Guyana Times November 13, 2018

World Bank partners with Guyana for new oil sector P14

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

Issue No. 3745

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

PRICE

LGE 2018

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Smooth process recorded countrywide amidst minor hiccups

UG heading for a crisis – unions P7

See stories on pages 3, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13

“Shoe Lace” paid $60,000 for December 2012 murder – jury hears

P8

A daughter pushes her mother in a wheelchair to a Goed Intent, Region Three polling station on Monday for her to vote in the LGE. In photo below, voters waiting in queue at Lethem to cast their vote (DPI photos)

Upgraded Disciplined Services P14

Govt unsure of funding for expansion of Fire Service

Night out P7 turns deadly

...concerns about poor ink quality raised ...GECOM admits to using “leftovers” ink from 2016 …no provision made for differently-abled …voters slam GECOM’s education programme ...PPP takes control of Lethem, Rose Hall, Corriverton municipalities Fly Jamaica crash landing

Aircraft’s voice recorders for US today

Page 2

…NTSB, Boeing officials arrive to join investigative team

…pork-knocker gunned down after nightclub feud

Motorcyclist injured in P7 minibus collision

2 news

tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fly Jamaica crash-landing

Aircraft’s voice recorders for US today

…NTSB, Boeing officials arrive to join investigative team

T

he Flight Data Recorder and the Cockpit Voice Recorder that were retrieved from the crashed-landed Fly Jamaica Boeing 757 aircraft are expected to be flown to the United States today.

This is according to Colonel Egbert Field,

Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), who made this disclosure during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Monday.

He noted that, up to late Monday evening, the boxes were being packaged for transport to the USA, so that

the decoding process can be done. He reiterated that the recorders can provide the answers to all the questions that are being touted.

“These boxes have to be packaged in a specific manner and sent to the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) for them to com-

mence their work,” Fields explained.

Investigative team

He noted that one official from the NTSB has arrived in Guyana to join the investigative team led by Paula McAdam, which is being assisted by members of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). He also said that an official from Boeing is shortly expected in the country to commence investigations.

With respect to the removal of the crashed aircraft, Field explained that the preparatory work to remove the aircraft from the position it occupies has begun. He added that it is expected to be a horrendous task, taking into consideration how the aircraft is positioned.

“The engineers are working on the logistics to move the aircraft to a holding facility, but it will take some time and some hard work to move it… First, the fuel, which adds up to thousands of pounds, will have to be taken out to make the aircraft lighter…” he explained.

Once the fuel is removed,

Guyana Civil Aviation Authority Director General, Colonel Egbert Field

The removal will also have to be coordinated with the flight schedules at the CJIA, to avoid a disruption in incoming and outgoing flights. In addition, Field told Guyana Times, the two pilots onboard the aircraft when it crash- landed are expected to face a panel of experts as soon as possible, to answer some questions. The two pilots, he added, are being prepared for that intense session.

Meanwhile, five of the seven passengers who were hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital with spinal injuries have

that the operations of Fly Jamaica are continuing, and there will be no disruptions in the scheduled flights in and out of the JFK Airport.

Recap

The Boeing 757 aircraft operated by Fly Jamaica crash-landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Friday morning with 120 passengers (118 adults, 2 infants) on board.

The flight, OJ256, left Guyana for Toronto, Canada at about 02:10h on Friday, but after encountering hydraulic problems, it returned to Timehri, where

The Boeing 757 operated by Fly Jamaica at CJIA

he said, the engineers will have get the cranes to lift the aircraft in a manner not to incur any breakage. Field added that, within the next four days, the crashed aircraft is expected to be removed.

been discharged therefrom; while, up to Sunday evening, the other two were being further monitored.

Owner of the aircraft, Roxanne Reece, visited the two injured passengers on Sunday and thanked them for their courage and bravery. A release issued by the airline on Sunday has stated that its priority is the repatriation of passengers.

Guyana Times understands that several passengers have already left Guyana via Caribbean Airlines, and arrangements are being made for the remaining passengers to be flown out.

An official from the airline told this publication

it crash-landed at about 02:53h. Immediately after the crash-landing, members of the Guyana Fire Service rushed to the scene to assist in the evacuation of the passengers.

During the process, at least 10 passengers were taken to the hospital -- seven with spinal and other injures, two with hypertension, and one with a heart condition. Seven others were treated at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

An investigation was launched into the incident, and the findings will be presented to the authorities once the process is completed. (Bhisham Mohamed)

news

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 13 – 09:00h-10:30h and Wednesday, November 14 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, November 13 – 07:20h-08:50h and Wednesday, November 14 – 08:10h-09:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny weather is expected throughout the day, while clear skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from Easterly to East north-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

PPP takes control of Lethem, Rose Hall, Corriverton municipalities

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) will be taking control of the Lethem municipality in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) according to the preliminary results released by the Guyana Elections Commission (LGE). The victory is being described

PPP won 14 of the 16 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) with one going to APNU and the two parties having a deadlock at the Fyrish-Gibraltar NDC. That was not the case at Monday’s poll.

Meanwhile, as polls opened on Monday, voting was slow but finished with a rush across the region.

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

as a significant one as the Party sees the Local Government Elections as a trial run for the 2020 General Elections.

According to the preliminary results, of the 1334 valid votes the PPP/C secured 676 with three of the five Proportional Representation seats while the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) got 528 votes and the remaining two seats. The residents of the municipality deemed the Alliance For Change “unfit and improper” after they only managed to scrape 130 votes and no seat on the Town Council.

Lethem was officially declared a township in October of 2017 and was being headed by APNU’s Kerry Jarvis as Mayor.

However, Jarvis was unable to retain his seat with PPP/C’s Jason Wilson pulling the seat from under him. Of the 10 seats up for grabs in the municipality, the PPP/C now has six to APNU’s four.

However, the Party would have lost the Aranaputa-Upper Burro Burro Local Authority Area to APNU.

Region 5

Meanwhile, preliminary results coming out of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) show that the APNU won the Harlet-Chance and Profit-Rising Sun LAA with three and five seats respectively while tying with the PPP with two seats a piece in the Woodlands-Bel Air LAA. Over in Region 10, it is reported that the APNU swept the Linden municipality securing all 16 of the seats there.

Region 6

The PPP continues to show that Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is its main support base with what is being considered a landslide victory at the

polls on Monday.

According to preliminary results, the Party did not take control of the region’s capital, New Amsterdam; however, it walked away with Rose Hall and Corriverton municipalities.

At Rose Hall, the Party took 11 of the 16 seats and at Corriverton, it took 14 of the 16 seats.

At the last LGE, the

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

16 Days of Activism E

ach year, in the month of November, there are 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.

During this time, the public gains more awareness and is inspired to join in the campaign, the aim of which is to galvanise action to end violence against women and girls especially, but also violence against men and boys around the world as well.

One would believe that, in this age of enlightenment and sophistication, violence against women would fast be on its way to becoming a thing of the past. Considered a cultural norm historically, where women were seen as chattel and possessions in some societies, this perspective unfortunately remains true in many areas, as far too many still consider girls and women unequal to males, and do not afford them a similar level of respect.

A large part of their problem, as stated before, is cultural.

Young boys are not raised to believe in gender equality, and girls are raised to expect poor treatment. In India, for example, some young males were reported as saying, “Girls are so foolish and silly they have to be beaten so they can get some good ideas in their brains…” while the mothers and sisters in the same community asserted that “all men beat their wives… it’s what to do to be manly…”

Still, the unfortunate truth is that violence against women is also found in so-called liberated Western societies, especially in the form of domestic abuse. The recent onslaught of sexual abuse allegations in the US can in no way overshadow the endless cases of domestic abuse that occurred over the years; which prove that women are habitually victims of violence by male spouses.

Yet, this horrific action should not be seen as targeting females only. Males are increasingly coming forward to admit that they have been on the receiving end of violence from females. Most hesitate to admit such, because they believe it diminishes them in the eyes of their peers; while others simply think that no one would believe their claim.

Luckily, this stereotype is being knocked down one case at a time, and momentum is gained when victims come forward and highlight their plight.

Likewise, there is another segment of society which is constantly threatened with violence based on its gender identity – the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex (LGBTI) population. Many in this community were assigned a particular sex at birth, but identify as another; and since gender is a social construct, may even identify as different genders throughout their lifetimes. They frequently experience discrimination in their daily interactions, but also can experience acts of violence against them by people who are homophobic or intolerant of their nature.

Therefore, one of the first steps to eradicating genderbased violence is to understand and accept that it does not mean violence against females only. Following this realisation, efforts must be ongoing to address laws that favour perpetrators of violence and discourage victims from coming forward. A little over a week ago, Registrar of Barbados’ Supreme Court, Barbara Cooke-Alleyne, had put forward a number of proposals to fight this violence, including introducing electronic monitoring equipment for violent offenders; appointing legal aid for victims without representation; increasing length of time for counselling for victims; and removing penalties for false accusations, so victims would be less afraid to speak out.

These proposals would be a step in the right direction, and we encourage their implementation. Yet, as a society, we all have a hand in ending this type of violence. Let our actions speak out. As was stated by former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, “Everyone has a responsibility to prevent and end violence against women and girls, starting by challenging the culture of discrimination that allows it to continue.”

Guyana has a lot to learn as it grapples with this issue frontally.

Hindu devotees sit together on the floor of a temple to observe the third day of Rakher Upabashin in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Reuters/Mohammad

Ponir Hossain)

Khashoggi killing: Demand for justice at Istanbul memorial

– the killing of the Saudi Journalist condemned at a gathering joined by his fiancée, friends and activists in Istanbul

A

bout 200 people gathered in Istanbul to honour the memory of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, demanding justice over the killing.

Supporters met on Sunday to talk and watch videos of eulogies for the Washington Post contributor, who was killed on October 2 inside Istanbul's Saudi consulate, where he went to handle paperwork for his upcoming marriage. His fiancée was among the participants of the memorial.

Turan Kislakci, head of the TurkishArab Media Association (TAM), to which Khashoggi belonged, called for justice to be done "so that these barbaric tyrants can never do the same thing again".

Yemeni human rights activist Tawakkol Karman, who won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for her participation in the Arab Spring uprisings, said the killing was reminiscent of crimes committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.

Saudi Arabia has changed its narrative about the murder several times amid international outcry and intensifying scepticism over its account.

After insisting for more than two weeks that Khashoggi had left the Consulate, it then admitted the Journalist had died in a fistfight inside the building. Later, Riyadh conceded Khashoggi was killed in a premeditated murder, but that the murder was an unplanned "rogue operation".

Erdogan's accusations

However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the "highest levels" of the Saudi Government of ordering the hit, while some officials have pointed the finger at the crown Prince – a charge Riyadh denies.

Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkey shared recordings related to the killing of Khashoggi with Saudi Arabia, the United States, Germany,

Hatice Cengiz, the Turkish fiancée of the late Journalist Jamal Khashoggi (left), and renowned Yemeni Journalist Tawakkol Karman attended the memorial [AFP]

France, and Britain.

The Turkish leader discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump during a dinner marking the end of the First World War in Paris, according to White House officials.

Sources told Al Jazeera on Saturday that Turkish Police ended the search for Khashoggi's body, but that the criminal investigation into the 59-year-old's murder would continue.

Al Jazeera also learnt through sources that traces of acid were found at the Saudi consul-general's residence in Istanbul, where the body was believed to have been disposed of with the use of chemicals. The residence is walking distance from the Saudi Consulate.

Canadian intelligence “has heard tape”

Canadian intelligence has heard an audio recording of the killing of the Saudi journalist, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has confirmed.

"Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share," he said.

Trudeau is the first Western lead-

er to confirm his country has listened to the purported tape of the murder at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

The US has not said whether it has received a tape and France's foreign minister has said it is not in possession of one as far as he is aware.

At a news conference in Paris on Monday, Trudeau said Canadian intelligence agencies had been working very closely with Turkey on the murder investigation.

"I had a conversation with Erdogan a couple of weeks ago over the phone.

Here in Paris we had brief exchanges and I thanked him for his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation," he added.

When asked whether Canada had heard the purported audio recordings, Trudeau said "yes". But he added that he had not listened to them personally.

But the Prime Minister sidestepped a question about whether such evidence would have consequences for Canada's relationship with Saudi Arabia. continued on page 5

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

Institutions and individuals (Pt 1) Dear Editor, Democracy, it is often said, is the governing of society by a majority mandate.

However, this is only partly true, it is much more than that.

The democratic system must also safeguard the rights of the minorities as it does the rights of the majority. Minority here is used broadly to include those in the minority as to opinion.

To do so, society has developed various institutions to ensure that the law is applied equitable and that fundamental human rights are protected, upheld, and promoted.

All democratic societies have three fundamental divisions of powers. They are the Executive, normally elected at free and fair elections; the Legislative, the Parliament where laws are discussed, debated and passed; and the Judiciary, this branch of Government interprets the laws and en-

sure that it applies to all equally.

In dictatorial countries, there are no such divisions; power is always concentrated in the Executive.

The Parliament and the Judiciary are reduced to serve the Executive. They pass laws that the Executive wants and give decisions in courts to serve the political wishes of the Executive.

To ensure that the functions of these bodies are fair, society has sought to give them independence, to insulate them from the pressures of the Executive. Other important institutions of the State are also treated similarly. These include Police and the Elections Commission, to name but two others.

To allow those important bodies to function independently, the individuals appointed are given security of tenure. Persons in the constitutional offices cannot be dismissed by the whims

and fancies of the Executive.

They should not have to fear losing their jobs.

Dictatorships, on the other hand, do not recognise the division of powers. They ensure that the Parliament, the Courts, the Police, etc, serve the interest of the dictator or the party in power.

Dictatorships, like democracies, vary in form. We can have open, brutal dictatorships as military coups; or we have seen dictatorships appearing to be democracies. These are dictatorships that come about creepingly. They have the form and trappings of a democracy.

They hold elections that are rigged to stay in power. They have Parliaments, where the Speaker acts more like a gendarme to shut down debates and threaten members of the Assembly.

In other words, as a deliberative body, the Assembly is subverted. It becomes a rubber stamp for the dictator.

