Guyana Times November 29, 2018

Guyana, P8 UK forge discussions on oil & gas sector Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3761

Thursday, November 29, 2018

PPP vows to fight “act of oppression” by coalition guyanatimesgy.com

Page 9

– Ali granted self-bail following 19 ‘politically trumped-up’ charges

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Cyclist killed after colliding with container truck at Rahaman’s Park P13

West Demerara man gets 18 years for statutory rape P10 of teen …says he thought victim was 17

CCAC to develop list of qualified contractors for building purposes P12 “I have nothing to fear. I have served and I’ve served to the best of my ability and I will continue to do so without fear or favour...We will defend this; we will defend everything that they throw before us because we believe in what we did. We did it with honesty and integrity and… the only condition that we did it in was in service to the people of this country,” - Ali

Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali accompanied by two of his attorneys - Priya Manickchand and Sase Gunraj as they leave the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday

GCCI worried over macroeconomic dynamics of fiscal sector Page 11

– raises concern over lack of job creation, consumer spending

GTU to submit new multi-year salary proposal next P14 month

Georgetown Mayoral elections set for Friday P3

Firefighters charged for stealing from crashed Fly Jamaica aircraft Page 3

Convicted thief slapped with P13 additional 3 years imprisonment

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thursdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

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THURSdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, November 29 – 10:30h-12:00h and Friday, November 30 – 11:30h-13:00h.

Firefighters charged for stealing from crashed Fly Jamaica aircraft

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, November 29 – 09:35h-11:05h and Friday, November 30 – 10:50h-12:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy skies with light rain showers can be expected throughout the morning, with sunny intervals in the afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 09:21h and 21:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.30 metres and 2.33 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:44h and 15:13h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.98 metre respectively.

F

Aubrey Frank

Jammie Kingston

Roiden Kennedy

Collis Williams

our firefighters appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, slapped with simple larceny charges after they were found in possession of items suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

Thirty-year-old Aubrey Frank of Lot 106 Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke Linden Highway; Jammie Kingston, 30, of Lot 21 D’Urban St, Lodge, Georgetown; and Roiden Kennedy, 27, of Lot 390 Timehri Hill, East Bank Demerara, were all charged jointly with having under their control articles reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

The trio denied the charges after it was read to them.

Frank, Kingston and

Kennedy were represented by Attorneys Clyde Ford, Eusi Anderson and George Thomas respectively, who all made applications for bail for their respective clients.

However, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail being granted citing the seriousness of the charge as well as the circumstances under which the crime was committed.

As a result, the Chief Magistrate placed each defendant on $100,000 bail and attached conditions for them to report to the Providence Police Station on a weekly basis as well as to lodge their passports.

The matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court and adjourned until December 12.

Meanwhile, a 38-yearold Section Leader of the

Guyana Fire Service, Collis Williams, of Lot 14 Coverden, East Bank Demerara, was slapped with a simple larceny charge which alleged that on November 9, 2018, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, he stole an IPhone and a Samsung cellular phone belonging to Basil Ferguson. Williams denied the charge after it was read to him.

Prosecutor Mansfield also objected to bail citing the seriousness of the charge as well as the circumstances under which the crime was committed.

However, Williams was placed on $100,000 bail along with being ordered to lodge his passport and report weekly at the Providence Police Station. He is expected to re-appear at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on December 13.

The men were accused of stealing several items on the morning of November 9, 2018, moments after a Fly Jamaica aircraft crash-landed at the Cheddi Jagan international Airport.

The firemen were the first responders who assisted the distressed passengers disembark the damaged aircraft.

It was until later that day that flight the crew realised personal items were missing from the aircraft. This prompted an investigation which led to the discovery of the items at the Timehri Fire Service. The men were placed in custody and a thorough investigation was carried out.

More than two weeks later, the Police Legal Advisor recommended that charges be instituted against the four men.

Georgetown mayoral elections set for Friday versation with Deputy Mayor Akeem Peters, he said he would be unable to speak on his prospects for re-election since the new Council has not met.

Town Clerk Royston King was sent on administrative leave following allegations

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Incumbent Mayor Patricia Chase Green

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he new representatives of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) are set to meet this Friday to elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor. With a majority of Councillors at 21, it is highly likely that a Councillor from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will be named as Mayor.

However, it is not clear who will take on the position, as little has been said following the results of the 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) which saw the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) securing seven seats whereas it only had two after the 2016 polls.

The coalition’s smaller partner, the Alliance For Change, which went solo at this year’s LGE, garnered only two seats which came from the Proportional Representation (PR) method that was drawn from an overall 28.3 per cent voter turnout in the city.

Efforts to contact the incumbent Mayor, Patricia Chase Green proved futile but in a brief telephone con-

of wide-ranging corruption in City Hall. This resulted in the Local Government Commission (LGC) ordering a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the allegations.

The Mayor has had to testify before the CoI which uncovered many discrepan-

cies within the municipality.

While it focused on the actions of Town Clerk Royston King, sections of society expressed the view that Chase Green, having presided over everything, should also take some of the blame.

Turn to page 8

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THURsdAY, November 29, 2018

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

Dangers on the roadways T

here is always an element of risk whenever someone uses the roadways – be it a motorist, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian.

This is somewhat inherent since it is believed that accidents will happen. Often the fault is not with the one being cautious.

The risks may manifest in various forms such as a lack of street lighting while driving at nights; potholes, which when swerved from, could place a vehicle in the direct path of another; absence of or non-functioning traffic lights which can create uncertainty among drivers; roaming animals; speeding; drinking and driving; narrow streets and lack of traffic signage. In addition, disobedience of basic traffic etiquette and other rules exacerbate the risks.

Seemingly common now is the disrespect for designated major roads. Many drivers, including some within the public transportation system, refuse to adhere to what is mandatory.

As a result, a number of accidents occur frequently at some of those points. Similarly, the practice of running red lights and the green signal that allows pedestrians to cross continues unabated, predominantly by minibus drivers. The danger that poses needs no explanation.

While there is a plethora of traffic violations on a daily basis, some appear more prominent. Undertaking and cutting in front of a vehicle and the sticking out of a minibus conductor’s arm to do likewise from the other side, seem the new norm of driving. Aside from the obvious danger, especially to young and inexperienced drivers and being an irritant, it is blatant bullyism and a potent source for road rage.

It appears that those who engage in such practices do not see themselves as being errant or what they do as a traffic violation.

Lanes that allow for turning-on-red are abused and used as if it’s the right-of-way. In the city, many roads, other than what are authorised for minibus routes, are used as thoroughfares. Speeding is foremost causing areas that are supposed to be free of minibuses to become dangerous.

In addition, some drivers seemingly take pride in having an alcoholic beverage in their possession while transporting passengers. Adding to the woes of those who abide by traffic rules, they are verbally abused when trying to stave off a potential transgressor. These practices are not unknown to the Police and while they cannot be at all points where violations occur, there is the expectation for more and sustained intervention in the interest of safety to all road users.

This does not take away from the valiant efforts of a few dedicated traffic officers who do their best to curb the situation; one which has reached alarming proportions. Reportedly, many minibuses are owned by some Police ranks and the drivers are of the view that they have a free pass to break traffic rules. It is believed that traffic ranks turn a blind eye when they see violations firsthand by minibuses owned by members of the Force.

That obviously empowers those errant drivers and causes others to do likewise. Recently a senior traffic officer, speaking at a road safety fair, boldly proclaimed that no one is above the law when asked specifically about reports of violation by Police ranks.

That is heartening to hear and he must be commended. However, the follow-up question should have been how effective his action could be in the context of minibuses being owned by some of his colleagues.

In fairness to the Police, it did clamp down on tinted vehicles owned by some ranks. That shows that the Force seems willing to hold its own responsible. While that offers some level of optimism, it begs the question why the unbridled traffic violations by some minibuses continue unchecked.

From all reposts, some traffic ranks can easily pinpoint a particular minibus based upon design and route when a complaint is lodged. That probably suggests that traffic violation is not unique to that vehicle. Again, it must be asked, how is it allowed to continue?

One can assume that alleged pressure from within is responsible.

Seemingly gone is the expectation of the example being set by those entrusted to ensure safety on the roadways.

What is desperately needed is a sustained national campaign to reduce traffic violations and let the law take its course on the errant ones regardless of who they are. The carelessness exhibited puts all road users at risk. This is where the National Road Safety Council would need to be supported and probably empowered to have a more visible presence and increased influence all year round.

It must be noted that drivers are not the only violators of traffic rules for some pedestrians are equally guilty. Aside from the common jaywalking, they cross busy intersections when not authorised and refuse to use the overhead pedestrian walkways thereby bringing danger to themselves and others. Like errant drivers, they seem empowered to not observe basic traffic rules.

This will only change when there is a constant stream of violators up the stairs of the courts across the country. There is a hope that is not wishful thinking.

Local interpreters who are to benefit from a Trafficking In Persons training along with Police Commissioner Leslie James; Junior Social Protection Minister, Keith Scott; International Organisation for Migration’s Chief of Mission, Robert Natiello; and Deputy Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken on Wednesday at the Police Training Centre

Argentine Judge seeks help from Turkey, Yemen in Saudi Crown Prince case

A

n Argentine judge reviewing a Human Rights Watch complaint against Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday to seek information from Turkey, Yemen and the International Criminal Court.

The office of Federal Judge Ariel Lijo confirmed the request to Reuters just hours after Crown Prince Mohammed landed in Buenos Aires for the G20 summit of industrialised nations.

Human Rights Watch asked Argentina on Monday to use a war crimes clause in its constitution to investigate any involvement by the Crown Prince in possible crimes against humanity in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has launched a military campaign, and the murder of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia has said the Crown Prince, the Kingdom’s de facto ruler, had no prior knowledge of the murder of Khashoggi in a Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October.

A representative of the federal prosecutor’s office that is working with Judge Lijo on the complaint told Reuters it was still reviewing Human Rights Watch’s request and that no decision had yet been made on whether to investigate it.

The killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a critic of the Crown Prince, six weeks ago, has strained Saudi Arabia’s ties with the West and battered Crown Prince Mohammed’s image abroad.

He arrived in Buenos Aires from Tunisia, where

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

he was met by protesters who denounced him as a murderer for the killing of Khashoggi. He was greeted by Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie.

Western nations are also calling for an end to the Saudi-led military campaign in neighbouring Yemen, which was launched by Crown Prince Mohammed, as a humanitarian crisis there worsens, Reuters reported.

The G20 leaders summit begins on Friday.

Support grows for US Senate resolution on Yemen war

Support is growing in the US Senate for a resolution aimed at limiting US involvement in the war in Yemen.

The Senate voted 63-37 on Wednesday to advance the resolution, which, if passed, would end US military support for the Saudiled coalition in Yemen’s war. The advancement sets the stage for a possible final vote on the measure in coming days. The Trump Administration has threatened to veto the resolution if it passes Congress.

Politicians are frustrated with the Administration’s

response to the killing of Khashoggi and say the Administration has not done enough to punish Saudi Arabia for its involvement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told the Senate in a closed-door briefing that weakening USSaudi ties over the killing of Khashoggi would be a mistake.

“The October murder of Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey has heightened the Capitol Hill caterwauling and media pile-on. But degrading USSaudi ties would be a grave mistake for the national security of the US and its allies,” Pompeo wrote in a blog post shortly before Wednesday’s briefing for US Senators.

Many Senators, speaking to reporters after the briefing, said they were not satisfied with the Administration’s stance on its support for Saudi Arabia in the war on Yemen, and called for Crown Prince Mohammed to be held accountable for Khashoggi’s death.

Several Senators who had opposed the Yemen resolution in an earlier vote now support it, including Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, who said on Wednesday that “it’s time to send Saudi Arabia a message both on its violation of human rights and the incredible humanitarian catastrophe it’s creating”.

Pompeo called the vote “poorly timed” as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict were under way.

But Senator Bernie Sanders, who is sponsoring the bill, said the time is now.

Jamal Khashoggi

“We have already seen 85,000 children starved to death, the UN tells us that millions of people are facing starvation, 10,000 new cholera cases are developing each week because there is no clean drinking water in the country,” Sanders said following the briefing.

“All of that was caused by the Saudi-led invasion of Yemen three years ago, led by a despotic, dishonest dictatorship.”

The war in Yemen began in September 2014, when Houthi rebels took control of Yemen’s capital Sanaa and proceeded to push southwards towards the country’s second-biggest city, Aden.

In response, a SaudiUAE military coalition, backed by the US, intervened in 2015 with a massive air campaign aimed at reinstalling the Government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

According to aid groups, tens of thousands of people have been killed in the war.

Republican Mike Lee, who is a co-sponsor of the Yemen resolution, criticised both former President Barack Obama for getting the US involved in the war and current President Donald Trump for continuing it.

Continued on page 5

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THURsdAY, November 29, 2018

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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

Hold both the “Thiefing” is indeed the Government and culture of some in our midst the Opposition

Dear Editor, Just when we thought we were about getting over that disgraceful hurdle of our fire fighters stealing items from a downed aircraft, we are now in for another shocker in our Policemen stealing model planes from an International Aviation airshow meeting held here recently.

There seems to be no end to this barefaced, shameless, conduct of our “Disciplined” Services. It is beyond comprehension what these guys have done and I am registering my sternest rebuke to their actions with the firm view that strict disciplinary action is taken. My recommendation is that these guys be dismissed from their post as officers in the service as well as have them serve some jail time. This nonsense has to stop and this is the only way we can send that message.

Guyana has to purge itself of this scourge and this has to be done now, not sometime in the future. For too long we have been plagued by these instances of theft

and rampant corruption in the Guyana Police Force. No wonder the public has lost confidence in the Disciplined Services. To think those who swore to protect and serve us are the ones doing these dastardly things is enough to send you over the edge.

