Guyana Times - Monday, September 10, 2018

Prolonged Region 2 blackouts

GPL CEO apologises; acknowledges P16 inconvenience

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

Issue No. 3682

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, September 10, 2018

Guyana Amazon Warriors to clash with Trinbago Knight Riders in first play-off match on Tuesday Page 19

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt needs to provide clarity on oil and gas sector – Jagdeo P3 ...as it could create unsettling environment for Private Sector development

Hinds cites flawed model of coalition Govt in decisionP11 making ...points to appointment of substantive CoP as another example

PI into teen’s death to P15 commence on Tuesday

- ticketing office open until 21:00h today

Mohamed’s Enterprises opens US$3M laydown facility Page 14

Work on drugs bond ahead of schedule – Lawrence

P7

2

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

3

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, September 10 – 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, September 11 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, September 10 – 16:45h-18:15h and Tuesday, September 11 – 05:00h-06:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals with light cloudy skies can be expected throughout the day, with partly cloudy to clear skies expected in the evening. Temperatures will range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly and East North-easterly and Northeasterly between 1.34 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 04:47h and 17:08h reaching maximum heights of 2.85 metres and 2.83 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:42h and 23:01h reaching minimum heights of 0.38 metre and 0.37 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, september 8, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS N

01

04

05

06

11

13

FREE TICKET

10 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

04

06

16

22

24

LUCKY 3

4

9

2

9

Afternoon Draw

4

5

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

05

07

08

10

PAY DAY

01 08

09 11 13

13

15

17 SUPER PAY DAY

04 09

13 14 20

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

Govt needs to provide clarity on oil and gas sector – Jagdeo

...as it could create unsettling environment for Private Sector development

G

overnment’s failure to establish a framework for the predictable oil and gas sector has not gone unnoticed. In fact, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said with the continued absence of such a framework for this sector, it should be a major cause for concern.

Jagdeo speaking at the Commissioning of Mohamed’s Enterprise Laydown Facility on Sunday said this framework for which Government had promised to work on, includes an independent petroleum commission, a Sovereign Wealth Fund, auctioning of future oil blocks and also Local Content Legislation.

The former President said he thinks the whole country is crying out for clarity on several issues regarding this sector. He also feels Government has to take the lead to provide an environment that will be predictable and conducive to investment from local and international companies.

“All I’m doing is making a case to plea for more investments of this nature… that we have greater clarity in defining the framework within which we are going to develop this industry because that is essential for ordinary Guyanese. They need a clear vision of how they will benefit from this, as well as our business community,” he stated.

In making reference to the controversy surrounding the ExxonMobil contract, he said assuming that it is a done deal, Government has said future contracts will not share or enjoy the same terms that was concluded in that deal with the United States (US) oil major.

“So, almost two years down the road, we are yet to see a framework that will

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

define what future contracts would look like. What is it that ExxonMobil got that future investors will not, and what they did not get that we may want to give?” he questioned.

Further, Jagdeo said in the absence of that information, not only could it affect investments here, but people coming to negotiate new deals now, “they will cry out for that clarity because they are unsure of what future negotiations would be like.”

Another important issue that needs greater clarity is how the role and function of the Energy Department differs from that of the Petroleum Commission.

“What are the Terms of Reference for the Energy Department versus the Commission? And would there be an overlap? Would one just be policy making, and the other be the functional, technical arm for oil and gas dealers? Or would the Energy Department have an operational role?

I hope that they will bring some clarity to this too,” Jagdeo added.

Unsettling

Speaking to another issue, Jagdeo said there were

talks that Government is preparing to invest in shore-based facilities.

It was touted that there would be an investment just North of the Berbice River Bridge, and at other times, there were talks about other locations.

According him, investors would need clarity on whether Government will take shares or be co-owners of shore-based facilities in the future.

He said, “If the Government decides to do this, this might be to the exclusion of the Private Sector and if it does, where it could be located… because the worst thing that could happen is if that is located elsewhere and leave all these investments stranded that are being made here in the Demerara River.”

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary also made reference to Government’s failure to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund. He said there is need for clarity on how it will be managed, shielding it from political control and the use of the resources.

Importantly also is the establishing of a Local

Content Policy for the sector. Jagdeo said although President David Granger has promised that his Government will put forward legislation in relation to this soon, he said it would be worthwhile to know about the nature of the legislation.

“How much premium will it give to Guyanese investments and how will it define Guyanese investments? What position will we give if we do to regional investors… that are important too, particularly from Government,” he further added.

Jagdeo said although there have been discussions surrounding plans for the remaining oil blocks; Government still needs to state its own position. “Are we going to be bidding or are we negotiate on the first come first serve basis when it comes the oil blocks?”

Most importantly, however, the Opposition Leader said clarity is needed on taxes for the oil and gas sector. Having met with several people in the local business community, Jagdeo said there seems to be some new interpretation of what are the tax laws in that regard.

“And if we don’t have clarity about that, then you create an unsettling environment for Private Sector development…

Because again there is not that element of predictability.”

Jagdeo said too that while the PPP feels that Government must make use of the opportunity of the oil industry to improve Guyana and its people, it must not be forgotten that oil is a wasting resource and it has a finite life. He said Government must also bear in mind that a plan for the future is needed.

4

mondAY, september 10, 2018

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

Tomorrow needs you

T

oday is World Suicide Prevention Day, which kicks off World Suicide Prevention Week. But for us in Guyana, it ought to be “Guyana Suicide Prevention Year”.

Over the last decades, we have seen a gradual increase in the awareness of suicide as a national scourge, especially after we became tagged as the country with the highest of suicide rate which was highlighted on several international media outlets.

Rather ghoulishly, it was the second time in the last 50 years that we received global notice: the first was being Jim Jones’ largest mass suicide event in the world.

But now that the awareness has been achieved, is it not past time that we have a national comprehensive programme to address the problem? The theme this year is “Working Together to Prevent Suicide” which is very apt exhortation since while as a mental health issue, the Government must take a lead; the entire society will have to get involved for real progress.

There have been several Non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) that have done yeoman (and yeowoman) work on the suicide awareness front. But even though they have also made substantive interventions, there is not enough coordination between the NGOs and the Government and among themselves in those interventions.

It is quite possible that in certain instances they may even be working at cross purposes.

After the two decades of raising awareness on suicide, there has been a tremendous amount of data that has been gathered which should be used to assist in dealing with the phenomenon. In an advertisement by the Government on Sunday, it was claimed that from a high of 44.2 suicides per 100,000 persons in 2014 – which earned us the world top spot – the rate has since plummeted to almost half of that – 24.63. While there have been questions about the accuracy of the 2014 figures, it is unquestioned that the awareness programme and the intervention programmes have made a dent.

The Government ad disaggregated the figures on suicide and pointed out that the majority of suicide victims are male and, consequently, “particular attention” must be paid to them. In these matters, the more the data is disaggregated; there will be clues on making more directed interventions.

For instance, the advertisement stated that in the “Suicide Prevention Strategy 2015-2020”, children are subjected to “bullying, poor body image, and lack of selfesteem problems which help trigger suicidal behaviour.”

Obviously, then the Health Ministry and the Education Ministry must collaborate on joint programmes to intervene, in the school system which acts as a catchment for our children in a controllable environment.

But it was somewhat disappointing that the figures on male suicide were not disaggregated just a notch further.

It would have revealed a most pertinent area for effective intervention – the ethnic difference in the commission of suicide. Male Indian-Guyanese victims outnumber the total number of males in all other ethnic groups in a ratio of three to one, even though they are only 43 per cent of the male population overall. There must be investigations for explanations to this disparity and for programmes that may reduce it both absolutely and relatively.

For instance, in reference to women and children, it was mentioned that there must be identification and referral of domestic violence against them since this leads to suicidal behaviour in those demographics. There needs to be such specificity for the Indian Guyanese demographic since based on their overweening majority in the number of reported suicides, successful interventions will have the greatest impact on reducing the overall Guyanese suicide rate.

In conclusion, we offer one stanza from a poem by one organisation working against suicide that may motivate us to work together to prevent suicide: Tomorrow needs you to be a good friend.

Tomorrow needs you to hold your little sister’s hand.

Tomorrow needs you to be an uncle, a classmate, a roommate, a cousin.

Tomorrow needs you to laugh. To dance. To build. To dream.

Won’t you stay to see the sun rise?

guyanatimesgy.com

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, september 10, 2018

5

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

A bruised Guyana Dear Editor, Four years ago, the World Health Organisation reported that Guyana had the highest suicide rate in the world. As the country was sent in a panic over this surprising statistic, the Ministry of Public Health launched their “National Suicide Prevention Plan,” and other organisations created campaigns geared toward providing help to persons affected by depression, suicidal thoughts etc.

However, this “surprise” shouldn’t be surprising at all. In our society, there aren’t many places that offer reliable professional help.

Yes, there are places, but are they available on every two corners, like a rum shop is?

In addition to that, some environments hinder the expression of people. Sharing our bad feelings is often deemed a form of weakness, or a vulnerable characteristic flaw that shouldn’t be tolerated. Building strength doesn’t mean taking away our vulnerabilities; acknowledging the existence of our vulnerabilities can make us stronger.

Despite that belief occasionally “coming from a good place”, it can cause isolation among other negatively impactful practices. As such, it is important for people to fully comprehend ways to be more vigilant, honest, and to express our willingness to help. Even though we can’t say the ideal phrases to a person in need, we can always offer a simple but potent comfort. “If I can’t help you, I will help you to get help”. That’s a tagline that

ASPIRE Youth Network Guyana uses during its facilitative sessions with youth.

A common misconception is that suicide is selfish.

Ultimately, none of us can see a person hurting mentally. We can see the physical symptoms that can accompany depression, but unless we are the prototype of Professor Xavier, we can’t see what others feel.

However, we can acknowledge the warning signs of a person who may be sad or depressed.

There are reasons why people say suicide is selfish.

People can say that statement to shift the blame on the person who has died.

Families and friends affected by the loss of their loved ones can experience situational depression, substance abuse etc. Persons experiencing suicidal thoughts can experience distorted thinking due to their overwhelming feelings of depression, emotional detachment from their loved ones, despair etc.

This distorted thinking can prevent persons from perceiving reality. As reality can be interpreted in a number of ways, depression can serve as an influencing factor in how persons perceive themselves in the lives of their families or friends.

All of that being said, how can we prevent suicide? Some people remind the person of their vibrant life and its possibilities, or they talk about the effect their death can have on their family. However, such an approach isn’t effective, since it doesn’t address the problem. Depression usu-

2 Ministers, 'top heavy 'regional health management, failing National Ophthalmology Hospital Dear Editor, At last statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six, held last Thursday, a number of important issues were highlighted, the most important being the National Ophthalmology Hospital at Port Mourant, which is being managed by the Ministry of Public Health, failing the people of Region Six. After numerous pleadings by the RDC and the media, both Ministers of Public Health and a 'top heavy' regional management are unable to ensure that the National Ophthalmology Hospital perform cataract surgeries. Both Ministers promised the residents of Region Six, three months ago, that the situation would be resolved.

Unfortunately, the Public Health Ministry

failed, and as such, the Regional Health Committee is recommending that the RDC manage the National Ophthalmology Hospital to ensure that these problems are resolved, to ensure efficient delivery of health care.

The RDC is presently managing the day-to-day running of the National Psychiatric Hospital.

Likewise, the Regional Democratic Council should manage the National Ophthalmology Hospital.

This situation exposes the level of incompetence that exists in the APNU/ AFC Coalition Government.

The People of Region Six are calling for the resignation of both ministers for failing to fix a critical issue that has been existing for the last three years.

Regards, Zamal Hussain

ally occurs for a number of reasons. I prefer not to list reasons, since I believe that a person’s sadness or depressive symptoms cannot be categorised by which is the most severe.

In relation to suicide, the Criminal Offences Act contains a deeply flawed law.

Section 96 contains the following excerpt: “Everyone who attempts to commit suicide shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and (be) liable to imprisonment for two years.”

Now, that fact is surprising.

Weirdly enough, this particular section doesn’t take into consideration providing any professional help to persons who have survived a suicide attempt.

After a suicide attempt, a person would need a strong support system that can ensure that their life doesn’t feel as hopeless as it did before. Furthermore, there can be a sense of disapproval from the persons who would ultimately have been affected by this suicidal attempt.

This shame or guilt felt by the friends and family members of the survivor can cause them to try to make things better. This can be positive or negative, depending on the course of action taken. A negative course of action would be informing the person of the “mistake” they would have committed if they would have died.

A positive course of action would be listening to what the person says or doesn’t say. Afterwards, you can provide an infinite amount of support through advocating the importance of taking

care of their mental health, and sharing information on places to go for professional help.

It must be noted that the survivor’s family or counsellor would need to know what caused them to attempt to commit suicide in the first place. Once you are fully aware of what transpired, you can think of different methods that can aid them in having a healthy recovery.

For this article, I’ve remained stable. However, there are days when I don’t feel like this. Sometimes I feel like I’m invisible and just “going through the motions”. I’ve noticed that I am not the only person who feels like this. Perhaps you have felt, or are currently feeling, something like that. I can’t see who you are, and I may never have the chance to know you -- the real you, not the person you pretend to be at work, to your friends, or on social media, but the person you view yourself as.

We may not know each other, but we should always remember that we aren’t alone. Our experiences can make us feel far more connected than blood.

I hope that you have a strong support system, like I do. If you don’t have one, you can send a message to ASPIRE Youth Network Facebook Page. We are a group of young people who also have good and bad days.