The Judiciary in such cases also act as an arm of the Executive. As the dictatorship is strengthened, the Judiciary gives the Executive what he/she wants.

Mr Ashton Chase, OE, once, while speaking of the PNC dictatorship in the 1970s through 1992 said that there came a point when the dictator did not have to instruct the Judges what to do. They anticipated what he wanted and dutifully delivered.

That is why the appointments of persons to these high positions are so very important. The character and integrity of the individuals become extremely important, very vital. The institutions are managed by individuals. Therefore, individuals here acquire really great significance; such people when they remain loyal to their oath, the society is strengthened in every way.

When they succumb to pres-

Khashoggi killing: Demand...

“We are in discussions with our like-minded allies as to the next steps with regard Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Trudeau has faced calls to cancel a US$13 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia for tanks and armoured fighting vehicles built by an Ontario-based unit of the US firm General Dynamics.

Relations between the two countries are already strained. In August, Saudi Arabia accused Canada of violating its sovereignty

and froze new trade after Canadian officials called for the release of detained civil society and women’s rights activists.

In a separate development on Monday, Turkey reacted angrily after French Foreign Minister JeanYves Le Drian contradicted Erdogan’s assertion that France had received an audio recording from the Consulate and accused the Turkish leader of playing “political games”.

“The truth isn’t out yet.

We want to know the truth, the circumstances of his death and the identity of the culprits. Then we will take the necessary actions,” Le Drian told France 2 television. “If the Turkish President has information to give us, he must give it to us. For now, I don’t know about it.”

Asked if that meant Erdogan was lying, the Foreign Minister replied: “It means that he has a political game to play in these cir-

From page 4

cumstances.”

The Turkish presidency’s communications director called the comments “unacceptable” and insisted a representative of French intelligence had listened to the tape on October 24.

“If there is miscommunication between the French Government’s various agencies, it is up to the French authorities – not Turkey – to take care of that problem,” Fahrettin Altun told AFP news agency. (Al Jazeera and BBC News)

sure by the Executive and act as an instrument of the Executive, the society deteriorates.

Persons appointed to constitutional institutions should know of the huge responsibilities they carry for the country. They cannot afford to compromise the laws or act unfairly and unjustly to please a political party or

a person that they may favour. To do so will be pushing the whole country down a path of dictatorship which leads to ruination of economics, politics and social life of society as a whole.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Authoritarian takeover violates Constitution of Guyana

Dear Editor, The unlawful control of the Berbice Bridge by the Granger Government is dead wrong. It is shortsighted to think that it is not. Such an authoritarian takeover violates the Constitution of Guyana and it stands to discourage investors. This can never be the right approach to reject a proposed fare hike.

Government should never abuse its power in such a manner to arrive at decisions when it has options to negotiate. Negotiating with investors of the Bridge would have been the right approach to take.

This saga highlights the fact that the PNC/APNU/AFC Government does not know how to lead.

And who will pay the price for all this insanity? It is the people of this country because investors will not come here. This will in turn contribute to income inequality and poverty, among other problems.

Therefore, Government did not help Guyanese in any

way by abusing its power to trample investors in an undemocratic takeover of the Bridge. In fact, its decision hurts Guyanese and it can only be explained as political and stupid.

Sincerely, Dereck Singh

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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Foundation Continued from monday

By Ralph Lewis, MD

Attention Deficit ‘Disorder’ and normal human diversity ADD is common. If we include slightly milder cases, about five to 10 per cent of the population have these characteristics. It may be helpful to think of ADD as one end of a normal continuum rather than a true disorder in a category distinct from normality (also, ADD and ADHD are not two separate things, just different ways in which a lack of focus expresses itself in different people, depending on other characteristics – some are quiet daydreamers, others are more restless, hyperactive and impulsive). ADD/ADHD is just the way some people are – it’s part of who they are, not a ‘thing’ that they have or an illness they are afflicted with. As with most psychiatric disorders, the line separating a disorder from normality is determined (imprecisely) by the particular trait/s causing significant impairment of functioning in relation to the demands of the individual’s environment.

There are evolutionary reasons for this diversity of traits in a population. In the environment in which our species evolved for most of its history (think huntergatherers), longer or shorter attention spans would both have been advantageous in different situations.

All types of individuals were needed for the group to survive and thrive. Among other things, people with more of an ADHD profile would have been noveltyseekers, more exploratory and adventurous, following the herds and probably quicker to migrate. Our modern environment is

artificially skewed in favour of people who are focused, so these otherwise normal traits can be a liability in many settings.

The brains of people with ADD traits can in a sense be thought of as less internally stimulated than average brains – their brains require higher levels of external stimulation to engage them. So these people find unstimulating activities that require patient mental effort to be completely unengaging and intolerably boring. They need activities that are more stimulating, exciting, rewarding, novel or varying (video games are designed to meet these criteria). These relatively ‘under-stimulated’ brains are thought to have lower activity levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine plays a central role in attention and reinforcement of behaviour.

When dopamine is activated in our brains by a particular stimulus or action, it is nature’s way of ‘telling’ us that

something is important or good for us – it marks a stimulus as salient (noteworthy) and it reinforces an action so that it is more likely to be repeated.

Dopamine activation thereby directs our attention and motivates us to persist in a behaviour. Medications that improve attention are called stimulants (caffeine is in this category). They increase dopamine activation, among other chemical effects.

Attention stimulants are better understood as performance enhancers rather than ‘treatments’ I spoke with Andrew and his parents about strategies for reducing distraction, optimising focus, improving organisation, and leveraging incentives to increase his motivation. We discussed medication as an additional option, with a careful discussion of the pros and cons (side effects, risks). I was careful to emphasise that medications don’t work for everyone.

Some people understandably h a v e

reservations about medications for ADD, but Andrew’s parents, being doctors, were quite interested in considering the medication options, and Andrew was willing to give it a try.

I started him on an attention stimulant medication, which he could take on days when he needed to be focused and motivated. Fortunately, he had an excellent response to the drug, and no side effects.

He found school much more interesting and engaging when he was on the medication, and was much more persistent and productive on those days. He said he felt on those days like his attention “locked onto” the task at hand, and he felt a strong urge to keep doing whatever he was busy with.

He even felt annoyed if he was interrupted from his task. He didn’t take the medication on days when he didn’t need to concentrate as much, because he didn’t want to feel so intense all the time.

Andrew’s marks improved impressively over the next few months. This greatly boosted his morale and his motivation more generally. There was some spill-over effect of his motivation in that he tried harder to apply himself to his work even on days when he was not on the medication, but his focus was consistently better on the days when he was on it.

I have followed Andrew for several years now. He still loves playing video games, and he still gets to bed too late at night (smoking a joint – just one, he assures me – “to settle my mind and help me sleep”).

But he is close to completing a tough degree in engineering, and he is now well on the way toward achieving the clear, attainable long-term career goals that he has set for himself. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

By Edward Abramson, PhD

D

oes your daughter think she’s too fat?

Is your son worried that he doesn’t have enough muscle? Having a

poor body image is one of the defining characteristics of an eating disorder.

Also, it often contributes to the social and emotional difficulties that overweight children’s experience.

When a child doesn’t like their body, they may resort to unhealthy dieting, bingeing and purging, or give up, gain weight, and withdraw from other children and activities. Especially in childhood, body image plays a major role in self-esteem.

It’s hard to feel good about yourself when you think you’re too fat or are a weakling.

If you’re a parent concerned about your child gaining weight, how can you encourage weight loss without making him or her feel bad about their body?

Putting a child on a diet or commenting about their weight, even if it’s done humorously, is rarely helpful.

Instead of discussing weight, encourage healthy eating and enjoyable physical activity. Many thin kids could also improve their eating and exercise habits, so you won’t be singling out an overweight child if he or she has thinner siblings.

Don’t model dissatisfaction

One of the most helpful things you can do is to examine how you feel about your own body. If you’re dissatisfied, think you’re too heavy, or just don’t like some part of it, make sure you aren’t modelling dis-

satisfaction. For example, girls don’t need to hear Mom saying, “Does this make my butt look big?” and boys don’t benefit from Dad making negative comments about their beer bel-

lies. If you feel bad about your body, it won’t help you or your child to verbalise these feelings. Instead, you can express pride when you make a positive change. Let your child hear you give yourself credit for playing (not watching) sports or making a healthy food choice.

If your daughter is approaching puberty, especially if she’s maturing early, before her friends and classmates, she may be self-conscious and feel that her newly rounded shape is evidence that she’s getting fat. You can help her understand that the changes to her body are a sign that she’s becoming a woman rather than that she’s getting larger.

If your child is distressed about a particular body part, explain that body shape is largely inherited. Losing weight may have a minimal effect on a large butt or thighs. Help your child understand that he or she can be healthy and attractive even without a “perfect” body. You can point out an attractive feature, such as strong arms or a pretty smile, to decrease dissatisfaction with other body parts.

You could also mention a friend or an adult in the family with a similar figure who is still loved. Genetics may limit how much we can change our bodies, but it doesn’t determine how we think about them. (psychologytoday.com)

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tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

UG heading for Night out turns deadly …pork-knocker gunned down after nightclub feud a crisis – unions X T he University of Guyana’s unions are accusing the institution’s administration of bringing it to the brink of another crisis since it refuses to engage them on a number of issues that are pertinent to the work their members have been doing.

The unions on Monday said they have been attempting to negotiate with the administration on a range of matters since February 2018, adding that the negotiations have gone nowhere.

Additionally, the unions noted that they are deeply concerned about the state of the University’s finances, and about the administration’s violations of the University’s statutes and procedures.

The unions explained that after they would have taken the issue to the Department of Labour in August of 2018 after negotiations with the administration, but the administration did not agree to the conciliation meeting that was scheduled for October 25, 2018.

UG’s administration then informed the Department that the negotiations were not stalled resulting in the unions having to supply the written evidence to the Department of Labour regarding the lack of progress in the negotiations.

The unions said they have observed that the adminis-

tration was failing to provide the University Council with clear and straightforward information about the state of the University’s finances.

“This perhaps explains their reluctance to engage in negotiations with the unions about matters which involve money, since they would have to reveal the University’s true financial situation. Moreover, the administration has been trying to prevent the Council from hearing about the ways in which it has been violating the University’s statutes and procedures, and in the process opening up the institution to claims of discrimination.”

The University’s annual Business Meeting was held on Thursday, November 8 and the unions’ concerns were not allowed to be part of the agenda. The unions’ previous attempt to have

Council discuss them at an extraordinary meeting on October 3 was thwarted when the Vice Chancellor left to deal with an ‘emergency’ and asked that they not be discussed in his absence,” the unions said in a joint statement.

The unions said that they have been trying to place their matters before Council since July 2, 2018 and have been consistently denied.

“These actions by the administration, therefore, amount to a complete refusal to engage with the workers of the University on matters that are important to them.

It is clear that the administration has no regard whatsoever for the persons who keep the University running.

The University unions have been very patient about this situation, but the time for patience is at an end,” the unions stated.

avier “Javie” Boyal is now dead and investigations are underway after a feud that started at a nightclub reportedly followed him, resulting in him being gunned down along a Puruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) road.

Boyal, 24, of Waramuri Mission, Moruca River, was a pork-knocker attached to a dredge that operates at Rock Creek, Puruni. According to reports, the incident occurred on November 11 at the Puruni Landing between the hours of 03:00 and 03:45h.

Reports are Boyal was in the company of a co-worker, who earlier had an altercation with an unknown male outside the Junior nightclub. Boyal

is said to have intervened in a bid to make peace, pushing the male in the process.

Afterwards, the two colleagues left on foot.

Reports reaching this publication indicated that the matter was not done, as the suspect jumped into a car, PGG 9485, which was parked out front the belonged to food vendor Steve Underwood, who was then ordered to follow the two.

Underwood is said to have complied and while driving the suspect reportedly drew a hand gun and discharged a round through the windshield at Boyal, who was still walking alongside his co-worker.

Underwood’s windscreen shattered in the process and as Boyal laid wounded on the

ground, the suspect reportedly exited the vehicle and discharged another round at the pork-knocker before making good his escape.

Police subsequently photographed the vehicle and a 9mm shell was recovered. The scene was photographed and processed by police and the body examined. It is understood that the victim bore three bullet wounds on his body… one above the abdomen, one under the right arm and another to the right upper back.

A war head was found about 15 feet from where the body was found. Statements have been obtained and investigations are in progress.

However, the suspect has not yet been arrested.

Motorcyclist injured in minibus collision

A

motorcyclist is now nursing injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital following a late-night collision with a minibus on Sunday at Industry Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Guyana Times understands that Eon Persaud, 35, owner of motorcycle CF 222 was proceeding along the roadway when he was struck by the minibus.

The driver of the minibus, a Blossom Housing Scheme, Enmore, ECD resident told Police that he was proceeding west on the southern side of Industry Railway Embankment when the motor cycle “came out of nowhere” and collided with the right side of his bus.

As a result of the collision, the cyclist who fell to the roadway was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, while in an unconscious state.

Based on information received, the man sustained injuries to his right leg and hand,

The mangled motorcycle involved in the accident

which are currently being treated at the public health institution.

Meanwhile, the driver of the minibus who passed a breathalyser test is in Police custody assisting with the investigations.

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tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Shoe Lace” paid $60,000 for December 2012 murder – jury hears

...admitted to robbery-murder involvement under caution – Police witness

F

ollowing the conclusion of a one-week voir dire (trial within a trial), the contents of the caution statement of Phillip “Shoe Lace” Paul were disclosed to a 12-member jury at the High Court during the main trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon.

Police Detective Sergeant Kevin Martin testified that the accused admitted to being involving in the crime when he was in custody at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Eve Leary.

Georgetown in January 2013.

Paul has, however, denied the December 2012 killing of Kamal Ramsahoye for which he is facing trial at the Demerara High Court. Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt are appearing on behalf of the State while Attorney Brandon De Santos is defending the murder accused.

Deceased: Kamal Ramsahoye

During a recent hearing, Sergeant Martin noted that after the accused was taken into custody, he elected Inspector Adams to pen his story detailing the events that transpired leading to Ramsahoye’s demise.