Again, I say this nonsense has to stop, now!

Now I love to delve back into history sometimes because the information gleaned, gives you a solid background and a clear picture as to the real cause for the course of action taken by some in our midst.

Having said that, I reference you back to one of the programmes formulated by the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government called “Self Help Projects”. These projects were placed under the direct supervision of known party hacks and their corrupt associates which made it a recipe for disaster right from the very start.

Burnham’s “Self Help Projects” rebranded “help yourself projects” became a bastion for thievery and corruption and a place for ev-

Argentine Judge seeks...

From page 4

“This is an issue that is neither Republican nor Democratic, it is neither liberal nor conservative, it is neither pro-war neither anti-war,” Lee said.

“This is a war of bipartisan creation. A Democratic President has gotten us involved in a civil war in Yemen. We now have a Republican President, and that war has continued,” Lee continued.

Lee said the Senate would try to invoke the War Powers Act, which is a law that states the President cannot get the US involved in a war without approval from Congress.

“Out-of-control Prince”

Republican Senator Bob Corker also voiced his support for the resolution, saying that the US needed to send a message to Saudi Arabia with regard to the war in Yemen and the murder of journalist Khashoggi, a permanent US resident and contributor to the Washington Post.

After offering contradictory statements, Saudi Arabia admitted last month that Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in Istanbul on October 2 and his body was dismembered. The Kingdom has repeatedly said Crown Prince Mohammed had no knowledge of the killing, which Turkey said was ordered at

the highest level of Saudi leadership.

Corker said that he preferred the executive branch send a message, but that so far it has failed to do so.

“We have watched innocent people being killed and we have seen people die of diseases they should not be dying of,” Corker said.

“We also have a crown prince that is out of control; a blockade of Qatar, the arrest of a Prime Minister of Lebanon, the killing of a journalist,” he added.

Several Senators said they were disappointed that CIA Director Gina Haspel was not present during Wednesday’s briefing.

Trump has dismissed reports of a CIA assessment that Crown Prince Mohammed ordered Khashoggi’s killing.

On Wednesday, both Mattis and Pompeo said there was no direct evidence linking Prince Mohammed to the killing.

“We have no smoking gun the Crown Prince was involved, not the intelligence community or anyone else. There is no smoking gun,” Mattis told reporters.

But Senators were dissatisfied, and Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, threatened to oppose key legislation until the Senate was briefed by the CIA on Khashoggi’s murder.

ery greed and avarice you can imagine. Building materials meant for those purposes saw wholesale removal in broad daylight with no one being brought to justice for such barefaced thievery.

Further to our misery, those who dared to question their actions were met with humiliating punishments such as branding them thieves and saboteurs.

To think of it, the corrupt ones were calling the opposers to their corrupt actions “thieves.”

Incidentally, that very same word “saboteur” was used by Minister Harmon to defend the corrupt actions of his very own PNC hacks in some of these Neighbourhood Councils.

Very revealing how history repeats itself.

I painstakingly took the time to go through the rudiments of these “Self Help Projects” and how it worked

to give you a clear understanding as to the reasons behind present day behaviour of some in society, including lawmen. Some in society today are still mired in that gene pool of corrupt mentality, and once you are of that mode of thinking, things the likes of fire fighters, even coming out of their vacation to “help themselves,” would be the order of the day.

My point is if stern action is not taken now, that is firm, decisive, corrective action (not token words like we are going to do something about these guys or any such generalities. I am talking about firm action oriented measures, otherwise we are going to suffer further shame down the road once this mode of thinking prevails.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

accountable

Dear Editor, I would like to take this opportunity to ask the media to be impartial and hold both the Government and the political Opposition accountable.

While a free press is important to our fledgling democracy, they also need to be impartial in the discharge of their duties and be nonaligned.

Governments, be it the People’s Progressive Party or the People’s National Congress, are known for spending Guyanese monies without providing a reason-

ably good service. They are quick to flash a big budget without resolving Guyana’s many problems. Hence, they need to be held accountable.

Focus on the issues as you keep up the good work Stabroek News, Kaieteur News and Guyana Times.

And, expect as you become/remain nonaligned for all sides to want to attack you with fallacious claims that you are supporting the other side.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

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Foundation (Continued from Sunday)

D

o you know someone whose parents are divorced?

Are your parents separated or divorced? Chances are that you can answer yes to one – or maybe both – of those questions. And you are not alone! About one out of every two or three marriages ends in divorce.

A divorce happens after a husband and wife decide not to live together anymore and that they no longer want to be married to each other. They agree to sign legal papers that make them each single again and allow them to marry other people if they want to.

Divorce is hard for everyone

It might sound simple, but it’s not easy for a husband and wife to decide to end a marriage. Often they spend a long time trying to solve problems before deciding to divorce. But sometimes they just can’t fix the problems and decide that a divorce is the best solution. Change is a natural part of life, but when it happens to your family, it is sometimes really hard to deal with.

Sometimes both parents want to divorce, and sometimes one wants to and the other one doesn’t. Usually, both parents are disappointed that their marriage can’t last, even if one wants a divorce – and to live apart – more than the other.

Sometimes it hurts kids’ feelings when one parent wants to leave the house where they live. It is hard not to take it personally. It’s important to remember that divorce happens between the husband and wife, and even though it affects the whole family, it doesn’t mean that a parent who leaves the house doesn’t care about the kids.

Many kids don’t want their parents to divorce. Some kids have mixed feelings about it, especially if they know their parents weren’t happy together. Some kids may even feel relieved when parents divorce, especially if there’s been a lot of fighting between parents during the marriage.

It’s important to remember that divorce doesn’t change one important fact: A dad or mom who lives somewhere else is still your dad or mom. That’s forever. That will never change.

Kids don’t cause divorce!

People divorce for lots of different reasons. Usually, parents divorce when they have too many problems and they just can’t seem to fix them, no matter how hard they try.

Sometimes anger builds and parents fight a lot or say mean things to each other. Sometimes they stop talking to each other because they’re mad at each other, and sometimes they meet someone else that they fall in love with and want to live with.

Adults have their own reasons for divorce. Whatever the reasons are, one thing is for sure: Kids don’t cause divorce.

Still, many kids believe they’re the reason their mom and dad got divorced. They think that if only they had behaved better, gotten better grades, or helped more around the house, the divorce wouldn’t have happened. But this isn’t true. Divorce is between moms and dads only!

Even if you once heard your parents argue about you, or your friend next door thinks his parents broke up because he got in trouble at school, these things don’t cause a husband and wife to end their marriage.

You might feel you’re to blame for your parents’ divorce, but you are not the cause. And the fact that your parents decide not to stay married is not your fault.

Kids can’t fix divorce!

Just like the divorce is not a kid’s fault, getting parents back together is not up to the kid, either. And most likely, this doesn’t happen, although plenty of kids wish for it and even try things they think might work. Acting like an angel at home all the time (who can do that?) and doing really well at school may make your mom and dad happy, but it doesn’t mean they’ll get back together.

The opposite is also true. Getting in trouble so your mom and dad will have to get together to talk about these problems is not going to make the divorce go away either. So, just be yourself and try to talk through the feelings you have with a parent, another family member, friend, or teacher or counsellor. (kidshealth.org)

by

Monica Foley, Med

Inform your kids of any changes ahead of time

When significant decisions are made in the family, ease your children into these changes. Let them know before the change happens, so they have some time to prepare themselves.

Reassure them that you are considering their feelings too when making important decisions and that things will begin to improve.

Gradual change is best for children. Make changes in their lives slowly and let them share how they feel about the changes. Praise your kids for making an effort to help with the changes.

Explain visitation

Explain the visitation arrangement to your children and tell them when they’ll be able to see each parent. If one parent doesn’t spend time with the children for one week, for example, be sure the child knows and has time to cope.

Again, reassure your kids that you both love them and that they will still have special and fun times with both parents.

Show lots of support. Support your child’s need to visit their other parent and their desire to love you both. Tell them it’s ok, and you support this. It will help them to cope even better.

Avoid negativity

If your ex-spouse has hurt you, it can be hard to avoid negativity. Unless your former partner has a history of harming your kids, it’s harder on them if you belittle your ex. Always take the high road and think of something positive to say about the other person. This eases some of the tension of the divorce for your child.

Be fair when discussing the other parent. It’s painful for kids to be pressured to take sides and listen to an enraged parent. Try to find the strength to be civil towards and about each other. While you may not feel like it, it will be far kinder to your child and less painful for them.

Make arrangements for special occasions

Everyone should get consideration when it comes to special events such as birthdays or holidays. If you think you can be civil, try to share these times with your ex-spouse.

If that’s not possible, evenly divide the time between both parents. You can split up morning versus afternoon, or alternate holidays.

A few don’ts:

* Don’t ask your child to deliver a message. If you need to talk to your ex-spouse about something, tell them yourself – call, text, or write them an email. It’s unfair to use your child as a buffer and put them in an awkward situation. * Never ask your kids which parent they care about more. * Never use your kids as your counsellor – find an adult to fulfil these needs for you, whether that’s a friend or a professional therapist.

Always:

* Stop and think about how your words may affect your kids. When your children are old enough to understand what you have been through, they will admire and appreciate you even more for caring about their needs and making these needs a priority. * Divorce can certainly throw off your life’s expectations, but it doesn’t have to affect how you raise your children. Remember their needs, too, and you’ll both persevere through this trying time. (Childdevelopmentinfo.com)

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thursdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rose Hall elects new Mayor, Deputy – Winifred Haywood re-elected as NA Mayor

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Interpreters undergo TIP training

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nterpreters working with authorities to combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) are currently undergoing a two-day training session during which they will be sensitised on the scourge as well as how to interact with victims.

On this note, he outlined that during the two-day session, participants will be equipped with information regarding the nature of Trafficking in Persons and the functions of the taskforce and its stakeholders; equip them with working

Newly elected Rose Hall Mayor, Chattregoon Ramnauth (seated centre) with members of the new Council

ew Councillors were on Wednesday installed in two of the three municipalities in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

The town of Rose Hall has both a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor, while New Amsterdam has a new Deputy Mayor, after Winifred Haywood was re-elected Mayor. The new Mayor of Rose Hall is Chattregoon Ramnauth and Deonauth Harrynarine is the Deputy Mayor.

The new Mayor of Rose Hall says high on list of priorities will be to ensure the town has an improved garbage collection system. “The garbage collection system has to be more effective,” he

said. Ramnauth also said the Council will not be increasing property taxes under his tenure as Mayor.

However, several streets will be rehabilitated along with the drains.

The Mayor-elect said a plan to ensure that residents pay their property taxes at the existing rates is in the making, with a campaign to be launched in January next year. He said financial statements of the Council’s accounts will be printed and placed at prominent locations as from next year.

The 69-year-old Mayorelect further stated that he is looking forward to the cooperation and support of all Councillors.

The full Council is Mayor

Ramnauth; Deputy Mayor Harrynarine; Arthur Fraser, Roydel Lewis, Elvis Punch, Vedwatie Ramnarine, Arjune Sammy, Rakhram Srikishen, David Fraser, Winston Hole, Boybert Bisram, Gaitree Sheonarine, Igram Rodney, Dave Budhu and Sandra Chisholm.

Meanwhile, lead Councillor for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Winston Hope congratulated the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Hope said the APNU side of the house is there to work together for the development of the town. He said they will support any programme which they think will benefit residents of the township.

Meanwhile, in New

Amsterdam, Winifred Haywood was re-elected Mayor, while the town has a new Deputy Mayor in Wainright McIntouch.

APNU has 10 seats on the Council; the People’s Progressive Party, three; and the Alliance For Change (AFC), one.

The full Council is Pullian Shultz, Buster Wright, Sheenta Lambert, Quacy Isaacs, Zabarally Armogan, Olga Stephens, Patrica Lynch, Winifred Haywood, Esan Vanderstoop, Keith Myers, Wainright McIntouch, Nalini Tahal and Kirk Fraser.

Mayor Haywood said it is her hope that the new Councillors will serve faithfully.

The participants at Wednesday’s training course for interpreters

The training is being hosted by the Ministerial Taskforce on TIP and saw more than 20 participants, including staff from foreign embassies and high commissions.

In presenting an overview of the training course at the opening ceremony held at the Police Training Centre on Wednesday, Coordinator of the TIP Ministerial Taskforce, Oliver Profitt, posited that such training is imperative since almost half of alleged TIP victims are foreign nationals and having persons with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle these victims is necessary.

knowledge to effective communicate with victims and TIP officers during interviews; and build working relationships with bi-lingual persons to assist with interpretation whenever needed.

Meanwhile, Junior Social Protection Minister with responsibility for labour, Keith Scott, explained that human trafficking is one of the worst violations of human rights and of workers’ rights in this day and such training is apt on such a significant day when Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow Day is being observed. The day was designated by the National Assembly in 2005.

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THURsdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana, UK forge discussions on oil and gas sector

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uyana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Frederick Hamley Case is leading a team in Aberdeen, Scotland, for discussions on improving relations in light of this country’s impending oil and gas sector. In a brief release, the Foreign Affairs Ministry outlined on Wednesday that the discussions which also involved UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, have been “encouraging.

The Ministry noted that the mission is aimed at fostering relations to support the emerging oil and gas industry in Guyana, adding that the team will meet with a number of oil and gas suppliers as well as academic institutions over the five-day visit to Aberdeen.

Guyana’s High Commissioner to UK, Frederick Hamley Case

High Commissioner Case was quoted by Energy Voice as saying that Aberdeen’s experience with the North Sea sector will be indispensable to Guyana’s journey.

“In terms of oil and gas,

this is our first trade mission and next year there will be a reciprocal mission to Guyana from Aberdeen,” he told the online news outlet. “I think the enthusiasm is there both from the Private Sector and the Government and I am sure a lot will evolve from this,” he said.

