return the ribbing with good nature. I still marvel that all of this was done by such a young man; few could handle the pressures of the demand for housing and house lots, the Auditor General’s reports show housing stock increased by 28,456 during his tenure, they do not show that the projects he started are still the only ones being developed.

My sense of fair play led me to defend the record of the PPP/C and ask others to examine the facts rather than believe the big lies. I was never asked to do so by anyone in that party, I simply wanted the truth to be known. After the Government changed in 2015, I again ran into Irfaan and he expressed a simple “thank you” for my support and belief in his integrity. That action spoke volumes on his character, and my respect grew as a result.

Over the coming weeks and months, we will all be subject to information and fake news about Irfaan Ali, I already know all that I need to about this man from the people, for the people and will be making every effort to make him our next President for the betterment of all Guyanese.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Dear Editor, The Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) recently indicted its readiness to address competently, the institutional oversight of General and Regional Elections. In the last week of December 2018, several of our widely circulated newspapers reported the following statement of GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Ms Yolanda Ward, who in relation to the passing of the NoConfidence motion, affirmed that GECOM would uphold its constitutional mandate.

She said: “For us at GECOM, it’s our constitutional mandate to conduct General and Regional Elections as well as Local Government Elections. If that is the decision that we will have to conduct elections within a short period, then we will have to ensure that those elections are held as required, because it is our constitutional mandate.

I’m sure that our Standard Operating Procedures will click into gear and we will be prepared to execute elections at a time we have been asked to do.”

Further, it is wide knowledge that GECOM has a register of registrants that is valid until the end

of April 2019. It is based on the ninth and tenth cycle of continuous registration, and the last claims and objection exercises were undertaken in preparation for the November 12, 2018, Local Government Elections.

Hence, GECOM should not have too many adjustments to be fully prepared for the Elections within the constitutionally due “90 Days”, after the Government has fallen. It is no secret that this APNU/AFC Government has demonstrated traits of being the most corrupt Government to occupy the seats of our National Assembly. In exercising Government matters, they are most dictatorial, non-transparent and acutely disrespectful to our people and Country’s obligations.

They have failed to fulfil all their Manifesto promises to the citizens while enriching themselves.

Significantly, production in most of the vibrant activities and areas they inherited have dropped drastically. This vindictive regime has dashed our youths’ future to the wolves rather than secure it. Spiralling crime, cost of living, as well as increasing taxes, now threatens and enslaves our

Irfaan Ali has what it takes to be the presidential candidate Dear Editor, Leadership is one of the first characteristics that people think of when they consider the role of a presidential candidate. It is evident that voters within the central committee of the PPP used leadership as the most important factor in choosing a presidential candidate and of course the popularity of the candidate among the central committee is highly dependent in influencing the outcome of the presidential candidate.

The PPP in choosing Irfaan Ali as their presidential candidate has indeed elevated a leader from among various other leaders.

While it is not easy to have yourself scrutinised, criticised and sometimes even brutalized, you have to show great courage and that was a key factor that made Cde Mohamed Irfaan Ali emerge as the PPP presidential candidate.

Personality, character, intelligence, integrity, patience, tolerance, coupled with a combination of experience and personal achievements is the trademark in making Cde Irfaan Ali the party choice.

While Cde Irfaan Ali has an excellent track record, we need to focus on some of the achievements that were made under his stewardship

and then people can understand why he was chosen by the leadership of the PPP. He: - lifted thousands of families out of poverty - provided security of tenure for thousands of poor and working people -opened the doors for thousands of people to access loans who were excluded before due to poverty.

- increased the percentage of women in property ownership and independence - provided safe and clean accommodation for families - made clean potable water and electricity to about 90 per cent accessible - created new communities that are mixed ethnically, unlike the past - provided access to goods and services in new housing schemes eg schools, health centres etc - gave access to land in the schemes for houses of worship and playgrounds - created a boom in the construction sector that contributes over 22.6 per cent of economic growth - created 5000 jobs in the housing and construction sector - expanded the tax basis for the local governing bodies with new schemes - encouraged the creation of new community-based or-

ganisations.

There is no doubt that the presidential candidate would enhance the PPP/C at the next election. Let me

close by saying that “New ideas are driven by brave people willing to step into the arena rather than commentating from the side-

lines ".

Regards, Zamal Hussain

basic existence, as this illegal Cabinet now attempts to force our people to witness their mantra and geriatrics in Parliament. The mansions and expensive Cadillac lifestyles of the few in the APNU/AFC cabal are too much for our small and hardworking population to bear.

Ramjattan’s recent cries and utterances about new House to House Registration is merely a futile attempt to confuse the public and delay the process of having General and Regional Election in the stipulated, constitutionally-due date defined by the 90 days period. GECOM’s continuous registration activities improved the same list of registrants by way of the approved methods for use at the 2015, 2016 and 2018 elections. Given there were no outcries from Ramjattan or the APNU who deemed it good for those occasions, what is the issue now?

It is public knowledge that there is a process in place to address the issue of deceased persons on the List of Registrants whereby the GRO department would submit a list of deceased names, which GECOM shall delete after authentication. We now await the statements of GECOM’s Chairman Justice (Retired) James Patterson, who is expected back at work on January 22, 2019.

Mr Ramjattan, your time of calling is now! You and the fraudulent APNU/AFC cabal must answer our citizens at the polls!

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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What is self-esteem?

Self-esteem means feeling good about yourself.

People with self-esteem: feel liked and accepted are proud of what they do believe in themselves People with low self-esteem: feel bad about themselves are hard on themselves think they are not good enough

Where does selfesteem come from?

Parents, teachers, and others. The people in our lives can affect how we feel about ourselves. When they focus on what's good about us, we feel good about ourselves. When they are patient when we make mistakes, we learn to accept ourselves. When we have friends and get along, we feel liked.

But if adults scold more than they praise, it's hard to feel good about yourself.

Bullying and mean teasing by siblings or peers can hurt self-esteem, too. Harsh words can stick, and become part of how you think about yourself. Luckily, it doesn't have to stay that way.

The voice in your own head. The things you say to

Foundation

yourself play a big part in how you feel about yourself.

Thinking, "I'm such a loser" or "I'll never make friends," hurts your self-esteem.

There are other ways to think about the same things.

"I didn't win this time – but maybe next time." "Maybe I can make some friends."

That voice is more hopeful.

It helps you feel OK. And it could turn out to be true.

Sometimes, the voice in our head is based on harsh words others have said. Or on bad times we have faced.

Sometimes, the voice is just us being hard on ourselves.

But we can change the voice in our own head. We can learn to think better of ourselves.

Learning to do things.

We feel good when we learn to read, add, draw, or build.

Play a sport, play music, write an essay, ride a bike.

Set the table, wash the car.

Help a friend, walk the dog.

Each thing you learn and do is a chance to feel good about yourself. Step back and look what you can do. Let yourself feel happy with it.

But sometimes we're too hard on ourselves. We don't accept that what we do is good enough. If we think, "It's not really any good", "It's not perfect" ,or "I can't do it well enough", we miss the chance to build self-esteem.

What if my self-esteem is low?

You can do things to feel better about yourself.

It's never too late. Here are some tips to raise your self-esteem: Be with people who treat you well. Some people act in ways that tear you down. Others lift you up by what they say and do. Learn to tell the difference. Choose friends who help you feel OK about yourself. Find people you can be yourself with. Be that type of friend for others.

Say helpful things to yourself. Tune in to the voice in your head. Is it too critical? Are you too hard on yourself? For a few days, write down some of the things you say to yourself. Look over your list.

Are these things you'd say to a good friend? If not, rewrite them in a way that's true, fair, and kind. Read your new phrases often. Do it until it's more of a habit to think that way.

Accept what's not perfect. It's always good to do the best you can. But when you think you need to be perfect, you can't feel good about anything less. Accept your best. Let yourself feel good about that. Ask for help if you can't get past a need to be perfect.

Set goals and work toward them. If you want to feel good about yourself, do things that are good for you. Maybe you want to eat a healthier diet, get more fit, or study better. Make a goal. Then make a plan for how to do it. Stick with your plan. Track your progress.

Be proud of what you've done so far. Say to yourself, "I've been following my plan to work out every day for 45 minutes. I feel good about it.

I know I can keep it up."

Focus on what goes well. Are you so used to talking about problems that they're all you see? It's easy to get caught up in what's wrong. But unless you balance it with what's good, it just makes you feel bad.

Next time, catch yourself when you complain about yourself or your day. Find something that went well instead.

Give and help. Giving is one the best ways to build self-esteem. Tutor a classmate, help clean up your neighbourhood, walk for a good cause. Help out at home or at school. Make it a habit to be kind and fair. Do things that make you proud of the kind of person you are.

When you do things that make a difference (even a small one) your self-esteem will grow. (kidshealth.org)

Continued from Sunday

By Ugo Uche

Often motivated

Upon examining Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it is easy to conclude that most teens don’t have low motivation. Rather, most teens are preoccupied to getting their deficiency needs (acceptance and recognition) met, rather than their growth needs (success in academia) met.

Such a phenomenon is easy to witness with teens from low socio-economic backgrounds, such as an obsession in getting their physiological and safety needs met. However, with teens from middle-class backgrounds and up, their focus is often on their psychological needs. For example, relationship with friends, close friendships and status among peers.

When teens are focused on getting their deficiency needs met, they are not going to be focused on issues regarding self-discipline and mastery. For a parent to help his or her teen become

more focused on growth needs, he or she will have to teach his or her teen how to effectively get their deficiency needs met.

This may be easier said than done, as today’s teenager is often exposed to new values and beliefs through social media.

Meaning, that these values and beliefs are often in conflict with the teaching of the parents.

So, efforts to help the teen address his or her deficiency needs may result in a stalemate between parent and teen. Which then leads to a recurring problem with a lack of focus due to poor motivation with issues like school work, personal hygiene and chores.

The solution for a situation like this will be for parents to seek therapeutic services to assist their teen in effectively getting their deficiency needs met, in order to focus on his or her growth needs. (Excerpt from

psychologytoday.com)

news

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mondAY, January 21, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

1 dead, 1 injured in hit and run T

wenty-one-yearold Brian Basdeo, an auto body technician of Grass Field, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, met his demise on Saturday evening following a hit-and-run accident on the LindenSoesdyke Highway.

Based on information reaching Guyana Times, the young man travelled to the Highway to tow another car to his home to get it repaired.

The car with the mechanical issue was be-

ing towed by another car driven by a friend of the now deceased man. As they moved off, the car that was being towed and steered by Basdeo started to make a loud noise.

At that time, Basdeo shouted to his friend ordering him to stop. They both exited their vehicles to make checks.

Another car then pulled up to render assistance and in doing so, they saw another car approaching them at a fast rate.

This publication under-

stands that the man who stopped to offer assistance shouted for Basdeo and the other man to move out of the way as he ran to safety.

Basdeo was reportedly stooping down to conduct checks on the vehicle when he was struck and tossed several feet into the air. He landed onto the roadway and died almost immediately.

His friend who attempted to run was also struck by the speeding car, which did not stop to

Guyana passport drops in visa-free access rankings

… Index shows country retained gains while others improved, declined

T

Guyana has dropped three places in the world of visa-free travel

he Guyana passport can still get Guyanese travellers to 88 countries without the need for a visa, but the progression of other countries has seen Guyana drop in the 2019 rankings of the Henley and Partners Passport Index.

According to the 2019 statistics, Guyana is now ranked at number 58, a reduction of three spots from the 55th ranking it received from the Index in 2018. The highest-ranked Caribbean country on the Index is Barbados, which is ranked at 24 with 159 visa-free destinations.

Barbados last year was ranked at 21. It also declined in terms of destinations. Barbados is followed

by The Bahamas (26, 154); St Kitts and Nevis (27, 151); Trinidad and Tobago (30, 148); St Lucia (31, 145); St Vincent and the Grenadines (32, 144) and Grenada (33, 143).

The Henley Passport Index has historical data spanning 14 years. The Index and its contents are based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). It is updated using in-house research and open source online data.

The Index includes 199 different passports and 227

different travel destinations, and is updated in real time throughout the year when visa policy changes come into effect.

With Guyana’s oil and gas sector, there is much expectation that the local passport will increase in power and usability. Indeed, the Guyana Government has said that it wanted the country included in the list of countries that can travel to 26 countries in Europe, known as the Schengen area, without a passport.

There have also been moves to give Guyanese business owners and frequent travellers the option to choose a 46-page machine-readable passport, at a cost of $10,000 as compared to the country’s current 32-page passport.

During his Budget 2019 presentation in the National Assembly last year, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced the new passport. The Minister explained that the new passport would reduce both the cost and the time spent to renew the document once it has expired.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke to persons at the Central Immigration Passport Office about this new measure. Collin Chung,

a Venezuelan by birth with Guyanese parentage, said as a frequent traveller, this new passport would be quite convenient for those persons who were too busy to undertake the renewal process and should be embraced.