According to the Policeman’s evidence, Paul said on Saturday night he went to the line top where

he saw he friend, “Tall Man” who invited him to go to a house. Afterward, his friend scaled the fence and barbed wire and “jumped in the yard”. The Policeman related that the accused said that he and his friend saw a man inside of the house and they went inside.

Paul reportedly said: “I hold on to he and Tall Man pull out a knife. I tell he don’t bore de man, but he say de man see we face. Tall Man began stabbing de man in he heart and belly. The man fall down and Tall Man tek de money out of de draw and we went upstairs. They had some money pon de table; Tall Man pick it up, we jump de fence, went through the street and went on de line top.”

The jury also heard that the accused was given some $60,000 before the duo parted company. Sergeant Martin disclosed that Paul

looked over his statement and appeared to be reading it and purportedly understood the contents of his caution statement.

The Police contend that the defendant gave his statement out of his own free will and even said that he did not want his mother present at the time surrounding the interrogation as she “gan fall down”. Martin, who was a witness to the said caution statement, identified the document in court.

The particulars of the charge allege that Paul murdered the man between December 8 and 9, 2012, during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

Reports from 2012 had stated that Ramsahoye was found dead at his residence.

A post-mortem examination had revealed that he died from haemorrhaging and shock due to massive blood loss.

Lifting the veil…

T …on PNC’s voting focus

he PNC – still using the fig leaf name “APNU” – had its last rally in Georgetown to fire up its supporters for yesterday’s LGE. They beat the bushes with all the ingenuity they could muster (cheap Banks was the clincher for the usual Stabroek Market lumpentariat!) and managed to attract some four hundred bodies.

It’s clear that David Granger had been scheduled to address the faithful, but with him stuck in Cuba dealing with his (unrevealed) illness, the party made an interesting choice for its main speaker – Winston Jordan. This in itself is revealing. Why weren’t some of the other party leaders – including newly-elected Volda Lawrence picked? Word is, the infighting within the PNC for leadership in 2020 is reaching boiling point with Granger’s absence and none of the three heavyweights would agree to each other getting exposure.

The compromise? Winston Jordan, who, up to now, has been a lacklustre Finance Minister for the past three years after being a faceless flunkey in the Finance Ministry’s Budget Office!! They were playing it safe – ‘cause they knew they couldn’t risk having the Mayoress Patricia Green-Chase in the audience, get onto the stage and speak. While they didn’t tell her to “SHUT UP!”, their tactic was just as effective!! Even the faithful wouldn’t have been able to stand her and with all those beer bottles in their hands, who knows what might’ve happened!!

But it might just be they’ve created a monster with presidential ambitions of his own!! Jordan said not a single word about the Municipal Elections nor even mentioned even a single one of the PNC candidates – especially the aforementioned Mayoress! His entire MAIDEN political speech was on the 2020 General Elections and how he would spend the oil revenues and how they must join him to keep out the PPP!!

The man was virulent on the race issue. He accused the PPP of “buying off” the Disciplined Forces by giving them a month’s bonus for years – while not doing the same for nurses, civil servants and others in the public sector! He clearly thinks the Disciplined Forces personnel are more easily bought out than the others! But not to worry, he declaimed: comes 2020 and the oil money, “watch with us one more day, one more hour. We are for you, we are for you. We have not forgotten that it’s you who put us here!”

The reason why the Government could give them the promised “substantial salary increases” was because they were saddled with a “misery of a sugar industry to deal with” and payments to rice farmers!!

The PNC presidential leaders better look out! Air Jordan looks ready to fly!!

…on AFC’s demise

While the PNC was mining its stomping grounds in Georgetown, the AFC returned to Berbice – more specifically the fishing village of Whim where Moses Nagamootoo was born. As your Eyewitness had mentioned, Nagamootoo declared the race in that part of the country was “between the AFC and the PPP”!!

Well, he had his “Mini rally” in Whim, while the PPP had its in the neighbouring village of Bloomfield.

And if these rallies are anything to go by, it just confirmed the “dead meat” status of the AFC – even with fellow Berbician Khemraj Ramjattan at his side!

All you’ve got to do is take a gander at the coverage of the AFC “rally” and “march” in the Chronic – which Nagamootoo controls. The Chronic only mentioned “the crowd” without daring to reveal the number in the “crowd”!! The pics were closely cropped to hide the low turnout. But they couldn’t hide that even these were all AFC with their free caps and T-shirts!!

In Bloomfield, however, the PPP was blooming like poppies in the field!!

…on the President’s medical condition

The news blackout on the President’s medical condition is unconscionable in a democracy, especially in the face of him being unable to return to Guyana as promised to vote in the LGE. This is causing too much speculation.

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

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tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2, 6 record minor hiccups

By Mohanlall Suelall & Andrew Carmichael

V

oting in Region Six started off very slow at Monday’s Local Government Elections (LGE), but not without hiccups.

On the Corentyne at Liverpool in the HogstyLandcaster Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC),

it was reported that the Returning Officer (RO) refused to allow replacement polling agents for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) saying that GECOM had instructed that replacement polling agents would not be accepted. However, after much discussion, the agents were eventually allowed to take up their positions at 06:45h. The Party

Times, the PPP/C’s Deputy Agent for the NDC, Suban Ally said it was very disappointing not knowing what transpired in their absence.

Meanwhile, there were reports that an elderly woman was denied the right to vote at Port Mourant after her wheelchair could not get into the polling station.

While this was ongoing,

ty, since the Prime Minister is from that village.

Some residents of Whim recently sought the intervention of the High Court to have their names removed from an AFC list of backers claiming that they were tricked into signing AFC backers’ forms.

By noon, the voter turnout was below 20 per cent.

New Amsterdam has a voting population of 14,063, Rose Hall Town 4198 and Corriverton 8468. The region has 92,801 voters registered on GECOM’s list.

The two NDCs are the Plegtanker-Koortbradt NDC on the East Bank of Berbice and the Wyburg-Caracas NDC in West Canje.

Peter Tambron, an A Partnership for National

Polling agents who were initially not allowed to enter the Polling Station at at Liverpool

smoothly. Many of the voters waited until about 10:00h before they went to vote.

However, first-time voter at the LGE level, Zamal Hussain, who is also the PPP Regional Supervisor, said he

Wyburg. I think many of the persons in this area don’t want the Local Authority.

They want local democracy to prevail, this area was developed by the people of the area,” Hussain added.

the pace of voting was picking up at Number 56 Primary where four polling stations were located.

There was a hive of activity at Whim, with both the PPP/C and the Alliance For Change (AFC) making all efforts to get voters out and many of them were responding.

At the last LGE, PPP/C took most of the seats in the Voters trickle in at a Berbice polling station

was disappointed to be part of the polls.

He explained that the NDC status was imposed on the community for the first time in Guyana’s 52-year history as an independent state.

“This was not about consultation democracy; this is about imposed democracy on the people of Caracas/ had to make contact with the Chief Elections officer Keith Lowenfield in order to get the matter resolved.

Speaking with Guyana

Whim-Bloomfield NDC. The AFC has since then been trying to pull most of the support from that communi-

Unity (APNU) constituency candidate in PlegtankerKoortbradt, told this publication that the process went

Essequibo Coast

Like the rest of the country, the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) also recorded a low voter turnout on Monday.

A visit to polling stations in the region confirmed reports of voters trickling in.

However, at Queenstown

village, PPP/C agents complained that they were not being treated equally by GECOM staff at the polling stations. The agents said that they were asked to observe 80 feet from the polling area while candidates from the APNU were allowed to stay.

However, the tranquillity of the Cinderella County was disturbed about 17:15h when a carload of persons went to some female PPP/C supporters at Danielstown village and reportedly hurled threats at them. Reports reaching this newspaper stated that some PPP/C supporters, who were under a bus shed, helping persons to find their names on the voters list before they voted were approached by the car and an occupant threatened them that if they continued, the Police would be called to arrest them. The women then shouted for help and some male villagers started walking towards the car, which immediately drove away.

The women told Guyana Times that they would not be intimidated by the persons in the car since they are known People’s National Congress troublemakers.

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tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP/C expresses concern about fraud, poor ink quality – Jagdeo …GECOM admits ink used was “leftovers” from 2016

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

s Guyana had its second consecutive Local Government Elections (LGE) on Monday, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has raised a number of concerns ranging from possible voter fraud to the quality of ink being used by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

After casting his ballot at St John’s College, in Georgetown about 10:20h, the Party’s General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo relayed the concerns to members of the media. Jagdeo said that according to reports the process was going fairly smooth, but the glaring issue was the fact that some of the Proportional Representation (PR) candidates were not accredited to act as polling agents. This, he attributed, to either a lack of comprehensive training on the part of GECOM or “capricious partisan action on the part of some Presiding Officers”.

“We have about one per cent of the total ballot stations without polling agents, because of one or another problem this morning. We are trying to get people in there now, but we have asked our leaders in those areas to pay particular attention to those boxes when we see the results to see if it departs from the national averages where we don’t have the one per cent with problems,” Jagdeo explained.

GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward

Poor quality

Additionally, the former President related that they have received numerous complaints about the quality of ink being used by GECOM. He said that the ink was easily washed off, which is a cause for concern.

“I have had numerous reports that it could be easily removed, so what we have asked our polling agents now is to pay particular attention to people who have voted before may attempt to come back in and vote so that is one safeguard against ink being removed, so we asked our polling agents to look at this,” he said.

GECOM

Meanwhile, GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward told reporters that the quality of ink

used was up to standard, adding that it was hard to wash off.

“We are talking about indelible ink here …When you put your finger in that ink, it comes out very light purple and within minutes it gets dark. I am confident that the quality of ink we have is of the highest standard,” she noted.

When asked where the ink was procured from, Ward said she would not be able to give the exact location, but explained that the Elections Commission would have had ink leftover from the 2016 LGE. Concerns had also been raised about the ink quality in the 2016 LGE. On the issue of the snubbing of some polling agents, the PRO noted that there were statutory timelines in which the names had to be submitted and once approved by the Returning Officer (RO), those persons would have been issued with their identification badges. She reminded that an election was ongoing and that politics, as well as the setting of agendas, would occur; hence, the reason for issues surrounding the snubbing of those polling agents.

“For a request to be made to an RO on an elections morning to have an agent issued with a badge, I think with all fairness for the RO, who is on the ground dealing with the conduct of poll, is something we should be extremely fair in our judgement about. And these have statutory timelines and our Returning Officers met the statutory timelines to

ensure that once your list has been submitted that they are issued with badges …. I am confident at GECOM we have the highest level of Returning Officers,” Ward stated.

Persons with disabilities

There have been several reports that persons with disabilities were disenfranchised because no provisions were made for their votes, especially those with limited mobility. On this note, Ward said that it was a rather unfortunate situation, adding that it would serve as a teaching moment for the Elections Commission. She went on to explain that because of the set of LGE, there has to be a polling station in every con-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo casting his ballot

common theme of low voter turnout. Some of the polling stations were virtually void of voters for long periods and, according to GECOM, this is mainly owing to the fact that many of the eligible voters were at work.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon shortly after casting his vote

stituency and that GECOM would have had issues accessing suitable sites resulting in them occupying a number of private residences as well as shops, which do not necessarily have the provisions for differently-abled people.

Intimidation

According to information reaching Guyana Times it was indicated that a number of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters were in Sophia, Greater Georgetown attempting to intimidate persons about to vote.

But, according to GECOM, they did not receive any information about such disturbances. “We have Police on site and I hope the RO was informed. The law is clear on the amount of feet/yards where the poll should be uninterrupted and if that happened, I hope the situation was remedied,” Ward said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his wife, Sita, cast their ballot at the National Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. He said that they have received reports of a smooth process throughout the country, adding that voter turnout has been reported as low.

The acting President also expressed regret that President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger could not have voted, owing to the fact that Granger is yet to be given the go-ahead to travel from his doctors in Cuba.

Voting process

This publication visited a number of polling stations within the Georgetown municipality, and observed the

“My observation is while we have voters turning up at the various polling stations, it seems to be very slow and I hope as the day progresses that it would pick up. You would appreciate that today is not a holiday, it wasn’t GECOM call for a holiday, we do not declare national holidays that is for the Executive and, therefore, we have a lot of the voting population at work at this time. I hope that they will be allowed the time to vote and make it before the poll closes,” PRO Ward said.

At the opening of polls at 06:00h, as expected, a few per-

Guyhoc Park and Tucville areas as the polling stations were opened. When the clocks struck 06:00h, a handful of elderly persons could be seen lined up at Howard’s Residence, Guyhoc Park to cast their votes at the earliest possible time. The same occurred at Tucville Primary and Secondary.

Minutes after the polling station at Howard’s Residence opened, Minister of State Joseph Harmon showed up to exercise his democratic right.

Speaking to the media after casting his ballot, Harmon stressed the importance of such an election and pleaded with employers to allow their employees time to vote.

“This is a very important election: it deals with the democratic renewal of your communities and, therefore, you are the persons who will benefit from the quality of leadership that you require at the local level,” he said.

A little while after the State Minister, Citizenship Minister Winston Felix also cast his vote at the same location, and he too stressed the need for citizens to vote.

Meanwhile, voters at Tucville Primary and Secondary Schools had a bit of trouble in identifying their respective polling stations.

The school compound housed six polling stations which proved to be confusing for voters. Several persons turned up at the school in hopes to

A voter displaying the poor quality of ink at a Georgetown polling station

sons were seen casting their votes – most middle-aged and above. Speaking with Guyana Times a number of residents in the Sophia area placed emphasis on the elections as they hoped that once their desired party was elected into office they could bring about changes necessary in Sophia such as new roads, better security, accountability for funds, and cleaner and greener areas.

Unlike the knocking of pots and pans that are usually used to awaken voters on election morning, one could hear a pin drop in the

cast their ballot, but could not identify their exact polling station; this caused them to walk to every one to check to find their names on the respective list for each station.

Many are blaming the low turnout on the fact that GECOM ran a poor education campaign and there was only so much that the political parties could have done. One of the glaring issues was the inability of persons to identify their respective Polling Stations.