If we can’t help you, we will help you to get help.

Regards, Juliana Lopes

Practising financial prudence where it counts

Dear Editor, I read the statement from the Guyana Gold Board which questioned the Guyana Times’ article titled “Lost $4.7B Gold Board revenues could have cushioned sugar industry – Jagdeo”, and I particularly noted the nexus that was drawn between the Gold Board and the sugar sector.

But I wish to submit that the nexus is clear: Under this Coalition Government, billions were lost due to incompetence; while the very Coalition Government was justifying its decision to close the sugar sector and put thousands of Guyanese on the breadline by saying it was acting in a financially prudent manner.

Claims of financial prudence were made when the 7,000 sugar workers -- over 4,000 of whom are still to receive their severance money owed by the Coalition Government -- were fired.

Claims of financial prudence were made when four factories were closed despite

there being no study or even theoretical base on which such a decision was made.

Now, there have also been arguments made about other aspects of the sugar industry, such as the Skeldon Sugar Factory and about what it cost. It has also been said that the factory is a white elephant. But what do the public agencies, where such large amounts of money is lost, have to show?

No one has missed the fact that despite the criticisms of the Skeldon Factory, it is now being promoted as an attractive investment.

Finally, Editor, the Guyana Gold Board’s numbers -- according to the National Budget Estimates available on the Ministry of Finance’s website -- reflect clearly the incompetence of the Coalition Government when it comes to practising financial prudence where it counts.

Regards, Attiya Baksh

6

MondAY, september 10, 2018

Page

Foundation

Why students forget – and what you can do about it …our brains are wired to forget, but there are researchbacked strategies you can use to make your teaching stick

By Youki Terada

T

eachers have long known that rote memorisation can lead to a superficial grasp of material that is quickly forgotten.

But new research in the field of neuroscience is starting to shed light on the ways that brains are wired to forget – highlighting the importance of strategies to retain knowledge and make learning stick.

In an article published in the journal Neuron, neurobiologists Blake Richards and Paul Frankland challenge the predominant view of memory, which holds that forgetting is a process of loss – the gradual washing away of critical information despite our best efforts to retain it. According to Richards and Frankland, the goal of memory is not just to store information accurately but to “optimise decision-making” in chaotic, quickly-changing environments. In this model of cognition, forgetting is an evolutionary strategy, a purposeful process that runs in the background of memory, evaluating and discarding information that doesn’t promote the survival of the species.

“From this perspective, forgetting is not necessarily a failure of memory,” explain Richards and Frankland in the study. “Rather, it may represent an investment in a more optimal mnemonic strategy.”

The forgetting curve

We often think of memories as books in a library, filed away and accessed when needed.

But they’re actually more like spiderwebs, strands of recollection distributed across millions of connected neurons. When we learn something new – when a teacher delivers a fresh lesson to a student, for example – the material is encoded across these neural networks, converting the experience into a memory.

Forgetting is almost immediately the nemesis of

memory, as psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered in the 1880s. Ebbinghaus pioneered landmark research in the field of retention and learning, observing what he called the forgetting curve, a measure of how much we forget over time. In his experiments, he discovered that without any reinforcement or connections to prior knowledge, information is quickly forgotten – roughly 56 per cent in one hour, 66 per cent after a day, and 75 per cent after six days.

So what can be done to preserve the hard work of teaching?

After all, evolutionary imperatives – which prune our memories of extraneous information – don’t always neatly align with the requirements of curriculum or the demands of the Information Age. Learning the times tables doesn’t avail when running from lions, in other words, but in the modern world that knowledge has more than proved its mettle.

The persistence of memory

The same neural circuitry appears to be involved in forgetting and remembering. If that is properly understood, students and teachers can adopt strategies to reduce memory leaks and reinforce learning.

MIT neuroscientists, led

by Richard Cho, explain the mechanisms for synaptic strengthening in a 2015 article, also published in Neuron.

When neurons are frequently fired, synaptic connections are strengthened; the opposite is true for neurons that are rarely fired.

Known as synaptic plasticity, this explains why some memories persist while others fade away.

Repeatedly accessing a stored but fading memory – like a rule of geometry or a crucial historical fact – rekindles the neural network that contains the memory and encodes it more deeply.

Researchers have also learnt that not all new memories are created equal. For example, here

are two sets of letters to remember: NPFXOSK ORANGES For readers of English, the second set of letters is more memorable – the more connections neurons have to other neurons, the stronger the memory. The seven letters in NPFXOSK appear random and disjointed, while ORANGES benefits from its existing, deeply encoded linguistic context. The word oranges also invokes sensory memory, from the image of an orange to its smell, and perhaps even conjures other memories of oranges in your kitchen or growing on a tree. You remember by layering new memories on the crumbling foundations of older ones.

5 teacher strategies

When students learn a new piece of information, they make new synaptic connections. Two scientifically-based ways to help them retain learning is by making as many connections as possible – typically to other concepts, thus widening the “spiderweb” of neural connections – but also by accessing the memory repeatedly over time.

Which explains why the following learning strategies, all tied to research conducted within the past five years, are so effective: Peer-to-peer explanations: When students explain what they’ve learnt to peers, fading memories are reactivated, strengthened, and consolidated.

This strategy not only increases retention but also encourages active learning (Sekeres et al, 2016).

The spacing effect: Instead of covering a topic and then moving on, revisit key ideas throughout the school year. Research shows that students perform better academically when given multiple opportunities to review learned material. For example, teachers can quickly incorporate a brief review of what was covered several weeks earlier into ongoing lessons, or use

homework to re-expose students to previous concepts (Carpenter et al, 2012; Kang, 2016).

Frequent practice tests: Akin to regularly reviewing material, giving frequent practice tests can boost long-term retention and, as a bonus, help protect against stress, which often impairs memory performance. Practice tests can be low stakes and ungraded, such as a quick pop quiz at the start of a lesson or a trivia quiz on Kahoot, a popular online game-based learning platform. Breaking down one large high-stakes test into smaller tests over several months is an effective approach (Adesope, Trevisan, & Sundararajan, 2017; Butler, 2010; Karpicke, 2016).

Interleave concepts: Instead of grouping similar problems together, mix them up. Solving problems involves identifying the correct strategy to use and then executing the strategy. When similar problems are grouped together, students don’t have to think about what strategies to use—they automatically apply the same solution over and over.

Interleaving forces students to think on their feet, and encodes learning more deeply (Rohrer, 2012; Rohrer, Dedrick, & Stershic, 2015).

Combine text with images: It’s often easier to remember information that’s been presented in different ways, especially if visual aids can help organise information.

For example, pairing a list of countries occupied by German forces during World War II with a map of German military expansion can reinforce that lesson. It’s easier to remember what’s been read and seen, instead of either one alone (Carney & Levin, 2002; Bui & McDaniel, 2015).

So even though forgetting starts as soon as learning happens – as Ebbinghaus’s experiments demonstrate – research shows that there are simple and effective strategies to help make learning stick. (edutopia.org)

By Catherine Snow, Susan Burns, Peg Griffin

T

here are certain characteristics of groups and individual children that increase their likelihood of struggling with reading. Find out how to use knowledge of these risk factors to help prevent reading problems for these children.

Our review of prediction studies indicates clearly that no single risk factor, on its own, is sufficiently accurate to be of practical use for predicting reading difficulties.

In combination, however, measures of various kinds of risk – individual, familial, and demographic – can provide useful estimates of future achievement levels.

Although prediction accuracy is far from perfect, errors of prediction can be tolerated as long as children’s progress is carefully monitored during kindergarten and beyond.

As discussed below, how different school systems can best use the available information about risk indicators must be tailored to their particular needs, goals, and resources.

Group risk factors

It is abundantly clear that some groups of children are at risk for reading difficulties because they are affected by any or all of the following conditions: They are expected to attend schools in which achievement is chronically low they reside in low-income families and live in poor neighbourhoods they have limited proficiency in spoken English they speak a dialect of English that differs substantially from the one used in school

Individual risk factors

The evidence also indicates that individual children, whether or not faced with the adverse conditions just mentioned, may be at greater risk than otherwisecomparable children for reading difficulties for any or all of the following reasons: They are children of parents with histories of reading difficulty they have acquired less knowledge and skill pertaining to literacy during the preschool years, either through lack of appropriate home literacy experiences and/or as a result of some inherent cognitive limitations they lack age-appropriate skills in literacy-related cognitivelinguistic processing, especially phonological awareness,

confrontational naming, sentence/story recall, and general language ability they have been diagnosed as having specific early language impairment they have a hearing impairment they have a primary medical diagnosis with which reading problems tend to occur as a secondary symptom

Practical use of this information

Detecting problems early, in order to avoid other problems later on, is the most practical course. The ease, cost, and reliability with which various risk factors can be measured are therefore a central concern.

Many of the group factors named above (eg, a child is expected to attend a school in which achievement is chronically low, the child lives in a low-income family and neighbourhood) are easily accessible measures.

When they are present, effective preventions and early interventions can be provided from birth through grade three.

Paediatric screening tools are effective in identifying children who have severe sensory or developmental impairments (hearing impairment, specific language impairment). When these are present, early interventions can be provided.

There is less practical utility in conducting population-wide individual screening of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who have acquired less knowledge and skills pertaining to literacy during the preschool years, either through lack of appropriate home literacy experiences or as a result of some inherent cognitive limitations, or of those who lack age-appropriate skill in literacy-related cognitivelinguistic processing, for the purpose of identifying those who are at greatest risk for reading difficulties.

Kindergarten screening, in contrast, has become reasonably accurate when a combination of skills is measured (although the optimal combination is not yet identified). Ideally, screening procedures should be quick and inexpensive; they should identify all or most children who have the specific problem; and they should mistakenly detect none or few children who do not have the problem.

To achieve the goal of preventing reading difficulties, it will not be feasible or appropriate to provide the same sort of intervention to all of these groups and individuals, although some kinds of programmes may be of benefit to all. (readingrockets.org)

7 Work on drugs bond ahead of schedule – Lawrence news

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

...says Kingston construction project more than 65% complete

P

lans to construct a Government-owned drugs bond -- hatched after criticisms of the Sussex Street arrangement -- are ahead of schedule; with the latest reports from engineers indicating that more than 65 per cent of the work has already been completed.

This is according to Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, who made this disclosure when asked for an update on the side-lines of an anti-suicide walk through the streets of Georgetown on Sunday.

“With regard to the bond in Kingston, the contractor is way ahead in terms of the percentage of work done so far. It was over 65 per cent of work, that was my last report a week ago, that has been completed,” she said.

The Minister is optimistic that construction of the bond would be completed and the

The Sussex Street bond

structure officially handed over ahead of schedule.

One feature the bond will have, she explained, is the accommodation aspect that would facilitate staff staying on site.

“So I’m quite certain that (the bond) will be handed over ahead of schedule. It

is being built in a way that is off the ground, so we will avoid the flooding. And because it’s an entirely new bond, we are going to alleviate the leaking of the roof, which we had. And we’re doing it in various sections, so it can be more accessible.

And in terms of storage, we

Non-payment to West Demerara guards

Labour Department launches investigation – source

By Shemuel Fanfair

S

everal guards in the West Demerara area are struggling to provide for themselves and families, since they have not been paid their salaries in almost three months.

Guyana Times however, has learnt that the Social Protection Ministry’s Labour Department has launched an investigation into the matter of these guards’ payment.

These guards are attached to the Sentinel Security Inc., which provides guard services to many schools and medical facilities in Region Three (Essequibo-Islands/West Demerara).

According to a source familiar with the probe, the Labour Department has been meeting with some of the workers across the Region in response to their request for Government’s intervention, since they have been owed over an extended period of time.

It is understood that after several meetings, some of the guards on the West Coast of Demerara received payments.

Many of the guards were former workers of the Wales Sugar Estate, where operations ended in December 2016.

These ex-Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) employees were already facing a situation wherein they could barely make ends meet.

Region Three REO, Denis Jaikarran

Some of the dismissed sugar workers were able to secure permanent jobs only as guards, and only earlier this year. However, after enduring months of not being remunerated for their services, they are opting against going public with their identities because they fear victimisation. Nevertheless, on condition of anonymity, one of the guards who are owed claimed that his water service has recently been disconnected because he could not afford to pay for the facility.

“Every day hard! We deh pon we bearings here, because we ain’t got nothing coming in. We really depend on it (being paid what is owed). My water cut off here now. We can’t pay the bill, it’s $5,000. We tell them man we ain’t get pay, and them say them ain’t business with that. Is good thing

we getting some showers,” a former sugar worker turned guard told Guyana Times.

“The supervisor tell us he ain’t know when we would get pay. Them say Friday, but when you ask back, he say them ain’t get through with nothing as yet, and we going into three months now,” the worker, who expressed great frustration, added.

When the stalled payments were first revealed, this newspaper contacted Sentinel, but the guard service said it was up to the Region Three Administration to effect payments. As such, Guyana Times called the Region Three Regional Executive Officer (REO) late last month, and he gave assurances that the matter would have been shortly resolved. REO Jaikarran also related that the region was in discussion with the Finance Ministry to end the non-payment.

“It is not a shortage of money, but there were some difficulties and challenges we faced in terms of the releases… That matter is going to be resolved in quick time,” Jaikarran told this newspaper in late August.

Guyana Times recently reported on some unpaid guards saying that their supervisor informed them that they would be paid by Friday, August 31, 2018.

However, that was almost 2 weeks ago. To date, most of those workers are having to cope without their due salaries.

will be able to do a better job, including accommodation for staff,” she detailed.