“I think the 46 pages passport would be beneficial, because we are entering industrialisation through our exploitation of petroleum in the country, so it would open a lot of doors and break down barriers to expand on tourism within the country.”

In expressing her views, Gloria Giddings said that although she was simply visiting the country, she could appreciate how the new measure would benefit the regular air traveller.

It was only last year that Guyana’s passport had increased in value according to the Henley and Partners Passport Index. The Index had shown that Guyanese can travel to 88 countries visa-free/visa-on-arrival, moving the country up four places on the Index’s rankings, to 55 in the world.

According to the 2017 index, Guyana’s passport allowed Guyanese to travel to 81 countries without requiring a visa or with a visa granted on arrival.

render assistance. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was examined and it was discovered that his left leg was broken in several places.

He was treated and sent away while Basdeo was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond hospital.

When contacted, Sherry Basdeo, sister of the now dead man, told this newspaper that she lives in Berbice and received the news of her brother’s death late Saturday evening and would have travelled down on Sunday morning.

She explained that she spoke to her brother’s friend who was injured in the accident as well as

Dead: Brian Basdeo

the wife and they both have related different stories as to what occurred on Saturday evening. She told Guyana Times that she was expecting to get a report from the Police as to what exactly transpired.

“All I can say at this time, everything that they told me doesn’t add up … the position my brother was found did not look as if he was struck down and killed… It more look like when he was pinned … at the scene, there were no parts belonging to the vehicle that hit him down… and there were no blood on the roadway… I don’t know what is happening, but all I can say it that something is missing…,” the sister added.

8 news

mondAY, January 21, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

UG offering Associate Degree in Petroleum Engineering

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uyanese who are anxiously awaiting the budding oil and gas sector are now being provided with the opportunity to be qualified to benefit from same, with the University of Guyana commencing its Associate of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering as classes resume today.

The announcement was first made last year by Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, and was confirmed during the second Oil

and Gas Seminar held by Secretary of the University Council, Registrar Nigel Gravesande.

The course is being offered in collaboration with Trinidad and Tobago, with some courses expected to be delivered in Trinidad.

A UG team had visited the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of the West Indies, and an agreement was struck to develop various courses.

Speaking during the second forum on “the Youth

and the Oil and Gas Sector” on Saturday, Gravesande noted that while the Technical and Vocational Training Education (TVET) Institutions have started to create an enabling environment for training, more had to be done to ensure “sustainable exploration, development and production of the nation’s petroleum assets”.

Gravesande explained “Guyana found itself not only as a newcomer to the industry, but also relatively unprepared without the

necessary skills to make a significant contribution to the production that was targeted to commence in 2020.”

The University Registrar underscored that “this situation gave rise to the demand for these requisite skills in this highly-specialised area of petroleum engineering to be developed locally, but also rapidly.”

The programme will be offered for two years and students are expected to be engaged in workshop training and skill courses.

The basis…

I

…corruption

t’s rather rich for the PNC types to tag the PPP as being irredeemably corrupt when in only three years there have been more acknowledged instances of corruption than in the entire 23 years of the PPP regime. Sure the PPP had instances of corruption – that’s inevitable any government not made up of angels. But if the PPP ACTUALLY were so corrupt, how come there hasn’t been a SINGLE conviction in three years? And it hasn’t been for lack of trying!!

There were the FIFTY forensic audits; there were two specialised agencies launched – SARA and SOCU – at the cost of billions. But yet the PNC keeps on going on about “corruption” by the PPP during its term of office. It has to be a case of what Freud calls “projection”! You know…you feel guilty about some shameful act you did, and you vehemently accuse others of committing that very act, to show that you’re not bent that way!

Fact of the matter is that the PNC was birthed from corruption and corruption, therefore, is part and parcel of its institutional genetic makeup. Was it not “corruption” to facilitate the externally-funded coup that ousted the PPP in 1964? And it was from original corruption that all PNC’s subsequent actions were poisoned by corruption. Like rigging elections for 28 years and corrupting their supporters’ minds by making that OK. When you do that to people, their ability to take a moral position on wrongs even in their own lives becomes corrupted. And that’s what the PNC did to our entire society. The dictatorship lied about every action they took and forced the people to “believe” them. Pretty soon no one could tell right from wrong!

And it’s this moral blindness the PNC’s projecting onto the PPP right now, as their corruption flowed reflexively the moment they entered office.

The D’Urban Park “Stadium”? How many hundreds of millions are still unaccounted for?

The US$18 million “bonus” signed in secret for the 5bbl oil giveaway and secreted away? Then there was the $632 million Pharma contract with ANSA; the bottom-house pharma warehouse; the Demerara Harbour “swing bridge; and not to mention the underinvoicing fuel scam that’s still going on.

How can the PNC talk about corruption in the PPP when that party had to work miracles to remove the US$2.1 billion debt the former left us saddled with.

Have they no shame?

…of violence

Another instance of “projection” playing out by the PNC is to claim “under the PPP” hundreds of persons were murdered – and implying they were mostly African choir boys. But what’s never mentioned is how and by whom the killing spree started. From the moment the PPP won the free and fair elections in 1992, the PNC created a climate of hate against the new administration. For instance, by trumpeting claims of “ethnic cleansing” in the public service, conveniently ignoring that Hoyte started the downsizing – which was ordered by the IMF. After they lost the 1997 elections, it was in the hostile climate of PNC violent protests that 31 businessmen were murdered in 1999 alone. Then, of course, came the PNC ‘slow fyah; mo’ fyaah’ that resulted in dozens of policemen and civilians killed in the frontal attack on the State by the “Breakout Mash 5”. Why not mention these?

For it was under this cover the drug lords launched their grab for turf.

…for City Hall profligacy

Once again, the PNC central government has bailed out City Hall – this time to the tune of $100 million, for garbage collected. Never mind they’re facilitating rampant corruption and nepotism by the PNC gang.

For refusing to fund this corruption, the PPP’s blamed for being “racist”!!

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

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mondAY, January 21, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Prime ministerial candidate will come from Civic component – Jagdeo …says process already started to get regional, top-up lists

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ow that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has elected former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali as its presidential candidate, all eyes will now be turned on who will be chosen as the prime ministerial candidate.

According to PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, who spoke to the media on Saturday, the next step is for the Party’s Executive Committee (ExCo) to start the process.

“The Executive Committee will decide how soon we’ll get to that. We’ve already asked activists from across the country to start submitting names for the regional list, the top-up list and the geographic list.

Because we need to be ready for nomination day, which we believe will be the second week in February,” Jagdeo said.

“Because as you know, we are sticking with a March 19

deadline … that’s it. So, we not only have to initiate the process, which we have done for candidates. And there are thousands of those. But we also have to swiftly address the issue of the prime ministerial candidate.”

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

“So, the prime ministerial candidate will come from the Civic. We still want that,” Jagdeo said. “But we have been broadening the Civic. There are thousands of people who want to come in. Some don’t want to be part of a formal Civic. Some want policy promises.

“You will see the quality

of the people who are coming to us and how diverse it is and who will be prominently featured on our campaign platform. So, we have a really good set of people from which we can choose a good prime ministerial candidate.”

Already, possible candidates have been making their rounds in sections of the media. Such names include former Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett and former Minister within the Finance Ministry, Bishop Juan Edghill.

When contacted, Edghill would only admit that he has been contacted by various persons and told of his suitability to be the candidate. According to Edghill, he remained committed to the Party and was available to serve if called upon.

Saturday’s presidential candidate election was conducted by way of secret ballot, after a week of spec-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

ulation in the media and presentations to Party officials from the contenders.

Immediately prior to the election, three candidates withdrew from the contest, leaving former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Ali as the two contestants.

Tint policy review report presented to Cabinet – Harmon

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rivers with unpermitted tinted windows may soon see a relaxation of the stringent tint policy or stronger enforcement of it depending on the contents of the report on a research survey which was presented to Cabinet.

According to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, at his post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday, the report was presented by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan for Cabinet’s perusal and adoption. He noted that the survey was aimed at reviewing the policy by which vehicle tint permits are issued in Guyana.

“The main purpose was to solicit the views of citizens on the use of vehicles with tinted windows in Guyana. The report also included information on best practices of a number of countries with regards to the use of motor vehicles with tinted windows.

Cabinet accepted report and undertook to examine full content before approval,” Harmon informed.

According to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, “No person shall have fitted to his motor vehicle and glass or safety glass or any material used in the place of such glass or safety glass which is so tinted or otherwise treated or coloured in such a manner or to such extent, as would re-

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

sult in obstructing the identification of the driver of the motor vehicle or any other person travelling in the motor vehicle by any person from outside the motor vehicle.”

Earlier last year, Minister Ramjattan had stated that the issue of tinted vehicles has been the cause of some amount of criticism against his Ministry and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), especially since sections of the population are allowed to have

tinted vehicles. According to Minister Ramjattan, the ministerial discretion is a difficult thing. Persons who are suffering from a range of health conditions have also been granted approval to use tints on their vehicles.

“As it is, I have restricted it to people who suffer skin disease and ultraviolet rays affecting their eyes and also for certain public officials who for security reasons, need it and some businessmen. But it is very narrow right now, but a lot of people are asking me how I can give others and not give them,” he was quoted as saying.

He said while many people approach his Ministry with health issues as the reason for their need to use tint, the police have pointed out some persons are using tints so dark, it has become a threat to security.

“But what is the view of the people out there?… we need to talk to the people and get their views on what should be the policy…How can I give the businessman and not give them… there is a need for renewing a policy orientation on the problem,” Minister Ramjattan had indicated, hence the reason he undertook the survey.

There has been much speculation about some of these very contenders as potential PPP presidential candidates ever since the coalition Government fell to a no-confidence vote on December 21, thus having to call elections within 90 days from that date as per the Constitution.

The no-confidence motion brought by the parliamentary Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) – against the Government succeeded when Charrandas Persaud, a former Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian, broke ranks and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.

With the passage of the no-confidence vote against the Government, the main political parties either began or intensified the task of identifying a presidential candidate. In addition, the upcoming election has also seen the emergence of new parties hoping for a share in the electoral votes.

While Ali will represent the PPP as the presidential candidate, media reports on party affairs in A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) suggest that incumbent President David Granger will run for re-election.

10 news Agriculture self-sufficiency – a growing possibility at Mahdia T mondAY, January 21, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

he cost of chicken and fresh farm produce such as vegetables and ground provisions in the mining town of Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) has been greatly reduced as a result of the efforts of farmers in the community.

The farmers have adapted new irrigation systems, and embarked on large-scale poultry rearing and the use of pen manure for their crops.

Chicken from a price of $1100 per pound a year ago is now being retailed for under $600 per pound. Fresh eggs, which were previously sold at $3000 per tray, are currently available at $1500 per tray at supermarkets and grocery shops in the mining community.

The reduction in the price for fresh farm products was among the many positive developments on the agricultural front revealed to Agriculture Minster Noel Holder and his team during an outreach to the area on Thursday.

Businessman/farmer Roger Hinds along with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and another official

Businessman/farmer Roger Hinds has incorporated the use of the Hoyo irrigation system and storage of water in plastic tanks for use during the dry spells.

His four-acre farm boasts an amazing variety of crops, including vegetables, spices, and fruits. A huge section is dedicated to citrus.

Other innovations revealed to the visiting team

included greenhouses for his vegetable (pak choi, sweet peppers and lettuce).

“I get approximately 400 eggs a week from these chickens, and I sell them along with the other produce at the farm at my supermarket. Before, a tray of eggs could be as much as $3000; I sell for $1500 including the tray.”

Hinds, the proprietor

of the Roger Hinds Hotel, a supermarket complex and wholesale depot in the town, also took the team for a look at his poultry operation, which has successfully reared the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority (GLDA) Black Giant breed of dual purpose chickens for the production of eggs.

According to Hinds, the Black Giant chickens have significantly impacted the cost of an egg in Mahdia.

Hinds assured that he was committed to producing enough along with other farmers to make his town self-sufficient in vegetables and poultry supplies.

“For as long as I can remember, the only source of fresh veggies and meat was from the coast, and this was at significant [cost], for transport through the trail or by aircraft. This cost was passed on to the residents of the community – I wanted to change that, I wanted to bring down the cost of food in Mahdia,” he explained.

The price of chicken has

Pak Choi being cultivated on a large scale in Mahdia

Turmeric is a big crop at Hinds’ farm

also been positively impacted by the efforts of poultry farmer Richard Owenkirk, who said he saw a need in the town and was the first to establish a poultry operation such as his.

