Guyana Times - Monday, March 25, 2019

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Issue No. 3874

THE BEACON OF TRUTH monday, MARCH 25, 2019

PRICE

No-confidence appeal

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

PPP will not attend National Assembly sittings until CCJ rules on case – Jagdeo

Meten-Meer-Zorg family terrorised over reluctance P8 to share electricity, water with neighbour

Page 3

21-year-old miner stabbed to death P9 during row over hammock Crime preventing initiatives P13 implemented in interior locations

AFC Chairman urges GECOM to get ready for elections

Linden health-care professionals take on challenges in mental health P14

Page 7

– in case State loses NCM cases at CCJ

Miner crushed after pick-up rolls down hill

Page 7

Man who assaulted wife allegedly beaten to death Page 9

AFC Berbice factions’ rigging for control ends in chaos Page 11

– aim at expanding, improving service delivery within Region 10

Man feared drowned at Splashmin’s P12 Resort

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monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

No-confidence appeal

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

Monday, March 25 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, March 26 – 09:00h-10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, March 25 – 07:10h-08:40h and Tuesday, March 26 – 07:50h-09:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny intervals are expected to prevail throughout the day, followed by sunny skies in the late afternoon.

Clear skies are expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 07:18h and 19:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.67 metres and 2.51 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 13:17h reaching a minimum height of 0.56 metre.

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PPP will not attend National Assembly sittings until CCJ rules on case – Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Sunday announced that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) would not be attending the sittings of the National Assembly when it reconvened in the near future.

According to Jagdeo in the announcement on his social media page, he wishes to “place on record that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will not attend any sitting of the National Assembly”.

This, according to Jagdeo, will be in effect while the appeal of the Appellate Court’s ruling on the no-confidence motion is pending at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Following the Court of Appeal’s ruling that the no-confidence motion was not validly passed, the PPP/C had announced on Friday that it would move to the CCJ. Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, in January, upheld the December 21, 2018 passage of the no-confidence motion, ruling that in Guyana’s 65-member National Assembly a majority is 33. This, however, was appealed by Attorney General Basil Williams.

But while Justice Rishi Persaud on Friday dismissed the appeal and concurred with the ruling of the High Court, his colleague appellate Judges allowed the State’s appeal.

Both Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Dawn Gregory opined that while 33 was the majority of the 65-member National Assembly, the successful passage of a no-confidence motion required an “absolute majority” of 34 and not the “simple” 33 majority that has been used to pass ordinary business in the House.

Following the ruling, Opposition Leader Jagdeo stated that the Constitution of Guyana is pellucid on what number of votes is needed for the passage of a no-confidence motion; it is a majority of all elected parliamentarians – the majority of 65 is 33 votes.

According to him, the Constitution is clear in saying that the vote is valid if a majority of all elected parliamentarians – 33 parliamentarians – cast their vote in favour of the passage of a no-confidence motion.

He added that all right-thinking Guyanese would conclude that 33 is the majority of 65 – a conclusion that was extensively addressed by the Chief Justice (ag) in her ruling.

“No strange mathematics can change what is in the Constitution … a majority of all elected members in the National Assembly is 33,” Jagdeo said.

He explained that the argument about a vote of 34 being needed was not the argument he expected to be used by the Appeal Court to overturn the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag).

“I thought (that) if the Chief Justice’s ruling was to be overturned, it would have been on another technicality, not this one … this is probably the weakest argument,” Jagdeo said, adding that the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag) was profound and well-reasoned.

The Opposition Leader noted that in 2014, when the Alliance For Change (AFC), supported by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), ad-

The Opposition parliamentarians in the National Assembly

vanced a no-confidence motion against then President Donald Ramotar, it was done with the explicit acknowledgement that AFC and APNU had the 33 votes that were needed for their no-confidence motion to be successful.

He added that prior to the December 21, 2018 vote, the coalition Government boasted that it had 33 votes, and, therefore, the no-confidence motion could not be passed with a vote of 32.

After the vote, according to him, both President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo accepted that the PPP/C no-confidence motion was validly passed in the House.

In addition, Attorney and social commentator, Christopher Ram posited that the Court made a grave error of unquestioning acceptance of decisions and principles from afar with no regard that, at best, they could be of no more than persuasive value.

In the process, he added, Friday’s decision marked a turning point in Guyana’s jurisprudence, introducing a harmful level of uncertainty into constitutional and statutory interpretation in local courts.

In this regard, he stated that the Court was “wrong” in its interpretation of what constitutes a majority in the National

Assembly.

Ram recalled that during Friday’s ruling, one of the Judges cited a passage from a foreign jurisdiction that any legislation means what it says and does not mean what it does not say. He then pointed to Attorney Anil Nandlall’s submissions to the Court in which he cited that the dictum in perhaps the most famous local constitutional case (AG v Mohammed Ali) that, “It is a strong thing to read into an act of Parliament words which are not there, and in the absence of a clear necessity, it is a wrong thing to do.”

That unfortunately, according to Ram, is exactly what the Court of Appeal appears to have done. He added that it took some effort to hear the Appellate Judges say how attracted they were by the arguments of Grenadian Senior Counsel, Dr Francis Alexis, that a vote of no confidence was so important that it required a majority not contemplated by the Constitution.

“Impressed by this argument, the Court, by a simple majority, effectively ruled that there was a clear necessity to import and insert not only words that were not there, but the concept of absolute majority, which does not exist anywhere in our Constitution. Interestingly, if the same principle is applied

to a vote of confidence brought by the Government in a 33-32 National Assembly, the motion would fail because it did not receive 34 votes,” the political analyst contended.

Furthermore, he stressed that the Court must also be aware that had former AFC Member of Parliament, Charrandas Persaud, not cast an adverse vote, 33 would have been accepted as a majority.

On this point, he also reminded that the 2019 Budget was not passed by a majority of 34, noting that it was unlikely that anyone would argue that a budget was not special.

Meanwhile, the three Appellate Judges upheld the acting Chief Justice’s ruling with regard to the appeal filed by private citizen Compton Reid, on the validity of Charrandas Persaud’s vote given his dual citizenship status.

Justice George had ruled in the High Court that while it is illegal for MPs to be dual citizens, in Charrandas’s case this did not affect the validity of his vote on the motion and as such, the Appeal Court Judges on Friday dismissed the appeal filed by Reid.

With the Appellate ruling, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge had announced on Friday that Government could now take steps to reconvene Parliament.

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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

End the corruption

A

ttorney General Basil Williams greeted the Appellate Court’s decision to overturn the High Court’s ruling that the PPP’s NCM was valid with a 33-seat majority by declaring it was “business as usual”. One can only presume that the corruption, rising “serious” crime rate, graft, political witch-hunting, discrimination (jobs only for friends and PNC members), racially skewed appointments to state positions (16 out of 17 Permanent Secretaries of one ethnic group – African Guyanese), extravaganzas, nojob creation etc. that characterised the status quo ante will continue.

But corruption, crime and lack of job opportunities are highest on the minds of the populace right now – just as it was during the PNC’s first stint at the helm of the state back in the 1970s. It does not appear that the PNC has learnt anything from that experience. It is demonstrably incapable of running a free enterprise because its insistence on government by fiat is fundamentally opposed to the creative and unfettered environment necessary to stimulate business success and job creation.

One of the major reasons for the change of government in 2015 was that the PNC-led Opposition made charges of “corruption” against the PPP administration an article of faith in the minds of many. As such, they inevitably established a de facto standard for evaluating their performance on corruption once in Government.

But, very early on, there were signals that rather than resolving the problem, the coalition Government was going to simply redefine and deepen it. There was the acknowledgement by the AFC, for example, that a huge campaign contributor, who had been awarded Government approval for a wind farm, had financed their headquarters.

The party leader, Minister Trotman, candidly proposed that businessmen make “investments” in political parties for which they expect “returns”.

The revelation that $768 million was expended by private business contributors for the Government to build Jubilee Stadium at D’Urban Park raised questions as to who actually made these “investments”, and which government contracts were awarded as “returns”. Those questions have never been answered.

There was the $2 billion invested by the Government to save face to complete the project.

There followed the “bottom-house” Pharma warehouse that eventually cost taxpayers over $500 million; subverting the procurement mechanism with the $632 million pharma purchase from Ansa at double previous prices; hiding the measly US$18 million Exxon bonus: issuing fuel-import licences to cronies who engage in massive fuel smuggling; sole-sourcing and later discarding of a $143 million bid for the DHB design; the collusion with the Chinese contractor on the CJIA, to deliver a substandard airport below the original specifications yet costing billions more. And all of this in a mere four years; imagine what their record would be if they are allowed to control the Consolidated Fund when oil begins flowing. No wonder they are fighting so desperately to gain time to complete their electoral fiddling arrangements.

The British statesman Lord Acton had posited, “All power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

But in Guyana, it would appear that we have turned the aphorism on its head: Corruption is power, and absolute corruption is absolute power. We had seen this ironic but ultimately tragic inversion during the first period of PNC rule in Guyana after elections began to be routinely rigged after 1968. The lesson, we would posit, is that once the rot of corruption is given an excuse, it inevitably spreads throughout the body politic until the entire political, social and economic edifice crumbles, as it did by 1989.

What is most insidious when corruption becomes endemic is that while the corrupter from outside the Government and the “corruptee” from within both satisfy their immediate desire for quick material gains, the corrupters who are members of society now accept the status quo, and corruption quickly becomes institutionalised.

Everyone soon seeks to have someone whom he/she can bribe – from the Policeman on the roads to the Minister in his office - and boasts about having “lines”. Guyana will then become a failed state even though the oil will flow.

Guyanese must ensure history does not repeat itself.

Scores of young children living within the Rosemary Lane, South Cummingsburg (Tiger Bay) community, benefited from an interactive session on art and robotics along with a health fair.

Those involved were provided with kits and with the guidance of instructors, created their very own robots and learnt other aspects of robotics while others showed their creative side through the strokes of their brushes. In photo two lads intensely put together a robotic piece

Saudis spiral deeper into isolation amid US ire over Khashoggi

By Glen Carey

S

audi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s US trip a year ago was packed with the sort of events most world leaders struggle to secure: a meeting at Bill Gates’s home, a tour of Amazon.com Inc’s headquarters and a private visit to Virgin Galactic’s hangar in the Mojave Desert.

The murder of Jamal Khashoggi destroyed all that, leaving the 33-year-old heir to the Saudi throne shunned, his government unable to repair ties with its most important foreign partner and the crown prince’s grand vision for economic development increasingly out of reach.

Rather than melt away, congressional anger at Saudi Arabia’s role in killing Khashoggi – a US resident and Washington Post columnist – has solidified, helping fuel this month’s vote by the Republican-controlled Senate rejecting US military support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The measure awaits House action.

The kingdom still has the crucial support of President Donald Trump and his top aides, who argue that its importance as a strategic ally against Iran and as a buyer of US weaponry outweigh concerns about whether Prince Mohammed approved plans to kill Khashoggi. “Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t,” Trump has said.

But the Saudi rulers find themselves more isolated in the US than at any point since the September 11 attacks, when 15 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia.

Members of Congress are calling for a probe into US-Saudi

Jamal Khashoggi

talks on nuclear cooperation while threatening fresh sanctions over Khashoggi’s killing inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.

Medieval brutality

“Over and over again, the Saudi regime has demonstrated medieval brutality,” Representative Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said last week. “This Congress must clearly and unambiguously declare that business as usual is over and that there are consequences for the Saudi Government.”

McGovern and Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy joined Ahmed Fitaihi, the son of a detained US-Saudi citizen, and Walid Al Hathloul, the brother of detained female activist Loujain Al Hathloul, in an event on “Torture in the Kingdom.” The family members provided emotional accounts of the treatment they say their relatives have suffered in Saudi detention.

Officials at the Saudi embassy in Washington didn’t respond to a request for comment. Saudi officials have denied using torture, and the nation’s public prosecutor has said that a group of prominent women’s rights activists

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

who have been detained since May “enjoy all the rights that the law guarantees them.”

Dismissing the White House talking points about the US-Saudi alliance, members of Congress from both parties regularly describe Prince Mohammed in terms usually reserved for America’s enemies. Khashoggi’s murder was “so brutal, you might have expected it with Saddam Hussein,” Leahy of Vermont said on Thursday.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida has described the crown prince as “full gangster,” while Leahy added that the kingdom’s leadership behaves like a “criminal enterprise” and is “squandering the country’s oil wealth while applying the most repressive polices and cruel practices.”

A year ago, things were very different.

‘Black Panther’

The prince was riding a wave of international enthusiasm for his promises of reform, including moves to curb the country’s notorious religious police, allow women to drive and sell a stake in

Saudi Arabian Oil Co. A 35-year ban on public cinemas ended with the debut of “Black Panther” last April.

Real change appeared to be unleashed in a country better known for its adherence to a puritanical 18th century version of Islam.

Khashoggi’s murder and continuing frustration over human rights violations in the Yemen war – including the bombing of a school bus full of children – changed all that.

Making matters worse for the crown prince, the New York Times reported this week that he authorized a campaign to silence dissenters, including kidnapping, detention and torture, more than a year before Khashoggi’s killing, according to unidentified US officials who read classified reports.

The continuing hostility in Congress comes at an uncomfortable time for a kingdom that desperately needs foreign investment to meet Prince Mohammed’s economic goals. The initial public offering in Saudi Aramco has been put off, and the crown prince’s investor summit late last year flopped, with scores of business leaders cancelling in the aftermath of the Khashoggi killing.

The Senate’s vote against support of the war in Yemen came despite Saudi lobbying efforts, according to Ben Freeman of the Centre for International Policy, a Washington-based group that monitors Saudi lobbying in the capital. The kingdom’s outreach efforts were hampered before Khashoggi’s death, but the killing made it even harder, he said. continued on page 5

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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

Friday, March 22, was a resurgence A flawed decision of Burnhamite bullyism in Guyana by the Appeal Dear Editor, Last Friday, March 22, we were given a toxic dose of Burnhamite mathematics and another act of classic bullyism. I say this based on the fact of the Appellate Court’s interpretation of our laws.

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of Guyana states that “The Cabinet, including The President, shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of the majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly of a vote of confidence.” Now that is clear unambiguous language, that is, “defeated by the vote of the majority” of all the elected members of the National Assembly.

Now, the National Assembly consists of 65 seats of which the governing side has “a majority” of 33 seats, the Opposition 32 seats.

At the no-confidence vote on November 21, 2018, the Government was defeated when one of its members crossed the floor and voted with the Opposition.

The Opposition’s vote was thus strengthened by one vote, adding up to a total

of 33 and the Government’s side was lessened by one vote to 32.

However, in the ruling by the Appellate Court, the two justices found disfavour with the number 33 as constituting a majority. In addition to that, these two ladies surgically inserted two new words into the Constitution “absolute majority.” Hitherto Article 106 (6) read “majority” but now in their “new” law language it reads “absolute majority.” Another bizarre twist to this saga was when the goalpost was lifted from its position of 33 and planted in another spot, 34. This is absolute crap and makes for a comedy show. But strange and asinine as it may seem, it is not a strange phenomenon when it comes to the dealings of an APNU/PNC Government!

We went through this same backwardness in the sixties when that party came to power in a coalition if you please, but when it was time to leave office, our elections became nightmare occurrences. The mathematics was: manufacture numbers

as you go along and votes just showed up from every conceivable quarter, all of which went to the PNC. Those voodoo numbers came in the form of votes both locally and overseas.

There were more votes than the registered number of voters for each constituency, common Burnhamite tactics used to rig elections.

One such instance of crass padding saw more votes coming from a tiny little village called Marchand in St Lucia, than the entire population of that Island itself. This is the stunning fact of a party called the PNC and a stunt they are proud of. So saying 34, when 33 is a majority is a small thing when compared to the episode I highlighted earlier. Trust me, Guyana has seen worse.

This brings me to another phase of our struggle to rid ourselves of this malignant tumour called the PNC. When that party chants “no election no registration” do you think that is the real reason? The answer is far from it, the real reason is they want more time to pad the voters’ list. They are saying give

Saudis spiral deeper...

“Some think tanks stopped accepting money from the Saudis,” Freeman said.

“Most importantly, members of Congress stopped blindly supporting the Saudis.”