The Minister also gave an update on the expansion of the Materials Management Unit’s (MMU) Bond at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

“Also, the expansion of the bond at Diamond, our Materials Management Unit; the entire framework is completed, the enclosure is done, and now they are working on the electrical and the air condition,” she explained.

Last year, Government had invited tenders for the construction of a bond that would be located at Lot 1 Mudflat Kingston, as well as the extension of the MMU Bond at Diamond. Estimates

for these projects were $2.4 million and $1.6 million respectively.

Earlier this year, questions on notice from the parliamentary Opposition in the National Assembly revealed that the State had expended over $264 million in rental fees for the Sussex Street Drug Bond. In the response tabled by Minister Lawrence, it was stated that this sum was paid to Linden Holdings Incorporated for the period July 2016 to March 2018.

In regard to action being taken to end the arrangement with the Sussex Street Bond, Minister Lawrence revealed that a Notice of Quit dated October 31, 2016 had been sent by the then Permanent Secretary of

the Public Health Ministry, Trevor Thomas, and current Permanent Secretary Colette Adams had sent a reminder, dated October 3, 2017.

The transaction first came to light in 2016 during consideration of Financial Papers. It was discovered then that Government had in fact entered a contract to pay a VAT-excluded $12.5 million monthly rental to Linden Holdings Inc for the use of the bond to store drugs and medical supplies.

It was also discovered that $25 million had already been expended as a security deposit; in addition to $12.5 million, representing monthly rentals from August to December 2016.

8 news

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Albouystown man makes second court appearance in assault case

F

orty-three-yearold Randy Barrack, of Lot 34 Albouys Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was on Friday re-arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly on two counts of assault and one count of simple larceny allegedly committed on July 2 last.

On his first arraignment, Barrack had denied all the charges, and the simple larceny matter against him had been discharged after the virtual complainant had refused to give evidence.

The Police prosecutor, however, had asked that the parties involved in this matter be subjected to a $10,000 fine for wasting the court’s time.

In regard to the two counts of assault, for which he was being re-arraigned on Friday, the Police contention was that on July 2, 2018, with intent to prevent lawful apprehension, Barrack assaulted Police Constables Mark Griffith and Ryan Pollard who had gone to his home to arrest him in connection with an al-

leged robbery committed on Cindy Ramnaresh.

In the process of the constables effecting his arrest, Barrack reportedly refused to be arrested, and dealt the constables several lashes instead.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to Barrack being placed on bail, informing the court that Barrack had previously been arraigned on a charge of possession of firearm without being the holder of a licence thereof.

Barrack’s attorney, however, explained that

on the day in question, his client was mourning the loss of a family member, and had asked the constables for some time.

The constables, he said, had become outraged and attempted to forcefully arrest Barrack, during which a scuffle ensued between the men, and the constables were allegedly assaulted.

Barrack was eventually placed on $100,000 bail for the assault charges.

The matter will continue on October 2.

Moving on…

Y

…with teaching reforms our Eyewitness has repeated the caution of the strong possibility of “a slip between the cup and the lip” on the matter of teachers’ salaries, now that they’ve accepted going to binding arbitration. But he feels it’s as good a time as any to talk a bit about other matters that have to be cleaned up in the education sector, whether or not teachers get their fair shake.

We’ve got to accept we’ve been caught with our pants (and skirts) down on being educated in the oil and gas sector. Now, we can’t blame anyone on this matter specifically. But because of our lack of stress on technical education on the whole, it looks like we’ll be screwed royally for a long time. In our education curricula, we retained the colonial emphasis on academic qualifications, even the rest of the world has shown that working with our hands to create and maintain is just as important for development.

Technical subjects were presented as being suitable only for those who were “failures”, by the criteria of the academic curriculum. So even if a bright student wanted to get into the technical, applied areas, they were turned off by the associated stigma. At our stage of development, the Government should’ve long established secondary schools that emphasised technical subjects and ensured that some of our brightest students were streamed into them through available inducements. For instance, guaranteed employment in manufacturing operations.

Take the matter of scholarships from primary schools.

Presently, the best and brightest are sent to Queens College where hands-on learning is looked down upon.

They teach, for instance, Agricultural Science as a “double major”…but it would be shocking to know the figure on how many of the “Agri” passers went on to careers in agriculture in the past two decades. You can literally count them on the fingers of one hand. Ditto agri mechanics.

Even the specific technical schools have become dumping ground for our secondary school “failures”.

Compare them to the record of the GuySuCo Training School, going back all the way to the late 1950s when it was established by Bookers. The school had qualified instructors – initially from England – who established the curriculum in electrical, mechanical and other relevant areas relevant to the sugar industry.

It’s student body – ‘apprentices” – were culled by a competitive examination that drew applications from the very brightest children of sugar workers, who knew they were guaranteed employment at their graduation. These apprentices returned to the sugar estates to work under “journeymen” to complete their applied training.

After the first PNC regime’s depredations, most of those former apprentices migrated to North America where they’ve achieved spectacular successes.

Let’s get technical in education! …to local content OK…so we’ve established we don’t have the manpower to fill a whole lotta technical jobs in the oil industry at this state. But apart from establishing our own technical schools, how about legislation to compel foreign companies that have the required competencies to hire say, at least 60 per cent locals within a reasonable time frame – depending on the competency – by giving them hands on training?? They have a fancy name for this – local content – but this isn’t new.

Even before Guyana’s independence, the same Bookers mentioned above, started a programme they called “Guyanisation” that was intended to replace the senior staff with locals. Local content!! Those selected individuals were trained abroad – like two present prolific letter writers EB John and Nowrang Persaud – and then given positions in management. The Apprenticeship Training School was intended to train the junior technical staff.

And we can continue in this vein in every other area for the oil and gas industry.

But evidently, the Government can’t!! …not fired?

Ramjattan says Ramnarine hasn’t resigned as Top Cop (ag). Why should he? According to the law – which Ramjattan should know – hasn’t he been “constructively dismissed”?

He should sue them for damages…unless Granger’s “specific reason” is related to his job performance.

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

News

9

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Oil and gas sector

Granger refers questions to new Energy Dept – declines to answer questions on local content, direct cash transfers

A

new policy has seemingly emerged with President David Granger now deferring all questions posed to him on Guyana’s oil and gas sector to the newly formed Energy Department under the Ministry of the Presidency.

The President articulated this policy when he was asked by the media about his views on direct cash transfers to households. Since this proposal was made by Economist, Dr Clive Thomas, the topic has generated much discussion from the man in the street to politicians. When asked about the subject, the President had this to say: “As I said, all matters! All matters concerning oil and gas have been referred to the Department of Energy, including that proposal,” he said. “No, it hasn’t been discussed (at Cabinet) and it won’t be discussed until recommendations are made by the Department of Energy.”

The President was also asked about the Government’s local con-

tent legislative agenda. It was pointed out that the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had been critical of the delay in enacting local content legislation.

In addition, the Chamber took it upon itself to submit model local content legislation to the Government. When asked about this, the President referred all such questions to the Energy Department.

Granger also said that the Department was asked to engage the media next month.

“Last Friday I pointed out that all matters concerning oil and gas, all matters concerning (it), have been referred to the Department of Energy. And I’ve asked the Department of Energy to have an engagement with the media during the month of October, so we can respond to all the questions.”

“But I don’t want to deal with oil and gas in a piecemeal manner. And the Department of Energy and Dr Mark Bynoe will

President David Granger is now deferring questions on oil and gas to the newly formed Energy Department

respond to those queries,” Granger explained to the media operatives.

It was only in July that environment and resource economist, Dr Mark Bynoe was appointed to head the department. He will have much to oversee; ranging from the local content policy to ring fencing and cost recovery claims.

Local content and what it will do for Guyana has

Energy Department head Dr Mark Bynoe

been a burning question since the announcement of oil in the Stabroek block in 2015. After Exxon first tempered expectations by saying that few job opportunities will be created by oil, it has since said that it will help with local content delivery.

Criticisms

A contract was inked on October 7, 2016, between the coalition Government,

Exxon Mobil and its partners in the Stabroek block.

In the renegotiated contract, which has come in for some criticism, Guyana agreed to a two per cent royalty for every barrel of oil, a 50 per cent share of profit oil and a US$18 million signing bonus.

Out of the contract, Guyana also secured the company’s agreement to set up a fund for social and environment projects. Exxon has to contribute US$300,000 per year to this fund. The sums roll over and the company together with Government will determine which projects to fund.

The contract sets aside another US$300,000 per year to ensure Guyanese personnel are trained at local or overseas universities and conferences. There are also provisions for a continuous review of local content.

A draft local content policy created by the Government has meanwhile been criticised in recent months for lacking provisions which would

safeguard against exploitation by companies, especially since there have been intensified reports of the local companies being bypassed for contracts and services with foreign companies being favoured.

The document does not cater for issues such as how to avoid procurement fraud, conflict of interest and favouritism, among others. According to the draft local content framework document, the policy seeks to address the suite of opportunities that may arise.

It also addresses the approaches to be taken in selecting and developing opportunities related to enhancing the capabilities of Guyanese nationals and businesses through training and well-tailored social contributions for greater impact and benefits among others.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin had announced recently that the second review of the local content policy is expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year.

10 news

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Almost 9 months later

AG encourages whistle-blowers to come forward ...despite implementation setbacks

A

lmost nine months after the National Assembly passed the Protect Disclosures (Whistleblower) Bill, the 32 clauses in the seven-part statute are not fully operational. Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams at a recent engagement told reporters that a lack of money and requisite resources are responsible for the delay.

“A lot of those legislation requires millions of dollars to implement; a lot of structure have to be erected and a lot of people have to be put in place; it goes hand in glove like witness protection because you have to move people around and a lot of people would have to be moved out of Guyana to different places. These matters require the attention of the Minister of Finance and availability of finances,” Williams suggested.

Nevertheless, he encourages persons with key information on corrupt practices to come forward and make disclosures regarding what they know, claiming that there are already guaranteed protections.

“They could blow the whistle, they have normal protection under the law; anyone who wants to come forward, feel free and blow the whistle”.

Williams was however, probed further wheth-

immediate effect after she made complaints against Carol Joseph, a former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Councillor in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice).

The nurse was initially attached to the Fort Wellington Hospital but was sent to the Bath/Experiment Health Centre. The nurse claimed that the former Councillor had been going to the hospital for an excessive daily dose of the painkiller pethidine.

Nurse Marks, who said she filed complaints twice last year, claimed she refused to administer the 100-millilitre dose to the official, who would turn up on a daily basis.

She said she received a letter of transfer from the regional office after being scolded for going to the media with her complaints. Councillor Joseph later resigned from her post and the party. The Public Disclosures Law allows for complaints to be made up to 12 years prior to the enactment of the legislation.

Attorney General Basil Williams

Attorney Anil Nandlall

Carol Joseph

er or not the Whistle-blower law would just be another legal document without much weight. In response, the AG who also functions as Legal Affairs Minister, sought to shift blame to his predecessor, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall for the current shortcomings in finances. “$30 billion to payments in one sector; heavy judgements in court by Nandlall and the [People’s Progressive Party] PPP; $7.7 billion already paid Rudisa is like mini budget in itself; all the talk he’s talking, he has the Guyanese people very tight...

We inherited severe debt and the fiscal window is very narrow,” the current AG declared.

He is hopeful that the money could become avail-

able to operationalise the law very shortly, premised on the earnings of the incoming oil and gas sector, with the various finds oil giant ExxonMobil has announced.

Williams said also that the law will aid in Guyana fighting corrupt practices.

“It must be activated; it’s very important in anti-corruption; money is not in a backyard to take it off trees,” he noted.

Despite the assurances that Williams has given, many may still be hesitant to come forward with their information for fear of being targeted or victimised without the law being fully enforced.

In the last week of April 2017, Sherlyn Marks, a nurse, was transferred with

Taxi driver further remanded on illegal gun, ammo possession

D

evon Porter of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who was nabbed by Police during a high-speed chase through the streets of Charlestown, Georgetown on August 9th, was on Friday further remanded to prison by Magistrate Leron Daly when he made his second court appearance in relation to the charges he faces.

Slapped with firearm and ammunition possession charges, Porter, who claimed to have been a taxi driver, had previously denied both charges when they were read

to him by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The court was informed that on August 9, 2018, while in the vicinity of Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Porter had in his possession a .38 revolver without being a licensed firearm holder.

It has also been alleged that on the same day and at the same time, he had in his possession one live round of .38 ammunition.

The prosecution informed the court that the 38-yearold Porter was arrested after a high-speed chase with

Police through the streets of Charlestown, Georgetown.

According to Police, upon observing the “suspicious movements” of motor car PWW 149, the lawmen signalled the driver to stop the vehicle. As Police approached the car, they allegedly observed Porter throwing the said firearm through the window of the vehicle and into a nearby drain. The car then accelerated and eventually crashed into a light pole in Lying Street, Charlestown.

The matter will continue on October 19 for a report.

11

News

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hinds cites flawed model of coalition Govt in decision-making – points to appointment of substantive CoP as another example

P

resident David Granger’s selection of Leslie James as the new Commissioner of Police (CoP) has received both praises and criticism, but has also put another dent in the already weakened relationship between the coalition partners in the Government.

Political analyst, Dr David Hinds feels that the President’s decision to overlook David Ramnarine, the Alliance For Change (AFC) pick for CoP would not bring further division. He said it is the nature of coalition governments to operate in that manner.