High Commissioner Quinn also spoke with the foreign agency expressing his belief that Guyana could benefit from Aberdeen’s vast experience. “Aberdeen has been there, done it and got the picture. There are lessons positive and negative to take away on how to handle things and I think there is an opportunity for us to pass on that experience to Guyana to help them see the way forward,” he was quoted as saying.

Georgetown mayoral elections...

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) results showed that APNU won Georgetown, with Mayor Chase Green’s constituency solidly supporting her. But the PPP has showed improved gains in

the city, compared to 2016.

The APNU received a total of 18,127 votes, followed by the PPP, which got 7050, while the AFC received 3059. Of APNU’s 21 seats on the City Council, nine came from the PR and 12 from

the First Past the Post components. Back in 2016, the APNU/AFC controlled 25 seats. The PPP received seven seats, including four from the PR component.

Overall, GECOM’s results showed that the PPP

Quinn encouraged that Guyana has to prepare for the time when oil “is no longer going to be there and creating an economy that’s not 100 per cent dependent on oil and gas.”

Many international players have been seeking to partner with Guyana following finds of large oil deposits in Guyana’s deep seas. Earlier this month, a high-level five-member team from the World Bank visited Guyana to explore the possibilities of partnering with this country on the oil and gas sector. The World Bank had 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.

From page 3

won 61 per cent of the LGE with 122,307 votes, with the governing APNU taking 68,060 votes at 34 per cent, while the AFC garnered nearly four per cent of the electorate with 8719 votes.

Sting of the PNC scorpion…

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…and Irfaan Ali here’s the old story of the scorpion and the frog.

Wanting to cross a swollen river, a scorpion pleaded with a frog to take him across on the latter’s back.

The frog demurred, raising his fear that the scorpion would sting him. The scorpion asked if the frog though he was mad: pointing out that if he did so, they’d both drown. The frog thought this was a reasonable answer and allowed the scorpion to hop onto his back.

Midway across the river, however, the frog felt the scorpion sting him and as he began to sink under the water, he asked the scorpion, “Why?” The scorpion replied laconically, “It’s my nature!” And they both drowned. The PNC’s demonstrating that, like the scorpion, they just can’t help using brute force and ignorance against their political opponents – even though they need the latter to govern this country to deliver the “good life” to all its citizens. Especially after the rejection of the PNC by the people of this country at the LGE. Take for example SOCU eerily rushing over to a house in Georgetown to arrest Irfaan Ali, the former PPP/C Housing Minister at FOUR AM in the morning!! Now let’s not even discuss the retort we’ll be hearing that the PNC is not SOCU!! Really??! We all know where SOCU’s directives come from…and it sure ain’t from Police HQ! This arrest is pure political spite, intended to deflect from the news of the PPP’s overwhelming wins at the LGE – and especially their inroads into traditional PNC territory.

SOCU’s been hinting at this arrest in relation to the ex-Minister’s role in the Pradoville land sale, for months.

Why was it necessary to trek into the torrential rains to Leonora and drag him from his bed at that unholy hour??

Jeez…the fella didn’t even have time to perform his Fajr (morning) prayer! How come when they finally decided to question Minister David Patterson on his unilateral $148 million sole-sourced contract award for the Demerara bridge design, they politely asked him to show up at their HQ??

If they wanted to lay charges on Wednesday for Ali, why not ask him on Tuesday to show up at SOCU’s HQ??

Why the double standard? Did they think he’d flee the jurisdiction? Patterson was a better flight risk? But as they nurse their wounds from the drubbing they took and look anxiously at the upcoming no-confidence motion, the PNC’s instincts have taken over. They know Ali’s one of the upcoming young leading lights of the PPP/C, as is Nandlall, who’s already been dragged before the courts.

The PNC would rather drown than go down in defeat to another generation of PPP leaders!! …on energy To continue where your Eyewitness left off yesterday on the Budget, he wants to continue discussing our manufacturing sector’s dilemma on their astronomical electricity costs. He perused the releases intensely to see whether any of David Patterson’s fat talk over the past year about a “gas fired” $200 million generator using excess gas the Lisa field was being catered for. He didn’t see a penny! It was all a gas!! And very foul gas at that!

The episode illustrates another characteristic of the PNC – and have no doubt, Patterson is PNC! – their proclivity to talk and their inability to “do”!! At this time Patterson doesn’t even know how much gas will be available – so why’d he have to mouth off and give the business community hope that electricity prices might head southwards? And then again, did they factor in the carbon dioxide emissions from a gas fired plant in their “Green Development Strategy”, which they still can’t release?

Balanced against the dinky solar panels they’ll install, it’s one step forward and 10 steps backwards!! …and AFC’s “unequivocal” Budget support!

The AFC announced that the PNC has their “unequivocal” support for the Budget!! What else could the “dead meat” party do??

Protest that there was nothing for sugar workers who now have to strike for better wages??

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

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THURsdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP vows to fight “act of oppression” by coalition

– Ali granted self-bail following 19 ‘politically trumped-up’ charges

Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali making his way out of SOCU headquarters to be escorted to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was arraigned on 19 counts of fraud charges

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n light of the politically trumped up charges brought against former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali on Wednesday by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) strongly condemned the move, describing it as a deliberate act intended to tarnish the Party’s leaders in order to impact the choice of its presidential candidate for the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The Party is contending that after thrashing the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government at the Local Government Elections (LGE), the no-confidence motion filed against them and the visionless budget that has plunged them into even deeper political woes, as promised, it has upped the political vendetta against the Opposition.

“Their institution, a few days before the National Budget debates begins and of course, the no-confidence motion is no coincidence.

The modus operandi in the arrest of Irfaan Ali, says it all,” the PPP stated in a re-

lease.

According to reports gathered, a vanload of Policemen turned up at the Member of Parliament’s house at about 04:00h, arrested him and took him to the Headquarters of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

This however, came as a surprise since Ali attended SOCU’s office on every occasion he was requested to do so over the last year hence, the Party stated that there was no need for the show of power.

“But, this is the [People’s National Congress] PNC back in form,” it added.

“We are not oblivious to the fact that these charges are intended to tarnish our leaders in order to impact the choice of the PPP’s presidential candidate for the 2020 General and Regional Elections. This plan will also not succeed but it will succeed only in making us stronger and even more determined to lead and unite, not only our supporters, but every fair, law abiding and patriotic Guyanese, irrespective of class, race or religion in an indefatigable

movement and struggle to remove this corrupt, incompetent and vengeful cabal from Government”.

Ali appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where the 19 politically trumped up charges in relation to the sale of plots of land on the East Coast of Demerara were read to him.

According to SOCU, Ali sold 19 plots of land located at Goedverwagting and Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, below their valued prices. The plots of

Kissoon and Sase Gunraj – opposed the cash bail application.

Attorney Kissoon argued that there is no reason for the 38-year-old Member of Parliament not to be released on his own recognizance, citing his numerous commitments pertaining to national duties, which he “intends to dutifully fulfil”.

The defence attorney also mentioned that Ali does not only have his parliamentary commitments but also has quite a reputation since he acted as both

have distributed more than one hundred thousand house lots and regularised lots so maybe it should’ve been a 100,000 charges then for every house lot that was given. But I believe firmly in justice, I believe firmly in trusting the creator and understanding that no form of wickedness, no form of political victimisation, no form of this pressure that the Government believe they can bring on us to silence us, to silence democracy, to silence free speech, to silence an opposition that is exposing them, it is not going to work. This has made me strong, I am more resolute.

He recalled in Parliament two weeks ago that Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had said to him and Nandlall in the Chambers, during one of his hecklings, “Don’t wor-

Several senior PPP officials flocked the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday to support Ali

land, they claimed, were “recklessly” sold at $39.8 million when they were actually valued $212.4 million at the time of their sale.

Nevertheless, Ali was not required to plead to the charges. SOCU’s Special Prosecutor Patrice Henry, had no objections to bail but asked the court that it be granted in a substantial amount to guarantee the defendant returns to court.

But Ali’s battery of lawyers – including Anil Nandlall, Priya and Jaya Manickchand, Davendra

the President and Prime Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

After listening to the two sides, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan granted the former Housing Minister self-bail on all 19 counts and set January 7, 2019, as his return court date.

Speaking with reporters moments after stepping out the courtroom on Wednesday, the former Housing Minister said, “I have during my tenure, with the help of my staff and the PPP/C Government, we

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

ry you will get convicted (to Nandlall) and you will get charged (to Ali) very soon.” Hence, the charges on Wednesday were no strange occurrence.

Nevertheless, Ali told reporters that he is confident in the country’s jus-

Davendra Kissoon

tice system and that he would be vindicated of the 19 charges.

“I have nothing to fear. I have served and I’ve served to the best of my ability and I will continue to do so without fear or favour...

We will defend this, we will defend everything that they throw before us because we believe in what we did. We did it with honesty and integrity and… the only condition that we did it in was in service to the people of this country,” he posited.

Nevertheless, Attorney Priya Manickchand had told media operatives earlier that the PPP will be fighting this ‘act of oppression’ by the coalition Government against Ali, who is set to kick off the Opposition’s debate on the 2019 Budget next Monday.

“This will be met with lawful but equal force.

So this kind of oppressive behaviour that the Government is engaging in right now, which is to charge and/or lock up members of the Opposition, and attempt to intimidate members of the Opposition… it’s not going to work,” she asserted.

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THURsdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

3 nabbed at DHB after robbing Canal Polder family

Some of the items that were in the car

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hree suspected bandits are now in Police custody after they were intercepted along the Meer Zorgen Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD) following a robbery at Canal Number One Polder on Wednesday morning.

The men were caught by

ranks who were at the time conducting a stop and search exercise on the Meer Zorgen Public Road at the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB).

According to information received, about 03:30h, the men attempted to cross the Harbour Bridge in a yellow wagon, which was stopped

and searched.

A laptop, ear-pieces, four cellular phones, an Amazon tablet, an assortment of jewellery, a Guyana Passport, local and foreign currencies and other items were found in the vehicle.

The men were escorted to the La Grange Police Station where moments lat-

Interpreters undergo...

The Minister went on to highlight the importance of possessing bi-lingual skills, especially since Guyana is surrounded by neighbouring countries with three different languages. To this end, he commended the participants for getting involved and sharing their communicative skills to assist authorities in combatting the scourge.

“It is no secret that human trafficking can be carried out clandestinely and therefore, personnel must be able to detect most of or all manner of deceptive techniques being employed by perpetrators…

The escape hatch that some used to escape punishment by citing their lack of understanding English must now be closed,” asserted the Labour Minister.

Moreover, Chief of Mission of the International

Organisation for Migration (IOM), Robert Natiello, noted that human trafficking is considered to be the slavery of the 21st century and has become a major concern for governments the world over. He said the various form of human trafficking, which amounts to millions of cases and affects everyone.

Against this backdrop, he posited that the IOM plays an important role in ending the scourge of human trafficking with nearly 90,000 cases recorded in the organisation’s case management system within past 10 years alone.

However, he noted that no one organisation or country can tackle Trafficking in Persons alone.

“IOM’s long-term capacity building programmes aim to support the efforts of governments to effectively fight hu-

FROM PAGE 7

man trafficking and to raise awareness of the trafficking phenomenon among the general public. But we don’t believe we can do this alone…

IOM believes that forging partnership is crucial to combat the scourge of human trafficking,” he stated.

On the other hand, Police Commissioner Leslie James also highlighted the seriousness of Trafficking in Persons, adding that he is cognisant of the Guyana Police Force’s role in tackling this scourge.

He urged participants to pay keen attention to the models of the course.

Wednesday’s training is the culmination of the Taskforce’s work plan for 2018 during which several similar sessions were held with various stakeholders including frontline workers and prosecutors.

er, a report was made of a robbery, which occurred at Canal Number One Polder, another West Bank village.

The victims visited the Police Station where they positively identified the stolen items.

The Police in a release stated that the regular presence of ranks at the western end of the DHB has been very successful, since a number of persons have been arrested and charged with gun and ammunition possession, and other offences.

Moreover, the Police maintained that there has been a decrease in serious crimes in the West Demerara-East Bank Essequibo region as a result of the initiative.

The car in which the men were nabbed while attempting to cross the DHB

West Demerara man gets 18 years for statutory rape of teen …says he thought victim was 17

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hirty-eight-year-old Dhanraj Persaud, of West Bank Demerara (WBD), who had an unlawful relationship with a teenage girl was on Wednesday jailed for 18 years after the court rejected his claim of believing the girl was 17 at the time.

This comes nearly one month after a 12-member jury found him guilty of raping the then 15-year-old at a WBD village.

His sentence was handed down by Justice JoAnn Barlow at the Sexual Offences Court. He learnt his fate following the reading of a probation report that his attorney, Maxwell McKay had requested.

In that very report, Persaud outlined that he and the victim were involved in a relationship and

Jailed: Dhanraj Persaud

he thought her real age was 17. He held out that the victim told him that she was 17.

The court, however, found that Persaud knew the girl since she was about 10 years old, growing up in the community. Through

her victim impact statement, the teen told the court that she was living in a waking nightmare as a result of what happened to her, further saying that her pain has contributed to her having frequent suicidal thoughts. She asked that Persaud be punished for his crime. Persaud, then 33, committed the act on October 23, 2013, in the county of Demerara.

Justice Barlow ordered the offender to utilise programmes available in prison for sexual offenders.

Persaud was said to have dropped out of school in Grade Six (Primary Four) and soon after, he started to work as a labourer.

State Counsels Tiffini Lyken, Seeta Bishundial and Abigail Gibbs prosecuted the case.

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THURsdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GCCI worried over macroeconomic dynamics of fiscal sector – raises concern about lack of job creation, consumer spending

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he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has issued a formal response to the presentation of the 2019 Budget, which was read in Parliament by Finance Minister Winston Jordan on Monday, raising some concerns relating to the financial plan.