(Additional reporting by Jemima Holmes and Timothy Jaikarran)

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tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

EBD records smooth voting process with few glitches more needed to be done for farmers relating that in most instances, they were at a loss. Nevertheless, the process was quite smooth and no confusion was recorded.

A number of senior folks, who trotted over to their

By Bhisham Mohamed, Davina Ramdass & Rupadai Seenaraine

L

ocal Government Elections (LGE) had a slow start on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) as small numbers of residents from the various communities approached the respective polling stations to cast their ballots.

In the morning hours, almost every polling station saw a sluggish turnout, but this changed slightly after a few hours when persons chose to appear at their convenient timings. Good reviews were heard as many got a chance to join the process without any hindrances.

At the Peters Hall Primary School, Burdetta Etwah was one of the first persons at the station as

as a leader who can take charge.

At Friendship, several polling stations were opened at the Safari Inn Hotel.

While there, Guyana Times observed that a handful of people were making their way to cast their ballots.

Family members over at Garden of Eden, EBD

vote because most of the time, I’m not here, but I was lucky to get here last night.”

Chetram Toolsie voted at the same polling station and expressed that he wanted to see improvements in the community as it relates to drainage and land maintenance.

Bhagwandas Mohanlall

arrived at the Houston Primary School a few minutes after the stations were opened.

One of the worrying factors expressed by some EBD residents was the availability of polling stations on the outskirts of the main settlements. After Diamond Housing Scheme, the prevalence of polling outlets declined. Additionally, many were not aware of the location of polling stations that were set up at residences.

Some were even told that their names were not on the registered list of voters and they would have to wait on the Returning Officer (RO) to verify such.

Improvement to community One of the few good ones left: This minibus driver who resides in Garden of Eden went out of his way to make at least three trips to take the elderly in his area to vote

she eagerly got her name checked and proceeded to vote. According to her, voting is essential, and that right should be exercised by all eligible citizens.

The same was reported at the Providence Primary School, Eccles Primary and the Herstelling Health Centre.

Meanwhile at the Diamond Housing Scheme, a larger turnout was seen at the three polling stations there, and citizens were keen about the election process.

Diamond Secondary School was visited by Caleshwar Moti, who was elated that he was able to vote.

“I get through good…

This is the second time I

dents of Supply turned up at the polling stations to cast their ballot.

Across at Oleander Nursery, there were reports that hundreds would have cast their ballots since the polling station opened at 06:00h.

at the Diamond Nursery was among the first to cast his vote, emerging from the queue of voters lined up to cast their votes.

At the Craig and Covent Garden polling stations, turnout was seemingly low when this publication visited as no one was at these stations. The Returning Officers were present and waiting to see when the process would accelerate.

The same was observed in Mocha-Arcadia, but one resident, Roxanne Armstrong stated, “We need proper things. We need development.”

Josephine Armstrong also called for her surroundings to be improved by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) when she

Meanwhile, at the upper

end of the EBD, residents of Coverden are hoping that the persons who are elected to take charge of their community and ultimately the NDC perform without fear or favour and more so, with some form of urgency to develop the area.

One resident stated that the main issue in the area was the flooding of the farmlands as a result of clogged drainage. He added that

Enjoying a mid-morning hang after voting in Coverden

polling stations in Land of Canaan, EBD, said there needed to be better roads after the elections.

They said they were hoping that the candidates keep their promises and improve the livelihood of members of the community.

Although polls were opened at 06:00h, few resi-

A Peters Hall resident checking the lists for his name

Good Samaritan

In the midst of everyone hustling and bustling to get to polling stations, one resident of Garden of Eden, went out of his way to ensure that the elderly made it to cast their votes as well.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) base was the only polling station in the area, which was quite a lengthy and fatiguing distance for the aged folks to travel, hence, Ram (only name given) said he began transporting the elderly early in the morning with his minibus to the polling station.

Persons who spoke with this publication said they were looking forward to infrastructural development in the community as well

Some thought that the elections would make way for the development of their communities. One woman complained that nothing has been done to curb the flooding situation in the backlands. She, however, was pleased that the access road to their homes was being constructed.

At the Friendship Secondary School, EBD, it was related that quite a small number of voters had turned out.

Clearing and collecting garbage were also highlighted as a major concern as well as the lack of street lights in some streets, with those currently in place having been privately installed.

As such, residents are urging leaders to address the issue.

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tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

ECD casts votes in slow process – cases of voters being turned away flagged we done eat it out already.

We ain’t sure if we’ll get (the other half) by December. We don’t know what going on,” he told Guyana Times as he made his way to vote.

A few weeks ago, the National Assembly had approved $2.4 billion in severance payments for over 4000 Wales, Berbice and East Demerara sugar workers, who were thrown on the breadline when Government closed several sugar factories.

The Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara (Enmore) estates were

ex-sugar workers from those three estates.

Those dismissed workers whose severance packages are $500,000 or less were paid in full by January 31, 2018, while those entitled to more than that amount were only paid 50 per cent, with the remaining half to be paid in the second half of the year. As such, since July, these workers and their families have been looking forward to the second tranche of the severance money from Government.

At Hope Secondary, there was a notable absence

A differently-abled man on crutches turns up to vote in Enmore

By Jarryl Bryan

V

oting along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) got underway with little trouble and a visibly low turnout initially. But those that came out are certainly aware of what is at stake in their communities and some of them made this known.

Guyana Times visited several polling stations along the ECD on Monday.

Among them were polling stations in the Buxton/ Foulis and Enmore/Hope constituencies, where only a trickle of persons took advantage of the early morning voting.

Voting continued to be slow in areas like Haslington. It was noted in

Enmore that the differently abled braved their condition in an effort to vote, though special provisions were not made for them.

However, residents in Enmore spoke to this publication about the challenging times they have faced since the closure of the Enmore Sugar Estate. Jobless youths are prevalent in the community and this is compounded by bad drainage and roads.

“Me ah GuySuCo man, me get release in December,” Rajid, an Enmore farmer, informed this publication.

“Me is 58 years now, me nah get job nowhere, nowhere.

Me a do lil bit gardening right now. Thing really rough here… things do tight bad. The lil money what they give we for severance,

Voting underway at Seeram’s place in Better Hope/LBI

closed in December 2017 with no severance payments made to the workers.

However, back in January, Government secured $.93 billion from the National Assembly to pay some of the

of voters. Officials this publication spoke to did express optimism, however, that the voting would pick up later in the day. But further along the East Coast, there was trouble.

with the turnout as a citizen of Guyana, who ensures that he exercises his democratic right, he needed to be one of the voices to call for betterment in his community.

Daniram mentioned that the main concerns in his area have to do with the drainage and irrigation system which, according to him, needed urgent attention.

“I voted because we need betterment here in Parika, I confidently cast my vote to have the person that I think is competent enough to help us here … we need better drainage, especially here in Parika where farming is significant,” Daniram explained.

Rihanna Sukram, another voter who cast her vote at the Parika Nursery School in the same constituency, revealed that she also wanted to exercise

her democratic right.

Rice farmers, however, came out in their numbers in Constituency Number Eight of Greenwich ParkVergenoegen, areas to cast their votes. Chief among their concern is the poor drainage system in the area.

Lavington Jones highlighted that if drainage could be rectified in his area, rice farming could aid in the development of Greenwich Park.

“We need development; we could do better, rice could make us do better, but things hard without the needed help, hopefully the new councillor can look into this,” Jones hoped.

Jailall Arjune supported these claims and even pointed to the clogged drains of the Greenwich Park Primary School which was being used as a polling station.

A steady flow of voters turned out in the TuschenUitvlugt areas; however, many were their complaints.

According to several voters in Tuschen East, the

An almost empty polling station in Middle Walk, Buxton

Turned away

At a polling station within the Better Hope/La Bonne Intention constituency, incumbent Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Zaman Shaw said that a relative of his was turned away early in the morning. The Chairman explained that this was because his relative’s name was not found on the list.

According to Shaw, three other persons in the community approached him, causing him to return with his relative and question the Returning Officer (RO). It was only after this second search that the name was found on the RO’s list.

“If that guy went away, had I not called the RO and intervened, that voter would have been sent away like the other three…the issue is that the pages were stuck together. And he was going it over and over and could

not find that specific name.”

After the name was found on the RO’s list, an apology was extended to the man and he was given the go ahead to vote. However, Shaw expressed fears that this was not an isolated case and that there may be cases of disenfranchisement of other people around Guyana.

Another issue that was raised by various voters was the quality of the indelible ink used to stain their fingers to verify their vote.

There were reports that in some cases the ink did not work, either fading rapidly or never even darkening.

When asked, GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward addressed the concerns. She acknowledged that some of the ink originated from the 2016 batch. However, she emphasised that the ink was indelible, fully functional and darkened over time.

Crime major concern for WCD, EBE voters

By Kizzy Coleman

V

oters along the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) and East Bank of Essequibo (EBE) on Monday raised concern about the high crime rate in their communities as they casted their votes in the 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE).

Commencing from the Parika, EBE area all the way to Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD, what was evident and similar at each polling station was their mostly empty state.

Guyana Times began its coverage just after the opening of polls at 06:00h.

However, when the first polling station was visited in the compound of the Guyana Forestry Commission in Constituency Number Five of Parika, just one voter was seen entering to cast his vote.

After a lengthy wait, this publication was able to speak with another voter who showed up at the same

Opposition Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali

polling station.

That voter, Krishna Daniram stated that even though he was dissatisfied

Differently-abled voter Kiron Lai being taken to a polling booth

transportation cost to get into and out of the large community has risen as a result of the conditions of the roads.

Hemwantie Mohammed

bemoaned the situation which she noted was unfair as other expenses also continue to rise.

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tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

WBD voters considered Wales Estate closure when casting ballots

By Shemuel Fanfair

M

any residents of the villages along the lower end of West Bank Demerara (WBD) considered the closure of the nearby Wales Sugar Estate before casting their ballots at Monday’s Local Government Elections (LGE).

The early-morning turnout saw villagers trickling in to vote at polling stations at the various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Region Three (Essequibo

noted that he had to take in one of his son’s four children to live with him and his wife.

“We can’t afford to mind and send children to school and at 55 years of age, I got to go and look to find work and when you go, them telling me I can’t work ‘cause I’m over 50. I beg, beg, beg and now get a rice project work after two years [without employment],” Bissoon stated.

When asked about his

harvester Anthony Sandy said that while he expected the candidate he voted for to do well, Wales remains a “ghost town”. Government opted to close Wales in late 2016 on the basis that large sums of State funds were being allocated to the century-old entity. The pensioner outlined that he was in complete disagreement with this move, likening the decision to when a person suffers a “stroke”.

A penisoner makes her way to cast her ballot

Other elderly persons such as Radika Persaud, 79, from New Road, Vreed-enHoop and Evelyn Aaron, 71, from New Annglet, Canal Number Two Polder, were not left out as they too appeared to show resilience as

Voters trickled into the Patentia Secondary School on Monday morning

Islands-West Demerara.

When Guyana Times caught up with the voters, many were the displaced sugar workers, whose employment was severed from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Several disclosed that they have been having difficulty getting work and noted that they were hoping for changes when casting their votes.

One such voter was 55-yearold Sahadeo Bissoon, who

expectations of Monday’s vote, the grandfather outlined that he was expecting “betterment” for his community.

Stanleytown cash crop farmer Roger Caryl, who had cultivated sugar cane previously, agreed that Government could be impacted by the estate’s closure, but he called on all Guyanese to unite to move the communities forward.

Meanwhile, retired cane

after the ballots were counted.

Candidate Shirley Allen is expecting a near sweep in the Bagotville area of the La Grange/Nismes NDC, while former Toevlugt-Patentia Chairman Shahid Khan said that he expected to win the area he was contesting. He observed that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) should have done more voter education work.

Both candidates, however, professed that they did enough ground work to garner the support of the electorate in their respective constituencies.

Missing names

It was not all smooth sailing at this year’s LGE following reports of some confusion as there was an

“We can’t afford to mind and send children to school and at 55 years of age, I got to go and look to find work and when you go, them telling me, I can’t work ‘cause I’m over 50. I beg, beg, beg and now get a rice project work after two years [without employment],” – former sugar estate worker they were assisted to cast their ballots. Meanwhile, other constituents told Guyana Times that the voting process went smoothly and noted that they were expecting a positive outcome

apparent lack of communication between polling agents.

Guyana Times understands that there was also an apparent inability to properly and efficiently identify

Wales pensioner Albert Vieira

if persons coming in to the polling stations should vote.

This was encountered at the La Grange/Nismes Local Authority Area when several individuals turned up

resentatives. During that time, the RO for La Grange then returned with the laptop only to find several of the voters on the list online, but the printed version still

Stanleytown, WBD farmer Roger Caryl

at the GECOM polling station and were told that their names were not on the list.

Several of the voters left the polling station and returned with the information provided by party rep-

had some names missing.

GECOM’s education programme was once again criticised as some constituents were at a loss to find their polling stations.

“Slow” day of voting in Linden-Soesdyke

By Utamu Belle and Leah Hernandez

L

indeners showed up at the polls in small numbers to cast their votes on Monday as Local Government Elections (LGE) got underway in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Polls were opened promptly at 06:00hrs, but persons trickled in to cast their ballots. There was no major hiccup recorded, and voters described the voting process as

Some elderly women now making their way home after casting their ballots in Land of Canaan

This elderly woman being assisted in Linden to cast her vote

a very simple and smooth one.

At some polling places, however, a few voters expressed frustration at not being able to find their names on the voters list, but they were redirected to other polling stations.

At one of the polling stations, early voters highlighted that there were no voting pencils available, and they had had to wait until this was rectified. Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell, who proudly displayed her inked finger, said the process was very slow initially. At the time, she was in the process of assisting senior citizens with transportation to get to the polling stations.

“Mostly senior citizens

we (got) to come out earlier, but we’re doing a lot of picking up and dropping off,” she related to this newspaper.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Constituency 8 Candidate Gary King said while the process was slow, it was to the point. “Everything was just smooth. You walk in, and everything was to the point,” he said.

The slow pace of voter turnout obtained throughout the day in Linden, with many expressing concern over the presumed low turnout of youths at the polls.

“They’re saying that (politicians are) making promises and they can’t fulfill them.