“I would see how much a pound of chicken would cost us here in Mahdia, as much as $1200 at times. But I understood the challenges suppliers had in sourcing the meat in Georgetown, and then have it refrigerated for the long haul here; I felt I had a plan that could ease the hassle. Today, that plan is paying off for me and for the consumers of my town.”

Owenkirk sells his chickens at a wholesale price of $320 per pound to wholesalers who then retail for around $500 a pound.

Minister Holder – who was in the company of GLDA Head Nigel Cumberbatch; National Drainage and

Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Freddy Flats and National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) CEO, Dr Oudho Homenauth – was also shown efforts to cultivate pawpaw (papaya), citrus and other fruits such as soursop and sugar apples.

The Minister expressed delight at the developments in the agriculture sector in the Region. He said he was delighted to see that the non-acquisition of additional lands to expand operations.

Minister Holder has committed to working with the Region Eight Regional Democratic Council (RDC) along with the Lands and Surveys Commission with a view to having them access lands that would facilitate the continued growth of agriculture in that part of Region Eight.

Schoolgirl plunges out of moving car as driver tries to rape her

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n East Canje, Berbice teenager is now nursing minor injuries after she allegedly plunged out of a moving car after the driver made sexual advances at her.

According to reports received, the girl boarded the taxi on Friday and sat in the front seat as she was heading home from school.

During the journey, the driver allegedly started sexually assaulting her. At the time, the driver had already dropped off the other passengers.

The sexual advances

continued against the teenager’s will. However, as the driver attempted to rip off her uniform, she reportedly opened the door and jumped out.

She sustained minor injuries as a result. She was picked up by another driver and taken to the Reliance Police Station, where her parents were contacted.

The student was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital to receive medical attention. The Police have launched a manhunt for the driver, who has since gone into hiding.

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mondAY, January 21, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

AFC backtracks

"Likely" to support Granger as presidential candidate in upcoming polls

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ays after saying that it was too early for the party to take a stance on the matter, the Alliance For Change (AFC) is likely to throw its support behind leader of the PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), David Granger, as the presidential candidate for the APNU/AFC at impending national and regional elections.

A recent report in the State’s newspaper had identified President Granger, who just returned from Cuba as he continues treatment for NonHodgkin Lymphoma, as the presidential candidate for the APNU/AFC coalition.

However, AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan told Guyana Times in a brief telephone interview on Sunday that while the coalition partners have not had formal discussions on the matter, he personally supported the return of President Granger as the face of the coalition at the upcoming polls.

“I support him fully as presidential candidate, personally… [but] we haven’t gone there as a collective,” Ramjattan said.

However, he noted that the AFC would be hosting its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on January 26 and the matter was expected to come up for discussion there.

“We’re having our national executive [meeting] and

APNU Leader David Granger

certainly you’ll have me supporting him there… But of course, I anticipate [there will be support for President Granger]. I don’t think of anybody else with the quality of statesmanship as him,” the AFC Chairman asserted.

This newspaper was unable to question Ramjattan, who cut short the call, as to whether Moses Nagamootoo would be returning as the prime ministerial candidate for the APNU/AFC or whether there would be a new face submitted by the minority party in the coalition. At the party’s first press conference on Wednesday last, Vice Chair Cathy Hughes said it was too early for the party to say whether it would support

AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan

a Granger presidential candidacy.

“We’re not there yet right now; we’re absolutely not there right now. We hoped that President Granger continues the speedy recovery that he’s making … We continue to wish him the best, [but] we have no idea when the elections is going to be and so we’re not in a position to answer that right now,” Hughes had stated.

While there has been no official public statement from the APNU camp, President Granger last year had indicated the possibility of him returning as presidential candidate for the coalition. “… I am a servant of my party; I’m a servant of the

Partnership; I’m a servant of the coalition and my duty is to serve and I will not run away from service; that is as much as I can say… I have to bear in mind that my elevation to the presidency was as a result of popular support, it was a result of democratic processes and I will not abandon those processes…,” the Head of State told reporters at a press conference in August.

Since then, however, President Granger was diagnosed in October with NonHodgkin Lymphoma and is seeking treatment in Cuba, which requires him to travel back and forth between the two countries. In fact, he returned to Guyana on Saturday evening after un-

dergoing his fourth round of chemotherapy for NonHodgkin Lymphoma.

Despite this, the Head of State has assured the Guyanese citizenry that he is getting better and a medical briefing from his doctors in Havana described his progress as “satisfactory and in conformity with their expectations”.

Come February 14, the APNU and AFC will celebrate the fourth anniversary, since signing the “lovers’ deal” that eventually got them into office back in 2015. However, the AFC, in recent years, has come under fire for the submissive role it has been playing since joining forces with the APNU. In fact, the top leadership of the AFC had decided back in 2017 to revise its governing agreement with its majority coalition partner.

The Cummingsburg Accord has a lifespan of a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years, and was focused primarily on the General and Regional Elections.

Moreover, the minority party had even contested the November 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) separate from the APNU after planned negotiations to craft another accord fell through.

At Wednesday’s press conference, however, the AFC executives insisted that the minority party has done as much as it could to stay rel-

evant within the coalition Administration and recommitted to supporting the APNU going forward.

This is in spite of the passage of a no-confidence motion against the coalition, which was supported by former AFC Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud, whose vote in favour of the Opposition’s motion toppled the current Administration.

Since the December 21, 2018 passage of the motion, which hence became a binding resolution, several political commentators and stakeholders, including the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition, have been calling on the APNU/AFC Government to resign and call elections, which, according to Article 106 (7), should be held within three months. This means elections should be held by March 21 this year.

However, the High Court has since been asked to pronounce on two matters regarding the resolution – one contesting the validity of Persaud’s vote given his dual citizenship and another challenging the 33-32 votes, instead of a 34 majority, that was used to pass the motion.

Those cases came up for hearing last Tuesday and acting Chief Justice Roxane George has committed to a ruling by the end of this month.

Govt to account for D’Urban Park by month end – as AG sends off draft audit report to Public Infrastructure PS

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s is customary with any audit, the Audit Office of Guyana has dispatched an interim report from its audit into the controversial D’Urban Park Project to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, with a response to the report’s various findings expected by month end.

This is according to Auditor General Deodat Sharma during a recent interview with Guyana Times. In fact, Sharma noted that the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Kenneth Jordan requested more time beyond December 2018.

“I did send off my initial report to the PS (Permanent Secretary) of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. And he wrote to me saying that before the end of this month, I should have a response from him.

“I sent my interim (audit) report to him and he was supposed to respond in December (2018), but he asked for a month extension,” the Auditor General added. “So, I’m waiting on his response.”

It was Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

Public Infrastructure Ministry PS Kenneth Jordan

D’Urban Park

Chairman Irfaan Ali, who had requested further probing be done by the Auditor General into specific projects. Among those projects was the D’Urban Park Project, for which the AG in his 2015 report listed some $36.5 million in Lotto funds being used for rehabilitative works.

Ali had stated that these requests were in relation to follow-ups from the findings that had been included in the AG’s 2015 Report. In his 2015 report, the Auditor General had said that following checks on the accounts, it was found that while Government transferred

$1 billion of the Lotto money to the Consolidated Fund in 2015, it held onto just over half a billion dollars to remain under the control of the Ministry of the Presidency and it spent $305 million on various activities.

But the audit into the D’Urban Park Project has always been hindered by a lack of access to pertinent information, with the Audit Office being forced to write to the Public Infrastructure Ministry requesting documents.

Controversy surrounding the D’Urban Park Project exploded when it was revealed to the pub-

lic that now Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine sat as a Director of a secret company, which was established to collect funds from private companies to develop the Jubilee Park.

This information was initially omitted by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson when he was being drilled by Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly in 2016.

Additionally, Opposition parliamentarian Juan Edghill has been behind efforts to have the Public Procurement Commission investigate the D’Urban

Park Project. In a letter to the Commission’s Chairperson, Carol Corbin, Edghill had identified aspects of the Project the People’s Progressive Party/

Civic (PPP/C) was most concerned about.

The Opposition had noted that despite promises to the contrary, no account of donations received between September 2015 and January 2016 was made public. It, therefore, queried the procurement process used for works on the project.

The scope a private company has to engage contractors and receive funding for a public project also came into question. The Party queried the budgeted and actual cost throughout the project, as well as the final cost. In addition, the Party had demanded information on what payments were made to individuals and contractors up to June.

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mondAY, January 21, 2019 | guya

"I will not disapp party” – PPP/C pre

…commits to reversing the "wron

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ne day after being named presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali said he was committed to the task of leading his party to an election victory and carrying out its policies to create jobs, expand economic growth, and reopen the closed sugar estates that have left thousands of Guyanese jobless.

Ali, who was speaking at an impromptu public meeting held on Sunday in his hometown Leonora, West Coast Demerara which saw thousands of supporters, said he remained humbled by the fact that he was chosen to lead the Party at the next elections as its presidential candidate.

“I will not disappoint you or my party. I will not disappoint the leadership. I will work hard to ensure leadership for the People’s Progressive Party. I assure you I will not be lazy. I assure you I will not buckle under any circumstances. I will stand with this party and I will stand with all of our supporters and any threat that comes our way,” Ali said to a cheering crowd on Sunday.

Making reference to the race for the presidential nomination, Ali said his contenders were all valuable members of the PPP/C and although he came out victorious, he was happy with the fact that they have given their commitment to support him. “All of these comrades showed that together we are a team; a combination of competencies that will ensure...that we deliver on all of our promises to the people of Guyana.”

In highlighting the hardship facing many Guyanese who were affected by the closure of several sugar estates, Ali also gave a commitment to have these estates reopened. “We will correct the wrong and make right the injustices to the sugar workers all across Guyana. We are going to restore benefits to you. This is a promise to you.

This is a joy today. I come from a party that has done so much for Guyana. The youths and women building a Guyana that is inclusive,” he added.

But Ali told the gathering that he stood committed to the direction and leadership of the Party and the manifesto, promising to deliver on all the promises made. He also praised the Party’s General Secretary, saying he was an asset to the PPP/C. “As the presidential candidate, I would be foolish to have the greatest asset and not use it. This is not Irfaan Ali’s moment; it is all of our moment.”

In providing a prelude to what Guyanese can expect from the PPP/C manifesto, Ali, a trained economist, promised to change “all those bad politics that took away income from our people. So, that more resources could be made available to people, creating more opportunities for them.”

“We have seen the economic decline and the social circumstances, because of the closure of the sugar estates. We will correct the wrong, and we will make right the injustices made out against sugar workers all across Guyana,” Ali told a massive crowd that erupted in cheers.

“He has the that you nee president, o just talk abo need a presi when the gla faded will si and work to happen.” Bu important to said that Al intimate und the social an challenges f country, and experience h

Promises

Ali said another promise and commitment of his party is to deal with corruption. In making reference to the US$18 million signing bonus from ExxonMobil that Government failed to declare, Ali said if he won the presidency, he would make it criminal for the non-declaration of Guyana’s natural resources.

He went on to say that his party would also create a platform that would ensure social and economic justice.

“We have to build social programmes and these include the pension system removal of Value Added Tax on essential services. These are things we have to restore.”

But more significantly, Ali said if the PPP/C was returned to Government, it would be creating more than 50,000 new jobs all across the country. “We will be creating through the use of ICT and education platform so that people could have education via distance learning,” he added.

Ali also gave a commitment to have US$500 million invested in Guyana from year one under the PPP/C. “We did this before oil and gas and we will do it even better on a much larger scale with oil and gas. We will build mega farms and increase rice production and pro-

13

ry 21, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

disappoint you nor my /C presidential candidate

the "wrongdoings" of APNU/AFC coalition

tial Candidate Civic (PPP/C), ter Irfaan Ali ng his party to licies to create the closed suganese jobless. u public meetra, West Coast ers, said he rechosen to lead idential candi-

will not disapure leadership e you I will not er any circumwill stand with omes our way,”

sidential nomiuable members torious, he was their commites showed that competencies ur promises to

any Guyanese sugar estates, ese estates remake right the uyana. We are romise to you.

vide incentives… These are the types of plans and programmes that will break us through into the future and create a wave of economic wealth and well-being for our people,” he added.

The former Housing Minister said he would work on a plan to deliver thousands more house lots across the country and the construction of a deep-water harbour particularly one that would connect Guyana and Brazil.

He said he would work to improve the health-care system which has been under massive decline under the coalition Government, and recommence the construction of the Specialty Hospital project.

“We are going to launch not only training programme in the medical field but we are going to find the brightest that we will develop the skill sets to take the country forward. This is the commitment of your PPP/C Government.

We will bring back progress to this country of ours,” he stated.

He has the experience hat you need as a resident, one who cannot ust talk about it – you eed a president that when the glamour has aded will sit all night nd work to make that appen.” But equally mportant to note, Jagdeo aid that Ali has an ntimate understanding of he social and economic hallenges facing the ountry, and based on his xperience he will deliver.

ent of his parg reference to xonMobil that won the presion-declaration

d also create a onomic justice. these include d Tax on essenestore.”