“Certainly this coalition…junior partners don’t get much of a say on big decisions. The decision was ultimately for the President to make and he discharged his constitutional responsibility,” Dr Hind said, while noting that this course of action cannot be changed.

However, Dr Hinds who also happens to be an executive member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), a partner in the coalition Government, said he has continuously argued the model being used by the President does not allow for coalition parties to contribute to decision-making outside of the Cabinet of Ministers.

“I think it is a flawed model in that it contracts rather than enhance democratic

decision-making. What we have is presidential power taking precedence over coalition collective decision-making. But the coalition partners have gone along with it for three years.”

Dr Hinds said it would therefore seem that they are comfortable with it. In that regard, he said that the AFC cannot complain. But in fairness to that party, it has not complained, at least not publicly.

“At the end of the day, in our circumstances, any President wants a Commissioner who he or she has confidence in.

Evidently the President does not have confidence in Ramnarine. I don’t know the basis upon which Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan proposed him as opposed to the others,” he stated.

In the end, the political analyst said the President has made his choice.

However, he claimed to have received information that suggested that the local police fraternity “from what I have been hearing, seems not to be unhappy with it.”

James was sworn in by President Granger on August 30 as the new Police Commissioner. The Executive decision was made following consultations with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on the same day.

Govt taking measures to guard against measles outbreaks – Lawrence – says bumper stock of vaccines being sourced

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

W

arnings from the Pan American H e a l t h Organisation (PAHO) about the need for countries in the Region to increase vaccination rates for measles are not being taken lightly by Government.

According to Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence during a recent interview with the media, steps are being taken to boost Guyana’s supply of measles vaccines. In fact, she revealed that a buffer stock of

such medicines is being accumulated.

“You would have seen an article by the head of PAHO, speaking to the Americas and the Caribbean about measles.

And that we need to be on the lookout because we need to ensure we’re immunised.

Guyana is in that same lineup. We have been trying to ensure we have our vaccines and we have a buffer stock.

“But given the influx of our brothers and sisters from Venezuela, we have also had to do a few things. We had to go to all our border locations and re-vaccinate those persons who could not indicate to our personnel that they were vaccinated. That is to protect our people. And then secondly, to ensure that every Venezuelan who comes across our border, that they are vaccinated.”

According to Lawrence, the Government has been receiving assistance from PAHO and World Health Organisation (WHO). She also noted the regional dimension of the issues faced with immunisation. turn to page 16

Dr David Hinds

When President Granger presented the list, David Ramnarine, who has been acting in the capacity for almost two years, was not included.

Earlier this year, Ramnarine was one of the

many law enforcement ranks questioned at a Paul Slowe-headed Commission of Inquiry into an alleged plot to assassinate President Granger. The most recent Top Cop retiree, Seelall Persaud, was said to be a friend of the man who supposedly hatched the plot.

Slowe recommend disciplinary action for several top-ranking officers and he was later selected to head the Police Services Commission (PSC). Persaud departed the Force in February 2018 and Ramnarine stood in the post until the swearing in of James.

Following reports that Ramnarine has resigned from the Police Force, Government subsequently came out and denied that it is in receipt of a formal resignation from former Acting Police Commissioner, who was not confirmed in the post of CoP.

Minister Ramjattan had confirmed that no official resignation has been received from the Assistant Commissioner from by his office or the Police Service Commission.

He described as “false” reports in some sections of the media which suggested that the senior law enforcement officer had resigned, but did not venture to make any other statements beyond that, even though he confirmed in the process that Ramnarine had proceeded on annual leave and other outstanding leave entitlements.”

Asked to confirm whether he has resigned or has plans of doing so on Friday, Ramnarine declined to answer the question, explaining only that he wished to enjoy “privacy” while he was on his leave.

“Haven’t I given enough to public service in this coun-

try and in the Force?,” he asked, before declining to answer any questions about his plans after failing to win the President’s support to remain in the post of Police Commissioner, and the chance to be promoted to the post of Deputy Commissioner.

He would only say that he stands by everything he has said in the media on the subject matter, and wished to be allowed to live a quiet life.

Last week, reports surfaced that Ramnarine felt he was slighted and had been a victim of the system, having not been chosen to serve as the country’s new Top Cop, despite the fact that he was senior to all those who were appointed and promoted. He had even served as the country’s acting Commissioner for over a year after Seelall Persaud had retired from the job. (Samuel Sukhnandan)

12 news

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mohamed’s Enterprises opens US$3M laydown facility

The entrance to the five-acre laydown facility at McDoom, Greater Georgetown

A

s Guyana prepares for crude oil extraction, Mohamed’s Enterprises on Sunday officially opened the first-ever laydown facility at Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown.

The facility, constructed on five acres of land, is estimated to cost US$3 million.

At a grand ceremony on Sunday, Businessman Nazar Mohamed told the gathering that the facility is one that would be used as a holding area for

Businessman Nazar Mohamed addressing the gathering

ExxonMobil as that company prepares to extract oil in 2020. He expressed optimism that the project would be successful, and said there were many challenges that had to be overcome.

One such challenge, the businessman highlighted, was the time it took to get approval from the relevant authorities for the commencement of the project.

He noted that while businesses want to invest in Guyana, there have to be in place certain means

Nazar Mohamed (with child in hand) along with his grandchildren, children and Business Minister Dominic Gaskin during the ceremonial ribbon-cutting exercise

and measures to fast-track the necessary approvals in a timely manner.

He, nevertheless, thanked all the parties involved in making the facility a reality.

The area was underdeveloped and required massive intervention to get to being one of the well-constructed facilities in modern times. A total of 7000 tons of crush and run, 500 loads of sand, and approximately 250 loads of red loam were used to construct the facility.

A partner in the business venture, Marshall Mintz, co-owner of Falcon Logistics Inc., congratulated Mohamed’s Enterprises on its newest investment in Guyana. He noted that as the oil-and-gas sector takes off, facilities such as this one would be needed.

He noted that as the various items of heavy machinery start to arrive, this facility would be the appropriate place to store them.

He also noted that facilities such as the one launched by Mohamed’s Enterprise would contribute to the country’s economy, as well as serve as a local content owned and run by Guyanese.

He noted that the oiland-gas sector would come with lots of opportunities,

and as such, he encouraged Guyanese to invest.

On this, he noted that Mohamed’s Enterprises has taken the lead.

Also speaking at the event was Head of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, who reiterated that the discovery of four billion barrels of crude oil will be much larger when extraction commences. He made reference to Trinidad and Tobago, a country that extracted 8.7 billion barrels of oil in 108 years.

He noted that the extraction of oil is a longterm operation, and as such, there will be need for facilities such as the laydown project that has been initiated by Mohamed’s Enterprises. Since it is the first of its kind in Guyana, Indar is hoping that there will be many more.

He also reiterated that the facility will be the ideal area to store heavy equipment and materials that will be needed to prepare for the oil extraction.

On the other hand, he noted that there has to be a time when the old method of doing things is scrapped and the way is paved for approval for investment to be granted in a timely manner.

He further stated that,

since 2017, he has been calling for the need of local content and believes that Guyanese should benefit from the production of oil in the coming years.

He also elaborated on the need for intergenerational equity -- a process that will make way not only for this generation to benefit, but the generations that will follow as well.

In closing, he assured the businessman that the GCCI is ready to support his venture.

Lashing out at the Government for not being truthful to the nation, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said he believes the time has come for the Government to clarify several issues, including future oil and gas contacts, the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), the newly established Energy Department and the soon to be established Petroleum Commission.

He said he seeks clarity on those issues, since businessmen are not sure what will be in place in the future, because such a massive investment requires a long-term payback.

While he added that these concerns cannot be addressed in the near future, he congratulated the businessman on the new initiative.

Finally, congratulating the Mohamed family for their newest investments, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin expressed optimism that other businesses would follow suit and become part of the local content on the oil-andgas sector.

He noted that Government is ready and willing to work with investors in making sure they are in compliance with the necessary approvals and permits, even as he admitted that the process can be tedious.

Meanwhile, also present at the ceremony were Former President Donald Ramotar, PPP MP Irfaan Ali, members of the business community, and other dignitaries.

13

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

14 news Massy Group raises awareness to commemorate World Suicide Day T mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

hough suicide is complicated and tragic, it is often preventable.

It is with this in mind, and as part of its 50th anniversary of operating in Guyana, that the Massy Industries (Guyana) Limited adopted Suicide Prevention as a national platform, for which it would add support to help raise awareness and contribute towards the reduction in suicide rates by 10% by 2020 as per the Government’s National Suicide Prevention Plan.

A quick browse on most of the Group’s Facebook pages for the eight (8) operating companies in Guyana would reveal suicide prevention messages that foster good mental health, as well as provide information on where to seek help, including contact details for the Guyana Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Christpen Bobb-Semple, Director of Corporate

Management Systems and coordinator for the Group’s Suicide Prevention programme, indicated that Facebook was chosen as the social media platform as a lot of young people are online, and that it is a great way to connect with people.

He indicated that all the companies share the same Facebook post with the hashtag Prevent Suicide (#PreventSuicide) and that this will be done every week for the next 3 months.

With Suicide being the second leading cause of death among 15- to 29-yearolds globally, and with Guyana in 2017 having had a suicide rate of 29.9 deaths per 100,000 persons, Massy’s programmes have centred mainly around teenagers.

In fact, the Group has partnered with Government ministries to coordinate programmes that seek to get teenagers actively involved.

For instance, on September 26 and October 17, collaboration among Massy, the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Public Health, and the Ministry of Education will see the hosting of a School Debating Competition at the Massy Staff Facilities Complex at R5 Ruimveldt, Georgetown with The Bishops’ High, Queen’s College, Saint Stanislaus College and St.

Joseph High. Massy is hoping to have the debates aired live on its social media page.

Also, having recognised that children learn in various forms, Massy has partnered with The One Act Foundation and the Ministry of Education to have a theatrical performance written and performed on Suicide Prevention. The Group is planning to reach more than 800 students directly from

19 schools across Guyana, where they will be invited to witness the play free of charge. The play is scheduled to be staged at the National Cultural Centre on October 10th, which coincides with World Mental Health Day. Even though the event is strictly invitational, Mr Christpen Bobb-Semple indicated that the Group would reach an even wider cross section of persons, as plans are in place to have the play recorded and then aired on the television stations in all three counties for at least two weekends.

Recently, Massy Guyana provided support as well as participated in the annual walk coordinated by Prevention of Teenage Suicide (P.O.T.S) Guyana, an NGO founded by Ms. Lisa Punch, former Miss Guyana World 2015. This has been the 3rd consecutive year POTS Guyana has coordi-

nated the walk to help raise awareness on suicide prevention among teenagers.

Massy is a diversified regional conglomerate with operations throughout the Caribbean basin, Colombia and the United States of America. With over 60 operating companies across 10 countries, the Group employs over 11,000 people.

Massy began its operations in Guyana on September 16, 1968, and currently employs 1500 Guyanese.

Deo Persaud, Country Manager, believes the work being done by the Group for Suicide Prevention, along with the other social impact projects at various schools and orphanages, is part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility, and he sees it as invaluable and very much aligned to the Group’s purpose of: Being a Force for Good – Creating Value, Transforming Life.

POTS hosts 3rd annual suicide walk

A

favourable crowd on Sunday morning marched in unison with the non-governmental organisation Prevention of Teenage Suicide (POTS), calling for an end to suicide in Guyana as the world observes World Suicide Prevention Day 2018 on Monday.

The walk, which kicked off at 06:00h at Charlotte and Camp Streets, Georgetown, saw attendance of both young and old, including a father pushing his young daughter in a stroller as they braved the early morning sun. They journeyed to the Square of the Revolution, where the march ended.

Marching with signs with encouraging messages such as “Working together to end suicide”, various organisations, including the Massy Group of Companies and Rafieya’s International Vision & Hope (RIVAH), joined hands with POTS to deliver a reminder to Guyanese that suicide is still a problem being faced.

RIVAH, a domestic violence-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), has over the years lent sup-

port to organisations such as POTS. On Sunday, the NGO donated $200,000 to POTS. Speaking on behalf of RIVAH, Vice President Zalena Khan said the donation is the first manifestation of what RIVAH intends to do on an annual basis.

“Even though (RIVAH is) in its launch, we have since been focusing on domestic violence. We have since decided to focus on suicide as well. When we saw that POTS was doing this walk, we decided that we would like to be a part of it as well.

In our first effort to support this organisation, our focus is to support (this) organisation and to provide that financial support to provide what is needed, whether it’s for schools, brochures, or for awareness round the country,” the RIVAH Vice President said.

In his brief remarks, Christophe Bobb Semple, a Director of the Massy Group of Companies, said his company made the decision to support suicide prevention as one of the national causes in celebration of its 50th anniversary. turn to page 16

news

15

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GBTI awards 15 Early Savers with bursaries

A

t its Kingston Office on Friday, GBTI awarded with bursaries 15 of its Early Savers who were successful at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment examinations.

The country’s perfect scorer, Naila Rahaman, who now attends Queen’s College, is among those awarded. The others are: Virenda Dookie, Brendon Prince, Mariah Ellis, Sameya Khan, Deviani Ram, Malina Khan, Jazzmin Roopchand, Ziya Haniff, Sayid Stuart, Mikayla Hamer, Joel Benjamin, Elijah Rajak, Muhammad Baksh, and Tiffany Regis.

Assistant Chief Education Officer Owen Pollard encouraged the students to stay focused in this new journey, so that they can continue to celebrate continued academic successes.

Pollard also commended GBTI for recognising the awardees, and expressed admiration for the parents, for encouraging their children

Awardees of the GBTI Bursary

to save from an early age.