In the 12 months before Khashoggi’s murder, Saudi Arabia spent at least US$10.9 million on influencing the U.S. government and public, according to filings with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Over that period, 28 firms or individuals did lobbying or public relations work for the Saudis. Within two months of the killing, six firms cancelled their contracts with the Saudis.

Currently, the Saudis have 16 active firms working for them.

Trading partner

Despite the current strains, the kingdom re-

mains an important US partner. Trump made his first visit abroad as president to Riyadh, helping seal the country’s role as the largest buyer of US weapons and encouraging the kingdom to bolster efforts to isolate Iran. The US and Saudi Arabia had total trade of US$42 billion in 2018, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

“It is difficult to imagine a successful US effort to undercut Sunni extremism or keep Iran in check without engaging and partnering with the kingdom,” Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Retired Army General John Abizaid, said in his confirmation hearing this month.

Such messages may be reinforcing the crown prince’s view that he should hunker down and wait out the controversy, according to Paul Pillar, a former CIA officer who’s now a professor

us more time to go house to house to get persons on a prepared list to put into their database.

The PNC is knowledgeable of the fact that many of their own supporters have said that they would not vote for them; the last LGE have proven that.

This is clear, direct language carried at open forums in those live television interviews. So, in a last ditch effort, the plan is to go house to house and “vote” for those disaffected supporters. They will do it in two ways, by proxy voting, for those whom they consider to be incapacitated, or just simply try multiple voting.

In light of such circumstances, everyone would agree that the Appeal Court’s judgment was meant to give them more time to do that all-important rigging exercise. But, time is against them, there is a further appeal coming, whose judgement will be well inside of the April 30 timeline.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

from page 4

at Georgetown University.

“The prince had been led to believe by US policy that he could get away with a lot,” said Pillar. “Trump’s policies and pronouncements since the Khashoggi murder have not given MBS much reason to change his mind.”

Saudi officials have sought to regain what they’ve lost in US support, pledging to prosecute those responsible for Khashoggi’s killing and naming the first woman to serve as the country’s ambassador in Washington. Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, who spent much of her youth in Washington

as the daughter of former Ambassador Bandar bin Sultan, has yet to take up her new post.

Those steps won’t be enough, according to James M Dorsey, a Middle East scholar at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

“To reverse the tide, they would need to be fully transparent on multiple issues, including a credible version of events, responsibility, and what exactly happened” to Khashoggi, Dorsey said. Short of that, he said, they will “be fighting an uphill battle.” (www. bloomberg.com)

Court of Guyana

Dear Editor, With respect to the no-confidence vote, the Appeal Court of Guyana has ruled in favour of the APNU/AFC. This decision seems to suggest that there is one set of rules for parliamentarians and another set of rules for the rest of Guyanese particularly with respect to GECOM whereby 5 votes are cast and 3 is a majority and the Appeal Court’s own voting with 3 votes cast where 2 is the

majority.

How does the Guyana Appeal Court reconcile the differences in the approach used?

Had it ruled that 33 is the majority out of 65 votes cast, then there would not be a need to reconcile as 3 would be a majority out of 5 GECOM votes cast and 2 would be the majority out of 3 Appellate Court votes cast.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

Jaguars did us proud Dear Editor, The Jaguars did Guyana proud as we qualified for the first time for CONCACAF’s Gold Cup scheduled later this year.

Congratulations to the team, its management and all involved in “long days

and short nights” which made this historic win possible. Many more successes as we rally around Guyana’s football, which is on the rise.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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Foundation

By David Paltin, PhD

E

arly relationships in the middle and older adolescence years are, how should we describe it – intense and emotionally charged. Remember Romeo and Juliet, the 13-yearolds from feuding families that Shakespeare tragically paired together in 15th Century Verona? With good reason, we mythologise love in adolescence, with its power to plant in our hormonally-fertilised psyches the seeds of memories that will grow more and more sentimental to us into old age.

But along with learning about what it feels like to hold hands at the mall, it’s also a time for teens to learn important concepts such as boundaries, autonomy, and the right to say “No” without consequences.

Jana and Chris didn’t realise that their 16-yearold son Michael, was unprepared in any of these lessons soon after he started going out with a girl he had met through a friend.

“He seemed honestly happy, but he was really good at hiding what was going on,” Chris describes. “We didn’t find out until later how manipulative his girlfriend was with him. He just wouldn’t tell us the truth. I guess he felt like he was protecting her.”

Chris and Jana noticed that Michael was becoming increasingly irritable and moody. He was spending more late hours with her on the phone. They realised it was much more serious

By Robert Myers, PhD

than they imagined when they walked in on him in his room and he clumsily tried to hide a razor blade under his pillow. “She was hurting herself, it turns out,” Chris reveals, “and she kept trying to get him to do it by telling him it would help him understand how she felt. I mean, we thought this was insane. We were really angry with this girl, but it was just as surprising to us that he was actually going to do it. He’s a sensitive kid, but that just wasn’t anything he had ever tried before. For us, it was a wake-up call about how we had to do more than just trust him.”

Chris and Jane aren’t alone in their situation. A Family Circle magazine survey revealed that 25 per cent of teens have experienced harassment in dating relationships, 71 per cent

have had rumours spread about them by partners, and 75 per cent of parents report not knowing about their teen being physically hurt or bruised by their boyfriend or girlfriend.

Often, parents are surprised to find that their teens’ boyfriend and girlfriend relationships can become frightening mine-fields in a short period of time.

And it is often the psychological features of the situation that are the most harmful and can be emotionally damaging for a long time afterward. In these types of relationships, risk-taking behaviours are often solicited by a boyfriend or girlfriend as evidence of caring.

Emotions become currency, or bargaining points, and distort normal feelings of caring and affection that we would want our teens

to carry into their adult relationships. It isn’t unusual for adolescents who are less emotionally sophisticated or who have lost a parent through divorce or death to be the most vulnerable in these situations.

Parents may have difficulty detecting this problem until several incidents have already taken place, and long-term emotional changes have already occurred.

Even single episodes – being pressured to send an inappropriate cellphone picture that is later forwarded to other teens, for example, leads to immediate feelings of guilt, anxiety, and shame.

How can parents improve their monitoring of the signs of dysfunctional teen dating and relationships when teens can be so secretive and indirect? (Excerpt from childdevelopmentin-

fo.com)

“Sexting” – sending or receiving sexually explicit messages, images, or video – is becoming an increasingly common part of modern life.

A 2015 survey found that 65 per cent of parents worried that their child would use a smartphone to send or receive explicit content. However, in the same survey, fewer than half of the parents questioned said that they had talked to their child about the dangers of smartphone use. If you’re a parent who’s worried about what your teenage daughter or son may be doing online or on their phone, the best way to start dealing with your worries is to simply talk to your child.

Don’t keep putting off the conversation If you’re the parent of a teenager, you’re going to have awkward moments. Hopefully you’ve built up a good enough relationship with them, and there aren’t areas that you “just don’t talk about”. But teenagers are unpredictable: they may not stop talking one day, and then not say a word the next. Try and pick a good time for both of you. Don’t sit them down to talk about sexting the night before they have an exam, or if you’ve got to go out in ten minutes. But accept that there’s never going to be a perfect time to have this conversation. It might not be very long, and it probably won’t be a beautiful bonding moment for either of you, but it’s better than putting it off indefinitely.

Keep the conversation general Don’t start off by asking if they’ve sent dirty pictures to their boyfriend or girlfriend.

Hopefully you’ve had conversations before about staying safe online; link back to these principles. Check that they understand that once a picture is shared, they can’t control what happens to it.

Of course, they may believe that the person to whom they send a picture would never do anything malicious. Everyone else may argue and break up, but he or she has found True Love. If you can’t get a reasonable response to the suggestion that a picture may be misused in the future, ask what might happen if a phone was stolen (or even borrowed) by someone?

It’s important to understand what your child sees as normal Do they think that talking dirty is flirtatious, or do they think it’s abusive? Does your child think that sexting is part of being grown up? Don’t lecture them on how sexting is wrong or dirty – if they have

tried it, they’ll be much less likely to tell you if they think you’ll negatively label them.

Help them to understand that a sexual relationship (which includes sending pictures or suggestive texts) should involve mutual trust.

Any relationship where one person feels they owe sexual favours to the other is abusive.

If they’re being told that they “ought” to send a picture or upload a video, make it clear that they have a right to say no. It doesn’t matter what the other person did or sent; they don’t have to do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or guilty. If they’re being coerced, bullied or even blackmailed, reassure them that they don’t have to do things they don’t want to, and that you’re going to help them find a solution.

If they say they’ve never tried sexting, then make sure they know they can come to you if there are any issues or problems in future. If they say that they have sent a picture or video, ask if they know who has seen it. If it’s been sent to one person, suggest that they ask that person to delete it.

If they tell you that they have sent pictures, but felt coerced or pressured into doing so, or if they’re being sent content that they don’t want, discuss with them what happens next.

It might simply mean blocking someone online, or could involve telling a supportive teacher. If they are being asked for pictures by several people, or by anyone they don’t know, then you’ll need to explain that this should be reported to the Police. Although creating a sexual image of a child or young person is actually an illegal act (even if it’s the young person who does it himself or herself), most Police Forces see young people as victims rather than perpetrators of a crime, particularly if they’re being pressured or blackmailed into sending pictures or videos to other people. But don’t threaten to take away their phone, or drag them down to the Police Station. Simply explain that you need help in looking after them, and that means involving other people.

Don’t make it a one-off conversation. You don’t have to do a weekly check of their phone. But leave the door open to future conversations, particularly when they break up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or when they start a new relationship. If they know that they can talk to you, they’re more likely to tell you if there ever is a problem. But most importantly, don’t let this be the conversation that you wish you’d had when it’s too late. (Excerpt from childdevelopmentinfo.com)

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Monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

AFC Chairman urges GECOM to get ready for elections – in case State loses NCM cases at CCJ

Member of Parliament Juan Edghill

P

ersons pushing for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to be in a state of readiness for General and Regional Elections, notwithstanding Friday’s Appellate Court decision, have found an unlikely ally in Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

During a Globespan Town Hall panel discussion on Saturday which featured Ramjattan and People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) parliamentarian Juan Edghill, Ramjattan

stressed that he wanted GECOM to be in a state of readiness for elections, whenever they are called.

Ramjattan even committed to using his role as the leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) to push for GECOM to continue its preparations for elections. Persons have opined that because of Friday’s judgement, the pressure was off the Commission to get its house in order. Ramjattan disagreed.

“I am absolutely certain … in fact, I think, that both parties would want that GECOM prepare for an

stop making excuses,” the Member of Parliament said.

election. Remember there is a third round in the battle. And (we) could very well not win the third round. And there would obviously be a need for early elections.

“So GECOM must prepare. And I, as Chairman of my party, will urge that the GECOM Chairman and the Commissioners there and the Secretariat continue the work to ensure the preparations will be completed in good time for even an early election.”

That being said, Ramjattan is sticking to the Government’s position that house-to-house registration must be held. On the contrary, however, Edghill insisted that GECOM had a responsibility to have been ready in the first place.

“The Constitution envisions for GECOM to always be ready for elections in 90 days. There are three instances in which you can have elections in Guyana.

A no-confidence motion – 90 days. The President at any time in his five-year term can call elections.

The Parliament dissolved?

Elections. GECOM needs to

Before Friday’s fateful Appellate Court judgement turned everything on its head, the parliamentary Opposition and other observers had accused Government of attempting to delay the holding of the constitutionally-mandated elections following the no-confidence resolution of December 21, 2018.

The three-month time frame in which the polls were to be held was validated in January by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, who declared that the motion was validly passed 33-32.

The complaint has been that GECOM was unforthcoming about its preparedness for the mandatory elections despite being mandated by the Constitution of Guyana to hold elections within three months of the passage of a no-confidence motion.

In fact, during a previous meeting with Opposition and Government Chief Whips, the GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson abruptly ended a meeting on the Commission’s

However, the vehicle landed on Singh but the two other occupants of the camp escaped unhurt.

Singh was picked up and rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital in an unconscious state but was pronounced dead on arrival.

When Guyana Times visited the relatives of the dead man on Sunday, they claimed that they only received the news moments before.

Singh’s sister-in-law told this publication that the driver of the truck was visiting the camp and it was not the case that he was checking the headlamps of the vehicle.

“Brian told us that the man was visiting the camp

and he come out and left the truck running and that’s how the truck ended up rolling down the hill” the woman revealed.

The family, however, could not disclose much information on the incident but revealed that Singh had been in the Mazaruni area since December last.

His aunt described him as a happy and jovial person who always ensured that their needs are taken care of.

Singh leaves to mourn his children, grandchildren, in-laws and other relatives.

Police have confirmed that the driver of the vehicle was taken into custody and is assisting with the investigation.

GECOM

Miner crushed after pick-up rolls down hill

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father of two was crushed to death after a 4-wheel drive pickup rolled off a hill and landed in a mining camp at Duck Pond Backdam, Mazaruni, on Saturday evening.

Dead is 57-year-old miner, Khemraj Singh of Lot 682 7th Street Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Based on information received, the motor pick-up bearing registration number PKK 7375 was left at the top of the hill with its engine running as the driver, a resident of Liverpool, Corentyne, Berbice, went to check its headlamps.

As the driver was doing same, the vehicle reportedly rolled down the hill

Dead: Khemraj Singh

and crashed into the mining camp. At the time, the now dead man, his son and a female were in the camp.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

preparedness after he was pressed for answers.

The trend of meetings of GECOM Commissioners ending abruptly would continue, as both sides pushed for different objectives. While the Opposition-nominated Commissioners would push for early elections, the Government-nominated Commissioners would argue for delaying elections through house-to-house registration.

Prior to the ruling on

Friday, Government had written to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to inform him that President David Granger would soon be naming a date for elections. Now that the Appeal Court has ruled the no-confidence motion was not validly passed, this is now in limbo.

However, the parliamentary Opposition has made it clear that it would appeal the ruling, at the level of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

8 News

Monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Meten-Meer-Zorg family terrorised over reluctance to share electricity, water with neighbour

Examining…

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The broken down gate at the entrance of the premises

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fter demonstrating reluctance to continue supplying electricity and water to a neighbour, 29-year-old Imran Rabbani is now worried over the safety and security of his family. This concern comes on the heels of intense threats that were issued towards his household by the neighbour in relation to the discontinued supply of electricity and water.

Rabbani, of Lot 42 Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, told

Guyana Times that for the past two months, his neighbours have been in the habit of using obscene and threatening language towards him after he refused to continue “giving them current and water,” he added that his neighbour at one point assaulted his wife.

The father of three posited that he made several reports to the Leonora Police Station but the suspect was arrested and released within 24 hours.

“Two brother and a sister

The victim’s place of residence

living pon a reserve about six years now, so because I don’t give dem light an water, since then they got a problem…one of the brother wife curse up he (grandfather) an when she meet home she and her husband start curse up and so, then couple months after he slap my wife….when we go Leonora Police Station, po-

lice come and take he, next 15 minutes he get loose come home and dem start again” a concerned Rabbani stated.

Nevertheless, these intolerable behaviours have escalated and forced added fear into the family after the access gate to the premises was broken down last Tuesday evening by the suspects who were armed with cutlasses.

A similar action also occurred on Friday evening forcing the family to leave their home and take shelter at a neighbourhood masjid.

“Tuesday night Kuresh Bacchus and he brother-inlaw come with cutlass and wood, break down the gate coming in fo kill…The sister husband bring men in a car and say dem will kill me so I’m scared to live here now...I can’t rest in my home last night, I had to run to go sleep by the masjid. A car with three men come by my house last night (Friday) and it looks like dem had gun” he stated.

On the other hand, calls to Commander of D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) Edmond Cooper for a comment in connection to this incident went unanswered.

Meanwhile, a fearful Rabbani and his family are calling on the higher authorities of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to intervene in order for them to feel comfortable and safe in their environment and prevent the worst from happening.

…the verdict our Eyewitness still hasn’t gotten over the decision handed down by the divided Court of Appeal on the Government’s contention that the Chief Justice had erred in the High Court when she ruled that 33 was the majority in the 65-member Assembly!

Imagine that!! But to reach that verdict the Chancellor and Justice Gregory-Barnes had to twist themselves into legal pretzels by dividing folks into halves, “rounding” them back “whole”, and then throwing in “one more” for good measure!! God knows where that “one” would come from!!

