Guyana Times - Monday, September 2, 2019

03 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

PPP has always been a party for all Guyanese ...working to destroy stereotype of being "Indian" party – Jagdeo guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4034

monday, september 2, 2019

See story on page 3

As Heritage Month launches

Indigenous communities call for early elections Page 13

– uncertainty of political climate affects progress countrywide – former APA President

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Man who killed wife 21 years ago to face P8 murder charge

– admits to murdering woman because of “infidelity”

India plans P10 to increase scholarships to Guyanese – new High Commissioner

GuySuCo explores interest in tourism

P13

– local tour operators tour Albion Estate

An Indigenous cultural group performed a dance at the launch of Indigenous Heritage Month 2019 at the Indigenous Village, Sophia Exhibition Centre on Sunday

Aliki Primary School gets new boat ahead of new academic year hinterland investment, Police ranks asked to Heavy land use strategy among keys produce H2H Registration to development – Irfaan Ali slips to superiors Page 14

See story on page 9

– slams APNU/AFC's short-sighted approach to developing towns Page 9

P7 Gunmen terrorise, rob popular Berbice music operator GWI to get P10 US$17M loan to improve water supply countrywide

2 news

monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Kimbia Primary School gets new Computer/Learning Resource Centre

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The Kimbia Primary School

Computer/Learning Resource Centre was commissioned on Sunday at the Kimbia Primary School.

The project was a collaborative effort between the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central and the Rotary Clubs of Georgetown Central, Stabroek and New Amsterdam.

The project was the brainchild of President of the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central, William Andrew Boyle, who hails from the village of Kimbia, located along the Berbice River, and is also a past student of the Kimbia Primary School.

According to Boyle, after

Some of the computers set up in the Centre

being awarded the Anthony Sabga Award last year, he made a commitment to assist his alma mater. He thanked the clubs that came

together and contributed to the successful completion of the project; the Government of Guyana, for ensuring that there is an internet con-

nection at the school; and Caribbean Winds and Sun for powering the facility.

During his remarks, Boyle urged the children in attendance to embrace four principles, which were: to remember their roots; remember to be humble; their word should be their bond; and that they can become anything they want to be, if they dream it.

Commissioning the Centre was Minister of Education Dr Nicolette Henry, who said the facility would create technological opportunities for the residents in Kimbia, and assist the Ministry of Education to bridge gaps created mainly by the difference in geographical locations.

Minister Henry thanked Mr. Boyle and his team for their benevolent contribution to the development of Guyana, and urged residents, students and teachers of the school to care and maintain the facility, so that succeeding generations can also benefit.

Also delivering remarks was Public Health Minister, Hon. Volda Lawrence, who

A section of the library in the Learning Resource Centre

said the project is in sync with the vision of President David Granger’s vision to raise the bar in increasing access to services in the areas outside of the coast.

Meanwhile, President of the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central, Laurel Dundas, said the project was a collaborative effort and testament to what can be achieved if people work in unison. She urged the residents not to be limited by circumstances, and said that each person has something special to share.

Following the commis-

sioning ceremony, a scholarship and a bursary were presented to the top student of the Kimbia Primary School at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment, Corwin Agard.

The scholarship will be sponsored by the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central and will span the child’s secondary education. The bursary was made possible by the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central.

Students of the school were also presented with backpacks filled with school supplies.

Works to address Alberttown Cheap fuel can be provided drainage to commence soon without local refinery

City Mayor Ubraj Narine and Councillors during a community meeting with residents of Alberttown on Sunday

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he role of municipal councillors is to represent residents in their constituency, and to consider the well-being and interest of the entire municipality. A councillor also helps to develop and evaluate the policies and programmes of a city or town.

His Worship the Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine, accompanied by City Councillors (M&CC) who fanned out in the community of Alberttown, met residents of that city ward on Sunday.

The exercise undertaken by the municipality is in keeping with its mandate to listen to concerns of city residents and find timely solutions.

Following a walkabout exercise by the team, a meeting was subsequently held at the Saint Ambrose Primary School, where several community members and youths were gathered. Most of those present highlighted the unsanitary condition of the drains in the community.

Michelle Mitchel told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the drain which runs east-west at the front of her house needs urgent attention. She said the current condition

back of my home are clogged up with thick mud, and the water is unhygienic.”

Those attending the meeting were assured that their drainage concerns would be a thing of the past.

Mayor Narine stated that, within this week, the municipality would initiate works to address the issue.

“We can also place the bins by the weekend, and I will come myself and assist in the cleaning of the drain,” he

– Energy Director tells Men’s Forum

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irector of the Department of Energy (DoE), Dr. Mark Bynoe, on Saturday said that with the advent of first oil, cheap fuel can be provided without a local refinery.

Dr. Bynoe was at the time speaking to 200 men at the Men’s Regional Convention organised by the Restoration Temple A.O.G. in New York in collaboration with the Mocha Church of the Nazarene. This was at the Ramada Hotel at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

These participants at the Men’s Regional Convention pay keen attention to the presentation being made by Director of the Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe

Director, Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe (fifth from left) along with some of the organisers and participants of the Men’s Regional Convention at the Ramada Hotel, East Bank Demerara

Pandit Ubraj Narine distributing backpacks to students in the ward of Alberttown on Sunday

of the drain facilitates the breeding of a lot of flies and mosquitoes.

Esan Hamilton, another worried resident, said, “My concern is the same as everyone else: the drainage.

The gutters at the front and

pledged.

Mayor Narine ended his Sunday outreach with a massive backpack and school supplies’ distribution to students in the community of Charlestown.

In his address at the gathering, the Energy Director said the DoE would pursue only evidence-based decision-making which would lead to prudent, non-regrettable investments.

“We have never said that there will never be a refinery. At this time, a refinery is not feasible… I think what most people are conflating is not if a refinery should come to shore, it’s whether or not we should have cheap fuel. A refinery doesn’t mean cheap fuel, or the absence of a refinery doesn’t mean that you will not have cheap fuel. Cheap fuel is a policy decision, and there are many ways by which you can ultimately have cheap fuel… I cannot

advise my Minister to pursue an investment down a rabbit hole. What the Department is concerned about is what we call ‘no-regrets investment’.

When you invest today, you must not regret tomorrow…it must be monies that are well spent,” Dr. Bynoe noted.

Additionally, he said the industry must be managed for the benefit of all Guyanese.

“We are accountable first and foremost to the people of Guyana. These resources are not Bynoe’s resources; these resources do not belong to the President of Guyana; they belong to Guyanese… and the minute we stop distinguishing about ethnicity, the better it will be for all

Guyanese,” Dr. Bynoe said.

Meanwhile, during the interactive session, one participant, Dornnel McFarlane, said that as a Communications student at the University of Guyana, he now has a better understanding of the role that he can play in the development of the oil and gas sector.

“I recognise that through the media, which has a very important role to play in changing our landscape for the transformation of Guyana, I can play a very integral role in disseminating information that is very objective, that will lead to truth and confidence, and that will surely show the real picture.

Another thing that stood out for me is that the contracts [are] not as bad as they seem.

How Dr. Bynoe explained the contracts, I recognise that it’s really and truly moving Guyana forward,” he said.

The Department of Energy continues to spearhead interactive sessions that target a wide cross section of persons, to keep them informed about developments in the petroleum sector.

The Convention was held at the Ramada Hotel, East Bank Demerara.

3 PPP has always been a party for all Guyanese news

monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Monday, September 2 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, September 3 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, September 2 – 06:05h-07:35h and Tuesday, September 3 – 06:50h-08:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

…working to destroy stereotype of being "Indian" party – Jagdeo

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo says for too long there

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day. Clear skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to East North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 06:31h and 18:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.85 metres and 2.80 metres. The high tide advisory is in effect until September 4, 2019.

Low Tide: 12:25h reaching a minimum height of 0.42 metre.

saturday, AUGUST 31, 2019

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

has been rhetoric that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is a one-race party when in fact it has been working, and will continue to work, for the betterment of the entire Guyanese population.

Jagdeo, who is also the Party’s General Secretary, said that any government the PPP headed would work for all Guyanese regardless of their race, religion, or geographic location.

However, he noted that its political opponents have always stereotyped the PPP as pro-Indian and the Party did not do enough to tackle or change this perception.

“Stereotype exists about the PPP historically and that kept a lot of people away from us… When you take an issue of this nature and spin it in the villages that [the PPP] is a racist party and it’s an Indian party – it’s not true … Our party has made it clear that any government that we head will work for all Guyanese. We are carrying a national message for our people,” Jagdeo contended.

Having recognised this deficiency, the Opposition Leader revealed that the PPP was working hard to get more Afro-Guyanese to join the Party. “[People were told] that this is a racist, Indian party and you can’t rise up in

the Party. And when AfroGuyanese came to us, they were vilified; their names were dragged in the mud; they were called stooges, slaves and all sort of things.

Not because they believed in the programme we’re pursuing. And for a long time, I don’t think we aggressively fight it, but we are doing that now,” the PPP General Secretary noted.

He recalled that when the PPP was set up in 1950 to fight for independence, it was set up as a classbased party. But he noted that although it was seen as a most pro-business party, it was also viewed as the most pro-workers’ party. This, he posited, is because the Party’s policies would reflect its agenda that aimed for betterment of all Guyanese.

One such policy, he pointed out, is the housing programme which the PPP started when it got into office and saw thousands of Guyanese benefiting.

“When we took office, there was no housing programme, there was no ministry, no funds. By the time we left office, you had more Guyanese owning homes.

Over 75,000 of the 100,000 promised house lots were given out. We’re making a promise again to go back to that – that 75 per cent of the house lots we produce – nearly 50,000 – in the next term will be under a $100,000,” he stated.

Furthermore, Jagdeo reminded of other policies such as the $10,000 school grant and water and electricity subsidies. These, he stressed, did not go to PPP supporters alone but all

Guyanese.

To this end, the Opposition Leader noted that the Party has intensified its efforts to net more Afro-Guyanese supporters.

Already, he said, they are making their case by sitting down and talking to people to show that the PPP is a national party.

“I think we were delud-

we break down the stereotypes, Afro-Guyanese and most Guyanese will understand that the Party that they will have to belong to – everybody, people of every race and religion – is the PPP,” he posited.

Jagdeo continued that the PPP was “the party that has a national agenda for Guyanese and that’s

Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali with African supporters

ed too to some extent that when [we] spoke on TV and give these explanations that people listened… Many people told me that from the time they saw PPP persons speaking on the television, they’ll switch the channel. Now, we’re getting the chance to interface with people directly and talking and allowing them to ask questions so you get past the stereotypes. Once

their natural place. And so, we’re hoping, not by bullying or anything else, but by talking, messaging and working aggressively to do that, to include [AfroGuyanese]. It’s a deficiency and that’s why I said that, we’re working hard to correct it… A lot of them have come to us, and they’re welcome here, because they see what we stand for – for all of Guyana.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, september 2, 2019

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

Indigenous

Peoples’ land angst

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hether it was serendipitous or planned, the presentation by the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA) of the report titled “Ina Nono, Ina Uko’manto’ Eina Pata, Eina Komantok”, or “Our Land, Our Life”, which investigated the status of the land titling programme for Indigenous Peoples’land, was a salutary preface to Amerindian Heritage Month.

The Report highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with the current land tenure situation. It concluded: “Almost all of the flaws in Guyanese laws and policies relating to Indigenous land tenure stem from the fundamental problem that the Government does not fully recognise the customary tenure systems of Indigenous peoples, and the rights that arise therefrom.”

In Guyana, this Government has questioned the very legitimacy of the Indigenous Peoples’ claim to their land by linking it to the claims of other groups when they launched a “Joint Land Commission” two years ago. However, President Granger had to acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples had occupied their lands from “time immemorial” and held it as “sacred”. Their claims rests on inviolable legal principles.

Back in 1965, Amerindian MP Stephen Campbell attended the Independence Conference in London along with Burnham and the PNC, and ensured the official Agreement for the Independence of Guyana, (Annex C) required the independent government provide legal ownership or rights of occupancy for Amerindians over “areas and reservations or parts thereof where any tribe or community of Amerindians is now ordinarily resident or settled, and other legal rights, such as the rights of passage in respect of any other lands they now by tradition or custom de facto enjoy freedoms and permissions corresponding to rights of that nature. In this context, it is intended that legal ownership shall comprise all rights normally attaching to such ownership.”

Most Guyanese would now baulk at the ridiculous claim of Columbus “discovering” the “New World”, and so entering the ranks of humanity upon contact with Europeans. But they do not follow through with the equally ridiculous corollary of Europeans going on to assume “sovereignty” over the lands occupied by the Indigenous Peoples living there. At the time of Columbus’s unfortunate voyage, the fledgling developing International Law postulated, on natural-law grounds, that its concepts such as “sovereignty” were based upon reason and applied to all peoples, be they European or not. This was explicitly stated, for instance, in the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which launched the modern state system.

But during the period of empire-building, all sorts of “legal” reasons, doctrines and norms were conjured up to justify their violent land grab. We now had a distinction between “civilised” and “non-civilised” states in the shift to what was dubbed “positivist” International Law, where concepts such as “sovereignty” only applied to the “civilised family of nations”. Fine distinctions were now made in the manner in which territories were acquired, such as ‘conquest’ and ‘cession by treaty’.

But even under positivist- based International Law, the “full and free ownership” of land by the Dutch and their British successors (“possessors de facto of the soil” and of “usufructuary rights”) acknowledged the right of the Indigenous Peoples to their land. It is encouraging that new, rights-based modern norms of justice - led by the judiciary in Australia and South Africa, for instance - are evolving to amend the inequities imposed by the positivistic stance of European jurisprudence.

But here in Guyana, there are some in the PNC camp who would want to turn back the clock on righting the wrong that has been done to our Indigenous Peoples, by not acknowledging their right to their lands.

As soon as the new government was ushered in, they dismantled the land titling team that had been working through UNDP funding to demarcate and give titles to all Amerindian lands. After four desultory years, now with elections in sight and with an eye on the critical vote of Indigenous Peoples, the Government has tied down an extension of the “Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation” project into 2021.

But “dew can’t full what rain didn’t fill” on ALTD.

An Indigenous cultural group performs a welcome dance for those in attendance at the launch of Indigenous Heritage Month 2019 at the Indigenous Village, Sophia Exhibition Centre on Sunday

Amazon fires: The tragedy of the couple who died protecting their home

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he home of Eidi Rodrigues and her husband Romildo – a wooden shack with a thatched roof – now lies in ruins.

It was their first house, and it made them proud.

The couple lived in Machadinho D'Oeste, a rural village in the Amazon state of Rondonia in northwest Brazil.

It is a region marred by land disputes, and among communities in Machadinho D'Oeste, it is common practice to clear land for pastures and crops.

Fires had been a constant concern for the couple, who feared that those started by their neighbours could spread to their backyard, especially during periods of drought.

On August 13, Eidi and Romildo's worst fears were realised.

The couple died while trying to protect their home, unable to escape when the flames got out of control.

"People use fire to clear the land in this region, but on that day it was very windy. The fire spread too quickly and didn't give them time to run away," Jeigislaine Carvalho, one of Eidi's daughters, told the BBC. A large number of fires are ravaging parts of the Amazon, a tropical rainforest that spans much of Brazil and other South American countries.

Satellite data shows a huge increase in fires burning in the Brazilian Amazon in particular.

Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) says 87,257 fires have been recorded so far in the country this year, a 76 per

cent increase on 2018.

In Rondonia state alone, there have been more than 6500 fires so far, a rise of 146 per cent on 2018, Inpe data show.