PPP/C was reing more than We will be creon platform so ance learning,”

500 million inPPP/C. will do it even d gas. We will ction and pro-

Endorsed

In endorsing Ali for the post of presidential candidate, Jagdeo said that his election represented the interest and importance that the PPP/C placed on helping to advance the millennial. He reminded that a majority of the Guyanese voters were young people and Ali was a representation of their dreams and vision.

He recalled that the coalition Government had touted the importance of young people, but failed to deliver on including them in its vision. Jagdeo said, “He (Ali) is a young man that can connect with young people. He can empathise with the young people. The old people, they lecture people.”

The former Guyanese Head of State noted that Guyana needed a presidential candidate who could deliver to the people. “That can deliver better education, health care, housing etc. In his housing plans, we have had the largest growth in the Caribbean.

He has the skills to do that.

You see the evidence when you drive around the country.

He has the experience that you need as a president, who cannot just talk about it – you need a president that when the glamour has faded will sit all night and work to make that happen.”

But equally important to note, Jagdeo said that Ali has an intimate understanding of the social and economic challenges facing the country, and based on his experience he will deliver. Ali is the Opposition’s Chief Spokesperson for Finance and Economics. He also heads the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly and has proven himself as a strong finance professional.

“He can understand immediately what the challenges in this Government are.

They are using up two or three years short-term oil money. You need a president that doesn’t need an advisor [every time] he goes into a meeting about economic matters. Irfaan Ali has that…Ali has been practically in charge of this region (Region Three).

The amount of ground work he has done working with all of the team here. You cannot want a president that walks just for the glamour, but when the grassroots work comes they stay home.”

Jagdeo continued, “I know Irfaan Ali is trustworthy. I did not say anything before, because we were in the contest, but now the people have selected a candidate, I can tell you the attributes of Irfaan Ali. If we can't reopen those three estates and find work for the people, we will be just as bad as them. He is committed to doing that.”

The PPP General Secretary also warned the supporters not to listen to the negatives, pointing out that had Anil Nandlall been the presidential candidate, the Government and its supporters would have found bad things to say about him too. “We believe we have a strong candidate and we will make sure that we put together a programme that will involve all our people.”

Jagdeo also promised to work with Ali, saying, “In this period…all of my skills, every single bit of it will be at his disposal ... and I don't have any apologies to make about it.” (Samuel Sukhnandan)

14 NEWS

mondAY, January 21, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

ANUG aims to "transform" political system

– touts shared governance but will not coalesce

A

fter decades of failed promises by the two main political parties in Guyana, A New and United Guyana (ANUG) is entering the political arena with a promise to work in a constitutional framework that demands inclusion and cooperation for the interest of all Guyanese.

The party pointed out that a vast majority of the electorate is already loyal to one of the two major ethnic parties – People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) – which they support in the belief that they gain some sort of protection if their party is in office. However, the reality is that when one party is in office, the other section of the electorate feels abandoned, marginalised, and discriminated against.

To this end, ANUG is imploring Guyanese to support the party and assist in creating a constitutional system that will bring ethnic parties to share executive power and give the nation confidence that a system of governance will be introduced to protect their interests.

“We believe that the only solution is to create a system where both political parties share executive power so that all Guyanese can move forward in confidence that their combined interests are

The founding members of A New and United Guyana (ANUG) at the party’s launch on Friday

protected. The two main political parties are unwilling to take these steps, despite decades of promises by both of them. Only a separate political movement, a third party, can motivate them to do so,” the new party said.

ANUG outlined that the large ethnic groups consisting of over 75 per cent of the voting population and a competitive political system make the political context extremely toxic – an environment that rewards ethnic loyalty at the ballot box and makes politicians ethnic entrepreneurs. However, the party noted that there are constitutional ways out of this dilemma.

“We believe that Guyanese have already paid

the human and material price, and ignorance can no longer be the excuse. So we stand ready with an agenda to radically reform the political system under which we live and establish a system that will give all ethnicities an equitable constitutional stake in executive decision-making and implementation,” ANUG assured.

The party committed to work from the first day of taking constitutional office or being able to otherwise influence governmental policy, to establish shared executive power and within one month of being able to do so, set about the constitutional reform process to make the necessary changes in the Constitution. It also prom-

ised to never enter a coalition with any other political party for the purpose of securing a role in Government.

In fact, one of the party’s founding members, former Speaker of the National Assembly and former PPP Executive Ralph Ramkarran, at the party’s launch on Friday at Moray House, gave an undertaking that ANUG would not join either of the major parties to form a Government.

“We will not go into a Government, if one of the parties gains a plurality and not a majority and they are searching for a partner to give them a majority, we wouldn’t be there… What our role will be is to say this is what we want. If you sup-

port this, we will support you and what we want is to build a governance system that is inclusive of everyone and which will solve the political problems of Guyana,” the veteran politician told a packed gathering at the party’s launch.

Ramkarran, who came out of political retirement after resigning from the PPP back in 2011, is confident that ANUG is strong enough to win the upcoming elections or at least get enough seats in the National Assembly to hold the balance of power.

According to the party, politicians’ promises to Guyanese must mean something and the people should also have some way of en-

forcing promises. In an effort to demonstrate its commitment, the party said it will make these two main commitments legally enforceable, that is, anyone will be able to go to the courts for the appropriate declarations if the party is to violate either or both commitments. If the court rules against the party, ANUG legally commits to resign from Parliament.

Apart from Ramkarran, other frontrunners in the party are former PPP Government Minister Dr Henry Jeffrey, Attorney-atLaw Timothy Jonas, businessmen Beni Sankar and Kian Jabour, as well as Akanni Blair, who was recently appointed PPP’s Vice Chairman in Linden. The party is now looking to pull in female members, saying that those they have approached thus far are willing to support ANUG but fear discrimination to publicly join the party.

Moreover, ANUG is also facing this conundrum with the business community, saying that while businesses have pledged to support the new party, they are only willing to do so anonymously.

ANUG will be pushing on this agenda: opportunities for youth, reducing poverty, streamlining the oil and economic sectors, tackling corruption and climate change.

Linden municipality boosts Affected residents still capacity with $16M equipment fearful of losing lands T Enmore co-op society

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fter months of battling a co-op Society, residents of Enmore North on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) are on the verge of losing their lands, which have been invaded by persons sporting fake transport document.

It has been almost six months since the issue was unearthed after Secretary of the North Haslington Cooperative Society, Mary Luke, issued transport documents for lands which were lawfully owned by persons within the village.

The situation was at its peak when many persons were thrown out of their houses by these persons.

However, one of the persons, Champawattie Samuel stated on Saturday that a structure has been erected on her land, registered as Lot 158 Enmore North. The advice given to her suggested that she should hire an attorney.

However, Samuel and other residents could not afford the legal fees as the matter may continue for a long time.

A few persons would have appointed an attorney to look at the matter but uncertainty looms as to what will be the outcome.

“The people still building a house on my land and they tell us now that we should hire a lawyer and get them to re-

Some residents stood in the rain as Opposition MP Anil Nandlall addressed their concerns in July 2018

move. I can’t spend all of that money because right now we don’t know how long more this continuing,” she said.

Marcia Gordon told Guyana Times that Luke was prohibited from distributing such documents since 2013.

However, these actions have continued and the problem has stemmed from this.

“Right now, we have about 20 lands that having the same issue. What we understand is that the Co-op Secretary was banned by the Georgetown Co-op from giving out any transport but she still giving transport for other people land,” said Gordon.

On the land, a fence was erected and a house is currently under construction.

While this is one of the many cases, the police have made some interventions to resolve

conflicts among persons who were thrown out of their houses.

Back in June of 2018, several houses were invaded by unknown persons with transport documents in their possession for lands within the village. Belongings of the occupants were tossed out of these dwellings and left to be damaged in the rain.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall had shared some insight into that matter, stating that while the co-op is in a process of redistributing lands, they cannot merely give it to someone, highlighting that when a person is deceased, the beneficiary is supposed to be given the land.

Adding to that, it is not a case whereby the residents were squatting on the lands.

he municipality of Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) has boosted its capacity with the recent addition of a $16 million John Deere mobile backhoe to its existing fleet of equipment.

Acting Mayor Wainewright Bethune said the new piece of equipment, which was purchased using the municipality’s subvention, would aid in the digging of drains, filling of potholes, backfilling of eroded areas, and the clearing of roadsides and other spaces.

Bethune noted that the multi-purpose piece of equipment will bring much-needed relief to the Linden community.

“Definitely, it will bring some changes with all of the work that we have to do, and improve some of the things that we’re doing in and around the community ... It will also help with the garbage situation, clearing these little illegal dumpsites. It would help even with the mechanical work in and around the Council ... We decided that we would have purchased this piece of equipment sometime in August of last year because we recognise the amount and the variety of work we have to do in the township that this piece of equipment

The new piece of equipment

would be appropriate for,” Bethune noted.

He added that the equipment would be operated by municipal workers, noting that the Council recently undertook the repair of several minor roads in the town and the new equipment was expected to help expedite works.

He noted that with the upcoming Mashramani and Town Week celebrations, efforts would be made to ensure the community was clean.

As such, he urged residents to aid in the drive to beautify their surroundings.

The acting Mayor also noted that a new pick-up truck was also expected to be added to the fleet. This vehicle,

he noted, will be assigned to the office of the Town Clerk to assist officers attached to the environmental, buildings and other departments.

“We do expect, within the next three weeks or so that a lot of services in and around the township from the Council should improve,” he noted.

Bethune said the municipality was expected to meet with Linden stakeholders to discuss the status of the Council and the direction it intended to take. He noted that while there were a lot of areas which the Council was lacking in, it was urging all public and private stakeholders to come on board and collaborate with resources.

15

MONdAY, January 21, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What are your thoughts on language barriers in Guyana’s medical institutions where several medical professionals who are unable to speak proper English are being employed?

Akeasha Boodie “The whole point of language is to facilitate a connection between two or more people so that they can effectively communicate ideas. If there is a language barrier between doctors and their patients it can result in failed or miscommunication.

Patients need to be confident in their doctors and nurses and must know that their healthcare officials are able to understand what they are saying when they explain how

they are feeling.

While it is good to have the expertise of some skilled medical professionals from foreign countries, it is also important that these medical professionals are able to speak proper English and not just a few basic English words or phrases.

There should be a comprehensive program whereby persons from nonEnglish speaking countries who come to Guyana are required to learn English before they are able to enter our medical system; in the same way that Guyanese studying in Cuba are required to learn Spanish for a period of at least one year before they can proceed to med school.

Although a program of this type may cost the Government of Guyana - and possibly prívate institutions some amount of money, as it relates to paying for tutors and learning facilities, it is worth the health and safety of all Guyanese and will no doubt help to improve the medical system in Guyana.”

Andrew Khan

“The conversation between physician and patient has long been recognized to be of diagnostic import and therapeutic benefit. Unfortunately, however, because of language barriers, many patients in the United States do not benefit from this interaction Consequently, many health care purchasers, insur-

Mareta Jacobs “I think the administration of inappropriate drugs to patients will be likely. At the same time, I do believe bilingual professionals are what is actually needed.”

Eric Gordon “Since Guyana is an English speaking country, I'd say it should be made mandatory to learn English. The people that went Cuba to on scholarships had to learn Spanish for almost a year before they learned medicine, I can't see why it has to be different here? Barring that, simple logic, how can you treat me as a patient and you can even understand a word I'm saying? Looks like a good way to get someone killed.”

Candacy Famey “I think they should put measures in place to either teach Guyanese the other languages or vice versa and by doing that communication will no longer be a barrier.

They can also implement foreign languages as a compulsory subject in schools due to the rapid changes.”

Leandre Richards “The Authority is backward. Because how someone be active in English speaking country don’t know English?”

too can an and

ers, regulators, and clinicians wonder how or even if they even need to address the issue of language barriers in medical care. Purchasers may question whether it is worthwhile to press for the inclusion of language assistance services for their employees or beneficiaries. Insurers may question whether these services should be a covered benefit. Regulators may question whether it is important to encourage or mandate the provision of these services and how best to do so, and providers may question whether adequate linguistic services for their LEP patients have a clinical benefit. These questions are compounded by those of feasibility and cost, particularly when the need for linguistic services varies in different geographic, cultural, and clinical contexts.

Unfortunately, the current literature addressing these issues does not always offer.”

Dalon Chapman “Given that Guyana is an English speaking country, I think that those who come here to work should at least know some amount of English.

Even if they don’t, systems should be put in place to have them learn so that they can be better able to communicate with patients.”