Your Eyewitness was reminded about those complicated contraptions that were conjured up by Rube Goldberg to perform the simplest of tasks. For example, there was that “self-operating napkin machine” with at least twelve moving parts that included a spoon, a piece of bread, a bird, a scale, a hook…etc just to wipe one’s lip!

It’s not surprising that, since yesterday, the judges have been ridiculed by writers and caricatured by cartoonists – not to mention being hooted at by even those who didn’t get past “lil ABC”!! After all, how difficult would it have been for even two fishermen divvying up their catch of 65 fishes to figure out who gets the “majority”? All they’d have to do would be to put one fish alternately into their respective “quakes”, and then the last fish left would be added to the quake that now has the majority of fishes!!

No need to cut up the fishes into halves and then join them up again!! Their pals who might’ve gone on to do first form “sets” in “maths” would’ve informed them that the 65 fishes were the “universal set”, and that the divvying up would form two subsets, let’s call them “yes” and “No”, and the one that gets the last fish would be the majority!!

The point which the Justices refused to consider is that there are different mathematical operations to handle different realities, and not just one that has no bearing on the reality. People can’t be divided into halves, unless you’re the Texas Chainsaw Murderer. They are discrete units, and you have to use the appropriate mathematical operation when “dividing” them. Things like temperature and height are continuous variables, and you can divide to your heart’s content to compare them.

But what the two Judges did was to exceed their remit – which is to INTERPRET the Constitution, not to ADD to it by adding the word “ABSOLUTE” to the word “majority” in Art 106 (7). Sure, there’s a thing called “judge made law”, when the law is tweaked in a certain direction, but not this massive insertion into the Constitution – the highest law in the land. That violates the separation of powers! …the application The AG’s in seventh heaven after the Appellate Court upheld his plea to save the Government from the ignominy of being ousted because of his faux pas. He claimed he’d known of the “cutting up bodies in halves” doctrine, when Nagamootoo and Volda were throwing in the towel, but he didn’t bring it up at the time -- for reasons he still hasn’t disclosed!!

Anyhow, who’s your Eyewitness to begrudge his moment of glory after his loooong string of failures?

But surely he went overboard when he announced the Appellate decision meant “business as usual” for the Government. And your Eyewitness isn’t even thinking about the CCJ hurdle that lies ahead. More about the swathes of disenchantment exposed in their traditional constituency during their frenetic campaign, when they tried to fill with dew what rain didn’t full!! Their previous neglect has been noted.

All the appellate Court has given the PNC-led Government is more time for their weak underbelly to be exposed.

Between now and election time, the PPP will be just raking in the disaffected. …the unanimous verdict While there was disagreement between the High Court and the Appellate Court on what’s a “majority”, there was unanimity that dual citizens have to be expelled from the Assembly.

Let the casting out begin!!

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

News

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monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

21-year-old miner stabbed to death during row over hammock

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21-year-old miner, who was stabbed during a row over a hammock at 111 Miles Mahdia, Region Eight on Tuesday last, succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Hubert Willi, of Campbelltown Village, Mahdia reportedly took his last breath on Sunday morning.

Based on information received, the now dead young man and the suspect were under the influence of alcohol when the stabbing incident took place.

According to the po-

lice, on the day in question, Willi was walking along the Mahdia roadway when he saw the suspect and confronted him about a hammock belonging to him.

An argument ensued between them and it was at this time that the perpetrator became annoyed and dealt the victim two stabs to his body before escaping.

He was reportedly stabbed to his right side, lower back and buttocks.

The injured man was picked up and transported to the Mahdia District Hospital but due to the seriousness of the injuries, he was referred and transport-

ed to the GPHC to seek further medical attention.

Willi was a patient at the medical institution until his demise at about 10:00h on Sunday. A post-mortem is expected to be performed to-

Man who assaulted wife allegedly beaten to death

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wo men were apprehended in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) for their alleged involvement in the beating to death of a 32-year-old fruit vendor at Tuschen Squatting Area, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Based on information received, the now dead man, Sherwin Shafeek, called “Coolie Boy” formerly of Springlands, Corriverton, Berbice, was at the home he shared with his common-law wife when an argument broke out between them.

Moments prior to the argument, the couple was seen at a birthday party in close proximity to their home.

However, Guyana Times understands that the man had

accused the woman of being unfaithful to him.

Nevertheless, the argument escalated into a scuffle during which the woman started to scream. The two suspects reportedly heard the commotion and informed others after which they went to inquire.

According to Divisional Commander Edmond Cooper, the two men rushed in the house and started to hit the now dead man about his body and head with a piece of wood. He reportedly fell to the ground with blood oozing from his mouth and nostrils.

However, the woman took the injured husband to the Leonora Cottage Hospital on Saturday morn-

ing where he later succumbed to the injuries.

The woman told investigators that after the incident on Friday evening, she did not have money to pay for a taxi to take her injured husband to seek medical attention. The Commander told Guyana Times that the man’s body was swollen with several marks of violence.

His body was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

Meanwhile, the two men who carried out the brutal attack were apprehended in Bartica and are being transported to Georgetown for interrogation.

Investigations are ongoing.

day.

The suspect was arrested and has subsequently confessed to wounding the now dead man. He is expected to be arraigned with murder when he makes his first court appearance.

The issue of miners being stabbed to death following arguments or altercations continues to increase.

Intoxication is usually evident in the circumstances leading to these unfortunate situations.

On Friday last, a teen miner was allegedly killed by a close relative who was also his employer at the time of his demise.

Nineteen-year-old Dave Boyal, a miner of Batavia, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and other miners were in their hammocks when the alleged perpetrator entered the min-

ing camp.

He appeared intoxicated and commenced cutting down the hammocks that the miners (including Boyal) had tied.

According to the police, Boyal tried to persuade his relative to desist from doing so, and it was during this intervention that the suspect picked up an arrow and fatally stabbed the teenager in the abdomen.

Just last month, alcohol and quick tempers proved to be a deadly mix when another 19-year-old miner was stabbed to death by his associate in a camp at Frenchman, located a few miles from Mabura.

The dead teen, Alex Daniels, was said to be consuming alcohol with his killer when an argument broke

out. Persons around intervened but when the duo returned to their camp, the argument escalated and the perpetrator used a knife to stab Daniels in the region of his heart.

In December 2018, another miner lost his life after being allegedly stabbed to death by a Brazilian national whom he was arguing with over bar-b-que sausages.

The suspect, a chef, was said to be engaged in a heated argument with the now dead man over the frying of sausages, which led to the chef allegedly stabbing the man to his chest.

In October last, a gold miner allegedly stabbed a 20-year-old to death as they argued over cigarettes in the Potaro mining community.

(Kristen Macklingam)

10 news

monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GHDS hosts Phagwah Mela on Additional arrests for illegal shotgun, cartridges Essequibo Coast found at Kupang Backdam

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he 39-year-old chef who has been arrested by the police following the discovery of an unlicensed shotgun along with live cartridges at the mining camp that he works is now being joined by a number of his colleagues.

Reports are that although the chef was the only one at the mining camp when the police made the discovery on Friday, other miners who work and occupy the same camp were taken into Police custody.

At this point, it is unclear as to whom the illegal gun and ammunition belonged to but investigations are currently underway, said F Division Commander, Kevin Adonis.

He told Guyana Times on Sunday that the chef along with his colleagues are being escorted to the Bartica Police Station but according to Commander Adonis, it will take some time to reach Bartica taking into consideration the rough terrain topped with transportation difficulties.

The Commander explained that until the owner of the shotgun and cartridges comes forward, those in custody will remain so until further notice.

Reports are that ranks of F Division received a tip-off and went to Kupang Backdam, Cuyuni River, where a search was conducted and an unlicensed shotgun along with 29 live cartridges and an empty cartridge casing was found.

The 38-year-old chef was immediately taken into Police custody where he is said to be co-operating with the police and assisting with investigations.

In February of this year, the police arrested a miner who was found with an unlicensed revolver along with matching rounds of ammunition at Obama Road, Upper Mazaruni.

Reports are that the ranks at the time were acting on information when they conducted a search on the miner and found the

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he Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha held its Annual Phagwah Mela on Sunday at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground in Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

.38 revolver along with 10 matching rounds of ammunition.

Also last month, a shopkeeper was also taken into Police custody when he was found to be in possession of a shotgun at Makari Landing, Upper Mazaruni River.

The Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man was observed by ranks, who were on patrol duties, to be acting in a suspicious manner.

While he was being approached, he was seen throwing a long object into some nearby bushes. When the said object was retrieved, it was found to be an unlicensed gun.

In his brief remarks, former Minister of Culture Youth and Sports Dr Frank Anthony reminded those gathered that Phagwah is to overcome evil and restore good and urged residents to celebrate with peace, love and unity.

Regional Chairman Davanand Ramdatt also called for peace and unity to prevail.

President of the Essequibo Coast Praant of

the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Pandit Kedar Prakash in his welcoming remarks said that as Guyanese celebrate the colourful festival, let the many colours remind us of peace, prosperity and happiness among humanity.

Essequibians turned out as usual in their numbers to celebrate this annual event. The entire ground was transformed into a colourful arena as residents

renewed their relationships with each other, and for some, made new friends.

The event is sponsored yearly by Parmal Singh, his wife Ramrattie Singh, both residents of Anna Regina who migrated to the USA and have committed themselves to give back to Essequibians by sponsoring the event on an annual basis. Seven curry and other sweetmeats were in abundance.

GWI promises Lindeners relief from water woes – says 6 new pumps ordered

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anaging Director of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr Richard Van West-Charles has assured residents in various communities across Linden that they will soon have access to potable water.

Speaking at an event recently, Dr West-Charles stated that six new water pumps have already been ordered by the company and are expected in a matter of weeks.

“For you in Linden, we have to replace immediately about six pumps and they’ve been ordered and in another four to six weeks, ‘balance for better’ will be yours in many areas of Linden such as South Amelia’s Ward”, he stated.

The Managing Director further stated that the company will also move to address water woes in numerous farming communities within Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Recently, farmers of the West Watooka farming community raised the issue of lack of access to water during a visit to the area by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes.

Additionally, residents in Wisroc and Block 22 have more recently pointed to water woes which, according to officials, is due to faulty water pumps.

“We know that we have a number of communities in Region 10, such as the farming communities beyond West Watooka, Managing Director of the Guyana Water Inc, Block 42 and Dr Richard Van West-Charles addressing S p e i g h t v i l l e Linderers among other villages. We will es of Region Nine, we have get to you very soon”, Dr palpated the imbalance...

West-Charles promised. in a cooperative construct...

He also pointed to the we are correcting the imbaldifficulties faced by resiance...We have seen the difdents along the coastlands ficulties of our younger sisof Guyana in accessing 24ters, of our older sisters as hour service, noting that the they seek out water...Many company is working to enof these communities have sure that its programmes wells which have begun to are strategically organised experience their own imbalto bring balance. ance, but it’s good to know The GWI boss noted that that with the new technolothe company has recently gy that we now are able to established a new hinterindicate with a good degree land department. of certainty at what depth “Going around the villagwhat can be done”, he said.

11 AFC Berbice factions’ rigging for control ends in chaos news

Monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

AFC Region Six New Regional Management Committee (RMC) Executives Linden Jones, Donna Mathoo, Gobin Harbhajan, Kumar Bridgelall, Camilie Cox, George Stanley, Raynard Ward, Mavis Nagamootoo and Terrence Moore

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haos erupted on Saturday evening in New Amsterdam when the General Secretary of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Marlon Williams met with executive members of the Regional Management Committee (RMC).

Williams reportedly held the meeting to inform

members of plans to hold new RMC elections. Two elections were held – one on February 17 and the other on March 17. Both elections ended with reports of skulduggery taking place.

However, the announcement to hold new elections

by Williams did not go down well with some members

and as such, the meeting turned into a turmoil.

Executive Member of the party, Devin Sookraj and the AFC’s GS had to scramble to safety following the disorderly behaviour of the newly-elected RMC Chairman Linden Jones who reportedly armed himself with a piece of wood and

Oil and gas sector brought in over $15.6B thus far

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uyana has thus far benefitted from more than $15.6 billion (US$75 million) directly from the oil and gas sector. This was disclosed

by Director of the Energy Department Dr Mark Bynoe as he addressed residents of the Albouystown community on the oil and gas sector at the Heavenly Light World Outreach Centre, on Saturday.

The statement has debunked the notion being peddled that Guyana and its citizens are going to be ripped off and will receive little or no benefits from the production of oil and gas which is just months away.

According to Dr Bynoe, the $15.6 billion (US$75 million) does not include downstream impacts of the industry such as works in mechanics, electrical work, welding and technical warehousing, among others.

Director of the Energy Department, Dr Mark Bynoe

at the same time assisting in transforming the economy. “…The sector employs a fairly small number of persons because most of it is highly mechanised. What we should be training ourselves for, is the expansion of the investment that is coming and that has already

heading in that direction.

Dr Bynoe pointed out that the Department of Energy is “more than willing to work with any institution to create that opportunity for more of our Guyanese people not just to be aware but to build the requisite capacity going forward”.

Currently, 54 per cent of the persons directly employed in the oil and gas sector are Guyanese. By the year 2020, the target of the Department of Energy is to have that number increased to 75 per cent or greater.

Recently, 25 Guyanese were recruited to work on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which would have between 100 and 150 persons on board. An FPSO is basically a floating vessel that stores barrels of oil.

The vessel is expected to meet Guyana’s shores later this year.

Residents of Albouystown at the discussion on the oil and gas sector

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Bynoe urged the residents to position themselves so that they can benefit from the indirect benefits of the sector while

started as well as the new Guyana that is to come” Dr Bynoe stated.

However, he said that skills building and certification are necessary, adding that if they want to be absorbed, they need to start

The Department of Energy has been hosting sensitisation sessions across the country to educate, inform and prepare citizens for the production of oil in 2020.

RMC Chairman Linden Jones

Derrick Basdeo

Devin Sookraj

advanced towards them.

After the charade, National Executive Member representing the diaspora, Derrick Basdeo along with Sookraj, filed a complaint against Jones at the Central Police Station at New Amsterdam.

Following the March 17 elections at which Jones was elected as Chairman, several members were dissatisfied and filed complaints to the party’s senior executive claiming that the elections were rigged.

Khemraj Ramjattan.

In fact, most of those who were invited to be a part of the election were from Ramjattan’s faction of the party. Members of Prime Minister Mosses Nagamootoo and Raphael Trotman’s factions were reportedly excluded.

Guyana Times was also informed that many of the regional executives who previously held senior posts were not invited to the elections.

Apart from Sookraj and Orelall, five executive members from Central Corentyne were appointed.

It was felt by some members, that the elections were held so that persons close to Ramjattan could be appointed. This would mean that they will be eligible to vote at the national level giving Ramjattan a better chance of becoming the party’s Chairman and the prime ministerial candidate for the coalition.

The National Congress, at which the Chairman will be selected, is slated for next month.

Meanwhile, following the February 17 elections, the party’s General Secretary met with mem-

bers in Berbice to deem that election null and void.

Williams told members that Basdeo was never mandated to hold the elections.

New elections were held on March 17 at the St Francis Community Developers building at Port Mourant.

The Returning Officer was Audwin Rutherford who is also a Member of Parliament and the national observer was Joel Edmond who is a member of the National Executive.

Those elected were Linden Jones as Chairman; Donna Mattoo as Secretary; Gobin Harbhajan as Treasurer along with three Vice Chairpersons – Camilie Cox, Michael McBean and Kumar Bridgelall. There were also seven committee members.

Nevertheless, that election was marred with the walking out of some members considered to be from the Ramjattan faction.

Executive Member Abel Seetaram later used social media, claiming that the process was flawed.

Party officials refused to comment saying that it was an “in house” party business and not for the public.

Background

The first election was held on February 17 at Khemraj Ramjattan’s residence at Number 47 Village, Corentyne. At that election, Subash Orelall was appointed as Chairman and Devin Sookraj as the ViceChairman.

The Returning Officer for that proceeding was Derrick Basdeo. Basdeo, who is reportedly a “buddy” of Ramjattan reportedly told members that he was sent by the National Executive to facilitate the election.

