Guyana Times Epaper - Friday, November 2, 2018

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

Issue No. 3734

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, November 2, 2018

Transparency, accountability agencies under attack – Jagdeo Page 3

53rd anniversary

Rogue GDF ranks will face full wrath of the law – acting Chief-of-Staff Page 12

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Investors’ P13 confidence in doing business with Guyana dips – World Bank Pedestrian killed in ECD accident P7

60% Georgetown residents P12 illegally reconnect water supply

Farmers P9 advised not to plant 14,000 acres of rice …as water woes hit Corentyne villages

...as 780 new ranks welcomed

Police kill bandit after ECD robbery

Page 11

US-based company among bidders for closed sugar estates Page 9

Another prison escapee recaptured

Herstelling man to stand trial in High Court for P8 wife’s murder

Page 7

Jagdeo P7 calls for investigations into 3 major road projects

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, November 2 – a night retraction at 01:00h and a day retraction from 13:30h-15:00h and Saturday, November 3 – a night retraction at 02:00h and a day retraction from 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, November 2 – 12:45h-14:15h and Saturday, November 3 – 13:30h-15:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers can be expected throughout the day, with partly cloudy skies in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East North-easterly to Northeasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 00:19h and 12:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.27 metres and 2.33 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 05:38h and 18:16h reaching minimum heights of 0.90 metre and 0.98 metres respectively.

wednesDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

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Transparency, accountability agencies under attack – Jagdeo O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo believes the work of key constitutional agencies that have oversight on financial transparency and accountability is being impaired as a result of the cuts on their budget submissions.

He was referring specifically to cuts to the Auditor General’s Office and the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) budget proposals. Last month, it was reported that Government cut almost $2 billion from the budgets, amounting to a total of $13.2 billion, submitted by the 16 constitutional agencies. This move, Jagdeo said, will hinder the work of these agencies.

“So you see a pattern here… they have cut the budgets of the two bodies that are designed to look after transparency of financial affairs in the State. So, it tells you a lot about how they’re approaching this matter,” he posited during his weekly press conference at his Church Street, Georgetown office.

According to the Opposition Leader, not only does the cuts impair these agencies, especially the Auditor General’s Office’s capability of doing existing work, much less the new responsibilities that would be added from the impending oil and gas sector.

“Even the scrutiny that they are doing now would be impaired because they can’t do special investigations etc.

And similar too, if the Public Procurement Commission has a sum of money and they have several investigations to do and you cut that sum of money, then they can only do limited numbers of investigations,” he stated.

Jagdeo went on to criticise these cuts, pointing out that they could have otherwise been made on areas where there are unnecessary spending of billions of dollars, such as dietary which has increased by $1.6 billion and domestic travels which has gone up to some $750 million annually.

“Those things are increasing but they are cutting $100 million from the budget from the PPC and so on… So this is what we argue, you do have resources but it’s allocated based on this Government’s priority.

They’re fat-fowling themselves and everything else suffers [and] languishes,” the Opposition Leader asserted.

The Auditor General’s Office had requested $894.2 million, including $876.8 million for current expenditure and $17.3 million for capital spending. While the Finance Ministry left the capital, sum requested by the audit office intact, it reduced the current expenditure figure that would cater for operational expenses, to $854.6 million.

Meanwhile, the PPC

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

had requested $276.7 million, which includes $22.2 million for capital funding and $254.4 million for current spending. Again, the Ministry cut almost $45 million from the current sum requested and $12.8 million from its capital request.

Back in 2015, the coalition Government had amended the laws and removed the constitutional bodies from under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, thus allowing no consultations between these agencies and the Finance Ministry in the preparation of their budget submission.

Justification

As such, Finance Minister Winston Jordan explained at a press conference on Wednesday that these cuts were necessary because the State’s current fiscal space cannot facilitate the entire budget-

ary requests made by these bodies. He noted that while these agencies are allowed to make their requests, he has to review these submissions and make recommendations of the allocations based on the resources available.

“The Constitution gives the power of that to the Minister of Finance not a constitutional agency...

Almost always these budgets are wish lists. When you look at some of the budgets and you know the circumstances of Guyana with its absence of critical skills, the absence of critical resources… if you were to put together a decent procurement plan many of the projects they claim they would like to do would never get done,” the Finance Minister said.

However, Jagdeo, at his weekly press conference on Thursday, reiterated concerns they would have raised about the Opposition being

able to fully debate the allocations to these agencies if the Finance Minister is allowed to cut their submissions.

“Government [had] said “no, you cannot do that” and they agreed last year that you can only ask questions pertaining to the submissions. You can’t question policies, you can’t make a speech about the sectors, about what is happening in these sectors and the constitutional bodies, etc. And then, they set aside 20 minutes per agency but low and behold [Wednesday], they convened one of these committee meetings and they decided now to reduce the time for consideration of the estimates for these constitutional bodies to 10 minutes per agency so we will have just over two hours to consider the budget for all 16 constitutional agencies in Guyana without having the ability to debate those submissions,” he explained.

According to the Opposition Leader, there is a surreptitious and quiet move to infringe on people’s rights to know and infringe on the rights and mandate of MPs to scrutinise expenditures and be the watchdog of the people. “…Most people take it lightly, but we take it seriously in the People’s Progressive Party. This is a process and unfortunately, the speaker aids this process of infringing on the rights of the Members of Parliament who are elected by the people to look out for their interests, to look out for the budgets and all the policy issues, now they can’t even speak on this,” Jagdeo said.

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

LGE 2018

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oday, 7918 officers within the Joint Services are expected to vote at 63 locations countrywide, as the first phase of Local Government Elections (LGE) takes effect. The importance of this year’s Local Government Elections, which are slated to take place on November 12, cannot be overemphasised when one looks at the current state of affairs and worrying trends with respect to local governance occurring across the length and breathe of Guyana.

The existence of Local Government has always been defended on the basis that it is a crucial aspect of the process of democratisation and intensification of mass participation in the decision-making process. No political system is considered complete and democratic if it does not have a system of Local Government.

Local Government, therefore, serves a two-fold purpose. The first purpose is the administrative purpose of supplying goods and services; the other purpose is to represent and involve citizens in determining specific local public needs and how these local needs can be met.

It is in this light that it must be observed that several Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) are in a dysfunctional state and have proven since the last LGE elections that they are either incapable of delivering on the principles of good governance or do not have the political ability to prioritise their work-agenda in order to have the most cost-effective works undertaken first.

Also, these NDCs have been accused by residents and officials within the hierarchy of various administrative regions of engaging in blatant acts of corruption and political vindictiveness. Others have also from time to time being accused of stonewalling projects and local initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of locals in order to achieve a specific agenda.

At other NDCs, particularly in areas won by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party at the last election, there are major conflicts between the overseers and some of the regional democratic organs as well as officials who are representing the interests of Central Government.

The situation is no different at the municipal level but seemingly worse with elected Councillors being accused of very serious breaches, financial and otherwise, of the law and by-laws. For instance, the Georgetown City Council is perhaps the most unpopular municipal body in the country at this time.

Its policies have led to widespread resistance from businesses and residents alike who believe that they will result in further hardship and will not in any improve the functionality of the country’s capital city or return it to its former glory.

These elections, therefore, offer Guyanese the opportunity to assess the performances of their local leaders before they make a decision to cast their ballots or withhold support for the re-election of certain officer bearers and political parties. They also present the populace with a better opportunity to vent their frustration with the manner in which the country socioeconomic fortunes have been declining since 2015 as they demand significant improvements and progress in key areas.

Also important is the fact that these elections precede the General and Regional Elections and will be used as a measuring stick to access the popularity of not only those who are seeking re-election but those who are presenting themselves now as replacements.

Recall that back in 2016, former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister and the current political leader of the United National Congress, Kamla Persad-Bissessar recognised the important role local governance plays in the wider scheme of things.

In October 2013, her coalition Government lost the Local Government Elections. Soon after her Government was booted from office by the people who had complained over the highly unpopular policies being pursued by their elected local official, the continuous problems being faced in their communities with respect to crime and the sad state of affairs there in relation to drainage and irrigation, and the road network.

She now remarked that “it is through Local Government that we understand the things people feel, not only what is reported in the news. It is through Local Government that we can touch the lives of people individually, encourage them, help them, support them and stand and fight with them. This Local Government Election will be most important in taking down the face of arrogance that the Rowley-led People’s National Movement is hiding behind. We must show them that they will not be allowed to use political power as a weapon against people in the way they have… It will be challenging, difficult at times, and even discouraging”.

The Mexican Embassy has honoured renowned writers Sir Wilson Harris, Derek Walcott, Sir V S Naipaul, Sergio Pitol and Octavio Paz, during its celebrations of this year’s Day of the Dead. In photo, staff in Guyana poses at the altar prepared by the Mexican Embassy for Día de los Muertos

US says Khashoggi’s remains should be located, returned to family

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he remains of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi should be located and returned to his family for a burial as soon as possible, US State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters on Thursday.

Turkey’s Justice Minister on Thursday said the country wants Saudi authorities to reveal the whereabouts of the body of the murdered journalist, who was killed last month in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkey had expected Saudi Arabia to cooperate in its investigation, minister Abdulhamit Gul told reporters.

Khashoggi was strangled and dismembered, Turkish chief prosecutor says

The body of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was dismembered after he was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the chief prosecutor’s office in Istanbul said Wednesday.

This was carried out as part of a premeditated plan, according to a statement by the chief prosecutor’s office.

The statement is the clearest yet from the Turkish authorities about the fate of the Washington Post journalist, whose remains have not yet been found.

“The victim’s body was dismembered and destroyed following his death by suffocation,” the statement said.

“In accordance with plans made in advance, the victim Jamal Khashoggi, was choked to death immediately after entering the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul on October 2, 2018.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday demanded that Saudi Arabia reveal the location of

Jamal Khashoggi

Khashoggi’s body and hand over 18 suspects.

The Saudis have presented shifting stories about Khashoggi’s fate, initially denying any knowledge before arguing that a group of rogue operators, many of whom belong to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s inner circle, were responsible for Khashoggi’s death.

The Saudi attorney general then acknowledged that Khashoggi was killed in a premeditated murder.

Turkish investigators continue to look for clues to the whereabouts of his body.

A source close to the Saudi Royal Palace told CNN last week that the location of Khashoggi’s body was not known to the Saudis. The source said the body was handed over to a local “collaborator” after the killing, adding that it is not at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

“We have requested information from Saudi officials regarding the whereabouts of Jamal Khashoggi’s body and the identity of the supposed local collaborator.

We also noted that Saudi Arabia must extradite all 18 suspects to Turkey so that they can be held accountable

for what they did,” a senior Turkish official told CNN on Wednesday.

“The Saudi officials seemed primarily interested in finding out what evidence the Turkish authorities had against the perpetrators. In other words, we did not get the impression that they were keen on genuinely cooperating with the investigation,” the official said.

The Saudi chief prosecutor arrived in Turkey on Sunday to meet with his Turkish counterpart.

Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported that he had boarded a plane back to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, having met with the Istanbul chief prosecutor twice.

The chief prosecutor’s office in Istanbul said that during those meetings, Turkey and Saudi Arabia had “agreed to investigate, search and uncover all details of the event from all angles and to bring those who carried out and planned it to ... justice.”

But, the statement said, the Saudis had not answered three questions the Turkish side posed – namely, where Khashoggi’s body is; whether Saudi investigators had un-

covered evidence about the planning of his killing; and the identity of the reported “local collaborator.”

Instead, it said, the Saudis on Wednesday invited the Turkish prosecutor and his delegation to Saudi Arabia jointly to question the suspects held there about what happened to Khashoggi’s body and whether his death was premeditated. The Turks added that the Saudi prosecutor also said no statement had been made by Saudi authorities about the existence of the purported local cooperator.

“Despite our well-intentioned efforts to reveal the truth, no concrete results have come out of those meetings,” the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office said, adding that it was in this light that it had been “obliged” to share the details about how Khashoggi was strangled and his body “dismembered and destroyed,” in accordance with plans made in advance.