Many of the parents said the children were born into GBTI’s Early Savers Members Club, since

the parents themselves were Early Savers and realised the benefits.

The mother of the Top NGSA student said she opened an account

for her daughter when the child was a baby, and she loved when her daughter received birthday and other cards from the Club. She said

that often, when she gave Naila allowance, Naila would ask her to put it into her account instead.

The parents expressed appreciation to GBTI for the awards, and GBTI Executive Director Richard Isava said the Bank would continue to support these initiatives.

He congratulated the students and encouraged them to continue to stay focused and save for their future’s higher education as well.

This is the 15th year since GBTI started its bursary programme for members of its Early Savers Club.

Early Savers who wrote the NGSA were required to submit their names and copies of their results slips, and 15 were randomly selected.

The Club is open for membership of persons between zero and 18 years old. They enjoy special interest rates, shopping discounts, birthday rewards, bursary awards, and an annual recognition for being consistent savers.

PI into teen’s death to commence on Tuesday A

preliminary inquiry into the death of nineteen-year-old Sasia Adams -- who reportedly died as a result of blunt trauma to the head occasioned by allegedly being pushed from a moving car being driven by her boyfriend in June last -- will begin on September 11, 2018.

The decision came after Police prosecutor Neville Jeffers handed over the final statements into the

matter to the court earlier last week.

Fifteen witnesses are expected to testify in the matter, which will be heard by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The accused, twenty-one-year-old Rick Sewcharran of Section ‘A’ Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was released on $500,000 bail back in June when he ap-

Dead: Sasia Adams

peared before the court to answer to a manslaughter charge.

The late Sasia Adams, who had been an Essequibo native residing at East Street, Georgetown, succumbed to head injuries on June 12 after falling out of the moving car at Lamaha Street, Georgetown.

It was reported by her boyfriend that the teen had fallen out of his moving vehicle at about 20:00h on June 10, two days prior to

her demise.

However, alternative versions of what had transpired during the incident surfaced, as the still conscious Adams had related to doctors that she had fallen down. Another account had her jumping from the moving car.

The post-mortem examination conducted by veteran State Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh indicated that the teen died as a result of blunt trauma to

the head. No mention was made of her dying from injuries consistent with a vehicular accident.

Investigators revealed that the teen had apparently been struck to her head and then pushed out of the moving car, resulting in her sustaining severe head injuries.

The late Sasia Adams had been employed as a front desk clerk at the Princess Ramada Hotel at Providence, EBD.

16 news

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Prolonged Region 2 blackouts

GPL CEO apologises; acknowledges inconvenience Council (RDC), the business community and residents in Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.

Gordon touched on matters relating to the present situation and future plans for the Anna Regina Power Station. He was accompanied by his Public Relations team and local staff. The GPL CEO informed the

GPL nationwide and promised to bring a more reliable source of electricity to the Guyanese people. Questions were also asked about hydro power and he said that is also being considered.

Robert Lewis, Vice President of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) said his main concern was if

scheduled for completion in November and commission in early December 2018.

In late August, the ECCI had called on Government to intervene to alleviate the blackout situation since residents, especially the business sector, expressed their fear of losing millions of dollars in cool storage items.

ECCI President, Suean

Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Albert Gordon at a meeting with Regional Chairman (acting) Nandranie Coonjah and RDC Councillors

F

ollowing the less than favourable quality of service residents and business owners have been dealing with in the Pomeroon-Supenaam

(Region Two) district, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Albert Gordon has apologised for the discomfort residents are experi-

encing. The CEO was at the time speaking at a recent meeting with acting Region Two Chairman Nandranie Coonjah, Councillors of the Regional Democratic

Linden church observes golden anniversary with health fair

I

n celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Fruits of Calvary Assembly of God Church at Wismar, Linden hosted a health fair which saw residents accessing free medical services.

Among the services offered were medical advice from a doctor on site, eye tests, HIV, blood sugar and pressure testing, nutritional advice from the Food Policy Division, a blood drive, and dental checkups.

According to Senior Pastor Walter Lewis, this was just one of the church’s activities to celebrate its Jubilee Year.

"So many people are inflicted with all kinds of aches, all kinds of conditions medically, and some of them are not even aware of some things that might be affecting them; and so we thought if we can do something like this, at least we can sensitise some people about some things that might be affecting them.

At least they can be able to take further steps in

Businesspersons and residents also visited the new plant site. The three new generators can be seen in the background

A senior citizen receiving medical advice at the health fair

terms of getting treatment.

So we decided we could have them here at our location. So we have asked the hospital and relevant medical institutions to come on board with us", he explained.

Reports are that more than two persons were immediately taken to the hospital via ambulance after it was discovered that their condition needed emergency care.

The Linden community has continuously benefited from health fairs and outreaches, and more than often feedback indicated that high blood pressure and glucose levels are alarming.

As such, the Food Policy Division has offered advice on how to maintain health levels. Several persons also took the opportunity to donate blood to the blood bank at the event.

POTS hosted 3rd annual..

He said, “So we thought it wise to work with POTS Guyana, because of the amazing work that they have been doing over the years since they started”.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, who was also among the marchers, told those gathered at the Square of the Revolution that the event is for those who are helpless without support.

“This walk is for the persons who don’t feel the energy and love, and for those who don’t feel like there is anyone there for them. So we are saying that POTS is here, Massy is here, RIVAH is here,” she encouraged.

Minister Lawrence said that as the walk is a yearly event, the hope is that more Guyanese will find time to talk, listen, and give good advice to someone who needs it.

“As we are on the eve of Suicide Prevention Day, we are still, as a human race, grappling with this situation of stigma and discrimination. We are still grappling with the fact that so many of us can find other things to do, but not to give an ear to our brothers and sisters. And so, as we march on not only today, but for the rest of our lives, I trust that it will not only be the collective, but it would be

from page 14

the singularity, where each and every one of us finds it as our responsibility to talk, listen, and give good advice to someone”, Minister Lawrence stated.

A booklet which includes the listing of the various agencies and services offered by the Ministry of Public Health is expected to be published before the end of 2018.

Prevention of Teenage Suicide (POTS) came into being in 2014, and now has 60 volunteers dedicated to reducing suicide in Guyana through informative lectures and providing bereavement support services to survivors of suicide.

gathering that four of the Caterpillar generators are up and running, while noting that his staff is working tediously to repair the others. He added that he will be pay special attention to the region’s electricity supply.

During the question and answer segment, businessman Nizam Barakat questioned the long time taken

by GPL to get the new power station up and running. The businessman lamented that he was part of the Wärsillä Plant Construction and everything was completed in three months.

In response, Gordon indicated that when he took office as CEO, all arrangements were already in place for the New Anna Regina Power Plant. He assured that he is presently working on a 20-year plan for

the three new generators are capable of meeting the region’s electricity demand.

GPL responded saying the Anna Regina Power Station will need another generator to be able to carry the full peak hour load; at present each one of the new generators is capable of 1.8 megawatts each.

Residents were told that a survey will be done to assess the region’s full electricity needs after which GPL will equipped the power station to meet the full demand with excess power in case of additional needs. A suggestion was made to purchase current from local companies in the region and the CEO said that he is already looking at the possibility to do so. After the meeting, a tour was given of the new building site which is

Seewnarayan told Guyana Times the commerce in the region was collapsing due to the poor service offered

by GPL. She revealed that businesses were dumping products and those who have standby generators are pumping thousands of dollars into fuel and maintenance costs.

The Chamber had said Government was silent on the very important issue.

“No one is saying anything about the new power plant at Anna Regina which is far from completion and residents are losing confidence in the Government for not providing answers. If this power failure is not given immediate attention, the entire economy of the region will collapse,” the Chamber President noted last month.

Govt taking measures...

“So we have just made another order, for another set, to ensure we have that buffer being used. We have been receiving assistance from PAHO and WHO, so I’m quite certain we’ll be able to be at the top and not the bottom of the long line, given the issues we have.”

“Because you can understand what’s going on in Colombia and Brazil and so on too. They are bordered by Venezuela and you’ve heard of a lot of Venezuelans going over there. So we’re all in the line, waiting.”

There have been persistent reports of a shortage of basic services in Venezuela. This includes health services, due to a troubled economy and unrest that had gripped the nation. Last year, it was

revealed that a measles’ outbreak occurred in the eastern Venezuelan state of Bolivar, which borders Guyana along Region One (Barima-Waini) and Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Only a few days ago, scores of Venezuelan refugees in the Barima-Waini region, who fled their home country to escape worsened economic and social conditions, were recipients of a number of relief items distributed by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

The exercise focused on the Khan’s Hill and Whitewater communities. The mission was led

by CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, and comprised representatives of the re-

from page 11

gion’s Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

Among the items distributed were food and other relief items. The food items were compliments of DeSinco Trading Limited, which donated 50 food hampers to the CDC last month.

The other relief items were donations from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Back in July, Region One Chairman Brentnol Ashley had disclosed that some 268 Venezuelan refugees are in his region alone, staying in churches and makeshift tents with little to no belongings.

17

mondAY, september 10, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Sweden faces political US energy chief to meet deadlock after gains Russian, Saudi counterparts by far-right party ahead of Iran sanctions S

U

S Energy Secretary Rick Perry will meet his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Russia starting today, sources familiar with the matter said, as the Trump administration encourages oil-producing countries to keep output up two months before it is due to renew sanctions on Iran’s crude exports.

Perry will meet Khalid al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister, and other officials from the kingdom, the world’s largest oil exporter, in Washington on Monday morning, a US Government source said.

Perry, al-Falih and Darren Woods, the chief executive of ExxonMobil, were introduced on Saturday to the crowd at a Texas A&M University football game in College Station, Texas. All

US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry attends the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity Summit in Manhattan, New York, US, July 31, 2018

three attended at the university.

The US energy secretary will also meet with Russian Energy Minister Alexander

Novak on Thursday in Moscow, according to the US source and a diplomatic source said.

Perry will be the most

senior US official to visit Russia since President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July to try to improve ties that have dipped to a post-Cold War low.

Moscow and Washington are at odds over US accusations of Russian meddling in US politics, Syria, Ukraine and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Officials from the United States and Russia, two of the world’s largest oil and natural gas producers, formerly met regularly to discuss energy issues. Those meetings stopped in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea.

Trump has said he wants to improve ties, but his administration is considering imposing new sanctions on Moscow, as is the US Congress. (Excerpt from Reuters)

weden headed for a hung Parliament after an election on Sunday that saw support for the nationalist Sweden Democrats surge, as one of Europe’s most liberal nations turned right amid fears over immigration.

Far-right parties have made spectacular gains throughout Europe in recent years as anxieties grow over national identity and the effects of globalisation and immigration following armed conflict in the Middle East and North Africa.

In Sweden, an influx of 163,000 asylum seekers in 2015 – the most in Europe in relation to the country’s population of 10 million – has polarised voters and fractured the long-standing political consensus.

With almost all districts having reported, the ruling centre-left Social Democrats and Greens and their Left

Party parliamentary allies had 40.6 per cent of the vote, while the Opposition centre-right Alliance was at 40.3 per cent.

That gave the centre-left 144 seats in the 349-seat Parliament against 142 for the Alliance, suggesting weeks of uncertainty before a workable government can be formed.

The Sweden Democrats, a party with roots in the white supremacist fringe, won 17.6 per cent and 63 seats, up from 12.9 per cent and 49 seats in the last election four years ago, the biggest gain by any party in Sweden’s Parliament, the Riksdag.

The results were largely in line with the conventional opinion polls tracked

by Reuters in the run-up to the election but well below some online surveys that had predicted the Sweden Democrats could become the largest party. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Chevron wins Ecuador rainforest 'oil dumping' case Venezuela denounces

The Ecuadoreans took their protests to the streets of New York four years ago

A

n international tribunal in The Hague has ruled in favour of the US oil company, Chevron, in an environmental dispute with the government of Ecuador. Chevron had been ordered to pay US$9.5 billion (£7.4 billion) compensation to thousands of residents in Ecuador's Amazon region.

They accused the company of dumping toxic waste

in local lakes and rivers of the Lago Agrio region for decades. The court said that the 2011 Ecuador Supreme Court ruling had been obtained through fraud, bribery and corruption.

The oil giant now stands to be awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in costs

by The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Chevron maintained that it never owned any assets in

Alibaba's Jack Ma 'to step down and focus on philanthropy'

O

ne of China's richest men, Jack Ma, is to step down as Executive Chairman of the Alibaba e-commerce empire on Monday, the New York Times reported.

He will remain on Alibaba's Board of Directors but focus on philanthropy in education, the newspaper said. Ma co-founded Alibaba in 1999 and has seen it become one of the world's biggest internet companies.

With a market value of more than US$400 billion (£309 billion), it includes online selling, film production and cloud comput-

ing. In an interview with the Times, former English teacher Ma said retirement would not be the end of an era but "the beginning of an era", adding: "I love education".

Ma, who will be 54 on Monday, has a net personal wealth of US$40 billion, making him the third richest person in China, according to the 2017 Forbes' China rich list.

Earlier this week, Ma told Bloomberg TV that he wanted to create a personal foundation, following in the footsteps of Microsoft's Bill Gates. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ecuador.

The alleged environmental damage was done by Texaco between 1964 and 1992. Texaco was later acquired by Chevron. Chevron has argued that Texaco spent US$40 million cleaning up the area during the 1990s, and signed an agreement with Ecuador in 1998 absolving it of any further responsibility.

Some 30,000 local resi-

dents, including five different Amazonian tribes, began the lawsuit against Texaco in 1993.