Most of those elected were reportedly close to Public Security Minister,

12 News

monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Use of associated gas as base fuel still on cards – Dr Bynoe

– but says no clear idea of how much gas in oil field

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he Department of Energy has cautioned that it is still too early to determine exactly how associated gas will be used or even how much is available in the Stabroek Block, but it estimates the gas has the potential to radicalise Guyana’s energy system.

During a question and answer forum at the Heavenly Light church in Albousytown on Sunday, Department of Energy Head, Dr Mark Bynoe was asked about the Department’s plans for using associated gas produced

by ExxonMobil from the Stabroek Block.

“At this point in time it’s a bit too early,” he replied.

“Because of the rate of development we have seen. We’re dealing here with the viscosity or thickness of the fuel.

The viscosity is not consistent from one field to another. Our primary objective is oil recovery, so gas from one field may have to be re-injected to another field to increase the recoverable rate.”

“At this stage, we do not

know how much associated gas will be available. But to the extent that there will be associated gas that is commercially viable, Government’s intention would be to use this for base fuel.”

He also addressed concerns that using associated gas contradicts Government’s intentions of going green, noting that Guyana is currently reliant on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).

As such, Dr Bynoe estimated that using associated gas would cut emissions by 50 per cent.

“Additionally, it is still possibly the best fuel that you will have available from a cost perspective, from a base load. So it’s not something we can discard. And Guyana, as indicated through the environment agency, will not allow any commercial flaring of this gas. So it has to be utilised somewhere.”

Pipelines

Government had previously been looking into building gas pipelines and related

It is understood that there is to be no commercial flaring of gas

infrastructure, with a view towards implementing a proposed natural gas project. It had, in fact, been looking at various locations for the laying of pipelines.

The pipelines would have been used to transfer associated gas, a by-product from the offshore oil reservoirs to strategic locations across the country, to be utilised as an alternative source of energy.

At one point, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had revealed that studies have commenced towards the

implementation of its proposed natural gas project. Speaking at the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s year-end press conference in 2017, Patterson had outlined plans for this initiative. He had pointed out the regions in which the possibility of laying natural gas pipelines was being explored.

At that time, discussions were also ongoing with ExxonMobil, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Guyana Lands

and Surveys Commission (GLSC), among other agencies, to ensure that the most feasible location was selected.

Patterson had highlighted the factors which would be taken into consideration during this process. He had indicated, “The determination of where we’re going to go has several aspects, not only land availability, (but also include) the distance away from residence, environmental challenges….”

After its 10th discovery of oil in the Stabroek Block,

ExxonMobil has estimated the recoverable resource in the block to be 5 billion oil-equivalent barrels. More wells were subsequently discovered earlier this year.

Last year, it was also announced that Eco Atlantic, one of several companies drilling for oil offshore Guyana, had found approximately 2.9 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalents in its Orinduik Block, verified by the first ever independent assessment done on the field.

According to a Competent Persons Report (CBR) done by the independent assessor, Gustavson Associates, the oil was found in 10 prospects within the block. It is believed to include 2.505 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 2.449 trillion cubic feet of associated gas.

Those are, however, gross estimates. According to the company, the total net figure is 1.165 billion barrels. The CBR adds that the risk, or Probability of Success when extracting the oil, is a 16.8 to 22.4 per cent range.

AFC Region 10 arm elects new GLSC introduces new application forms …as sod turned for new Region 3 office Management Committee

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F

ollowing the hosting of elections in Linden last Saturday, the Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) arm of the Alliance For Change (AFC) has elected Committee members to serve in its Regional Management, Women For Change and Youth for Change arms.

The new Constitution of the Regional Management Committee includes Chairman, Devin Sears; Vice-Chairman, Vladimir Glasgow; Secretary, Mark Goring; Treasurer, Roger Kingston and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Michelle Daniels.

The executives include Abiola Archer, Troy Fidkou, Pastor Samuel Garraway, Vanessa Fraser, Corretta Braithwaite and Tiffany Marshall.

Elected Members of the Women For Change Linden arm includes Chairperson, Michelle Daniels; ViceChairperson, Abby DeSouza; Secretary, Ashtorine Antigua and Treasurer, Vanessa Fraser.

Members of the new executives of the AFC

The Committee members include Corretta Braithwaite, Roxanne Davis, Michelle Curry and Onika Paddy. Newlyelected members of the Youth For Change include Chairperson, Abiola Archer; Vice-Chairperson, Tiffany Marshall; Secretary, Onika Paddy; Treasurer, Vernella Chester and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Shion Antigua. The newly-elected Committee member is Marisa Robertson.

The newly-elected Committee, in a release,

noted that the Management Committee remains committed to making full representation on behalf and in the interest of the residents of Region 10. “...one that fosters socioeconomic and youth development, investments, capacity-building and maintaining good governance to name a few; it will continue cohesively with the APNU to ensure that the reality of a good life for all Guyanese comes in to fruition,” the release stated.

he Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) has introduced a new application form for persons desirous of applying for a plot of land one that will better evaluate the applicants.

This was announced on Wednesday as the Commission conducted a sod-turning exercise for a new office in Crane, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara).

A senior officer at the Commission noted, “We have new application forms, if you go through it and you compare it to the old ones you will see the logic in the questions being asked for you to provide information on the form. We have new application forms for Government agencies as well, which we never had before and we have for businesses so all of the questions are geared towards evaluating the applications properly”.

In addition to this, the GLSC also pointed out that a Wide Area Network has

Man feared drowned at Splashmin’s Resort

T

he search is on for 25-year-old Dinesh Ramdas of Zeelugt, West Coast Demerara, who was feared drowned at the Splashmin’s Fun Park, Linden-Soesdyke Highway on Sunday.

While information remains sketchy, Guyana Times understands that the young man and his family were outside of the Resort when a ball accidentally went into the Resort’s compound.

In an attempt to get the ball, the man reportedly crawled under the fence.

Dinesh Ramdas

After some time has passed and Ramdas did not return, the family frantically start-

ed to search for him.

Up to late Sunday evening, his body was not yet discovered. An investigation has been launched into the incident.

Less than a year ago, the body of 18-year-old Ronaldo Gomes of Lot 8 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, was recovered from the Splashmin’s Resort after he was believed to have drowned.

The teenager went to the creek with his cousin, a bus owner who was hired to transport some persons

to the private resort. As the group was getting ready to leave, persons realised Gomes was missing.

Upon searching and making enquiries, they were informed that while swimming, the water became rough and the teen ventured out to the deep end. The cousin was reportedly told that the teen went beyond the barricade ropes and was allegedly hit by a jet-ski.

A search was then conducted, and his body was found floating with injuries to his face.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon turns the sod for the new structure along with other regional executives

also been implemented which will allow inter-region connectivity. This will reduce the time a transaction takes at the Commission as it will allow for the various offices to connect to the head office’s database to access maps, plans and application leases, among others.

Usually, a client would have to visit the GLSC’s

head office to make queries, or in some cases, visit the regional office where the query can take up to three weeks to be processed.

The sod-turning exercise was conducted opposite the present GLSC office in Crane, where the new building is to be constructed to the tune of some $37 million. continued on page 13

13

News

monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt’s handling of RUSAL matter was too “political” – Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has disapproved of how Government handled the matter regarding the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), a subsidiary of Russian aluminium company RUSAL, and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU).

Prior to the agreement to reinstate workers last week, Jagdeo told the media that while he did not know about the details of the discussions

between the two parties, which saw Government officials being excluded, he was pleased to see that fruitful engagement was taking place.

“I am pleased that the interested parties are sorting this out themselves and not to have (Minister) Amna Ally have a circus there just for political reasons,” he said, explaining that he felt that Ally tried to make the issue political even to the point where she called the entire country to bear witness to the discussions.

As such, Jagdeo asserted that “that’s not how you conduct labour negotiations”, explaining that all labour matters should be conducted where the two sides meet.

He again pointed to the fact that Government tried to intervene, but did so without thinking about what its actions could mean.

After several weeks of deliberations, the impasse between RUSAL and its dismissed employees was finally resolved on Wednesday, March 20, when officials of

Social Protection Minister Amna Ally

the aluminium company and the GB&GWU met and agreed to have the workers reinstated.

The series of events was sparked when 61 workers downed tools against BCGI after they received a one per cent salary increase. Thirty other workers were dismissed after the company temporarily closed a section of its operations as a result of the strike.

This resulted in protests by the workers and the blockage of a section of the Berbice

Crime preventing initiatives implemented in interior locations

A

lot of focus is being placed on implementing initiatives outside of Government programmes that are geared at targeting youths for their educational and professional development.

These programmes are proving to be successful in curbing situations and instances where youths are involved in criminal activities.

This is according to Commander Kevin Adonis, who has responsibility for Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

He told Guyana Times on Sunday that hundreds of children and youths from the mentioned regions are participating in sports as well as technical and vocational skills training – initiatives that his division along with various stakeholders have developed and implemented.

Commander Adonis explained that upon taking up the post last year, he became cognisant of the alarming number of children who were either not attending school or simply being involved in unlawful activities.

In light of this concern, the police in those regions along with other stakeholders, took

Commander Kevin Adonis

matters in their own hands; using their financial resources to help provide better conditions for as many children as possible.

To date, there are hundreds of youths benefiting from the various initiatives.

In fact, some of them cannot attend school because their parents are cash-strapped or too poor.

As a result of this, there are programmes for these children to attend classes, free of cost, outside of the school setting.

“This is helping to take their minds away from any crime-related situations, even some of them going into the

backdams to work for paltry sums and at their own risk, so we decided this had to be done. The teachers who come and give services do so freely, they are not being paid, it is just that everyone wants to see these young people progress. Some children even learn knitting, are taught and play sports, all these things so that they can have opportunities at earning an income the right way when they need to.”

Additionally, it is not only the youths who are benefitting from this form of social intervention.

Commander Adonis pointed out that there are programmes for younger children where they are taught phonics and reading as well.

“Some parents cannot afford to send their children to school for various reasons, even the young ones, so we hope to help them in this way.

Our aim is to assist the children and in doing so, it has been noted that crime-related incidents involving youths have reduced drastically. The intention is to make sure they are given the opportunity of being the best they can be, even if it means that we and the other stakeholders have to spend our money in doing so.”

GLSC introduces new...

It was explained that the current structure is in a deplorable state. An officer attached at the regional office said, “We inherited this building in 2001 when we became a Commission from the Regional Administration and it is, if you look over the road, a wooden building and what comes along with that is lots of repairs (due to) rotten woods, leaking roofs and so on”.

State Minister Joseph Harmon told the small gathering that he was pleased to see the piece of land, which was once used to house derelict vehicles, be transformed into a

green space.

Given that Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) generates the most revenue, a Commission was first established in that region to cater for the needs of the people there. Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) falls in second when it comes to generating an income, which led to a structure being erected there to serve residents.

The Region Three office is the third office to be set up across the country although more revenue is generated in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The new structure will in-

From page 12

clude living quarters for its employees.

GLSC said it plans to extend its services to other administrative regions in the near future with Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) next on the radar.

Following this project, the Commission intends to set up another office in Port Kaituma in Region One (BarimaWaini).

In addition, a survey for the district office in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has been completed which is likely to come on stream by next year.

River, which leads to the company’s operations located at Aroaima, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The issue was resolved after both parties signed Terms of Resumption (ToRs) which include reinstatement of all 61 dismissed workers and those laid off during the dispute. The document also stated that there would be no victimisation or change of conditions for the reinstated workers; no compensation for time not worked during the dispute; return of the checkoff system and clearance of the Berbice River.

“Both parties have further agreed to recognise the sovereignty, Constitution and laws of Guyana and neither shall act in contravention thereof; promised to uphold the spirit and goodwill to which the ToR was negotiated and signed and will do nothing to circumvent same,” the GB&GWU said.

While BCGI had dismissed the 61 workers on February 19, 2019, after the protest, it had also advised some 30 employees that their department was closed until further notice as a result of the ongoing events.

Initially, RUSAL had contended that it was a violation of the workers’ contract to strike. When the Union had intervened, RUSAL initially refused to recognise the Union, resulting in the prolonged stalemate.

However, Union Chairman Lincoln Lewis maintained that the compa-

ny had no authority to ascertain such, stating that it was a responsibility of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB).

The stalled negotiations resulted in disgruntled workers and supporters blocking the Berbice River to prevent bauxite-laden barges from passing, a move which cost RUSAL millions of dollars.

While the intention was to affect RUSAL, other businesses were severely affected when they could not access the river. One logger from New Amsterdam, Imtiaz Hussain explained to Guyana Times that while attention was being placed on the deadlock between RUSAL and its employees, other stakeholders were affected.

His timber, which is transported via the River, was stuck, unable to traverse the river for over 10 days, along with four employees – a situa-

tion that affected his business significantly since extra monies were paid to the workers and customers who could not wait were reimbursed.

Now that the matter has reached a resolution, both parties are scheduled to meet 14 days after the resumption of work to commence negotiation of a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).

“The Agreement further outlines that within 14 days of the full resumption of work, the parties will commence negotiation of a new Collective Labour Agreement. This will be referred to in case of any further disputes, which may occur in the future,” RUSAL said in a statement to the media.

The BCGI was established back in 2004 under an agreement whereby RUSAL owns a 90 per cent stake in the company, and the remaining 10 per cent belongs to the Government of Guyana.

14 NEWS

monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden health-care professionals take on challenges in mental health – aim at expanding, improving service delivery within Region 10

BY UTAMA BELL

W

ith 453 active patients enrolled within the Mental Health Clinic at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), staff attached to the Department are on a mission to improve service delivery and spread mental health awareness.

Presently, the team of professionals are in the process of rehabilitating a section of the nearby former hospital in an effort to expand mental health services to the region.

The mental health team comprises of Cuban Consultant/Psychiatrist Dr Sandra Gilart Ananguren, Social Worker Laurette Smith-Gray, Nurses Dexter Holder, Tricia McKenzie and Anna Langhorne and a visiting Psychologist from Georgetown.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Dr Ananguren believes mental health issues are quite prevalent within the region, owing to the number of patients presently attached to the clinic. For 2018, she noted, over 900 patients were seen at the clinic.

“That’s why we are trying to expand the service.

For this year, we’ve had a considerable amount of patients. In January alone it was 133 patients coming to the clinic. Then, February we had 107 patients”, Dr Ananguren explained.

She noted that for a while now, the team has been conducting a four-day a week clinic as opposed to what was done previously which saw clinic being hosted just once a month. Conducting clinic once monthly, the doctor noted, has proven to be ineffective, especially since the team has not only been catering for patients in Linden, but other parts of the region, including Kwakwani and Ituni.

Dr Ananguren is presently the only resident consultant/psychiatrist in the region and is on call 24 hours daily. As a means of easing the burden on patients who have difficulty accessing the clinic, the team has begun conducting home-based visits on Fridays.

“What we do on these home visits, is we go and find out their actual mental stage and sometimes we carry medication for these patients as well. We do some psycho-education, like counselling, to the relatives as well because the patient’s care is important as well in the process. It’s not the patient alone, but the entire environment,” Dr Ananguren related.

The clinic offers counselling, psychotherapy and neurological treatment and patients are admitted if necessary. While patients are admitted mainly through referrals, the clinic is opened for anyone desirous of mental health assis-

tance. Following evaluation, patients are treated based on the level of their mental state. One of the nurses is trained in psychology and is able to provide counselling under Dr Ananguren’s supervision.

Social Worker Laurette Smith-Gray’s job is to intervene in social aspects of patients’ lives apart from the medical attention. She said persons visit her office for several issues and based on assessment, she is able to refer them to the psychiatrist or psychologist.

She explained that the psychologist would conduct psychotherapy without administering medication while the psychiatrist would diagnose and treat when necessary.

they associate.

She revealed that the policy stipulates for persons to be admitted for at least 24 hours for observation while an assessment is being conducted.

“They may not display outward aggressive tendencies but the mere fact that you can harm yourself, it can lead to other things,” she noted.

However, according to Dr Ananguren, 24 hours is just not enough. She opined that such patients should be admitted for 72 hours and in extreme cases, for a week. “Especially if there are children involved in the house environment,” she stated.

Dr Ananguren is calling on family members to play

“anti-bullying” campaign.

This initiative started in nursery schools.

Apart from Linden, Kwakwani has also benefitted from the initiative.