The Saudi government has said it will carry out a thorough and transparent investigation and that the suspects will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia.

After Saudi Arabia admitted that Khashoggi was killed in its Istanbul consulate, five high-ranking officials were dismissed, including bin Salman’s media chief and the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence service.

Eighteen people were arrested. Riyadh has maintained that neither bin Salman nor King Salman knew of the operation to target Khashoggi.

US officials have said such a mission – including 15 men sent from Riyadh – could not have been carried out without the authorisation of bin Salman, the country’s de facto ruler. (Reuters and CNN)

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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

Why PPP candidates are confident in 2018 in these LGEs? Dear Editor, The PPP candidates appear confident they’ll they will do even better in 2018 than they did in the 2016 Local Government Elections (LGE) and one A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) big wigs conceded this to me privately. The Alliance For Change (AFC), on the other hand, is expecting a total wipe out.

For example, Georgetown, a People’s National Congress (PNC) stronghold, was won by that party with 83 per cent of the seats in 2016. Today that is expected to fall to about 65 per cent because of their poor performance in City Hall and the press releases from this Kennard Commission of Inquiry into the management of the City.

A few nights ago, no more less than a person than the Prime Minister (an AFC elder) spoke at New Amsterdam and according to a AFC leader who communicated with me, “there were more stray dogs on the streets than human being listening to his message”.

This is just but another indication that things really bad for the AFC. Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had very successful public meetings in Linden and Bartica; two PNC strongholds. These preliminary indications all point to a stronger PPP showing in all areas across the country. The PPP is running particularly well in the rural districts, where the rural youths and women are eager to send a strong message of dissatisfaction to President Granger for his poor leadership after three years. When the people’s belly “ah bun”, they will react and these LGEs is the perfect chance for them to react. This is having an outsized impact because in the PNC strongholds, there is “voter stall” with only the die-hards expected to come out, while the PPP is being embraced by the rural independents, women and youths overwhelmingly and are having major inroad in

urban centres which are the PNC strongholds.

This situation points to great results for the PPP in these 2018 LGE, average for the APNU (PNC) and a total wipe-out of the AFC. The PPP candidates are younger, more ethnically diverse, they have proven themselves well trained to hammer the performance of the APNU/AFC Government over the last three years and to dominate the messaging.

Plus as a bonus, they are ably supported and led by their party leader Bharrat Jagdeo who has done a fantastic job of reinventing the PPP after May 2015 when that party was on its knees after the Ramotar presidency. Today the PPP is showing signs that it is moving back to basics similar to the electoral machine of 1992. But to date, no one on the political front lines can match the energy level, the message of Jagdeo.

Further complicating the PNC-APNU efforts is that their campaign comes across as disorganised compared to their 2015 campaigns as if there is some sort of infighting at the top. This has left more of their marginal supporters confused and disenchanted. The real urban independents have now totally abandoned the PNC-APNU and clearly is not interested in the AFC. Many are going to support the PPP in these 2018 LGE. To add to that, the headwinds are already massive against APNU-PNC and AFC in many of the rural districts, so much so that they had to use tricks to launch some candidates and in others just abandon the effort to put forward candidates. You cannot call yourself a national party and not present candidates in all the districts. This is the difference between the PPP and the PNC-APNU. The PPP has put up candidates in all districts while the PNCAPNU did not.

Notwithstanding all this tail wind, the PPP success will depend on the discipline in the ground operations and the eventual turnouts.

Their weakness in 2015 was their ground operations.

Has this been corrected?

Elections Day will provide the evidence.

On a final note, with all its sham, weaknesses, I am convinced that the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield will produce an election that is free enough and fair enough for the Guyanese people in 2018 because all eyes are on him, especially the American eyes.

Sincerely, Sasenarine Singh, MSc – Finance, ACCA Maryland, USA

Never a dull moment during GECOM’s statutory meeting (Pt 2) Dear Editor, There is never a dull moment during a statutory meeting of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). On Tuesday we received an invoice from the Law Firm of Fraser, Housty and Yearwood for work done by Teni Housty during the 64.6 hours he spent representing the CEO in the application for Judicial Review filed in the Berbice High Court, where he made two appearances. The application was dismissed, not on Housty’s affidavit of defence or submissions, but on a Police report which was ordered by the Judge who was hearing the matter.

Remember, Ashton Chase, SC invoiced the GECOM for a total of $950,000 for a High Court and Court of Appeal mat-

ter? Well, Housty charges an hourly rate of $50,000, so his invoice total is $3,230,000 and this was approved by the Chairman who wrote a note thereon to his secretary to forward it to the Finance Subcommittee.

We are still to get a final invoice from the CEO’s other lawyer, Roysdale Forde, whose initial $2,280,000 was already approved by the Chairman. Chase, SC remains unpaid. There is no indication from which line item in the budget these sums are extracted.

There was a very lengthy discussion about the use of proxies by polling agents of political parties if they are serving outside of their respective constituencies.

The majority decision taken is that the matter be discussed after the LGE

and a decision be taken on the issues of proxies and/or Certificates of Employment for polling agents, long before GECOM enters the ‘operational mode’ for the 2020 elections.

Our meeting came to an abrupt end at 16:45h when the Chairman’s secretary sent in a note to inform that there was a fire risk due to melting and burning of a main electricity supply line attached to the building.

The meeting was abruptly adjourned and we were hurriedly ushered out of the building, As I said, never a dull moment! Until next week.

Sincerely, Bibi Safora Shadick Commissioner GECOM

Call for special audit Dear Editor, Guyanese must benefit when their tax dollars are being expended. There must be value for money. While meeting the public at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, I have received numerous complaints and expressions of grave concern by citizens, as it relates to unsatisfactory, sloppy and poor works done on our roads.

Our countrywide outreach has confirmed what we were hearing when groups of citizens visited our offices.

On behalf of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), I am requesting the

Audit Office of Guyana to do a special audit of the following roads: • The East Bank Berbice road • Works on the Mabaruma road • Port Kaituma road works Concerns expressed were not only limited to the quality of the work, but had to do with improper procurement practices that allowed for contract costs to be inflated.

The indiscriminate and excessive use of the “force account” facilitates the submission of huge bills without adequate supervision and verification. The view expressed is that the actual

works done do not represent the actual expenditure being reported.

Taxpayers are on watch for Guyana and as a representative of the people, we will always take their concerns seriously.

The incestuous behaviour of this coalition Government and the engagement of favoured contractors and friends have not helped to allay the fears of our people, hence this call for a special audit by the Auditor General.

We will expect to have the findings of the Audit Office to be made public very soon. The matter at hand has to do with trans-

parency and accountability – a promise that was made by this very A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Government.

This call is another in a series of requests by the PPP/C for investigations into projects undertaken by the APNU/AFC Government which are mired in corruption.

We continue to hold the torch and call for transparency, accountability, good governance and the rule of law.

Sincerely, Bishop Juan Edghill, PPP/C MP

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By Dona Matthews, PhD

LEE: This is a podcast with an audience of parents over 40 so I want to talk about how different really a young child’s mind is from the mind of his or her 40 plus parents. Young children see the world differently than we do.

Should we try to bridge that gap?

DONA: The mind of a 40-year-old adult is worlds apart from the mind of a baby or an infant or a toddler or a young child. There is a step-down necessary. The parents’ mind and brain is really well developed to handle complex ideas and complex reasoning and a whole lot of things all at once. Whereas the baby’s brain, the child’s brain is just developing. So you’ve got this highly complex brain on the one hand and this brain that’s just beginning to develop on the other hand. The way to bridge that gap is love. It sounds so simple, but the more that people study the brain, the more they come down to the essential ingredient is love.

That sounds so trite. But by loving your child, by being present, by being calm and patient and present and loving, by listening to your child, you won’t go wrong. No matter how old or smart you might be.

LEE: I’m just digesting that for a moment. Because it’s clear that children really want to be witnessed, seen, and heard.

DONA: Yes. Exactly.

LEE: Among the most valuable thing you can do as a parent is seek to understand your child in their own way. Because the uniqueness of the child is a big factor.

DONA: That’s really well said.

That’s the secret.

LEE: It’s so easy to talk about and so hard to do.

DONA: It sounds so simple, right?

Foundation

But for that 40-year-old or 45-yearold brain, it can be really hard to step it down and forget all the intellectual stuff and just be present. As you say, the child craves being witnessed, being seen, being listened to, being understood. And it’s hard in our very fast-paced world to slow it down. To be present to a child requires a lot of disciplined patience, and the older we get, the harder that is to learn.

One of the concerns for an older parent is you’ve got this whole lifetime behind you of being the owner of your own life, being the author of your own life. Of deciding moment to moment, today, what you’re going to put your energy into.

All of a sudden when you have a little child, if you’re going to do a good job of that, you have to let all of that go.

It is really hard. I think in some ways younger parents have a big advantage because they don’t have their way of living their life as set as an older parent. I think it’s more of a challenge for an older parent to slow it down and to truly listen, to be present to the young child.

The older parent can be more reflective

DONA: People in their forties have the capacity to become more reflective. And that is really, really good for children. It’s one of the reasons that grandparents can be so important to little children. Grandparents typically understand how critically important those early years are. They don’t have as much trouble slowing down to the child's thinking and feeling and processing level.

LEE: Grandparents have a great strength in being able to take a moment and really be there.

DONA: Exactly. That’s right. That’s

what people in their forties are usually better at than parents in their twenties.

LEE: Yet it’s kind of a mixed bag.

A few years ago I could say unequivocally that the older parent is more settled in their job, settled in their life.

That’s also a liability because they’re less willing to change. But the positive side of that is they can take some time to be with a child. The household is more stable. Their relationships are more stable.

DONA: With any luck.

LEE: That’s the thing. Because in the work environment of today, a lot of us are in flux. Maybe we’re restarting a career at age 40. Things are changing for us at age 40 or 50 even.

DONA: Absolutely.

LEE: It might not be, “Oh, now I have time to pay attention to this kid.”

It’s that divided attention issue which is the bane of everyone’s existence Trying to find enough time to just be present is really difficult.

DONA: That is so true. That is the challenge for all parents in our crazy fast world.

LEE: The liabilities of the older parent would have something to do with being a bit set in your ways, deciding “this is the way life is going to go.” And then this kid comes in with a completely different agenda and a completely different storyline. You have to adjust.

DONA: It’s really hard for a lot of people. The older we get the harder it is.

LEE: There’s that thing of, “Well, I know. I’ve got this. I know how to do stuff. I’ve decided.” But it doesn’t really work like that.

DONA: Exactly. Parenting is a tough job at any age. (Excerpt from psychology-

today.com)

By Laura Markham, PhD

"B

y taking the time to stop and appreciate who you are and what you've achieved – and perhaps learned through a few mistakes, stumbles and losses— you actually can enhance everything about you. Selfacknowledgment and appreciation are what give you the insights and awareness to move forward..." —Jack Canfield What are your biggest strengths as a parent? Don’t worry about humility; just be honest. What would an impartial observer admire if she could watch your best moments with your child or children?

Now, let's build on those strengths

1. Make a list, in writing, of what you're most proud of about yourself as a parent.

Include all those things no one else ever even notices.

And the things that might look simple from the outside, but take extra effort for you.

And yes, include those moments when you don't completely pull it off, but you're able to notice things going downhill in the middle of an interaction and turn things around. Those moments are your growing edge, where transformation happens.

Keep adding to your list until you have at least ten things that you're proud of about yourself as a parent.

(Better yet, 20 or 30!)

Read through your list and give yourself appreciation for everything on it. You may find your inner critic offering a counterpoint of all the things you don't do as well. There will always be those things if you're hu-

man, because there's no way for humans to be perfect.

Join the club. For right now, just let those things you're still working on go. Today, focus on all the things you do right as a parent. Give yourself total appreciation and credit for all that hard work. Savor that feeling.

Appreciating yourself lifts your mood and helps you feel more emotionally generous. But let's take this a step further. What can this list teach you to help you be your best self more often?

Consider what helps you be at your best as a parent.