Alliyah Sultan

“Patients are not able to un-

Triston Carter “Most of the medical

derstand what the doctors are saying which has been a major issue lately, not only are patients worried that they cannot understand the foreign doctors but they’re concerned that they might be given wrong medications and this scenario has put a lot of lives in danger and even caused death. Even the Guyanese nurses don’t understand what the foreign doctors are saying, it's such a disadvantage for patients and even for themselves because sometimes they don't even understand what the patients are saying either. They should have more trained professional English speaking doctors working at the hospitals.”

staff here is non-Guyanese.

I believe 50 per cent of the medical staff is from India, while 30 per cent is either from the United States or Cuba. This leaves only a margin of 20 per cent staffers being Guyanese.

Since our people study abroad, that leaves only Guyanese nurses in the medical field and not doctors. The other unrecorded medicine practitioners always migrate when they get their degree, but staying on topic, I would say the majority of our tourists are either Brazilians or Cubans, which would make it a plus for them if they have to visit a doctor.”

16

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, January 21, 2019

Regional

Focus sharpens on Colombia protest: Thousands march for peace after cadet killings Mexico fuel theft plan after blast kills 79

T

housands of people across Colombia have taken to the streets demanding peace and chanting “no to terrorism”.

The protests were in response to the death of 20 Police Cadets in a car bomb attack in the capital, Bogotá.

President Iván Duque and his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, were among those in marching in Bogotá.

Duque blamed the attack on the National Liberation Army (ELN), and has ruled out any restart of peace negotiations with the left-wing rebels.

The ELN has not said it was behind last Thursday’s attack at the General Santander School, but authorities have named the car driver, who was also killed, as ELN explosives expert Jose Aldemar Rojas.

Duque told the rally in Bogotá: “Together, the Government and society will work for Colombia and we will never give in when facing terrorism.

“Colombia is strong and will never be scared, it will never be intimidated by criminals.”

During the event, protesters, many wearing white clothes and

A

Protesters chanted "no more attacks on the Police or the Army"

waving white flags, chanted “no to violence” and “no more attacks on the Police or the Army”, while handing flowers to security personnel.

In Medellín, images of those killed in the attacks were projected on to large screens in the city’s Plaza de las Luces.

The ELN is Colombia’s last major guerrilla group and began peace talks with the country’s Government in 2017.

Duque suspended talks after taking office in August last year, demanding the ELN free all hostages and stop its attacks. (Excerpt from BBC News)

NODS clears the air on Barbuda ultimatum

NODS is the Government entity responsible for disaster management in Antigua and Barbuda

T

he National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) does not report to the Member of Parliament for Barbuda, Trevor Walker, or [to] the Barbuda Council and as such they do not have any authority to give the disaster office a deadline to

leave the sister isle, a release stated on Friday.

It came from NODS Director Philmore Mullin in response to a statement by Walker that NODS failed to meet a December deadline, stipulated by the Barbuda Council, to relinquish some of

its responsibilities on the sister island. Mullin said there had not been any such communication from the Council or Walker, and in any case, it is not in the Barbuda MP’s place to determine when, if and how NODS operates in Barbuda.

NODS is the government entity responsible for disaster management in Antigua and Barbuda, and as such the Director reports to a Minister who oversees that specific portfolio, the release pointed out.

Mullin went on to say that the office has made every effort to collaborate with the Member of Parliament for Barbuda and the Council with little success.

“We’ve met with Mr Walker officially three times.

One such meeting was conducted with the Director of NODS, the Permanent Secretary and the Minister, and the very next day what was agreed upon was totally misrepresented in the public’s domain by Mr Walker,” said Mullin. Mullin said after making a presentation in Cabinet, it was agreed that NODS would turn the recovery process over to the Works Ministry, which has since been done. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

blast at a gasoline pipeline in Mexico that killed at least 79 people has put renewed attention on the Government’s strategy to stop fuel theft, with some relatives saying fuel shortages stemming from the plan led victims to risk their lives.

Fuel thieves punctured the Tula-Tuxpan pipeline a few miles from one of Mexico’s main refineries on Friday. Up to 800 people flocked to fill plastic containers from the seven-metre (23-ft) gasoline geyser that ensued, officials say. A couple of hours later, it erupted in flames in a powerful explosion.

Half a dozen people interviewed by Reuters on Saturday said their relatives went to the leaking duct in Tlahuelilpan district in Hidalgo state because they struggled to find fuel elsewhere and were desperate to fill up cars to get to work or run their farms.

“A lot of innocent people came here, perhaps their car didn’t have enough gasoline for tomorrow, and they said I’m just going to go for a few litres,” said farmer Isidoro Velasco, 51, who was waiting for news of his nephew Mario Hidalgo, who he believed was likely killed.

Hidalgo would have turned 34 on Saturday. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Brazil's VP says Bolsonaro son's transactions are unrelated to Government

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he probe involving cash transfers into the account of President Jair Bolsonaro’s son are not related to the Government, Vice President Hamilton Mourao said on Sunday in an interview with Reuters.

“Flavio Bolsonaro has nothing to do with our government,” Mourao said, referring to the former Rio de Janeiro lawmaker and senator-elect. Mourao will become interim president on Sunday evening, after Bolsonaro leaves for a trip to join the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mourao also said the investigations have not yet concluded.

Recent news reports showed the Council for Financial Activities Control, known as COAF, found 48 deposits made into the account of Flavio Bolsonaro, one of President Jair Bolsonaro’s sons. Flavio has also made a one million reais (US$266,652) payment.

COAF has also found

seven million reais (US$1.9 million) in financial transactions in accounts belonging to Flavio Bolsonaro’s former driver, Fabricio Queiroz, over three years, Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported on Sunday.

Flavio Bolsonaro declined to comment on Sunday.

The investigations are a new embarrassment for Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right nationalist who took office on January 1 vowing to stamp out endemic graft and show zero tolerance to corruption within his government.

The Supreme Court agreed last week to a request from Flavio Bolsonaro’s lawyers to suspend a probe into suspicious payments to his former driver, Fabricio Queiroz. Flavio’s lawyers argued that, as a senator-elect, he now enjoys certain legal protections, including that any case involving him should only be decided by the top court.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Search continues for kidnapped 2 dead from heart attacks as strong quake jolts Chile T&T student and cousin

T

he search continues for a 17-year-old student and his cousin who were kidnapped at sea a week ago, and a ransom of US$40,000 demanded for their safe return.

Up to late Sunday, the Coast Guard were searching for Kenrick Morgan, a Form Five student of Moruga Secondary School, and his cousin, Kendell Singh, 24, but they again returned empty-handed.

A week ago, the families were contacted by a Spanish-speaking man who said if the money was not

paid within a week, the student and his cousin would be killed.

A photograph of a man holding a gun to the heads of the cousins was sent to the families.

The kidnappers last contacted the families when the ransom was demanded.

Police said the two were last seen fishing in the sea off Gran Chemin, Moruga on January 12.

Relatives are still praying the cousins are alive and safe. Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Moruga Police are investigating. (Trinidad Newsday)

A

Kenrick Joseph Morgan

strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit north-central Chile on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said, with Police reporting the deaths of two people from heart attacks.

The quake struck at a depth of 53 kilometres (33 miles) with an epicentre some 15 km southwest of Coquimbo, USGS said.

An elderly man and an elderly woman from Coquimbo suffered cardiac arrests as a result of the quake, police said, while there were several landslides reported on national

highways.

The earthquake, which hit at 0132 GMT (Sunday), was felt in Valparaiso, O'Higgins and the region of the capital Santiago, as well as in Atacama and Coquimbo up north.

Thousands of homes lost power, which showed how intense the quake was, according to Ricardo Toro of the National Emergency Office.

Residents in Coquimbo and neighbouring Serena, a coastal region about 500 kilometres from Santiago, evacuated to high ground even though authorities

quickly ruled out a tsunami, according to local media.

The Coquimbo region experienced a tsunami in September 2015 after an 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck, killing a dozen people.

The 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile was the strongest ever recorded, at 9.5, on the magnitude scale, according to the USGS. Chile lies on the Ring of Fire – an arc of fault lines that circles the Pacific Basin and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. (AFP)

17

mondAY, January 21, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Police fire tear gas as Zimbabwe protests: Crackdown Greeks protest against is just a “taste of things to come” Macedonia name deal T

P

olice fired tear gas to disperse protesters outside Parliament on Sunday as tens of thousands of Greeks rallied in Athens to protest ahead of next week’s parliamentary vote to ratify a name deal with Macedonia.

Central Athens turned into a sea of people holding blue and white Greek flags as thousands came from all over the country to rally against the accord to name the ex-Yugoslav state North Macedonia.

Many Greeks believe the name Macedonia implies a territorial claim over their country’s own northern region of that name.

The issue evokes strong emotions among Greeks who consider Macedonia, the ancient kingdom ruled

by Alexander the Great, to be an integral part of their homeland and heritage.

The accord, signed by the two Governments, unblocks the ex-Yugoslav republic’s desire to join NATO and the European Union once it is ratified by Greece’s Parliament.

A protester kicks back a tear gas can during a demonstration against the agreement reached by Greece and Macedonia to resolve a dispute over the former Yugoslav republic’s name, in Athens, Greece

Macedonia declared independence in 1991, avoiding the violence that accompanied much of the break-up of Yugoslavia. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has sought to accelerate the country’s bid to join the EU and NATO and to work on resolving the decades-old name dispute with Greece.

Settling the issue would be hailed as a success by

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whose left-right coalition came to power in 2015.

He won a confidence motion this month after the junior partner in his coalition pulled out.

Greek Police said that 10 officers were wounded in clashes with demonstrators after being attacked with stones and petrol bombs.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Do not hijack Brexit, Minister warns Britain's Parliament

P

arliament cannot be allowed to hijack Brexit, Trade Minister Liam Fox said on Sunday, in a warning to lawmakers who want to take more control over Britain’s departure from the European Union.

With just weeks to go before Britain is due to leave the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May will return to Parliament on Monday to set out how she plans to try to break the Brexit deadlock after her deal was rejected by lawmakers last week.

Time is running out for Brexit, Britain’s biggest

shift in foreign and trade policy in more than 40 years, but so far there is little that unites a divided Parliament beyond its rejection of May’s deal that envisages close economic ties with the EU. Fox, a Brexit supporter, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that May’s divorce agreement with the EU was still the best basis for a deal and warned lawmakers against trying to take more control of Britain’s departure.

“Parliament has not got the right to hijack the Brexit process because Parliament said to the peo-

ple of this country: ‘we make a contract with you, you will make the decision and we will honor it’,” Fox said.

“What we are now getting are some of those who were always absolutely opposed to the result of the referendum trying to hijack Brexit and in effect steal the result from the people.”

Britain voted with a 52 per cent majority to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum that exposed deep divisions across the country, divisions that still split cities and towns, and the country’s Parliament, almost three years on. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Pakistan arrests Police Officers after shooting that left 4 dead

A

u t h o r i t i e s in Pakistan have arrested counterterrorism police officers after they allegedly killed a middle-aged couple, their 13-year-old daughter and another man in what the police initially claimed was a shootout with armed fighters.

Police killed grocery store owner Mohammad Khalil, his wife Nabila, their daughter Areeba and a family friend, Zeeshan Javed, after stopping their vehicle late on Saturday near Sahiwal city in Punjab province.

Police claimed Javed was a "wanted terrorist" and initially accused him of using the others as human shields.

Family members and witnesses said police killed the

Relatives of the family killed by counterterrorism officers outside their home in Lahore

four in cold blood and then tried to cover up their actions.

Angry residents in the area kept the bodies on the road in protest.

Authorities said they have launched an investigation and arrested the officers involved, without saying how

many.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed "swift action" against those found responsible for the killings.

"As soon as JIT [joint investigation team] report comes, swift action will be taken," he posted on Twitter.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

he Zimbabwean Government says the security forces' response to recent protests in which a number of people have reportedly died is just "a foretaste of things to come".

News of a violent crackdown has emerged despite the Government blocking social media sites.

Local rights groups said at least 12 people had been killed and many more beaten by security forces.

The protests were sparked on Monday by a sharp rise in the price of fuel.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Sunday he was cutting short his current foreign tour to return home "in the light of the economic situation".

Presidential spokesman George Charamba, speaking to the state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper, blamed the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) for the violence that has ac-

The UN has called on the Government to halt the "excessive use of force"

companied the protests.

The opposition rejected a court ruling in August that confirmed that President Mnangagwa had beaten MDC candidate Nelson Chamisa.

Over the course of the week riot police have clashed with protesters in the capital, Harare, and the southern city of Bulawayo after they lit fires and blocked roads using rocks. On Thursday, Mr

Chamisa tweeted that his thoughts were "with the victims of violence".

"Despite the vitriol," he added, "we maintain a dignified position befitting our role as led by the people."