The extent of the fires has caused concern and outrage across the globe, with world leaders calling on Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro to take action.

French President Emmanuel Macron has described the steep rise in fires as an "international crisis" which critics have blamed on Bolsonaro's anti-environmental rhetoric and soft stance on deforestation violations.

An aid package worth US$22 million, offered by countries in the G7, has been rejected by Brazil's Government.

Brazilian Ministers said the money was not needed and they accused foreign powers of wanting control of the Amazon.

Eidi and Romildo saved their earnings for more than 10 years to purchase the land where they built their house. Neighbours told the Police the couple had avoided leaving their property, even during intense fires.

Like many other farmers in the region, they used fire-

breaks – gaps in vegetation which act as barriers to stop or at least to slow down the progress of wildfires.

"People do whatever they can to avoid losing the very little they own," Detective Celso Kondageski said.

The rural village where Eidi and Romildo lived is located 350 kilometres (217 miles) south of Rondonia's capital, Porto Velho. It is a deforested part of the state, which means fires travel faster.

On August 13, locals shared videos showing huge flames engulfing the area.

Jeigislaine, Eidi's daughter, said her mother and stepfather had tried to save the roof tiles they had recently purchased for home renovations.

"The neighbours told me that they were taking the material to a more remote area so that it would not burn," she said.

Fire was approaching the back of the property, which gave Eidi and Romildo an escape route from the front of the house, witnesses told the Police.

But suddenly they were cornered by another fire coming from the front.

According to local reports, the fires in Machadinho

D'Oeste consumed an area spanning more than 106 acres (0.42 sq km).

Eidi and Ronildo's house was destroyed along with two other properties.

One witness told the BBC that, fearful of receiving a fine for deforestation, people were reluctant to summon the fire brigade when the flames started getting out of control.

"The fire only stopped after it destroyed all the vegetation around. It was very strong and I guess even the firefighters would have struggled to control it," said the witness, who asked to remain anonymous.

It was only on August 14 – a day after the flames ripped through Eidi and Ronildo's house – that the fire service turned up. They found the charred bodies of Eidi and Romildo around 100 metres (328ft) away from where their house once stood.

The Police believe they died of carbon monoxide inhalation. Eidi and Romildo were the only fatalities.

The other neighbours managed to escape, and one of the homes wrecked by the flames was empty that day.

Police are trying to determine how the fire started.

"The fire is an environmental crime. People responsible for it could also be charged with manslaughter," Detective Kondageski said.

"Someone who starts a fire in an area like that should be aware that it can kill someone."

Eidi's daughter says she wants justice. "This is irresponsible and it killed two people. Whoever did this has to pay," she said. (BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, september 2, 2019

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

House-to-House Registration Karate is more than you think Dear Editor, The concept of a new voters’ list is utter nonsense, since the existing list is still valid and is supposed to be kept up-to-date by GECOM. Who authorised the H2H Registration? Was it James Patterson, who was pronounced by the CCJ to be illegally appointed by David Granger?

Yet, after he was forced to resign, his illegal order was still carried out by someone whose excuse was that he was following James Patterson’s orders.

Anyway, the H2H Registration commenced, and should have been

stopped immediately by the new GECOM Chairperson after her appointment. She has all authority to do so.

I am sure that, like every Guyanese citizen, Madam Chairperson is keeping abreast with the critical political situation, and there was no need for her to be advised on the way forward after her appointment, as was stated in the media.

The H2H Registration ended on Saturday, August 31, 2019. There are still thousands of persons who have not been registered.

Why was there so much speed to allow the illegal

registration to continue four days after it was called off?

This whole H2H Registration is a waste of precious time and money.

The big question is: How can they add to the existing list an incomplete list that is one-sided and unverified? Educated people have become dunces. There will be mass confusion, deliberate omissions, and illegal entries to suit purposes.

They can never emerge with a credible and authentic list.

The whole world is watching at this foolishness.

Sincerely, Kenneth Seepaul

It’s time we start actively engaging in our future Dear Editor, As I sit here and watch with dismay as the Amazon burns, and reflect on some of the other horrifying news of this time – Greenland lost 12.5 billion tons on ice in one day; Micro-plastics discovered in “extreme” concentrations in the North Atlantic; Nuclear monitoring stations went mysteriously quiet after Russian missile facility explosion, I wonder how did we get here, and where is the urgency of our response?

There is little doubt that the news media have played a role in our diversion. No longer able to rely on annual subscriptions to fund their work, they resort to click bait headlines that bring in ad revenue. That’s why the international mass media spent more time in one week covering the royal baby than it did in all of 2018 on climate change and all the other millions of babies that died from starvation and diseases during this decade.

But algorithms don’t lie; we’re taking in what they’re feeding us, and that is on us. So here we are, distracted by fashion trends, offers to shop online, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, videos and tweets. We were lulled into complacency while the Amazon was being clear cut, while the gulf between rich and poor widens by the day, and while the world slowly tilts towards tyranny and the annihilation being committed against innocent people in different parts of the world,

the most recent being in Kashmir.

We are facing a moment in time where we need a coordinated global effort to address a number of urgent issues, yet the superpower of South America seems no longer interested in, or capable of, playing a leadership role; and the United Nations without America’s active participation is impotent.

But while governments around the world have ceded moral authority and leadership, it doesn’t mean we should give up hope.

Ordinary citizens still have a voice, especially in the age of social media. Look no further than Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Abby Martin, Rewan Al-Haddad, Avaaz and the kids from Parkland; all have demonstrated the tremendous power of the individual.

In recent days, I have seen a chorus of voices speak out against the destructive policies that are partially responsible for the fires consuming the Amazon. These voices, if loud enough, would have an impact on policy makers. Politicians will react to outrage by their constituents. We need a similar chorus of voices to speak out against other dangers we are facing; including climate change, inequality, unnecessary wars, etc. Activists in all these areas need to harness the growing disillusionment within their communities, and organize targeted campaigns much like the International Crisis Group

did with the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The bells rang loud enough to force policymakers to mobilize and help prevent an even greater crisis.

It’s time we all start actively engaging in our future, as complacency comes at a cost none of us can afford. The ordinary indigenous Amazon Indians have raised their swords, bows and arrows, ready to defend the rain forest and their homeland with their last drop of blood.

I petition: the world is in crisis; don’t be a passive onlooker, for the inferno that persists will consume the lives of millions of fauna in the Amazon and cause humongous destruction to our ecosystem and life on Planet Earth.

Yours truly, Nazar Mohamed

Dear Editor, I am a karateka of the Wales branch of the Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA). My colleagues and I are guided by Shihan Abdool Nazim Yassim (Seventh Dan black belt in Kyokushin Kai Karate).

Our organisation also has a branch that operates out of the Enmore Community Centre Ground.

However, with that being said, my letter is not for promotion. My letter is to allow readers to understand what karate really is, and what benefits it could offer.

Recently, I have overheard many rumours and speculations by parents and senior members of many communities, who refuse to send their children to karate classes because they are afraid of the consequences, fearing that their children would become more delinquent in the process. However, my organisation’s aim is to change that view; and personally, I advise on the benefits karate has to offer. I will begin by saying that when you hear the term karate, please do not think it is one form of fighting. Karate is a martial art, and as such, it has various styles. Similarly, dancing is an art, and it has styles like the waltz, tango, the merengue and the ever so popular “passa passa”.

Karate has many styles which are practised in Guyana.

There is the Shotokan style, the Kyokushin style, the Wado-Ryu style, The Tangsoo-do style (Korean) and the Hapkido style (Korean). All of these are internationally recognised styles of karate, and are taught by qualified professionals.

While the Kyokushin style and the Shotokan style are currently the lead runners in Guyana, I would like to ad-

umbrate some of the benefits karate has to offer.

Firstly, due to the goal setting, positive encouragement, and respect for values that are part of all martial arts programmes, the greatest benefit usually reported by karate students is greater self-confidence. You become more comfortable in all situations, whether you’re in danger or simply doing a task that takes you beyond your comfort zone; and you’ll discover you can accomplish anything you set your mind to do.

Secondly, karate is a high-aerobic workout that uses every muscle group in the body. Your stamina, muscle tone, flexibility, balance and strength would all improve through martial arts.

Thirdly, as Bruce Lee pointed out, behind the punches, kicks and knees, a true martial artist learns to sit with himself and see where his weaknesses are.

As a karate student, you will learn what it is to be still, challenged, and focused.

Fourthly, karate wisdom has it that after consistent practise, one becomes less impulsive and aggressive towards others. Patience, in-

sight, and calmness are considered prerequisites of good karate. This reminds students of the right attitude, frame of mind, and virtues to strive for inside and outside the dojo.

Fifth and lastly, it gives us as Guyanese the opportunity to explore an art that was brought to us from various other countries. And as such, we should take pride in learning something that is worth our time and will benefit us in the future.

If you would have noted, out of the five benefits I have listed, not one of them highlighted fighting and violence as being an advantage. This is because fighting is the end product that is produced after pursuing the martial way of karate.

I hope my article would have served to encourage many parents, and even you, as adults, to become part of the karate arena in Guyana.

Two hours a day for a far less fee than the gym charges for much more benefits than the gym delivers is something to consider. Don’t you agree?

Yours respectfully, Ganesh Persaud Karateka

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monday, september 2, 2019

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Make your newspaper sticks

earning how to get organised, stay focused, and get things done are must-have skills when it comes to managing your schoolwork.

Beyond helping you get good grades, these skills help you in just about everything in life. The more you practise, the better you’ll get.

Get organised

Organise your stuff. Being organised makes everything else easier. It helps you get to work faster without wasting time looking for stuff.

Keep your assignments and class information organised by subject. Put them in binders, notebooks, or folders.

If you find yourself stuffing loose papers in your bag or grabbing different notebooks for the same class, it’s time to stop and reorganise!

Clean out your backpack regularly.

Decide where to keep returned assignments and things you want to hold on to. Offload things you no longer need to carry around.

Organise your space. You need a good workspace – someplace quiet enough to focus. It’s best to work at a desk or table where you can spread out your work. Have a place set aside for homework. That way, when you sit down, your mind knows you’re there to work and can help you focus more quickly.

Organise your time. Use a planner or organisation app to keep track of your schoolwork: Write down all your assignments and when they’re due.

Break big projects into parts. Note the dates when each part needs to be

completed. Mark in your planner when you’ll work on each part.

Mark the dates you’ll have tests, then make a note of when you’ll study for them. Don’t leave things until the last minute – you’ll only end up working twice as hard to do half as well.

One sure way to reduce test anxiety is to prepare by studying (really!).

Enter other activities on your calendar – such as team practices, drama rehearsals, plans with friends, etc. This helps you see ahead of time when things might get too busy to get all your work done. Use your planner to schedule what time you’ll do your schoolwork on days you have other activities.

Get focused

Avoid distractions. When you multitask you’re less focused. That means you’re less likely to do well on that test.

Park your devices and only check them after your work is done.

Some people concentrate best when it’s quiet. Others say they study best if they listen to background music. If you study with music on, make sure it isn’t going to sidetrack you into singing the lyrics and dancing all over your room.

If you find yourself reading the same page over and over, it’s a clue that the music is a distraction, not a help.

Take breaks. Taking a short break between assignments can help your mind stay fresh and focused.

Get up from your desk, move, stretch, or walk around to clear your head. Allow your mind to absorb what you’ve just studied. Break time is when you can put on a song that makes you

dance and sing! Just make sure you get back to your studies in a few minutes.

Refocus yourself. If you find yourself getting distracted and thinking about other things, pull your attention back into study mode as soon as possible.

Remind yourself that now it’s time to stay on task.

Get it done!

Stay focused as you do the final steps and details. Encourage yourself – you’re almost at the finish line! Check your completed work. Put your work into the right folder or binder. Pack up your backpack for tomorrow. Now you’ve got it DONE. In summary, here’s a quick checklist of things that can help you organise, focus, and get it done: DO know your deadlines.

DO make a calendar of stages and final due dates.

DO include social events on this calendar for time management.

DO understand the assignment and expectations.

DO give yourself a quiet place to study with all the materials you need.

DO give yourself brief breaks.

DON’T put work off until the last minute; you’ll be too frantic to focus.

DON’T do your homework late at night or in bed.

DON’T let yourself be bored. Find the aspect of the project or paper that interests you. If you’re dying of boredom, something’s not right.

If you need more tips on staying focused, ask a teacher, school counsellor, or a parent for help. It’s their job to assist in your learning. (kidshealth.org)

ou’ll use rolled-up sections of newspaper as the spokes and weavers for your basket [Spokes are the strands that stand upright and form the side supports of the basket; they are much stiffer than the weavers and are strong.

Weavers are the basket strands that weave through the spokes; they are lighter, thinner and more flexible than the spokes, to enable them to be woven in and out]. * Get a thin object, like a thin knitting needle or a pine skewer or 3mm dowel.[2] * Cut the newspaper in half horizontally and then again horizontally. * Place the stick at a corner of the piece of newspaper at an acute

facing out and glue the two pieces of cardboard (one with the fabric and one with the sticks) together.

Put something heavy on them and leave to dry (about one hour).

Begin weaving

Start at one of the corners.

Take a newspaper stick (a weaver) and fold it in half. Thread it around the corner stick. Using each half of the weaver, weave around the upright sticks, with one half of the stick and the other half in back.

Keep the upright sticks parallel to one another and pulled upright, and keep the weavers pulled tight.

You don’t want them too loose.

At the corners you’ll want to do an extra twist (over and under) before continuing the twist down the next side.

Make the newspaper stick longer

As you reach the end of a tube, you’ll need to add another stick to it, so that you

angle to the newspaper. Start rolling the newspaper around the stick, making sure that you’re doing so tightly. * When you’ve rolled it all the way to the other corner, glue it onto the newspaper roll to hold it in place. Remove the dowel or knitting needle.

One end will usually be a bit narrower than the other on the newspaper sticks, but that’s how it is supposed to look. When you’re weaving you’ll stick the narrower section of one newspaper stick into another to make them longer.

Make the base

Cut out two rectangular pieces of cardboard whatever size you want your basket to be. On one side of one of the cardboard pieces, put double-sided tape. Lay out your newspaper sticks along the sides (you’ll want to do about 13 on the long side and 7 on the short size).

Always use an odd number of sticks when making your base.

Use double-sided tape on the second piece of cardboard and press into place a piece of fabric, whatever colour you’d like. Put glue on the side that won’t be

can keep going. This is a lot easier than it sounds! All you have to do is insert the narrow end of the second stick into the first and push it in enough that it is secure.

Finish the basket

Once you’ve added rows until you’ve reached the height you want, it’s time to finish the basket. This is very easy. Cut the leftover upright newspaper sticks to about 1 inch (2.54 cm) over the completed weave.

For every other upright stick, fold it down into the basket and glue it in place. Use a clothespin to dry it in place.

For the sticks you didn’t fold into the basket, you’ll fold down on the outside and weave into the upper part of the basket.

Paint it

This is a completely optional step, as newspaper baskets look cool just as they are, but you can also paint them. You could use a white acrylic paint and add a tinted varnish (which makes them look like a more ‘authentic’ basket), or you could use a bright, bold spray paint. (wikihow.com)

7 Dawn Hastings-Williams downplays rumours of APNU prime ministerial nomination news

monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

– says she’ll “know what to do” if offered role

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ith elections fast approaching and analysts expressing doubts whether the Alliance For Change (AFC) will even be allowed to keep the prime ministerial candidacy, rumours have been circulating about a potential People’s National Congress (PNC) prime ministerial candidate.