The plaintiffs say that the oil company knowingly dumped 18bn gallons (68bn litres) of toxic waste water and spilled 17m gallons of crude oil into the rainforest during its operations in North-East Ecuador.

They say the affected area covers 4400 square kilometres (1700 square miles) on the border with Colombia. Local residents believe the pollution has led to health problems such as cancer and birth defects.

In 2011, an Ecuadorean judge ordered Chevron to pay US$18.2 billion (£14.1 billion) for "extensively polluting" the Lago Agrio region. Ecuador's highest court last year upheld the verdict against Chevron a year later, but reduced the amount of compensation to US$9.5 billion. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

US military interference after NYT report

V

enezuela’s Foreign Minister accused the United States of seeking an intervention and supporting military conspiracies, following a report US officials had met with Venezuelan military officers to discuss a coup plot.

The Trump Administration held secret meetings with rebellious military officers over the last year to discuss their plans to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

The article cited unnamed American officials and a former Venezuelan military commander who participated in the talks.

“We denounce the intervention plans and support for military conspirators by the government of

the United States against Venezuela,” Jorge Arreaza wrote on Twitter on Saturday. “Even in US media, the crass evidence is coming to light.”

Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the National Security Council, did not deny the report, but said in a statement that the “US policy preference for a peaceful, orderly return to democracy in Venezuela remains unchanged.”

US President Donald Trump last year said the United States was considering all options with respect to Venezuela, including the “military option.” The comments brought widespread condemnation from countries around the region as well as from Maduro’s adversaries in Venezuela.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Dallas Police Officer to face manslaughter charges in shooting of St Lucian man

D

allas Police Officer Amber Guyger, is facing manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Saint Lucian man, Botham Shem Jean, in his own apartment in a bizarre case that has investigators and the public, along with Jean’s neighbours, puzzled and stunned.

Jean, 26, was shot to death inside his apartment

by Guyger, who had just got off duty from a long shift on Thursday night, after she had apparently mistaken Jean’s apartment for hers and thought that Jean was an intruder in her own apartment.

An arrest warrant was being prepared for Guyger

Police Officer Amber Guyger, is facing manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Saint Lucian man, Botham Shem Jean

on Saturday afternoon and she is expected to be officially charged with manslaughter sometime this week in the shooting death of Jean.

The Texas Rangers stated that they are conducting a separate and internal investigation into the matter under the advice of Police Chief,

Renee Hall, who said at a news conference on Friday afternoon, “We have ceased handling it under our normal officer-involved shooting protocols.”

Neighbours and other witnesses said that Jean, a quiet and peaceful man, lived on his own and never had any fuss or problems with his neighbours.

Neighbours are also puzzled as to how Guyger believed that Jean’s apartment was her own, after trying her key and finding it not working. Also, the apartments in the Dallas area Southside Flats Complex where Jean and Guyger lived have their units clearly numbered. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, september 10, 2018

ARCHIE

Embrace your emotions and consider what and who (March 21- you are up against. Play to April 19) win and boost your energy levels to ensure that you reach your goal on time.

ARIES

Change can be good if you TAURUS have a well-thought-out plan (April 20- in place. Think big, but mainMay 20) tain balance and meet your budget. Tackle things in stages.

dilbert

Taking short trips and atGEMINI (May 21- tending events will lead to June 20) knowledge and new opportunities. Do your own fact-checking and create your own vision. Listen to suggestions, but do what’s best for you.

You can start projects that will encourage change (June 21- at home and work. How you July 22) handle others will make a difference to the outcome.

Encouragement will bring you closer to your goal.

CANCER

Peanuts

Accept the inevitable, but LEO don’t initiate change. Joint (July 23- ventures aren’t in your best Aug. 22) interest, and making changes at home would be too expensive. Bide your time.

Make the choice to do VIRGO all you can. Bringing about (Aug. 23change is never easy, but the Sept. 22) satisfaction you gain by doing something good will be yours to keep forever.

Calvin and Hobbes

Listen carefully and LIBRA (Sept. 23- make amendments to whatOct. 23) ever doesn’t sit well with you. Honesty and openness will help you avoid stress caused by always trying to please everyone around you.

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD – CANTEENS (CANTEENS: kan-TEENS: Flasks for carrying drinking water.)

SUDOKU

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Average mark 30 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 45 or more words in CANTEENS? The list will be published Monday.

shot silo silt site slit sloe slot sloth soil sole stile

stole this thole those tile toil toile tole isle islet isohel

istle lest list lithe litho lose lost loth ethos

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Keep an open mind, but don’t let anyone railroad you into doing something you shouldn’t. If you desire change, take a close look at yourself and strive for self-improvement.

Go over important papers CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- and make adjustments that Jan. 19) will lead to new opportunities. Organization and preparation will be important.

YESTERDAY'S WORD – HOSTILE helot hilt hoist hole holiest holist hose host hostel hotel shoe

Personal changes will enSCORPIO ergize you. Whether it’s an (Oct. 24alteration at home or to your Nov. 22) appearance, the outcome will give you the boost you need to take on bigger pursuits.

Romance is highlighted.

solution for last published puzzle Patience, passion and AQUARIUS hard work will pay off. Don’t (Jan. 20- make minor setbacks a big Feb. 19) deal, and say no to anyone trying to push you to overspend.

You’ll have plenty of ideas, PISCES (Feb. 20- but what will truly make the March 20) difference will be the people you choose to work alongside.

Collaborate with those who bring out the best in you.

mondAY, september 10, 2018

19

Guyana Amazon Warriors to clash with Trinbago Knight Riders in first play-off match on Tuesday – ticketing office open until 21:00h today

A

blistering knock by Shimron Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford against the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) on Sunday evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, has placed the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) in second place on the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) points table.

The two Guyanese cricketers launched a brutal assault on the Trinbago Knight Riders as their team chased down 155 for victory in their allotted 20 overs.

Now that they are at second place on the table, the competition has climaxed into the playoff stage which commences on Tuesday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The first play-off match will see the home side taking on the Trinbago Knight Riders on Tuesday at 18:00h. In the second match, the St Kitts Patriots will square off with the Jamaica Tallawahs on Wednesday at the same time.

Both matches are expected to

be action-packed with Guyanese fans turning up in their numbers as usual to support the home side.

Those who have not purchased tickets as yet, the ticketing office at Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown, will open at 08:00h and close at 21:00h today. In addition, tickets for the matches will also be sold online at www.cplt20. com

However, it was a well anticipated match on Sunday between the Warriors and Knight Riders.

The fans flocked the Guyana National Stadium with the expectation of an explosive win against the Trinidad side.

The home team managed to restrict the Knight Riders powerful batting line-up to just 154/7, and that left Guyana with two differ-

ent targets.

As well as the usual 20-over target for the win, there was a second equation in play: victory inside 15.3 overs would be enough to leapfrog Jamaica Tallawahs on net run-rate and take second spot.

That, of course, brought with it a place in Playoff 1 and a direct route to the final with a second chance in the semi-final should they lose.

At 67/2 from nine overs on the back of Cameron Delport’s 37 from 27, the Warriors looked well placed for the win but behind the rate required to take second spot.

Then Hetmyer went berserk.

Sixteen runs in three balls from Kevon Cooper in the 10th over propelled the score to 86/2 at halfway.

When Jason Mohammed fell to Nikita Miller looking for another six, Sherfane Rutherford came in and showed how it was done.

He smashed his first two balls over mid-wicket for six, but even better was to come as the next ball was reverse-swept high into the stands for a third successive Hero Maximum.

By now it was abundantly clear the Warriors were going all out for second place. There was to be no let-up. Hetmyer continued the onslaught in the next over, passing 50 in just 24 balls as he took Anderson Phillip for another pair of huge sixes.

Then it was back to Rutherford, with the second of three sixes he smashed off Dwayne Bravo in over 13 bringing up the 50 partnership in a mere 15 balls.

Although Hetmyer could not have seen his team over the line, bowled by the impressive leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, Chadwick Walton promptly smashed his first ball for six to bring the scores level and allow Rutherford the luxury of needing just a single to finish things rather than adding to his six sixes. He still hit four to end on a whirlwind 45 not out from 13 balls.

While it will understandably be Hetmyer and Rutherford who take the bulk of the plaudits, there was plenty of good work done with the ball in the first half of the night just to make it all possible.

Cook’s dream still alive as England's lead swells A lastair Cook has a lovely smile. There’s a kind of mischief to it, as if he knows something you don’t and he’s utterly pleased with himself for it.

He flashed one after absolutely middling the final ball before tea at The Oval and walked off. England finished the day 154 runs ahead.

More importantly, if only for this Test, he was 46 not out.

Playing his 291st and final innings, he’d got off the mark with a trademark flick off the pads and the crowd came to its feet once again.

A good portion of them had been hanging out by the stairs leading up to the England dressing room after India had been bowled out for 292 in their first innings, thanks to Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 86.

Cameras were out.

Goosebumps were visible.

And applause rang out. A wave of it, rising ever higher and bathing the former England captain with an energy that only a live performer can understand. It’s magic. Truly. And if you’re skeptical, watch the three deliveries that preceded Cook blunting Mohammed Shami to end the session.

Pitched up, angled in and seaming away, they demanded a shot from the batsman. They deserved an edge each time. But it didn’t happen.

England’s Alastair Cook on-drives against India during the third day of the fifth Test at the Oval

So Shami smiled as well and settled for the wicket of Keaton Jennings, bowled playing no shot. The opener’s series ends with seven of his nine innings yielding less than 25, and while there are genuine issues - he’s been dismissed leaving the ball twice in two Tests, so a lot of them must be in the mind - it is also important to note that he’s been dealing with some extremely good bowlers. They are accurate.

And unlike previously, there are precious few opportunities for easy runs. In fact, two of India’s 10 best economy-rates since the turn of the century, while touring,

have come in 2018.

They could afford to focus all of their attention of picking up wickets thanks to their own efforts during a tail-end fightback. England began the day with a lead of 158 but Jadeja whittled that figure down to a mere 40 and took great pleasure doing so. When he reached his half-century, he dusted off his bat - it had been a while since he’s played international cricket - and whirled it around like a sword.

England must be uncomfortably used to that celebration by now. After all, it was unveiled for the very first time about 10 miles from The Oval, back in 2014.

Jadeja’s innings then was thrill-a-minute, in a match situation where he and his team had all to gain and nothing to lose. Here, they had to show fight - and an aptitude for defence with the Test going against them. And he was more than up for it. The man faced 133 deliveries - 83 of were left alone or fell harmlessly by his feet.

But, as will be custom with a player of his charisma - the Bharat Army sang “oooh Raavi Jadeeeeeja” the moment he strode out to the middle - it is the attacking shots that stand out. The six he hit straight back over James Anderson’s head or

the cut off Moeen Ali, when he read the length so early and moved into position so quickly. There was also one gorgeous moment when he was at the non-strikers’ end and Jasprit Bumrah kept out a barrage of inswingers from Stuart Broad. Jadeja lifted his bat up and banged his fist into it, appreciating his team-mate’s determination. India’s last wicket added 32 runs off 55 balls. The No. 11 faced only 14 of them and scored 0.

Jadeja looks comfortable as a batsman now. He has more trust in his technique, which is allowing him to spend more time at the crease, which in turn means he is giving himself the best chance to score runs. The debutant Hanuma Vihari worked that out for himself this morning and started allowing the ball to come to him, letting it swing before committing to a shot. He looked far removed from the

batsman who had originally made his way out to the middle and promptly fallen over his front foot to be trapped plumb in front for 0. But umpire Joel Wilson, and England, offered him a lifeline. He made the most of it to score a 56 off 124 balls.

As well as India fought back, there was one rather foul moment: the captain Virat Kohli burned both reviews within 12 overs and may well come to rue his judgment.

It’s been hard work for batsmen in these five games.

There have been 53 sessions - only four of them have been wicket-less. In the second innings here, England were not in control of 20 of the first 54 balls they faced.

The odds are piled high and the expectation is palpable.

After 161 Tests, Cook has all of England waiting with bated breath. There couldn’t be a better time for century number 33.(ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

England 1st innings – 332 India 1st innings – 292 England 2nd Innings AN Cook not out 46 KK Jennings b Mohammed Shami 10 MM Ali b Jadeja 20 JE Root (c) not out 29 Extras: (b 9) 9 Total: (2 wickets, 43 Overs, RR: 2.65) 114

Yet to bat: JM Bairstow †, BA Stokes, JC Buttler, SM Curran, AU Rashid, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson Fall of wickets: 1-27 (KK Jennings, 12.4 ov), 2-62 (MM Ali, 27.4 ov) Bowling: JJ Bumrah 12-426-0, I Sharma 7-3-11-0, Mohammed Shami 10-332-1, RA Jadeja 14-2-36-1

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, september 10, 2018

Till forced to tap out by Woodley in Texas The right hand from the Welterweight Champion, Tyron Woodley, which led to the submission of Darren Till

D

arren Till failed in his bid to become Britain’s second UFC world champion as Tyron Woodley produced a superb submission win in Texas.

The American welterweight champion started quickly, and floored Till with a right hand early in the second.

Woodley swarmed his rival with a ground and pound before locking in a d’arce choke, forcing a tap out with 41 seconds of the second remaining.

“Tyron was the better man. I’m gutted. I’ll be back stronger,” said Till. “It just really, really hurts.”

After tapping out, Liverpudlian Till instantly got to his feet and shook Woodley’s hand in acknowledgement he had been second best in the biggest bout of his career.