The UN has called on the Government to halt the "excessive use of force" by security forces, amid reports of door-to-door searches and the use of live ammunition.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US shutdown: Trump angered by Democrats' rejection of “compromise”

U

S President Donald Trump has attacked Democrats for rejecting his proposals to end the longest Government shutdown in US history.

He said his plans had been dismissed before he had even presented them.

Mr Trump had offered "compromises" in exchange for funding for his security wall along the Mexican border, the issue that has caused the shutdown.

There were two main offers in an address Mr Trump made on Saturday: Some 700,000 so-called Dreamers, who were young when they entered the US illegally with their parents,

would be protected for another three years Some 300,000 people holding visas under Temporary Protection Status (TPS) would also get three years' protection. These are people who have fled countries affected by war or disasters On Twitter, he said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats had "turned down my offer yesterday before I even got up to speak".

What did the Democrats say?

The target of Mr Trump's anger was a statement released by Ms Pelosi anticipating - and rejecting - the concessions before they were

made.

She said the proposals were "a non-starter" and "a compilation of several previously rejected initiatives, each of which is unacceptable and in total do not represent a good faith effort to restore certainty to people's lives".

Senator Chuck Schumer said Mr Trump had previously "single-handedly" taken away Dreamer and TPS protections and that offering some protections back was "not a compromise but more hostage taking".

The Democrats insist they will not negotiate until Government is reopened.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Congo political crisis deepens as top court rejects vote challenge

C

ongo’s political standoff deepened on Sunday after the top court backed the contested presidential election victory of Felix Tshisekedi, then his main rival rejected the ruling, called for protests and declared himself leader.

As Tshisekedi’s supporters celebrated the ruling in the streets of Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, runner-up Martin Fayulu said the decision had opened the way to a “constitutional coup d’etat”, raising fears of more violence.

Last month’s election was meant to mark the first democratic transfer of power in the vast central African country, where conflicts have regularly destabilised the region.

But monitors pointed to major flaws in the poll. Unrest over the vote has already killed 34 people, wounded 59 and led to 241 “arbitrary arrests” in the past week, according to the UN human rights office.

In the early hours of Sunday, the Constitutional Court ruled that a legal challenge to the result filed by Fayulu was inadmissible. “Felix Tshisekedi will become the fifth President of the republic,” Government spokesman Lambert Mende said as he welcomed the judgment.

Fayulu issued statements dismissing the ruling. “The constitutional court has just con-

Felix Tshisekedi, leader of the Congolese main Opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, gestures to supporters at party headquarters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

firmed that it serves a dictatorial regime ... by validating false results, (and enabling) a constitutional coup d’etat,” he said in one.

“I am now considering myself as the sole legitimate President of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he added in another statement. He called for people to mount peaceful demonstrations - though the streets of the capital were calm on Sunday afternoon.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

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ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

dilbert

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Togetherness and taking time out to help a close friend or relative will do you just as much good as it will others. If you share your feelings, you'll put others at ease.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Live and learn. Take part in an event that will enlighten you or give you a different perspective on life and new possibilities. Romance is in the stars.

CANCER

If you want to make a change, do so for the right reasons. Don't let an emotional whim cause you to overreact or mislead someone counting on you for good advice.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

You'll have plenty of energy, but if you don't put it to good use, emotional situations will escalate and arguments will prevail. Keep the peace.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Sign up for something that will get you out of the house. Taking part in an energetic activity, socializing with friends or spending a romantic day making plans will prove delightful.

Get involved in your community or attend an event that will bring you in contact with people who have something to offer. What you contribute will lead to opportunity.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Change should begin with you. Don't waste your time trying to turn someone else into something that he or she will never be. Look inward and make personal adjustments.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Surround yourself with people you enjoy being with.

Talks will be revealing and will point you in a new and unusual direction. Someone with more experience will offer unusual insight.

SUDOKU

Home is where the action SAGITTARIUS should be. Invite friends over (Nov. 23- or start a new project that Dec. 21) will add to your comfort. A change will do you good and lead to new endeavors.

Don't ignore emotional situCAPRICORN ations. Recognize what's going (Dec. 22- on around you, ask questions Jan. 19) and find out where you stand.

Staying on top of a brewing situation will help deter discord.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Don't be fooled by a job posting that offers an opportunity which sounds too good to be true. Trust in what you do, who you are and how best to use your skills.

Keep your life simple. Too much of anything will lead to regret. Know when to stop and rethink matters. Much can be accomplished if you surround yourself with the right people.

mondAY, January 21, 2019

19

Australian Open 2019…

Federer beaten by D

Tsitsipas in 4th round

efending champion Roger Federer is out of the Australian Open after Greek 14th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas earned the biggest win of his career to reach the quarter-finals.

The Swiss lost 6-7 (1113) 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-6 (7-5) on a dramatic night. Federer, a six-time champion, failed to reach the last eight in Melbourne for only the second time in 16 years.

Tsitsipas, 20, saved all 12 of 37-year-old Federer's break points on his way to a famous win.

"I'm the happiest man on earth right now, I can't describe it," he said.

"I beat my idol. My idol today became pretty much my rival."

Federer lumped a forehand long to leave Tsitsipas serving for the match in the fourth-set tiebreak, and the youngster forced him into a backhand error to win in three hours and 45 minutes.

Tsitsipas dropped his racquet in celebration and seemed to mouth "me?" at

the crowd, expressing his shock further by covering his hand with mouth, before starting to cry as he walked over to celebrate with his team. "That moment is definitely something that I will never, ever, ever forget," he said.

"This match point is going to stay, I'm pretty much sure, forever, for the rest of my life."

He will play Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, who beat Croatian sixth seed Marin Cilic in five sets, in the last eight.

And the Greek believes he is on the verge of "something big" and could perhaps even win the tournament.

"That's why I'm here, playing to win the trophy," he said. "I want it really badly."

Barty & Petra Kvitova into quarter-finals

Home favourite Ashleigh Barty won nine games in a row to inspire a comeback against Maria Sharapova and book her place in the Australian

Roger Federer congratulates Stefanos Tsitsipas on his victory

Open quarter-finals.

Having lost the first set, Barty broke twice in the second and went on to win 4-6 6-1 6-4 to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time.

"This is unreal," the 15th seed told a packed crowd on the Rod Laver Arena.

"Playing on this beautiful court - there is nothing better."

She will face eighth seed Petra Kvitova, who

beat Amanda Anisimova.

World number six Kvitova comfortably won 6-2 6-1 against the American 17-year-old on Rod Laver Arena.

The Czech two-time Grand Slam champion has reached the last eight on two other occasions but has never won the title in Melbourne.

Nadal beats Tomas Berdych to reach quarter-finals

Second seed Rafael Nadal swept aside former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals without dropping a set.

Spain's Nadal, 32, beat Czech Berdych 6-0 6-1 7-6 (7-4) in Melbourne.

Berdych, unseeded but climbing back up the rankings after injury, had been expected to provide a sterner test.

But Nadal's relent-

less brilliance did not allow Berdych, who made too many unforced errors, to make it a contest until the third set.

"He made more mistakes than usual. The third set was a real set after the first two," said Nadal.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion looks in great shape as he aims to become the first man to win each of the four Grand Slams twice in the Open era.His only previous triumph at Melbourne Park came in 2009.

Berdych caused an upset at this tournament three years ago when he beat Nadal in straight sets, ending a run of 17 consecutive defeats against him.

But a repeat performance never looked on the cards as Nadal claimed victory in just over two hours.

The former world number one will play 21-yearold American Frances Tiafoe, who beat Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, in the last eight. (BBC Sport)

West Indies Coach Richard Pybus turns a deaf ear to agitators W

est Indies’ interim head coach, Richard Pybus, claims to have a near Zenlike focus leading into Wednesday’s first Test despite his recent appointment causing the latest round of political infighting in the Caribbean.

After three years as director of cricket the Englishman returned as a high performance director last year before now stepping into a nine-month tenure as head coach following Stuart Law’s switch to Middlesex and an interim spell for the team under Nic Pothas.

The appointment appears to have been made unilaterally by the West Indies Cricket Board president, Dave Cameron – Pybus was not on the original shortlist drawn up by the current director of crick-

et, Jimmy Adams – and it prompted the former captain Darren Sammy to offer a withering assessment of his credentials on social media.

The Leeward Islands president, Enoch Lewis, has now been referred to the board’s ethics committee after speaking out publicly too, having been the one vote against when Cameron ran his decision past the six territories that make up West Indies.

“It’s part of the landscape. I have just got to get on with the job, really,” said Pybus, after putting the West Indies players through their paces in training on Sunday.

“Criticism is part of the tapestry and the drama around sport. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into England. I don’t want to sound too ‘Zen’ but I’m really

focused on the first day and making sure we’re ready.”

Cricket West Indies defended the track record of Pybus on Friday, describing him as the “architect” on their “trifecta” of titles in 2016 (World T20, Women’s World T20 and Under-19 World Cup) given he was director of cricket at the time, something Sammy, captain for the first of those, described as “nonsense”.

Pybus said: ‚“I don’t want to unpack the past. Darren is entitled to his opinion. I don’t want to give boring one-liners but I did three years as director of cricket and what’s in the results bank is in the results bank.

It’s the players on the park who deliver. But I was satisfied at the time with how the programmes supported players.

“It’s the Caribbean, you’ve got 16 countries. It’s

not like England, Australia or South Africa. With the internal politics, there’s always discussion. Unless you’ve spent a considerable amount of time in the region it’s difficult to understand quite how challenging it is.”

While the Test team is settled under the captaincy of Jason Holder and has players loyal to first-class cricket, it will be intriguing to see how

the one-day team shapes up selection-wise

under Pybus, both on this tour and leading into the summer’s World Cup in England.

The former Pakistan and Bangladesh head coach is said to have a strained relationship with Marlon Samuels, for example, and with the 36-yearold batsman having averaged 22 over the past two years, at a strikerate of 63, his place looks vulnerable. (The Guardian)

West Indies’ Interim Head Coach Richard Pybus makes a point during a training session

20

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mondAY, January 21, 2019

Pacquiao dominates Broner Man City beat managerless in unanimous decision win Huddersfield

W

BA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao showed flashes of his past brilliance as he delivered a dominant performance to earn a unanimous decision victory over Adrien Broner in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The 40-year-old Filipino multiple world champion was quicker and more accurate as he controlled each round and cruised to the triumph to take his career record to 61-7-2.

American Broner, 29, fought gamely and stayed upright despite being hit with several heavy combinations but was ultimately outclassed.

Retired great Floyd Mayweather attended the fight, fuelling speculation of a rematch against Pacquiao, who the undefeated American beat in 2015.

Two judges scored the bout 116-112 in favour of Pacquiao, while the third had the Filipino Senator a 117-111 winner.

“I’m so happy,” said Pacquiao.

“God gave me this blessing (of good health). At the age of 40 I can still give my best.”

About the only person in attendance who disagreed with the outcome was Broner (334-1), who protested the result emphatically in his post fight interview.

“I beat him. Everyone out there knows I beat him,” Broner said. “I controlled the fight, he was missing and I hit him clean more

Manny Pacquiao (right) and Adrien Broner box during a WBA welterweight world title match at MGM Grand Garden Arena

times.”

It was difficult to take Broner’s claims seriously on a night when he was relegated to the role of defensive fighter.

Pacquiao appeared the younger and spryer of the two as he attacked his opponent’s midsection and ultimately landed 47 body shots to Broner’s three.

In the seventh round, Pacquiao pushed Broner back to the ropes and delivered an onslaught of punches that left Broner holding on for survival.

Pacquiao nearly knocked his opponent down again in the ninth when he delivered a clean

left hook to Broner’s chin that knocked him back.

“I wanted to push more but my trainer said ‘do not be careless, wait for him and you counter’,” Pacquiao said.

The final few rounds were anticlimactic as Broner played it safe and Pacquiao stayed in control.

At the final bell, Pacquiao dropped to his knees in his corner for a moment of contemplation.

Pacquiao is enjoying a career turnaround after uninspiring efforts that left many believing his career was nearing an end.

“I don’t believe my career is

over,” Pacquiao said. “I proved it in my last fight against (Lucas Matthysse) and now proved it again. The Manny Pacquiao journey still continues.”

Mayweather, whose last outing was a farce of an exhibition bout against a Japanese kickboxer, refused the entreaties of a ringside TV reporter to indicate whether he would be willing to fight Pacquiao again.

The Filipino was less reticent.

“Tell him to come back to the ring and then we will fight,” Pacquiao said.

“I’m willing to fight if he’s willing to come back in boxing.”

(Reuters)

Henry Cejudo stuns TJ Dillashaw in 32 seconds in controversial finish T

he UFC started a new era on ESPN but the controversy has continued with a stunning upset in Brooklyn.

Henry Cejudo, who ended longreigning champion Demetrious Johnson’s era by claiming the 125-pound strap last year, claimed an incredible 32 second victory but opponent TJ Dillashaw was far from pleased at the refs stoppage.