(Youths) want jobs, better roads. We’re not getting much!” a young voter noted in an invited comment.

Elderly

On the other hand, the elderly and persons with disabilities refused to be left out of the process. This publication spoke with a number of those persons, who were assisted in getting to the polls.

Eighty-seven-year-old Doris Michael explained that it was her first time voting at LGE, and she expressed optimism about

the process. Young Sheldon Sealy was observed assisting his 81-year-old grandmother, Shirley Hendricks

Support, Supply, Brickery, Garden of Eden and Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara trickled their

Relatives in Soesyke proudly showing that they voted

Hodge, to the poll. He noted that his grandmother had suffered a stroke years ago, but insists that she be taken to vote. As such, he said, he assisted the woman, who is also visually impaired, in getting to the polls and participating in the voting process.

Soesdyke/Linden

Meanwhile, residents of Yarrowkabra and Kuru-Kururu, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, Soesdyke, Coverden, Land of Canaan,

way into the various polling places to cast their ballots in the Local Government Elections (LGE) on Monday.

While there were not many glitches, some of the voters who had issues with their names being left off the list were given a chance to exercise their franchise by taking a sworn oath. In some cases, persons had issues with their identification card numbers not matching those on the list of electorates.

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tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

World Bank partners with Australian driver who rammed Guyana for new oil sector pedestrians found guilty of 6 murders

A

high-level five-member team from the World Bank is currently visiting Guyana to explore the possibilities of partnering with Guyana on the oil and gas sector.

The team met with the acting President, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, to hold discussions on the sector.

Led by Regional VicePresident for Latin America and the Caribbean region, Jorge Familiar, the World Bank has assured support to Guyana in capacity building as the country prepares for first oil.

The visit is part of a simultaneous ongoing engagement with Guyana in several sectors.

Others on the team included Regional Director Tahseen Sayed; Country Manager for Guyana and Jamaica, Galina Sotirova; Regional Programme Leader Abha Prasad; and Operations Officer Federico Baechili.

Familiar shared the recent dismal experiences of a few regional states that depended on oil wealth, and stressed that Guyana would need solid governance systems to avoid pitfalls and to protect and beneficially spend anticipated revenues.

In welcoming the team to Guyana, Nagamootoo referred to the Green Paper for a Natural Resources Fund, which was tabled in the National Assembly, and

the crafting of a Green State Development Strategy to provide a generational vision for the future oil-producing Guyana. He noted that the Fund policy is underlined by stringent fiscal rules to guide the use of petroleum resources.

Tahseen Sayed remarked that towards this end, the World Bank has approved a US$35 million development policy credit to better prepare the country to benefit from its oil and gas reserves, and to support Guyana’s efforts to strengthen financial sector development and fiscal management.

The World Bank team is expected to meet other key Government officials and other stakeholders.

Crime major concern for...

“We need better road in here especially, because the car fare is high and the road is very bad, so we need changes. And then the tax so high, is everything tax, tax, tax, I go to buy license and the price triple … as workers we are finding it very hard,” Mohammed lamented.

Meanwhile, Zeelugt residents called for Police surveillance in their community so as to assist with a reduction in petty theft and other crimes.

A standout voter in the Stewartville-Cornelia Ida area was Kiron Lai, a dif-

ferently-abled resident of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara who, with assistance from his wife, slowly made his way to the Leonora Secondary School to cast his vote. Though unwell, Lai still attempted to share a few words.

“I always ensure that I vote, it was hard this time, because I am not well, but I voted and I am proud,” Lai said proudly.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali spoke with this newspaper and assured that the turnout was expected to increase as

From page 12

it customarily did, for the morning hours to be slow.

“We have seen a steady flow of voters in Region Three so the turnout is not massive in the morning, but it’s getting up there, so we are hoping that at the end of the day, we will be at the same position or better than last year,” the former Minister hoped.

The low turnout of voting continued along areas such as Den Amstel, Hague, Blankenburg, La Jalousie, Windsor Forest, Mary, Crane, Best and Vreed-enHoop.

A

n Australian man who drove a car into dozens of pedestrians on a busy shopping street in central Melbourne last year, killing six people, was found guilty of murder and reckless conduct by the Victorian state Supreme Court on Tuesday.

In under an hour, a jury found James Gargasoulas, 28, guilty of murdering six people and recklessly injuring a further 27 people after he sped down Bourke Street shopping mall in January of 2017, local media reported.

The dead included a baby and a 10-year-old girl.

Police said at the time that the incident was not terror related and that the driver had a “criminal history” that included domestic violence charges. He had also been experiencing drug induced delusions.

The incident was one of Australia’s worst mass killings, since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre on the southern island state of Tasmania, where 35 people were gunned down.

Gargasoulas’ assault occurred just a block from an attack last week when a man set fire to a truck laden with gas cylinders and

stabbed one person to death, before being shot by police.

He later died in hospital.

Police identified the man responsible for last week’s attack as Somali-born Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, and said he was radicalized and inspired by the militant group IS propaganda.

A staunch U.S. ally, Australia has been on alert for terror-related violence after a Sydney cafe siege in 2014. Two hostages were killed during the 17-hour siege by a “lone wolf” gunman, inspired by Islamic State militants. (Reuters)

“Slow” day of...

From page 13

The process, according those who cast their ballots, was smooth, with no hiccups.

As the community of Yarrowkabra welcomes complete infrastructural transformation, the residents holistically were even more eager to participate in LGE for the first time.

Residents of Yarrowkabra, along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, went to the polls in fair numbers as they took full advantage of the opportunity afforded them to exercise their constitutional right to vote, but more so to be a part of a moment which will be recorded in the history of Yarrowkabra, since it contested its first ever LGE. When this publication visited the polling station at Yarrowkabra Primary School, persons could be seen lined up, patiently waiting to

cast their ballots. Meanwhile others were observed to be checking the voters list to ascertain that their names were present.

The number of voters was steadily increasing, as groups of residents were eagerly making their way into the polling station while others were leaving.

The voting process flowed smoothly, as no issues were encountered with person’s names not being on the list.

Kuru-Kururu

Residents of KuruKururu, on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, were excited when they turned out to cast their ballots on Monday in their first ever Local Government Elections (LGE).

The community recently gained its status as a Neighbourhood Democratic

Council (NDC), which now ensures that they are part of the LGE elections.

A few residents who spoke with this newspaper said they look forward to improvement in the area, as they are confident in the candidates for whom they voted.

The area had five polling stations in its four constituencies. Four political parties vied for the LGE in that Local Authority Area (LAA), including the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Alliance for Change (AFC) and an independent party the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM).

On the other hand, quite a few persons complained of not even knowing whom they were voting for, as they noted that not enough voter education campaign was done.

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tuesdAY, November 13, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Theft from Fly Jamaica crash-landed aircraft condemned

T

he recent theft of several items from the Fly Jamaica aircraft that crash-landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri on Friday has been described as an act of international notoriety that puts Guyana in a bad light.

Former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has said he is disappointed at having to learn about the “wholesale theft” of personal properties belonging to the crew and passengers of the crash-landed Fly Jamaica aircraft allegedly committed by ranks of the Guyana Fire Service.

“What is even (more) appalling is the fact that fire fighters, who are interna-

tionally recognised as first responders, are expected to uphold humanitarian goals and practices in life-threatening situations where persons’ lives are at risk or (are) endangered due to natural or man-made disasters,” Rohee said.

He made reference to situations currently obtaining in Northern and Southern California, United States of America, where he said firefighters are doing an exemplary job of helping to contain the wildfires. He said there has not been a single report alleging looting or theft committed by those firefighters, even though they are active in an affluent neighbourhood.

Fly Jamaica aircraft which crash-landed at the CJIA on Friday last

“Thus for Guyanese first responders under the guise of fire-fighters to act in such an irresponsible and disgraceful manner is to bring the noble service of fire-fighting into disrepute. To steal from crew members and passengers at a time when they had to ‘run for their lives’ from a crashed passenger airplane is a crying shame and a grave embar-

Upgraded Disciplined Services

Govt unsure of funding for expansion of Fire Service

A

s part of Government’s efforts to improve effectiveness of the Guyana Fire Service’s (GFC’s) reach and first responder capacity, there are plans to construct a fire station on the West Coast of Berbice.

Whether funds for such an undertaking will be made available in 2019 is another matter. According to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan at a recent press conference, the cost to construct a fire station may be a prohibitive factor.

“The nature of things as they evolve in Guyana means that that which was planned about ten years ago may not be able to be done now. Yes, we want to set infrastructure in places that had not gotten it…We want West Coast Berbice to have fire stations….That, of course depends on the bud-

getary allocation that we will get in 2019. I’ve made the case for it all over the place, but of course the Finance Ministry will want (to exercise) fiscal prudence and say all cannot be gotten in one year,” Ramjattan declared.

Throwing his support behind such a stance, Ramjattan pointed to previous constructions and the drain they have had on finances. He pointed to the fact that several fire stations have been constructed recently from monies allocated in the 2018 budget.

The first of three initial consultations on the disciplined services was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) only a few days ago, and attracted various stakeholders.

Ramjattan also told the gathering that Government is cognisant of the situation

and is working to improve all agencies under purview of the Ministry of Public Security. He explained that improvements have already begun to the Prison Service, Fire Service and Police Force. The need to boost skills and capacity was also noted.

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle later explained that consultations would ensure that all are apprised of the state of the proposed plans, and the way forward.

Gentle also explained that the Strategic Management Plan, initiated in 2014 and ratified in 2016, has had the Government’s full support.

These plans will see construction of five more fire stations and procurement of more equipment, including a fire fighting boat, to service the developments along the banks of the Demerara River.

rassment to our country and people,” Rohee declared.

Rohee described it as a despicable act which has once again brought into sharp focus the much debated question of trust and respect for ranks of the disciplined services. “This time it is the Guyana Fire Service that has reignited the public confidence debate, not because of acts of heroism or magnanimity by its ranks, but because of acts by its own ranks that have damaged (its credibility) irreparably,” he stated.

The former Minister said that by defaming their badges, which serve as a symbol of public faith, and by sullying the public’s trust in the Fire Service, the ranks involved in petty theft while aboard the crashed aircraft abandoned the lofty ethics of the Guyana Fire Service.

“They should be decorated with badges of shame.

Common decency and professional conduct were replaced by greed for other people’s property. The crashed aircraft became a target to commit crimes that offered a high reward with little effort and risk. These are called opportunity crimes,” he explained.

He recalled that the GFS Stakeholder Consultation Forum held recently at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre to address Emergency Medical Technician services (EMT) was expected to “see all members within the GFS being trained in first-responder skills, in order to save lives in emergency cases”.

“However,” he said, “the lectures delivered at that event seem to have fallen on deaf ears, in light of the crimes committed on the aircraft by ranks who would have attended the forum.”

Rohee said the incidents of theft perpetrated on the international aircraft by ranks of the Fire Service must have brought home to Chief Fire

Officer Marlon Gentle the need for more intense screening of applicants, and rigorous, on-going training for recruits to the GFS. “Strict supervision of junior ranks by a senior, experienced officer at all times, especially in operational situations as the one involving the Fly Jamaica (aircraft), is of critical utmost importance. Finally, it is imperative that ‘the fire fighter’s prayer’ be drilled into the heads of every new recruit, so that he or she, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and under the most difficult circumstances, will at all times uphold the noble ideals enshrined in the said prayer,” he concluded.

Partially-decomposed body found at Parika

T

he partially-decomposed body of a 22-year-old female was found in an empty lot at the Hydronie Market Road, Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), by a security guard in the area.

Dead is Romeza Sukdeo, an unemployed woman with no fixed address.

Based on information reaching Guyana Times, the security guard made the discovery about 10:30h and called the Police. Upon arrival, Police Officers found the body face down clad in a multicoloured dress, with-

out any footwear.

Sukdeo was last seen alive by her mother, Naimawattie Persaud, 50, a domestic worker of Parika Façade, on Sunday when she reportedly visited her home and left for an unknown destination. It was detailed that Sukdeo was a drug addict.

Police are currently investigating the woman’s death and are awaiting an autopsy.

Her body is currently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home where it is awaiting an autopsy.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, november 13, 2018

Regional

Salvadoran rape survivor faces Brazil’s top appeals prison for giving birth in toilet court orders release of JBS’s Batista, T Ricardo Saud he trial of a young Salvadoran woman, who became pregnant after being raped and suffered complications during her pregnancy, was set to begin on Monday in the latest case tried under the country's strict abortion laws.

Imelda Cortez, 20, is accused of attempted aggravated homicide of her newborn baby. She became pregnant at the age of 17 after being raped repeatedly by her stepfather.

Cortez, who said she was not aware she was pregnant at the time, suffered abdominal pains and went to the toilet where she fainted in April 2017. Her baby was found in the toilet.

The baby survived, but Cortez was sent to jail to await trial. She faces up to

A performer participates in an event to demand reformation of abortion laws in San Salvador [File: Jose Cabezas/Reuters]

20 years in prison if convicted.

Her stepfather has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a minor

and faces up to 15 years in prison, according to lawyers with the Citizen Group for the Depenalisation of Abortion.

Cortez's lawyers had previously asked the Judge to suspend the case due to lack of evidence of an attempted aggravated homicide. Medical reports from Government institution Legal Medicine show that the young mother experienced a natural birth with no signs of having induced it herself. The baby did not show signs of aggression after birth, the institution reported.

A verdict in the case is expected sometime this week.

Cortez is one of the dozens of Salvadoran women accused of attempting to kill their babies in a country with a total abortion ban and some of the highest rates of disapproval of legalising abortion. (Excerpt from

Al Jazeera)

B

razil’s top appeals court on Monday ordered the release of one of meat processor JBS’ controlling shareholders, Joesley Batista, and Ricardo Saud, a lawyer for J&F Investimentos, which controls JBS. Both were arrested on Friday in an investigation into illegal campaign contributions and alleged bribery of Government officials.

Last week’s arrests were the latest blow to JBS’s controlling Batista family, which last year signed plea bargain agreements with prosecutors admitting to bribing scores

of politicians to advance their business interests.