I know, you're a better parent when your child behaves – but you can count on children exhibiting childish behaviour. What helps you be your personal best as a parent, even when your child isn't at his or her best? What support would help you to be that parent more often? How can you give yourself that support every single day, until it becomes a habit?

Give yourself an internal hug or a high five every time you notice yourself acting toward your child in a way that makes you feel good about yourself. Notice how that helps you be your best self more often.

The times you don't feel so good about? Use them as motivation to do better.

Notice what might help you and see if there's a way to give that to yourself. Resist the urge to beat up on yourself. Let those tough moments go, and move on to better interactions.

Not only will appreciating yourself make you happier with the way you parent, you'll find you enjoy parenting more. See how long it takes your child to comment on the difference.

(psychologytoday.com)

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Another prison escapee recaptured Pedestrian killed in ECD accident A nother prisoner who escaped from the Lusignan Prison by scaling the fence on October 15, 2018, was on Thursday recaptured by residents at Free and Easy Village on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

Dextroy Pollard, 29, of Wales, WBD, was recaptured at about 14:00h and handed over to the Police at the Wales Police Station.

Pollard of Wales, WBD, was convicted for breaking and entering and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

He is the second of the three escapees to be recaptured since the incident on October 15. Travis Evan, who was on remand for murder, was found at the Soesdyke Junction on October 19, 2018.

Evans was apprehended by members of the Joint Services at about 07:45h after they received information about his whereabouts.

The Prisons Director thanked public-spirited persons who assisted the members of the Joint Services in recapturing the murder accused while encouraging others to follow suite.

Meanwhile, Police are still on the hunt for Sudesh Dyal, 23, of Wales Backdam, WCD, also escaped from the Lusignan Prison. He was on remanded for breaking and entering and larceny to be recaptured.

The trio escaped from the Lusignan Prison at about 04:30h on October 15, 2018,

Dextroy Pollard after being captured by residents on the West Bank of Demerara

by scaling the fence between towers three and four which were equipped with security personnel.

At the time, there were also five prison officers and Police ranks in close proximity to the area where the men escaped but no one reportedly saw any unusual movements or sounds.

At a subsequent press conference, the acting Director of Prisons explained that he received a telephone call informing him that there was a prison break about two hours after it occurred.

He said he immediately instructed to put into operation the Standard Operating Procedures (SoP), which is to review relevant ClosedCircuit Television (CCTV)

Jagdeo calls for investigations into 3 major road projects

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed deep concern over the construction of three major road projects, while simultaneously calling for the Auditor General’s Office to investigate them, as the contracts may contain areas to enable acts of corruption.

Addressing the press at his weekly press conference, Jagdeo said these projects include road works taking place on the East Bank Essequibo, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma roads.

The $1.2 billion East Bank Essequibo road rehabilitation project commenced in August 2017 but was delayed due to the obligatory removal of utilities. It is now back on stream.

Some $213.2 million was awarded to KP Thomas and Sons in May 2017 for repairs to the Citrus Grove Main Road, Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Meanwhile, a $110.2 million contract for the Mabaruma road project was awarded to Mohammed Ramzanalli Khan Construction. This project entails the installation of approximately 3500 feet of concrete road or rigid pavements and drains within the

community.

“We believe that the tender process was tampered with so as to inflate the contracts by hundreds of thousands of dollars in these road projects,” he said.

However, the Opposition Leader explained that these costs are hidden through a different form of corruption through the layer of the asphalt. According to him, some are done through contract and others through force account.

He said, “The asphalt is very expensive. So, if they put one inch instead of two inches on the specification that is about $50-60 million alone you can skim off the top… The earth works, through force account.”

The former Head of State concluded therefore that may be the main reason why the Public Infrastructure Minister headed by Minister David Patterson “loves to do a lot of force account work.”

“They don’t like awarding the tenders out directly and even when they do that, it’s a lot of corruption.

So, they are three roads that are mired in corruption…

And we are very concerned about the AG findings into these matters.”

footage and to conduct a physical muster. It was while reviewing the footage,

he came to the conclusion that the ranks on duty were not alert.

Samuels explained that the three men took a considerable amount of time to make their way through the razor wire.

The ranks on duty were subsequently questioned and placed under close arrest.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Guyana Police Force publicly commended the residents of Free and Easy Village, WBD for their brave and courageous actions.

The Police Force said the action by the residents is testimony that the Police Force is gaining the public’s trust and encourages others to assist in the apprehension of those still at large.

P

olice are investigating a fatal accident which occurred at about 06:30h on Wednesday at the Felicity Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Reaz Nazir, 37, of Felicity Railway Embankment, ECD. Nazir was reportedly hit by motorcar PVV 7987 driven by a 50-year-old resident of Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

According to information from the Police, their enquiries disclosed that the ve-

hicle was proceeding East along the northern carriageway, when it was alleged by the driver that the pedestrian, who was standing on the northern parapet suddenly ran South into the path of the vehicle.

Nazir was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital but succumbed to his injuries at about 16:20h.

The driver, who passed a breathalyzer test, is in custody and is assisting with the investigation. An autopsy is expected to be performed today.

8 news

fridAY, november 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Herstelling man to stand trial in High Court for wife’s murder

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hirty-eight-year-old Daniel Watson of Lot 1262 Plantation Walk, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, who is accused of murdering his reputed wife after she allegedly moved out of their home in May last, was on Thursday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the woman’s murder.

Following the conclusion of the Preliminary Inquiry, Magistrate Fabayo Azore stated that the prosecution has made out a prima facie

Accused: Daniel Watson

case was made out against Watson.

It is alleged that on May 21, 2018, he murdered Lowtie Atwaroo, called “Mona”.

Defence Attorney Bernard Da Silva had informed the court that his client was beaten by Police ranks during the probe.

The prosecution contended that at about 21:00h on May 21, 2018, Atwaroo went to visit her reputed husband when the incident occurred.

Investigations revealed

that Atwaroo moved out of the home they shared, over two months prior to the incident after she was being abused by Watson. However, they continued a visiting relationship.

Reports are that on the day of the murder, the woman went to visit Watson and shortly after was seen submerged in a drain. Watson reportedly fled the scene, but was later apprehended and charged with the capital offence.

Beating outside nightclub lands man in jail

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bdul Imran Khan, the 32-year-old man who on Sunday morning was reportedly seen on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage beating a disabled man in front of a popular nightclub on Main Street, was on Thursday slapped with an attempted murder charge and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Khan, of Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown,

Abdul Imran Khan being escorted by Police ranks to the holding cell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan for the attempted murder of Romario Baljeet.

In court on Thursday, Khan’s Attorney, Glenn Hanoman questioned the charge that was instituted against his client. “This was a fight, not attempted murder,” the lawyer told the court in a bail application.

Turn to page 11

Like pulling teeth…

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…Sugar workers severance he dictionary informs us that the word “severance” means “a division by cutting or slicing”. It connotes a sudden, violent dismemberment – as in “his hand was completely severed by the chop from his assailant’s cutlass”. When workers were fired – or “severed” – from a company, after years of struggle, compensation was won for their years of service, etc, and became known as “severance pay”.

Now you’d think with the abruptness of the “cutting” of the worker when he’s fired – immediately! – the severance payment would also be just as quick, wouldn’t you? In more amiable jurisdictions, the severance pay became known as a “golden handshake”, or “golden parachute” to signify the employers’ desire for the separation to be as painless as possible.

But in Guyana, the way the Government has treated the almost 5000 sugar workers they severed from GuySuCo’s workforce, you can only conclude they wanted to make the payment as painful as possible. It was more like cutting a limb off with a dull saw, with the workers strapped to a chair. It was “torture pay”. For some workers at Wales, they weren’t even OFFERED severance pay! Instead, they were told they should travel 22 miles to Uitvlugt and cut cane there – violating their labour agreement. They had to go to the courts!

The others, from Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon, were treated just as shabbily. They received only half of their severance pay – and were told they’ll get the rest “soon”.

That “soon” stretched out to almost two years and had the workers marching under the hot son in front of their old, shuttered factories; in front of the Office of the President and finally in front of Parliament when the President was addressing the House. The Government kept repeating “soon”, even as workers’ families sunk into the abyss of poverty and hunger as the half-severance pay ran out.

And then after all that pain and suffering of the workers, Parliament just approved the sum to complete the severance payout. But even now the workers have been kept hanging…the Government still refuses to give them a firm date when they’ll get their money. Your Eyewitness must say he’s quite surprised at the patience of the workers to collect their own money – which was constitutionally defined – in a famous case against Burnham, who also wanted to withhold sugar workers’ money – as “property”.

If it were your Eyewitness’ property being withheld, he’d have come out into the streets long ago – with his working implement in his hand – and raised hell. It’s very clear the Government has nothing but contempt for sugar workers.

They have to be disabused of that notion!! …doing business in Guyana With oil revenues on the horizon and Guyana finally receiving some serious interest from the international business community, this PNC-led Government has once again demonstrated how inept it is when it comes to developing this country. In the just released “ease of doing business index” issued by the World Bank – in which a low score translates into better performance – Guyana was just dropped eight places from 124 to 132!

It’s like the wallflower suddenly becoming the centre of attention at the ball and yet, he’s even more tonguetied and bashful than ever!! Sadly, India, a country with a billion+ population and a moribund, old bureaucratic bound country, on the other hand, was able to jump TWENTY-THREE notches to a sleek 77!! And us with just ¾ million folks have headed in the opposite direction!!

What gives?? It’s simple – none of the folks in this PNC Government even ran a tea shop!

They should ask Modi – who did run a tea-stall – for advice!! …winning for Windies Just when you hoped the West Indies would draw level with India – in cricket, at least – they were bowled out for 104 and India didn’t even take 15 overs to top that.

But we just have to be patient...the talent is there.

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

News

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fridAY, november 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

US-based company among bidders for closed sugar estates

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he National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) on Thursday revealed it has received 10 bids, which include one from a Florida-based company with Middle Eastern investors for the privatisation of the three closed sugar estates in Guyana. This announcement comes following Government’s downsizing of the sugar industry, which has left thousands jobless, in an effort to reduce expenditure owing to the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) being cashstrapped.

United Kingdom-based PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was tasked by the Finance Ministry’s Special Purposes Unit (SPU) to the value of three estates –Rose Hall, Skeldon and Enmore – which Government put up for privatisation. PwC partner, Wilfred B Baghaloo, who was appointed in

PwC official, Wilfred Baghaloo

determine if any of the investors are affiliated with each other as the SPU wanted the process to be competitive. The official, who originates from Jamaica told members of the press that the bidding process closed Wednesday, following the marketing period which started in July.

opened, the second step is to analyse the bids in accordance to the evaluation criteria as outlined in the Information Memorandum.

Thereafter, the PwC will make recommendations to the Steering Committee and NICIL which will then make recommendations to Cabinet.

“Our intention is to say to the Staring Committee and the SPU in seven days that the bids we have received comply; then the evaluation should take some time,” the PwC official stated. The PricewaterhouseCoopers official while being tightlipped on the names of the 10 investors said regional players also submitted bids.

There was a pre-bid meeting held on September 25, 2018.

“Major concerns of the potential investors related to regulations needed to ensure fair competition between Government, the functional of the factories

Skeldon Sugar Estate

March 2018 to oversee the process, held a press conference at NICIL’s Camp Street, Georgetown office on Thursday, where he told reporters that 12 companies obtained the Information Memoranda (IM) for the estates which was sold to bidders for US$1000. However, only 10 submitted bids.

According to Baghaloo, the PwC will be working to

The official said that he could not have verified the names of the bidders but added that he would provide those names by today. The opening of the bids was observed by bidders, PwC, a team from the Auditor General’s office and members of the Steering Committee. Baghaloo said now that the bids have been

and access to markets,” the PwC official highlighted.

He added too that some were concerned if they would be getting “scrap metal” for their investment.

An information memorandum which Guyana Times obtained showed the asset registry and land inventory for each estate. The document further outlined that Government is not ob-

ligated to accept any offer or bid though the reopening of the some of the factories was said to have sparked interest in the bidding process, especially from the international market. Investors visited the various estates since August, where they made assessments of the facilities as part of the preparation of their proposal to the Special Purposes Unit.