The GCCI said that it was worried about the macroeconomic dynamics of the fiscal sector. It notes that Budget 2019 indicates the Government’s intention to finance about 80 per cent of the sizable fiscal deficit ($32.84 billion of the $41.49 billion) by borrowing from the domestic economy.

The Chamber said compounding this was the concern that there was a projected increase in taxation by 9.9 per cent, in an economy, which was projected to expand by 4.6 per cent. “This outstripping worries us,” a statement issued by the GCCI on Wednesday stated.

But even more worrying for the Chamber is the slow rate of implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) and the long gestation period of capital expenditure. “This is likely to create a drag on the

economy as money is withdrawn faster than it can be injected.”

In the external sector, the GCCI said the large drawdown on the net foreign assets of the Bank of Guyana of US$104.1 million remained of concern; the sustenance of which was critical to external viability and the preservation of macroeconomic stability of the country.

Concerns were also raised about job creation and consumer spending, with the Chamber saying that 2018 was expected to record marginal increases in labour-intensive sectors such as agriculture and fisheries, with forestry expected to grow 1.1 per cent.

Additionally, the mining and quarrying industries are expected to decline in year 2018. Given the dismal economic performance in these labour-intensive sectors, “we are disappointed that the required stimulus needed to recover job losses were not adequately addressed in Budget 2019”.

Further, the GCCI said with a decline in spending on the agriculture sector from $19.4 billion to $17.1 billion (from 7.1 per cent to 5.7 per cent of the total Budget), it

GCCI President Deodat Indar

believes that the dismal performance in the sector, unfortunately, is likely to continue. “This is expected to have a negative impact on consumer spending in 2019,” the statement added.

Fuel concern

However, the GCCI said it was particularly disappointed that there has been no adjustment to the tax regime of fuel despite its suggestion. “It should be noted that in 2018, the price of fuel had a disastrous effect on the Private Sector earnings as costs skyrocketed, and continues to affect every aspect of Private Sector operations, from man-

Guyana to introduce 46-page passport

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uyanese business owners and frequent travellers will have the option to choose a 46-page machine-readable passport, at a cost of $10,000 as against the country’s current 32-page passport.

During his Budget 2019 presentation in the National Assembly on Monday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced the new passport.

The Minister explained that the new passport would reduce both the cost and the time spent to renew the document once it has expired.

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

Collin Chung, a Venezuelan by birth with Guyanese parentage, said as a frequent traveller this new passport would be quite convenient for those persons

The current 32-page Guyana passport

who were too busy to undergo the renewal process and should be embraced.

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

In expressing her view, Gloria Giddings said that although she was simply visiting the country, she could appreciate how the new measure would benefit the

regular air traveller.

Guyana’s passport has recently increased in value according to the Henly and Partners Passport Index 2018. The Index shows that Guyanese can now travel to 88 countries visa-free/ visa-on-arrival, moving the country up four places on the Index’s rankings, to 55 in the world.

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

ufacturing to distribution.”

During the 2019 Budget consultations, the GCCI, in meetings with the Finance Ministry, made a number of recommendations. The Chamber said it was pleased to see that some of the recommendations which were advanced to the Minister were well-received and taken on board.

“The Chamber of Commerce has noted that its requests to review the taxes on pesticides and limestone used in the agriculture sector has resulted in exemptions being granted from Custom Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT),” the statement said.

The GCCI is also pleased that its suggestions on the aviation industry have resulted in the VAT exemption of aircraft engines and main components/parts. In addition, the Commission said it welcomed a sector-targeted reduction in Corporation Tax and viewed this reduction as

a step in the right direction for the facilitation and promotion of Private Sector development.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has also listed a number of issues it has with Budget 2019. The Commission said in a statement on Tuesday that it was mainly concerned about the level of proposed overall tax revenue on businesses and individuals as Budget 2019 forecast a 9.9 per cent increase in revenue, while the economy is projected to grow by 4.6 per cent.

However, the PSC recalled that it had recommended the gradual lowering of the Corporation Tax over a period of 10 years to 20 per cent. “The PSC is, therefore, pleased at the reduction to 25 per cent, which was announced for 2019 and signals a commitment to this mutual goal.”

Further, the PSC said it was cognisant of the need to incentivise the manufactur-

ing sector and had hoped that given the large input of the services sector to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), thought would have been given to reducing the tax rate for commercial businesses from the draconian 40 per cent as this is having an adverse effect on legitimate businesses.

“Worrying too is the impact of Budget 2019 upon the foreign reserves of the Central Bank; an impact that does not appear to have taken cognisance of the need to cushion against external shocks to which the country and its currency are vulnerable,” the statement added.

Nevertheless, the PSC said it was pleased that Budget 2019 contained several measures such as the raising of the tax threshold, which it had proposed for some relief of the tax burden upon employees, and the monies earmarked for hinterland airstrips, among others.

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thursdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

60 Guyanese to benefit from Fijian aquaculture advancement training sure in addressing this particular issue has been diversifying aquaculture,” Nedd posited.

Last year, a similar training programme was facilitated, and the response generated called for provision to host the workshop once again. Over the next two weeks, theoretical discussions will be done along with practical sessions to better understanding of what is necessary.

Participants of the workshop during the opening ceremony

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he Commerce Ministry of the People’s Republic of China and the Fujian Institute of Oceanography, in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, on Wednesday started a 14day training course for Guyanese with the main aim of improving their capacity in the aquaculture sector using technological advancements.

The 60 stakeholders from private and public organisations will be trained by specialists in scientific research and modernised mechanisms to improve this sector. Over the past decades, China has been a leader in this sector and its expertise is one that can be shared with other countries.

It has managed to utilise common resources to develop state-the-art marine systems that can be beneficial and advantageous.

Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Chen Xilai noted that the interest shown for the training was evident from the num-

ber of persons attending and the remote areas from which some hailed.

“There are about 60 attendees from seven regions which has clearly demonstrated your interest in this training course, provided by the Chinese Government and supervised by the Fujian Institute of Oceanography,” said the Embassy official.

Incoming Director of National Cooperation, Ambassador Forbes July used his platform to ensure the two countries’ relationship with each other despite being miles apart.

Adding to that, Guyana is capable of making its way into the sustainable aquaculture environment.

“Here in Guyana, there are possibilities for development of the subsector with the emergence of very viable economic production to supply both local market and beyond, as well as create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods,” said July.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary Delma Nedd

emphasised that Guyana could thrive in this sector, judging from the favourable conditions present.

However, the challenges lie mainly with the exploitation of marine resources and climate change.

Nedd stated, “The promotion of aquaculture in Guyana is of great priority and we are blessed with land, fresh water and reasonable favourable conditions to be able to make aquaculture production a significant part of our economic harness.

“There are many challenges, challenges such as over-exploitation, illegal and unreported fishing practices, unregulated fishing practices and more recently, climate change.

These challenges would have placed significant and tremendous stress on our marine [life],” she added.

Owing to these factors, resources are decreasing and this workshop is timely in aiming to broaden this sector.

“Our resources in this regard are dwindling at an alarming rate. One mea-

CCAC to develop list of qualified contractors for building purposes

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n light of a host of complaints received by the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), the body is now seeking to develop a list of qualified contractors who will be recommended for building contracts.

This was revealed by Consumer Affairs Officer Feyona Austin-Paul during a consultation hosted at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown on Wednesday.

According to the Commission, the value of complaints between 2016 and 2018 increased from $67,000 to $6.5 million, although all were not about building errors.

It is against this backdrop that the Commission is seeking to reduce this high number with the introduction of a Homebuilders Roadmap, which will, among other things, provide a list of qualified contractors for home builders.

Austin-Paul explained, “Our hope is to have a list of competent contractors that we can make available to the public so through our consultations we are hoping to achieve that goal.”

She was keen to note, however, that contractors both big and small, will be in-

Consumer Affairs Officer Feyona Austin-Paul

cluded on the list, as long as they meet the basic requirements and are qualified.

In response to questions about what qualifications would be necessary for contractors to be included on the list, Guyana Times was told that consultations on this were currently being rolled out to accurately determine same by relevant agencies.

In explaining the importance of the session, the Consumer Affairs Officer said, “We expect to create a detailed outline of the steps, processes and methods of building or renovating a home to ensure that consumers are aware of the cor-

rect legal procedures of the construction process … to ensure that consumers are able to identify qualified contractors and to create a detailed hard copy and a virtual Homeowners Roadmap for consumers which will be placed on the Commission’s website.”

CCAC Director Dawn Cush shared, “The Homebuilders Roadmap is intended to provide consumers with the relevant knowledge when they decide to invest in building a home.”

She added that while consumers have rights, they too must do their homework when given an estimate by contractors so as to ensure they were getting their money’s worth, especially since building a home was a huge investment.

Cush also highlighted that if a person was unsatisfied with the work done by a contractor, it was their right to file a complaint against the builder which would ultimately result in an investigation.

CCAC Chairman Ronald Burch-Smith pointed out that a good start for the Roadmap would be for consumers to know their rights as it related to warranty and keeping receipts.

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THURsdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cyclist killed after colliding Convicted thief slapped with container truck with additional 3 years at Rahaman’s Park T wenty-three-yearold Romel Bollers of Lot 120 Luthers Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown, who is no stranger to the court has again been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, on Wednesday, by Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was found guilty of stealing a gold chain.

The charge detailed that on August 22, 2018 at Agricola, Bollers snatched Tanya Drakes’s gold chain

A

A section of the fence damaged by the truck

pedal cyclist met his demise on the Houston Public Road on Wednesday when he collided with a container truck, registration number GWW 7629, just outside Parc Rayne in Rahaman’s Park, Greater Georgetown.

He was identified as Seeram Seecharran of Lot 16 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Guyana Times understands that at the time of the accident, it was raining. However, the now dead man reportedly darted across the road ahead of oncoming traffic.

Reports stated that the container truck collided with him before swerving and coming to a halt after ploughing into the fence, which was meant to shield the 70-foot artificial tree that is being erected for the Annual Rahaman’s Park Christmas tree light-up set for Friday.

Host of the yearly event, Ray Rahaman was present at the scene and indicated that he was not discouraged even though the area has seen multiple accidents. He also related his account of what transpired.

“The cyclist went across the road, the truck was coming in the rain, he pulled brakes, he couldn’t be going fast, because there was a lot of traffic, so it is not the fault of the truck; it is the fault of the cyclist,” the businessman surmised.

The fence collapsed as the tree shifted; several parts of the bicycle were seen smashed and strewn along the road. This is the second year in a row that the famous Christmas tree was shifted from its position owing to an accident. The truck driver reportedly received injuries to his hands. Police are continuing their investigation into the incident.

Rahaman further noted that it was fortunate that the tree did not fall as it did last year. He once again praised the business community for assisting to ensure that everything was in place for the tree light-up.

“These things happen and are unfortunate for the nation … But the fortunate part is that it (tree) is not on the ground, this year

it didn’t fall, so the Lord is testing us but he still helping us. So, we will lift it with a crane now … the entire tree from the top, put it on the road here, build over the stand, put it back by this afternoon (Wednesday), and then we are in business again,” Rahaman told this newspaper as workmen worked feverishly to repair the damaged section.

An official Police account of what transpired disclosed that the lorry was proceeding in the same direction as the pedal cyclist, but on the “eastern side of the western

duty, who pronounced him dead on arrival.

His body is currently lying in the Hospital’s Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Police said that a breathalyser test was conducted on the truck driver which revealed a reading of 0.000 per cent.

After the tree fell and got damaged last December, two men were found afterwards with the tree snaps. Later that month, a truck driver avoiding a collision crashed into a nearby utility pole. The businessman’s wife, Angela Rahaman later called for caution on the roadways.

Businessman Ray Rahaman makes a point as workers labour to restore the shifted tree

carriageway” in the vicinity of Rahamans Park. The cyclist then “proceeded to cross the road from the eastern side to the western side and in the process of doing so, he ended up into the path of the motor lorry”.

Police confirmed that the driver of the motor lorry swerved to avoid a collision, but “the right side front of the lorry came into contact with the pedal cycle, the cyclist was thrown off the pedal cycle and landed on the road surface, where he received injuries about his body.”

It was explained that Seecharran was picked up in an unconscious state by Police and public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor on

Jailed: Romel Bollers

and pendant valued $80,000.

Bollers had denied the charge and had been re-

manded to prison.

According to reports, on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant was standing on the Agricola Public Road when Bollers approached her, snatched the chain, and made good his escape.

The accused was previously convicted on multiple charges of robbery, serving a three-year sentence for one, while being on bail for another. During the brief trial, Bollers was unrepresented.

Tracy-Ann Gittens prosecuted the case.

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thursdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

TOTALTEC commences training for oil and gas industry committed to local content development”, he added.

In addition, Chief Executive Officer, Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc. Kerri Gravesande-Bart explained that SRSGY has selected the TOTALTEC Academy as its local training provider for Rigging, Slinging and Banksman Certification.

This training, he noted is a prerequisite for several of the mariner positions that the company currently provides.

“This is an indication the local companies are developing and implementing standards to meet the needs of the offshore industry. We are proud that this local content initiative could

From left: Lars Mangal, CEO TOTALTEC; Glen Lockwood, MD TOTAL-BASE Services; Kerri Gravesande, CEO Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc; Joe Singh, Manager, International Petroleum and Maritime Academy; and Freddy Sparrock, Operations Director, TOTALTEC

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OTALTEC Academy commenced its first Commercial Slinger/ Banksman Safety and Operational training to the oil and gas industry in Guyana. The academy commenced the training with 23 Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc. maritime personnel.

The International Petroleum and Maritime Academy (IPMA), with whom TOTALTEC is collaborating, is pleased to work with another Guyanese company in the Oil and

Gas industry – Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc. (SRSGY).