JBS shares were virtually unchanged in late afternoon trade at the Sao Paulo stock exchange, at 9.95 reais.

Neri Geller, who served as Agriculture Minister under former President Dilma Rousseff, was also arrested last week, but released from jail earlier on Monday, according a decision posted on the court’s website.

Rodrigo Figueiredo, who served as Secretary for Agriculture Defence under Geller in 2014, was also freed from jail on Monday, the court said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

More earthquakes recorded 5 held over murder of Mexico politician’s daughter in the Caribbean

T

hree earthquakes, the largest of which had a magnitude of 6.3, were registered in the Caribbean over the weekend.

There were no reported injuries or damage from any of them, however.

The first was a 4.9 magnitude quake that the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies said occurred at 12:25h on Saturday, 74 kilometres northeast of St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda; 142 km north of Point-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe; and 159 km

east of Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis.

That was followed by the 6.3 magnitude tremor off Barbados’ coast the next morning.

While the SRC did not release any information about that quake, the US Geological Survey reported that it occurred at 09:04h, 674.9 miles west southwest of the island’s capital, Bridgetown.

Then Sunday night, at 20:47h, a 3.9 magnitude earthquake, was detected off Trinidad and Tobago, which has experienced several

Trinidad: 2 cops dead following domestic dispute

tremors in recent weeks.

The latest occurred 72 km northwest of the capital, Port of Spain and 91 km northwest of Arima; and 98 km south of St George’s, Grenada’s capital.

The SRC has said that the recent increased level of felt earthquakes in Trinidad and Tobago is not unusual, but has urged citizens in the twin-island republic and the rest of the Caribbean to remain on alert because a destructive tremor could hit at any time. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

P

olice in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz have arrested five people suspected of involvement in the murder of the daughter of a Congresswoman.

Valeria Cruz Medel, a medical student, was shot dead while working out in a gym in Ciudad Mendoza on Thursday.

Carmen Medel broke down when she found out about her daughter's murder during a session of Congress.

Investigators said they

Valeria Medel was 22 years old when she was shot dead in a gym

Jamaica’s most wanted man shot and killed

P

olice said Jamaica’s most wanted man was shot and killed during a major military exercise in Richmond Hill, St James, a suburban parish on the north-west end of the island.

They said Delano “Prekeh” Wilmot, along with another alleged gang-

ster, Richard Anderson, also known as "Cruz”, was accused of numerous crimes including multiple murders and shootings.

Police said Anderson escaped and have issued a warning to residents that not only is it a crime to harbour a fugitive, but it is also

very dangerous as this individual is extremely violent and heavily armed.

The Police have called on Anderson to turn himself in and called on residents to report any information or knowledge that they may have about his whereabouts.

(Antigua Observer)

US Coast Guard sends home more than 120 Haitians and Cubans intercepted at sea

A In happier times: Police Officers Kevin Youksee and Rackel Kipps. Kipps was shot dead by Youksee, before he turned the gun on himself

A

domestic dispute has claimed the life of two Police Officers.

Dead are Woman Police Officer Rackel Kipps and her male companion Kevin Youksee.

Youksee shot Kipps dead before turning the gun on himself.

The murder-suicide has left the couple's two-year-old daughter without parents.

According to reports, res-

idents of Spring Valley, Mt D'or, heard three gunshots around 11:00h on Sunday.

Kipps was reportedly shot twice before Youksee, who was attached to the Tunapuna Police Station, turned the gun on himself.

Kipps died at the family's home while Youksee died while at hospital.

Investigations are continuing into the matter.

(Trinidad Guardian)

total of 123 migrants – 37 Cubans and 86 Haitians – were repatriated over the weekend after being caught in two separate boats off Cuba.

On Sunday, 29 Cuban males and eight females were taken to Cabañas, Cuba, four days after being found on an overloaded tug boat approximately 23 miles north of Havana, heading north.

“Many times these vessels we interdicted are overloaded and unsafe and the risk simply isn’t worth the possible reward,” said Lieutenant Commander James Hodges, a Coast Guard 7th District law enforcement duty officer after they were caught.

The same day the Cubans were caught, a 40-foot overloaded sail freighter was intercepted 26 nautical miles north of Punta Maisi, Cuba, with 86 Haitians on board.

“This illegal migrant venture and vessel were ill-equipped to carry its passengers and dangerously overloaded,” said Commander

Eighty-six Haitian migrants on a 40-foot sail freighter approximately 26 nautical miles north of Punta Maisi, Cuba (Coast Guard Photo)

Luis Rodriguez, Deputy Chief of Enforcement.

“If it had capsized before we arrived on scene, this situation could have ended differently as we have tragically seen before.”

Once aboard US Coast Guard cutters, all the migrants receive food, water, shelter and medical attention, the officials said, and were repatriated to Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, on Saturday. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

believed s Cruz was killed by a gang in a case of mistaken identity.

Murder rates in Mexico reached a record high in 2017 with official figures suggesting that more than 25,000 people were killed that year.

Non-governmental groups say that 2018 could top even that figure.

Footage of Carmen Medel sobbing and shouting in the Chamber of Deputies after she received a phone call informing her that her daughter had been killed made news in Mexico.

Fellow lawmakers rushed over to console Medel and the session was later suspended.

Veracruz Governor Miguel Ángel Yunes said in a news conference that Cruz had been the victim of "a confusion, the young woman had no links whatsoever with criminals".

Governor Yunes said that a man known as "El Richy", who is suspected of having shot her dead in the gym, had hours later been found murdered himself.

He said that the suspect appeared to have been killed by members of his own gang for murdering the wrong person and thereby triggering a police hunt for the gang members. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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tuesdAY, november 13, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Stan Lee, Marvel Comics co-creator, dies aged 95

A

merican writer and former president of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee has died at the age of 95.

In 1961, Lee and Jack Kirby created The Fantastic Four for Marvel Comics and went on to create titles including Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk.

Lee’s wife, Joan, died in 2017 – also aged 95 – but he is survived by his daughter, JC Lee. Speaking to website TMZ, JC said her father was “the greatest, most decent man”.

The legendary comic book author died at Cedars Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles on Monday after a medical emergency, according to Variety magazine.

In recent years, Lee had periodically suffered from illnesses, including a bout

Stan Lee

of pneumonia, US media reported.

Bob Iger, chairman of

the Walt Disney Company, which bought Marvel Comics for US$4 billion in

2009, called Lee “a super hero in his own right” in a statement.

“The scale of his imagination was only exceeded by the size of his heart.”

Lee was known for making a cameo in every Marvel film, though he had left the Marvel company in 1972.

He remained Chairman Emeritus.

The Marvel superheroes Lee had a hand in creating, including Iron Man and Captain America, have resulted in some of Hollywood’s highest grossing films, with the latest Marvel film, “Infinity War”, earning over US$1.5 billion.

On Sunday, Veteran’s Day, his official Facebook page shared a photograph of Lee in the Army, noting his nickname during World War Two was Playwright.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Amnesty International strips Myanmar’s Suu Kyi of ‘conscience’ award

A

mnesty International has withdrawn its most prestigious human rights prize from Aung San Suu Kyi, accusing the Myanmar leader of perpetuating human rights abuses by not speaking out about violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Once hailed as a champion in the fight for democracy, Suu Kyi has been stripped of a series of international honours over a Rohingya exodus that began in August 2017.

More than 700,000 members of the mostly stateless group fled across Myanmar’s western border into Bangladesh after the Myanmar military launched a crackdown in response to Rohingya insurgent attacks on the security forces.

United Nationsmandated investigators have accused the military of unleashing a campaign of killings, rape and arson with “genocidal intent”.

Suu Kyi’s Administration

rejected the findings as one-sided, and said the military was engaged in a legitimate counterinsurgency operation.

The international human rights group named Suu Kyi as its 2009 Ambassador of Conscience Award recipient when she was still under house arrest for her opposition to Myanmar’s oppressive military junta.

In the eight years since she was released, Suu Kyi led her party to election victory in 2015 and set up a government the following year, but she has to share power with generals and has no oversight over the security forces.

Amnesty International said in a statement on Tuesday she had failed to speak out and had “shielded the security forces from accountability” for the violence against the Rohingya, calling it a “shameful betrayal of the values she once stood for”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Saudi Energy Minister calls for one Israel-Gaza violence million bpd oil output cut erupts after covert

S

audi Arabia’s Energy Minister has called for a global output cut of one million barrels per day (bpd) to re-balance the market, a day after Riyadh unveiled plans to cut production by 500,000 bpd from December.

“The technical analysis we reviewed yesterday shows that we need a reduction approaching one million bpd to balance the market,” Khalid al-Falih told an energy conference in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The proposed reduction is from October production levels, al-Falih said, cautioning that further study was needed before final de-

op killings

Oil prices have lost a fifth of their value over the past month [Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images]

cisions were made.

“There are a lot of assumptions in their projections that may change,” al-Falih said. “We don’t want to throttle the global

economy.”

Russia, another major producer, struck a more measured tone, however, saying it preferred a waitand-see approach.

“I would not want to focus purely on production cuts,” Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Bloomberg on Monday.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

An empty bus in a kibbutz was set ablaze after being hit and an Israeli seriously wounded

V

iolence has flared between Israel and Palestinian mili-

Mourning dog waits for 80 days on road where owner died

A

loyal dog which has waited on a busy road for more than 80 days after its owner died there has captured the hearts of online communities in China.

Footage of the animal in the middle of the road in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, has been viewed 1.4 million times on the popular Sina

Weibo microblog.

China’s Pear Video website said the dog has been seen in the road every day since its owner died on August 21.

A taxi driver said people try to help but the dog runs away.

“Drivers often give the little dog bits of food, but when we get out, he goes

away,” he said.

“This owner’s relationship with her dog was very deep. After she was killed, this little dog has just stayed standing guard.

“Every day it’s in the road, I always see it. The relationship between man and dog is so true.”

The video was filmed on November 10. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Pear video said the dog has been on the road since its owner died on August 21

California wildfires: Death toll reaches grim milestone

T

he death toll in wildfires sweeping California has risen to 31, with more than 200 people still missing, officials have said.

Six more people were confirmed killed in the Camp Fire in the north of the state, taking the toll there to 29.

That fire now equals the deadliest on record in California – the 1933 Griffith Park disaster in Los Angeles.

In the south, the Woolsey Fire has claimed two lives as it damaged

beach resorts, including Malibu.

An estimated 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to avoid three major blazes in the state.

With strengthening winds threatening to spread the flames, California Governor Jerry Brown has urged President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster, a move that would harness more federal emergency funds.

The appeal came a day after

Trump threatened to cut funding for California, blaming the fires on poor forest management.

International Association of Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger called the President’s comments “reckless and insulting”.

Emergency teams have been sifting through the remains of more than 6700 burned homes and businesses in the town of Paradise.

The town and surrounding area bore the brunt of the inferno, which

started in nearby forest on Thursday.

At a news conference late on Sunday, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the bodies of five people had been found in their burned-out homes and a sixth was found inside a vehicle.

He said that at least 228 people were still unaccounted for, adding that DNA testing equipment was being sent should it be required to help identify victims. (Excerpt from BBC News)

tants in Gaza, a day after seven militants and an Israeli soldier were killed during an undercover Israeli operation in Gaza.

Militants fired 200 rockets and mortars at Israel.

One hit an empty bus, seriously injuring a soldier nearby.

Israel responded with strikes on what it said were military targets belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Three Palestinians, two of them reportedly militants, were killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier cut short his visit to Paris for events to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and returned to Israel to consult with his security chiefs.

A Hamas commander and an Israeli soldier were among the dead on Sunday.

Palestinians said an Israeli unit travelling in a civilian vehicle had killed the Hamas commander.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

18

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tuesdAY, november 13, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

A struggle will bring results. Wiggle your way upward and onward. Trust in your ability to go the distance. Channel your energy where it counts the most.

Romance is in the stars.

Mixing business with pleasure will lead to an emotional issue. Partnerships should be handled with care.

Rely on a trusted friend or colleague to help you out of a sticky situation.

A job opportunity looks promising. You’ll get a boost to your reputation if you take charge and finish what you start. A personal gain is heading your way.

Look at your choices and find the one that will result in you gaining the most experience. Take on a challenge or do something you’ve never done before.

A change at home will do you good. Cut your overhead or alter your living arrangements with an eye toward saving money. A new acquaintance should be handled with care. Don’t share personal information.

Get into the swing of things. Attend a conference or trade show, or set up a meeting with someone who can shed some light on something you want to pursue.

Get out of the house and LIBRA (Sept. 23- take part in something. It Oct. 23) will do you good to volunteer or engage in an activity that will get you up and moving.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — MACHISMO

SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S WORD — DETENTION teen tend tendon tenet tenon tent tide tied tine tinned tint toed tone tontine tote

need nene neon netted nine node none nonet note indent indue intend intent into intone

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Take a moment to review what’s going on around you.

An emotional matter will escalate if you aren’t willing to compromise. Less talk and more action is the way to go.

Search for the truth, reSAGITTARIUS gardless of the situation.

(Nov. 23- You may want to believe Dec. 21) what someone tells you, but if something doesn’t add up, you may want to take a second look.

(MACHISMO: mah-CHEEZ-mo: An overly strong sense of masculinity.)

Average mark 10 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 18 or more words in MACHISMO? The list will be published tomorrow. deet denote dent dentine detent diet dine dinette dint ditto done donee dote edit teed

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Emotional matters will arise when dealing with changes someone wants to make at home or in their life. Sometimes it’s best to let others figure things out for themselves.

Check over any documents that could affect your assets or taxes. Don’t trust someone with information. Find out firsthand what is the best path for you. Personal improvements are favoured.

Question everything and everyone. Knowing is believing, so do your due diligence and get the facts yourself.

Don’t let anger or distress lead to indulgent behaviour.

tuesdAY, november 13, 2018

19

Stand-alone Women’s World T20 Tournament…

England register crushing win against weary Bangladesh via DLS method

By Brandon Corlette

W

ith accurate bowling and outstanding fielding, England were able to restrict a seemingly weary Bangladesh team to 76-9 in 20 overs when the two sides met in an encounter of the stand-alone Women’s World T20 Tournament played at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia.