“Because we realise that there are certain problems that are affecting the child’s mental health since they are small. Problems such as bullying...” Dr Ananguren pointed out.

She noted that the team has since been invited to be at Parent Teacher Association meetings and the initiative has received a positive response from teachers and parents.

“We teach them how to identify some of the negative effects that these children can suffer, from emotional aspects to delay in

the stigma, we have people not coming to the hospital on time, not seeking help when they have to,” she said.

Smith-Gray also alluded that cases of repeated suicide attempts have decreased since many seem to overcome their situations and are empowered following counselling sessions.

She noted, however, that attempts are more prevalent among women, most of whom experience some form of domestic violence.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) attached to the hospital Toshanna Alicock also pointed to the stigma attached to mental illness in the region.

“Nobody wants to be mentally ill, but when per-

Mental associated disorders

The Social Worker explained that mental health covers a variety of disorders.

“Mental health expands widely, it covers a wide range of problems...we have persons who may come in and they’re severely depressed...experiencing anxiety, suicidal tendencies, substance abuse and persons who’ve been in substance abuse for a long time and want to desist from those habits and they are experiencing withdrawal symptoms”, she noted while adding that the clinic also caters for walk-in patients.

Depression, she noted, is a common disorder detected, as she pointed out that it is not always severe.

“Depression can be at varying levels. You can have moderate - maybe you’re experiencing mood swing or you’re experiencing a situation that seems to overwhelm you, and then there are persons who might be clinically depressed – severely depressed. When it comes to those cases, it is definitely for the doctor to review those persons and administer medication if necessary,” Gray explained.

The Social Worker posited that they have received numerous cases of persons trying to harm themselves through attempted suicide.

Then there is the issue of persons leaving the clinic against medical advice.

“The procedure is that as long as the person is brought to the institution under those conditions, they must be seen, reviewed or evaluated by the social worker, psychiatrist and the psychologist...the problems we have been experiencing...is that persons will self-harm, be brought to the institution for medical attention but at the end of whatever attention they would have been given they think it’s okay for them to leave the institution...this should not be,” she warned.

Smith-Gray explained that if someone is self-harming, it is an indication that they are a threat to themselves and those with whom

LHC staff: Nurses Holder, Alicock, Smith-Gray and Dr Ananguren (extreme right)

a more integral role in assisting patients and mental health professionals.

“Sometimes we can do but we don’t have all the resources,” she explained.

Noting that the community is a very religious one, the Social Worker encouraged that persons displaying symptoms of mental health disorders be evaluated by a medical professional, especially in cases of suicidal attempts.

“Suicide and suicidal tendencies is a cry for help and I know that our society is a very spiritual one. So in most cases, families, when they would have recognised a family not behaving in a normal way, they tend to seek spiritual help first. My advice...even though you have a right to your belief... it is still necessary for you to have your family members evaluated by medical personnel...Generally, some people do believe that it’s demons, but still, use the option of seeking medical attention,” she urged.

Children and adolescents suffer too

Highlighting that mental illness affects people of all ages, the team of professionals has embarked on a sensitisation campaign in schools to assist students, teachers and parents. In January of this year, the team commenced its visits to schools in the form of an

the learning process,” Dr Ananguren related.

At Kwakwani, the initiative also focused on substance abuse, depression and suicidal tendencies in teenagers, aspects which Linden will soon benefit from. It also targets primary schools in the region.

The team noted that they have so far been warmly welcomed into schools and the response has been great from both students and teachers, with them receiving requests from other educational institutions for student counselling.

Stigma and Support

According to Dr Ananguren, the stigma attached to mental health issues and suffering brings a “heavy load” to society and majorly affects those with addictive tendencies.

She noted, however, that there has been a reduction of patients with suicidal attempts in the region over the past few years.

“Since we have started to run our activities here, the incidence of admission in the hospital decreased so far. So I feel it is a positive aspect. The incidence of suicidal attempts, at least for the past two years in my opinion and according to the records, have been decreasing. “...but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need us anymore...because still, due to

sons are diagnosed with it, the society has a stigma that they portray to these patients. Maybe because some of them are violent, maybe because some may say things that don’t make sense to us, but that doesn’t mean that it is something that they’re doing wilfully. Some persons are just not conscious enough. Some may have a laidback approach to move away from that person, until that person is your family member.

Then you don’t have a choice but to try and help them... you don’t have to wait until it’s your family member, you can offer support to any person you think might need help,” she noted.

Further, she pointed out the importance of family members playing their part by uplifting medication for these patients, noting that oftentimes they are unable to do so themselves.

She also stressed the importance of them ensuring that patients take their medication on time.

Nurse Holder also encouraged families with members who suffer from suicidal tendencies to have them attend the clinic, noting that oftentimes, suicidal attempts are caused by repeated unpleasant scenarios experienced by the sufferer.

“And many times people wouldn’t say, they would show signs - like they start

losing interest in almost everything,” he said.

Nurse Holder added that family members of sufferers also need help in dealing with patients, noting that it is challenging.

“Because sometimes they don’t know how to deal with the situation and how they choose to deal with it can escalate the situation further...it’s a great challenge and they themselves need some amount of counselling and guidance...So it’s good for you to come in and talk to someone with a little more knowledge on how to deal with situations like these...the family needs support as well,” he said.

Future plans

Dr Ananguren said the team is aiming at enhancing delivery within the Mental Health Department with the establishment of a daily hospital scheme.

“It’s our interest, our purpose to create specific activities to improve the mental health conditions in our population here because it’s a lot of patients we already have attached to this clinic,” she said.

The aim, she noted, is to incorporate development skills in an effort to have mentally challenged patients reintegrated as useful members of society.

“Some of them have an acute episode, some because of circumstantial events in life and with the help we can provide them...they can go back to the society, especially the young ones,” she said.

The team also plans to develop psychotherapy for specific groups of patients such as neurological and those with addictive tendencies, as they noted that young people are seriously affected by the abuse of drugs and alcohol. They have already begun developing a campaign against drug and substance abuse.

There are also plans to develop a special support group for school teachers to identify students with addictive tendencies to have them undergo psychotherapy. The team plans to collaborate with the Education Ministry and Guyana Police Force with this initiative.

Dr Ananguren said the team also plans to make the anti-bullying campaign an annual initiative since bullying is a serious issue with serious consequences, including mood disorders and suicide attempts.

Additionally, the team plans to develop a psycho-education group for pregnant teenagers and has already established links with the hospital’s antenatal clinic. “Because pregnancy is a hard process, especially if you’re a teenager with no experience, sometimes no support, family support or financial support,” Dr Ananguren highlighted. continued on page 15

15

news

monday, MARCH 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

Should doctors face penalties when investigations prove that they have been negligent?

Asiyyih Richards “Yes, they should. Most times the hospital keeps the investigation confidential but just as a criminal could face charges for murder why not the doctors? Even if it was found to be due to negligence, the families of the patients need justice also. So, therefore, it’s yes. We are not perfect but at least as doctors, they should be knowledgeable about what they are doing and avoid little negligence to be the cause of an innocent person’s life.”

Candacy Famey “Yes, of course, I think they should be penalised because come on, its someone’s life they are dealing with so the Government or people in authority should ensure doctors are qualified and not only qualified but also have the experience when attending to patients.”

Samuel Samuels “Every action has a reaction so it’s unfair if doctors aren’t held accountable for their knowledgeable wrongdoings.

This shines a light on a hidden side of the medical field which is disgraceful and sad. The public will have little trust in medical care being provided by doctors who are caught and aren’t held accountable for their wrongdoings.”

Denisia Chapman “Yes, they should face penalties because they spend a lot of years studying and they should be well equipped with the prerequisite knowledge.”

Caesar McAlmont “Well everyone who is capable should be held accountable for their own actions but at the same time, doctors are humans too and humans are bound to make mistakes.”

Leslyn Thompson “Definitely yes. Doctors are supposed to be very careful and they know this, so if they are not and because of that someone suffers or maybe a life is lost, then the doctor or doctors should be penalised.”

Davika Seeraj “People’s lives should not be taken for granted and it seems as though that is what has been happening in some public hospitals in Guyana. Not just doctors but senior hospital officials should be held accountable when they try to bury these matters. Families should know what happened to their relatives.”

Samantha Deodat “The law does not hold doctors legally responsible for all diagnostic errors.

Instead, patients usually must prove three things in order to prevail in a medical malpractice lawsuit based on a wrong diagnosis: A doctorpatient relationship existed,

the doctor was negligent - that is, did not provide treatment in a reasonably skilful and competent manner or the doctor’s negligence caused actual injury to the patient.

A misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis also as itself is not evidence of negligence. Skilful doctors can and do make diagnostic errors even when using reasonable care. The key is determining whether the doctor acted competently, which involves an evaluation of what the doctor did and did not do in arriving at a diagnosis.

This means looking at the ‘differential diagnosis’ method the doctor used in making treatment determinations.

However, doctors and also nurses will face up to five years in jail if they are found to have wilfully neglected or mistreated patients.”

Tanisha Petty “Yes, people might say that mistakes do happen but sometimes the mistakes that some doctors make can be prevented. They are placed in a place of trust and as such, they should value that trust and do their jobs efficiently.”

Kristie Coleman “Negligence in their profession should definitely be investigated and they should definitely be prosecuted.

People put their lives in the hands of doctors whenever they have to go to any medical facility, why should they then, in turn, repay that trust with negligence? Nonsense!”

Linden health-care professionals...

Importance of mental health and the need for more awareness

Social Worker, SmithGray believes that mental health awareness is necessary and is everyone’s business, as mental illness affects persons of all ages.

“We have instances of early childhood and adolescent disorders. Being ignorant of these situations or disorders can cause us to maltreat, isolate and put persons in a state that is not fair to them. Because we might be ignorant of the fact of what that person might be experiencing. It can even cause abuse...so it is the business of everyone to grasp as much knowledge as possible on all mental health issues,” she said.

Pointing to cases of geriatric patients who experience dementia and autistic children, the Social Worker said a lack of knowledge causes family members to become frustrated.

Smith-Gray also stressed the importance of taking care of our mental health.

“Our mental status, we can and should pay keen attention to, because if that is altered, then it affects our decision-making...the way we relate to others, how we deal with everyday stress,” she said.

Meanwhile, Alicock said it is important for the public to know that mental illness is real and the hospital is doing its part to educate and treat persons.

“Education plays a big part. The more aware that persons are that it’s not just something that people make up or imagine, that it’s a real illness, the closer we get to actually treating these patients so that we can integrate them back into society,” she said.

She also pointed to the growth seen in the Department over the last few years.

“The expansion and growth that we’ve seen in the Mental Health Department, it goes to show our commitment to not only the residents within Region 10 but to the society as a whole. It fits into our mission state-

ment, which says that we offer compassionate care. That is one of the greatest aspects of mental health. They take on a challenge that most other persons are not willing to take on or they don’t know how to take on – how to deal with these patients. We have a well-rounded team of persons who can deal with these patients effectively and it is my belief that this Department will continue to expand. And we will continue to take on more projects and programmes to educate persons to create that awareness so that our society can actually help us to help our patients,” she noted.

Alicock said the hospital also does its part in ensuring that staff dealing with mental health are educated through annual lectures and sensitisation seminars.

She noted that with the expansion of the Mental Health Department, there is need for more of these.

Alicock said patient load is increasing tremendously due to the increase in the number of days the clinic

From page 14

is being hosted, stressing that mental health awareness should be an overall approach which should include all of society.

In Guyana, the Public Health Ministry’s Mental Health Unit’s mission is to “promote, coordinate and implement technical activities and actions directed towards strengthening the national capacity to develop policies, plans, programmes and services, thus contributing to the promotion of mental health, the reduction of the burden of the psychiatric diseases, prevention of disabilities, and the development of rehabilitation”.

According to a recent Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/ World Health Organisation (WHO) report, mental health issues account for more than a third of the total disability in the Caribbean and Latin America. This includes substance abuse, with depressive disorders amongst the largest cause, followed by anxiety disorders.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

MONday, MARCH 25, 2019

Regional

Russian air force planes land in Venezuela carrying troops – reports

T

wo Russian air force planes landed at Venezuela’s main airport on Saturday carrying a Russian defence official and nearly 100 troops, according to media reports, amid strengthening ties between Caracas and Moscow.

A flight-tracking website showed that two planes left a Russian military airport bound for Caracas on Friday, and another flight-tracking site showed that one plane left Caracas on Sunday.

That comes three months after the two nations held military exercises on Venezuelan soil that President Nicolás Maduro called a sign of strengthening relations, but which Washington criticised as Russian encroachment in

An airplane with the Russian flag is seen at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela, March 24, 2019

the Region.

Reporter Javier Mayorca wrote on Twitter on Saturday that the first plane carried Vasily Tonkoshkurov, chief of staff of the ground forces, adding the second was a cargo plane carrying 35 tonnes of material.

An Ilyushin IL-62 pas-

senger jet and an Antonov AN-124 military cargo plane left for Caracas on Friday from Russian military airport Chkalovsky, stopping along the way in Syria, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.

The cargo plane left Caracas on Sunday af-

ternoon, according to Adsbexchange, another flight-tracking site.

The flights carried officials who arrived to “exchange consultations”, wrote Russian Government-owned news agency Sputnik, which quoted an unnamed source at the Russian Embassy.

“Russia has various contracts that are in the process of being fulfilled, contracts of a technical military character,” Sputnik quoted the source as saying.

A Reuters witness saw what appeared to be the passenger jet at the Maiquetia airport on Sunday.

Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Honduran President calls Jerusalem Israeli capital, not moving Embassy yet

H

onduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez on Sunday called Jerusalem Israel’s capital, saying the Central American country would open a trade office there, but he stopped short of announcing plans to move his embassy from Tel Aviv.

Hernandez has, in recent months, signalled that his Government was mulling moving the Honduran Embassy to Jerusalem, and made his comments on the holy city during his appearance at a conference on US-Israeli relations in Washington.

“Today I have announced

a trade office in Jerusalem, the capital of the state of Israel, and this will be an extension of our Embassy in Tel Aviv,” Hernandez said in a statement issued by his Government.

“I’ve said that a second step will draw a lot of attacks from the enemies of Israel and the United States, but we will continue along this path,” Hernandez added.

Hernandez’s comments Honduran President Juan follow the formal recogOrlando Hernandez addresses nition by US President the audience during a promotion Donald Trump of Jerusalem ceremony at Marte military as the Israeli capital. Last camp, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, May, Trump moved the US February 25, 2019 Embassy to the disputed city. the first step, which is to open

Trump’s move was criticised by many foreign governments and caused anger among Palestinians, who with broad international backing seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they want to establish in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

East Jerusalem is still considered occupied under international law, and the city’s status is supposed to be decided as part of an IsraeliPalestinian peace agreement.

Hernandez, an ally of the United States, said the trade and cooperation office would open immediately in Jerusalem. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Progress made on solving LIAT’s woes

T

he issues concerning the Caribbean airline, LIAT, are being dealt with and progress is being made.

In an interview with media, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, explained that they were currently embarking on a series of emergency meetings, which he has called as Chairman of LIAT’s majority shareholding governments.

This meeting is the second of its nature, as Barbados would have played host to one earlier this month at Government Headquarters.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves

This meeting came about as a way for the Governments and share-

holders to find solutions and ways to ensure that the airline continued to operate despite the much-needed infusion of funds.

Following that meeting, Dr Gonsalves highlighted that progress had been made and that they are on the right path towards finding solutions for the financial difficulties the Caribbean airline is currently facing.

Saturday’s meeting was another step in the right direction.

“We just finished the meeting and I don’t want to comment on what we have done as yet, except to say that we are embarking

on a series of consultation emergency meetings which I called,” Dr Gonsalves said.

He noted that it was his intention to have Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, present and as such had to hold the meeting Saturday as Mottley is set to travel to the People’s Republic of China shortly.

“We had the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) here and representatives from Dominica and also Antigua and Barbuda, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the management, so it’s a work in progress,” he said.

(Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

St Vincent PM describes meeting between Trump, C’bean delegation as “troubling”

S

t Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has described the recent meeting between United States President Donald Trump and some Caribbean leaders as “troubling”.

Speaking to reporters late on Saturday in Barbados, Dr Gonsalves noted that there was no true representation of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) as the current Chairman of the regional body, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Timothy Harris, was not invited to the meeting.