Current Minister of State, Dawn HastingsWilliams is at the centre of these rumours. A parliamentarian for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU),

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams

Hastings-Williams was elevated to her new ministerial post this year after the resignation of her predecessor, Joseph Harmon, owing to his dual-citizen status.

When asked by Guyana Times, Hastings-Williams noted that these were just rumours and that she has never been approached with regard to filling the post. Asked if it was something she would consider, Hastings-Williams noted that it was not on her radar at the moment.

Gunmen terrorise, rob popular Berbice music operator

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wo armed men on Saturday evening terrorised and robbed a businessman of cash and other items when they invaded his Overwinning, New Amsterdam home.

Reports are that the businessman’s son was just about to lock the gate when he was confronted by a gunman.

Deonarine Albert, 52, and his 25-year-old son, Roberto had just arrived home when the robbery took place.

Guyana Times understands that moments prior to the robbery, Albert’s sonin-law returned home with his wife and left the gate open for the businessman to drive into the yard.

However, the young man was held at gunpoint and escorted into the yard, where the bandits ordered the businessman into the house and demanded money and jewellery. He was gun-butted as the intruders made their demands.

The bandits collected the man’s mobile phone, an un-

disclosed sum of cash, and a quantity of jewellery before making good their escape. This publication was told that as the men were leaving the scene, they discharged several shots.

The Police were subsequently summoned to the scene where they were given access to the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) recordings. They were able to identify a white Toyota Spacio as the getaway car, but up to press time, they were still hunting for the two bandits.

On October 11, 2016, bandits used a similar method to enter the Alberts’

home. On that occasion Roberto was beaten by three armed men who forced him to hand over $620,000 along with his car keys.

They then fled the scene using the businessman’s car, which was later found abandoned at Savannah Park, New Amsterdam.

It was reported that the men exited the vehicle and boarded a waiting car and made good their escape. The car, according to Albert, had in it $1,000,000 worth of phone cards, two laptops, and five cellular phones.

To date, no one was prosecuted for that robbery.

“When that day comes, I’ll know what to do,” HastingsWilliams said when asked if she would decline such a nomination if party leaders in APNU actually pitched such a proposal to her.

Prior to the General and Regional Elections of 2015, APNU and the AFC signed the Cummingsburg Accord that stipulated conditions for the two parties to contest the elections as one.

But throughout this political marriage, the AFC was criticised, especially by the parliamentary Opposition, for what many describe as the submissive role it has played since joining forces with APNU. Decisions, such as the closure of sugar estates which put thousands of sugar workers out of jobs, have gone unchallenged and have even been supported by the AFC. This is despite the fact that the Agriculture Minister portfolio is held by a party member, Noel Holder.

In addition, there has been the strategic reallocation of responsibilities away from Ministries headed by AFC officials, to other Ministries. There is also the fact that the Cummingsburg Accord stipulation that the Prime Minister has responsibility for chairing Cabinet and domestic issues was not followed through.

Questions have, therefore, been raised by analysts whether APNU would offer the AFC the same terms it offered in 2015

There is speculation that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will be replaced by the dominant APNU with someone from its own camp

when the Accord was first signed. These questions took on a life of their own after the AFC’s wretched performance in Local Government Elections (LGE) in 2018.

After Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan’s selection as the AFC’s prime ministerial candidate in waiting, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had intimated that APNU was duty-bound to accept Ramjattan as President David Granger’s running mate as long as the Cummingsburg Accord was in effect.

But despite the AFC choosing Ramjattan, the PNC has shown a dogged preference for the incumbent, Moses Nagamootoo.

This has manifested in APNU officials making public statements in support of the Prime Minister.

PNC heavyweight and Public Health Minister Volda

Lawrence recently stated publicly that while the AFC has elected Ramjattan as its next prime ministerial candidate, APNU and the AFC have not met on this new development.

The AFC top leadership had, in mid-November of 2017, moved to revise its governing agreement with its majority coalition partner. This made little headway and talk of revising the agreement petered out after the AFC’s showing at the LGE, where it failed to win a single Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

At present, talks between the two parties still seem to be stalled. A meeting that was supposed to have been held last Monday between the two coalition partners was cancelled, with APNU sending out a release to say that documents were exchanged and would be perused.

8 News

monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Man who killed wife 21 years ago to face murder charge Shifting the – admits to murdering woman because of “infidelity”

A

Hururu Mission, Region One resident who confessed to killing his wife 21 years ago, after accusing her of being unfaithful to him, will be arraigned in court in the new week.

In September, 1998, the now 48-year-old Philbert Thomas, also called “Gilbert Thomas,” was at a Fun Day activity in Kwebanna village, Region One (BarimaWaini) when he stabbed his reputed wife, Viola Thomas, to death.

A senior Police officer, who at the time of the murder was stationed in Region One, has said that stabbing incident was witnessed by more than 100 persons.

That Police officer explained that the suspect had fled the scene moments after committing the act, and had since not been seen or heard from.

Guyana Times under-

stands that Philbert and the late Viola Thomas had been involved in a relationship for years prior to the stabbing incident, and she had mothered his children.

After the murder was committed in 1998, the file was sent to the then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, and investigators were told to arrest and

charge Thomas for murder, but he could not be located.

However, Thomas was last month charged for felonious wounding committed on his ex-lover Dally Gobin and her friend Leaymond Smith. It was reported that, on the day in question, the victims were imbibing at Gobin’s house when the suspect showed up without being invited. This resulted in a heated argument among them. The argument degenerated into a scuffle, and the suspect allegedly whipped out a knife and dealt Gobin a stab. He then turned his attention to Smith, and stabbed him once before fleeing the scene.

The victims were taken to the Kwakwani Hospital, where they were treated and referred to the Linden Hospital Complex. There they were admitted, and subsequently discharged.

Thomas was arrested

while hiding at a camp in the Hururu Backlands, and was subsequently charged.

It was after this story had been published in the media that persons who had witnessed him murdering his wife contacted the Police.

Commander of “F” Division (Interior locations), Kevin Adonis, told this publication that someone contacted ranks of his division with information that Thomas has been wanted by the Police some 21 years ago for murdering his reputed wife, but was never arrested or charged for the incident.

According to the Police Commander, an investigation was immediately launched into the matter, and Thomas was subsequently interrogated about the murder. Thomas has since admitted to the Police that he had murdered Viola because she had been “unfaithful” to him.

Shemroy Nedd

on which he was arraigned.

The charges allege that on August 28, 2019, at Cornhill Street, Georgetown, Nedd had in his possession a .38 revolver and two matching rounds of ammunition when he is not a licensed firearm holder.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question, at about 10:00h, Police received certain information and went to Cornhill Street, where they confronted Nedd.

A search was conducted on his person, and the loaded firearm was found in his pants crotch.

Nedd told the court that he bought the gun in Venezuela, and brought it here because people were stealing his cows.

The Magistrate fined Nedd $100,000 and sentenced him to serve two years’ imprisonment on each charge. However, the sentences will run concurrently.

Philbert Thomas, also called “Gilbert” Thomas

Cattle farmer jailed for possession of unlicensed gun, ammo

A

37-year-old cattle farmer who told the court he bought a gun to protect his cows was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Shemroy Nedd of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates Courts on Friday, and pleaded guilty to the two charges

Fisherman charged for illegal firearm, ammo

A

37-year-old fisherman appeared at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court to answer the charge of having an illegal firearm in his possession.

Deocharan Das, of New Providence, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was ready to him by Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer.

The charge alleges that on August 26, 2019, at Wash Clothes, Mahaicony, ECD, he had a 12-gauge, single-barrel shotgun when he is not a licensed firearm

Deocharan Das

holder.

According to information, on the day in question, Police ranks on mobile patrol went to a location where they saw Das on a wooden boat. It is alleged that, upon seeing the Police, Das threw the firearm overboard, but the ranks managed to retrieve the firearm, and as such, he was arrested.

The Magistrate remanded Das to prison until September 30, and transferred the matter to Cove and John Magistrate Fabayo Azore’s Court.

narrative…

L

…on constitutional treachery incoln Lewis enjoys running with the hares and hunting with the hounds. But as is inevitable in these matters, when it comes to the time for the kill, he’s forced to show his hand. So with elections now appearing (rather dimly) on the horizon, he came out defending Granger and the PNC with one of the most vicious and lowdown attacks on Opposition Leader.

He defends Granger’s delaying elections by shifting the narrative to the “responsibilities” of the Opposition Leader.

Using the Constitution, he shows that the Opposition Leader is part of the Executive Branch of Government, and enumerates his compensation package to demand he does his “job”. Not a word about Granger’s far more generous package, which he bumped up as soon as he slid into office, nor about his responsibilities under the same constitution.

But the question arises: What are the “responsibilities” of the Opposition in a parliamentary democracy?? Let’s look at a description from one of the least edgy practitioners: Canada.

Former Canadian PM John G. Diefenbaker described it thusly: “If Parliament is to be preserved as a living institution (the) Opposition must fearlessly perform its functions.

When it properly discharges them, the preservation of our freedom is assured. The reading of history proves that freedom always dies when criticism ends. It upholds and maintains the rights of minorities against majorities.

“It must be vigilant against oppression and unjust invasions by the Cabinet of the rights of the people. It should supervise all expenditures, and prevent overexpenditure by exposing to the light of public opinion wasteful expenditures or worse. It finds fault; it suggests amendments; it asks questions and elicits information; it arouses, educates and moulds public opinion by voice and vote. It must scrutinize every action by the government, and in doing so, prevents the short-cuts through democratic procedure that governments like to make.”

And according to that desiderata, what has Jagdeo been doing, if not his job? Has he not been “scrutinising every action of the Government”? When he “finds faults”, does he not “suggest amendments”?? Did Lewis not witness Jagdeo and the rest of the Opposition deconstruct the Government’s woeful budget, but had none of their amendments accepted?

Has he not been “exposing to the light of public opinion wasteful expenditures or worse”?? Has Lewis forgotten about the Durban Park and other scandals?

Lewis wants Jagdeo to return to Parliament to rubber stamp Granger’s sordid refusal to honour the constitution by resigning and calling elections in 3 months. Isn’t Jagdeo’s responsibility to “prevent the short-cuts through democratic procedure that governments like to make”?

Between Granger and Jagdeo, who has been characterised more by “recklessness and hunger for power”? …on oil With that FPSO Lisa Destiny parked off our Atlantic shores, your Eyewitness is getting a tad tired with the wailing Jeremiahs griping about the contract with ExxonMobil. What makes their weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth more annoying is that they never ever bring up the man responsible for the contract they complain about – Raphael Trotman.

Shouldn’t these handwringers be demanding that SOCU and SARA investigate this fella for giving away the store??

What’s still not happening is the crafting of a national consensus to decide what to do with the (oil) bird we have in the hand – the 2+12.5% of production? At this time, all we know is that the PNC insisted that the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) be used to “balance the budget”!! Meaning that they’ll continue with their profligate spending (over $1TRILLION spent since 2015!!) with nothing to show for it, as far as Guyana is concerned. Their pockets and bank accounts, of course, are being well swollen.

The PNC Govt say they’ll sell our oil directly. Really??

The same set of folks who couldn’t negotiate the oil contract?? …on Haitians GPHC officials noted recently that “over the months, the institution has seen a great influx of Haitians, Brazilians, Cubans and Venezuelans seeking medical services.”

Really?? Haitians?? Naah…Felix couldn’t be lying!!

They’re in Brazil!!

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

news

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monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Heavy hinterland investment, land use strategy among keys to development – Irfaan Ali – slams APNU/AFC’s short-sighted approach to developing towns

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n any economy, longterm development must be driven by strategy and the spin-off effects of development initiatives.

This is according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali. Ali sat down for an interview with University of Guyana (UG) Lecturer Hugh Todd, and articulated his party’s development agenda should it win office.

This agenda includes heavy investment in the hinterland, and a land use strategy.

“We have to look at the bigger picture of what will propel us into the future…

I give housing as an example. The hinterland has tremendous potential for us, whether it’s mining or forestry. We have to support investors in these areas to ensure that it is economically viable and sustainable.”

Ali noted that some other potential areas of devel-

opment in the hinterland could centre on a carbon credit market, but investors in the hinterland are often hesitant due to lack of access to these areas, a point alluded to by Ali. “What is one of the prohibitive factors that persons who want to invest in the hinterland will tell you? One: They will tell you transportation; the cost of transportation and the roads. So we have to address this. We cannot have a situation where important communities from a social and economic standpoint are cut off from us as a result of rainy season for months. It is not sustainable.

“It’s not sustainable for investors or the country, and it drives up cost-of-living in these areas. So we’re going to invest heavily in hinterland roads; in improving transportation link; In reducing the cost of transportation.”

The Presidential

The state of the Lethem road under the current Government

Candidate touted the potential benefits a renewed focus on hinterland development could have, including a reduction in transportation and air travel costs, and increased opportunities

Police ranks asked to produce H2H Registration slips to superiors

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olice ranks from across the country are being summoned to produce relevant information to their superiors to verify whether or not they were registered for the upcoming regional and national elections.

According to a senior Police source, the ranks have been instructed to report to their superiors in their respective divisions whether they had completed the registration exercise that was conducted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) recently.

However, even though they are being mandated to supply such information to their commanding officers, the police ranks are uncertain as to what will happen to those who have not yet registered for the impending elections.

there are any forms of sanction,” the policeman stated.

According to the policeman, the instruction was sent out via a whatsapp text in a group that was created and is being used by all Police officers in that Division.

He further explained that

“I am not sure what will happen, or why they need it in the first place. But they told us we have to do it, and that’s what we have to do.

My friends, I am not sure if they got to register, and for those who didn’t, we don’t know what will happen, what they plan to do, or if

in “B” Division (Berbice), this information, which is being garnered at all Police outposts and Police stations, will be forwarded to the office of the Commander there.

Meanwhile, in “C” Division, (East Coast Demerara), Police ranks were given a different in-

Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (retd) Claudette Singh

struction.

In a document seen by this newspaper, in a Police message sent/received via books, there is a notice that Police ranks will have to report to the Brickdam Police station on Tuesday with “slips” to prove whether or not they had been registered.

Attempts to contact Police Commissioner Leslie James on the matter proved futile. Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice (retd) Claudette Singh, last week put a halt to the House- toHouse Registration. The last day for such an activity was August 31. it was reported that based on the ruling of the Chief Justice on August 14, 2019 that House-to-House Registration is not unlawful and is constitutional, the data garnered from that registration exercise must be merged with the existing National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB).

In this regard, the Commission will move to an extensive Claims and Objections Exercise (C&O) before extracting the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

The Commission, however, stated it will continue to further deliberate on other matters of importance for the holding of General and Regional Elections within the shortest possible time, and the Secretariat will continue to implement a number of operations activities, in particular training of polling day staff and procurement of non-sensitive materials.

for the ordinary citizen.

According to Ali, a new PPP Government could look at setting aside a minimum of $2 billion a year just for maintaining and building hinterland roads. In addition, he noted the need to upgrade hinterland airstrips.

“We have to upgrade a number of airstrips in hinterland locations; that would help other sectors to propel themselves. And the road links are critical if we’re going to expand agri-

culture and mega-farms to ensure that we have greater and less costly access to markets. These are how things are linked.”

Ali stressed the need for Guyana to diversify away from the city of Georgetown.

He noted that if opportunities are created in rural areas, then persons will have a reduced need to migrate to the city, thus lessening the pressure on Georgetown.

Critical to this is an integrated land use and management strategy, something that will see undeveloped and under- developed areas becoming a hub of residential and commercial activity.