Debutant Kristie Gordon had magical figures of 3-16, inclusive of one maiden over, as the English bowlers shared the wickets among themselves. Chasing a target revised because of rain, the English ladies ended on 643, winning by seven wickets.

Amy Jones top-scored with 28 and Natalie Sciever made 23.

In this contest, England’s captain Heather Knight opted to bowl first, taking advantage of the moisture in the pitch occasioned by rainfall over the past few days. With England’s stalwart Katherine Brunt out of the team, three debutants got their opportunity.

Bangladesh were looking to improve their batting technique, since in their last

match they had produced against West Indies the worst batting performance in the history of the Women’s World T20 tournament.

Openers Shamima Sultana and Ayasha Rahman started off in frenetic fashion, and Sultana was the first wicket to fall, in the second over with the score on 2, when Shrubsole rattled the opener’s stumps. Rahman continued to consolidate, but she witnessed her partners losing their wickets to some brilliant bowling from the English girls.

Twenty-one-year-old Kristie Gordon, a slow leftarm orthodox bowler, grabbed 3-16 as she exposed the poor technique of the Bangladeshi batters. Rahman top scored with 39, while Ahmed (10) and Alam (12) were the only other batters to reach double figures.

England’s top-order batters were expected to make mincemeat of the small target, with the dimension of the ground being 55 metres; but in their pursuit of 77 for victory, England

gave Bangladesh their first taste of success with the first delivery bowled by skipper Salma Khatun.

Danielle Wyatt opted to use the review system, but it showed that the ball had struck h e r back pad adja-

cent to middle stump.

Tammy Beaumont was joined by the new and improved Amy Jones; and the latter got her innings going with a single off the first delivery she faced, and finished off the over with

a crashing boundary that ended an eventful Khatun over.

Khatun, however, continued her brilliance, removing T a m m y

Beaumont in her second over with a tempting delivery, and keep her team in the game as she darted rippers to the English batters.

Leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed tied down the English batters with some beautiful turning deliveries; a n d Sciever ran past a Tul Kubra delivery, causing Sultana to easily flick off An England batter on the go during the match in St Lucia

the bails and effect an easy stumping.

Regrettably, at the end of the ninth over, the heavens opened up, causing a short delay in play. The umpires and match officials then decided that the match should be reduced to 16 overs, with

England requiring only nine runs to seal victory. English skipper Heather Knight then finished off the innings in style with two consecutive fours and a single.

Salma Khatun was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers with two wickets.

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh Innings S Sultana (wk) b A Shrubsole 0 A Rahman c D Wyatt b Gordon 39 F Hoque c A Jones b N Sciver 0 N Sultana run out (A Jones/Gordon) 0 R Ahmed c Brown b Gordon 10 S Islam c Ecclestone b Smith 0 L Mondal c Knight b Gordon 5 J Alam c Knight b Ecclestone 12 F Khatun run out (N Sciver/ Ecclestone) 2 S Khatun (c) not out 3 K Tul Kubra not out 2 Extras (w 3) 3 Total (9 wickets, 20 Ov) 76 FOW: 2-1 (Sultana, 1.3), 3-2 (Hoque, 2.3), 24-3 (Sultana, 8.4), 42-4 (Rahman, 12.5), 49-5 (Islam, 13.6), 53-6 (Ahmed, 16.1), 57-7 (Mondal, 16.6), 65-8 (Khatun, 18.1), 71-9 (Alam, 18.4) Bowling: N Sciver (3-0-7-1)

A Shrubsole (4-0-14-1) L Smith (4-0-17-1) K Gordon (4-1-16-3) S Ecclestone (4-0-20-1) H Knight (c) (1-0- 2- 0)

England Innings (Target 77) D Wyatt lbw b Khatun 0 T Beaumont c Hoque b Khatun 2 A Jones (wk) not out 28 Natalie Sciver st Sultana b Khadija 23 Heather Knight (c) not out 11 Extras 0 Total (3 wickets, 9.3 Ov) 64 FOW: 0-1 (Wyatt, 0.1), 13-2 (Beaumont, 2.3), 51-3 (Sciver, 7.4) Bowling: S Khatun (c) (3-0-17-2), R Ahmed (2.3-0-22-0), K Tul Kubra (2-0-13-1), F Khatun (1-0-9-0), J Alam (1-0-3-0)

Liverpool striker charged No relocation of St Lucia's Women with breaching betting rules World T20 games despite rain threat

L

iverpool’s Daniel Sturridge has been charged by the Football Association with misconduct for alleged breaches of its betting rules in January this year.

It is alleged he breached one rule relating to betting on football, and one which covers providing information relating to football which has been “obtained by virtue of his position” and “is not publicly avail- able”.

A Liverpool spokesman said Sturridge, 29, had co-operated fully “throughout this process” and “stated categorically that he has never gambled on football”.

The England international has been given until 18:00 GMT on Tuesday, 20 November to respond to the charge.

The Liverpool spokesman added: “As with any issue of this nature, we will allow the process to be concluded in its entirety before making any further comment.”

Sturridge, who

joined Liverpool from Chelsea in 2013, spent the second half of last season at West Brom after moving on loan on 29 January.

He has won 26 caps for England, the last of which came against Lithuania in October 2017.

An FA statement said the charge against him was “specifically in relation to Rule E8(1) (a)(ii) and Rule E8(1)(b)” which are: Rule E8(1)(a) - a participant shall not bet, either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on - (i) the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in or in connection with, a football match or competition; or (ii) any other matter concerning or related to football anywhere in the world, including, for example and without limitation, the transfer of players, employment of managers, team selection or disciplinary matters.

Rule E8(1)(b) - where a participant provides to any other person any information relating to football which the participant has obtained by virtue of his or her position within the game and which is not publicly available at that time, the participant shall be in breach of this Rule where any of that information is used by that other person for, or in relation to, betting. (BBC Sport) Daniel Sturridge

T

he remaining Group A Women's World T20 matches will remain in St Lucia, despite the risk of further washouts. The ICC had been exploring the option of moving some of the matches to Antigua due to the state of the waterlogged Gros Islet ground and the forecast of more heavy rain.

But while there have been serious concerns over whether the remaining matches can be played, the ICC deemed that, quite apart from the logistics issues and costs of relocation, there was no guarantee that a relocation to Antigua would actually result in any more cricket being possible.

The weather forecast for the coming week in Antigua is not encouraging, with

heavy rain forecast, and the ICC reckon it would need 72 hours to make the Vivian Richards stadium matchready. Instead, they are currently attempting to fly over a second super-sopper to assist groundstaff in St Lucia.

The average rainfall in November for St Lucia is 160mm but in the past 11 days 236mm has fallen, throwing plans into chaos.

England's scheduled match against Sri Lanka was abandoned without a ball being bowled on Saturday, with England captain Heather Knight describing the outfield as the wettest she had ever seen.

Training sessions have been cancelled and England have been improvising by turning the space under the grand-

stand into an impromptu batting track.

Although only two Group A fixtures have been scheduled so far in the tournament, the conditions in St Lucia have been so unplayable that there is a genuine concern that none of the island's nine fixtures will be completed. The only Group A match to have taken place so far was West Indies' victory over Bangladesh at the tournament's other venue in Guyana.

If there is no further play possibly at Gros Islet the two highest seeded teams, England and West Indies, will go through to the final four. But if only some games are washed out then the positions within that group may become tightly contested. (ESPNcricinfo)

20

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tuesdAY, november 13, 2018

ATP Finals: Djokovic beats Farfan & Mendes Junior tournament Isner in group opener

W

Alexander Zverev

orld number one Novak Djokovic underlined why he is favourite to win the ATP Finals with a commanding win over John Isner in their group opener.

The Serb, 31, was in devastating form as he easily dealt with the big serves of American Isner in a 6-4 6-3 victory.

World number 10 Isner, making his debut at the season-ending tournament, was broken in the fifth game of the first set and seventh of the second.

Djokovic then sealed the win on Isner’s serve with a crosscourt backhand.

Earlier in the day, Alexander Zverev beat Marin Cilic in straight sets in the other match in the Gustavo Kuerten group.

With world number three Roger Federer having slumped to a surprise defeat

by Kei Nishikori in his opening group match on Sunday, the path for Djokovic to a sixth title at the tournament seems ever clearer.

He was already helped by the withdrawal through injury of world numbers two and four Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro and after this performance he is an even hotter favourite.

An encounter between one of the best servers on the Tour in Isner and the best returner was an intriguing prospect, but it was soon clear who would have the upper hand.

Isner is a player synonymous with tie-breaks - so impenetrable is his serve - but Djokovic already had

him under pressure in the opening game with a break point.

Although he netted his shot to squander the chance, he made no mistake in the fifth game when he broke with a beautiful baseline return from yet another thundering first serve from the American.

Djokovic’s own serving was impeccable, winning six of his service games to love, to give Isner no chance of a breakthrough.

H e sealed his first break in the second set when Isner netted a forehand in t h e seventh game and then set up three match points on Isner’s next service game - eventually wrapping up victory on the third one with a fantastic backhand crosscourt winner after one hour 13 minutes.

“I had three breaks of serve of John which is sometimes ‘mission impossible’ but I managed to be at right place at the right time,” said Djokovic.

“I held serve well, I backed it up from the baseline, I played very solid and didn’t give him many opportunities.”

his chances and opened his ATP Finals campaign with a 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-1) win at the O2 Arena in London.

Cilic, 30, served for the first set but made three unforced errors and a double fault as Zverev broke back for 5-4.

Zverev, 21, went on to take the tie-break and then fought back from a break down midway through the second set.

Cilic saved a match point at 5-4, but Zverev clinched victory in the breaker.

Zverev, like he did in the first-set tie-break, raced into a comfortable lead in the second decider, taking the second of five more match points with a serve out wide which Cilic could not return.

World number one Novak Djokovic aims to move level with Zverev at the top of Group Gustavo Kuerten by beating American John Isner in Monday’s evening match at the season-endi n g tournam e n t (20:00 GMT).

(BBC Sport)

his week, the Georgetown Club Squash Courts will be home to some riveting squash action as the Farfan and Mendes Junior Skill Level tournament is staged.

The competition will commence this evening and will run for the remainder of the week.

In total, 43 participants have been confirmed for the junior competition, and they are scheduled to compete in categories A to H. Top seed Shomari Wiltshire heads a small group of 4, including Gianni Carpenter, Samuel InceCarvalhal and Michael Alphonso; while in catego-

Novak Djokovic

Shomari Wiltshire

ry B, Abosaide Cadogan and Kirsten Gomes will vie with

the Jonas brothers, Lucas and Ethan; Demetrius DeAbreu, Mohryan Baksh and Nicholas Verwey.

In the lower categories, the emerging stars will no doubt be fighting for the top spots in their respective groups, and gaining some valuable experience from playing and watching a packed week of squash.

Play will begin at 6pm this evening, and continues each weekday from the same time, while morning matches will be hosted on the weekend. Additionally, the Squash Association’s signature BBQ fundraiser will be held during final matches on Sunday, 18th November.

CONCACAF U-20 Men’s Championships…

No Caribbean team passed 1st round C

Zverev punishes Cilic with straight-set win

Germany’s Alexander Zverev punished Croatian rival Marin Cilic’s inability to take

serves off tonight T

ONCACAF Under-20 Championship’s qualification stage is set to kick off today at the at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida with Panama and El Salvador in the first game of a Group H encounter, while Honduras and Costa Rica face off later in the day in the Group G opener.

After an initial Group Stage that included a record number of 34 teams, the six

group winners have been divided into two groups.

No Caribbean team made it past the first round, with Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti all finishing second in their respective groups behind the United States, Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica.

The two three-team groups have United States, Honduras and Costa Rica in Group G while Mexico,

Panama and El Salvador are the occupants of Group H. After round robin play, the two group winners plus the second-place finishers will qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Additionally, the two group winners will advance to the tournament’s final to determine the regional champion. The final is scheduled to be played Wednesday, November 21, 2018. (Sportsmax)

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Christianburg-Wismar return to winning ways as Guyoil Tourney continues

C

hristianburg-Wismar Secondary finally found their groove back in the seventh round of the Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers Under-18 Tournament, even as Lodge Secondary maintained their spot at the top of the points table.

The first match of the day on the four-match schedule saw Uitvlugt being pitted against Dolphin Secondary in what quickly became a one-sided affair.

Uitvlugt got the scoreboard ticking early on, as Michael McKend scored their first in the 10th minute; and his teammate Anthony Benn registered the second 5 minutes later. The score remained at 2-0 until the second half, when Dolphin fought hard but were unable to score.

Ruben Dainty of Uitvlugt, however, had no worries, as he comfortably scored two more goals for Uitvlugt’s 4-0 win.

After drawing their last two games in previous rounds, ChristianburgWismar Secondary finally got redemption in the second match of the evening, played against Queen’s College.

Tyrese David was the only player to score in the first half, putting the score at 1-0 in the Linden’ team’s favour. However, the second

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ing to Christiansburg’s large tally was Andre Mayers with a goal, as the Linden team finished on 7-1.

Meanwhile, it was another day at the office for front runners Vergenoegen with the registering of yet another win. Facing the struggling Queenstown Secondary, Brentnol Bobb was the shining star for the East Bank Essequibo team, scoring two goals in the 17th and 60th

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With the score at 3-0, Diarra Thomas came through for QC in the 39th minute by successfully connecting a penalty; but Tyrese Lewis soon had a field day with the QC defence, weaving his way through for three more goals.

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A glimpse of the Under-18 action

for his team’s 2-0 win.

It was a similar result in the last game of the day, when Lodge opposed Bishops’ High.

Lodge’s Marcus Bamfield netted the first in the 17th, and the game remained at 1-0 until his teammate Curt Edwards volleyed another in the 52nd.

Bishops’ did not trouble the score, and the encounter ended at 2-0.

Mbappe: Money in football is truly indecent

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21

Kylian Mbappe

cent”.

The 19-year-old became the second most expensive player in history when he completed a permanent transfer to PSG from Monaco this year for a reported fee of €180million.

His team-mate Neymar joined from Barcelona in 2017 for €222m in a deal that shook the European game and led to four more deals worth more than €100m, including Mbappe’s taking place over the next 12 months.