He also pointed out that also absent were members of the Caricom advisory committee including himself, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley.

“None of those persons were invited and for it to be a true Caricom representation you must at least have

the Chairman so that any discussion of Venezuela in that context . . . it cuts across the agreement mechanisms that we have put in place,” said Dr Gonsalves, who was speaking following a meeting with stakeholders in the regional carrier, LIAT. Dr Gonsalves, who referred to the actions of the US concerning Venezuela as “a creeping coup d’état” against a legitimate government, said that Caricom would not fall victim to the entrapping of others.

“We in Caricom have to be very alive to the mischief that some persons may be up to, to seek to divide us in a manner which we ought not to be divided and therefore reduce the extent of our work.”

On Friday, the Prime Ministers of Jamaica, The Bahamas and St Lucia as well as the Presidents of the Dominican Republic and Haiti met with Trump to discuss the crisis in Venezuela and energy. (Excerpt from CMC)

Protest action results in closure of Antigua State College campuses

T

he Antigua State College (ASC) campuses were closed Saturday as staff at the tertiary educational facilities refused to work owing to the deplorable conditions of buildings at the main campus.

The staff have also indicated that the closure could continue into next week unless Government officials move swiftly to resolve the matter.

Senior Executive Officer at ASC Laila Farrell reiterated that point when she was contacted by Antigua Observer newsroom.

“Well, we know that we will not be at work on Monday if there is nothing definitive happening today (Sunday). There is a shutdown, yes; we do not know if there is shutdown to fumigate, to do anything. We do not know what the plans are but we are still monitoring the activities at the college and we are waiting to get an

update as to where we are.”

She also mentioned the negative impact the situation has on students who are preparing for their examinations next month.

“I know that students were preparing for exams which should begin some time next month.

Preparations should have begun for registration, but were not able to get under way because of the industrial action that was taken. I do not know what plans are afoot at the moment to get things back on track.”

Students have, however, been asked to check for updates on Sonisweb and the ASC’s Facebook page.

This shutdown comes on the heels of an initial action taken by staff who staged a sit-in on Tuesday over the same concerns.

Farrell noted that since the first protest action was taken, no Government official has responded. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Bolsonaro in Chile: Brazilian T&T: 7 charged with DUI leader sparks controversy for court today – Brazilian President causes anger in Chile, sparking protests and a rare political boycott

B

razil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has wrapped up an official visit to Chile

that was marked by protests and controversy.

The Brazilian leader’s praise of Chile’s former mil-

itary dictatorship led to the first-ever boycott of a presidential visit by influential Chilean politicians. (Al Jazeera)

S

even people, including an environmental consultant and an engineer, have been arrested and charged with driving under the influence by officers of the Port-of-Spain

Division.

According to reports, the men were among persons who were stopped during a road traffic exercise in St Clair, Port-ofSpain, on Friday night.

The exercise was conducted from 21:00h Friday to 02:00 Saturday.

The men are expected to appear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court today.

(Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, MARCH 25, 2019

Around the World

Mueller report does not have proof of Trump crimes – Justice Department

U

S Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election did not find that President Donald Trump committed a crime but also does not exonerate him, according to a summary of Mueller’s findings released on Sunday.

Mueller, who spent nearly two years investigating allegations that Russia meddled in the 2016 election to help Trump defeat his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, also found no evidence that any member of Trump’s election campaign conspired with Russia during the election.

Mueller said he would leave it to the Attorney General to decide whether a crime was committed.

Barr’s summary said Mueller found no evidence

Robert Mueller

that the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia, despite multiple offers from individuals associated with Russia.

Trump has always denied collaborating with Moscow or obstructing justice. Russia says it did not interfere in the election, although US intelligence

agencies concluded that it did.

Barr said the investigation also found insufficient evidence that Trump had attempted to obstruct justice.

Many of his opponents accused him of obstructing the Russia probe when he fired former FBI Director James Comey.

The Department of Justice announced on Friday that Mueller had ended his investigation after bringing charges against 34 people, including Russian agents and former key allies of Trump, such as his campaign Chairman Paul Manafort, former national security adviser Mike Flynn and his personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

None of those charges, however, directly related to whether Trump’s campaign worked with Moscow. (Excerpt

Thailand elections: Militarybacked party takes lead P

reliminary results from Thailand’s Election Commission show a military-backed party in the lead, in the country’s first elections since a military coup in 2014.

With about 90 per cent of ballots in Sunday’s long-delayed polls counted, the Palang Pracharat party had seven million votes. Pheu Thai, the party linked to the former Prime Minister and exiled tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra, had 6.6 million.

Future Forward, a newly founded party that campaigned on a promise of

change and military reform, was third, with nearly 4.8 million votes.

The Commission said it would announce the final results on Monday at 10:00h (03:00 GMT).

The vote is taking place under a new Constitution that gives the military considerable influence over the country’s civilian politics and makes it difficult for any party to win a majority in the 500seat lower house. The upper house is appointed by the military.

The retired Army General who led the coup against

from Reuters)

T

Theresa May’s de-facto deputy backs her leadership

He was among the Tory MPs and Ministers at talks with May on Sunday at Chequers, her country retreat.

Prominent Brexiteers Gove, Boris Johnson and

Jacob Rees-Mogg were also present.

They discussed a range of issues, including whether there was sufficient support to hold a third vote on the Prime Minister’s deal this week, a Downing Street spokesman said.

The Prime Minister has come under growing pressure to quit following a week in which she was forced to ask the EU for an extension to Article 50, and criticised for blaming the delay to Brexit on MPs. The withdrawal deal she has negotiated with the EU has been overwhelmingly rejected in the Commons twice, and it remains unclear whether she will bring it back a third time next week after she wrote to MPs saying she would only do so if there was “sufficient support”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Comoros Opposition candidates say presidential vote marred by irregularities

O

pposition candidates said Sunday’s presidential poll in Comoros was marred by irregularities including barring of independent monitors and marking of ballot papers before voting began, charges rejected by the Government.

About 300,000 voters in the Indian Ocean archipelago of 800,000 people took part in the poll, with results expected to be announced by the electoral body CENI today.

Incumbent Azali Assoumani, a former military officer, is widely expected to be re-elected from a field of 13 contenders.

“Election monitors for

various independent candidates did not receive necessary accreditation documents to access the polling stations,” the 12 opposition candidates said in a joint statement on Sunday.

The opposition also accused authorities of arresting some of their representatives and preventing others from accessing CENI’s premises.

Interior Minister Mohamed Daoudou, who organised the poll, denied the opposition’s claims.

“The poll took place in a calm and peaceful atmosphere,” he said, adding voter turnout was 40 per cent.

In the capital Moroni,

groups of youths massed on main roads after polls closed in the early evening, erecting barricades and protesting against the alleged irregularities.

Last year, Comoros was rattled by months of unrest as authorities moved to quell protests against Assoumani’s bid to extend presidential term limits.

People on the archipelago’s Anjouan Island were angry that the move, which allowed Assoumani to participate in Sunday’s poll, would deny them the presidency under a system that rotates the post among the country’s three main islands. (Excerpt from Reuters)

the country’s last elected Government five years ago, Prayuth Chan-ocha, hopes the election will return him to power as a civilian Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister will be the person who secures a majority across both houses, and the 250-seat Senate is seen as giving Prayuth an advantage.

Turnout stood at 65.96 per cent, below expectations. In early voting last week, it was 87 per cent.

About 52 million voters were registered to vote, some seven million of them for the first time. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Huge fossil discovery made in China’s Hubei province

Brexit: Ministers tipped to replace Theresa May rally round wo Ministers touted as a potential caretaker PM in reports of a Cabinet coup said they fully back Theresa May. Environment Secretary Michael Gove told reporters it was “not the time to change the captain of the ship”.

And the PM’s de facto deputy David Lidington insisted he was “100 per cent behind” May. Meanwhile, the Brexit secretary said an election will become more likely if MPs vote this week for a Brexit option the Government does not want.

MPs are expected to get the chance to hold a series of so-called indicative votes on possible alternatives to May’s withdrawal deal, but Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said they would “not be binding”.

17

Naraoiids, a type of soft-shelled arthropod, were found at the site

S

cientists say they have discovered a “stunning” trove of thousands of fossils on a river bank in China.

The fossils are estimated to be about 518 million years old, and are particularly unusual because the soft body tissue of many creatures, including their skin, eyes, and internal organs, have been “exquisitely” well preserved.

Palaeontologists have called the findings

“mind-blowing” - especially because more than half the fossils are previously undiscovered species.

The fossils, known as the Qingjiang biota, were collected near Danshui River in Hubei province.

More than 20,000 specimens were collected, and a total of 4351 have been analysed so far, including worms, jellyfish, sea anemones and algae.

The majority of fossils

tend to be of hard-bodied animals, as harder substances, like bones, are less likely to rot and decompose.

Scientists are especially excited by the jellyfish and sea anemone fossils, which Prof Gaines describes as “unlike anything I have ever seen. Their sheer abundance and their diversity of forms is stunning”.

Meanwhile, Prof Allison Daley, a palaeontologist who was not part of the study but wrote an accompanying analysis in Science, told BBC’s Science in Action programme the find was one of the most significant in the last 100 years.

The research team are now documenting the remaining specimens, and conducting more drilling in the region to find out more about the ancient local ecosystem, and the fossilisation process.

The fossils are from the Cambrian period, which began 541 million years ago and saw a rapid increase in animal diversity on Earth. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Police use water cannons against teachers’ protest in Morocco

P

olice in Morocco’s capital Rabat have used water cannons to disperse thousands of young teachers protesting for better work conditions.

Authorities early on Sunday were trying to end a rally of an estimated 15,000 teachers in front of Parliament where they planned to spend the night before an even bigger demonstration called by a coalition of leftist opposition parties, unions and civil society groups.

Policemen in anti-riot gear swung into action after negotiations between officers and teachers to ask protesters to leave the area broke down after several hours.

Authorities had offered to send buses to drive them to places where they could spend the night, teachers said.

Teachers across Morocco have been striking for three consecutive weeks

They had been chanting “liberty, dignity, social justice”.

Some teachers said they were protesting against contracts on which they have been hired.

They are demanding full benefits and pensions like regular public servants.

Teachers across the country have been striking

for three consecutive weeks.

Of the country’s 240,000-strong teacher workforce, 55,000 have been hired since 2016 under a new contract system.

Morocco has come under pressure from international lenders to trim the civil service wage bill and strengthen the efficiency of the public sector. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONday, March 25, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

dilbert

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Work quietly behind the scenes. Use your intelligence to overcome obstacles. Change is within reach, but making it happen will require finesse.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Take care of business without making a fuss. Be open to suggestions, but don’t give in if someone is pressuring you to take on the impossible. Personal gains should be your objective.

CANCER

If you offer something special or unique, you will get the help you need to make your idea fly. A change will turn out better than anticipated. Keep moving forward.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

Set high standards and cover as much ground as possible. If you know what you are talking about, you’ll gain respect and the support you need to get what you want.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

If you take on too much or engage in indulgent behavior, you won’t like the results. Take the high road and project an image that is consistent and discreet.

Don’t put up with anyone playing emotional mind games. Be direct and eliminate chaos and discord from your life. Put your best foot forward and do your own thing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Get out and do something that will add to your knowledge, skills and experience.

Refuse to let situations at home slow you down. Compromise and move on to more enjoyable tasks.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Push the envelope when it comes to creative pursuits. Find a way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Dedication and hard work will pay off.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Charm will help you get your way, as long as you don’t venture too far from the truth or mislead someone. An emotional matter should be resolved before you make a personal change.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Put some muscle behind your aspirations if you want to make progress. Your enthusiasm will gain you support as well as criticism.

Don’t get angry; use the advice offered to your benefit.

SUDOKU

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Consider what’s doable and what isn’t. Don’t be shy when you need help. Call in favors and get things done. Romance will eliminate tension and stress.

You’ll have some big ideas that will spark interest and put you in the limelight.

Before you make unreasonable promises, go over your plans and your budget.

monday, MARCH 25, 2019

Paul gets Pollard on debut as Pant’s carnage gives Delhi Capitals win

19

2019 Africa Cup of Nations:

Tragedy overshadows Zimbabwe’s qualification

T

R

Kemo Paul and his team mates celebrating the wicket of Mumbai’s Kieron Pollard

ishabh Pant’s six-hitting binge found no match in the Mumbai Indians’ star-studded line-up as Delhi Capitals began life in the IPL with a convincing victory away from home.

By falling short of Delhi’s 213/6 by 37 runs, Mumbai Indians have now lost the first game for the seventh straight season. The result also put an end to a very similar first-game rut for the Delhi side, as they began with a win for the first time in seven seasons. Not bad.

Dhawan was fluent during his stay, but didn’t quite bring the roof down as far as strike rate is concerned. Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi Shaw got carried away by the fantastic batting strip in front of them, and ended up wafting away from the body and paying the price for it.

Mitchell Mc Clenaghan once again picked up wickets in a bunch, but the credit for Iyer’s departure belonged to Kieron Pollard, who took a sharp catch at extra cover.

New recruit Colin Ingram

By the time DC went from 45/2 in 6 overs to 82/2 in 10, new recruit Colin Ingram had caught up with Dhawan’s tally, and would sprint past it in the 11th over, wherein he picked three fours off Krunal Pandya. Hardik, too, faced the brunt as the T20 freelancer showed why DC’s INR 6.4 Crore winning bid was a prudent one. By the time he fell, for a 32-ball 47, DC had 113/3 in 13 overs.

When you’ve got a batsman helicopter-flicking a Jasprit Bumrah yorker, there’s very little the rest of the bowling line-up can do against him. The situation was laid out in red carpet for the DC finisher, and to say he made the most of it would be a gross understatement. Of the 99 runs that DC got in the last six overs, 77 belonged to Pant’s account too, of which 70 came in fours and sixes.

Most of those big hits were expectedly targeted in the mid-wicket and

he death of a supporter overshadowed Zimbabwe’s qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday. Zimbabwe’s FA said a fan was killed in a stampede outside the national stadium in Harare before their final Group G match against Congo-Brazzaville.

Despite the tragedy, the qualifier went ahead, with Zimbabwe winning 2-0 to seal their place at Egypt 2019. The Democratic Republic of Congo also qualified from the group with a 1-0 win over Liberia in Kinshasa.

Zimbabwe finished top of Group ‘G’, with DR Congo second, two points adrift. Liberia and Congo-Brazzaville, who were both in contention at the start of the day, were eliminated.

With fans clamouring to get inside the stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe’s players knew what qualification for the Nations Cup meant to supporters. Khama Billiat, who plays for Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a well struck free-kick to put Zimbabwe 1-0 up.

His Belgium-based captain Knowledge Musona added a second 16 minutes later, pouncing on a defensive error to make it 2-0 to the hosts. Congo-Brazzaville tried to get back into the match, but could not overcome a powerful and resilient Warriors team.

The victory makes it back-to-back Nations Cup appearances for Zimbabwe, who played at Gabon in 2017 after an 11-year absence from the finals.

In Kinshasa, Liberia needed a draw to go through, but China-based Cedric Bakambu’s 52nd minute goal ensured DR Congo made it instead. Bakambu scored the goal to put DR Congo into the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt later this year. That put DR Congo second on the table, behind Zimbabwe, and relegated Liberia to third place.

Liberia - who had requested for this fixture to be moved away from DR Congo because of concerns over Ebola - brought on Newcastle’s under-23 midfielder Mohammed Sangare in the second half as he made his international debut. But DR Congo secured the victory they needed. The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will, for the first time, take place in June and July, and will feature 24 teams rather than 16. (BBC Sport)

square leg region, but there was not a to go after. Trent Boult had an ordinary field that Rohit would set that brought first spell, and was in danger of being different results. taken apart again, but Rahul Tewatia Pandya particularly tried different took his third catch of the night to effectricks - full and wide outside off, a slow- tively end MI’s chase. er one, and even some short-pitched Yuvraj Singh fought on, and even bowling – but each was met with more got his half-century, but there wasn’t disdain than the previous delivery. adequate support from the other end, There was no leniency in store for as they folded in the final over. the 17-year-old debutant Rasikh Salam DC have only a day to revel in their too, who was tasked with bowling the flying start, as they head north for 19th over. Pant smashed him for two a home game against defendsixes and one four to take 21 runs ing champions Chennai 3 off it; before Bumrah’s final over Super Kings was taken apart too, leaving him on Tuesday. with figures of 4-0-40-1.