The 25-year-old, who walked to the ring to cheers and the tune of Sweet Caroline, held his own in the opening five minutes when Woodley tried but failed to take him to ground.

But the second five-minute period belonged to the 36-year-old from Missouri as he married a sweet right hand with energy on the floor and an artful submission.

“He’s a tough kid,” said Woodley. “My coach told me I’ve got to be ready to go all the way in. I was just

taking my time - I saw he wasn’t going away easy and took my time to get the job done.

“This feels pretty awesome. I don’t believe in ring rust, but I’ve been away for 14 months.”

UFC president Dana White had described the occasion as a “tipping point” for Till and insisted he could become one of the organisation’s “big stars” if he were to win and join Michael Bisping as Britons to have held a UFC world title.

Till’s journey to the top had involved 17 wins and a draw, all of which followed a move to Brazil in 2012 as he sought a fresh start after being stabbed twice in the back in his home city.

But a first defeat follows a points win over Stephen Thompson at Liverpool’s Echo Arena where the majority of ringside media had Till beaten on the cards.

That display, added to this disappointment, may prompt questions about whether he should step up from welterweight to prevent the need to cut a 6ft frame down to 170lbs.

Meanwhile, Woodley quashed views he may be past his peak. He reduced Till to landing just one strike in over nine minutes and has now defended the title he claimed in 2016 four times, this one his first stoppage win as a champion.(BBC Sport)

Mbappe, Giroud strike Williams fined over as France beat Neds outbursts during final

F

rance won their first game on home soil since lifting the World Cup, condemning the Netherlands to Nations League defeat at the Stade de France.

France started the brighter and took a deserved lead when Kylian Mbappe tapped-in on 14 minutes.

Despite creating little, the visitors levelled midway through the second half as Ryan Babel scored.

However, Olivier Giroud’s smart finish with 16 minutes remaining was enough to hand Les Bleus the points in Group A1.

France coach Didier

Mbappe almost had his second soon after, narrowly failing to make enough contact with Antoine Griezmann’s freekick to trouble Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.

As the French pressure continued to increase, Cillessen then did well to beat Mbappe to a through ball - and avoid giving away a penalty in the process.

The Netherlands had their first real chance on 66 minutes as Georginio Wijnaldum muscled his way through the French defence, only to drag his shot wide. A minute later they were level as former Liverpool winger Babel beat Benjamin Pavard to right-back

Serena Williams was quite emotional in her exchange with the umpire

S

France’s Kylian Mbappe won FIFA’s Best Young Player award for his performance’s during the 2018 World Cup

Deschamps named the same team that began the world champions’ goalless draw with Germany in their opening Nations League fixture on Thursday, with only the injured Hugo Lloris absent from the side that started the World Cup final in Russia.

Backed by a party atmosphere in Paris, the hosts began confidently and were gifted the lead when Quincy Promes’ poor header evaded his teammates - instead allowing Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi to find the unmarked Kylian Mbappe in the six-yard box.

Kenny Tete’s cross.

Now resurgent, the Dutch side went close to taking the lead soon after as Memphis Depay fired into the side netting.

But it was Chelsea forward Giroud who settled the game, moving swiftly ahead of Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk to meet substitute Benjamin Mendy’s cross and score his first goal in in 11 internationals.

The Netherlands host Germany next on Saturday, October 13, before Joachim Low’s Germany travel to face France on Tuesday, October 16. (BBC Sport)

erena Williams was fined $17,000 (£13,100) for the code violations that included calling the umpire a “liar” and “thief” in her US Open final loss.

Williams, beaten by Naomi Osaka, was docked a game for verbal abuse and had a point penalty for racquet smashing and a code violation for coaching.

She later said it was “sexist” to have been penalised a game.

BBC tennis presenter Sue Barker said: “The umpire was following the rules by the book but Serena has a point.”

Barker, a former world number three and 1976 French Open champion, added that “tennis was the loser” from Saturday’s events.

Williams’ fine for the code violations, imposed by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), will be deducted from the $1.85 million the American won as the runner-up.

“I’ve sat courtside watching the men ranting at umpires and they haven’t been given a violation,” Barker said.

“The fact that it was to be a game violation then robbed the crowd of what potentially could’ve been a third set.”

Osaka, 20, won the match 6-2 6-4 to become the first Japanese Grand Slam champion.

Williams, who was aiming to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, refused to shake hands with umpire Ramos after the match.

She later accused him of sexism, saying: “He’s never taken a game from a man because they said ‘thief’.”

Barker told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme: “Both have a point - Serena saying the male players can say what they want to umpires.

“Earlier in the tournament we saw Alize Cornet being given a code violation for changing her shirt on court and then in the same tournament Mohamed Lahyani gets down from his chair to talk to Nick Kyrgios and persuade him not to give up on a match.

“He [Ramos] was following the rules by the book but sometimes the book has to be rewritten.

“You can’t have one rule for some players and some umpires don’t adhere to it and allow players to get away with things. They’ve just got to be fair to the players.

“Tennis was the loser and we lost what was potentially a fantastic match.

“I’ve never seen anything like it since I have been watching tennis. It was sad for the game.”

Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon champion, echoed Barker’s stance on the difference between how male and female players are treated.

“What the umpire did is totally not acceptable and I hope that we are going to have a sanction because we just can’t let that happen,” she said.

“When there is absolutely no curse or verbal abuse from Serena then giving her a game penalty is insane. You can’t do that. It is impossible.

“She’s right when she says the men say 10 times worse and don’t even get a warning.”

Ramos has given Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray code violations in the past two years.

He also accused Serena’s sister, Venus, of receiving coaching during a 2016 French Open match, although she wasn’t penalised.

“I think she [Serena] went a little bit too far,” said 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Chris Evert. “What she was saying, she had every right to say but she kept repeating herself.

“After a while it is like ‘you have to stop’.

“Just because of the enormity of the moment, the umpire should have given her a bit of break but, instead, went right for the jugular.”(BBC Sport)

CLASSIFIED ADS

mondAY, september 10, 2018 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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

Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne.

Weddings and anniversaries: Rental or full service: Banquet Hall & Catering. Aracari Resort 264-2946 Alex Wayne.

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

EDUCATION Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decorations.

670-2653, 638-8499

FOR SALE ONE FLUFFY DACHSHUND PUPPY 670-265 1 two door refrigerator (foreign use), 1 six hole 20’’ mag-rims with tires, fits tundra, Tacoma, Hilux pick-up, 1 diesel fuel pumps for Hilux 1KDFTV engine, 1 turbo for Hilux 1KDFTV engine, 1 turbo for Pardo 3.0 diesel engine, 1 Small twin tub washing machine. Contact Tel: 220-1630 or 638-1829.

LAND for sale One transported land for sale 100x50ft at Hope Town village West Coast Berbice Price 1.2M Contact # 680-1009

property for sale BUSINESS PROPERTY FOR RENT (PAPO SHOP). 38 BLOSSOM SCHEME, ENMORE, ECD. 611-4883, 255-0716, 674-6427 Lot mini/farm 100x285 feet, privacy, security, convenience. Garden of Eden, EBD. 592-601-3232 TRANSPORTED LAND WITH COMMERCIAL BUILDING 33X40 LAND(108X200) LOCATED AT LOWER MAHAICONY, ECD. PRICE: 38 MILLION NON NEGOTIABLE. CONTACT: 642-0336, 258-0280, 6556643 LOT 15 PUBLIC ROAD #2 VILLAGE WEST COAST BERBICE. 3 HOUSE LOTS. COCONUT AND MANGO TREES. RICE CULTIVATION. RED SAND. 49FT BY 10,314 FT LENGTH. PRICE $18M. CONTACT: 648-7109, 686-4818 House for Sale. 3 bedrooms, bungalow-style.

Gated community, Versailles. Valued at $35M (Negotiable). Tel: 612-9766 PRIME LOCATION-PUBLIC ROAD, LOT 2 SARAH JOHANNA, EAST BANK DEMERARA. SIZE: 35*101 FT PRICE $6M NEGOTIABLE. TEL: 673-9231, 216-4063, 685-5476 LOT 38 BELLA DAM, WEST BANK DEMERARA, SIZE: 120*40 FT PRICE $4.5M NEGOTIABLE. TEL: 673-9231, 216-4063, 685-5476 Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, West Coast Berbice. 49ft x 10,314ft Length. $18M. Contact: 648-7109 or 686-4818 House for sale, 2-family, privacy, security, convenience, $11.5m, Garden of Eden, EBD 592-601-3232

TILL THE GOAL IS REACHED. SPECIALISED IN READING PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE, FACE READING, PALM READING, BOOK OPENING, SHELLS READING. GIVE SOLUTIONS FOR: HUSBAND AND WIFE, LOVE, PROMOTION, REUNITE LOVERS, BUSINESS, PROPERTY, STOP DIVORCE, SEXUAL PROBLEM, JEALOUSY PROBLEM, FINANCIAL PROBLEM ETC. PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL. CONTACT: 6928449, 693-8655 Spiritual healing: remove blockages, voodoo, excurse, black magic, spell, business, upliftment, pregnancy, love & marriage problems, clearance, etc. Contact: 694-9569 or 683-5228 Sri Guru Raghavendra Astrology.

Master: VEERA BHADRA. Specialized in: PALM, FACE, PATRA READING & HOROSCOPE BOOK OPENING. An expert in clearing negativity in life by using ancient prayer methods. Gives complete solution to your problems like: love, children, finance, job, marriage, finance and education. Meet him once to get guidance. All religions are welcome. Private and confidential. Tel: 695-9805 & 652-6427.

INDIAN FAMOUS ASTROLOGER MASTER VENKATESH ALL RELIGIONS WELCOME SPECIALISED IN BRINGING LOVED ONES BACK, EXPERT IN READING PALM & FACE READING. GET ADVISE AND SOLUTIONS FOR LOVE, MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, FAMILY PROBLEMS, SEXUAL PROBLEMS, FINANCE PROBLEMS, STOP ALCOHOL ADDICTION, SICKNESS, BUSINESS/ JOB CAREERS, VISA ETC. PANDIT CAN REMOVE ANY KIND OF BLACK MAGIC, VOODOO, AND GIVE PROTECTION. CONTACT- 600-8222 WWW.ASTROVENKATESH.COM

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 2257878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

VACANCIES WANTED. Drivers and Security Personnel. Apply to North West Mining Investment Inc. 344 Middle and East Streets, N/Cummingsburg

WANTED THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) SECRETARIAT HEREWITH INVITES ALL CONSULTANTS AND SUPPLIERS OF GOODS AND SERVICES (INCLUDING THOSE VENDORS WHO PROVIDE HOUSING ACCOMMODATION) TO REGISTER AS PREFERRED SUPPLIERS. ONLINE REGISTRATION OF CONSULTANTS AND SUPPLIERS OF GOODS AND SERVICES CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE WEB PORTAL THAT IS AVAILABLE AT http://vendors.caricom.org/ FOR VENDORS WHO PROVIDE RENTAL HOUSING ACCOMMODATION, ONLINE REGISTRATION IN THE HOUSING DATABASE CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE WEB PORTAL THAT IS AVAILABLE AT http://housing. caricom.org/ QUERIES REGARDING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS IN ANY OF THE DATABASE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO: PROGRAMME MANAGER, PROCUREMENT, CARICOM SECRETARIAT, TURKEYEN, GREATER GEORGETOWN, GUYANA. EMAIL: PROCUREMENT@ CARICOM.ORG OR PROCUREMENT. GROUP2@CARICOM.ORG

TO LET ONE BRAND NEW APARTMENTPARKING AVAILABLE. ONE 2-BEDROOM BOTTOM FLAT $50,000 PER MONTH. TEL: 226-3430 One-bedroom apartment at Parfaite Harmonie (Dairy) Call: 670-2653, 638-8499 House upper flat, privacy, security, convenience, 2 bedrooms $30,000 Garden of Eden, EBD 592-601-3232

spirituality & ASTROLOGY INDIAN ASTROLOGER AND SPIRITUAL CENTER. INTERNATIONAL FAMOUS ASTROLOGER. MASTER RAJARAM. ALL RELIGIONS ARE WELCOME. RISE, AWAKE AND STOP NOT

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word

Call: 223-7230 Ext 50

sports

21

GFF Elite League…

Lanferman lands another 3 A

n ordinary night was transformed into a magical experience with 9 goals being scored in total as the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Elite League continued at the Leonora Athletic Track and Field on Friday.

In the match featuring Fruta Conquerors versus Cougars FC, it was obvious that both teams had come to play ball, but within 15 minutes of the start, Conquerors FC had asserted their dominance with a Nicolas Mc Arthur piercing of the Cougars’ net.

The Cougars played their hearts out, and perhaps their liver as well, but could not equalise at half time; and the Conquerors, with their foot on the accelerator, scored through Domini Garnett in the 33 rd minute and Dennis Edwards in the 43rd minute as they set their sights on the stratosphere.

Upon resumption of play, Cougars tried to limit the damage to the score-

line’s reading of 0-3; but the Conquerors, with destination determined, again scored through Jahall Greaves in the 80th minute to slay the untamed Cougars in a 4-0 drubbing.

The main event then saw Den Amstel triumphing over the Victoria Kings by a similar 4-0 margin. Before halftime, Den Amstel had already twice demonstrated their superiority over the Kings through the nimble play of the able

Delon Lanferman (11th and 39th minutes), as the first 45 minutes of the game ended with a scoreline of 2-0.

Lanferman then returned to score his hat trick goal in the 58th minute, to leave Victoria Kings reeling. The Kings eventually managed to score in the 71st minute, but by then it was a little too late for them.