“We are pleased that SRSGY recognises that in the IPMA, there is a local company that provides the highest standards of safety and operational training in Oil and Gas that meets international requirements”, the organization stated in a release.

SRSGY last week made a request for a training course and in less than a week, the course has been set up with the instructor mobilised

from Aberdeen, Scotland.

“We are proud to work with a fellow Guyanese company to provide opportunities to our fellow Guyanese citizens participating in our Oil and Gas industry’, Lars Mangal, President and CEO of TOTALTEC stated.

“This is a giant step in terms of Guyanese participation and local content development for the industry in Guyana. Having 23 new maritime personnel join the industry at this time is foundational and extremely positive for all concerned and

A team of 24 recruits from SRS Inc starting their Slinger/ Banksman safety and operational course on Tuesday morning at the TOTALTEC Academy ahead of embarking on their maritime careers in the oil and gas industry

be achieved by clients, local recruiters and local training providers. SRSGY will continue its mandate to build capacities through training

“Self-defence” should be included in schools’ curriculum – psychologist

GTU to submit new multi-year W salary proposal next month

Psychologist Raiza Khan

P

resident of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte has recently disclosed that the Union is currently working on a new multi-year proposal to submit to the Education Ministry which will address salary and other non-salary benefits.

According to him, the Union is hoping to submit the document by the second week in December in an effort to avoid the discrepancies encountered during the last bargaining process with the Ministry.

Although he was reluctant to reveal the percentage that the Union is proposing in the new agreement, he said the Union will find ways to justify its proposal.

Things went haywire during the most recent bargaining process between the two parties which left children in empty classrooms as teachers resorted to the streets, calling for increased salaries.

In fact, it was only late October that the GTU and the Education Ministry came to an agreement with regards to teachers’ salary.

As the agreement was inked on October 24, 2018, for a 12 per cent increase for 2016 and eight per cent for

GTU President Mark Lyte

2018, Lyte said the Union has learnt its lesson and is looking forward to brokering a better agreement come 2019.

Moreover, the GTU President pointed out that the Union has “learnt so many lessons” and is now better prepared for the next bargaining process with the Education Ministry.

He explained that he believes the agreement made will better satisfy teachers and their families, thus resulting in classrooms being better serviced.

On the other hand, General Secretary of the GTU, Coretta McDonald

during a telephone interview with Guyana Times said she believes the Union should have been more diligent.

She stated, “As a Union we needed to do a little more work, we needed to be a little more diligent in what we were doing, but it’s a learning experience and come 2019 our teachers, if it’s going to be a three-year or a five-year agreement, our teachers will see many more benefits coming their way”.

“Those teachers who would have felt neglected over the past years and they weren’t being able to gain access to their benefits I want to say to them rest assure, the GTU has been there for you, we will continue to be there for you and your benefits are intact,” she added.

A 40 per cent salary increase for public school teachers was initially proposed for the year 2016.

Over time, the percentage would be increased for all categories of represented teachers. For the year 2017, the Union was hoping to have bargained for a 45 per cent increase, which would then increase to 50 per cent for the remainder of the years indicated in the agreement (2018-2020).

and development as well as support local training institutions and businesses”, he stated.

ith domestic violence becoming widespread across the country, especially violence against women and girls peaking in recent years, a psychologist who recently earned a Masters in Science and in counselling psychology has noted that she believes self-defence should be taught in schools across the country.

This was shared by Raiza Khan during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday.

According to the psychologist who has been in the field for close to two years, there is a need for self-defence to be taught, as its benefits can be multi-fold.

Khan explained, “Often times a lot of the Government organisations and a lot of the schools, what we would encourage them to do is as much psycho-social training and psycho-social programmes, something as simple as developing your sense of identity… I think that what needs to be understood is that self-defence can be helpful in terms of developing empowerment and healthy and active children just like the same reasons you would offer physical education and dance classes and track and field”.

She noted that while the Government may already have provisions for classes which may include physical

health and wellbeing, what is urgent to be addressed is how children own up to uncomfortable situations which they may not necessarily be brave enough to talk about, although being encouraged to do so.

In fact, the psychologist pointed out that the classes which may very well help a child when they age, is really not intended to help fight violence with violence but rather to engage youths on understanding that you can be prepared for an assault since self-defence techniques are not only used when a person’s boyfriend or girlfriend hits them.

Important to note is that these classes, she pointed out, can also help to fight crime as many times persons are attacked and are unable to defend themselves.

Khan argued, “Selfdefence is not only used against your domestic violence partner but we do have crime and women are pick-pockets and men are pick-pockets and young children are attacked on the streets, so it would more be for self-development and being able to protect yourselves from other circumstances not to be used in the case of (only) violence against women”.

She alluded to the fact that there needs to be a more holistic approach to understand where violence

comes from and what the other party actually sees in the other person while trying to be possessive and how to deal with insecurities.

According to her, just as other life skills are being taught in schools such as Home Economics, classes should also be developed geared towards tackling peer pressure, depression and even mental health, as well as dealing with anxiety.

“We talk about diabetes, we talk about other forms of medical conditions but we are not talking about mental health in schools,” she posited.

The Education Ministry is presently in the process of drafting a new curriculum for schools.

The new curriculum is intended to benefit nursery, primary and secondary levels up to Grade Nine, as classes from there on utilise the Caribbean curriculum to prepare for the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).

According to a Senior Public Relations Officer of the Education Ministry, Brushell Blackman the new curriculum will include a number of broad areas, which he acknowledged the Ministry previously overlooked.

The new syllabus, will among other things, seek to include oil education he posited.

Blackman added the Ministry promised not to drag their feet on the paperwork, as they are fully aware of its importance and vitality at this time.

Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson also pointed out how critical it is for the curriculum to be updated, while saying, “This process cannot be a long and drawn out process. I know curriculum writing take time, but it cannot be forever. We don’t have all the time in the world”.

news

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thursdAY, November 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Garbage collectors' strike $841M budgeted for National Solid Waste Programme in 2019 Vendors complain of slow garbage collection

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and designs for sanitary operations at Bartica, Linden and Mahdia are expected to be completed in 2019, and works commence thereafter

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total of $841 million has been allocated for the operation and expansion of the National Solid Waste Programme for 2019 in keeping with efforts to address the country’s sanitation management.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, during the Budget 2019 pre-

sentation in the National Assembly, works will continue at Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Site, which is projected to become a demonstration site for the “Reuse, Reduce and Recycle” sanitation agenda.

“For this year, over $590 million was expended towards the completion of the

leachate treatment ponds, construction of Cell Two of the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill, rehabilitation of the access road to the Rose Hall Sanitary Landfill, and operation of sanitary landfill sites across the country,” he explained.

Moving forward, Minister Jordan said that the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and designs for sanitary operations at Bartica, Linden and Mahdia are expected to be completed in 2019, and works commence thereafter.

He noted that residents would soon benefit from similar landfill facilities in Belle Vue and Lethem.

According to the Minister, the Solid Waste Management Bill is expected to be laid in the National Assembly next year. This, he said, will pave the way for the creation of the solid waste management authority and allow for the focused and dedicated implementation of solid waste management at the regional and municipal levels.

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The garbage being placed into large bins

number of vendors at Bourda Market, Georgetown, have raised eyebrows over the long intervals to which they wait for garbage to be removed from their immediate surroundings.

These complaints arose less than one week after the two main garbage collectors pulled their services from City Hall.

While speaking to Guyana Times on

NAMS CSEC, CAPE graduates urged to “climb to higher heights”

You have just completed one chapter in your educational journey and you are about to start writing another one, just remember as you climb, take all you would have learnt along with you,” Benn-Ralph said.

Ronecca Arjune, who gained nine Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and four Grade Threes, emerged as the top student for this year’s CSEC. She also re-

The graduating class of the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School

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ormer Regional Education Officer of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education (in-service), Shafiran Bhajan, during her feature address at the 2018 graduation ceremony and thanksgiving service of the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary (NAMS) School, urged all graduates to continue “climbing to higher heights”.

Bhajan received resounding applause when she highlighted the important measures that one could consider to gain a successful life. She urged the class of 2018 to be disciplined, committed and always acknowledge those who have contributed to their successes.

According to a report by the Department of Public Information (DPI), newly-appointed Head Teacher Vanessa Jacobs remarked that NAMS, this year, has attained a pass rate of 89.49 per cent (Grades One to Three) at the 2018 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations. This is an improvement of 10.4 per cent over the previous year.

“A total of 136 Grade Ones, 273 Grade Twos, 196 Grade Threes, 69 Grade Fours and two Grade Fives were obtained… Mr Chairman, I am pleased to inform you that this performance has earned NAMS the enviable position of the most improved senior secondary school in the country,” Jacob highlighted.

Additionally, the Head Teacher noted that two students of the institution have earned places on the regional merit lists at both Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) and CSEC. They are Charran Woarti, who copped the number one CSEC spot for Industrial Technology (Mechanical), and Sherlyn Semple, who placed third for Law Unit 2.

Delivering the charge to the graduates was Jackie Benn-Ralph, past principal of the NAMS and current Head Teacher of Queens’ College.

Benn-Ralph encouraged the class of 2018 to always remain on top of their academics, “make your own impact and influence others”.

“I challenge you to transform the skills and talents that you would have gained to make a difference in your community, country and world.

Valedictorian Yevnie Sukra

ceived trophies for being best student in English Literature, Agricultural Science, Biology and Theatre Arts.

Meanwhile, valedictorian Yevnie Sukra reminded her colleagues about the sacrifices which were made and how they worked for the good.

Sukra encouraged her fellow graduates to “never stop believing in the person you are and in the person you can be. Be who you needed to be when you were younger. It definitely can’t get better than that.”

Wednesday, cries were heard about the time which they have to wait before the refuse is removed from the dumping area in Orange Walk.

“In this rain we got garbage piling up and nobody to pick it up. It frustrating cause the thing creating a scene and going over to the roadside,” said Shelley (only name provided).

It was indicated that the slow garbage collection has left a stench in the area which is even worse during the rainy days. Later in the day, some of the garbage was placed in large disposal bins but the vendors are contending that there will be no collection for several days.

“They just collect it today cause we keep raising the issue so like we got to keep doing this until they come. I live in Georgetown and they supposed to collect garbage but some days, I got to bring it here in garbage bags for them cause they don’t even come to my house.”

Another vendor stated, “What must I say? This going on since 2016 but now is worse… We have to depend on the one [garbage] truck or whatever they got to carry out all this garbage.

And we paying for facilities which nobody providing.”

On Monday, both collectors; Puran Brothers Disposal Incorporated and Cevons Waste Management, withdrew their services after being owed over $60 million.

Solid Waste Management Director, Walter Narine had informed that small contractors had already stepped in

to provide garbage collection services in the city and all of them were required to work alternatively.

Services would be provided by five agencies namely Granderson, Trash Tech, Tri Star, C&S Services and Garbage Eaters.

Guyana Times understands the owed contracting agencies were delaying the strike to attest if City Hall would have come to terms with offering some of the money that is currently outstanding.

Until payments are made in significant sums, the collectors are maintaining that their strike action will continue. In October, Managing Director of Puran Brothers, Khalesh Puran insisted that he had high hopes of being paid.

However, a meeting was facilitated by THE Council the following day and no positive resolution as arrived at.

The last appointment was on Friday and this prompted the two firms to divulge that they have “no-confidence” in the local organ body.

According to the companies, they want their June and July arrears payment

by November month end; August and September payments by December 31 and the resumption of regular payments as stipulated in their contract in February.

They called on Government to intervene in support of this process, to ensure efficient garbage disposal.

In a statement dated last week, City Hall explained that they remain cash-strapped and therefore cannot dispense these moneys which are duly owed.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursdAY, november 29, 2018

Regional

China, vying with US in Latin America, eyes Argentina nuclear deal

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rgentina hopes to announce an agreement on the Chinesefinanced construction of the Atucha III nuclear power plant during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit on Sunday following the summit of leaders of G20 industrialized nations in Buenos Aires, Juan Pablo Tripodi, Head of Argentina’s national investment agency, told Reuters in an interview.

The potential deal, reportedly worth up to US$8 billion, is emblematic of China’s strengthening of economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with Argentina.

It is part of a wider push by Beijing into Latin America that has alarmed the United States, which views the region as its backyard and is suspicious of China’s motives.

The focus of this week’s meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of G20 will be on their two

A building with The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC) logo is seen in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 26, 2018

countries’ trade war, but the backdrop will be the competition between the powers for influence in Latin America.

China has emerged as Argentina’s critical trading partner, investor and financier, a Reuters review of trade and investment data shows, with Beijing pumping billions into Argentina’s economy and positioning itself as a reliable lender for

its crisis-stricken economy.

China and Argentina are expected to seal a currency swap deal this weekend that doubles the original amount of the credit line to US$18.7 billion. The deal will make China the biggest non-institutional lender to Argentina.

China is the main importer of Argentine soybeans, the South American country’s biggest cash crop. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Antigua-Barbuda warns that it will not issue vesting order for Scotiabank sale

A

ntigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne has advised the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) that his Government will not be issuing a vesting order to facilitate the Bank of Nova Scotia’s divestment of its Antigua holdings about which there was no consultation.

The Prime Minister on Wednesday wrote to Timothy Antoine, the governor of the ECCB, which has regulatory responsibility for banks operating in Antigua and Barbuda’s domestic financial space.

In this letter, Browne told the ECCB governor: “At no stage was the Government of Antigua and Barbuda consulted by the Bank of Nova Scotia nor was its agreement sought in this matter. The people of Antigua and Barbuda, including many persons holding deposits and other investment instruments with the bank, learned of this divestment scheme through a media release.”