Fighting at 125 pounds, Cejudo was attempting to justify the continuation of a division that has traditionally been unpopular with fans but his dramatic victory may just have breathed new life into the division.

It came after former NFL bad boy Greg Hardy was disqualified in the co-main event.

White weighs in on double controversies UFC president Dana White has weighed in on the main event controversies during his post-fight press conference.

In the big fight, he sided with Dillashaw that the referees call was too early for what was at stake as Henry Cejudo was awarded the win 32 seconds into the fight.

“I thought it was an early stoppage too,” he said post-fight.

“You’ve got two of the best guys in the world, two world champions in a superfight, let them fight. Let them fight and let them finish. I’m not taking anything away from Cejudo, because the fight went 20 seconds and Cejudo busted him up.

“But Jesus Christ, let them fight, horrible stoppage.”

White also weighed in on the Greg Hardy’s future in the UFC, saying it was just a “rookie mistake” which saw his disqualified after kneeing opponent Allen Crowder while he was grounded.

Cejudo wins in 32 seconds After all the build up, all the talk about weight cutting as TJ

TJ Dillashaw questions the refs’ stoppage call as he lost his belt to Henry Cejudo in under a minute

Dillashaw chased UFC history, it was all for nought with Henry Cejudo showing his mastery of the flyweight division, barely letting the bantamweight champion breathe, knocking him down twice in 32 seconds before the referee called the fight.

It was the fastest a flyweight championship had been decided, and tied for the fifth fastest knockout in UFC championship history.

But the war of words has begun with both men looking at a rematch.

“I just said congratulations, I was competing against the man,” he said. “Really, deep down, I was like ‘are you really that happy?

How could you be that happy with that win?’ Obviously he didn’t lose his belt, he’s going to feed his family, pay his bills, good for him.

I wouldn’t be happy winning that way and I wouldn’t have called myself a double champ winning that way.”

There may have been even more riding on the fight for Cejudo.

The flyweight division has been on the chopping block for some time with commentators saying this may have been the result to resurrect the division.

“Uncle Dana, where are you hiding?,” Cejudo said. “This victory

is much bigger for me, it was for the flyweights.

“But like I told TJ, we can do this again, and this time it’ll be at 135 pounds. Thank you for the opportunity, you’re a star bro.

I’ll give you another shot at 135 pounds, let’s do it again.

“I hope I did enough to keep the this weight division alive.”

Dillashaw wanted another shot at flyweight, saying “I’ll fight tomorrow” after the brutal weight cut.

He even broke down in tears when talking about whether he’d like to keep the flyweight division, recounting the work to get down to 125 pounds.

Cejudo didn’t give Dillashaw a chance to get into the match during the fight.

“I knew he was hurt, I caught him with that leg kick around the chin and the rest is history,” Cejudo said of the knockout.

“Holy smokes, he just buzzed straight through him,” the commentators said.

Cejudo was way on top but Dillashaw, who was the favourite, was still disappointed with the fight being called so quickly.

“It sucks when something’s taken from you, not when you actually get beat — I would love to get beat,” Dillashaw said. “Congrats

to Henry Cejudo, good job but you didn’t beat me.”

In the post-fight press conference, Dillashaw added to what he said in the ring, saying “it sucks to have it stolen”.

“I worked my butt off, I’m so much better than that and it’d be nice to get the chance to show it,” he said. “It’s a title fight, it’s a champ vs champ fight, and you’re going to stop the fight like that on a single leg. He said ‘show me something’, I said ‘I’m OK’. He stops punching to defend the single leg.

“It’s just ridiculous man. It’s pretty pathetic that I have better knowledge than that ref.

“If I’m going to lose, I want to lose.” (News.au) The card

Main Henry Cejudo (champion) defeated TJ Dillashaw via TKO — R1, 0:32 Allen Crowder defeated Greg Hardy via disqualification (illegal knee) — R2, 2:28 Gregor Gillespie defeated Yancy Medeiros via TKO — R2, 4:59 Joseph Benavidez defeated Dustin Ortiz via decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Paige VanZant defeated Rachael Ostovich via submission (armbar) R2, 1:50 Glover Teixeira defeated Karl Roberson via submission (katagatame) R1, 3:21 Undercard Donald Cerrone defeated Alexander Hernandez via KO (punches) — R2, 3:43 Joanne Calderwood defeated Ariane Lipski via unanimous decision (30-26 x2, 30-27) Alonzo Menifield defeated Vinicius Moreira via TKO (punches) — R1, 3:56 Cory Sandhagen defeated Mario Bautista via submission (armbar) — R1, 3:31

M

Raheem Sterling scored his 12th of the season against Huddersfield

anchester City eased past managerless Huddersfield to move back to four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

David Wagner left the Terriers by mutual consent on Monday with the club bottom of the league, leaving coach Mark Hudson temporarily in charge.

City, who had netted 19 goals in their past three games, were not at their free-scoring best in the first half at the John Smith's Stadium.

But the defending champions went ahead in the 18th minute when Danilo's long-range effort deflected in off the head of Christopher Schindler.

The visitors then struck twice in two minutes after the break to put the game to bed, with Leroy Sane creating the first and scoring the second.

First, the Germany forward whipped in a cross for Raheem Sterling to dive and head in his 12th goal of the season.

Then Sergio Aguero cushioned a header for Sane to run on to and finish past Jonas Lossl.

It was not a vintage display by Pep Guardiola's side but they remain in title contention.

Borussia Dortmund coach Jan Siewert has been approached by Huddersfield for the vacant job, but he will face a mammoth task to keep them in the top flight if he takes over.

This was their ninth defeat in 10 league games and the result leaves the Terriers bottom of the table and 10 points from safety.

With Liverpool edging a seven-goal thriller against Crystal Palace on Saturday, City's mission in Yorkshire was simply to win and stay in touch.

Guardiola tweaked his line-up with Gabriel Jesus,

who had scored seven goals in his past three games, dropped to the bench in favour of Aguero, who made his first start since the 2-1 win over Liverpool on 3 January.

City should have been awarded a penalty in the 13th minute when Terence Kongolo went into the back of Sterling.

Danilo's goal lifted a sloppy first half during which even Kevin de Bruyne, usually so assured in possession, was wasteful.

That was City's 100th in all competitions this season - and they are the first side in Europe's top five leagues (England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) to reach the landmark.

Bar the two-goal burst, the visitors were nowhere near their attacking best, even when the two Silvas Bernardo and David - came on in the second half.

Aguero barely threatened and only managed one shot, a half chance in the first half.

It was not the demolition many had predicted but ultimately it was mission accomplished for City, who have now scored 23 goals without reply and not conceded for 386 minutes.

"The way we played we didn't deserve more than three goals," said Guardiola. "We will improve in the future.

"What we have done so far has been incredible, in the league and the Carabao Cup. We have an incredible number of points. But this game can teach us and show what we have to do to improve.

"We've scored a lot of goals. So far, so good. One team has been better but we're in January and there are many more games to play. We have to focus on what we have to do.

"If Liverpool win, we have to win. And if Liverpool lose, then we also have to win." (BBC Sport)

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LEGAL NOTICE

sports

Harden focused on wins, not personal feats

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UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE MONEY Harden scored more than 30 points for the 19th successive game to help LENDERS ACT, CHAPTER 91.05 I, THE UNDERSIGNED DO HEREBY Houston past a depleted Lakers team that lost Lonzo Ball to an CERTIFY THAT I DO AUTHORIZE ankle injury.

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Harden has had to step up for the Rockets in the absence of the injured Eric Gordon and Chris Paul, with Clint Capela also joining them on the sidelines this week after undergoing thumb surgery.

Gordon returned in the loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday and made several key contributions against the Lakers, hitting a huge three-pointer to force overtime and sealing the win by making critical free throws.

"It takes a lot of burden off me," Harden said of Gordon's return. “He’s LeBron James and Rajon Rondo so offensively gifted and talented, being able to shoot the basketball, get to the rim, and make plays for others. “You get a guy like that on the floor with you it makes the game easier, not only myself but for everybody."

Lakers won't rush LeBron & Rondo back despite Ball injury

Lonzo Ball is set for a spell on the sidelines after injuring his ankle on Saturday, yet Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton insists it will not cause him to rush back LeBron James or Rajon Rondo.

Second-year point guard Ball was forced off the court during Saturday's 138-134 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets, though subsequent x-rays on his ankle injury came back negative.

However, Ball could still miss a significant amount of time and that would be a big loss to a Lakers team fighting for a postseason berth. James and Rondo have both been missing since the Christmas Day win over the Golden State Warriors with respective groin and finger injuries, and though Walton previously said he was hopeful both would practice on Sunday, he also added it was unlikely either would feature against

the NBA champions on Monday.

And Walton insists the Ball injury will not change the Lakers' plans for James and Rondo. "We won't rush [Rondo's] playing time at all," Walton told reporters.

However, Walton felt there were recent signs of improvement and he, therefore, hopes to have Ball back again soon. "I just told him to keep his head up," he added. (Sportsmax)

England preparation for NOT West Indies “not ideal”, says RECEIVING YOUR James Anderson DAILY & SUNDAY COPIES OF THE

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Keaton Jennings (left) has only scored 17 runs in the two warm-up games, but opening partner Rory Burns made 103

E

ngland's preparations for their Test series in the West Indies are "not ideal" but they must "make do", says veteran seam bowler James Anderson.

The tourists played two two-day 12-a-side warm-up games before the first Test starts on Wednesday in

Barbados.

"It's not ideal, but there's not much time to get that preparation in so we've just to make do with what we've got," added Anderson.

"Bowlers have got miles in their legs, batsmen time at the crease."

Jonny Bairstow made 98, Joe Root 87, Stuart Broad

took a hat-trick and Chris Woakes 3-31 during the two fixtures, in which teams could bat on after the 10th wicket fell.

The 36-year-old Lancastrian played in the first of the two practice matches, taking four wickets against a Cricket West Indies President's XI who

made the unusual score of 203-19.

He told BBC Sport: "The nature of tours nowadays is we've only got four days of actual match practice before the first Test so we've got to try and get as much out of these days as we can, and I think we've done it.

"You've got to bowl with match intensity; when you're batting you've got to be switched on.

"You can have as many nets as you want but you can't replicate time out in the middle, no matter how forced the games are.

"In tours gone by we'd probably have two or three four-day games to prepare but that's not the case now so we've just to make do with what we've got."

England recorded their first series whitewash in Sri Lanka in November but have not won either of their last two tours to the West Indies, with only one series victory in the Caribbean since the 1960s.

"We've not had much of a break since Sri Lanka so that's pretty fresh in our minds and everyone has come here in really good shape and ready to go," Anderson said.

England's record Test wicket-taker is making his third tour of the Caribbean and has 26 wickets in seven matches, 10 of them coming in Barbados.

Asked about the prospect of it being his final West Indies tour, he said: "I don't really think about that, I don't even know when the next tour is so I don't look that far ahead."

England next visit in March 2022, when Anderson, who also holds the record for most Test wickets by a seam bowler, will be 39.

"My focus is on performing well this trip and helping the team win in a Test series. The future will take care of itself so I try and focus on the present," he said.

(BBC Sport)

22

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mondAY, January 21, 2019

Hope, Bravo hail Sir Garfield for courtesy visit ahead of England Test L

egendary West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers dropped in on the boys ahead of their Test series versus England, which gets underway from January 23 at the Kensington Oval, Barbados and imparted some extra advice to batsmen Shai Hope and Darren Bravo.

With the coveted Wisden Trophy at stake, Sobers, who rocked the Test arena in the olden days with his record 365 not out versus Pakistan in the 1950s, made the surprise call on the players, including Skipper Jason Holder, who is from Barbados like the legend.

Known for his ability to bowl seam-up deliveries as well as occasional spin, the spritely 82-year-old Sobers conducted one-on-one sessions as well as group chats as he gave vital advice to

Sir Garfield Sobers (centre) gives Windies batsman Shai Hope some tips in the presence of Test Captain Jason Holder

both batsmen and bowlers alike. Two batsmen in particular – Hope and the returning Bravo – were beneficiaries of Sobers’ advice,

Bris'O' Promotions’ Bikini Boxxing 2 set for Bartica Regatta

F

ollowing a successful old.

Each contestant will Beach Bikini Boxxing tournament that was be fitted with balloon-like contested November last gloves that are specially at the Splashmins Resort, made to minimise and preoverseas-based Guyanese vent injuries.

When quizzed about the promoter Seon Bristol has announced that the second quality of the bouts, Bristol edition was not far away. explained that the particiSpeaking with Bristol pants would undergo about recently, who has been two months of training that promoting both amateur would be facilitated by forand professional boxing in mer Guyana and internaGuyana and overseas for tional boxing champion over 20 years, he disclosed Shondell Alfred, who will that the “Bikini Boxxing” 2 fine-tune the ladies' skills.