Den Amstel then delivered the final blow in the 90th minute with a Chris Macey strike that pretty much summed up the night and the difference between the teams.

Djokovic powers past Juan Martín del Potro to win third US Open

C

hampions have the rare talent of making their endeavours look easier than mere mortals can imagine, but Novak Djokovic’s straight sets win over Juan Martín del Potro in the US Open final on Sunday night was no mere celebration of the Serbian’s unique gifts.

It took him three and a quarter hours to add a third title to the trophies he lifted here in 2011 and 2015, as well as a second major of the year to go with his return to championship form at Wimbledon, capped off with a rise to No4 in the world.

However, he had to come through two stirring Del Potro fightbacks to win 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3, as the Argentinian emerged from his early torpor to stretch Djokovic’s talent and patience to the limit.

In the early exchanges, they prodded at each other’s defences like a pair of cagey old pugilists, until Djokovic held to love in the pivotal seventh game. When he got to break point with a string of blistering, angled forehands that sapped the oxygen-greedy legs of his 6ft 6in opponent, he cashed in.

Del Potro has come back from many perilous situations in his career, but not against this man. Djokovic had beaten him 14 times in 18 encounters, and won all four of their slam matches. The last time they met here, in the quarter-finals in 2012, Djokovic won in three sets.

When Del Potro found the line

Novak Djokovic shows what it means to beat Juan Martin del Potro and win his third US Open title

with an exquisite backhand for break point, the 23,000 present rose as one.

As Jimmy Connors remarked: “This is great tennis. Both players are at the top of their game at the same time.”

Hughes seemed to ignore the shot-clock zero on Djokovic’s serve on game point, but it mattered not, as he held through deuce eight times in 20 minutes, saving three break points and serving his first double fault to level at four-all.

No picnic, this – and reminiscent of his 22-minute tie-break he lost to go out of the French Open this summer.

The only time Djokovic has lost from two sets up was eight years ago when Jürgen Melzer beat him in the

quarter-finals of the French Open.

Including Davis Cup, his run of five-set wins is an extraordinary 201.

Sentiment and momentum were with the Tower of Tandil here, but Djokovic won the tie-break then, after an exchange of breaks – including a time violation on break point in the fifth game – he closed out the final set. He broke to serve for the title at 5-3, got to 30-all, drove majestically into the ad corner for match point then smashed the winner and embraced one of his best friends in the game.

It was a final to stand comparison with any of recent times, certainly the best of the four 2018 slams.

Crutchlow calls for life ban for Italian rider who grabbed rival’s brake

B

ritish MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow has called for Romano Fenati to be banned from racing for life after the Italian pressed a rival’s brake lever during a race on Sunday.

Fenati, competing in the second-tier Moto2 event in San Marino, was black flagged for grabbing fellow Italian Stefano Manzi’s brake on a straight.

Manzi briefly lost his balance before regaining control of his Suter bike.

“He should never compete on a motorcycle again,” said Crutchlow.

Crutchlow, who finished third in the main MotoGP race later on Sunday,added: ‘He should have walked back

Romano Fenati

to the garage and his team should have just kicked him straight out the back.

“You can’t do this to another motorcycle racer.

We are risking our lives enough.”

Fenati’s actions followed

Manzi’s attempted overtake a few laps earlier. The pair had made contact as Manzi overtook on the inside, with both riders running off the track, losing several positions and dropping out of the points.

Fenati, 22, was blackflagged and disqualified after 23 laps for “irresponsible riding” and was later banned for two races by MotoGP officials.

The Italian rider was forced to apologise for kicking out at Finnish rider Niklas Ajo during the Moto3 warm-up at the 2015 Argentine Grand Prix and he was dropped for disciplinary reasons during the 2016 season by the Sky Racing Team VR46, owned

by Italian motorcycling star Valentino Rossi.

“We had a contact two turns before, but nothing to justify such a reaction, his gesture speaks for itself,” said Manzi. (BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, september 10, 2018

Forrester looks to improve at BACC

Hero CPL 2018...

Decision Referral System introduced G for semis, finale

uyana’s very own Winston Forrester continues to impress in his striving to attain the glory of donning those West Indian maroons.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, the Georgetowner explained that cricket was something that had always captivated his interest as a child, but he began to take serious interest in the sport only when he began residing with his mom on Regent Street at the tender age of thirteen.

He revealed that what made his love for cricket grow even stronger was that his next door neighbour was Guyana’s national player Robin Bacchus, who at that time was one of the country’s best youth batsmen.

He said he and Bacchus would play a lot of cricket,

T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be introducing the Decision Referral System (DRS) for the semi-final and final of the tournament.

The last two matches of the tournament will take place on 14 and 16 September and will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

Each team will be allowed one unsuccessful review per innings and they

will be able to review all methods of dismissal.

Speaking about the introduction of the system for the last two matches of the tournament Pete Russell, COO of the Hero CPL, said: “The final matches of the Hero CPL are so important and it is vital that all decisions are as accurate as possible. We are reviewing the possibility of making DRS available for all matches in 2019.”

Winston Forrester

and this helped to mould and influence him into the cricketer he is today.

He said Bacchus then took him to join the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) which was only 2 minutes’ travel from where he lived; and the rest is history.

Throughout his promising cricket career, Forrester has played for many clubs overseas. He has had stints in Trinidad, Canada, and cur-

rently New York.

Forrester recalled that as a young man growing up, he played a lot of two-day cricket and took quite a number of five-wicket hauls. He even recalled his spell of 6-33 against Everest Cricket Club, and the 178 he scored against Couva Sports Club while in Trinidad.

Forrester is currently in New York, where he represents the Big Apple Cricket Club. According to the all-rounder, “The Captain of the club, Jamal Hinckson, asked me to play with them. I knew Jamal from back home in Guyana; he played for DCC. He told me his club needed a batsman, and offered me the chance to come and play cricket in the US”, Forrester revealed.

Forrester says his team recently won the 40 overs title in the Eastern American Cricket League, where he was adjudged man-of-the-match for contributing a brilliant allround performance of scoring 49 and taking a wicket for 18 runs from seven overs.

Rose could become world number one with BMW final E nglishman Justin Rose could become world number one without hitting another shot following Sunday’s washout at the BMW Championship in Pennsylvania.

Persistent rain on Sunday gave PGA Justin Rose hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Aronimink GC

Tour officials no choice but to postpone the final round at Aronimink in suburban Philadelphia until Monday.

The first groups are scheduled to tee off at 7.30 a.m. local time (1130 GMT), with the final threesome out at 9.20.

But with more rain forecast at an already waterlogged course there is no guarantee conditions will be playable.

Officials are leaving their options open, among them reducing the event to 54 holes.

Under tour rules, half the field must complete the final round by Monday for an event to extend into Tuesday.

If the tournament is cut to 54 holes, Rose would win after posting a 17-under-par 193 total on Saturday, one stroke better than Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and American Xander Schauffele.

Schauffele bogeyed the 54th hole when he missed a 10-foot putt to fall out of a tie for the lead.

Rose needs to win to displace American Dustin Johnson and become the 22nd man to be world number one since the rankings began in 1986.

The BMW Championship is the third of four FedExCup playoff events on the PGA Tour. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, september 10, 2018

23

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Hetmyer, Rutherford blitz sink TKR by 6 wickets Rayad Emrit celebrates the dismissal of Denesh Ramdin

I

t was a power-hitting spectacle from the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ pair of Shimron Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford, who set up a breezy 6-wicket thrashing of defending champs Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in Sunday’s sold-out affair at the National Stadium at Providence, EBD. Having lost to Jamaica on Saturday, the Warriors, now second place with 12 points, stormed to an emphatic win over TKR; with Hetmyer clobbering 59 off just 30 balls,

three fours, saw TKR to 154-7 in 20 overs.

Warriors had a good outing with the ball, with a returning Rayad Emrit bagging 2-25; Sohail Tanvir, 2-36; and Aussie Chris Green, 1-22.

Opener Luke Ronchi was the first to go, knocked over by a Googly from the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Fawad Ahmed (2-20), leaving a more settled-looking Cameron Delport to smash four fours and two important sixes to get the chase going.

The left-hander looked danShimron Hetmyer is embraced by Sherfane Rutherford after reaching fifty

verse sweep.

The pair brought up their 50 partnership off just 15 balls, with Rutherford racing into the 40s; then Hetmyer was removed by Ahmed after attempting a cut shot.

With just a few runs left to get, Chadwick Walton smashed his first ball -- a free hit -- for six off the leg-spinner, while Rutherford calmly took the Warriors over the line with a single.

Batting first under lights, TKR suffered huge blows at the top of the order, losing the in-form New Zealand pair of Colin Munro and Brendon McCullum for 6 and 9 respectively; the former was removed by Tanvir, and the latter was run out by Delport.

Playing his first game in place of Chris Lynn, the South African Colin Ingram failed to impress, managing only 4 runs to his name before succumbing to some brilliant bowling from the young Green. The top-order collapse saw Ramdin and Bravo reviving the innings with a 54-run partnership, which helped to

Luke Ronchi and Sohail Tanvir celebrate the dismissal of Colin Munro Anderson Phillip was run out by Chadwick Walton

stabilise things for TKR. The chemistry between the two players, both of whom represent the Windies Team, was evident, as they ran neatly between the wickets while finding the occasional boundaries when necessary.

When Emrit removed his countryman Ramdin, skipper Dwayne Bravo joined his brother in the middle, and struck a sweet six before

Dwayne Bravo had his middle stump dislodged

by Rayad Emrit

which included three fours and five massive sixes; while left-hander Rutherford, who was awarded Man-of-thematch, was in beast-mode, smashing 6 sixes in his unbeaten 42 off 13, taking GAW to 155-4 in pursuit of 154.

A collective middle-order effort from TKR batsmen Darren Bravo, who hit 42 off 34, with two big sixes and a four; the veteran Denesh Ramdin, who continued his form with a solid 32; and Kevon Cooper, whose late blitz produced 30 runs off just 14 balls, with three sixes and

gerous even after Ronchi’s departure, but lost his wicket when caught and bowled by Cooper.

Hetmyer played some fearless strokes up front, hitting a number of boundaries despite the early dismissals.

Scoring his runs primarily in clusters of six, the left-hander raised his fifty with a four after taking Anderson Phillips to all parts of the Providence outfield.

Rutherford imposed himself immediately, hammering three consecutive sixes off the TKR skipper, including a re-

Emrit scattered his stumps with incisive bowling.

As he was joined by Cooper, who seemed to be in a no-nonsense mood, Darren continued to play proper shots, taking Devendra Bishoo for back-to-back sixes while Cooper smashed seamers Tanvir and Rutherford for boundaries at the back end of the innings. Then the Pakistani veteran snapped

up his wicket, leaving Pierre unmoved on 4 when the overs expired.

In the first qualifier, to be played on Tuesday, the Guyana Amazon Warriors will take on Trinbago Knight Riders; while the second qualifier will see St Kitts and Nevis Patriots coming up against the Jamaica Tallawahs on Wednesday.

(Clifton Ross)

SCOREBOARD Trinbago Knight Riders Innings (20 overs maximum) C Munro c †Ronchi b Sohail Tanvir 6 BB McCullum run out (Delport) 9 CA Ingram c Mohammed b Green 4 D Ramdin † c Bishoo b Emrit 32 DM Bravo not out 42 DJ Bravo (c) b Emrit 14 KK Cooper c Hetmyer b Sohail Tanvir 30 A Phillip run out (Walton) 0 K Pierre not out 4 Extras: (lb 3, w 10) 13 Total: (7 wickets, 20 Overs, RR: 7.7) 154 Did not bat: NO Miller, Fawad Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-14 (C Munro, 2.2 ov), 2-19 (CA Ingram, 3.6 ov), 3-23 (BB McCullum, 5.1 ov), 4-77 (D Ramdin, 11.6 ov), 5-109 (DJ Bravo, 15.3 ov), 6-146 (KK Cooper, 18.6 ov), 7-146 (A Phillip, 19.1 ov) Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 4-0-362, CJ Green 4-0-22-1, Imran Tahir 4-0-22-0, RR Emrit

4-0-25-2, D Bishoo 3-0-310, SE Rutherford 1-0-15-0 Guyana Amazon Warriors Innings (target: 155 runs from 20 overs) CS Delport c & b Cooper 37 L Ronchi † b Fawad Ahmed 1 SO Hetmyer b Fawad Ahmed 59 JN Mohammed c DJ Bravo b Miller 5 SE Rutherford not out 42 CAK Walton not out 6 Extras: (lb 3, w 2) 5 Total: (4 wickets, 14.1 Overs, RR: 10.94) 155 Did not bat: Sohail Tanvir, CJ Green (c), RR Emrit, D Bishoo, Imran Tahir Fall of wickets: 1-20 (L Ronchi, 3.2 ov), 2-61 (CS Delport, 7.4 ov), 3-86 (JN Mohammed, 10.1 ov), 4-148 (SO Hetmyer, 13.4 ov) Bowling: K Pierre 3-0-170, A Phillip 2-0-28-0, Fawad Ahmed 3-0-20-2, DJ Bravo 2.1-0-37-0, KK Cooper 2-025-1, NO Miller 2-0-25-1

mondAY, september 10, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Hetmyer, Rutherford blitz sink TKR by 6 wickets

Page 23

Shimron Hetmyer

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Decision Referral System introduced for semis, finale Page 22

Sherfane Rutherford

Djokovic powers past Juan Martín del Potro to win third US Open Page 19

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