M u m b a i It seemed fine, particularly after Indians will PP Shaw c †de Kock b Trent Boult conceded 17 in his sectravel in McClenaghan 7 ond over. But Ishant Sharma’s the oppoS Dhawan c Yadav b HH second and third overs rufsite direcPandya 43 fled feathers. The pitch tion to SS Iyer (c) c Pollard b was starting to show McClenaghan 16 signs of slowCA Ingram c HH Pandya b ing down, and Cutting 47 the exper i RR Pant † not out 78 enced pacer KMA Paul c †de Kock b smartly McClenaghan 3 used the AR Patel c Rasikh Salam b knuckle-ball opBumrah 4 tion to first deceive R Tewatia not out 9 Rohit Sharma, and then Extras 6 (lb 2, nb 2, w 2) remove Suryakumar Yadav TOTAL 213/6 (20 Overs, RR: 10.65) and Quinton de Kock inside Fall of wickets: 1-10 (PP Shaw, the same over.

1.3 ov), 2-29 (SS Iyer, 3.4 ov), He was shaky at the start, but end3-112 (CA Ingram, 12.6 ov), ed with the crowd getting right behind 4-131 (S Dhawan, 15.1 ov), him with chants of, ‘Yuvi! Yuvi!’ And 5-157 (KMA Paul, 16.5 ov), why not, he showed a few glimpses of 6-165 (AR Patel, 17.2 ov) his old self in his 35-ball 53, and was BOWLING O M R W specifically brutal against left-arm Rasikh Salam 4 0 42 0 spinner Axar Patel.

MJ McClenaghan 4 0 40 3 He was also involved in a promisJJ Bumrah 4 0 40 1 ing partnership with Kieron Pollard Delhi Capitals’ Rishabh Pant HH Pandya 4 0 41 1 that kept DC on their toes, despite the played some helicopters KH Pandya 2 0 21 0 runs they had on the board. Keemo BCJ Cutting 2 0 27 1 Paul broke that stand with a slower Bengaluru for their next game one, and kept using change of pace as on Thursday, where they face a Mumbai Indians the surface was showing more signs of wounded home side that began Innings (target: 214 runs from having slowed down. their IPL campaign in quite an 20 overs) Axar continued to bleed runs, while appalling fashion. (cricbuzz) RG Sharma (c) c Tewatia b Krunal Pandya eyed another weak link

SCOREBOARD

Sharma 14 Q de Kock † c Boult b Sharma 27 SA Yadav run out (Iyer) 2 Yuvraj Singh c Tewatia b Rabada 53 KA Pollard c Tewatia b Paul 21 HH Pandya c & b Patel 0 KH Pandya c Tewatia b Boult 32 BCJ Cutting c †Pant b Rabada 3 MJ McClenaghan st †Pant b Tewatia 10 Rasikh Salam not out 5 JJ Bumrah absent hurt Extras 9 (lb 2, w 7) TOTAL 176 all out (19.2 Overs, RR: 9.1) Fall of wickets: 1-33 (RG Sharma, 3.3 ov), 2-37 (SA Yadav, 5.1 ov), 3-45 (Q de Kock, 5.5 ov), 4-95 (KA Pollard, 10.5 ov), 5-95 (HH Pandya, 11.2 ov), 6-134 (KH Pandya, 14.6 ov), 7-153 (BCJ Cutting, 16.2 ov), 8-170 (Yuvraj Singh, 18.1 ov), 9-176 (MJ McClenaghan, 19.2 ov) BOWLING TA Boult I Sharma K Rabada R Tewatia KMA Paul AR Patel

O M R W 40 4 2 1 40 3 4 2 40 2 3 2 1.2 0 12 1 3 0 21 1 3 0 42 1

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monday, march 25, 2019

Russell special powers KKR to winning start S

unrisers Hyderabad’s much-famed bowling attack had their reputation tattered at the hands of Andre Russell, who, in a period of two overs, smacked four sixes and three fours, and took Kolkata Knight Riders to a 6-wicket win in their opening encounter of IPL 2019.

KKR needed 53 runs in the last three overs, with Russell batting on 9 off 7 balls, already troubled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s variations -- yorker, slower one, and a mix of both wide outside the off-stump. The 17th over yielded only 6 runs, but when he came on to bowl his next over, Russell thrashed him for 21 and brought down the equation to 13 off the last over.

Shubhman Gill hit two long sixes in the last over off Shakib Al Hasan to help KKR overhaul the total with 1 ball to spare.

While his assault may have lasted for only two overs, Russell powered away to a 19-ball 49. IPL was expected to be David Warner’s toughest cricketing challenge since the international exile last March, but for all the rustiness he came to the competition with, he showed no sign of it in the Andre Russell hit 49 from 19 balls opening game, stroking his way to his 37th IPL 7th over when he was batting on 38, and in the 12th over fifty, more than any other player in the on 68. Add a misfield, a confusion while running, and retournament. turns of 2 off 4 with the bat to the mix make for a perfect In what was a quintessential case why his chances as India’s second ‘keeper just took a Warner knock, cuts, pulls and muscle dip! were all on display in a free-flowing The English ‘keeper Bairstow, chosen ahead of two loknock of dominance. He set the base cal glovemen -- Wriddhiman Saha and Sreevats Goswami of Sunrisers’ innings with a 53-ball 85, -- walked in to the side on reputation, but his record in a knock which included 9 boundarIndia against spin isn’t the most impressive. However, ies and 3 sixes, before driving a full at Eden Gardens -- the fastest and the bounciest delivery by Andre Russell to Robin track in India in recent years -- Bairstow was preUthappa at extra cover. sented the best opportunity to put on exhibition his The confidence he gained from destructive powers. the knock was reflective when He struggled for most parts of his stay, at times Sunrisers came out to defend being beaten and mostly scratchy. Nonetheless, their total, and Warner - the through the course of his 35-ball 39, he former captain - was busy setstitched a record opening stand for ting the field at different points SRH against KKR, adding 118 in the game. with Warner.

It wasn’t the best of days for Warner, There have been a few the Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper. It all constants for Sunrisers started with a horrendous review in the David Warner returned with a bang Hyderabad in recent years: 19th ball of the innings, when a Piyush top order reliability and Chawla googly hit him on the pads. What strong bowling performances.

What hasn’t been their ally, was clear on television, the on-field umpire and the technology -- that the ball had pitched way outside leg stump -- though, is lower order hitting. Today, despite a beefed-up wasn’t in sync with what the bowler and Karthik believed. middle order, it was no different, and barring Russell’s asBut that wasn’t to be the KKR skipper’s only error of the sault, was the biggest reason of SRH’s close defeat.

When Warner fell in the 16th over, Sunrisers Hyderabad day. He dropped Warner twice behind the stumps - in the were well placed at 144. With eight wickets in hand and a

3

flurry of big hitters to follow, the visitors could have targeted a 190-plus total. However, while Vijay Shankar crunched a couple of sixes and boundaries in his 24-ball 40, Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey struggled against a flurry of slower balls bowled by Andre Russell, Prasidh Krishna and Lockie Ferguson.

The duo combined to add only a run-a-ball nine, as SRH finished on 181 for 3. After a successful experiment with Sunil Narine at the top for two seasons, KKR decided to make another surprise change at the top -- promoting Nitish Rana to open the innings with Chris Lynn.

While Lynn struggled early against spin, Robin Uthappa got out again in the 30s, and Karthik failed to leave an impact. Rana made the most of his opportunity and cashed in 68 off 47 balls. He paced his innings well, countering both pace and spin with ease. Even as KKR struggled to keep pace with the required rate till the 17th over, managing only 70 in the first 10, Rana remained a strong constant and the second biggest reason for KKR’s winning start. (Crickbuzz)

SCOREBOARD

DA Warner c Uthappa b Russell 85 JM Bairstow † b Chawla 39 V Shankar not out 40 YK Pathan b Russell 1 MK Pandey not out 8 Extras 8 (b 1, lb 4, nb 1, w 2) TOTAL 181/3 (20 Overs, RR: 9.05) Fall of wickets: 1-118 (JM Bairstow, 12.5 ov), 2-144 (DA Warner, 15.6 ov), 3-152 (YK Pathan, 17.3 ov) BOWLING O M R W M Prasidh Krishna 4 0 31 0 PP Chawla 3 0 23 1 LH Ferguson 4 0 34 0 SP Narine 3 0 29 0 Kuldeep Yadav 2 0 18 0 AD Russell 3 0 32 2 N Rana 1 0 9 0

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings

(target: 182 runs from 20 overs) CA Lynn c Rashid Khan b Shakib Al Hasan 7 N Rana lbw b Rashid Khan 68 RV Uthappa b Kaul 35 KD Karthik (c) † c Kumar b Sandeep Sharma 2 AD Russell not out 49 Shubman Gill not out 18 Extras 4 (lb 1, w 3) TOTAL 183/4 (19.4 Overs, RR: 9.3) Fall of wickets: 1-7 (CA Lynn, 1.6 ov), 2-87 (RV Uthappa, 11.4 ov), 3-95 (KD Karthik, 12.4 ov), 4-118 (N Rana, 15.3 ov) BOWLING O M R W B Kumar 4 0 37 0 Shakib Al Hasan 3.4 0 42 1 Sandeep Sharma 4 0 42 1 S Kaul 4 0 35 1 Rashid Khan 4 0 26 1

Back-to-back Finch tons give Australia 2-0 lead

A

ustralia made a huge statement ahead of the World Cup as they took a 2-0 lead in the ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE with another comprehensive victory.

Having already secured a series win in India to overturn their slump, Australia put on a clinical display with the bat one more time, with the openers putting on 209 for the first wicket.

Aaron Finch, who had roared back to form in the first game, got to three figures yet again, and remained unbeaten on 155 to see his side home. Finch was initially subdued to begin with, as the first five boundaries of the chase came off the bat off Khawaja. Batting on 7 off 21 at one stage in the ‘powerplay’, he fetched his first four when he cut Imad Wasim towards deep backward point. With Khawaja scoring at a strike rate of over 100, Australia managed 48 in the first ten overs.

Finch finally picked up against the pacy debutant Mohammad Hasnain, with Khawaja now taking a backseat. The skipper then got to his half-century ahead of his opening partner, as the two brought up their century stand. He was severe against the spinners, once fetching two sixes and a four off Yasir Shah, and following it up with a four and a six off Imad to completely put his side on top.

At the other end, Khawaja got to a half-century for the fourth time in his last five innings, strengthening his case for a World Cup spot.

As the two batsmen continued to milk the bowling attack, Finch got to his 13th hundred off just 97 balls, to stamp his authority ahead of the global tournament in England.

Pakistan finally struck when Khawaja found the fielder at deep midwicket while attempting a slog sweep. By that time the chase was almost done and dusted, with Australia needing only 76 more runs to win. That became a walk in the park, with Finch launching an assault towards the end to register his first 150-plus score in 50-over cricket.

Earlier in the evening, Mohammad Rizwan made complete use of Sarfraz Ahmed’s absence with a well-crafted century at No.4. It helped Pakistan post 284 on the board. Pakistan were pegged back very early in the innings, with Jhye Richardson striking twice in the first ten overs, removing both the openers.

Haris Sohail, fresh from his century last game, started off in fine fashion, but couldn’t capitalise on the start this time around. Richardson’s injury post his first spell forced Finch to bring himself on, and that eventually resulted in the skipAaron Finch per accounting for Sohail’s smashed his second century in wicket. as many matches Umar Akmal, who had impressed in his comeback game, was the next to go, as he mistimed one in tame fashion to the deep midwicket fielder.

Pakistan, stuttering at this point, were then revived by a century partnership between Rizwan and the skipper, Shoaib Malik. The veteran was busy at the wicket, and was aggressive against the spinners in particular. After picking up a six off Nathan Lyon, Malik pushed his strike rate beyond 100 by fetching a boundary off Adam Zampa.

Rizwan, at the other end, played the ideal foil as the duo slowly put Pakistan in command. Malik then targeted the 38th over bowled by Glenn Maxwell by smashing the off-spinner for four successive boundaries.

After 40 overs, Pakistan were ideally placed for a final onslaught, having already put up 211 runs on the board. While

Malik got to his fifty, Rizwan went on to reach his maiden hundred in the format.

Unfortunately for Pakistan, both batsmen failed to get the big hits coming in the death overs, with Australia getting rid of them at the right time. A little cameo from Imad guided Pakistan to a similar score they posted in the opening ODI, but once again it proved to be short, just like it was the case two days ago. (cricbuzz)

3

SCOREBOARD

Imam-ul-Haq b JA Richardson 0 Shan Masood c Marsh b JA Richardson 19 Haris Sohail c †Carey b Finch 34 Mohammad Rizwan † c Maxwell b Coulter-Nile 115 Umar Akmal c Handscomb b Lyon 16 Shoaib Malik (c) c Maxwell b Zampa 60 Faheem Ashraf c Handscomb b Coulter-Nile 14 Imad Wasim not out 19 Yasir Shah not out 1 Extras 6 (b 1, lb 2, w 3) TOTAL 284/7 (50 Overs, RR: 5.68) Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Imam-ul-Haq, 0.5 ov), 2-35 (Shan Masood, 6.1 ov), 3-87 (Haris Sohail, 17.3 ov), 4-112 (Umar Akmal, 22.3 ov), 5-239 (Shoaib Malik, 44.4 ov), 6-254 (Mohammad Rizwan, 46.4 ov), 7-266 (Faheem Ashraf, 48.4 ov) BOWLING O M R W JA Richardson 5 2 16 2

NM Coulter-Nile 7 MP Stoinis 6 NM Lyon 10 A Zampa 10 AJ Finch 10 GJ Maxwell 2

0 52 0 40 0 64 0 57 0 41 0 11

2 0 1 1 1 0

Australia Innings (target: 285 runs from 50 overs) UT Khawaja c Imam-ul-Haq b Yasir Shah 88 AJ Finch (c) not out 153 GJ Maxwell run out (Haris Sohail) 19 SE Marsh not out 11 Extras 14 (b 3, lb 7, w 4) TOTAL 285/2 (47.5 Overs, RR: 5.95) Fall of wickets: 1-209 (UT Khawaja, 36.4 ov), 2-241 (GJ Maxwell, 41.2 ov) BOWLING O M R W Imad Wasim 8 1 60 0 Mohammad Abbas7 0 38 0 Faheem Ashraf 9.5 0 45 0 Mohammad Hasnain9 0 54 0 Yasir Shah 10 1 60 1 Haris Sohail 4 0 18 0

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sports BCB/Elizabeth Styles U-21 Cricket Competition

21 Kevin Sinclair

Rose Hall Town storm into final with 63-run win over Tucber Park – Kevin Sinclair hits half-century, Simpson grabs 4-for

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he dominant Rose Hall Town found themselves advancing into the final of the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) Elizabeth Stylessponsored under 21 competition as they hunt another title. In the match, played at mutual venue Hampshire on Saturday last, Rose Hall Town took first strike and scored 256 all out in the allotted 50 overs.

In reply, Tucber Park f e l l short by 63 runs, being bowled out for 153.

Earlier, at the relatively small outfield, the boys from the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) achieved t h e i r score of 256 compliments of National youth player Kevin Sinclair, who stroked 69.

T h e hard-hitting opener hit seven fours and three sixes in his splendid innings, before he was dismissed by the lively Leon Swamy after adding 100 runs for the opening wicket partnership with Junior Sinclair, who hit 33 that included three boundaries.

Former Guyana under 15 player Jonathan

Leon Swamy

Rampersaud scored 20 for the RHTY&SC. Bowling for Tucber Park, Guyana under 17 player Gevon Schultz took 3-25; off-spinner Melvin Singh had 3-37, and Bajan leg-spinner Winslow Roberts had 1-41.

In reply, Tucber Park lost Steve Deonarine (07) to Kevlon Anderson, who bowls skiddy medium with the new ball. Fellow opener Malcolm Mickle, one of Berbice’s finest youth batsmen, fell cheaply to left-arm spinner Keith Simpson., Garfield Benjamin, batting at number three, hit a crucial 43 that included seven fours and one six.