The SPU under NICIL secured a $30 billion through commercials banks, both in Guyana and the region, as part of the diversification

initiatives. The bond was secured solely by bondholders in the Government, and not against any assets of NICIL or GuySuCo. The commercial lending rate for Guyana at the time was 13.0 per cent, while the NICIL bond was issued at 4.75 per cent, which is 8.25 per cent lower than the rate that most companies borrow at in Guyana.

The PwC, meanwhile, was awarded a $60 million contract to evaluate GuySuCo’s estates. The company was however handed a two-year ban earlier this

year for allegedly overstating the earnings and assets of Indian software company Satyam Computer Services.

PwC was the audit firm at the time the more-than US$1 billion fraud occurred.

It was the founder of the company, Ramalinga Raju, who blew the whistle on the fraud in 2009, costing shareholders billions and shaking the industry.

In its defence, the PwC affirmed that there was no “intentional” wrongdoing in the fraud at Satyam.

Farmers advised not to cultivate 14,000 acres of rice …as water woes hit Corentyne villages

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everal farmers operating in the 52/74 area on the Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have been advised not to cultivate this rice crop. The advice has come from the 52/74 Water Users Association (WUA) in the wake of continued blockage of the Seaforth Canal which provides irrigation for 14,500 acres of rice land.

President of the 52/74 Water Users Association, Ahmad Rajab said farmers have been pouring into the Association’s office on a daily basis seeking help.

He said the contract to clean the Seaforth Canal was awarded to a contractor early this year, but no work was done to the canal causing farmers great worry for the first crop.

However, the regional administration was able to secure a machine to clean the canal so that the farmers did not lose the last crop.

“Low and behold, they gave the contact to the same contractor again and nothing has been done. Now the farmers are ready to start

the crop and they can’t get any water,” Rajab told Guyana Times.

Currently, the Seaforth Canal is clogged with vegetation, blocking the flow of irrigation water making it almost impossible for them to start preparation and cultivation.

The issue was discussed on Thursday at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statuary meeting. Regional Chairman David Armogan said there are two issues that the RDC must address.

He explained that at the beginning of the year, a Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) contractor was given a contract to clean the Seaforth canal but what did was very little.

According to Armogan, after the intervention of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to clear the canal at a cost of $5 million and the contractor was expected to recommence his contractual arranger to keep the canal clean for the rest of the year.

“He has done nothing since and we are in serious

trouble again because even if we start the pumps the farmers cannot get water because that is the major irrigation canal that takes water to the farmers.”

The Chairman said if that canal is not cleaned within a week there will be trouble.

“The crop has already started. We have to treat it as an emergency because we may well end up in a situation where farmers will not be able to plant.”

Armogan noted that the second issue is that the NDIA which would normally reimburse the WUA of monies spent to clean secondary drainage and irrigation canals has run out of funds.

“The secondary canals, up to last crop, were cleared and NDIA reimburse the money to the Water Users Association. This crop, the NDIA is saying to the Water Users Association that they are out of funds and they may not be able to give them the money as is necessary to pay the people to clean the secondary canals.”

From page 10

10 news

fridAY, november 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jagdeo calls on ERC to probe arrest of party member …accuses AFC of being vindictive

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is calling on the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to look into the recent arrest of People's Progressive Party (PPP) candidate Shafraz Beekham, as he accused the Alliance For Change (AFC) party of being vindictive.

Beekham was arrested

by Police about an hour after there was an alleged fire at the home of an AFC member in Berbice on Wednesday evening; a move, which Jagdeo believes is an act of vindictiveness on the part of the AFC. The Opposition Leader posited that if there was indeed an arson attempt then the matter must be condemned. He however urged that there be a full investigation into the incident, since Beekham was the one who mounted a legal challenge against the AFC’s Whim/Bloomfield list of candidates for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Further, Jagdeo pointed out that when the case was filed several weeks ago, the Chairman of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, who is also the Public Security Minister, went on television in Berbice threatening to deal with the litigant. “[So] we believe that it is all contrived by the AFC to gain sympathy and to act as an intimidation as they know now that an appeal has been filed – that will go probably all the way to

the CCJ (Caribbean Court of Justice) – that will expose the shenanigans of the AFC in that area and therefore, they have to go, we believe, against the person who filed it. And compounding this, the Minister of Public Security threatened this gentleman to deal with him weeks ago on television.

All this must be fully investigated because it smacks of political gimmickry again by the AFC,” the Opposition Leader contended.

The legal challenge was dismissed last week by High Court Judge, Justice Navindra Singh, who found that there was no evidence of fraudulent names on the AFC’s list. As such, Beekham, through his attorneys, have since appealed the High Court decision.

Independent review

Nevertheless, Jagdeo is of the view that the issue should be looked into by an independent agency. In fact, he noted that efforts should be made to get the tape from Ramjattan’s appearance on television where he made the threat against Beekham.

“We need someone to commandeer this tape and it cannot be the GNBA (Guyana National Broadcasting Agency) and it can’t be the Police because they will take instructions, Ramjattan will bully them,” Jagdeo asserted, adding that Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) overheard the Minister giving certain instructions while at Parliament on Wednesday night that probably lead to

into this… In fact, the only body I can think about right now is the Ethnic Relations Commission, to look urgently into this matter,” the Opposition Leader stated.

Woman’s claims

ERC Chairman John Smith

the arrest of Beekham.

To this end, he called on the ERC to probe this act of vindictiveness by the minority party in the coalition Government.

“Imagine the other people may never want to come forward because they fear victimisation. We believe its victimisation [because] an hour after this event allegedly took place, they picked up this guy. So we have to get an outside investigation

Meanwhile, the AFC member, Rashree Permaul, is claiming that the PPP activist attempted to set fire to her Bloomfield home on Wednesday night at about 21:45h.

The woman, told Guyana Times that she is a candidate of the AFC for the Whim/ Bloomfield Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

However, a check of the list reveals that she is not one of the seven candidates the AFC has advertised for that NDC. The 35-year-old woman said she smelt what seemed at be a lighted cigarette but added that, “a couple seconds after I saw a big flame outside through the window and I smelt like something burning...” She said she rushed to

the upper flat of the house and woke her eldest daughter. When they ran out of the house, she said she saw a lighted carton box next to a concrete post and also discovered that kerosene was thrown on two wooden posts.

Permaul admitted that she did not see anyone in her yard. The man was released from Police custody at about 18:00h after Permaul never showed up at the Police Station when a confrontation was arranged by the Police.

However, Beekham was asked to return to the station on Monday.

Only recently, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan appeared on a public televised programme aired in Berbice, entitled “Alliance on the move” and threatened Beekham saying that he will “fix” him.

On the programme, the Public Security Minister said Beekham had several fish pounds and he was going to, “give him trouble”.

Farmers advised not...

From page 9

According to Armogan, the NDIA at a meeting last week advised that the WUA utilise whatever method is available to it in order to get the water system cleared.

“The only method available to the Water Users Association now is to go after the people who are not paying and also to increase their rates. That is a policy that will have to be made by

the Government. However, the Minister had said that at some point the Water Users Association at some point will have to become self-sufficient,” Armogan said, while noting that it will be a very testing time for rice farmers in the region.

According to the Rice Producers Association, several decades ago, farmers were responsible for clean-

ing the canal in front of their rice farms, but Government has since taken over that responsibility, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to do so.

Meanwhile, at Black Bush Polder and several other rice producing areas in the region, the farmers have already started to sew their paddy for the second crop.

(Andrew Carmichael)

S RAIGHT Efficiency of the supply chain is key for Guyana?

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he World Bank has developed a tool called the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) to partially measure the competitiveness of a nation. The LPI is an interactive benchmarking tool created to help countries identify the challenges and opportunities they face in their trade logistics systems and what they can do to improve their performance. The LPI 2018 allows for comparisons across 160 countries.

Guyana’s rank was 132 with an LPI score of 2.36 in 2018 compared to an LPI score of 2.67 in 2016. This basically means that Guyana has regressed with regards to the efficiency of its supply chain systems. Can we understand why an oil investor ignores Guyana and buys basics, as simple as drinking water, from nonGuyanese sources? In simple language, our systems make it a major challenge for Guyana to do business with the rest of the world.

This is how Guyana fared between 2016 and 2018 and it gives you a fair assessment of the wider economic and systemic decay happening.

Let us reflect on the successes first. The quality of the Customs Services improved between 2016 and 2018 and that is an indictment to the leadership in that team. There were too many instances of human interference in the customs system before 2016 and credit must be given to the new leadership appointed by Team Granger who made massive changes to the system that resulted in greater efficiencies with a resultant improvement in customs revenue for the nation.

But the failures in other areas are overwhelming, so much so that Guyana lost 47 places in the ranking and is now considered less competitive in the conduct of international trade. The nation lost competitiveness in transportation infrastructure, quality of the port facilities, logistics competence, tacking and accounting for products shipped and timeliness of deliveries.

Logistics are the backbone of international trade and clearly, Guyana is on another planet when it comes to doing business internationally. What have GO-Invest, the Foreign Affairs and the Business Ministries done for the good of Guyana because the evidence is clearly not there to support a progressive action?

Unless we take drastic measures to connect Guyana to the global value chains, we will continue to be an outsider globally. Talk to any logistics professional on the ground and they shall confirm this.

To give you an idea of how bad Guyana is rated internationally, a score of five translates to a perfect system of logistics while one is the worst possible rating you can get. In 2016 Guyana was rated at 2.67. By 2018 Guyana was rated at 2.36, illustrating a decline in the nation’s logistical competitiveness over two years.

What can be done?

1. Better integration between production and trade facilitation – To back this up, the respective departments in the Government need to focus on production and productivity in the right packages to penetrate targeted overseas markets with the right launch at the right moment. One question to ask is why more of Guyana’s poultry products are not being sold in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) market and it will expose how badly integrated the whole trade facilitation system is in Guyana.

2. More efficient transportation system – Port Georgetown must be dredge come what may. Too small ships are coming to Guyana costing the nation too much per unit. We are engaged in a process of building a new bridge across the Demerara River when there is already a bridge across the river but there is no initiative to more vitally needed projects such as to deepen the channel in the Demerara River or build a floating deep-water harbour to accommodate larger ships to reduce our unit shipping cost.

With oil coming to Guyana, it is clear that we are not ready to service the industry as yet and this is why Trinidad is taking the cream of the oil services jobs today. The fact remains the oil investment was made in Guyana and Trinidad is reaping the benefit due to the home country. Of course, Trinidad had a great advantage and a more mature oil services industry but even the water on the rig cannot be Guyanese? I am told bread is coming from Miami for the rig workers.

But let us face the facts – who has the better supply chain – Guyana or Trinidad and this is one of the reasons that will continue to drive Trinidad’s advantages. Well, I cannot expect much from the Government at this point in time since they are busy with Local Government Elections but I am hoping someone in the Foreign Affairs and Business Ministries is asking the question – why Guyanese water is not available on the rig and take some firm action on this matter of delinquency on our part in compliance with thePlease principle of local content support share your thoughts at services. sasesin1@yahoo.com.

11 Police kill bandit after ECD robbery news

fridAY, november 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

The injured bandit was rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigators have recovered an unlicensed .32 semi-automatic pistol with

Dead bandit: Melroy Solomon

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n Agricola, Greater Georgetown man was shot dead by Police on Thursday in a bid to escape after robbing a taxi driver and a cattle farmer.

Dead is 27-year-old Melroy Solomon, called “Souce Mouth”, of Titus Street, Agricola.

According to Police reports, about 10:50h on Thursday, a taxi driver was robbed of his 212 motor car and personal items at Seventh Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD) by two males, who hired him to purportedly go to an ECD destination.

The matter was reported, and the stolen vehicle was intercepted by Police ranks in an unmarked vehicle at Mahaicony. However, the suspects reportedly discharged several rounds which struck the vehicle, and sped into Esau & Jacobs Village, Mahaicony, but they were later forced to abandon the vehicle after it got stuck in a ditch and they escaped into the backlands.