Declaring that “This matter has implications for the integrity of the banking system in Antigua and Barbuda and, indeed, for the stability of the Eastern

Caribbean Currency”, the Prime Minister advised the Central Bank governor that “the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has concluded that the divestment announced by the Bank of Nova Scotia is not in the overall interest of our country and our people”.

Republic Bank’s announcement on Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Scotiabank’s operations in Guyana and eight other Caribbean territories has left officials at Central Bank worried about the troubling ramifications of this move.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

T&T could lose Caricom market for fuel

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rinidad and Tobago (T&T) faces the possibility of losing Caribbean Community (Caricom) markets for the export of fuel as the price of fuel coming out of T&T is likely to increase.

Minister of Energy Franklin Khan told the Senate on Tuesday that Caricom countries now have the option of sourcing their products on the open market.

He said Petrotrin still has the ability to supply small cargoes, including aviation fuel, to small Caricom countries, which gives it a strategic advantage. However, with a

C

declare Mexico a final destination for migrants, invalidating any asylum process in the United States. We have rejected this."

US President Donald Trump threatened this week to "permanently" close the US-Mexican border if Mexico does not deport some 7000 Central Americans gathered in the border city of Tijuana.

Videgaray said that closing the border, through which US$1.7 billion in bilateral trade passes every day, would be "incredibly negative" for both countries. Videgaray said the migrants were welcome to stay in Mexico while they waited to file asy-

from Trinidad Guardian)

N

ot so fast, says the University of the West Indies (UWI), there’s no agreement yet on the payment of £200 million (US$256 million) in reparations from the University of Glasgow.

UWI Vice Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles sought to make that clear on Tuesday, on the heels of a Jamaica Gleaner newspaper article on Sunday which indicated that the university in the United Kingdom had agreed to make the payments. He said that “while the quoted content of the story is correct, the headline that suggests an agreement to pay £200 million to The UWI is not.”

In a statement issued yesterday, Sir Hilary acknowledged that The University of Glasgow had admitted that the amount in fees, endowment and grants were received from Caribbean slave owners, but he stressed that deliberations on payment of reparations are still ongoing.

“The universities

lum claims in the United States.

Videgaray did not address reports that the incoming government of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was close to an agreement with the United States that would make migrants wait in Mexico even after they had submitted their claim in the United States.

Under current rules, migrants who ask for US asylum are either detained in the United States or released there to await the final ruling on their application; a process Trump refers to as "catch and release" and that on average takes close to two years. (Excerpt from

MSN)

ternational traders, refiners, and marketers will be invited to participate in the supply of refined products, with the company with the most competitive being awarded supply contracts. Those products will include jet fuel, gas, oil and unleaded gasoline.

Khan said earlier this year, BP’s Latin America Integrated Sales and Trading Group, won the contract to supply refined products following a competitive bidding process. He said the company’s offer was superior on price and commercial terms on the composite cargos. (Excerpt

UWI clears the air: No agreement yet on reparations

Mexico says migrants have right to seek US asylum, rejects closing border

entral American migrants have a right to request asylum in the United States and Mexico has repeatedly refused US requests to force them to seek refuge there instead, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said on Wednesday.

Videgaray, who leaves office at the weekend, said the incoming Mexican government was also not planning to accept US demands that it give asylum to the migrants, thousands of whom have arrived at the USMexican border in caravans in recent weeks.

He told Mexican network Televisa that accepting the US requests "would

change in the business model, with Petrotrin having to import products from outside of the Caricom region, there is a possibility of increases in prices.

The CET does not apply anymore as T&T is no longer in the refinery business.

Barbados has already announced that it has found a new supplier for petroleum products. It has also been receiving spot shipments of gas from the United States.

The minister said no one company will be given exclusive rights to supply products to T&T. However, he noted that in-

UWI Vice Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles

are working through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) built upon the principle of ‘reparatory justice’, but there is no ‘agreement’ about the repayment of £200 million to The UWI,” he said.

“In good faith, the two universities, ever since the Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli indicated that his university seeks to be

excellent and ethical, have had excellent conversations about how the University of Glasgow can contribute to cleaning up the colonial legacies of slavery that are holding back the region.”

The university has announced that it has launched a wide-ranging and ambitious reparative justice programme that is based on the findings of more than two years of research. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

PAHO launches campaign to prevent one of the leading causes of death in women in the Region

T

he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) on Tuesday launched a communication campaign to prevent cervical cancer, which kills more than 34,000 women each year in the Americas and is among the leading causes of cancer death in women in 23 countries of the region.

‘It is Time to End Cervical Cancer’ is a communication campaign designed to inform health providers and empower women and girls with health information on how to prevent this disease, which is diagnosed in some 72,000 women each year.

With the slogan, “Don’t let cervical cancer stop you,” the campaign provides materials, information and stories about the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of cervical cancer and

about cervical cancer screening methods, to encourage women to have regular examinations for the early detection of precancerous lesions. The ultimate goal is to mobilize health providers, women and girls to seek preventive care and stop cervical cancer from keeping women from reaching their maximum potential in life.

Cervical cancer can be prevented with HPV vaccination and with screening. The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls ages nine to 14 and is available in 35 countries and territories of the Region.

However, in the majority of countries, the HPV vaccine coverage rate with the recommended two doses, has not yet reached 80 per cent of the target population.(Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

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thursdAY, november 29, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Ukraine-Russia sea clash staged, says Putin

Pakistan and India break ground on visa-free Kartarpur corridor R N estled in the verdant green rice fields of Pakistan's eastern Narowal district, the white domes of the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara offer a striking contrast.

Centuries ago, it is said, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent his final days in this small village, farming the fields and formalising many of the practices of what would become a religion followed by more than 25 million people around the world.

When he died in 1539, the legend goes that he was so revered by both Hindus and Muslims that there was a dispute over how his remains should be treated: Should he be buried, in the

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated a new visa-free corridor between the gurdwara at Kartarpur and the Indian town of Dera Baba Nanak [Arif Ali/AFP]

Islamic tradition, or cremated, as Hindus wished?

Today, at the Sikh gurdwara, or place of worship, built over his final resting place, there is both a Muslim

grave and a Hindu samadhi (shrine) marking his passing.

A few kilometres away, Sikhs gather at a podium to view one of the most sacred

Woman “to win Georgia presidential vote”

Salome Zurabichvili favours balancing Georgia's relations with Russia and the West

E

xit polls in Georgia suggest that Salome Zurabichvili, backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, has beaten a united opposition candidate in a presidential run-off.

Zurabichvili, a former

French diplomat, won at least 55 per cent of the vote, Edison Research and Gallup polls say.

She leads Grigol Vashadze, an ally of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili.

A new constitution is due to come into force, making the role of President largely ceremonial.

Zurabichvili favours balancing Georgia's relations with Russia and the West while Vashadze – who was Foreign Minister during the 2008 conflict between Georgia and Russia – is seen as more pro-Western, Reuters reported.

Polls closed at 20:00 local time (16:00 GMT) and the Central Election Commission (CEC) planned to announce preliminary results in the early hours of today.

It is the last time a president will be directly elected in Georgia, which is switching to parliamentary governance following constitutional reforms adopted last year, despite Opposition protests. (Excerpt from BBC News)

sites in their religion, lining up to pay tribute to Guru Nanak by viewing the gurdwara through a set of binoculars.

They are unable to access the site, just five kilometres away, because between the two gurdwaras lies an obstacle that has been almost insurmountable for most: The international border between India and Pakistan.

All that, however, is about to change.

On Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated a new visa-free corridor between the gurdwara at Kartarpur and the Indian town of Dera Baba Nanak, about six kilometres away.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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Staff at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital treated the wounded

t least 10 people have died and 19 were injured after a compound for British security firm G4S was attacked, authorities said.

Gunmen stormed the compound after a car bomb was detonated outside, according to an Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman.

A security source has

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told the BBC that foreigners were among the casualties.

There was reportedly a heavy exchange of gunfire.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

While the Interior Ministry confirmed the death toll, it also warned the number could well rise.

G4S, one of the world's largest security groups,

A high court cautioned the two hopefuls to 'avoid provocations' as they head to the final stretch of the election [Kabir Dhanji/AP Photo]

The court said total voter turnout was 53.95 per cent of the registered voters.

Judge Rakotoarisoa cautioned the two hopefuls to "avoid provocations" as they head to the final stretch of the election in a country which has a history of political turmoil. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

helps guard the area around the British Embassy.

"We can confirm that there has been an incident at one of our locations in Kabul," a G4S spokesperson told news agency AFP. "The situation is ongoing and we are coordinating with the Afghan authorities to bring it to a conclusion."

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Scientist defends “world's 1st geneedited babies”

A ning in the last election in 2013 under international pressure to avoid a repeat of deadly political violence that engulfed the island in 2009.

Ravalomanana ruled from 2002 to 2009, until he was overthrown in a military-backed coup that installed Rajoelina, who was in power until 2014.

The peninsula was seized from Ukraine in 2014 and annexed by Russia shortly afterwards.

The three boats were sailing from Odessa to Mariupol, a major Ukrainian port on the Azov Sea, when they were confronted by four FSB vessels.

Both countries agreed to share the sea in a 2003 treaty, but Russia's decision to open a bridge across the Kerch Strait this year has exacerbated tensions.

Ukraine says Russia is deliberately blockading Mariupol and another port, Berdyansk, preventing ships from getting through the Kerch Strait.

All 24 captured Ukrainian sailors have now been given two months in pre-trial detention by a court in Russian-annexed Crimea. (Excerpt from BBC News)

G4S: Kabul compound attacked with bomb and gunfire

Madagascar ex-Presidents to compete in runoff election former president of Madagascar and the man who overthrew him in a coup will compete to become the island State's next leader in December after the two came out on top in a first-round vote that knocked out the incumbent.

Former President Marc Ravalomanana received 35.35 per cent of the vote in the November first round, behind his successor, Andry Rajoelina, who got 39.23 per cent, the High Constitutional Court said on Wednesday.

Current President Hery Rajaonarimampianina received just 8.82 per cent, the court said, and will not take part in the second round.

The court rejected his request to have the election cancelled.

The runoff vote is set for December 19.

It is the first time the bitter rivals have faced each other at the ballot box.

Both Ravalomanana, 68, and Rajoelina, 44, were banned from run-

ussian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine's leader, Petro Poroshenko, of trying to boost his ratings ahead of 2019 elections with a naval confrontation off Crimea.

Russian FSB border guards opened fire on two Ukrainian gunboats and a tug before seizing the Ukrainian crews.

"He had to do something to make the situation more tense," Putin told an investment forum on Wednesday.

Ukraine has condemned the incident as a Russian "act of aggression".

At least three of the Ukrainian sailors were wounded on Sunday as tensions spilled over near the Kerch Strait, the passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov off the coast of Crimea.

Chinese scientist who claims to have created the world's first genetically edited babies has defended his work.

Speaking at a genome summit in Hong Kong, He Jiankui said he was "proud" of altering the genes of twin girls so they could not contract HIV. His work, which he announced earlier this week, has not been verified.

Many scientists have condemned his announcement. Such gene-editing work is banned in most countries, including China.

Professor He's university

– the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen – said it was unaware of the research project and would launch an investigation. It said He had been on unpaid leave since February.

Professor He confirmed the university was not aware, adding he had funded the experiment by himself.

He announced earlier this week that he had altered the DNA of embryos – twin girls – to prevent them from contracting HIV. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursdAY, November 29, 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)

Listen to your heart and do what comes naturally.

Don’t trust someone else to take care of your responsibilities or personal matters. Personal growth will encourage a better relationship with a loved one.

Shop around and find a bargain. Participating in a cause you believe in will be enlightening, but your generosity should not go beyond what you can afford.

Relationships take work, and without honesty it will be difficult to overcome some of the emotional tension building at home. Avoid overspending and indulgent behavior.

Spend time with a close friend, sibling or someone you like to share ideas with.

Self-improvement should be a priority. Don’t try to change the people around you.

Getting together with people who share your concerns, interests or skills will be enlightening. Get the lowdown, but don’t let temptation lead to a needless cost.

Emotions will surface when dealing with domestic problems and time management. Listen to what others have to say, and consider the best way to satisfy everyone’s needs. Be a solver, not a complainer.

Share your thoughts LIBRA (Sept. 23- and get things done. Learn Oct. 23) from watching others and use experience to do a better job. An unexpected offer will come from a former colleague.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — GUARANTY

SUDOKU

(GUARANTY: GAR-en-tee: Something given as security; pledge.)

Average mark 19 words

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Expect the unexpected.

Plans aren’t likely to turn out as anticipated, but if you are innovative you will find a way to work through any problem that comes along.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Problems while traveling or discussing personal matters will surface. Be aware of what you are up against, and leave plenty of time to assess and react to events with insight and compassion.

Time limit 30 minutes

Keep your personal books CAPRICORN in order. Don’t feel you must (Dec. 22- donate to a cause or pay for Jan. 19) someone else’s mistake. An investment or joint venture will have serious implications.

Can you find 28 or more words in GUARANTY? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — HALIBUT habit

hula

bait

tabu

hail

abut

bath

tail

halt

alit

blah

tuba

haul

lath

blat

tubal

hilt

bail

built

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

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Look for ways to expand your income. A temporary or part-time job will lead to an interesting opportunity.

Expand your interests and skills.

Be careful while traveling or when dealing with institutions or authority figures. Letting your emotions take the reins will make you look bad and deter you from getting things done.

ThursdAY, november 29, 2018

19

Regional 4-Day Tournament requires more intensity for Windies Test team to rise

piling 35 centuries and 58 half-centuries in 200 matches, but his Test record speaks otherwise. After 43 Test matches – 76 innings representing the West Indies at the Test level, Smith scored only one century. Smith’s comparison in regional cricket will leave any individual shell-shocked. In the 20172018 season, Smith continued to be the “Daddy batsman” scoring 611 runs in 19 innings, averaging over 40.