The well-built all-rounder Leon Swamy, batting at number seven, blazed an attacking 63 that included five muscular sixes and four boundaries. Shamar Joseph chipped in with 20 in the lower order, but it was insufficient for a Tucber Park victory.

Bowling for the Rose Hall Town team, the impressive left-arm spinner Keith Simpson had 4-31 in 10 overs.

He was well-supported by Kevlon Anderson and Jonathan Rampersaud, who had two wickets each for Rose Hall Town.

(Brandon Corlette)

Maxim emerges victorious in LGC Holi Tournament

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Saturday’s Holi tournament winners: From left to right: Hilbert Shields, Brian Hackett, Joaan Deo, Aleem Hussain, Rabindranath Persaud, Maxim Mangra, Paul James, Zulfiqar Ali, Patrick Prashad and Kevin Dinanauth

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VACANCY CARICOM VACANCY Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals to fill the following vacant, contracted position of GARDENER/HANDYMAN at the Secretary-General’s residence: Requirements for the position: Able-bodied with a sound primary education / At least 3 (three) years’ experience in the field of gardening and landscaping / Knowledge of and experience in the use of the brush cutter / Formal training in gardening/agriculture would be an asset.

Working hours: 07:00 hrs – 15:00 hrs Monday to Friday and 07:00hrs – 10:00 hrs on Saturday. How to apply: Applications with bio-data must be submitted by April 5th, 2019 and either e-mailed to procurement@caricom.org or mailed/ delivered to: The Programme Manager Procurement, CARICOM Secretariat, P.O. Box 10827, Greater Georgetown, Guyana. Applications must include the names and contact details for 3(three) references.

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ookie Maxim Mangra turned in a superb performance to emerge champion in the LGC Holi Tournament which was hosted on March 23. Not only did he win in his flight, but he recorded the tournament’s overall best Net score.

Reigning Guyana Open male runner-up Kevin Dinanauth and immediate past President the veteran Hilbert Shields won in their flights convincingly.

With fine weather and a course in top class condition, the golfers took off at 12:40 p.m., many vying to be winner in their own Flight. Three flights, of handicaps 0 – 10, 11 – 19, and 20 – 28 were played, with prizes being awarded for the first two places in each flight, along with Nearest the Pin and Best Gross performances.

Visiting the LGC during Saturday’s tournament was Her Excellency Ms Sarah Ann- Lynch, US Ambassador to Guyana. Also visiting were Mr Zulfiqar Ali, President of the local branch of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), and Mr Paul James, a Director of AmCham and owner of FixIt Hardware.

With Guyana racing towards becom-

ing an oil producer by 2020, AmCham intends to cater to a growing number of United States companies investing in oil and gas related and other services.

AmCham, via Messrs Ali and James, committed to hosting a grand event at the LGC in a few months’ time, and in fact assisted in prize distribution on Saturday.

Kevin Dinanauth carted off three prizes, winning the Nearest the Pin, the Best Gross (74) and 1st place in his 0 – 10 flight. Winners in that 0–10 flight were Kevin (68/6) – 1st ; Patrick Prashad (69/9) – 2nd ; Mike Mangal (78/9) – 3rd ; and Aleem Hussain (79/10) – 4th .

In the 11–19 flight, winners were Hilbert Shields (69/16) – 1st Mahindranath Persaud (70/17) – 2nd; Mahindranauth Tewari (72/14) – 3rd.

Joseph John (77/15) and Lekhnarine Shivraj (77/16) tied on 5th position.

In the 20 – 28 flight, winners were Maxim Mangra (65/28) – 1st; and Brian Hackett (73/21) 2nd, jostling with Maurice Solomon (73/23) and Dr Philbert London (73/25).

LGC President Aleem Hussain noted thus, “The massive expansion plans for the Club, which had been identified

a year ago, are now nearer coming into fruition, as interested supporters are pushing for the realisation of a stateof-the-art driving range – sponsored by Macorp, a fine dining restaurant, tennis courts, and a swimming pool, along with a complete spa. In addition to internal development, the LGC is driving for schools to get the opportunity to participate in golfing, and right now offers free coaching (using Club equipment) to all those interested in learning to play golf.

It plans to extend its involvement too in charitable activities.”

Noting that at this time there are many golfers among the expatriates involved in various fields of Guyana’s development, President Hussain appeals to local golfers to hone their skills and prepare for serious challenges in the Open President Cup of May 26, and the International Guyana Open Invitational set for late October this year.

The Guyana Open will involve 5 flights: Seniors (above 60-year-old males), Females, and Handicaps 0-9, 1018, and 19-28. Early registration for competing in the Guyana Open is a must, as space is limited.

22

monday, march 25, 2019

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Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup…

Undefeated Barbados, Trinidad set to play for title at Enmore – Captains Matthews, Aguilleira upbeat

Leandra Ramdeen has 10 wickets for Trinidad

By Brandon Corlette

T

he defending champions Barbados will play Trinidad and Tobago in the clash of the tournament, slated to bowl off at Enmore today, Monday, March 25.

Team Trinidad and Tobago Both teams are undefeated, and the winner of this contest To add icing on the cake, the will take the Super50 title.

Barbados wicket-keeper, who bats After the fourth round, at number three, has scored 187 Barbados lead the points taruns in four matches, including ble, winning all four of their a solid 81, an unbeaten 59, and matches and attaining 20 a counter-attacking 45 against points, including four bonus Guyana. points.

The bowling department has The Trinidadians, mean- Team Barbados have been brilliantly led by the tournament’s leading wicket been covered by the skipper herwhile, are equally up to the taker, Hayley Matthews (15 wickets) self, Hayley Matthews, who has task, winning each of their stated it was a blessing in disguise for the the most wickets in the tournafour matches and attaining 19 points, inclu- batting order to have the opportunity to be ment. Matthews has taken 15 wickets, insive of three bonus points. tested ahead of the final match. cluding the best figures in the tournament Speaking to the media after their re“We have been playing good cricket all of 7-27 in 8.4 overs. She has received supspective wins in the fourth round, Barbados tournament, and once we continue in that port from Windies pacers Shamilia Connell, captain Hayley Matthews and Trinidad positive direction, we will have the upper Shakera Selman and Deandra Dottin. and Tobago captain Merissa Aguilleira ex- hand against Trinidad”, she declared.

Trinidad indeed has shown consistenpressed how confident they are going into The Barbadians have been flawless in the cy throughout the tournament. Merissa this all-important clash. Barbados defeat- batting department, with Hayley Matthews Aguilleira commented thus after their viced Guyana at the National Stadium at leading from the front with bat, scoring 233 tory against Jamaica at Everest. “The bowlProvidence, and Matthews has said that vic- runs in the four matches she played thus ing was on target against Jamaica, and I tory is a big confidence booster heading into far. Matthews has scores of 23, 91, 108 and must commend them.” the final game against Trinidad.

11 opening the batting.

She has declared that Barbados are a “We get the bonus points from each of Deandra Dottin has not been dismissed tough team and they have players in ripour games, and it will help us to take the in any of the four innings she batted. She ping form at the moment, thus it is not gomomentum into the other contest”, she ex- has an aggregate of 226 runs. The destruc- ing to be an easy task to defeat them. The plained. tive Dottin has scores of 94*, 23*, 34*, and Trinidad captain disclosed in a CWI interThe Barbados batting order was tested 75* in the four innings she batted, and has view, “We, as a team, have to remain humagainst Guyana after they lost three wick- twice been named “player of the match”. ble and keep it simple and ensure we click in ets for 28 runs. Reflecting on that, Mathews

each department, and we can come out victorious against Barbados, who will be coming at us hard.”

The Trinidad team have from the inception appeared to be one of the better teams.

The batting order has all the experience in Stacy-Ann King, Britney Cooper and captain Merissa Aguilleira, who have all played for the West Indies. The openers Rachel Vincent and Felicia Walters have chipped in when needed, but vice-captain Reniece Boyce has been a consistent performer with the bat in the middle-lower order.

She has 139 runs in the three innings she batted, scoring an unbeaten 65 and an unbeaten 43. Along with Lee Ann Kirby, the batting order is capable enough to defeat Barbados.

In the bowling department, the spinners have been impressive. New talent Leandra Ramdeen has 10 wickets in three matches, including 4-12 and 4-35. She has been supported by Karishma Ramharack, who has eight wickets, while the most prolific spinner in the Caribbean, Anisa Mohammed, has seven wickets in the tournament.

The title winner will be decided when the big match commences from 9:30h local time.

A new day in Windies cricket…

Skerritt dethrones Cameron in CWI elections

F

Newly appointed President of Cricket West Indies, Ricky Skerritt

ormer West Indies Cricket team manager Ricky Skerritt has been appointed the new president of Cricket West Indies (CWI), after securing the necessary votes at the association’s Annual General Meeting at the Jamaica Pegasus on Sunday last.

By the official count, Skerritt and his running mate Dr Kishore Shallow had defeated incumbents Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron and Emmanuel Nanthan by an 8-4 margin.

Unofficially, it is reported that Skerritt and Shallow managed to secure the support of Trinidad and Tobago; Leeward Islands; Windward Islands; and Cameron’s home nation, Jamaica.

The incumbents Cameron and Nantan are believed to have received the support of Barbados and Guyana. The result ended a three-term spell for the Jamaican, which spanned a six-year period.

Cameron was first elected to the office in 2013 when he toppled former St Lucian diplomat Julian Hunte, to whom

Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron and Emmanuel Nanthan have been defeated

he had served as vice-president from 2007 until he took office.

During his tenure, Cameron has been credited with implementing improved retainer contracts for players and officials, restructuring the regional competitions, and improving relations with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA). On his watch, the Windies team, while struggling in the world rankings, claimed two T20 World titles, and the women’s and youth titles.

Heading into the election, the Kittitian Skerritt had painted the incumbent as not having enough of a pro-cricket stance with his governance, and failing to commit to the establishment of term limits.

Meanwhile, the former President and Vice President of Cricket West Indies, Cameron and Nanthan, wished to thank the team of people who supported them throughout their three-term tenure, from 2013 to 2019.

“We were glad to be able to serve, and (are) proud of our

achievements. We are happy that we left 123 players under contract. West Indies Cricket now has a home owned by the board at Coolidge Cricket Grounds. The world championships and bringing back the Wisden Trophy are also other achievements that we are proud of. More than anything else, we have a fit, youthful team that is prepared to face the world. Under this team we made significant strides, and you trusted us to safeguard the region’s most valuable asset.

“The tenure was rewarding and full of challenges, and we feel proud we have managed to take the cricket to this level. We anticipate the sport will move towards its true potential, and we ask the new team to build upon the progress and to continue to fight for equity in world cricket. We were always, and will remain, grateful for your support”, the incumbents declared.

Cameron has served the regional body for 17 years, while Nanthan has so done for 15 years.

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, march 25, 2019

23

Goliath crushes every stone – “Mad Max” impresses on return

The 600cc Superbikes in action

T

here was no stone or slingshot most-anticipated item on the agenda, was that could deny the might of Team unable to compete due to minor mechaniMohamed’s Goliath; as, for the second cal issues. However, its appearance in a few consecutive year, this Nissan GTR was the moderate runs to please the supporters was fastest machine at the Guyana Motor Racing highly appreciated. and Sports Club (GMR&SC) Drag Race Meanwhile, the return of Mark ‘Mad Championship at South Dakota, Timehri.

Max’ Menezes did not disappoint. He sped A capacity crowd turned out to witness off with triumphs in both the 1000cc and the 10-category action and see who reigned 600cc categories unrivalled. In the 1000cc supreme over the quarter-mile trek in round 1.

In the Unlimited final, the GTR driven by Terrance Cox overcame the S&D performance Rx7 in a close battle.

T e a m Mohamed’s, Ekanoo/ M a g n u s GTR, which The Enkanoo stroll was short-lived was the

Team Mohamed’s Enterprise are joyful after finishing the day unbeaten

final, Max came up against veteran circuit racer Steven Vieira, who had a bad launch that attributed to his loss.

There were a few rivals from neighbouring Suriname who competed, with Eric Watchman and Raymond John finishing on top with sub-times under 14 and 13 seconds respectively.

Full results

16 second – Vickey Persaud 15 second – Ramesh Persaud 14 second – Eric Watchman (Suriname) 13 second – Raymond John (Suriname) 12 second – Avi Samaroo 11 second – Shawn Persaud 10 second – Peter Daby Unlimited – Terrance Cox (Team Mohamed’s) 1000cc Bikes – Mark Menezes 600cc Bikes – Mark Menezes

Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup...

Guyana, Windwards play for 4th position in final round – Jamaica seeking momentum heading into T20 as they clash with Leewards

By Brandon Corlette

H

aving suffered a third defeat in four matches, Guyana will finish off their Super50 campaign against the Windward Islands at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground at Bourda on Monday, March 25.

Jamaica, meanwhile, will be seeking to gather momentum against the winless Leewards Islands heading into the T20 Blaze, after suffering consecutive defeats to Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

Speaking after the match against Barbados Shemaine Campbelle has scored 201 runs in four innings at the National Stadium, Guyana captain Shemaine Campbelle expressed grave disappointment at her team’s performance.

“The girls showed some effort against Barbados, (but) there is a lot of room for improvement, and we have to correct those mistakes”, Campbelle stated.

The batting of the Guyana team has continued to show signs of worry, with only Shemaine Campbelle and Shabika Gajnabi having crossed 50 in an innings. However, Campbelle has led from the front with the bat, scoring 201 runs in the tournament to become one of the four batters to achieve this feat.

As the most established player in the Guyana side,

Campbelle lauded her new-ball bowlers, especially Erva Giddings, who has produced the early breakthrough in every match.

Heading into in the final round of the super 50 format, Campbelle declared that the Guyana team have nothing to lose, since they have only five points and are tied with the Windward Islands team. She lauded the bowlers, but called for the batters to step up and score runs to gather rhythm heading into the T20 tournament, starting from Thursday, March 28.

She emphasised on the batters the importance of getting confidence to play in the T20s, and admonished them to show more application in the middle.

Guyana’s next opponent, the Windward Islands, have one victory, scored against the Leeward Islands team. Both Guyana and the Windward Islands have defeated the Leeward The tournament’s leading run scorer Stafanie Taylor has Islands at the Enmore Community Centre ground. scored 239 runs The Windward Islands team are well led by lacked application in their fourth round.

Afy Fletcher, who has been picking up wickets and scoring vi- Jamaica have eight points in this tournatal runs with the bat for her team. However, Guyana may be ment and are expecting to finish in third the team with the edge to win the contest, since they will play position. The right-arm speedster Henry, with a nothing-to-lose mindset at Bourda. who spoke to CWI, said the team are aimAfy Fletcher Meanwhile, the Stafanie Taylor-led team have lost mo- ing for momentum to retain the T20 title. mentum heading into their final round of the Super50 tournaThe match between Guyana and Windwards that will be ment. They have the perfect opportunity to correct their mis- played at Bourda will commence from 9:30h, while Jamaica takes. The Jamaicans are well led by the tournament’s leading will play Leeward Islands at the National Stadium at run scorer, Stafanie Taylor, who has 239 runs, six more than Providence. All T20 matches will be played at the National Hayley Matthews’s 233.

Stadium at Providence, with three matches being played in Speaking after their defeat against Trinidad and Tobago, one day, starting from 9:00h.

Jamaica’s leading fast bowler Chinelle Henry said the batters

monday, march 25, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Goliath crushes every stone Page 23

– “Mad Max” impresses on return

This RX-7 driven by Peter Daby was not to be taken lightly; it was only eclipsed by the Nissan GTR

For the second year running, “The King of the Strip” – Team Mohamed’s Goliath

Undefeated Barbados, Trinidad set to play for title at Enmore – Captains Matthews, Aguilleira upbeat Page 22

The Bajans’ run machine: Deandra Dottin, has scored 226 runs; Hayley Matthews has scored 233, and Kycia Knight has scored 187 runs in the four matches played thus far (Brandon Corlette photo)

Mark “Mad Max” Menezes won both superbike categories

A new day in Windies cricket…

Page 22

Skerritt dethrones Cameron in CWI elections

Ricky Skerritt (right) is the new Cricket West Indies President; Dr Kishore Shallow (left) is Vice President

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