The suspects then abducted and robbed a cattle farmer of his phone and clothes before ordering him to take them out on a horse

Beating outside nightclub...

From page 8

On Tuesday, Khan’s brother, 37-year-old Safraz Khan was brought before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on gun-related charges, which occurred on the same morning. He was, however, granted $50,000 bail. The court was informed that the victim had undergone two surgeries and was expected to have several other corrective surgeries to his face.

The case against Abdul Imran Khan will continue on November 19, 2018.

It was previously reported that Safraz Khan was allegedly seen on CCTV footage beating and kicking at Baljeet, who had attempted to pass between him and friends outside the nightclub.

The victim was in the company of a female friend when he was allegedly pushed to the ground by Khan, who then proceeded to kick him repeatedly to his head.

Baljeet was later picked up and rushed to a private medical facility, where he remained a patient.

The firearm found at the scene of the shooting

to a location at Branch Road, Mahaicony, that led to the public road. The farmer complied.

The perpetrators then boarded a taxi, but were again intercepted by the Police, who ordered the men out of the vehicle. One of the suspects quickly exited the vehicle with firearm drawn and began shooting at the Police, who took up tactical positions and returned fire during which the gunman was shot. The car then sped away with the other suspect inside.

four live rounds and two spent shells at the scene.

According to the Police, Solomon was previously charged with armed robbery.

Investigations are ongoing.

12news

fridAY, november 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

53rd anniversary

Rogue GDF ranks will face full wrath of the law – acting Chief-of-Staff …as 780 new ranks welcomed

A section of the ranks at the GDF’s 53rd anniversary prayer service on Thursday at Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, Georgetown

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t a time when the number of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks have been implicated in various types of criminal activities, acting Chief-of-Staff, Colonel Trevor Bowman has warned that any rank found involved in rape, robbery or any other crime will face the full wrath of the law.

He signalled this warning at the GDF’s 53rd anni-

versary prayer service hosted on Thursday at Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

“Those ranks who wear a uniform and are bent on devious acts like robbery, rape, assault and abuse must be separated from us. It must bother us when they are allowed to remain in our force, eat in our mess halls and find refuge in our barracks,”

Bowman warned.

The acting Chief-of-Staff told the hall of ranks who attended the church service that they ought to monitor their behaviour and pay keen attention to the posts they make on social media to ensure it does not breach the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Defence Force.

Moreover, he refer-

Guard slapped with attempted murder charge

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security guard was on Thursday hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on an indictable offence of attempting to commit murder.

Rondell Mitchell was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The 30-year-old man of Friendship, East Bank Demerara, is accused of attempting to kill Sherwin Anderson on October 28, 2018, while he was in the vicinity of the Meadow Bank

fishery wharf.

The court heard that Mitchell discharged a loaded firearm at Anderson with intent to murder him, in the presence of Oquacy Harvey and Romario Nurse.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris informed the court that on October 28 at about 09:30h, Anderson was at the fishery wharf when the accused allegedly took his mobile phone and flashed a picture of him.

This annoyed him, and a heated argument ensured

between the two. Mitchell then armed himself with a 9mm pistol and shot the victim in his abdomen. The two other men were in the vicinity when the man was shot.

The injured Anderson was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he underwent an emergency surgery.

After listing to the prosecution’s submission, Mitchell was remanded to prison and the case was adjourned to November 28.

enced what is expected of them. “We expect you to remain committed to securing frontier and not to be consumed by the ‘get rich quick’ theme that beaches all of our Standard Operating Procedures”.

Bowman also took the time to give the ranks insight as he related that their duties could become heavier as the country will become an oil producing one.

According to him, the recent discoveries of commercial quantities of oil can very well impact the country in a dramatic way.

He therefore urged all the ranks to be prepared to deal with traditional and non-traditional threats.

It was on that noted that the acting Chief-ofStaff pointed to the fact that the strength of the Defence Force will be boosted with the immediate appointment of 780 ranks. Bowman noted, “With effect from today (Thursday), 1st of November, 2018, the authorised strength of the force will be adjusted upwards to 3845, an increase of 780 persons. This increase in manpower is necessary as we transform to meet the challenges of a changing environment.”

While speaking to the new ranks, he urged them not to abuse the power and authority being entrusted to

Chief-of-Staff (ag), Colonel Trevor Bowman

them.

Just last month, two dishonoured Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks who were implicated in a rape and robbery on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) were charged and dismissed from the Force.

It was reported that the female victim and her boyfriend were at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, Essequibo Coast, which is close to the GDF base, for an event and about 23:30h as they were enjoying an evening together, the two ranks – 22-yearold Rawlston Reid, of Doch Four Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD); and Isaiah Rawlins, 21, of Wisroc, Linden attacked the couple.

The soldiers reportedly dealt the young man sever-

al blows about his body, took away his money and gold chain, and demanded that his girlfriend have sex with them or else they would rape him.

They then allegedly took turns raping the woman as she wept bitterly and asked them to stop.

The young man had no choice but to watch his girlfriend being sexually assaulted. After the ordeal, the young couple reported the matter to the Police.

An identification parade was later held at the Suddie Police Station and the two perpetrators were positively identified by the victims.

The duo were however granted bail when they appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court later last month in the sum of $300,000 each by Magistrate Esther Sam.

60% of Georgetown residents illegally reconnect water supply

A

recent survey conducted by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has found that a massive 60 per cent of residents in Georgetown illegally reconnect their water supply after being disconnected.

The GWI on Thursday highlighted the major issue while noting that plans are afoot to intensify its disconnection and service removal campaign in a bid to focus on customers who are determined to illegally reconnect their service.

The water company said “a sample population of 700 Georgetown customers have illegally reconnected their water service after being disconnected for overdue balances… the utility has intensified its disconnection and service removal campaign across the capital city, with a particular focus on those customers who have illegally reconnected their service.”

According to the GWI, most of the customers who would have indulged in the illegal act are domestic customers.

Revenue Manager for

the municipality, Nicholas Dawalat, explained that the company is currently conducting disconnections in the Queenstown area which will be trailed by other areas in Georgetown such as Stabroek, Alberttown, and Charlestown.

According to him, illegal reconnections result in a reduced level of service to customers, loss in revenue and

contamination in the lines, which compromises the quality of water provided to customers.

He further added that the company’s loss in revenue also affects its ability to purchase chemicals to treat

water to ensure that the quality meets World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, as well as its ability to pay its workers.

The manager nonetheless noted that disconnections and service removals are the company’s last resort after attempts to contact their customers prove futile.

According to GWI, its customers are given 28 days after their bill is due to clear their balance or the option to take advantage of the utility’s wallet-friendly payment plans.

If they fail to do so, their service is disconnected, and they are given an additional 28 days to pay their reconnection fee, before their service is removed. The cost for reconnection for domestic customers is $7500 and $16,000 for commercial customers, whereas the replacement fee for both categories is $20,000.

It was pointed out that GWI targets all categories of indebted customers, irrespective of whether they are domestic or commercial.

news

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Investors’ confidence in doing business with Guyana dips – World Bank

G

uyana’s position on the World Bank’s 2018 Report signals a dip in investors’ confidence.

This year, the country placed 126th in the global rankings.

Last year, Guyana ranked 124th, while in 2015 the nation ranked 140th.

Ease of Doing Business Index is one of most comprehensive studies done by World Bank.

In determining ease of doing business, the World Bank looks at key indicators such as registering, compliance, taxation, obtaining loans and similar factors such as administrative procedures. It also looks at legal measures, such a protection and settlements.

A graph showing Guyana’s ranking on the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business” Report from 2008 to 2017

Guyana saw an increase in the cost of starting a business dropping seven places, from 92 to 99. A drop of 13

places, from 123 to 136, was also recorded in the area of paying taxes.

However, the country

rose in the ranks in areas such as dealing with construction permits, getting credit and protecting minori-

251 more nurses certified

T

wo hundred and fifty-one students graduated from the Georgetown School of Nursing on Thursday. This number comprises 110 professionally registered nurses, 56 midwives and 85 nursing assistants.

Leola Charles, a graduate from the Professional Nursing Programme of the Georgetown School of Nursing, and now a registered nurse, has emerged as the 2018 valedictorian.

Charles, along with others, received special awards for their outstanding performances and special skills demonstrated throughout their course of studies.

This year’s graduation marks the school’s 31st Biennial ceremony, where scores of young professionals have received certification to provide services in the public health sector. The graduation exercise was hosted at the National Cultural Centre.

In her valedictory speech, Charles encouraged her batch along with those who have completed other programmes, to be trailblazers in their respective fields, as they transition fully into the world of work.

“Let us leave a trail that others will be proud to follow.

Class of 2018, as graduates, we face many uncertainties in both the immediate and distant future; however, it’s up to us to make a difference to have people say honourable things about us and leave the impression that you never gave up on yourself,” Charles is quoted by the Department of Public

Valedictorian Leola Charles receives her award from Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

Information as saying.

Charles was the recipient of the Public Health Minister’s Award and the first-ever PAHO/WHO award among several others in recognition of her stellar performance both in theory and clinical practices.

In her address to the gathering, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence said since her appointment to the sector, she has worked assiduously with the faculty of health sciences and education to make necessary changes to nursing education.

To this end, the Minister expressed her confidence in the graduating batch’s preparedness to be deployed into the public health system. She further added that the citizens of Guyana can be reassured of quality health services being delivered to them by these professionals.

The graduates were also encouraged to demonstrate an excellent level of patient care as they all have an important role to play as ser-

vants in the public health sector.

“We at the Ministry recognise that you are the pillars of a sustainable and an effective health system the core of the next generation of nurses on whom Guyana will depend for a resilient and robust health structure,” Minister Lawrence said.

Midwife Ann FergusonGoppy, registered Nurse Melissa Emanuel and Nursing Assistant, Sherl Daniels, all excitedly highlighted their journey to completing their individual programmes.

The graduation ceremony saw several persons from this year’s batch receiving special awards in the areas of interpersonal skills, management and leadership qualities and overall outstanding performances in theoretical studies and clinical practices.

Among those graduating was Batch 125A, who was a part of approximately 200 students, who retook the State Final Examinations and attained 100 per cent

passes in 2017. This batch received timepieces compliments of PAHO/WHO in recognition of their overwhelming performance.

The Georgetown-based nursing school have over the years been hit by many controversies. Last year, 150 students who wrote the nursing exams, which were allegedly compromised, had to rewrite the exams.

An investigation was launched after it was reported that the nurse’s examination papers were leaked before the sitting and assessment of 250 nursing students.

ty investors.

It was commended for decreasing the time to transfer property by allocating higher resources and personnel and the adoption of a new code of civil procedure which the report notes make enforcing contracts easier by regulating time standards for key court events.

Several Caribbean countries, including The Bahamas and Jamaica, have recorded improvements in absolute terms on the ease of doing business, indicating that they are getting closer to global best practices and business regulations, according to a new report.

Jamaica remains the highest ranked Caribbean country on the index at 70, followed by St Lucia at 91, Dominica at 98, The Dominican Republic at 99, Trinidad and Tobago at 102, Antigua and Barbuda at 107, and The Bahamas at 119.

New Zealand topped the entire ranking.

But the World Bank said the biggest challenges for the Region are in the areas of paying taxes, registering property and protecting minority investors.

In 2016, a World Bank IFC team visited Guyana at the invitation of the Business Ministry and met with stakeholders of both the private and Public Sectors to help improve Guyana’s ranking.

Those engagements led to an Information Communication Technology

assessment report, a review of laws and regulations that pertain to doing business in Guyana as well as recommendations for short-term reforms.

But the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has long criticised Government for its low ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Report and not being able to attract any foreign investments to the country as obtained in the past under their leadership.

Opposition Member of Parliament and PPP Shadow Finance Minister threw punches at the Government during one of his presentations earlier this year when he referred to the reduced ranking for ‘ease of doing business’ index, reflecting significant declines in several areas.

Ali said the low ranking saw a deterioration in several categories. “This is the reality that our country is faced with decline, slippage,” he said, noting that Guyana did far better under the PPP and made huge progress when it comes to investment coming here.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has also declared a loss of confidence in the Government, based on the economy’s performance and the poor policies.