Reports based on documents from whistleblowing platform Football Leaks this month claimed Mbappe asked for a five-year contract worth close to €55m after tax when he joined PSG, along with various performance-based incentives, which was turned down by the club.

And Mbappe has conceded there are sums

involved in the top tiers of the game that he could scarcely have imagined when he was growing up.

“It’s truly indecent for me, who comes from a fairly modest family,” he told RTS. “It’s true that it’s indecent but the market is like that. The world of football works like that.

“I’m not going to revolutionise football.

I’m in a system. You have to know how to respect it and to stay in place.”

Mbappe has been compared to Brazil great Pele following a remarkable rise to stardom during the last three years, in which he has won four major trophies in France and the World Cup. However, the forward insists he is not trying to emulate anyone, saying: “I don’t want to be a copy of anyone else. Like the greats, you want to make your own story yourself, and not be a copy of another.

“I think it’s only natural to have high self-esteem, even if in everyday life you need to have that humility that is a strength of the greats.”

Despite his spectacular career at senior level to date, Mbappe says it is important to retain a childish sense of humour.

“There is no bad time to laugh. I always joke, even five minutes before a game. It’s not bad to stay a little immature,” he added.

“There is so much pressure in football that a little bit of ‘joie de vivre’, a little bit of fun doesn’t hurt in this environment.” (Fox Sport Asia)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, november 13, 2018

NBS Second Division 40-Over…

Tucber B defeat Guymine by 29 runs L

ed by left arm-seamer Isaiah Anderson’s 3-16, a Tucber Park ‘B’ Team defeated a Guymine Team by 29 runs in an NBS 2018/2019 Second Division 40-Over Cricket competition played recently at Lochaber, West Canje Berbice.

Tucber Park ‘B’, opting to bat first on the underprepared pitch, managed to scrape together 123 runs in the encounter, reduced to 35 overs per side because of a late start.

The Tucber batters found it difficult to score quickly with the Guymine bowlers hardly bowling fulllength deliveries, but openers Joel Davis and R Rose in particular got the innings going with streaky boundaries.

Rose (10) fell to C Grimmond in the third over, but Davis and the Ramsammy brothers consolidated as they looked to take the innings deep. However, wickets continued to tumble, and Davis was out caught for 11 while Zeynol Ramsammy followed in similar fashion for 8.

Abdul Ramsammy (11) and Mark Barker (5) encountered difficulties at the crease when K Ramsaran was plundering the middle order batsmen with a four-wicket haul.

S Lookpaul and D Mc Donald, however, hit some lusty blows down the order to take their team across the hundred-run mark. Lookpaul (10) hit a timely four, while Mc Donald

hit two gigantic sixes over the mid-wicket area in his top score of 19.

K Ramsarran was the top Guymine bowler with 4-19 in six overs, while Gregory Crandon picked up two wickets.

In context of the game, Tucber B’s 124 set for victory was defendable, since the Guymine batters likewise found it difficult to score substantially on the pitch. In the entire match, nineteen was the highest score made by any batsman on either team.

Former National Youth player Joel Sietram made a stroke-filled 19 for Guymine, including three fours and one six lofted over extra cover. His batting partners offered less resistance, as opening bowlers Mc Donald and I Anderson assailed the Guymine batsmen with lethal deliveries, and wickets tumbled regularly. Their efforts were admirably backed by some brilliant catching and ground fielding.

Anderson grabbed a match winning 3-16 in his four overs, and Mc Donald grabbed two wickets. Offspinners Barker and Tuesday mopped up the remaining wickets with 3-5 and 2-14 respectively.

The scores for the other matches will be made available soon.

Singh guides TSC to victory

Sunil Singh

Over the weekend, in Georgetown, title contenders Transport Sports Club faced off against Ace Warriors in the 2018/2019 NBS 2nd Division 40-Over tournament, and Transport won the contest by 254 runs.

Batting first in fairly sunny weather, Sunil Singh and DeVaughn Nandan took command of the match early, but when on 38, the latter was trapped leg-before

by Devendra Lall, who returned to capture Azim Azeez who had recently stroked a classy hundred.

Wickets continued to fall around Singh, but he was able to salvage the innings by scoring a hundred. He later fell for 110 when he was caught off the bowling of R.

Isaiah Anderson

Emmore. Keon Morris and Shamar Yearwood finished off the innings with quick-fire scores of 40 and 31respectively, leaving Ace Warriors with a mammoth total of 341-7 in their allotted 40 overs.

Lall ended with 3-32 while Clayon Halley supported with 2-27.

Needing 342 for victory at 8.55 runs per over, Ace Warriors crumbled at the sheer weight of the responsibility, and collapsed for 87 all out in 20.1 overs.

The innings began with Akeem Redman picking up two early wickets as the Warriors were left at 7-2.

Franchot Duncan then struck, removing two other batsmen and leaving the score at 174. It all went downhill from there, although Selwin Collier and Roger Aaron resisted with 21 and 22 respectively.

K. Ross and Azeez returned to wrap up the tail as Redman bagged 2-19, Duncan claimed 2-24, Ross had 2-16 and Azeez snared 4-22.

WDCA 50-Over Competition

Persaud’s 4-for helps MGSS into semis M

c Gill Super Stars SC defeated Christ Ambassadors SC in a thrilling low-scoring encounter in the West Demerara Cricket Association’s (WDCA) 50-Over competition quarterfinal at Canal Sports Club Ground.

Mc Gill Super Stars won the toss and elected to bat first in a game that was reduced to 40 overs due to a late start.

Mc Gill got off to a brisk start after losing Travis Persaud for just 8 in the 4th over, leaving the score at 301.

Sudesh Persaud and Shafiek Deen rotated the strike nicely, taking the score to 83 before Persaud fell lbw to Chris Sam for 28 in the 14th over.

Abdool Razack then joined Deen, and they carried the score to 118 before Razack’s wicket fell, being bowled by Immanuel Martin for 24 in the 23rd over.

Deen then fell shortly af-

Travis Persaud

ter -- at 122-4 in the 26th over -- for 36 in trying to hit Kenton Boyce over mid-wicket. He was caught at deep mid-wicket. Mc Gill suffered a mini collapse, slipping from 122-4 to 136-8 within the space of 5 overs. Prahalad Singh then played a cameo of 28 to see his team to a de-

cent total of 180 all out in 38.5 overs.

Bowling for Christ Ambassadors SC were Kenton Boyce with 3-25 from 5 overs, Immanuel Martin with 3-30 from 8 overs, and Joel Thomas supporting with 2-35 off 8 overs.

Needing a simple target of 181 for victory in 40 overs, CA collapsed to 146 all out in 32.1 overs, despite C. Sam putting up a resistance with 70, which included eight fours.

The only other support given to him was from D Ross and M Alert, who scored 15 and 13 respectively, as the MGSS bowling ripped through their batting line-up.

Bowling for the MGSS SC, Travis Persaud tormented the Ambassadors with 4-25, Abdool Razack with 2-20, Diquan Murray with 2-30 and Sudesh Persaud with 2-30.

MGSS won the encounter by 35 runs, and will now advance to the semifinals of the WDCA 50-Over Competition.

Georgetown Office Assistants Pool to host 2 days of sport activities T

he Georgetown Office Assistants Pool has organised two days of sporting activities for staff members and personnel from all Ministries and Government agencies, to be held on November 19 and November 20.

On Monday, November 19, at the Ministry of Agriculture, an exciting knockout domino competition will kick-start the host of activities from 17:30h. This domino competition will be a dub 20/20 four-game knockout affair, with winners taking away $80,000 and a trophy.

Second and third place achievers will also be rewarded, in addition to the individual who shares the most “loves” in the domino competition.

On Tuesday, November 20, a public holiday, there will be a knockout 6-over tape ball cricket competition played at the National Cultural Centre tarmac, starting at 9:00h. Players are kindly asked to bring their own bats.

A total of $150,000 in cash, besides trophies, would be on offer. For both competitions, both Ministries’

and Government Agencies’ teams have until Friday, November 16, to get registered to participate. No late registration would be accepted.

Several sponsorships have been coming in, and coordinator of the activities, James Lewis, related that more competitions may be added to the two days of sport activities.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, november 13, 2018

Stand-alone Women’s World T20 tournament…

23

New Zealand ready for Australia challenge in must-win game N

umber one-ranked team Australia will lock horns with number 3-ranked New Zealand on Wednesday, November 14, at the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara Guyana.

Australia top Group B with four points, having registered two comprehensive victories against Pakistan and Ireland. New Zealand, conversely, suffered a heavy defeat in their consolation game against India in the opening match.

Semi-finals spots may have well been booked with India and Australia being the dominant teams thus far, but the tournament is still young.

New Zealand have a power squad, and they are confident of defeating Australia.

In a press conference held at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) at Bourda, New Zealand players spoke ahead of the clash between Australia

World class batter Sophie Devine noted that her New Zealand team mates are looking forward to this match, since they have had the opportunity to play alongside the Aussie players in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).

New Zealand players highlighted that, in assessing t h e i r bowl-

New Zealand will be hoping to bounce back against Australia

-- which is scheduled for 20:00 hours in Guyana.

Group B P W L Pts Australia Women 2 2 0 4 India Women 2 2 0 4 Pakistan Women 2 0 2 0 New Zealand Women 1 0 1 0 Ireland Women 1 0 1 0 Updated on November 12th

In New Zealand’s first match against India, a few positive signs emerged with them mustering 160 runs.

The batters had approached the chase in an aggressive manner, with the dangerous Suzie Bates top-scoring with 67 from 50 balls. Heading into this match, New Zealand would

want to improve on their ability to adjust to the conditions.

Suzie Bates

Ramdhani shines in Canadian tournament G

uyana’s top-ranked badminton player Narayan Ramdhani showed his worth in his first tournament in Edmonton Alberta Canada when representing The Kings University.

Ramdhani has been attending college and training in Canada with Shuttlesport Badminton Academy for the past two years.

Over the weekend, the young man gave a glimpse of his true potential, showing that his hard work over the past two years is paying off.

Ramdhani walked away from the tournament with a silver in the Men’s doubles event and a bronze in the Mixed Doubles event, after making it up to the semi-final stage. The Guyanese player found himself pitted against some of the best players in Alberta on the familiar Kings University Badminton Courts.

Taken out of a draw of 64, Ramdhani and his open men’s doubles partner Joel Simrose were seeded Number 2, and as a result were given a bye in the first round of the competition.

However, in the second round, the duo faced off with Jacky Chung & Stewart Tieu, and were ready for battle. They won by a lengthy margin 21-10, 21-16. In the third round of play, Ramdhani and Simrose found themselves playing against Anshuma Sharma and Rohan Sharma in an extremely close encounter, but they prevailed 21-18, 21-18.

This win plunged the duo into the quarterfinal, where they met with Sony Augustine and Jiju Kiliyankand. Although the first set was close, 21-19, the pair

fought hard to win the second convincingly 21-10. The semifinal wasn’t much of a challenge for the Guyanese and his partner, as they defeated Kartil Gohil and Harpeet Singh 21-11, 21-16.

However, the finals of the men’s doubles was the stage that truly posed a challenge to the pair.

There they fought hard, but had to settle for second place as they lost to the number 1 seeded pair of Kevin Chow and Alex Fung 21-17, 21-18 The Guyanese badminton player then ventured into the open mixed doubles competition. When paired with Angelica Alberto, the duo were seeded Number 2 in the draw of 32, and as such were given a bye in the first round of play.

Upon entering the second round, the pair was required to face off with Se Jun Sunwoo and Nicole Ramos in an encounter which they won 21-12, 21-19. As such, they advanced to the quarterfinal, and eventually overcame their opponents Wenlong Huang and Zixin Jiao in two comfortable sets.

The semi-final was a challenge for the two as the Number three-seeded pair of Kevin Chow & Tina Wasilik put up a fight to cop the finals spot. Their opponents got the better of Ramdhani and Alberto in a 21-12, 21-15 contest. However, the Guyanese player and his partner ended in third position.

ing performance, the bowlers bowled full length deliveries. Although the ‘white ferns’ picked up three early Indian wickets in their first match, they have not maintained consistency. The players will be looking to do the basics and keep things simple, while playing a positive brand of cricket.

New Zealand will be looking to the likes of Suzie Bates, who leads the ICC Women’s World T20 batting charts with a rating of 682; and Sophie Devine, who has a rating of 556 points and is in ninth position. The top New Zealand bowler in the ICC rankings is Leigh Kasperek who is in tenth position with a rating of 585.

(Brandon Corlette)

Tunnicliffe replaces injured Chetty

T

Narayan Ramdhani and his men’s doubles partner Joel Simrose

he event technical committee of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2018 has approved Faye Tunnicliffe as a replacement for injured Trisha Chetty in the South Africa squad.

Chetty, an experienced wicket-keeper who has played two Tests, 105 ODIs and 68 T20s, failed to make a full recovery from an injury she suffered earlier this year. The 19-year-old Tunncliffe made her international debut in September on the recent tour of the West Indies.

The ICC event technical committee comprising Geoff Allardice, Chris Tetley, Mel Jones, Ebony RainfordBrent, Jennifer Nero and Roland Holder permitted the replacement.

“Trisha Chetty has worked extremely hard and had recovered well. We know she will be disappointed to miss out on the tournament and wish her a speedy recovery,” said South Africa coach, Hilton Moreeng.

“We have coming in Faye Tunnicliffe, who was here in the West Indies with us on the last tour so she’s familiar with the conditions. Settling into the squad will be easy.

We have worked hard toward this tournament.

Everybody is focused. It’s

a tough group we’re in, but everybody is ready.”

Tunnicliffe will join the squad in St Lucia where South Africa will play their Group A matches against Windies, England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.

Trisha Chetty

tuesdAY, november 13, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Stand-alone Women’s World T20 tournament…

England players celebrate a Bangladesh wicket

England register crushing win against weary Bangladesh via DLS method Page 19

Farfan & Mendes Junior tournament serves off tonight Page 20

Flashback: The 2017 winners of the Farfan & Mendes Junior Skill Level tournament display their hardware

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