“Look at Diamond (East Bank Demerara). We created the investment opportunity. Huge housing development. Linked it to economic development. The financial sector developed in that area, and look at the benefits it brought: Job creation, empowerment, and the whole area got a new life. That came out of a very strategic move by (former) President Jagdeo. He launched the concept of secondary towns.

“I was in charge of the Caribbean Development Bank Unit at the time when we negotiated that loan.

PPP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali

We saw the institutional strengthening component; the infrastructure component; we saw the link, and how it would lead to the evolution. Compare that to what we have now: a minister walking into a community and declaring a town; there is no supporting infrastructure, no plan in terms of the economic output, no plan as to the final objective.”

Since coming to office, the Coalition Government has officially declared four new towns: Mahdia, Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma. While there has been talk of establishing Government offices in these communities and upgrading roadways, the state of hinterland roads remains a sore issue.

10 news

monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GWI to get US$17M loan to improve water supply countrywide

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he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will soon receive a grant of US$17M from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to improve the water supply across the country.

Managing Director of GWI, Dr Richard Van West Charles made the disclosure on Thursday at the company’s headquarters.

“In the pipeline is a possible loan from the Caribbean Development Bank and with some research we have concluded with some inline filters… those filters will clean the water up and all of the water produced will be in total compliance with WHO standards… so that will significant improve the system … the expected loan would’ve been about US $17M…It is in process, the terms of reference presently is being prepared”, Managing Director revealed.

Dr Richard Van-West Charles

With the investment in the inline filters, Guyanese can expect to benefit from clear none contaminated water.

According to Van West Charles, the investment will see the elimination of iron and hydrosulfide which presently contaminates our waterways.

“We are all compliant with respect to microbiology, the absence of microor-

ganisms except if they are breakages in the distribution system but respect to iron and hydrosulfide, these filters which we have tested will change the whole system completely and we hope that our country will be free of all of the red stains, staining of propylene, staining of tiles etc.”

Though Government have singed unto the Sustainable Development Goals which speaks to access to all member of the population by the year 2030,

the GWI head is pushing for an earlier goal.

“We are hoping that we can move this to 2025, we want to ensure that all schools, all health facilities across the country have access to potable water. So this is part of the drive, in certain areas where the President speaks to of the inequities, the hinterland regions between the hinterland and the coastal regions, we have to ensure that those populations also have access so what we col-

lect, we don’t collect from everyone on a timely basis, so we have to ensure that we manage the resources efficiently so that we can begin to expand the system so that people across the country could get equal access” Van West Charles explained to media operatives.

Presently, a Diamond Water Treatment Plant, East Bank Demerara (EBD) is being completed and is said to be over 75 percent completed.

The Diamond Water Treatment Plant is part of three similar plants, the others being in Regions 3 and 6, that is made possible through the partnership and collaboration between the Government of Guyana, IDB, and the European Union.

Their construction/installation has a total cost of $7Billion. Constructions works for all three water treatment plants are scheduled to conclude in December 2020.

India plans to increase scholarships offered to Guyanese – new High Commissioner

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ver the past years, Guyanese have significantly benefitted from several scholarships’ programs offered by the Indian Government but the New Indian High Commissioner, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa has plans to increase the numbers drastically.

According His Excellence Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, these scholarships will be provided in various fields, with the hope that more Guyanese grasp the opportunities to benefit from quality education from India.

“So, we have as you know excellent experts, professionals in Information Technology, in medicine, you name it, in all the various branches. This is as part of our international co-operation programme.

We have something called the ITECH –the Indian Technological and

Recently appointed Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. S. J. Srinivasa

Educational Co-operation Programme wherein we give scholarships, short term scholarships fully paid for young students and graduates in this country in various fields in IT, geology, in mining, in agriculture, you name it, there are various courses.”

The Indian High Commissioner stated that the scholarship initiative is executed in good faith by strengthening the bi-lateral relations that it already shares with Guyana.

He noted that education is a vital part of propelling any nation forward and it is with this in mind that his country is positioning itself to assist more Guyanese students with the chances of securing this much needed form of development.

“We are ready to extend that co-operation and we are trying to increase the slots for Guyana. Secondly, we are also going to work on the culture front wherein we can give people to go to India and learn the rich heritage and culture…. we have to work to build the skills and education for the youth of this country. As you know, India is progressing tremendously and it is

growing at a rate of 7 percent annually at the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) level, this is all thanks to the impetus that the forefathers of Indian nation gave to education.”

Dr. Srinivasa added that this is just the beginning of a series of opportunities that India will be providing to countries such as Guyana, as his country aims to provide assistance in various areas for countries that are in need of it.

“You know India and Guyana have been great friends throughout all these years and my brief in Guyana is to further strengthen the bi-lateral relations between India and Guyana. Also to work through the CARICOM Secretariat to strengthen the relationship with the Caribbean nations, the Caribbean Community and India.”

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monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Politicians must lay out plans for oil sector, preventing Dutch disease – AmCham President – as Zulficar Ally re-elected as President; new board installed – AmCham membership reaches 61 in first year

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he importance of the oil sector means politicians must be articulate and transparent about what they intend to do to manage the sector and its risks. This is the view of Zulficar Ally, President of the American Chamber (AmCham) of Commerce in Guyana.

Ally was at the time speaking during AmCham’s inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday. The AGM was held at the Marriott Hotel, and featured members of the private sector and civil society.

In his remarks, Ally noted the importance of the country -- including the private sector and ordinary Guyanese -- knowing where politicians stand on critical issues, like oil and gas, before they go to the polls.

“AmCham has already started discussions with other partners, to play our part in the upcoming national and regional elections through the hosting of national debates with our political leaders,” Ally said.

“Our aim is to ensure that politicians running for

The AmCham head table, which featured US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch (2nd, left)

office speak clearly about their policies and programmes for the development of the private sector, the promotion of trade, and their plans and timelines for managing Guyana’s natural resources.”

Ally pointed out that having this knowledge can be the difference between electing leaders who lead Guyana down the wrong path and Dutch disease, or leaders who will oversee economic prosperity.

‘Dutch disease’ is an economic term used to define an imbalance in the local economy of an oil producer

that can include rising currency values, non-competitive exports, and the decline of traditional sectors.

Already, the traditional sectors have shown serious signs of decline, with gold, rice and sugar in trouble.

Analysts have theorized that Guyana’s growth rate is being driven largely by the effects of the burgeoning oil sector, compared to these sectors.

Meanwhile, Ally also revealed that approximately 61 businesses joined the chambers for the last year, while over 100 applications are pending. Ally also en-

adherence to the way of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which is the very way of all the previous Prophets from Adam to Jesus (peace be upon them all), that people will achieve purity of faith and freedom from vice and corruption.

Any other course will result in lusts such as greed, animosity and prejudice, which only induce men to indecencies and vileness.

“We therefore remind ourselves, and all Muslims

in Guyana and indeed all Guyanese, that it is our duty to learn and live that Prophetic way in all aspects of our lives, without exception…we pray to Allah that in this new lunar year He forgives us our faults from the previous years, and rectifies our hearts and actions, and make us among those who are firm and well established in faith, so that we can live amongst each other in peace, love and harmony”.

Islamic New Year commenced on September 1

T

he Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) has announced that the new moon for the sacred month of Muharram (the first month in the Muslim Lunar Calendar) was sighted on the evening of Saturday August 31, 2019, thus the new lunar Islamic year has begun.

The Central Executive Council of the CIOG, in a release, congratulated the Muslim Community and called on all Muslims to begin this new year with extra acts of devotion, and remembrance of Allah and a renewed commitment to obeying our Lord in accordance with the standard He set forth in the Noble Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

“It is only through strict

couraged these businesses to be outspoken about their concerns, and to provide feedback. He noted that efforts are being made to enhance opportunities for its membership, such as hosting events to allow them to network.

Ally was subsequently re-elected as President of AmCham at the AGM. Serving alongside him are Clairmont Cummings, Managing Director of

Corum Group, as First Vice President; General Manager of Sol Guyana, Liz Wyatt, as Second Vice President, and Attorneyat-law Devindra Kissoon of London House Chambers as Third Vice President and Legal Counsel. Finance Controller of Namilco, Fitzroy Mcleoud, was returned as Treasurer of the Chamber.

The Board of Directors also include ExxonMobil Country Manager Rod Henson; Vice President, Government and External Affairs, Hess Corporation, Alex Mistri; Fix It Hardware Chief Executive Officer Paul James, Ramps Logistics representative Marisca Jordan, Namilco Financial Controller Fitzroy Mcleoud, and Macorp Guyana General Manager Guillermo Escarraga.

Also included are Republic Bank Deputy General Manager Parbatie Khan, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company CEO Justin Nedd, Guyana Marriott Hotel General Manager Edwardo Reple, Red Entertainment CEO Saskia Wijngaarde, and

Massy Group Guyana representative Navendra Thakur.

AmCham Guyana was launched in August of last year with a stated objective of promoting trade and business between the United States and Guyana. This came after ExxonMobil’s oil finds put Guyana on the global map, leading to increased interest from foreign investors.

Many AmCham branches exist in countries all around the world, including in nearby Trinidad. It was only this year that AmCham Guyana collaborated with its Trinidad counterparts to host a Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Conference.

The one-day event, held on July 17 under the theme “Preparing for sustainable development”, featured an appearance from Exxon Guyana’s Production Manager Mike Ryan, who endeavoured to give an account of his company’s health and safety policies, stressing that ExxonMobil puts the safety of its workers above business and profits.

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monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mother who “sold” teenage daughters for sex to appear in court – charges to be laid in relation to Trafficking In Persons

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he mother who allegedly sold her two teenaged daughters to men to satisfy those men’s sexual pleasures is expected to be slapped with trafficking-in-persons’ charges, and will be arraigned in court before the end of this week.

She will face charges related to trafficking in persons, since she is said to have taken and invited several men to her home to have sex with her daughters in return for mon-

Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) Director Ann Greene

ey. This was confirmed by a senior rank in Police ‘C’ Division (East Coast).

It was reported that while the girls’ mother was in Police custody, she revealed the identities of the men who had paid her to have sex with her daughters. Police are still on the hunt for those men she had pointed out.

Guyana Times reported that the two girls had escaped from their home and had gone to the Police station, where they related

their ordeal.

A Police source has confirmed that the woman would be present in the same room, looking on as the men engage in sexual activities with her daughters, after which she would collect payment for the activities.

“The girls said (that) whenever guys come in their home for sex, their mother sits there and looks at them… and then they give her some money and then she lets the guys sleep

Demolition works commence on former Christianburg Primary School

I

n preparation for the commencement of the construction of a new school building, demolition works have commenced on the dilapidated Christianburg Primary School building in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice).

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is tasked with the reconstruction works.

Councillors recently voted unanimously to commence the reconstruction of the school, by first demolishing the former structure which has been abandoned for years before erecting a new building.

The school is expected to be rebuilt at a cost of more than $40 million, Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), Maylene Stephen had indicated.

The RDC has finally made strides in securing funds to rebuild the dilapidated school, which has been closed since 2015.

Despite concerns raised in the past over the condition of the school’s present

The school as demolition works commenced

location, Regional Chairman Renis Morian said it would be rebuilt on the same site.

The school, which was one of the first to be built in the Linden community, had begun to sink and structurally deteriorate, rendering it dangerous for the growing numbers of students to continue to be housed at the facility.

Several engineers have, over the years, visited the site to conduct tests to determine whether it was still suitable to rebuild at the location, as officials had not-

ed that owing to issues such as drainage, the school had sunk tremendously over the years.

This, they explained, had intensified owing to the presence of ponds in the area.

Following the school’s closure, students have been housed at the St Aidan’s Primary School at Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden.

The move has reportedly had some negative effects on both students and teachers, as outlined by members of the Parent-Teacher’s Association (PTA) who had

stressed that the distance they had to travel was too much, contributing to high transportation and extra meal costs, coupled with overcrowding among other negative issues.

However, the Regional Chairman has since indicated that parents in the area were now very happy that the school would be rebuilt.

Regional Education Committee Chairman Denise Belgrave had months ago questioned the adequacy of the school’s location, as it related to the number of students as she indicated that enrolment would have since increased.

The Regional Chairman has pointed out, however, that based on assessments which were carried out, the number of students were declining as a result of persons migrating to Amelia’s Ward, Linden as he noted that the area was suitable.

But Belgrave has indicated that the number of students has been fluctuating over a specific period.

with the children the whole night,” the Police source added.

It was further disclosed that based on the allegations of the teenagers, their mother had been using them as sex slaves for quite some time.

The two teens, aged 13 and 14, were handed over to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA).

Director of that agency, Ann Greene, has confirmed

that the two girls are in the custody of the State, and are receiving the requisite care and medical treatment. She explained that as soon as she had been notified about the matter, she had immediately arranged for the sisters to be transported from that ECD Police station to a safe house.

The two teenagers were medically examined and given the necessary treatment, and are being constantly counselled.

Water supply on WCD restored, bringing relief to residents

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he villages on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) that were out of potable water for the past weeks can now breathe a sigh of relief as the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) restored the provision of this commodity on Saturday.

The residents had been without running water as a result of low power provided by the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL).

As a result, residents were forced to jog water from long distances. Some were forced to purchase water, while other had to do without that commodity.

A fire truck from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) had to come in and supply the affected villages, such as De Kendren and MetenMeer-Zorg, with water.

However, the residents are now appreciative of the work put in to have the water restored by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

“They came and they really did their work after they found out about the situation, because I spoke to a representative personally,

who tell me what the work entailed to having the water running again; and I am glad, because we were really struggling. Thanks, God,” one resident expressed.

Another said, “The water pressure is high too; so whatever they do, I glad, because I was fed-up. But I am glad that we ain’t have to worry about that every morning now; it was stressful”.

Meanwhile, some villages on the East Coast of Demerara are still without water. The GWI has not reached out to those residents, and as such, they are very much frustrated. Those villages that are affected are Plaisance, Better Hope, Ogle and Goedverwagting.

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monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

As Heritage Month commences

Indigenous communities call for early elections

…uncertainty of political climate affects progress countrywide – former APA President

T

he uncertainty of the political atmosphere in Guyana is having direct adverse effects on the livelihoods of Guyana’s Indigenous people and has resulted in their rights being trampled upon and ignored.

As such, they are calling for elections to be held so as to address the problems that are affecting Indigenous communities throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.

This is according to Toshao of Kako Village, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Mario Hastings, who made the disclosure at the ceremonial launch for Indigenous Heritage Month on behalf of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) on Sunday afternoon.

He stated that although Indigenous peoples from all parts of the country have and continue to contribute

to the sustainable development of the nation, the present legislative laws in relation to their rights were in dire need of amendment.

However, such changes are at a standstill because of the current political atmosphere, and as a result, there is much uneasiness among Indigenous peoples with regard to sustaining their livelihoods.

“There is yet a long way to go and much more to be done to curb the many disadvantages that we face on a daily basis. We need quality education and improved health services… our many roads need improvement; social and legal services are still missing, for most part, in our communities and hence access to justice is at a low end. We are uncertain of our political landscape, and call for elections to be held soonest so that we can return to normalcy,”

problem of some of their lands not yet being recognised and being without land titles.

“And official demarcation and our claims for land

extension move at an unacceptably slow pace. We need our land – our land is our life. The Indigenous peoples of Guyana need to become more and fully engaged in all developmental projects, programmes, and policies that will affect us,” he said.

Hastings pointed out that although many Indigenous people enjoy the freedom of their land and other resources, this is in jeopardy, especially since pollution and despoiling of their waters continued unabated.

He further explained that the Administration needed to do much more to ensure that Indigenous communities were informed about development initiatives that would not only impact the country but directly affect their livelihoods.