The Bikini Boxxing 2 event would be part of the list of activities for Bartica card will feature no less than Regatta 2019, which is slat- five bouts, each of which will have three one-minute ed for April this year.

In a bid to help promote rounds. and foster sports entertainment and sports tourism in Guyana, the promoter noted that this initiative was a perfect platform and based on the support received at the last event, a much bigger turnout was expected.

“It’s a fun event that minimises or has no sense of harm to the participants. This is boxing with a twist,” the promoter noted.

This event features the first all-female fight card in Guyana and all participants should be at least 1 Seon 8 Bristol years

with both batmen hailing the icon as their childhood hero.

Hope, who hit back-toback tons versus England a

few years ago at Headingly, hailed Sobers for spreading his vast wealth of knowledge of the sport to the younger generation while

dubbing the ex-Nottinghamshire player as an “inspiration” ahead of the series. “Sir Garry has tremendous presence and you can learn so much from just listening to him as he speaks and shares his knowledge of the game and especially how to go about your batting. Having him join us today is an inspiration; it’s the kind of thing that can give you a boost ahead of a game and a series, and it’s always an honour to be in his presence,” said Hope. After two years out of the Test team, a more mature, hungry Bravo will be tasked with much responsibility being one of the few senior batsmen in the team with more than 3000 Test runs. The stylish left-hander said Sobers was an idol of his father owing to his outstanding feats on the field. “As a little boy growing up in Trinidad, my

father would always talk about Sir Garfield Sobers and the amazing things he did on the cricket field. I would listen and it was obvious that from the way he spoke I knew he was a fantastic cricketer and whenever I’m in Barbados, I try to see him and speak to him,” said the Windies batsman.

Bravo concluded by thanking the legend for giving the boys a boost as they prepare to take on a big challenge in a few days.

“We’re here preparing for this Test series and to have him take the time out to come and spend time with us is truly wonderful. We really thank him and want him to know we appreciate what he’s done for us,” ended Bravo. Meanwhile, the two teams will continue to get themselves further finetuned ahead of what is expected to be a gruelling three-match Test series.

Jose Mourinho: I've had three job offers but I don't park the bus J

ose Mourinho says he has turned down three job offers since being sacked as Manchester United boss and has rejected criticism of the team's playing style.

The Portuguese, 55, was sacked in December after the club said there had been no progress with results, style or developing young players.

Former United player Gary Neville said noone should be able to shape their own philosophy at the club again.

"Gary Neville doesn't know my philosophy," Mourinho told Bein Sports.

"My philosophy depends. I would love to go to a club and have [the same] conditions that [Liverpool boss] Jurgen Klopp and [Manchester City manager] Pep Guardiola did.

"I refused already three jobs because I didn't feel it was what I want."

Mourinho, who led Manchester United to League Cup and Europa League titles, is understood to have a non-disclosure agreement signed as part of his pay-off from the club, meaning he is not allowed to talk about his departure.

But he spoke about a range of subjects as a studio guest on Bein Sports, including How one player recently asked him not to be critical in training; How he doesn't park the bus; How he was not supported like Guardiola or Klopp; How the days of being an "all-powerful manager are

Jose Mourinho said his desire to be back in management would return by March

over"; How he hid in a laundry basket for a Champions League tie in 2005. <<'One player asked me not to criticise him in training'>> At various points Mourinho was critical of winger Anthony Martial, full-back Luke Shaw and striker Marcus Rashford, who has been re-born under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But he outlined how one player asked not to be criticised in training which Mourinho thought was a sign of modern players being too sensitive.

"Recently, when I was coaching one player he told me and he was very po-

lite, 'please when you criticise me can you do it in private'," he said.

"I told him why?

'Because of my stature, in front of the other players when you criticise me I don't feel comfortable'.

"Nowadays you have to be very smart in the way you read your players, and try to create the best situation."

He contrasted the situation with that of former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, with whom he worked at Stamford Bridge when he twice won the Premier League in 2005 and 2006.

"With Drogba, he is the kind of player that the more

pressure from the manager, the more quality in his performance," Mourinho added.

"There are some players where if you squeeze them they answer in the best way.

"There are other mentalities and personalities and the reaction is not the best. They were brought up in a different way, an easier social life, coming to the top level of football, everything came too easy to them.

"Some of them they don't react in the same way. Certain moments, some strong public words, some of them have some risk." (BBC Sport)

23

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, January 21, 2019

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Hodge’s 127 helps Hurricanes blow away Jaguars on final day

Veerasammy Permaul had four wickets Sunday at Providence

By Brandon Corlette

I

t was a repeat performance from the 31-yearold Anguillan; Montcin Hodge scored a magnificent century to once more lead Hurricanes past the dominant Jaguars team. In 2016-2017, Hodge scored 114 that saw Hurricanes win by four wickets in St Kitts. At the National Stadium Providence, Hodge’s 127 produced for Hurricanes a two-wicket win.

Guyana Jaguars lost to the Leewards Islands Hurricanes three times in the past two seasons, having lost twice in the 2016-2017 season and once in the 2018-2019 season.

It was the final day at the National Stadium Providence, in the fifth round between Guyana Jaguars and Leeward Islands Hurricanes. The visitors, Hurricanes resumed the day on 32-1, with Hodge and Keacy Carty at the batting crease. Clinton Pestano and Devendra Bishoo began proceedings, bowling in tandem, but rain interrupted during the morning session.

Hodge and Carty were solid in their stroke play, despite a minimum of chances they were unbothered. The Hurricanes reached their 50 when Carty opened the face of the bat when the ball went into the third-man boundary for four, off Pestano in the 25th over. Runs kept coming for the Hurricanes – the eventful Pestano over continued: Carty drove one down the ground for four, and the very next ball, he stroked one for four into the covers.

Hodge, who scored a cen-

tury this season, stroked one into the covers for four off Paul as the Hurricanes reached 100-1 in the 33rd over. The following ball, Hodge reached his 25th half-century when he stroked Paul along the ground for a boundary.

Jaguars continued to leak runs, as Hodge and Carty marched closer to complete a monumental chase. Carty inched closer to his half-centu-

ry, driving Romario Shepherd passed covers. Two balls later, Carty played a booming cover drive off Shepherd to reach his eighth First-Class half-century.

The dynamic Hurricanes duo continued to exhibit an array of shots at Providence; Hodge then played the shot of the morning off leg-spinner Bishoo. Hodge played an inside out shot up and over mid-

Hodge celebrates his century

off for four, to dent Jaguars’ confidence in the morning session.

In over number 55, Permaul bowled a ball to Carty’ who played a loose drive to extra cover, which went into Leon Johnson’s hands and out in a split second. Carty was dropped twice in this innings, after being dropped by Bramble off Shepherd; Johnson repeated the drop-catch spree off the bowling of Permaul when he was on 58 from 149 balls.

It was a wicket-less morning session that belonged to the visitors; at lunch, Hurricanes were 151-1 in 60 overs. Hodge was unbeaten on 76 from 184 balls inclusive of ten fours while Carty was on 62 from 160 balls, including nine fours.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes were in total control, requiring 140 runs in the final two sessions on day four, with nine wickets in hand. After the lunch interval, the Jaguars were bowling a more threatening line and length, but Hurricanes batsmen were equal to the task.

Nine overs into the afternoon session, Carty played a loose drive and was caught behind

by Bramble off the bowling of Paul. Carty’s innings came to an end when he scored 67 from 187 balls, including nine fours.

After the 153 run partnership between Carty and Hodge, Hurricanes were 169-2 after 69.2 overs, when Akeem Saunders partnered Hodge.

Jaguars slowed the game, gaining some momentum as Permaul trapped Saunders in front for nine, with the score on 180-3. Hurricanes were 197-3 at tea, requiring 94 runs in the final session, with seven wickets in hand. Hodge remained the key of the match, remaining unbeaten on 94 at tea.

The final session was underway; Terrance Wade hung around with Hodge as the pair continued to inch closer to the target. Hodge, who entered this match with 327 runs this season, was cautious in his stroke-play, but was simultaneously selective.

Hurricanes reached 200 in the 86th over bowled by Bishoo, when Wade stroked him for a boundary. Jaguars were not giving anything away to the opposition, but in the 92nd over bowled by Bishoo, Hodge was approaching his fourth First-class century. The Anguillan stroked Bishoo into the leg-side for a single and raised his helmet, soaking in the applause from his teammates. Hodge reached the landmark off 285 balls, 348 minutes and 11 boundaries.

After a 42-run partnership between Hodge and Warde, the latter was out caught by substitute fielder Gudakesh Motie off the bowling of Shepherd. Warde slashed at a wide Shepherd delivery

and was brilliantly taken by Motie who required to run backwards to complete a special catch. The right-handed Warde score 25 from 50 balls, including three boundaries.

At 222-4, the giant Rahkeem Cornwall made his way to the crease with the team needing 69 runs to win. Shepherd, bowling from the media centre end, bowled Cornwall all ends up. The Hurricanes batsman was attempting to work the ball into the leg side, but was beaten by the lively Shepherd with the score on 223-5 after 94.1 overs.

Guyana-born Jaison Peters was the next Hurricanes batsman in; Hodge was still standing tall on a century and Hurricanes r e m a i n e d in cont r o l at that point. ia centre end, b o w l e d Cornwall, wtre end, bowled aries. , soaking in the applause from his teammates. selective d.

Jaguars were still hoping for a miracle; Permaul, bowling from the southern end, removed the dangerous Hodge for a well-composed 127 from 325 balls, including 14 timely boundaries.

He was out caught and bowled by Permaul with the score on 282-6, ending a 59-run partnership with wicketkeeper-batsman Peters. Seven runs seem a million miles away for the Hurricanes; at 286, Orlando Peters was dismissed by Permaul for a duck, with the score on 286-7. At one point, Jaguars were hoping for the heavens to open while Hurricanes were praying for the clouds to pass.

Jeremiah Louis partnered Peters and the pair were tasked to score some five

runs, to complete a victory.

Wickets continued to fall for Hurricanes, but Jaguars were out of time. Four runs later, Louis was out caught by Paul, as Permaul pocketed another wicket. It was game won by Hurricanes, when the Mahaicony boy, Peters hit Bishoo for a six into the leg side, as Hurricanes ended on 296-8, sealing a memorable two-wicket win. The game went down to the wire with rain threatening, and time was of the essence.

Peters ended his knock of 37 from 39 balls, inclusive of three fours and one six, while Jacobs was left at the non-strikers’ end on zero. Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul was the best bowler on show with 4-43 in 34 overs, including 13 maidens. Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd ended with two wickets each.

The match belonged to the Hurricane’s opening batsman, Hodge, who was adjudged player of the match while Cornwall ended the match with ten wickets for 140 runs. Guyana Jaguars will play their next match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on Thursday, January 31 to Sunday, February 3, 2019, at the Queens Park Oval,

Mahaicony boy Trinidad.

Jaison Peters sealed victory for Hurricanes (Brandon Corlette photo)

SCOREBOARD Guyana Jaguars 196 & 269 LI Hurricanes 1st innings - 175 all out Leeward Islands Hurricanes 2nd Innings 296-8 K Powell lbw Paul M Hodge c&b Permaul K Carty c Bramble b Paul A Saunders lbw Permaul T Warde c sub b Shepherd R Cornwall b Shepherd J Peters not out O Peters b Permaul J Louis c Paul b Permaul D Jacobs not out 0 Extras 19 Total (108.3 ov) 296-8 FOW

7 127 67 9 25 1 37 0 4

1 – 16 (Kieran Powell, 3.6 Ov), 2 – 169 (Keacy Carty, 69.2 Ov), 3 – 180 (Akeem Saunders, 72.6 Ov), 4 – 222 (Terance Warde, 92.5 Ov), 5 – 223 (Rahkeem Cornwall, 94.1 Ov), 6 – 282 (Montcin Hodge, 105.1 Ov), 7 – 286 (Orlando Peters, 105.5 Ov), 8 – 290 (Jeremiah Louis, 107.5 Ov) Bowling C Pestano (10-2-42-0) K Paul (16-3-69-2) R Shepherd (17-6-45-2) D Bishoo (25.3-5-64-0) V Permaul (34-13-43-4) S Rutherford (4-0-13-0) C Barnwell (2-0-12-0)

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

The winning moment

Hodge’s 127 helps Hurricanes blow away Jaguars on final day

Page 23 Montcin Hodge scored a magnificent 127 (Brandon Corlette photos)

Australian Open 2019… West Indies Coach

Federer beaten by Tsitsipas Richard Pybus turns a

in 4th round

Page 19

deaf ear to agitators

Richard Pybus makes a point to West Indies’ spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed

Page 19

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