The body had called for the Government to create an enabling environment to push economic activities.

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fridAY, november 2, 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)

Personal improvements should be your priority.

Update your image, qualifications, skills and anything else that needs it.

Preparation is crucial.

Set the standard and stick to it. Make others adjust to your expectations, and don’t back down. Your drive and determination will be impressive and worthy of substantial rewards.

Don’t take shortcuts.

Follow through with your plans from beginning to end.

How you do things will reflect what you are capable of achieving. Celebrate with a loved one.

Discussions will result in a host of ideas that can help resolve some of the problems you’re facing. Do your best to find common ground and work alongside others.

Handle your money, legal and health matters carefully. Pay close attention to what’s being said, and ask an expert if you aren’t sure how to handle something or someone.

Follow your heart, and engage in talks that will help you understand how others feel. Knowing what you are up against will help you discern the best way to move forward.

How you deal with othLIBRA (Sept. 23- ers will determine your fuOct. 23) ture. Use your intelligence, not your emotions, when you come up against opposition.

Self-improvement projects will boost your confidence.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — ADJURING (ADJURING: uh-JOOR-ing: Commanding solemnly, as under oath.)

Can you find 33 or more words in ADJURING? The list will be published tomorrow.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — LUXURIANT urinal rail rain rani rant ritual ruin runt alit anti aunt axil

nail nutria tail tarn taxi trail train trial tuna turn

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

Don’t get angry when you can get moving. If you put your energy into something worthwhile, you will bring about a change that will improve your current standard of living.

Your tendency to think SAGITTARIUS big will lead to trouble if you (Nov. 23- let your emotions take the Dec. 21) reins. Attention to detail, precision and moderation will be required if you want to be successful.

Average mark 24 words Time limit 35 minutes

lain lair liar lint lira luau lunar ulna ultra unit unlit until

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Consider what you want and put your plans in motion. You have what it takes to turn your ideas into reality with a push and a shove and a little persuasion.

Partnerships will be confusing. You’ll get mixed signals that will make it difficult to know what’s expected of you and what you should do next. When in doubt, ask direct questions.

Make your choices known and your intentions clear. What you want will be met with approval if you are direct and detailed in your presentation. Talks will lead to financial gain.

fridAY, november 2, 2018

19

India storm to series win after

Ravindra Jadeja 4 for 34 S

o promising across the first three ODIs, West Indies' batting unravelled when a share of the series was still up for grabs.

Having been bowled out for 153 on a flat Brabourne deck in the fourth ODI, the visitors did even worse on a trickier pitch in Thiruvananthapuram, folding for 104 after choosing to bat first.

V i r a t K o h l i , I n d i a ' s Captain, was happy to chase at a ground where he felt dew would be a "massive factor" in the second innings, under

Ravindra Jadeja

lights. But the match didn't even last as far as the scheduled 45-minute interval.

West Indies were bowled out in 31.5 overs, and India hunted down their target in a mere 14.5, as Rohit Sharma stroked an unbeaten 63 off 56 balls, adding an unbroken 99 for the second wicket with Kohli. Rohit hit four sixes – all clean hits, as they needed to be on one of the larger grounds in India –- to become only the second India batsman to get past 200 sixes in ODIs. The only spell of positivity for West Indies was the new-ball spell of the pacy Oshane Thomas, who got Shikhar Dhawan to chop on for the second time in two ODI meetings, had Kohli dropped by Jason Holder at first slip after getting one to lift nastily at him, and had Rohit edging an away-seamer behind only for a no-ball call to deny him another wicket.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma finished off the thumping win

Thereafter, it was all Rohit and Kohli who, having got past some early difficulty against the slowness of the pitch, entertained the Thiruvananthapuram crowd who might otherwise have felt short-changed at getting to watch only 46.4 overs of the promised 100.

The contest lasted only that long, thanks to West Indies' inability to adapt to a slow pitch on which the ball held up and made driving on the up a hazardous prospect.

It was swing that began their collapse. By the 10th ball of their innings,

Wilson impressed with Trojans performance – have only lost 1 game thus far

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s the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) tournament starts to wind down, many fans have been privileged to watch the UG Trojans compete in the U-23 league and climb the table, defeating some of the toughest opponents in the game.

When the Trojans first started out in the competition, many said that it was a fluke that they won their matches and as the season progressed, they would fall away and be at the bottom of the table.

However, they have proved those nay-sayers wrong as they are one of the most dangerous sides in the Under- 23 division, only losing one game thus far.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, UG Trojans Coach Warren Wilson stated that he was very impressed with the U-23 side. He noted that their ability to focus has drastically improved as they were trying new strategies, but he still has to put in more work on the offensive sets, although he was happy that the

Trojans Coach Warren Wilson

team’s turnover ratio has decreased rapidly. This was on show when they crushed the Sonics 111-30. Wilson said he was also happy to see Alistair Lewis growing as a point guard throughout the competition and attributed it to him listening to the Coaches at practice.

He added: “Jabari [Joseph], Damani [Thomas] and Kadeem [Peterkin ]are very good players with a lot of potential, but whilst humble players, they still must

know that even though they are talented, they aren’t bigger than basketball, as sometimes some players forget and they stop coming practice and that is one major downfall of players in Guyana. But I’m trying to keep them grounded and see how much more I can push them.”

He went on to state that young players now entering the game must be humble, always listen to their coach, and be good learners and listeners as these traits would take them far in life.

In closing, Wilson said he would continue to drill his team in more gameplay strategies, and was looking forward to the next series of games and the ending of the competition in which he was certain the team would achieve greatness.

Action in the GABA First Division, Second Division and Under-23 leagues continues at the Burnham Hard Court on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

(Timothy Jaikarran)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, swinging it away from the left-hander, and Jasprit Bumrah, swinging it into the right-hander, had made Kieran Powell and Shai Hope pay for playing away from the body.

Then came the longest partnership of the innings, of 34, between Rovman Powell – who struggled to find his feet after being promoted up the order, with West Indies sacrificing regular opener Chandrapaul Hemraj to add Oshane Thomas to their pace attack – and Marlon Samuels, who came out playing his shots at the end of a lean series with the bat.

It looked pretty while it lasted, as Samuels drove Bhuvneshwar past mid-off and whipped his next ball – from virtually the same off-stumpish line – wide of mid-on. Another free-flowing drive off Khaleel Ahmed, in the next over, carried all the way over the straight boundary.

Kohli responded by bringing on Ravindra Jadeja. His first over, the 10th of West Indies' innings, was a maiden, and through that over it was clear that Samuels was itching to keep driving and

that Jadeja, teasing him with his changes of pace and a length just short of driveable, was not going to allow him to. Having already inside-edged once while driving away from his body, Samuels fell in Jadeja's second over, reaching out once

again, this time only managing to pop a catch to extra-cover as the ball stopped on him.

That stand broken, India kept chipping away at the wickets. Shimron Hetmyer played back to Jadeja when he should have been forward, Rovman and Fabian Allen were out hooking well-directed short balls from Khaleel and Bumrah, and Jason Holder, who had looked good while getting to 25, chipped a catch to midoff as another ball held up off the surface.

The tail survived just long enough for Jadeja, who took a five-over break after an unbroken first spell of eight overs, to return and bag two more wickets to finish with 4 for 34. It was his second four-wicket haul in eight matches since his comeback to the ODI team during the Asia Cup in September. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Innings (50 overs maximum) KOA Powell c †Dhoni b Kumar 0 R Powell c Dhawan b Ahmed 16 SD Hope † b Bumrah 0 MN Samuels c Kohli b Jadeja 24 SO Hetmyer lbw b Jadeja 9 JO Holder (c) c Jadhav b Ahmed 25 FA Allen c Jadhav b Bumrah 4 KMA Paul c Rayudu b Kuldeep Yadav 5 D Bishoo not out 8 KAJ Roach c Jadhav b Jadeja 5 O Thomas lbw b Jadeja 0 Extras 7 (lb 1, w 6) TOTAL 104 all out (31.5 Overs, RR: 3.29) Fall of wickets: 1-1 (KOA Powell, 0.4 ov), 2-2 (SD Hope, 1.4 ov), 3-36 (MN Samuels, 11.5 ov), 4-53 (SO Hetmyer, 15.5 ov), 5-57 (R Powell, 16.6 ov), 6-66 (FA Allen, 20.6 ov), 7-87 (JO Holder, 25.2 ov), 8-94 (KMA Paul, 28.1

ov), 9-103 (KAJ Roach, 31.3 ov), 10-104 (O Thomas, 31.5 ov) Bowling B Kumar (4-1-11-1) J Bumrah (6-1-11-2) K Ahmed (7-129-2) R Jadeja (9.5-1-344) K Yadav (5-1-18-1) India Innings (target: 105 runs from 50 overs) RG Sharma not out 63 S Dhawan b Thomas 6 V Kohli (c) not out 33 Extras 3 (lb 1, nb 1, w 1) TOTAL 105/1 (14.5 Overs, RR: 7.07) Fall of wickets: 1-6 (S Dhawan, 1.5 ov) Bowling K Roach (5-2-13-0) O Thomas (4-0-33-1) K Paul (2-0-220) J Holder (1-0-15-0) D Bishoo (1.5-0-160) F Allen (1-0-5-0)

Raheem Sterling agrees £300,000-a-week deal with City M

anchester City winger Raheem Sterling has reportedly verbally agreed to a new five-year contract with the club that will pay him an estimated £300,000 per week.

This represents a significant jump in wages up from the £180,000 he currently earns. It’s also a breakthrough for the Jamaicaborn player, who earlier

this year was reportedly at loggerheads with the club over a new deal.

Major dailies in the United Kingdom, as well as Skysports negotiations, have been ongoing for months, but Sterling is said to have accepted the fresh terms, with the contract expected to be formally signed and announced in the coming weeks.

Sterling’s current con-

tract was due to expire in 2020, but he has maintained that he wanted to remain with Manchester City, who won the Premier League title last season with a record 100 points.

Since the start of last season, Sterling has been one of Manchester City’s best players having had a hand in more than 30 goals for the Citizens. (Sportsmax)

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“Stand-alone” ICC Women’s World T20

Bangladesh women arrive in Guyana

W

Jahanara Alam (left) with some of her Bangladesh teammates

ith the first match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 exactly one week away, the Bangladesh women have arrived in Guyana ahead of this auspicious event.

Bangladesh will kick start their campaign against the defending Women’s World T20 champions, West Indies in a day-night affair on November

9-10 at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara( EBD).

On Sunday, November 4, Bangladesh will face Ireland in a warm-up match starting from 16:00h at the National Stadium.

It was a great journey for Bangladesh as they became the 10th and final team to qualify for the Women’s World T20 when

they thumped Scotland in the semi-finals, but their memorable victory came when they humbled Ireland in the finals of the World T20 Qualifiers.

Bangladesh’s Rumana Ahmed in the press conference after that match highlighted that the team were excited and had their eyes on winning the World T20 trophy. Bangladesh are in Group A with powerful teams such

Females continue to impress in Under-17 T20 League

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s the 2018 GCB Female Franchise Under -17 T20 League continued with round three at Bush Lot and Enterprise, the Essequibo- West Demerara clash ended in a super over where West Demerara came out victorious, while Upper Corentyne broke Georgetown, Lower Corentyne thrashed West Berbice, and East Coast humbled East Bank.

West Demerara v Essequibo

Over at Enterprise in the first match, West Demerara won the toss and took first strike, scoring a well-composed 126 for 5 from their allotted 20 overs. Jamaica Simon top-scored with 15 while Keshana Boodenlall contributed 10 not out.

Bowling for Essequibo, Lisa Charles, Lalitha Patterson, Onicia Stoby and Divine Ross picked up one wicket each.