He noted that to date, Indigenous peoples across

Guyana are suffering from poverty and lack of opportunities in addition to bearing the brunt of discrimination and derogatory remarks.

Despite the challenges that Indigenous peoples presently face, they still are trying their best to promote their traditional knowledge, and promote the further development of Guyana.

This year’s Indigenous Heritage Month is being celebrated under the theme “Maintaining our traditional practices while promoting a green economy”.

Hastings added that this was another opportunity for Indigenous peoples to celebrate their rich heritage, practices, and reflect on significant contributions towards national development such as conservation and stewardship of the environment, the value in carbon stocks, biodiversity, and landscape.

local tour operators in the past indicated interest in bringing tourists to the Estate.

“If there are other operators that we have not invited, we will be extending an

invitation to them because we want all the tour operators to ensure that everyone can see what we have to offer and expose as much visitors as possible,” she said, revealing that the new

product was being offered immediately.

“We are ready even in the underdeveloped state; we are ready to take on tours,” she said.

Toshao Mario Hastings of Kako Village, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni)

Hastings declared.

According to the Toshao, many of the Indigenous communities are highly vulnerable to the “land grabs” and there is the pressing

GuySuCo explores interest in tourism – local tour operators tour Albion Estate

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ocal tour operators are being encouraged to invite tourists to visit the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) heritage sites in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) as the Corporation indicated its interest in tourism.

Tour operators were on Saturday given a tour of the Albion/Port Mourant Estate with the aim of showcasing what it has to offer.

They were all impressed and have promised to promote the heritage package.

The Corporation is now promoting cultural and sugar

Tour operators during the tour to Albion Estate

An old re-circulation Dutch pump at Port Mourant

heritage tourism as it focuses on tourism.

Commercial Manager Rama Persaud told operators that this does not mean GuySuCo was moving away from its core business, but rather it was developing an additional stream of income.

“In our transition, we believe that we have a product in our culture and our history, so we want to expose it and we can benefit from it bringing in some revenue which we badly need.”

In 1976, the Government of Guyana nationalised and merged the sugar estates operated by Booker Sugar Estates Limited and Jessels Holdings to form the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc, also known as GuySuCo. The main business of GuySuCo currently, is the cultivation of sugar cane and the production of sugar.

GuySuCo is currently undergoing a dynamic transition; the key objective is to create a resilient and sustainable business.

According to Persaud,

Oxen pulling punts that harvesters use to get to work – tour operators live the experience

turn to pAge 15

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monday, september 2, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Aliki Primary School gets new boat ahead of new academic year

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irector General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon on Sunday visited the village of Aliki, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) where he delivered on his promise to provide a school boat for the students in the area.

The Director General also handed over 100 pairs of school shoes to the Headmaster of the Aliki Primary School, Ganesh Dugan.

During a meeting held in the community on June 30, 2019 by Harmon and Business Minister Haimraj Rajkumar, residents had made a request for a school boat.

The Director General subsequently promised the residents that the boat would be delivered to the community in time for the commencement of the new school term in September.

In addressing the residents at the Aliki Primary School, minutes after the boat was handed over to the Headmaster, Harmon said that the David Granger-led Administration saw education and access to education as a national priority and would, therefore, do what was necessary to ensure that barriers which prevent students from getting to school were removed.

“I am delighted to be here to deliver on the commitment which we made when we were here in June. We wanted to ensure that the children can get to school and get so on time. It is a commitment that we do not take lightly because it has to do with the education of our children and as you are aware, the President has put high priority on education in this country. Since we came into office in 2015, every year, the budget for education has increased because we recognise that the development of this country, the leaps and bounds which we will have to take, will be dependent on an educated nation and we have to start by ensuring that our children get to school. We have made that commitment to get children to school. So,

Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon; donor of the boat, Tulsi Persaud and students of the Aliki Primary School

the delivery of this boat is consistent with the promise, which our President made to ensure our children are in school and they can get to school,” he said.

The boat was donated by Tulsi Persaud, a businessman from the neighbouring village of Lanaballi.

On this note, Harmon stated that he was pleased that corporate Guyana as well as individuals were coming forward to aid the Government in its mission of ensuring that every child across Guyana was able to go to school.

He also called on the community, the parents, teachers and village leaders to ensure that the boat was used for its intended purpose and taken care of.

“The boat is there to serve the children, so I would ask that special attention be placed on how it is used. It is for the children. It is not to be used for recreation and other uses. Let it be for the children, who have to go to school,” he said.

Meanwhile, Persaud, in an invited comment, said that as a child, born and raised in a riverine community, he had to paddle to get to school every day. He noted that he has been observing the “Boats, Buses and Bicycles” initiative by President David Granger and when he was approached by the Director General to consider assisting the community, it was

an easy decision to make.

The businessman also noted that he has decided to

take it a step forward and would be handing over two more boats in the coming weeks to serve the students in Lanaballi, Bonasika and surrounding communities.

Meanwhile, Dugan, in his remarks, thanked the Director General, the Government, and Persaud for honouring his commitment to the community. He noted that it would go a long way in ensuring that children get to school.

A resident, Roy Creighton, also expressed his gratitude as he gave the assurance that the residents would ensure that the boat was well taken care of.

“We would ensure that it is taken care of, because it is in our best interests. We will also use it for the purpose it has been given to the

Director General Harmon hands over the boxes of school shoes to Headmaster of the Aliki Primary School, Ganesh Dugan

community for,” he promised.

Harmon was accompa-

nied by Regional Executive Officer of Region Three, Jennifer Ferreira- Dougal.

Multimillion-dollar child, family centre to open soon – Amna Ally

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he multimillion-dollar Child and Family Friendly Centre which will serve as a temporary shelter for the less fortunate is slated to open soon.

This is according to Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, who told reporters on Friday that the facility, which is the first of its kind in Guyana, was expected to be completed in another six weeks.

“Actually, the outer building is completed, but there are some fineries that have to be done to make it habitable and safe.

So, the opening is going to be probably by the end of September, early October,” Ally said.

The facility’s purpose is to avoid separation of families and provide care for children as they transition from difficult circumstances.

“There are eight family apartments, independent family apartments for families. There are also four apartments for children of different ages, boys and girls, and there is a train-

Social Protection Minister Amna Ally

ing centre for counselling sessions. We do not want to just provide housing for persons that will be here at the facility but ensure they received every other necessity to help them transform,” Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) Director Ann Greene had said earlier this year.

Other facilities constructed in the compound are a mess hall, administration building, storage department, coaching department and playground.

Greene had highlighted that there would be strict

regulations and standard operating procedures implemented to guide the acceptance of families who desire to use the facility.

Three years ago, a fire gutted the previous Drop-In Centre on Hadfield Street, Georgetown. However, this newly-constructed facility will have heightened safety measures.

The 2016 fire had destroyed the entire top flat of the centre’s Hadfield Street location and claimed the lives of Antonio and Joshua George, aged two and six.

The preliminary report on

the fire had found that the centre had systematic problems and bad policy arrangements in the event of a fire or similar emergency.

A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report into the fire conducted by Retired Colonel Windee Algernon found that the children/staffer ratio was not adhered to and that on the morning of the fire, there were not enough staff on duty to meet the needs of the children.

Additionally, the house service supervisor, while she had the authority to call out more staff, failed to do so.

The CoI had also found that there were written guidelines for the management of crisis situations, including fires; however, the house manager and other senior staff seemed unfamiliar with them. And so when the fire occurred, there was confusion and panic, resulting in the tragedy.

Of note too is that the Inquiry found that the fire was caused by a defective electrical outlet fitted with exposed wires on the eastern wall of the girls’ dormitory.

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monday, september 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

I SAY...

What the people say

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL)?

Tanisha Petty “I am so excited especially for the Guyana games! Win or lose, I’m backing Guyana Amazon Warriors all the way and look forward to the celebration of the Caribbean; CPL is always an exciting time for me.”

Hesron Gitten “Cricket is the Caribbean’s favourite sport I would say and since CPL started, it has only gotten better. Guyana is always one of the standouts to host the event and this year will be no different, I will definitely be there to enjoy the event once again.”

Avril Samuels “I am a diehard cricket fan and have already purchased tickets hoping to be at every one of the games to be played in Guyana. I am just excited for this year’s game and, of course, will be backing our home team.”

Shaunell Wilson “I’m excited to see Nicholas Pooran on our team this year; he is an excellent young cricketer. I can’t wait for the excitement to start and to scream to the top of my lungs when the sixes and fours are lashed across the ground.”

Leslyn Thompson “You know I never missed a year? I ensure that I go, even if it’s to one game, and I am always on the grass mound; that is where the party is at, so it’s not just cricket, it’s cricket and a party – the Biggest Party In Sports every year.”

Karen Medas “Yes, yes ,yes. I am going to be there. I have never not heard anyone especially Guyanese people not being excited for CPL, is we own and I will always support, even if I am there or I view it on the television.”

Shane Nicholai “Yeah man, we got a strong team this year, I believe that this year is Guyana year, but then again we does always do well, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that we win this thing.

We work hard enough in the past years, so I know we will be strong again.”

Dulea Alleyne “Every single year the Guyana Amazon Warriors are consistently in the top, so win or lose, I am proud of my country’s team. But this year we taking it all the way, we are winning that trophy. I feeling it; I am very excited for the games.”

Sheldon Alexander “Being a small-time cricketer myself, it is always inspiring to witness the legends doing their thing at the National Stadium so I can’t wait for the CPL to start.”

Cleiron Medas “I am more of a football fan, but cricket is a big deal too, so let’s see if this year the Guyana Amazon Warriors can win it. They have stiff competition, but that makes for more excitement.”

Leisa Thorne “The Amazon Warriors all the way! 2019 is we year, and I will be backing my team, win or lose.”

GuySuCo explores interest...

On Saturday, the field laboratory, which included the nursery and insectary, visited along with a section of the cultivation area where visitors experienced travelling in the cultivation canals in a punt pulled by oxen – the traditional way of taking harvesters to the field.

One point of interest was the remains of an old

re-circulation Dutch pump.

This was one of two sites where tourists took photographs. The other was at the GuySuCo Training School at Port Mourant, where a 1924 Rolls Royce was on display.

The tour also included visits to the famous Albion Community Centre where the first One-Day International (ODI) cricket match in the Caribbean was

played on March 16, 1977.

The Albion sugar factory was also featured on the historical tour.

Raphael Ades of Dagron Tours International said his company has been promoting tours to the Essequibo, but the one to Berbice seemed very interesting.

“We are thinking of expanding and maybe coming into the sugar belt and see

if we can attract people to come here. We can bring a lot of people once you have the right product. The factory is a giant. Hopefully, something will come out of this trip and we will be able to bring people here to visit and help GuySuCo in one way and also help the tourism business in another way,” he explained.

Another tour operator,

Salvador DeCaires, who is the Product Development Specialist with Wilderness Explorers, said they were looking for new products and new itineraries.

DeCaires is of the opinion that Albion has a lot to offer to tourist. However, the time it takes to get to the location is of concern to him.

“If I were offering this to our clients, the itinerary

from page 13

that I would write up would be an overnight itinerary. I think it will be too difficult and tiring for them to do it in one day,” DeCaires explained.

However, Estate Manager Threbowan Shiwpersaud was unavailable to the media when a request was made to him for his input on the new product GuySuCo was offering.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, september 2, 2019

Regional

Hurricane Dorian slams into Bahamas

H

urricane Dorian has made landfall in the north-west Bahamas as a monster category five storm with sustained winds of up to 285 kilometres per hour (180mph).

The “extremely dangerous” storm is the strongest hurricane on modern record in the area, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says.

Grand Bahama residents have been evacuating from its predicted path.

A storm surge could be life-threatening and as high as seven metres (23 feet) in places, officials warn.

The storm made landfall at 12:40h (16:40 GMT) on Elbow Cay in the Abaco islands, northern Bahamas, the NHC said.

Local residents posted footage showing floodwaters engulfing some homes, their rooftops blown off.

Dorian, moving westward at 7mph, is expected to continue to move over Great Abaco Island and near, or over, Grand Bahama Island later on Sunday into Monday.

Authorities closed some airports in the outlying islands, but the main international airport remained open on Sunday.

After hitting The Bahamas, it should move closer to the Florida east coast late on Monday and through to Tuesday night local time.

Hurricanes, which vary in strength from category one to five on the SaffirSimpson scale, tend to get stronger as they move over warm waters like those off the coast of Florida.

Inspired by teen climate activist Thunberg, Latin American activists converge in Chile

I The category five storm has hit The Bahamas hard

Dorian has also grown larger in size, with hurricane-force winds currently extending 75km (45 miles) from the storm’s centre.

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis earlier announced an evacuation order for parts of Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands, both in the north of the archipelago. All tourists were asked to leave the islands.

Minnis was visibly tearful as he addressed a news conference on Sunday.

“This is probably the most sad and worst day of my life to address the Bahamian people,” he said, calling Dorian a “monster storm”.

“This will put us through a test that

we’ve never confronted before,” the Prime Minister added.

Dorian’s exact path remains uncertain, but a state of emergency has been declared in four US states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

US President Donald Trump said he was monitoring Dorian and cancelled a planned trip to Poland, sending Vice President Mike Pence in his place.

In a tweet on Sunday, Trump warned Dorian was expected to hit “much” harder than originally thought, and urged residents in its path to be careful. (Excerpt from BBC News)

nspired by Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, a group of young activists from several Latin American countries have converged in Chile to exchange ideas on how to battle climate change.

In a mountainous area on the outskirts of Santiago, representatives of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay exchanged ideas for actions to pressure changes in their countries’ policies.

“Our goal here is to enable them so that they have more tools, more possibility of making a stronger movement, a movement with more impact to contain the climate crisis,” Ilan Zugman of the 350.org organisation told Reuters.

The group chose the Chilean capital because it will host the COP 25 climate change conference in December.

The group of about 20 people said they were inspired by Thunberg, who recently sailed into New York Harbour in a zero-carbon emissions vessel.

In addition to the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, Thunberg is expected to attend the COP 25 climate change conference in Chile, with plans to make her way there without using air travel.

The group in Chile said it was focused on particular aspects of the battle against climate change, including ocean pollution and clean energy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T PM suggests repealing all Guatemala’s anti-corruption body to shut down old laws

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uatemalans are concerned corruption will flourish with a vengeance following the imminent shutdown of an international commission against impunity.

Saturday marked one year since Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales announced he would not renew the mandate of the United Nations-backed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

Over the past 12 years,

CICIG has worked alongside Guatemalan investigators and prosecutors to dismantle criminal networks entwined with State power.

“CICIG was an innovative experiment,” UN representative Laura Flores said earlier this month.

“It became a landmark on a global scale,” she added.

CICIG was never just about corruption CICIG’s prominence skyrocketed in 2015, when the Commission’s investigations

into a criminal network involving the tax and customs agency led to the resignation and arrest of then President Otto Perez Molina, then Vice President Roxana Baldetti and other officials on fraud, bribery and other charges.

The roots of the La Linea corruption ring stretched back decades to networks established under military rule in the midst of a 36-year civil war between the military and leftist rebel forces.

An estimated 200,000 people were killed during

the 1960-1996 conflict. A truth commission and courts have concluded state actors committed acts of genocide against indigenous Mayan civilians.

During the war, military and intelligence forces spawned lasting criminal networks operating as hidden powers behind the scenes of politics and business. They are known in Guatemala as CIACS: illegal groups and clandestine security apparatuses. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Enrolment rises at Cave Hill

C

urrent student enrolment at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) is showing a marked increase for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Principal Professor Eudine Barriteau told newly-registered students Friday the institution was ranked in the top five per cent of the world’s universities by the Times Higher Education Survey, number one in the Caribbean, and 32nd in Latin America.