Nikita Miller, Imran Khan and Veerasammy Permaul were the best regional bowlers in 2017-2018, topping the wicket charts.

By Brandon Corlette

C

aribbean cricket supporters will witness the best regional players contest in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional C r i c k e t L e a g u e Regional Four-Day tournament that is scheduled to start December 6, 2018.

T h e main aim of this tournament is to reveal the bright prospects that will play Test cricket for the West Indies.

Kyle Hope

Guyana Jaguars players watched the batsman on the charge

Defending champions Guyana Jaguars have been the most dominant team in the Four-Day tournament over the p a s t five or more seasons under Leon Johnson’s captaincy, but few Guyanese players are in the regional Test team.

In the recent Four-Day Tournament, only on four occasions teams have crossed the 400r u n mark. Caribbean

batsmen in the 2017-2018 season struggled to convert half-centuries into centuries. Veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jahmar Hamilton, Yannic Cariah and Devon Smith were the batters to score two centuries while Shai Hope and Sunil Ambris scored double centuries.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Cariah topped the batting charts with 691 runs in 18 innings, averaging 43.18. In contrast to other Test nations’ First-Class tournaments, an average of 43.18 is par but the Caribbean’s standard is different. In the recent Test series against India and the first Test against Bangladesh, the inconsistency of batters continued.

Kyle Hope, the second-best batsman in the 2017-

Youngster denied chance to compete at National Schools Championships M ember of Parliament Yvonne Pearson of Mainstay/ Whayaka Amerindian Community, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has expressed her dismay over the way her nephew was treated at the ongoing 58th National Championships.

According to the MP, the eight-year-old child, Revaldo Kanhai, of the Mainstay Lake Primary School, excelled in the Inter Schools and Inter Branch School Sports which qualified him for the marquee event.

Owing to his performance, he was taken to Georgetown on Saturday last by the Department of Education to represent Region Two. His father, Andrew Kanhai, who is a manager at a hotel in Region One (BarimaWaini) travelled by aircraft all the way to the City just to give support to his son, but was shocked to learn that his son’s name was suddenly not on the list of students participating at Nationals.

He said that as a helpless father, his heart was torn into pieces when he saw his son break down in tears.

According to a release, Kanhai contacted Pearson, who in turn contacted Education Minister Nicolette Henry.

The Minister at the time was engaged at a parliamentary sitting and promised to assist in the matter, but they received no support. Pearson also reached out to Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton, but to no avail.

According to the MP, she has information which suggested that her nephew was replaced because of his ethnicity. Pearson said that she would officially lodge a complaint with the Ethnic Relations Commission and raise the issue at Parliament.

She vowed to get to the bottom of the matter by whatever means and expose those responsible for treating the child in such a manner.

2018 tournament, scored 649 runs averaging 49 in eight innings. Kyle, the older brother of Shai Hope, was given his opportunity to play international cricket, but failed miserably. Hope, who made his Test debut in in 2017, played five Test matches batting in nine innings scoring 101 runs averaging 11.22. If Kyle was amongst the top batsmen in the regional Four-Day tournament and failed at the Test level, how much intensity is shown in this tournament?

Devon Smith, the runs machine in regional FourDay tournaments has been the prime example: succeeding at the regional level and failing at the Test level. Smith has an exceptional first class record, com-

Devon Smith

Permaul, who has 25 regional five-wicket hauls, played six Tests and is yet to pick up a five-wicket haul.

The West Indies are looking to rise in the Test rankings, but the regional FourthDay tournament requires more intensity. With 10 rounds of cricket to be played, batsmen will have some 20 innings to bat and are expected to score five or more centuries in these tournaments.

McGregor banned from driving for 6 months and fined

Conor McGregor leaves Naas district court near Dublin

U

FC fighter Conor McGregor has been banned from driving for six months after pleading guilty to speeding.

The Irishman, 30, admitted to driving his Range Rover at 154kph (96mph) in a 100kph (62mph) zone near Kill, County Kildare, in October 2017.

He apologised to the judge after he was also fined 1,000 euros (£883) at Naas district court near Dublin.

McGregor’s last UFC bout ended in defeat by Russia’s Khabib Nurmagomedov in October.

Following the fight, there were

violent scenes involving the fighters and McGregor was suspended for a month on medical grounds.

McGregor has 12 previous traffic offences dating back to his teens.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said: “The speed here is in the higher end. Speed kills and that is what makes speeding dangerous.

“When speeding goes wrong the consequences are catastrophic and life-changing, there is no question about that.

“Sadly we have lost more lives on our roads because of excessive speeding, dangerous speeds and other bad behaviour.” (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

ThursdAY, november 29, 2018

14th Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Championships underway T

he 14th annual Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival was officially launched and got underway on Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Five matches were scheduled to take place on Wednesday evening while another 10 matches are lined up for today, at the same venue.

The competition, which is also backed by ExxonMobil and ANSA McAL through its Stag Beer Brand, will see only three categories – Open Men, Open Women and Over-35.

Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) President Philip Fernandes, who was on hand for the launch and commencement of the event,

GHB President Philip Fernandes makes a point at the launching of the 14th edition of the Indoor Hockey Championships

said their platinum sponsor, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), has been with them since the inaugural event

in 2004, and they owed it a great debt of gratitude.

He also commended the other companies that have

stuck with the tournament throughout the years to make it one of the most anticipated events on the cal-

endar.

According to Fernandes, this year, they anticipate the participation of the top players from last year’s Indoor World Cup from Men’s Pan American Champions, Trinidad and Tobago. The Queens Park Hockey Club from T&T, who were finalists in 2013 and 2016, are defending champions in both the Men’s and Stag Over-35 Divisions.

The side boasts several Trinidadian national players, including Jordan Reynos, Aiden DeGannes and Jordan Vieira, along with several former nationals.

The ExxonMobil Women’s Competition sees the return of the inaugural champions Magnolias from Trinidad, who will be joined

by Ventures, also making a reappearance after many years.

Meanwhile, the GTT National Champions, the Woodpecker Hikers, will be looking to lead the challenge from Guyana, as will seven-time champions GBTI GFF along with Old Fort and Saints.

Seven overseas teams will be gracing this year’s festival, along with the local squads –a total of 18 teams.

Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to the winners and runners-up in the male, female and veteran categories. The winning team in both the male and female tournament will each receive US$1000 while the runners-up will cart off US$500.

Barca beat PSV to top group with game to spare B arcelona ensured they will reach the Champions League knockout stage as Group B winners with victory at PSV. The Spanish side had already qualified for the last 16 but sealed top spot with a Lionel Messi strike and Gerard Pique’s clever second.

Pique stabbed into the bottom corner in what looked like a planned move from Messi’s swept delivery, after the Argentine fired

home through a crowd.

Luuk de Jong scored a late consolation for PSV, who missed a host of chances.

The Dutch side hit the frame of Barca’s goal four times before finally finding the net, with the fivetime European champions repeatedly exposed at the back.

It led to a nervy end to the match for Barca, and Denzel Dumfries had a strong injury-time penal-

ty shout turned down after Clement Lenglet appeared to catch him in the box with a clumsy challenge.

With one fixture to go, Barca lead second-placed Tottenham by six points, with Spurs ahead of Inter Milan on goal difference, Their final match of the group stage is at home to Mauricio Pochettino’s side on Tuesday, 11 December, when Inter host bottom side PSV. (BBC Sport)

Fury, Wilder clash at final presser Gerard Pique stabbed home Barca’s second from a clever Lionel Messi free-kick

T

yson Fury and Deontay Wilder’s final news conference descended into chaos as they clashed on stage three days before their heavyweight bout in Los Angeles.

After a packed final news conference in which Fury’s words saw Wilder grow visibly more irate, the pair began pushing during a face off.

Their teams got involved, prompting 60 seconds of mayhem.

Fury removed his shirt as security intervened, before the fighters and retinues were asked to clear the stage.

What had started with both men hyping the Staples Center bout developed into an exchange of insults, with both men promising a knockout.

After both men left the stage, one journalist could be heard describing the scenes as “crazy”.

After opening speeches by each fighter, Fury seemed to grow into proceedings and elected to stand to answer questions, during which he questioned why American Wilder’s profile was small in his homeland despite his status as WBC world heavyweight champion.

“On Saturday night the

whole world will know him as the person who Fury knocked out,” said the Briton, 33.

“Up until he had 30 fights he was reserved. This swagger is not genuine, it’s fake - a snide and fraud. I look at him and don’t see a bad man, I see a pretender.”

Wilder - who had earlier said Fury had made his name in a “small country” - grew louder but remained seated.

But when the pair posed for head to heads, Wilder was shouting in his opponent’s face, before a melee engulfed the stage. (BBC Sport)

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21

BCB cricket fixtures continue M

atches organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will continue this weekend with some crucial fixtures.

Owing to inclement weather matches that were scheduled to be played over the week have now been moved to this weekend.

Matches will continue with the highly-anticipated Brian Ramphal Double Wicket Final at the Albion Community Centre Ground between the hours of 18:00h and 20:00h, as Tucber Park are set to take on Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTGG). Nial Smith and Mark Barker will face off against the in-form pair of Clinton Pestano and Kevin Sinclair.

While the winner of match

one will advance to the next round to face off against Albion A at 19:00h as Jonathan Foo and Kevin Umroa will be awaiting the results. The winning pair would take home $75,000, the runners-up $40,000 and third place $20,000.

In the BCB/ DaSilva Motor Spares Under-13 cricket tournament semi-final match-up, Rose Hall Town (RHT) Poonai defeated Blairmont on first innings points at the D’Edwards Ground while Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) defeated Rose Hall Canje by nine wickets. Following the semi-final results, RHT and PMCC will be duking it out in the final. The match is scheduled to commence at 09:30h at Area H Ground.

The Pepsi 50-Overs tournament will be hosted at Albion Community Centre Ground as RHTGG hope to see off Young Warriors in a day-night match scheduled to last two days starting Sunday, December 2. The winners will pocket $100,000 while the runners-up will receive $50,000.

The Ivan Madray 100 balls First-Division tournament will kick off with Albion taking on Police at Albion. This encounter is set to commence at 10:00h while RHTGG will battle West Berbice also at Albion at 13:30h.

In the third match-up, Port Mourant will be set to take on Young Warriors at the Port Mourant Ground. This match is scheduled to begin at 10:00h

while in the final match of the day Tucber Park will attempt to overthrow Blairmont at Port Mourant Ground at 13:30h.

Meanwhile in other scheduled matches, the third round of the Under-15 tournament and the Upper Corentyne New Building Society (NBS) tournament are all set to continue.

UG Chess Tournament culminates today T he University of Guyana (UG) Sports Department, having staged the first part of its annual King and Queen Scrabble and Chess Competitions on November 16, in the Conference Room of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, now gears itself for the conclusion of the chess segment, which commences at 17:00h today.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Sports Organiser Lavern Fraser, when asked if the competition has seen any improvement, said, “Well, especially among the males. The competition is of a much higher standard since most of the participants have been exposed to coaching by Ronuel Greenidge, the chess coach of the University.

There’s also been heightened interest among students, both male and female, since

Three-time champion Christina Basil (in white) battles Crystal DeCambra in the final of the female Scrabble contest

there’s also the opportunity to learn how to play the game and what is even better is that the Guyana Chess Association will certainly become an affiliate in the new year as this would create opportunities for University students and have them gain experience, not only locally but regionally and internationally.”

The chess leg of the tournament is scheduled to commence with two semi-finals, for which three semi-finalists have already been identified.

The defending champion Davion Mars defeated Sidney Nelson, Kevin Craigwell defeated Xavier Perriera and Joshua Gopaul defeated Tristan Cordis on their way to the final four.

The fourth semi-finalist will be determined today as Andre Jagnandan and Rondel Palmer battle while

the female competitor, Anicia Patterson, has already booked her seat in the final and will await the other finalist, who will also be determined today as Shanese Richards takes on Britney Bovell.

In last week’s female Scrabble competition, Francisca Persaud lost to Feona Jones while Ivana Foster battled it out with Aliyyah Anderson. Anderson won, but was defeated by defending champion Christina Basil. Basil was then set to play Crystal DeCambra, who defeated Jones in the semi-final round.

Having played so many games, it all came down to the final game and as expected, the two-time defending champion defeated DeCambra in a battle of wits to earn herself the title for the third consecutive time.

(Timothy Jaikarran)

Bravo, Faulkner back T10 to become a global phenomenon D

wayne Bravo, the Maratha Arabians captain, and teammate James Faulkner have backed T10 cricket to become a global phenomenon.

Organisers this week told ESPNcricinfo of plans to hold two tournaments in 2019, with one outside of the league’s current base in UAE. Chairman Shaji Ul Mulk confirmed talks are underway with three international boards over taking T10 abroad. Two of the league’s star names backing these ambitions will delight the league’s owner.

“I think it will grow. I think other countries and leagues around the world will buy into it because it’s just like T20 cricket,” said Bravo, who has experienced both T10 editions. “No-one really trusted T20 when it first came about and it’s the hottest topic now. T10 has the potential to do the same. I think it’s just a matter of time before it reaches different countries around the world.”

Faulkner agrees with his captain, and believes the league has reached a take-off point. “It’ll be in-

teresting to see where it is in three years” he said. “I think it’s going to take off, that’s my personal opinion on it. Sspeaking to other players I think it will. It’s short, it’s exciting for the fans and the players as well.

I think you’ll see it developing all around the world

pretty soon, pretty quickly.”

Faulkner also believes T10 becoming the fourth

format internationally is still a while away, but expects to see leagues pop up all over the world in the coming years.

“I think that’s where it will go [T10 leagues around the world].

Players obviously love the format so far and also the spectators as well,” he said. “You want something quick like T20 that fans can come and watch. With T10, you can play a couple of double-headers like we have here and really engage the crowds and also four different teams and their fans as well.