In reply, Essequibo managed to score 126 for 7 to tie the game. Analisa D’Anguiar top-scored with 20 not out, supported by Lisa Charles with 19. Arisana Buckan was the most destructive bowler grabbing 4 for 22 from four overs and Varuni Pitamber took 2 for 17. In the super over, Essequibo batted first, scoring 5 for 1 from their super over with Charles scoring 5. Ariana Buckan was the bowler of the super over. In reply, West Demerara reaches their total of 6 with 2 balls remaining. West Demerara won the match in the super over.

Upper Corentyne v Georgetown

Meanwhile, in the first encounter over at Bush Lot, we witnessed Upper Corentyne winning the toss and electing to field first. Georgetown scored 96 for 6 in a reduced 15 overs match. Emalissa Whyte once again top-scored with 13. Shanaya Frazer was the most instrumental bowl-

Player of the Match Shanaya Frazer

er, grabbing 2 for 15 while she was supported by Karina Burnett and Shanese Leiech, who took one wicket a piece.

In reply, Upper Corentyne raced to their total, scoring 99 for 5 from their 15 overs with Shanaya Frazer top-scoring with 17 while support was gained from Alika Williams with 13. Tabita Alen and Alita Phillips took two wickets for 16 and 17 respectively, but that wasn’t enough to take their team to victory. Upper Corentyne won by 5 wickets.

East Coast v East Bank

In another match over at Enterprise, East Bank won the toss and chose to field first. East Coast scored 112 for 6 from their allotted 20 overs. National Under-19 player Sarah Amin topscored with 23 not out, while Shamya Daniel was the destructive bowler grabbing 3 for 26 and was well supported by Christain Ramdial, Hemwattie Mohabir and Africa Gently, who took one wicket a piece. East Bank in response failed to reach their target when they fell for 47-9 in 15.1 overs. No batter got past 5 runs; Shazana Majeed grabbed 3 for 8 while she was well supported by Shamika

Edwards and Sarah Amin who picked up two wickets for 10 and 8 respectively. East Coast won by 65 runs.

Lower Corentyne v West Berbice

Over at Bush Lot, we saw Lower Corentyne winning the toss and electing to take first strike scoring a massive 161 for 8 from 20 overs. National Under-19 player Lafona Gilgous top-scored with 56 while she was supported by Navinena Ramnauth with 28. Tia Issac was the most instrumental bowler grabbing 4 for 20 from 4 overs, while Tamara George picked up 2 for 43. West Berbice, in reply, only managed 111 all out from 18 overs, with Tia Issac scoring 20 and Tamara George 11.

Bowling for Lower Corentyne, Gilgous picked up 3 for 19.

Lower Corentyne won by 50 runs.

The action continues today, Friday, November 2, when Lower Corentyne will take on Essequibo and West Berbice go up against Upper Corentyne at Bush Lot Ground and at DCC Ground, East Coast will face West Demerara and Georgetown will take on East Bank.

Matches start from 09:00h.

as the West Indies, England, and South Africa.

In the previous Women’s T20 Tournament, Bangladesh failed to register a win as they suffered four defeats from four matches played in Group B. The team will be led by 28-year old Salma Khatun, who has played 53 T20Is for Bangladesh. Khatun is an off-spinner who averages 18.97 with 44 wickets to her name.

Bangladesh squad reads: Ayasha Rahman; Fahima Khatun; Fargana Hoque Pinky; Jahanara Alam; Khadiza Tul Kubra; Lata Mondol; Nahida Akter; Nigar Sultana Joty; Panna Ghosh; Ritu Moni; Rumana Ahmed; Salma Khatun

Bangladesh players view pamphlets that describe Guyana

(Captain); Shamima

Sanjida Islam; Sultana (wk);

Sharmin Akhter Supta.

(Brandon Corlette)

Annual National Draughts Championship 2018 set for November 4

T

he Annual National Draughts Championship is scheduled to commence on Sunday, November 4th at the National Gymnasium located on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

The A and B classes will be played in the opening matches this weekend; as of this year these two competitions will take a different format, where there will be a combination of the two classes. On Sunday, November 11, the Open International 100-square match will conclude the Championship. All the games will be played under a round-robin system. The entrance fee is $300 per player, and snacks will be on the house. Registration starts at 10:00h; game time is scheduled for 10:30h sharp. Players who are travelling from out of town and far-flung areas are asked to make contact with Jairam on 614-6671, and will be granted a grace period up to 11:00h. Entries will be closed after.

On behalf of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market, Manager Ramesh Synch has donat-

In picture, a representative from Trophy Stall hands over one of the trophies

ed three trophies for the B class winners. Other entities such as Noble House Seafoods, Atlantic Marine Supplies Eccles, Puran Bros Disposable Services, Brans Security Service, Colours Boutique and Attorney- atLaw Elias Gentle have also made contributions. Rubis Bel Air will also be sponsoring the 100- square tournament next weekend. Travis Lyken, Manager of Sivert Design on

Russell Street, will also be giving one haircut to the A Class champion.

Draughts fans will also have the opportunity to witness current national A Class champion Jiaram defend his title, while Mark Brathwaite, the current holder of the 100-square crown, will aim to retain his title. Senior and junior players nationwide are invited to participate in the championship.

Bob Marley features on Irish football club’s new jersey

A

n image of reggae legend Bob Marley will grace the new jersey of a popular Irish football club.

Dublin-based Bohemian FC, which plays in the Ireland Premiership Division, unveiled its 2019 away kit – a white jersey with an image of Marley’s face emblazoned across the front – on Tuesday to mostly positive reviews.

The club said it made the move to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the Jamaican reggae icon’s performance at its stadium. “This jersey, designed by Bohemian FC in conjunction with our new kit supplier O’Neills, gives a nod to that history – and to the stadium’s special place

An image of reggae legend Bob Marley will grace the new jersey of a popular Irish football club

in the hearts of both football and music fans,” the club said on its website.

The kit also features the Rastafarian red, green and gold stripes on the left side and on the sleeves of the shirt. Marley is among a number of musicians who

have played at Bohemian FC’s Dalymount Park grounds. Other performers include Black Sabbath, Faith no More and Ice Cube.

The jerseys are available for pre-order at a cost of 52 pounds for adults and 43 pounds for children. (Sportsmax)

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21 Local golfers in good form ahead of Guyana Open Cup sports

By Clifton Ross

A

head of this weekend’s start to the Guyana Open Golf Cup, local pros will be keen on maintaining their tremendous form which many of them gained since 2018 began.

More than 30 tournaments were staged by the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) during 2018 with a number of top-ranked local golfers managing to hit solid playing form with every passing tourney. With roughly 100 participants from Canada, Colombia, the Caribbean, French Guiana, Suriname, and the United States set to be a part of the biggest Cup ever, the Guyanese contingent will need to continue their form in order to defend their turf against the foreigners.

One of the most notable tournaments was the Suriname International Golf Open, which was held in Paramaribo on October 6 and 7. The two-day 36hole tournament, which was ideal preparation for the Guyanese ahead of their own grand event, was conducted under the Stableford system, in which the number of eagles, birdies, pars, single bogeys and double bogeys matter more than the gross score.

In the end, Guyana again maintained their tag as a golf-strong nation with a number of players, most notably the newly-crowned Ladies Champion, Dr Joaan Deo, excelling. As one of the frontrunners for the title this weekend, the veteran golfer wrestled the title from the then Suriname champ as she flexed her skills out-

Joaan Deo will be on a quest to win the Ladies Open title

behind Deo in the Suriname Open. The Guyana contingent of some 20 golfers all performed well in their respective flights, returning home with not only spoils but tons of confidence heading into the golf spectacle this weekend.

Patrick Prashad, LGC President Aleem Hussain, reigning Guyana Open eight-time champ Avinash Persaud and Alfred Mentore were among those who flourished in the A flight of the Suriname Open. In the B Flight, Bridgelall Harry, Lakram Ramsundar,

Some of the members of the successful Guyanese contingent that toured Suriname last month: Dr Philbert London, Paton George, Troy Cadogan, Dr Joaan Deo, Brian Hackett, Videsh Persaud, Shanella Webster, Parmanand Persaud, Patrick Prashad, and Lakram Ramsundar

side of Guyana to end with 82/14. Capturing the title ensured that the local player was in the best form as she prepares to reclaim her title this weekend from the reigning champ Christine Sukhram.

Veteran ladies golfer Shanella Webster is another threat given her experience over the years and the fact that she brought second

Paton George, Patanjalee Persaud, Jerome Khan, Deanand Bissessar and Kalyan Tiwari gained some much-needed overseas playing time and landed spots in the top five while the likes of Troy Cadogan, Dr Philbert London and others starred in the C flight, thus keeping the senior bevy of golf-

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Lakram Ramsundar among others.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Open will be conducted under the medal-play system where every stroke counts.

All golfers will be keen on bettering their exploits in Suriname. The tournament tees off a little after 05:00h Saturday morning.

Pee Wee deciders slated for tomorrow T

NOT RECEIVING

ers well-oiled in wake of this weekend.

This weekend’s female category will see the addition of former 11-time Guyana female champion, Sukhram, battling against the likes of Deo and Webster in addition to members of the Surinamese female contingent.

The males will also have some heated encounters, with Persaud having to ward off foreigners as well as local golfers the calibre of Hussain, Richard Haniff, Mike Mangal, Munaf Arjune, Mohanlall Dinanauth and

he Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue will be electric come tomorrow, as the Under-11 Pee Wee football competition enters the semi-final round.

The two intense matches will feature the energetic youth players from top primary schools around the country vying for a chance to display their skills in next Saturday’s final.

The four teams in tomorrow’s royal showdown will be Tucville Primary, St Pius Primary, West Ruimveldt Primary, and Mocha Arcadia Primary.

In their quarter-final encounter, Tucville were paired with the dominant St Agnes, who probably had the highest number of goals in the competition. Nevertheless, Tucville refused to be intimidated and produced an all-round impressive performance of scoring and defence to overcome St Agnes.

Heading into the semis, if Tucville are to repeat their mountainous feat, they will need to rely on their

strengths which lie in their goalkeeper Serani Augustin and midfield twin sensations Samuel and Emanuel Tinch, coupled with precise scoring.

On the other hand, St Pius Primary appears to have a spot-on striking setup. Remaining unbeaten in their 2018 run thus far, St Pius’ Kaden Wellington can be cited for much of the team’s success as the youngster finds the back of the net in each game. Despite this, St Pius are being seen as a threatening side, rising through the ranks with convincing wins week after week. The team will want to hold their focus for just one more encounter in order to

cop a final spot.

The Mocha Arcadia team can be seen as the underdogs of this year’s tournament.

The boys from the East Bank of Demerara gave the Georgetown teams “a run for their money” throughout the competition, to make it as far as they have. In their last encounter, Mocha found themselves in the hot seat when their game went to penalties; however, the youngsters proved that they can perform equally well under pressure as they edged North Georgetown out of the competition.

The final four would not be complete without mention of the defending champions,

West Ruimveldt Primary.

With the pressure weighing on their backs to do well, the defending champions have achieved just that, completing an unbeaten run in the 2018 tournament thus far. Yet, they still have a short distance to go. West Ruimveldt’s set-up is the perfect recipe for all-round teamwork, with a new set of names on the score card each week. Should the defending champions continue with their attacking plays and spot-on defence, the boys in blue and yellow will be celebrating back-to-back championships come next week.

The semi-final action will go down at the Ministry of Education Ground tomorrow afternoon. Surely, Saturday afternoon will be an afternoon of spirited youth football. Will Tucville make it?

Will the defending champions bow out? Or will both of the underdogs storm into the final? The only way to be sure is to be at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue when it all unfolds.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, november 2, 2018

AAG set to honour Guyanese athletes Exciting wins for Bingo for 70th anniversary Spartans and Pepsi Hikers T A GTT Indoor Hockey championships

s the days draw closer to Sunday’s final, the GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships continue to heat up with the participating teams putting on a show each night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in hopes of making it all the way to the gold.

On the fourth night of action, the Pepsi Hikers and Bounty GCC put on the most entertaining show of the tournament thus far when the two men’s FirstDivision teams clashed in their pool round match.