“Our enrolment to date of new and returning students stands at 4839 undergraduate and postgraduate students of which 440 are graduate students.

The total enrolment represents a 10 per cent increase for the comparative date last year,” the principal told the matriculation ceremony. (nationnews)

There is a marked increase in undergraduate and postgraduate students

President Paula-Mae Weeks speaks to Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley during the Independence Day reception at NAPA, Port-ofSpain, on Saturday

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rime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley on Saturday shot back at all those suggesting that the Sedition Act should be repealed because it is too old, saying there are several other laws we might as well do away with in the same vein.

“The biggest conversation in Trinidad and Tobago today is how old the Sedition Act is. And it’s time to get rid of it. Well then if that is how we approach it, we might as well go with the whole basket,” Rowley said.

“Let’s get rid of the Trespass Act, that’s ‘kinda’ old too. Let’s get rid of the act for murder and crime.

And while we’re at it, let’s

Jamaica: Portmore man fatally shoots relative in family feud

A

Portmore, Jamaica man has been charged with murder, illegal possession of firearm and illegal possession of ammunition following a dispute with a relative that turned deadly on August 22.

Charged is 21-year-old Shawn Sanderson.

According to Police reports, about 16:00h, Marlon Chambers – a relative of Sanderson –- allegedly used a knife to inflict a wound on the

young man, who then pulled a handgun and opened fire at Chambers hitting him in the upper body.

Both men were taken to the hospital where Chambers was pronounced dead and Sanderson admit-

ted in serious but stable condition, under Police guard.

A question-and-answer session was conducted with Sanderson in relation to the incident, after which he was charged, Police said. (Jamaica

Observer)

get rid of the act which speaks to common assault, which dates way back to the days of King John and the Magna Carta.”

The PM made the statement while speaking at the T&T Police Service’s special Independence Day celebrations at the Police Administration building on Sackville Street, Port-of-Spain.

Rowley was, of course, referring to the case in which Public Services Association President Watson Duke was charged with sedition for comments he made last November in relation to jobs at T&TEC, TSTT and WASA. Duke appeared in the Portof-Spain Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was granted $250,000 bail.

The charge, however, has led to a public debate on whether the Sedition Act, which was passed in 1920, is outdated and should be revamped to cater to freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution. (Excerpt from T&T

Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, september 2, 2019

17

Around the World

Israel, Hezbollah exchange Hell's Gate: Kenya tour group swept fire at Lebanon border

I

srael and Hezbollah exchanged fire along the Lebanese border after a week of rising tensions.

Israel's military has said it fired into southern Lebanon on Sunday after a number of anti-tank missiles by Hezbollah targeted its army base and vehicles near the border.

The missiles hit several targets in Israel's border town of Avivim on Sunday, said the Israeli Army, following which it retaliated.

According to Hezbollah, the missiles launched from Lebanon destroyed a tank, killing and wounding those inside it, AFP news agency reported.

Israel, however, said the

Israeli media also reported at least one air raid took place

attack did not lead to any casualties on its side.

In its statement, the Israeli Army said "a number of anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon towards an Israel Defence Forces base and military vehicles".

"A number of hits have been confirmed," the Israeli

Army added.

Following the attack, Israel responded with shelling, claiming to have struck at least 100 targets inside Lebanon.

The shelling has since died down with the Israeli military saying the latest round of fighting with

Hezbollah appears to be over.

Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, told reporters later on Sunday that Hezbollah missiles caused damage on the base and struck a military ambulance.

Conricus said the "tactical events" appear to have ended, adding that deeper "strategic threats" posed by Hezbollah remain.

The Lebanese Army said Israel fired at least 40 shells towards the border towns of Yaroun and Maroun al-Ras in response to the missile attack.

Israeli media also reported at least one air raid took place. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters block airport

P

ro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have blocked roads to the territory's airport, disrupting the operation of the major Asian transport hub.

Trains to the airport were halted and roads blocked. Passengers had to walk to the terminal. Most flights operated as normal, but delays were reported.

Thousands of black-clad protesters then tried to enter the terminal building, but were stopped by Riot Police.

On Saturday, Police and protesters clashed during a banned rally.

Live warning shots were fired into the air and tear gas and water cannon used to disperse tens of thousands of protesters.

Images later showed riot Police hitting people with batons and using pepper spray on a train in Hong Kong's metro.

Police say they were called to the scene amid violence against citizens by "radical protesters".

People took to the streets on Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the

Beijing Government banning fully democratic elections in China's special administrative region.

The political crisis in Hong Kong – a former British colony – is now in its third month with no end in sight, the BBC China correspondent Stephen McDonnell says. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Italy's PM confident on finalising talks over new Govt by Wednesday

I

taly’s Prime Minister said on Sunday he expected to finalise talks over a new government by Wednesday, as the 5-Star Movement and Democratic Party were in intense discussions during the weekend to hammer out a deal on a common agenda and Cabinet posts.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella gave Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte a mandate on Thursday to try to form a new coalition following Matteo Salvini’s decision to pull his right-wing League from its 14-monthold alliance with 5-Star to

seek early elections.

Conte said the “political mood” between 5-Stars and once bitter adversary PD was good.

“It will be on Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest,” he said in a video interview during a conference organised by Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper, when asked when he would report back to Mattarella with a programme and a line-up for the new government.

“Obviously I am confident on a positive outcome.” he added.

If no agreement is sealed in the coming week,

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte

Mattarella is expected to dissolve Parliament and set a date for a new vote.

In a sign that a deal on the programme might be closer, the 5-Star Movement said later on Sunday its members were called on Tuesday between 0700 and 1600 GMT to give a green light to a potential coalition accord with PD through a web-based ballot on the movement’s internet platform, dubbed Rousseau.

prison, kills dozens

D

ozens of people have been killed when a Saudi-United Arab Emirates-led military coalition battling the Houthi rebel movement bombed a prison in western Yemen, according to the rebels.

Yusuf al-Hadri, a spokesman for the Houthis' Health Ministry, said at least 60 people were killed in Sunday's air raids which hit a complex used as a detention centre north of Dhamar city Fifty people were wounded, he told the rebel-run Al Masirah TV, adding that 185 prisoners of war were being held overall at the Dhamar Community College.

Nazem Saleh was among

those held at the facility. "We were sleeping and around midnight, there were maybe three, or four, or six strikes," he told The Associated Press news agency.

"They were targeting the jail, I really don't know the strike numbers ... We were 100 persons on the ground level and around 150 on the upper level," he said while on a stretcher in a local hospital.

Reuters news agency quoted Franz Rauchenstein, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Yemen, as saying he believed more than 100 people were killed. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

W

A search and rescue operation is under way for the missing

T

wo people have been confirmed dead and five others are missing after a tour group was swept away by a flash flood during heavy rains in a Kenyan national park.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the incident at Hell's Gate National Park involved five Kenyan nationals, a local tour guide, and a "foreigner".

Two bodies were recovered during a search-andrescue operation, which is still under way.

The park has now been closed.

AFP news agency reports that the missing and dead were part of a 12-strong group that were visiting Hell’s Gate, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi.

Local media report that a survivor from the group alerted park rangers after the incident took place, and a search party and helicopter were dispatched to the scene.

A Police Officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the rest of the missing were "presumed dead", based on witness accounts from survivors.

Hell's Gate, named after a narrow break in its cliffs, was once the tributary of a prehistoric lake and its downhill gorges are prone to flooding.

It is the site of spectacular scenery which inspired the hit Disney animation film “The Lion King”.

The park, set up in 1984, also houses three geothermal stations. (BBC News)

Merkel allies weather far-right surge in German regional elections

(Excerpt from Reuters)

India urges Pakistan to take immediate action Houthis: Saudi-led coalition bombs Yemen over forced conversions ith the latest case of a Hindu girl's abduction and forced conversion to Islam coming to light in Pakistan, India on Sunday said that it has conveyed to Islamabad the strong condemnation of such incidents by the civil society and the people of India and has asked the neighbouring country to take "immediate remedial action".

The spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry , Raveesh Kumar, said in a tweet that the civil society and the people of India have strongly condemned the recent deplorable incidents of forced abduction, conversion and marriage of "two Sikh girls in Pakistan".

"We have reflected these strong concerns with

away by flash flood

Pakistan and have asked for immediate remedial action," Kumar tweeted.

The MEA response came even as protests were held outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by a large gathering of Sikhs and others, demanding that Islamabad take action in the matter.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA from Delhi, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the Sikh girl's forced abduction, conversion and marriage to a Muslim man in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, said that he has learnt about another Hindu girl from Sindh province of Pakistan being abducted. (Excerpt from India Today)

Chancellor Angela Merkel

C

hancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and her Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners held off a surge in far right support in two state elections in eastern Germany on Sunday, averting an immediate crisis for the ruling alliance.

Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) remained the largest party in Saxony ,but saw their vote share drop by 7.4 points from the last election in 2014 to 32 per cent, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) coming second, preliminary results showed.

The AfD harnessed voter anger over refugees and the planned closure of coal mines in the formerly communist eastern states, cast-

ing itself as the heir of the demonstrators who brought about the fall of the Berlin Wall three decades ago.

In Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin, the left-leaning SPD clung on to first place in a state they have run since German reunification in 1990, winning 27.2 per cent of the vote – ahead of the AfD on 22.8 per cent, preliminary results showed.

The ruling parties’ setbacks were not as major as feared and the results alleviate some pressure on the national coalition led

by Merkel, who has loomed large on the European stage since 2005, and could reassure a European Union unnerved by Brexit. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, september 2, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES

When in doubt, take a

(March 21- step back. Wait to see what April 19) others do or say before you

form an opinion or share your thoughts. Focus on personal growth and accomplishments.

Press forward with vim and TAURUS vigor. If you show everyone (April 20what you have to offer, you’ll May 20) make a stellar impression.

dilbert

Networking will lead to opportunities and positive change.

Romance is encouraged.

Look at the people around GEMINI you and consider who is (May 21right for you and who isn’t.

June 20) Distance yourself from those encouraging you to be indulgent. Focus on personal gains and spiritual growth.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Take a unique approach when dealing with co-workers or peers. If you say what’s on your mind and make your plans clear, you will receive the support you need to reach your goal.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Consider your options before you decide to follow someone’s lead. Don’t underestimate the power of doing your own thing and reaping the rewards yourself. Invest in you.

Peanuts

Refuse to let your emoVIRGO tions influence decisions (Aug. 23- that can make or break your Sept. 22) chance to advance. Don’t underestimate your skills, knowledge or experience.

Walk away from negative influences.

Calvin and Hobbes

Avoid negativity. Refuse LIBRA (Sept. 23- to listen to someone else’s Oct. 23) whining or put-downs. Do something that makes you happy. Attach yourself to people who bring out the best in you.

SUDOKU

SCORPIO Take time to assess your (Oct. 24- skills and qualifications and Nov. 22) the possibility of professional advancement or heading in a new direction. A change will inspire personal growth.

You know the drill and SAGITTARIUS should stick to the rules.

(Nov. 23Don’t let anyone tempt you Dec. 21) to get involved in something indulgent, costly or dubious.

saturDAY’S WORD

solution for SATURDAY’S puzzle

Consider your current CAPRICORN status and where you see (Dec. 22yourself heading. Rearrange Jan. 19) your lifestyle to fit the future, not the past. Change is required, and an optimistic attitude is a necessity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Gather your thoughts, consider your actions and set your sights on what will bring the highest returns with the least amount of risk. Avoid gossip and decadent people.

Share only what’s necesPISCES sary. If you are too dramat(Feb. 20ic or exaggerate to make a March 20) conversation more interesting, you will give the wrong impression and send a misleading message.

monday, september 2, 2019

Premier League: Richarlison doubles as Everton beat Wolves in thriller

Richarlison leaps highest to power home a brilliant header and give Everton a third goal and all three points against Wolves at Goodison Park.

(Photograph: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

E

verton manager Marco Silva described Richarlison as “the spirit inside our dressing room” after the Brazilian’s two goals gave them a 3-2 win over Wolves in an entertaining game at Goodison Park.

The Brazilian scored the first and last goal of a see-saw game to give the Toffees a hard-fought three points and add to his first goal of the season in Wednesday’s 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Lincoln.

“Richarlison is the type of player that needs good performances and if possible to win more confidence in the way he likes to play,” Silva said.

“Last season, he did all the pre-season for us. This season, he did Copa America and after was on holiday and started the first game

against Crystal Palace with 13 days working with us.

“He scored two really important goals for us. He will keep improving, for sure.

“We are talking about a fantastic football player and a fantastic boy. He is the spirit inside our dressing room.”

Richarlison opened the scoring in the fifth minute, converting from 16 yards, following defensive miscommunication between Conor Coady and Rui Patricio, to spark a flurry of goals in the opening stages.

Romain Saiss pulled Wolves level from close range but Alex Iwobi converted Gylfi Sigurdsson’s pinpoint cross to restore the Toffees’ lead before 12 minutes had passed.

Wolves thought they had earned

a point when Raul Jimenez bravely headed home in the 78th minute, but Richarlison showed his own aerial prowess two minutes later to rise above Willy Boly and give Everton all three points.

Boly capped his side’s disappointing day by being dismissed in the closing seconds after receiving a second booking for a foul on the impressive Richarlison.

With only four Premier League games played, Everton climb to fifth in the table, while Wolves remain 17th and without a league win.

Arsenal come from 2 down to hold Spurs

Arsenal staged a stirring comeback to earn a point in a chaot-

ic, thrilling north London derby against Tottenham at Emirates Stadium.

Spurs looked to be in complete control when Christian Eriksen pounced to put them ahead in the 10th minute after Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno pushed out Erik Lamela’s shot.

Leno then saved superbly from Son Heung-min before the South Korean was senselessly hacked down in the area by Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka to allow Harry Kane to score his 10th goal in 11 derby games.

Arsenal started the revival when Alexandre Lacazette pulled one back on the stroke of half-time before they laid siege to Spurs’ goal after the break.

Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris saved

US Open: Williams through despite injury concern

S

erena Williams remains on course for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title despite needing medical attention in a win over Petra Martic at the US Open.

The American, 37, reached the quarter-finals in New York with a 6-3 6-4 victory against the 22nd seed.

The six-time champion needed her ankle restrapping in a medical timeout after turning awkwardly during the final set.

Williams was able to return to the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium to see off the Croat in dominant fashion.

Konta wins Johanna Konta reached the US Open quarter-finals for the first time by edging an unpredictable match against Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova.

Konta, 28, fought back from a set and 3-1 down to win 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-5.

She will face Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina or American 10th seed Madison Keys in the last eight.

Barty knocked out Second seed Ashleigh Barty has been knocked out of the US Open 6-2 6-4

by China’s W a n g Qiang

19

in the fourth round.

French Open champion Barty was out of sorts throughout, making 39 unforced errors and failing to convert all nine of her break points.

Wang, the 18th seed, secured victory when a Barty return went long.

The 27-year-old is through to her first Grand Slam quarter-final where she will face six-time champion Serena Williams on Tuesday.

From 2015 until earlier this year, Wang was coached by three-time Grand Slam doubles champion Peter McNamara, who died of cancer in July.

Federer advances Roger Federer cruised into the US Open quarter-finals, thrashing 15th seed David Goffin 6-2 6-2 6-0 in just 78 minutes.

The Swiss five-time champion fell a break down early in the first set but then won six games in a row to establish control in the fourthround match.

Federer, 38, hit 34 winners while Belgian Goffin could only manage eight.