“I wouldn’t be surprised [if T10 became an international sport]. I don’t think it’s going to happen too quickly but I think you’ll see other leagues in the next couple of years. I think we’re all interested to see where it is in five, ten or fifteen years.” (ESPNcricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursdAY, november 29, 2018

NBS sponsors GCA 2nd-Division Tournament – sets aside over $8M for youths and sports

F

or the seventh year, the New Building Society (NBS) has continued to support the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) 40over Second-Division Tournament.

The tourney was officially launched at the NBS headquarters on North Road, Georgetown and Avenue of the Republic where GCA President Roger Harper gracefully received the sponsorship from the insititution’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anil Kishun.

Since the weather was suitable for cricket, the tournament has already begun and it’s at the halfway stage.

A total of 15 clubs across the capital city, Georgetown, are engaged in the SecondDivision 40-over coloured clothing, white-ball cricketing event. The 15 teams are separated into two zones – A and B and approximately 52 matches in total

GCA President Roger Harper receives the sponsorship from NBS CEO Anil Kishun

will be played. Zone A consists of 2017-2018 defending champions Demerara Cricket Club (DCC); Diplomats; University of Guyana Trojans; Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO);

Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO); Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC); Malteenoes Sports Club and Everest Cricket Club. Zone B consists of Georgetown Cricket Club

(GCC); Guyana Defence Force (GDF); Police; Third Class Sports Club;

Sophia; East Warriors and Transport Sports Club. The two top teams from Zone A and Zone B will gain qualification to the semi-finals.

Additionally, the fast bowling has been given emphasis in this tournament where 16 overs of fast bowling must be bowled throughout an innings of 40 overs. If a club fails to adhere in the preliminary rounds, they will be penalised by deduction of points while in the playoff matches, runs will be deducted.

The GCA President, in his feature remarks, noted that this tournament over the years has produced numerous national players, along with international players, including: Guyana Under-19 Captain Bhaskar Yadram, Ashmead Nedd, Joshua Persaud, Raymond Perez, Sachin Singh, Yedusiter Persaud, Renaldo Ali-Mohammed, Qumar Torrington and

Adrian Hinds. Six of the players that played the NBS Second-Division Tournament have gone on to represent West Indies youth teams. Keemo Paul and West Indies T20 International selectee Sherfane Rutherford have also graduated from the NBS-sponsored tournament.

In concluding, Harper thanked the NBS and said he was hoping for its continued support in the years to come. He explained that this tournament has exposed players countrywide since there is no player restriction – simply a club restriction as only Georgetown clubs are eligible to play. The NBS has also positively considered playing the semi-finals and final under floodlights, if feasible. The NBS has also sponsored cricket tournaments in Berbice and seeks to continue development of youths countrywide.

(Brandon Corlette)

Dominica set for comeback, as new 4-Day season looms

C

ricket is set to return to Dominica next year, when the Windward Islands Volcanoes host Trinidad & Tobago Red Force for a ninth-round match in the West Indies Championship (4Day).

Cricket West Indies announced on Tuesday the schedule of matches for the Championship which opens on Thursday, December 6.

It revealed that Windsor Park, located in the heart of the Dominica capital of Roseau, will stage the match between the Volcanoes and Red Force

from February 28 to March 3.

“We are very elated to have been given this opportunity, since we have started to bounce back from the hurricane and on stream to host this regional match,” said Glen Joseph, the president of the Dominica Cricket Association.

“We are willing to take on the challenge, ensure that everything goes well and is successful. We are looking to put all the logistics in place so that there will be no issues. We are very excited, and we will ensure that we put our best

foot forward.”

Dominica has been off the cricket radar, since Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 system, dealt a devastating blow to the island on September 19 last year and has been slowly, but surely recovering.

Windsor Park sustained little structural damage during the hurricane, but parts of the perimeter wall crumbled, sheets of galvanized roofing were blown off the stands and the lighting towers were bent out of shape.

The venue was also used as a shelter for displaced residents following the hurricane, but Joseph said that was no longer the case and restoration work had started.

“The restoration work has started,” he said. “We hosted the World Creole Festival and Gospelfest concerts recently without any problems.

“I have spoken to government official and they are hoping to complete all of the restoration work either in the first or second quarter of next year to ensure that the ground is ready in a bid to host

international games next year.”

The Volcanoes will remain under the spotlight when the Championship opens, as they face four-time, defending champions Guyana Jaguars at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia.

Only one other first round match has been carded with Barbados Pride hosting Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Three Ws Oval.

The other match between Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Jamaica Scorpions has been pushed back to March at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

The Championship is also well-placed for players, as almost half of the matches are due to be completed prior to the first Test between WINDIES and England which starts on January 23 at Kensington Oval in Barbados – and the remainder will be played simultaneously with the Tour.

“The season is designed to give all players an opportunity to impress the selectors prior to England landing on January 11 next year,” said CWI

Manager, Cricket Operations, Roland Holder.

“Basically, it’s four rounds of matches to impress, and consistency from all players – both with the bat and ball – would be welcomed.

“If it’s a batsman, score consistently and not just one big score surrounded by a series of low scores. If

it’s a bowler, take wickets and trouble the batsmen consistently, so that you are in the forefront of the selectors’ minds.”

Six day/night contests are carded for the Championship which again features matches starting primarily on Thursdays.

SCHEDULE OF MATCHES

(All matches start at 10:00h daily, except where indicated) ROUND 1 Thursday, December 6 to Sunday, December 9 Volcanoes vs Jaguars – Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St. Lucia (2 pm start daily) Pride vs Hurricanes – Three Ws Oval, Barbados (2 pm start daily) Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17 Red Force vs Scorpions – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

ROUND 4 Thursday, January 10 to Sunday, January 13 Scorpions vs Red Force – Sabina Park Jaguars vs Volcanoes – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana (9:30 am start daily) Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17 Hurricanes vs Pride – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground

ROUND 2 Thursday, December 13 to Sunday, December 16 Pride vs Scorpions – Three Ws Oval Hurricanes vs Jaguars – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua Red Force vs Volcanoes – Brian Lara Cricket Academy

ROUND 5 Thursday, January 17 to Sunday, January 20 Jaguars vs Hurricanes – Guyana National Stadium (9:30 am start daily) Red Force vs Pride – Brian Lara Cricket Academy (2 pm start daily) Volcanoes vs Scorpions – National Cricket Stadium, Grenada

ROUND 3 Friday, January 4 to Monday, January 7 Scorpions vs Volcanoes – Sabina Park, Jamaica (2 pm start daily) Red Force vs Hurricanes – Brian Lara Cricket Academy Pride vs Jaguars – Kensington Oval, Barbados

ROUND 6 Thursday, January 31 to Sunday, February 3 Hurricanes vs Scorpions – Warner Park, St. Kitts (2 pm start daily) Red Force vs Jaguars – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad Pride vs Volcanoes – Kensington Oval

ROUND 7 Thursday, February 7 to Sunday, February 10 Jaguars vs Scorpions – Guyana National Stadium Pride vs Red Force – Kensington Oval Volcanoes vs Hurricanes – Arnos Vale Sports Complex, St. Vincent ROUND 8 Thursday, February 21 to Sunday, February 24 Hurricanes vs Red Force – Warner Park Scorpions vs Jaguars – Sabina Park Volcanoes vs Pride – Arnos Vale Sports Complex ROUND 9 Thursday, February 28 to Sunday, March 3 Scorpions vs Hurricanes – Sabina Park Jaguars vs Pride – Guyana National Stadium Volcanoes vs Red Force – Windsor Park, Dominica ROUND 10 Thursday, March 7 to Sunday, March 10 Scorpions vs Pride – Sabina Park Jaguars vs Red Force – Guyana National Stadium (2 pm start daily) Hurricanes vs Volcanoes – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground

guyanatimesgy.com

thursdAY, november 29, 2018

23

58th Annual Nationals Schools Cycling, Swimming, Track and Field Championships

100m thrills as Porter steals the show

R

down, the track was cleared to facilitate the running of the 800m races. The Under-20 male gold was taken by District 10’s Ronell Newton, while Porter finished second. On the female side, Serena Williams took gold and was followed

by Leyanna Charles and Donelle Mathieson.

The Under-20 100m races saw a more electric response form the boisterous crowd at Leonora as they eagerly awaited the event.

The highly-coveted gold in

ecords continued to be re-written on the fourth day of action as the nation’s youth athletes gathered at the Leonora Track and Field Facility at the 58th Annual Nationals Schools Cycling, Swimming, Track and Field Championships.

Day Four had a long list of events, ranging from field events such as discus, javelin, shot-put, long jump and high jump to track events, including the marquee 100 metres event.

One of the shining stars

the Under-20 male event was copped by District 10’s Shane Haynes whilst Alwyn Prince settled for silver. The girls were led

by Tonya Rawlins and seconds later Teia Lowe and Aaliyah Reid completed the podium.

The action will continue at the Leonora Synthetic Track today as officials prepare to run off the 200m, 1500m and Medley relay races, alongside the many field events still to be completed.

Other Results: Under-18 800m Boys 1st – Courtly Bobb 2nd – Darel Davis 3rd – Murphy Nash Under-18 800m Girls 1st – Tia Azore 2nd – Jasmine Assanah 3rd – Aaliyah Headley

A glimpse of the U-16 Girls 800m race

Tonya Rawlins (District 3) finishes the U-20 100m race comfortably

of the day was Okemi Porter of West Coast Berbice (District 5). Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, the Under-20 athlete was listed in the high jump event for the first time in his life just because he is ‘tall’.

Porter, however, did not allow his inexperience to deter him as he watched YouTube videos in order to grasp the basics of the discipline. With what knowledge he had, Porter became the strongest contender in the Under-20 male high jump, winning the gold and smashing the record.

Porter’s jump reached 1.79 meters, a clear improvement on the 2017 record set

by Yannick Walcott of West Demerara at 1.74m. The high jump was not the end of Porter’s good fortune as he then went on to cop silver in the U-20 800m race.

Another record-breaking performance of the day came from Melon Lowenfield who leaped to 6.47m, an improvement over last year’s record, which was set at 6.14m by Troni Semple of East Coast Demerara.

As the evening wound

Under-16 800m Girls 1st – Adriel Austin 2nd – Keliza Smith 3rd – Shaquka Tyrell Under-14 800m Girls 1st – Aleka Persaud 2nd – Attoya Harvey 3rd – Niaomi Paddy Under-18 100m Boys – 1st – Deron Roberts Under-18 100m Girls – 1st – Deshana Skeete Under-16 100m Boys – 1st – Richard Blake Under-16 100m Girls – 1st – Brianna Charles Under-14 100m Boys – 1st – David Higgins Under-16 100m Girls – 1st – Odessa France

CPL keen to host women’s T20 tournament T

here could be Women’s Caribbean Premier League on the cricket calendar in the near future with the tournament’s chief operating officer indicating it is not a question of “if” but “when”.

Pete Russell was responding to questions raised by West Indies batsman Britney Cooper after her team was knocked out in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, when she claimed they could have done better if they could also play as many matches a year as some of the more fancied teams like Australia, England and India.

“We need people in the CPL or corporate sponsors to back us and give us that push.

We can’t do it all by ourselves. We need more. We need a mini-CPL,” she said.

The 2018 edition was the first standalone Women’s T20 World Cup hosted by the ICC, attracting promising audience numbers across three venues in Guyana, St. Lucia and Antigua. There is opportunity to ride on that and Russell is keen to do so. In fact, last year, he said the CPL and Cricket West Indies had held “informal” talks about holding a franchise T20 tournament for women.

“We have already discussed the feasibility of a women’s tournament with CWI or a women’s exhibition match, after the 2017 tournament, and have been discussing how we can make it work since then,” Russell told Newsday. “Any cricket tournament is a huge logistical challenge to arrange and there are a lot of questions that would need to be answered before we could commit to going ahead. But it is something that we are keen to have as part of the CPL programme, it is not question of ‘if’ it is a question of ‘when’.”

Currently the CPL only has the rights to host the men’s tournament and to orga-

nize a women’s version, a separate license needs to be procured by CWI. That makes the board the final authority on this issue and it remains open to investing in women’s T20s, especially keeping in mind its popularity.

West Indies women already have two domestic T20 tournaments in place - the CWI Regional Women’s Twenty20 Championship, and a franchise league in Trinidad and Tobago, called the Courts T20 Women’s Grand Slam Tournament, which had more than 10 regular members of the national side in action this July.

It is also understood that the CPL had invited West Indies women to play an exhibition T20 ahead of the men’s Eliminator in September.

However, there were logistical issues considering they were playing a bilateral series against South Africa at the time. It is for the same reason a mini Women’s CPL, alongside the men’s edition, is unlikely, at least in 2019.

West Indies women will be involved in a bilateral series with Australia in August-

September. In any case, it is learnt the CWI wants a standalone women’s T20 tournament along the lines of Big Bash League, which has proven to be a success in Australia.

Russell is aware of the challenges in play but has no second thoughts about investing in women’s cricket. “We don’t see it as a risk, but we have shown over the last six years that we are willing to invest in cricket across the region. It is very early days in these discussions and we have a lot of hoops to jump through before this becomes a reality, but we have seen over the last few weeks just how fast t h e women’s game is growing and we would love to be a part of its ongoing success.” (ESPNcricinfo)

thursdAY, november 29, 2018

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

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58th Annual Nationals Schools Cycling, Swimming, Track and Field Championships

100m thrills as Porter steals the show Page 23

Okemi Porter finishes in second place, to complete a great day’s work

14th Diamond Mineral Water Indoor CPL keen Hockey Championships underway to host women’s T20 tournament NBS sponsors Page 23

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GCA 2ndDivision Tournament Page 22

– sets aside over $8M for youths and sports

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