The GBTI GCC Tigers meanwhile continued their dominance of the FirstDivision ladies competition with their second convincing win in as many matches, this time over Old Fort Team 2.1.2. The Bingo Spartans realised their first win of the ladies First-Division competition over Saints and duplicated their effort with a Second-Division win over the Old Fort Goal Chasers.

GCC Vintage dominated Antonio’s Hikers in the veterans’ division while Old Fort Top Form remained in top form with their second win of the men’s SecondDivision competition with a victory over SHC Silencers.

In the exciting men’s match-up, which was the final game for the evening, the patient spectators were treated to an exhilarating battle between the defending champs, Bounty GCC and the side with the most titles to their name, the Pepsi Hikers. Three minutes into a blistering start, Hikers midfielder Jamarj Assanah showed his class by weaving through the GCC defence

Kevin Spencer scores for GCC Vintage against Antonio’s Hickers

and slipped a reverse pass to the waiting Robert France for the deflection goal. Less than one minute later, Aroydy Branford scored a second for the Hikers then France returned five minutes later to score his second to all but bury GCC by the half with a 3-0 score line.

It seemed GCC had all but packed up their gear to head home when Branford scored in the opening minute of the second half, as surely four unanswered goals were too much of an advantage to overcome. The Bounty boys, however, found some light through the storm clouds of despair as Captain Dwayne Scott slammed home a low hard penalty corner shot in the 23rd minute and then a second in similar fashion eight minutes later. GCC seemed bolstered by their goals and grew in confidence as the tiring Hikers saw their grip on the match begin to slip ever so slightly. An explosive drive down the right flank finishing with a thundering shot high into the far corner of goal by

Mark Sargeant brought the crowd to its feet and GCC within one goal of a remarkable comeback.

While the final seven minutes of play saw endto-end action, there would be no further goals and the Hikers would escape with a 4-3 victory in a hard-fought match of great performances by both teams.

The ladies First-Division match between the GBTI GCC Tigers and Old Fort 2.1.2 showed some promise in the early stages as Old Fort held off the defending champions for 11 minutes before striker Shebiki Baptiste scored from the right side of goal. Trisha Woodroffe added a second field goal by the half and Old Fort, despite being down 0-2 still seemed to have some fight and determination to spring a surprise. The second half would be all Sonia Jardine and the GBTI GCC Tigers; however, as Jardine blasted home a penalty corner and two field goals to give GCC a comfortable 5-0 victory.

Young Abosaide Cadogan was unstoppable when her Bingo Spartans faced off against Saints in the other ladies FirstDivision fixture of the evening. Cadogan scored a match-leading hat-trick for the Spartans while speedy striker Charlia Webb was the only other player to score with a single goal for Saints. The 3-1 win was the first victory in the First Division for the newcomer Bingo Spartans.

The GCC Vintage shot to the lead against the Antonio’s Hickers with three goals in as many minutes and never relinquished their lead. While the Hickers managed four goals of their own, they were unable to catch GCC who ended with a 7-4 victory.

The Spartans got the better of the Old Fort Goal Chasers by 2-0 in their Second Division match-up while Old Fort Top Form defeated the SHC Silencers 3-1 in the lone men’s Second-Division game of the evening.

he Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has rolled out plans for a grand celebration of its 70th anniversary, which includes the honouring of several Guyanese athletes.

“The AAG is taking the opportunity to recognise all those Guyanese sportsmen and women, who would have taken time and committed to ensure that athletics can be recognised as a sport here in Guyana,” Coordinator Lovern Fraser told media operatives.

The grand event is scheduled to go down this Saturday evening. However, prior to this, there will be an exhibition detailing the achievements and contributions of Guyanese athletes.

“And that exhibition will give all those persons, who we hope would take the time to come, an opportunity to see and to be involved in some of the things that happened over the 70 years of organised athletics in Guyana,” Fraser explained without revealing too much about the exhibit.

Veteran Journalist and sport consultant Brijgobin Parasnath, who was involved in the selection process for those athletes who will be rewarded, detailed some of the persons selected and why.

“So what I’ve done, we’ve selected all the gold medal winners at these championships, seniors and juniors, I’ve submitted that list to them. Then, we look at the coaches, saying so many coaches worked selflessly without gratitude. Then, the administrators, they also get break backs. People don’t understand the hard work behind the scenes. And

Brijgobin Parasnath

these people should be recognised too,” the sport enthusiast divulged.

As such, Parasnath urged persons to be a part of the event, noting that it would be historic as persons were sure to uncover facts about Guyanese athletes that they were unaware of before.

“If people think that Guyanese never won medals at the Olympics, you will hear on Saturday night we have Guyanese-born persons winning medals. So, I could say at the moment that we will have a very historic night at the Umana Yana Saturday night. So, I expect all you guys to come,” Parasnath stated.

The exhibit will be hosted at the Umana Yana from 10:00h on Saturday and the award ceremony will take place later, in the evening.

Additionally, owing to the fact that the CONSUDATLE ( C o n f e d e r a c i ó n Sudamericana de Atletismo – South American Athletics Confederation) will also be celebrating its 100th anniversary, its President was scheduled to be present at the auspicious event on Saturday.

Minister Norton impressed by Special Schools Athletic Sports

T

he third annual Special Schools Athletic Sports was hosted by the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, which falls under the Social Cohesion Ministry, in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), on Thursday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

The event saw schools participating from Regions Four, Six and 10. Day one of the competition, which commenced at 09:30h, saw many students participating in activities such as 5-a-side football, limited overs cricket, bocce and table tennis. In the final cricket match of the day, St Barnabas Special School

were set to take on Diamond Special School in the three overs finale. Batting first, Barnabas were able to amass 47-0 in their allotted overs, with Daron Trim top-scoring with 25 and Rudolph Robinson supporting with 15. With Diamond having to chase 48 for the win, they crumbled as they were only able to make 14, thus giving Barnabas the win. In the futsal 5-a-side football competition, Barnabas also won the finals 5-0 as they trounced David Rose.

Present at the day of sports was Social Cohesion Minister with responsibility for culture, youth and sports, Dr George Norton, in greeting the students and the teachers,

congratulated them on the excellent work they had done.

In a statement, Dr Norton said, “Not so long ago, I was asked to take the March past… the salute for the games for the disabled at the Georgetown Cricket Club one Sunday morning, I was really impressed. I was glad that the Guyana Olympic Association, as well as the Paralympic Association, was on board, but the turnout was tremendous, I was impressed; I love this.

You know, I would do anything for us to promote this even at a national level and I want to congratulate all those who were involved to bring it to this third year, so that next year when it is the fourth year, it will be much more

organised, more competitive and attract more persons.”

Today, there will be a track meet at the Guyana

Defence Force Ground commencing at 09:30h. As part of day two, running off for the first time-ever, a swim meet

will be held at the Colgrain Swimming Pool commencing at 09:30h. (Timothy Jaikarran)

Dr George Norton meets with the children

guyanatimesgy.com

fridAY, november 2, 2018

23

Pestano eyeing regular spot in Jaguars team – pacer keen on helping team retain 4-Day title

By Clifton Ross

G

uyana Jaguars star speedster Clinton Pestano says he’s not letting up on his training despite a stellar Regional Super50 as he’s focused on making the cut for the upcoming Regional 4-Day tournament.

Pestano, who ended as one of the most successful pacers in the recently- concluded championships with 15 wickets under his belt, told Guyana Times Sport on Thursday that he was proud of his bowling feats but was pushing in double time with regard to maintaining his form as he wants to help the 4-time FourDay champs successfully defend their title come December.

“The key right now for me is to get back as fit as possible because the Regional Four-Day is just weeks away and fitness is key.

My focus now is playing Four-Day for Guyana and also becoming a regular member in the team for all formats,” Pestano said.

As a member of the Jaguars Academy, the 25-year-old pointed out that his current form and confidence were driving forces behind his goals of playing for the West Indies as well as franchise T20 cricket. “Right now, I’m looking forward to playing for the West Indies at any level and I want to play franchise T20 cricket like CPL.” The pacer was a key member of the Jaguars‘ amazing run throughout the championships.

In the final, he bagged 1-28 in a losing cause as the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners lifted the Regional 50Over title. His venom and knack of picking up wickets at regular intervals were crucial factors in a team with mainly star spinner’s success.

Persaud keen on retaining golf title

– defending champ working on fundamentals

Avinash Persaud

By Clifton Ross

R

eigning Guyana Open Golf champion Avinash Persaud is oozing confidence ahead of this weekend’s Guyana Open Cup, as he prepares to defend his title against a bevy of local and international pros.

The eight-time champion and king of the Lusignan greens, during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport recently, was brimming with confidence heading into this weekend’s massive event. The local pro said that he was not fazed by this year’s added players or the possibility of being dethroned owing to a much wider, experienced pool of golfers being involved this year.

Persaud, who starred in a number of tournament this year, believes that his form to date will play a huge role over the next few days, adding that wins against opponents who could likely challenge him this weekend have also played a key role in his gaining of sureness. “It is a huge factor (winning tournaments); I was playing good golf throughout the year, so I’m confident heading into the Open.”

With the greens in tip-top playing shape ever since 2018 began owing to the partnership between the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) and Macorp which has seen the venue take on a more golffriendly atmosphere as well as complementary grounds, Persaud

credited the newly-restored fairways and greens as added factors, which will vastly improve this year’s competition for both golfers and spectators alike.

“We have nicer greens this year and that improvement will not only benefit the local golfers, but the overseas golfers too because now everyone can have a fair chance when they go out there,” said the champ.

No stranger to the bright lights and the crown, Persaud, who was a caddy turned pro, said that he was putting in some extra time honing his craft as he prepares to ward off challengers.

“In golf, you have to practice and I’ve been working hard on my putting and chipping because putting wins games,” said the pro, who went on to state that he was also fine-tuning other areas of play as he expects more than stiff competition on Saturday and Sunday. Golfers have had almost an entire year to prep for the main event as more than 30 sponsored and club tournaments teed off from January up until last Saturday when the LGC staged another successful Open.

Persaud, in conclusion, said that the number of tourneys coupled with the amount of practice has left him in a confident place as he prepares to retain a title, which he has owned over the years. “This year is very important to me, we have a lot of golfers from overseas playing, but I’m very confident ahead of the Open and once I practise I should do well.” This weekend’s Open will be played under the “Medal-play System”, where every stroke counts. Some 100 golfers, the largest number ever at a Guyana Open from countries like Canada, Colombia, French Guiana, Suriname and other Caribbean countries, and the United States will be on show. Meanwhile, the two-day 36-hole tournament is scheduled to tee off from 05:20h on Saturday morning, in order to accommodate the large number of players registered to play.

Clinton Pestano celebrates a wicket with his Guyana Jaguars teammates

Pestano duly noted that his directive as a bowler in general, whether it be domestic, is not to always take a wicket, but to also keep batsmen as quiet as possible.

However, in his match against the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force,

who was firing at the point, the speedster was more lethal than timid as he bagged a hat-trick to etch his name in Regional Super50 history books.

Regarding his history-making spell of 3-47, the ex-Guyana

Under-19 player said he was still astonished by his accomplishment, which he had never done before.

“I have never taken a hat-trick before, not even in club cricket, so I was very pleased. It was a good feeling, especially against a team

like T&T Red Force; it was not easy because they have a quality side with a number of West Indies players and players with experience.”

Guyana again came inches close to recapturing the title which has eluded them for more than a decade, but were stopped by CCC who played out of their skins as they sought the same glory as they Guyanese did; thus leaving the Four-Day champs to yet again salivate over the limited-overs crown.

In concluding the interview, Pestano speaking on his, as well as the Jaguars’, run, said although the tournament was good, it was also tough going as they neared the end. “Everything was going well, the semi-finals was like a finals and credit to CCC, they are a good team with some good players. Our guys worked hard to bring the championships back home, we’re disappointed, but those are the kind of things that happen when you’re playing in a final,” Pestano ended.

fridAY, november 2, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Minister Norton impressed by Special Schools Athletic Sports

Pestano eyeing regular spot in Jaguars team – pacer keen on helping team retain 4-Day title

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Team Bangladesh on arrival at Pegasus Hotel Thursday evening

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