He will face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the last eight.

Dimitrov, a former world number three whose ranking has dropped to 78, beat Australian Alex de Minaur 7-5 6 - 3 6-4. (BBC Sport)

Williams needed a medical timeout after injuring her ankle in the second set (Reuters)

superbly from Matteo Guendozi’s low shot and from substitute Dani Ceballos before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang showed the poacher’s instinct to turn home the equaliser with 19 minutes remaining.

Kane struck the inside of the post and Sokratis had a goal ruled out for offside - Spurs also had strong penalty claims rejected when the pair clashed late on - but neither side could make the decisive breakthrough and this entertaining encounter ended with honours even.

The result lifts Arsenal to fifth in the Premier League with seven points from four games, while Tottenham head into September’s international break four places behind their rivals in ninth on five points. (BBC Sport) FIBA World Cup - First Round - Group E Czech Republic v United States - Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, China - September 1, 2019 U.S team reacts after the match (Reuters/Aly Song)

United States too strong for Czechs as Aussies flourish H

olders the United States made a sound start to their basketball World Cup title defence with an 88-67 win over the Czech Republic while Australia celebrated an impressive 108-92 victory against Canada on Sunday.

A strong third quarter gave Brazil a 102-94 win over New Zealand, Greece brushed aside Montenegro 85-60 and France beat Germany 78-74 in the day’s most evenly balanced contest.

Having seen 17 of their first-choice players pull out of the 32-nation event in China, a depleted U.S. roster produced a mature performance as Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell led the way with 16 points.

Harrison Barnes added 14 and playmaker Kemba Walker chipped in with 13 to cancel out a valiant solo effort by the Czechs’ Chicago Bulls forward Tomas Satoransky, the game’s top scorer with 17 points.

An early 11-7 lead for the Czechs triggered a momentary response by

Team USA who never looked back after turning the tide with a 21-7 run, as Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum carried their offence with 10 first-half points.

The Americans stayed in cruise control after the break, drawing loud cheers from fans in Shanghai with some spectacular moves and prolific three-point shooting.

Australia, who beat the U.S. 98-94 in the build-up to the tournament, lived up to their billing of the event’s dark horses with a rip-roaring performance as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova sank 24 points.

The game swung one way and then the other as Canada headed into the fourth quarter with a 77-76 lead after erasing a 52-35 deficit, but they were brushed aside in the final 10 minutes by a more athletic Australian team.

Leandro Barbosa netted 22 points as Brazil outscored New Zealand 28-12 in the third period while France held

off a spirited second half fightback by Germany as Evan Fournier poured 26 points and Amath M’Baye added 21 for the winners.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, last season’s most valuable player in the NBA regular season, had a quiet game with 10 points but Greece were never forced to hit top gear against Montenegro.

In the day’s other games, Lithuania thrashed Senegal 101-47, the Dominican Republic edged Jordan 80-76 and Turkey strolled to an 86-67 defeat of Japan.

The top two teams from each of the eight preliminary pools will advance to the second group stage, featuring four groups of four. The top two teams from that stage will progress to the knockout rounds.

Seven teams - two each from the Americas and Europe as well as one apiece from Africa, Asia and Oceania will qualify automatically for next year’s Olympic Games in Japan.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monday, september 2, 2019

BCB/New York Business Group Under-19…

Ramcharitar’s 6-for hands Albion victory over Rose Hall Town L

eg-spinner Surendra Ramcharitar bagged 6 wickets for 24 runs as the Albion Under-19s defeated their Rose Hall Town counterparts by seven wickets to emerge winners of ‘Zone C’ in the New York Business Group Under-19 50 Overs Cricket Tournament.

Playing in their final preliminary fixture at the ‘Area H’ Ground in Rose Hall Town, the star-studded Rose Hall Town team were dismissed for 60 runs scored in 21.5 overs, after winning the toss and deciding to take first strike on a pitch that was good for batting.

The Guyana Under-19 opener Junior Sinclair and fellow U-19 batsman Kevlon Anderson each made 16 runs, but no other batsman reached double figures.

National U-19 left-arm spinner Kelvin Umroa, who shared the new ball with fellow left-arm spinner Gouraf Ramesh, started Rose Hall Town’s misery in the second over of the match when Vikash Subramani was trapped in front of his stumps for a duck with the score on two.

Sinclair was then joined by Anderson, and the pair slowly carried the score to 22, before

Ramcharitar struck a double blow in his second over. He first produced a beauty to dislodge the stumps of Sinclair, and then had Jonathan Rampersaud (00) caught at mid-wicket.

It soon became 24 for 4 when Chanderpaul Govindhan (01) became Ramcharitar’s third scalp; and when Anderson became another victim of Ramcharitar’s with the score on 37 for 5 in over number 18, the Rose Hall Town innings thereafter quickly folded.

Ramcharitar, son of former Albion all-rounder and Berbice batsman Rampersaud Ramcharitar, received excellent support from skipper Umroa with 2-4 from four overs, and off-spinner Beesham ‘Bigs’ Surujnarine with 2 for 9 from his two overs.

Albion, in reply, reached 61-3 in 12.2 overs. Berbice U-19 batsman Jeetendra Outar made 17, and

national U-17 batsman Sarwan Chaitnarine chipped in with 10.

Opener Raayad Karim (01) was the other batsman dismissed.

Leon Cecil and Guyana U-15 batsman Tameshwar Mahadeo were unbeaten on 06 and 04 respectively.

Anderson took 2 for 16 bowling for Rose Hall Town, who, despite

Abdul Ramsammy

their defeat, will also advance to the quarter-finals, having ended as runners-up to Albion in ‘Zone C’. Based on the fixtures, three teams from ‘Zone C’ will be going into the quarter-finals.

Port Mourant, #73 and Rose Hall Town ‘B’ are the teams still racing for the third spot.

Ramsammy’s 5 destroy Tucber Park

Abdul Ramsammy took the Tucber Park Under-19 team to a seven-wicket win over the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre Under-19 team on Saturday last. In the match, played at the Rose Hall Canje ground, Tucber Park won the toss and asked the home team to bat first.

Rose Hall Canje were bowled out for 85 in 29.3 overs. Berbice Under-17 player Ramsammy destroyed the Canje boys with 5-10. He was well-supported by fellow off-spinner Joshua Singh, who spun his way to 3-21, while Berbice Under-19 seamer Gevon Schultz took 2-15.

West Indies Under-15 player Isai Thorne top-scored for Rose Hall Canje with 20, Batting at number four. In reply, Tucber Park were off to a flyer, reach-

ing their small target inside 10 overs, and ending at 86-3.

G u y a n a U n d e r - 1 9 all-rounder Leon Swamy led the charge with a brisk 25, while Guyana U n d e r - 1 7 player Zeynul Rmasammy remained unbeaten on 13, and opener Anthony Williams scored 14.

S a n j a y Algoo had two wickets, while Thorne picked up one Surendra for the Rose Ramcharitar Hall Canje Under-19 team.

The Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) New York Business Group resumed its fixtures after the rainy spell in Berbice with numerous matches in their different zones. (Brandon Corlette)

Joseph “Reds” Perreira shares CWI award for Leclerc dedicates 1st F1 service to cricket with Tony Cozier and Tony Becca win to Anthoine Hubert

C

that I was part of the ricket West broadcast panel to do indies (CWI) on Sunday my 150th Test match. honoured renowned I am truly humbled and I want to thank cricket commentator, the President and evjournalist and broaderyone who helped to caster Joseph “Reds” make this moment Perreira for his dedicated service to the a truly memorable game of cricket and one for me. I’m going out on a very special sports in the region high,” Perreira said. for close to 60 years.

“The only sad part The 80-year-old of that Tony Cozier Guyanese received his award from Ricky and Tony Becca are Skerritt, President not here. I want to donate my honour and of CWI, at an apshare with these two preciation ceremoesteemed gentleman. ny at Sabina Park We were friends for during the lunch break of the ongoa very long time and ing second Test of we shared many special moments in West the MyTeam11 Test Series, co-sponsored Indies cricket.”

Perreira listed doby Skoda and KEI. Joseph “Reds” Perreira is presented with his award by This is the 150th Test ing ball-by-ball comRicky Skerritt, President of Cricket West Indies on which he will have mentary the 1975 been commentating.

World Cup final Perreira’s first “live” cricket broadcast took place in when West Indies beat Australia at Lord’s as the most 1961 in a first-class match between his native Guyana cherished moment of his career. He said other highlights and long-standing rivals Trinidad & Tobago at Rose included: Brian Lara’s memorable 277 against Australia Hall. Ten years later, he covered his first Test between at the Sydney Cricket Ground; Lara’s spic 153 not out West Indies and India at Bourda Oval. Perreira has also to beat Australia in Barbados in 1999 and Courtney worked on 250 One-Day Internationals, including at- Walsh’s wicket of Craig McDermott when West Indies tending the half of the dozen ICC Cricket World Cups won the Test match by one run at the Adelaide Oval. to be staged – 1975, 1979, 1983, 1992, 2003, and 2007, Perreira also covered other major sporting event around the world including: 1984 Summer Olympics in when it was held on the West Indies.

In accepting the award Perreira said he would like Los Angeles; Pan American Games in Venezuela and to share with two other outstanding regional journalists Puerto Rico; as well as the Netball World Championships. and colleagues, the late Tony Cozier of Barbados and the As a senior sporting administrator, he was head of the sports desk of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean late Tony Becca of Jamaica.

“I was very touched when I received the letter from States as well as president of the basketball associathe President of CWI that they would be bringing me to tion in Guyana and president of the boxing federation Jamaica as a special guest to watch the entire second in Saint Lucia.

Test match between West Indies and India. It coincided

Raikkonen is tipped up into the air by Verstappen at the first corner, ending the Dutchman’s race... (Getty Images)

F

errari’s Charles Leclerc finally took his maiden Formula 1 victory after holding off Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes to win the Belgian Grand Prix.

Leclerc dedicated the win to Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert, who was killed in a crash on Saturday.

“This one is for Anthoine,” he said over team radio after crossing the line. “Feels good, but difficult to enjoy on a weekend like this.”

After pulling up in the pits at the end, Leclerc celebrated in fittingly subdued style, pointing at the sticker on his Ferrari dedicated to the memory of Hubert, against whom he had raced on his way through the ranks to F1.

The 21-year-old has come close to wins twice before in his

first season with Ferrari, his second in F1, but delivered under pressure at the classic Spa track.

But he had to fight for it as Hamilton closed in to cross the line less than a second behind in a nail-biting finish.

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas was third, ahead of the second Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel, who had a disappointing day - outclassed and out-paced by his team-mate.

McLaren’s Lando Norris suffered a bitter blow at the end.

After a strong race in fifth place after starting 11th, he had a suspected engine failure on the final lap and dropped out of the points.

That elevated Alexander Albon to fifth after a strong drive from 17th on the grid on his first outing for Red Bull.

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monday, september 2, 2019

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Hetmyer has all the talent in the world, but needs to learn "batsmanship"

21

– says Coach Reifer

A

t end of the second day’s play in the second Test match between India and the West Indies, West Indies Head Coach Floyd Reifer spoke to media operatives, disclosing, among other things, that Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer needs to learn ‘batsmanship’.

“He is a talented batsman, but he has to learn batsmanship: you know, adapt to the situation and play to the situation; and that’s something we speak about to Hety”, Reifer explained.

The Barbadian added that Hetmyer is growing and maturing, but it will take some time for him to learn to adapt to situations. “He has all the skills, he plays a lot of shots, but it’s just a matter of batting the situation”, Reifer explained.

Reifer revealed that Hetmyer is repeatedly told to play according to the situation, and he opined that Hetmyer will gradually learn from his failures.

The 22-year-old Hetmyer has scored 35 and 01 in the first Test against India in Antigua. In the second Test, ongoing in Jamaica, Hetmyer scored 34, and his dismissal has been due to poor judgement on his behalf.

In the 14 Test matches he has played (excluding this ongoing match), Hetmyer has recorded 790 runs in 27 innings, but is still without a Test century. He has scored five half-centuries, and has a high-score of 93 in Test cricket, a format of the game in which he has not excelled.

This Guyanese premier batsman has played seven more innings in the One Day International (ODI) format of the game than the 27 he has played in Tests. An explosive left-hander, Hetmyer has scored four hundreds and four fifties in ODI cricket, and has

also been successful in T20 cricket, especially in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), wherein he racked up 440 in the After 28 innings, Shimron Hetmyer has gone without a century in Test cricket

West Indies Head Coach Floyd Reifer

2018 edition playing for his local franchise, Guyana Amazon Warriors.

This former West Indies Under-19 captain has now been tasked with the responsibility of being the “batting director” for the GAW in 2019; but it is a role which may further develop his game.

With Hetmyer celebrating his 23rd birthday on December 26, he is certainly expected to improve his performances, especially in the Test format, where he is century-less. His attacking stroke play has been employed to his detriment in recent times, both in the ODI and Tests formats.

Undoubtedly talented, it is expected that this flamboyant left-hander would seek to learn from his batting failures, and score more runs on a consistent basis. (Brandon Corlette)

India stay ahead after setting Windies 468 to draw series

I

ndia swiftly ended West Indies' innings, went 299 ahead, decided to bat again, collapsed against Kemar Roach, and still ended the day comfortably ahead of West Indies. Setting them 468 to draw the series, India dismissed both openers to reduce West Indies to 45 for 2 at stumps.

For the first time in three innings, West Indies' top-order batsmen looked like they played with some comfort against India's fast bowlers, although much of that was down to a lack of swing in the evening.

Left-handers John Campbell and Darren Bravo nailed the timing on many of their favourite front-foot strokes, scoring rapidly after Kraigg Brathwaite edged behind off a straightening Ishant Sharma delivery.

But shortly after he was dropped at first slip by Hanuma Vihari, Campbell threw his hands at a wide delivery from Mohammed Shami and found Virat Kohli at third slip. West Indies then slowed down for the last five overs of the day, the only notable incident being a bouncer from Bumrah that struck Bravo on the helmet in the last over. Bravo chose to stay on for the last two balls to take them to stumps.

Quick scoring was also a feature of the partnership between Vihari and Ajinkya Rahane, who had rapidly turned the game after tea, scoring at nearly six per over to add 95 as India declared to put West Indies in for the last hour. They put up a hundred stand in the process, got to half-centuries, and finished the series with two fifties and a hundred each.

Unlike the afternoon session, where ball dominated bat, West Indies had little control over the pair who looked like they'd come out

with declaration in mind.

The move began with two glorious Vihari on-drives early in the session, followed by both batsmen running down at Rahkeem Cornwall and chipping him either side of square leg.

West Indies went on the defensive and bowled spin from both ends. The move

get batsmen forward - and the same line, just outside off, with which he's troubled India all series, with little fortune.

Having already pinned Mayank Agarwal deep in the crease and poking across the line before lunch, he persisted with the attack in KL Rahul's corridor post the session.

Rahul once again showed Kemar Roach had a lively second innings which shook the opposition early

almost paid off, with Rahane sweeping one straight to Shannon Gabriel at deep backward square, only for the fast bowler to lose balance and fluff the chance as he went down. That over ended with Vihari chopping one to point and Rahane drilling a full toss to the cover boundary.

The move to bowl spin played into their hands, and might have been a relief in comparison to when they came together at 57 for 4 in the post-lunch session, when West Indies and Kemar Roach had given India a jolt. The seamer went past Wes Hall's 192 wickets, into ninth place overall for the West Indies. He also came close to emulating another Wes Hall feat - a Test hat-trick - but missed out by inches.

Not much had changed about Roach's attacking strategy. It was the same length - just full enough to

indecisiveness outside off, often finding himself halfway between a guide to third man and a leave. This was a telling feature through his entire innings which lasted 63 balls and during which he scored only 6 - he added no runs in the 11.1 overs after the break.

His dismissal was built upon that indecisiveness.

Roach went stock - wide of the crease, angled into off stump, moving away off the surface. Rahul, in similar fashion to his first innings dismissal, was caught inside the line and followed the ball with his hands a touch, guiding it straight to wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton.

The very next ball, he got the ball to straighten even more subtly from wide of the crease. Virat Kohli's guard and shuffle across got him well into the off side as he looked to defend on the front foot, but Roach had done just enough to

find the edge and get him for a first-ball duck.

For the hat-trick ball, Rahane walked into yet another tricky situation, and with catchers all around him, looked tentative as he got on the back foot to poke one into the off side. The resulting inside edge narrowly missed leg stump, as all leg-side catchers tumbled in despair instantaneously.

It seemed Roach's bad luck, briefly dismissed, had returned.

Earlier in the day, India took just over an hour to end West Indies' innings, with Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja splitting the last three wickets between them. West Indies were bowled out for 117..

Mohammed Shami got a sharp, welldirected bouncer up at Cornwall's throat and had him fending from underneath it. He could only manage to get his gloves on it from that position, a gentle

3

lob for Rahane to hold on to coming in from gully.

Roach, who has also been one of West Indies' most confident batsmen in the series so far, looked it when he came out. He played stylish square drives off both Jasprit Bumrah and Shami, with a neat tuck through midwicket sandwiched in between. At the other end, for almost 10 overs, Hamilton added no runs to his overnight score of 2.

He became Ishant Sharma's only wicket of the innings. Hamilton's 57-ball 3, an exercise in survival, ended with an outside edge to slip as he went with his trusted forward block. Ravindra Jadeja extracted prodigious turn in his very first over of the day and soon had Roach slice one to cover.

With that turn, he activated a potential fourth menacing bowling option for India, and a follow on wouldn't have been out of the question. But conditions have been humid and sapping fast bowlers all through the match, and that is likely to have influenced Kohli's decision. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

India 1st Innings – 416 WI 1st Innings – 117 India 2nd Innings KL Rahul c †Hamilton b Roach 6 MA Agarwal lbw b Roach . . . 4 CA Pujara c Brooks b Holder . 27 V Kohli (c) c †Hamilton b Roach 0 AM Rahane not out . . . . . . 64 GH Vihari not out . . . . . . . 53 Extras (b 8, lb 4, nb 2) . . . . . 14 TOTAL (54.4 Overs, RR: 3.07) . . . . . . . . . . . 168-4d Did not bat: RR Pant †, RA Jadeja, I Sharma, Mohammed Shami, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Mayank Agarwal, 4.6 ov), 2-36 (KL Rahul, 20.1 ov), 3-36 (Virat Kohli, 20.2 ov), 4-57 (Cheteshwar Pujara, 28.6 ov) BOWLING : KAJ Roach (10-328-3), JO Holder (11.4-5-201), RRS Cornwall (23-7-68-

0), ST Gabriel (7-3-18-0), RL Chase (3-0-22-0) West Indies 2nd Innings (target: 468 runs) JD Campbell c Kohli b Mohammed Shami . . . . . . 16 KC Brathwaite c †Pant b I Sharma . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 DM Bravo not out . . . . . . 18 SSJ Brooks not out . . . . . . 4 Extras (b 4) . . . . . . . . . . 4 TOTAL (13 Overs, RR: 3.46) 45-2 Yet to bat: JN Hamilton †, SO Hetmyer, JO Holder (c), RL Chase, RRS Cornwall, KAJ Roach, ST Gabriel Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 2.3 ov), 2-37 (John Campbell, 7.4 ov) BOWLING : I Sharma (4-113-1), JJ Bumrah (5-2-160), M Shami (4-1-12-1)

22

monday, september 2, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

GTTA receives 1st shipment from Stag International

T

he Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), on Wednesday August 28, received a quantity of high quality table tennis equipment from STAG International, an Indiabased manufacturer and distributor of table tennis and durable sports equipment that is renowned for high quality.

The GTTA receipt comprised the following equipment: 10 Americas 16 elite tables, 1 Americas 16 elite show court table complete set, 12 umpire tables, 12 scoreboards, 60 dozen 3-Star balls, 60 dozen training balls, and 60 barriers.

The following national team kits were included in the receipt: track suits, playing shirts, shorts, kit bags, towels and socks.

In what was a ground-breaking historical agreement signed between Stag International Chairman Vivek Kholi and GTTA President Godfrey Munroe earlier this year, Guyana became the 41st country independently sponsored by Stag International. GTTA is now among a group of 57 countries worldwide that are sponsored by the brand.

Under the terms of this agreement, which result-

ed from a proposal by the GTTA, Stag will serve as the exclusive equipment provider for Guyana for the next four (4) years, and the GTTA will receive an equipment grant every two years.

The agreement will also

ing hosted by the GTTA within the period of the agreement. The Executive Committee of the GTTA is elated at this development.

The GTTA is aiming to develop new relationships with table ten-

see the GTTA benefiting from the provision of competitive discounted prices on future purchases of equipment, in addition to sponsorship and provision of equipment support for any international event be-

nis leaders throughout the world, to assist its efforts at providing the environment, infrastructure, equity, and accessibility for more players to play the sport in Guyana, decentralize the competitions

Guyana’s junior team at the 2019 Caribbean Mini and Pre Cadet Table Tennis Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

and training programmes, build the Guyana table tennis brand, and improve performance.

Stag, which is based in Meerut, India, began as a family-run business in 1922.

Its table tennis equip-

ment is used in junior Olympic and European continental championships, World Cup ITTF circuit events, and key championships worldwide.

With a global footprint in over 200 countries, and being a long-time partner of the International Table Tennis Federation and a Supplier Pool Member of the European Table Tennis Union, the company currently serves as a sponsor of 57 separate national teams throughout the world.

A significant focus of Stag’s business culture is to expand athletics opportunities for everyone – and particularly persons in need.

GTTA believes that Stag is at the forefront of Table Tennis with the quality of its equipment and the values expressed by this organization, which are aligned with the GTTA’s strategic plan. This means the GTTA will endeavour to explore ways of maximizing the potential of the relationship

and the sponsorship arrangement in view of adding value.

The Guyana national team utilized Stag uniforms and equipment when the GTTA recently held the Pan American Games’ qualification event and Senior Caribbean Championships in March of 2019 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Guyana’s Mini and Pre-Cadet teams were recently outfitted with Stag brand equipment when the team participated in the Caribbean Mini and Pre- Cadet Table Tennis Championships held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in August 2019.

The GTTA is expressing its gratitude to the management of: Mediterranean Shipping Company, Vidya Reddy, Demerara Shipping Company Limited, Dr. George Norton, Vivek Kholi and Mehul Dutt of Stag International, and the Guyana Revenue Authority for facilitating the clearance of the equipment.

Limacol Football Tournament 2019…

Dynamic FC, Santos FC draw 1st blood D

ynamic Football Club and Santos Football Club (Under 20) got their respective Limacol 2019 campaigns off to an excellent start when they recorded comprehensive victories on the first night of competition, on Saturday evening.

The double-header saw the two teams coming up against Police ‘B’ FC and Black Pearl FC respectively, and those teams were not as lucky on the opening night.

In the first encounter, fans were aware that they would be in for a treat from the first minute of play, as Dynamic and Police ‘B’ began with high energy in what turned out to be a fast-paced and eventful game.

The fortunes were against the Police ‘B’ outfit, as Amaniki Buntin was off his mark in the first minute, scoring an own goal.

The law officers were never able to recover from that early wound, and experienced quite a few near misses in the remaining 89 minutes of play.

On the other hand, Dynamic’s defense remained solid, and with the backup of their agile

It was a hard-fought battle between Dynamic FC and Police ‘B’

goal-keeper, the team was able to seal the victory when the last whistle sounded.

The second game paired a young Santos Under 20 team with an experienced and aged Black Pearl outfit. While the older Black

Pearl team was able to keep up with the youngsters for a little while, Santos’s youth manifested in faster plays, which resulted in Brandon Solman netting the first goal in the 27th.

Just after the second half be-

gan, Bevney Mc Garrel found the back of the net in the 46th to push the score to 2-0. With an excellent defense, Santos U20 were able to keep their opponents far away from the goal at all times.

Rondel Peters netted the 3rd

and final goal of the game in the 75th, to give Santos a 3-0 victory.

The Limacol action will return to the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue on Tuesday evening with two more games on the cards. Mahaica Determinators will take on Pele FC at 19:00hrs, while Beacons FC battle Pouderoyen FC at 21:00hrs.

Meanwhile, on the opening night, New GPC Company Secretary Zulfikar Ali was present to take the kick-off honours. The tournament is primarily sponsored by New GPC under their Limacol brand, while it is supported by W.J. Enterprise, sole distributor of Croxley Paper in Guyana.

The teams will participate in the round-robin group stage (In four groups of 4) before advancing to the quarter- finals, semis and the final showdown. With a new champion set to be crowned, the twelve teams will be battling for a $400,000 first prize, while second place will walk away with $200,000. Third and fourth places will pocket $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. (Jemima Holmes)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, september 2, 2019

Odean Smith on the return

Emerging players ready to don Amazon Warriors’ colours

By Brandon Corlette

C

ricket West Indies’ (CWI’s) emerging players in the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) squad, Odean Smith and Keagan Simmons, are ready to play in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), ‘the biggest party in sport’.

After three days of training sessions at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence EBD, Smith and

Simmons have been ‘maturing’ well with the team.

The 20-year-old Simmons, who hails from Trinidad and Tobago, is a new member in the squad. He is a former West Indies Under-19 opening batsman who holds the record for the second highest score by a Windies Under-19 batsman, scoring 166 in the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Speaking to this daily publication, the left-handed stroke-maker disclosed that he is eager to show his ability in the GAW colours.

In preparation mode with

Puran Bros Golf Classic…

Avinash, Harry and Fung-A-Fat claim flight titles

Top performers and sponsors take a photo op following the event’s conclusion. From left: Sarah Dass, Patrick Prashad, William Walker, Maxim Mangra, Jacks Harry, Aleem Hussain, Avinash Persaud, Lloyd Fung-A-Fat, Satesh Persaud and Chatterpaul Deo

T

23

he weather was great, and with over 50 enthusiastic players registered for the Puran Bros inaugural classic, the atmosphere on Saturday August 31, 2019 was set for great competitiveness and superb golfing.

Reigning Guyana Open Champion Avinash Persaud delivered well on this occasion, with his 1st place being fiercely contested by the former captain who is now always in the winner’s row, the veteran Patrick Prashad.

They were tied for 1st place in the 0-10 flight, but with a better score, Avinash won out on the “back 9”.

LGC President Aleem Hussain was a few strokes behind, with 76.

There were even more outstanding net performances in the 11-19 flight from Bridgelall ‘Jacks’ Harry, who pulled out all the stops to produce a net of 69, displacing veteran William Walker by a single stroke.

Net performances in the 20-36 flight provided more evidence of the keenness of the tournament, as Lloyd Fung-A-Fat delivered a splendid 71, followed

by Maxim Mangra with 74.

Lloyd’s great performance was enhanced with his winning the Nearest The Pin prize, while Persaud won the Longest Drive prize.

Noteworthy scores for a tremendous day’s tournament were as follows. In the 0-10 Flight: Avinash Persaud, 71/2; Patrick Prashad, 71/9; Aleem Hussain, 76/9.

In the 11-19 flight: Jacks Harry 69/16; William Walker 70/12; Rabindranath Tewari 73/17; Ravindra Harry 74/12; Joaan Deo 74/14; Kalyan Tiwari 74/16; Rakesh Harry 76/12; Aasrodeen Shaw 76/12; Shanella London 78/15.

In the 20-36 flight: Lloyd Fung-A-Fat 71/28; Maxim Mangra 74/21; Pope Emanuel London 76/21; Eureka Giddings 77/28; Troy Cadogan 79/26; Guillermo Escarraga 82/21.

In operation since 1987, and with more than 300 employees in the company, Puran Brothers Inc. of Lot 7 Bella Street, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, Guyana pioneered private garbage collection in the rural areas, and today thousands of households and businesses such as fast food restaurants, hotels, stores and other com-

mercial entities benefit from their high quality yet affordable service. They are the only waste management company in Guyana in possession of an operational permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. They have also earned a respectable and recognized name in both the construction and ready-mix concrete sectors, and currently have other services in a number of various industries, including road sweeping, tyre- recycling, paper shredding, party rentals and others.

Mr Satesh Puran – Director, Top Mix Cement Division – who is himself a member of the LGC and who participated in the tournament, and Ms Sarah Dass – Administrative Assistant, Puran Brothers Inc., were on hand to congratulate the winners and distribute prizes to them.

Mr Puran expressed his delight at the support this inaugural tournament received, admitted that he followed protocol not to win back any of the prizes, and indicated a commitment to continued support of the LGC and future sponsorships.

his new franchise, Simmons declared it easy to fit in with the team, and said he is looking forward to starting the tournament.

“Guyana has always done well, and I’m eager to show my ability at this level”, Simmons disclosed during his interview with this reporter.

There are some big names in the GAW squad, and the youngster would be aiming to capitalize on the experience he could acquire from being in the GAW group.

“Being selected in the GAW gives me that added confidence in my talent and performances (knowing they are) being recognised. I feel this is just the start (of) my cricketing career, and I feel I have a lot of developing and growing to (do to) become as good as I can become,” Simmons declared.

Simmons, who scored two centuries at the U-19 ICC showpiece, sits with an elite group of West Indies batsmen as only the third player from the Caribbean to achieve this feat; after Lendl Simmons and Kraigg Brathwaite.

Meanwhile, the 22-yearold Odean Smith has been involved in previous editions of the Hero CPL, wherein he played for St Lucia Stars and Jamaica Tallawahs. In his 2018 stint with the St Lucia

Stars (now St Lucia Zouks), with his abilithe right-arm fast bowler ty to bowl at had a tough outing.

90 mph, and In this his ‘new beginning’ hitting a long with the GAW, the emerging ball down the player is ready to redeem order in bathimself this season. ting.

“I have to reIn the deem myself with the 2018/19 ball, because my last CPL, in 2018 with St Lucia Stars, was not the best,” Smith explained. He added that he is eagerly waiting to get an opportunity to showcase his skills with the Regional bat as well.

4 - D a y I n tournaSmith’s m e n t , bloomhe took 17 ing cawickets in the eight reer, he matches he played Keagan Simmons played for Trinidad and rocking his new t w o Tobago Red Force.

GAW kit T 2 0 I He has thus far matchplayed nine T20 matches for the es, and has a best bowlWest Indies: ing figure of 3-20 in 3.5 in April 2018 overs, while playing for against Pakistan the Jamaica Tallawahs in Karachi, against Trinbago Knight wherein he took Riders in 2017. two wickets.

Simmons and Smith Smith has are both talented players been ‘turning who would be rearing to things around’ at showcase their respective the Regional abilities for the GAW in level, impressthe 2019 Hero CPL. ing the locals

monday, september 2, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Limacol Football Tournament 2019…

Dynamic FC, Santos FC draw 1st blood Page 22

New GPC Company Secretary Zulfikar Ali does the official kick-off

Emerging players ready to don Amazon Warriors’ colours Page 23

Page 21

Keagan Simmons taking a stunner at practice (Brandon Corlette photos)

India stay ahead after setting Windies 468 to draw series

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