Guyana Times Newsletter - Friday, November 9, 2018

Wakenaam, P13 Leguan sea defence to be completed before 2019 – Patterson Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3741

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, November 9, 2018

PRICE

Guyana must not depend solely on oil – former TT PM Page 7

…says Govt should work to develop energy security, independence

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Essequibo rice farmers raise concerns with Opposition P13 Leader

Man stabbed, robbed at Stabroek P2 Square

P16 Guyana Medical Mission returns

LGE results P9 can be expected by November 13 – GECOM

Ex-cop gets life sentence for raping 3-year-old girl

Page 10

Guyanese Pastor Woman perishes in among 2 Freeman Street fire killed in Suriname smash-up Page 12

Page 2

Govt halts granting more oil concessions until 2020 Page 3

– designing new model contract to use for future PSAs

Duo found guilty of murdering P7 guard at Berbice Mandir

Motorcyclist killed after P14 colliding with cow in Berbice

2 news

fridAY, November 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Woman perishes in Freeman Street fire

A

54-year-old woman perished when her Freeman Street, Georgetown house went up in flames on Thursday afternoon.

Some neighbours believe that it was a stove that might have been left alight that started the fire, but some are also claiming that the incident was suspicious.

The fire, which reportedly started sometime around 15:00h, claimed the life of Arlene Moses, a businesswoman, who, according to neighbours, lived alone.

Guyana Times was made

The remnants of the house after the blaze was extinguished

to understand that smoke was seen emanating from the one-storey wooden house, which was properly secured.

The neighbours were unable to get into the burning house owing to the locks on the door. The doors were reportedly locked from inside.

One of the woman’s neighbours found that strange, since the doors to the house would normally be open.

According to the man, no one heard any screams or noise coming from the property which indicated to them that Moses was trapped inside. This publication was

also informed that the woman was having problems with relatives over the property.

Moses’s charred remains were found after the blaze was put out by members of the Guyana Fire Service.

Her remains were removed from the back of the house and taken to the Lyken Funeral Home.

However, contrary to some neighbours’ accounts, it was reported that Moses lived with her nephew, Dillon Moore, who was reportedly at work at the time of the fire. He claimed that he became aware of the fire

after a cousin informed him.

As such, he quickly rushed to the house and was met with the almost completely gutted house. The young man was at the time still not aware that his aunt was in the burning building, and it was only after the blaze was doused that the shocking news was relayed to him by fire-fighters.

It is still unclear what caused the fire.

Moses was a shopkeeper who sold groceries. An investigation has since been launched into the incident.

Man stabbed, robbed Police issue wanted bulletin at Stabroek Square for murder suspect

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28-year-old man was stabbed and relieved of his belongings on Wednesday evening after he was pounced on by two men, one of whom was armed with a knife.

Based on information received, Kissoondyal Roopchand of Harlem, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was walking along Croal Street about 18:45h when he was attacked from behind by the suspects.

One of the men demanded that he hand over his cellular phone while the other searched for his valuables.

In his attempts to ward off the suspects, Roopchand was stabbed once to his arm and tossed to the ground.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday, the

Kissoondyal Roopchand

traumatised man relived what transpired: “One of them came from behind and he started pushing his hands in my pockets. I tried to fight them off and the other one was like ‘get

his phone’. That’s when they stabbed me on my arm and punched me to my face and throw me down to the ground.”

He stated that the bandits carted off a cellphone valued at $65,000, credit cards, a small quantity of cash and some documents.

A report was filed at the Police Outpost at the Stabroek Market, and the injured man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital to receive medical attention. He was treated and sent away.

While this is the first time that such an incident has happened to Roopchand, he posited that he was unsure whether or not he was being followed by the men.

P

olice have issued a wanted bulletin for 31-year-old Damian Bissoon of Lot 34 Shell Road, Kitty, Georgetown, for questioning in connection with the murder of Taj Andrew Jarvis, who was stabbed to death in Kitty.

The 27-year-old Jarvis, of Dowding Street, Kitty, was killed on March 30, 2018 at the corner of Barr and Alexander Streets, Kitty.

Reports are that the now dead man and a friend were walking in the vicinity of Alexander Street when they were confronted by a knife-wielding man who demanded money.

An argument subsequently ensued, and the suspect dealt Jarvis several stabs to the left side of his chest and chin.

Wanted man: Damian Bissoon

Murdered: Taj Andrew Jarvis

As a result of the injuries he sustained, Jarvis reportedly collapsed, but the suspect further dealt him several kicks about his body before fleeing the scene.

The friend who was with Jarvis was unharmed. The in-

jured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Persons with any relevant information about the suspect are asked to contact the nearest Police station or 911.

3 Govt halts granting more oil concessions until 2020 news

fridAY, November 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, November 9 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, November 10 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, November 9 – 05:15h-06:45h and Saturday, November 10 – 05:35h-07:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, with clear skies expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 05:12h and 17:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.67 metres and 2.77 respectively.

Low Tide: 10:57h and 23:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.45 metre respectively.

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– designing new model contract to use for future PSAs

A

lthough a large number of international companies have already indicated their interest in exploring the remaining oil blocks offshore Guyana, these companies will have to wait a while longer as the Government has ceased granting concessions until early 2020.

This was revealed at a press conference held by the Department of Energy in the Ministry of Presidency on Thursday. Head of the Department, Dr Mark Bynoe said they are engaged in developing a new model contract to use for future Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs).

“We do not envisage a possible licensing round, maybe till early 2020 and that’s being realistic in terms of where we are going,” he said at his first press conference since assuming his role about three months ago when asked to provide a timeline for this new arrangement.

Dr Bynoe went on to explain that in addition to designing the new model contract that will be used for future PSAs, they will be elaborating a model tool kit to allow probabilistic scenario modelling of current and future PSA contracts that involves Guyana.

“The Department recognises the need for strong legislative framework, but in doing so, it understands the need for us to first review where we are. In keeping with this, the Department is reviewing the current legal and regulatory framework for the petroleum sector, inclusive of the 1986 Petroleum Act,” Dr Bynoe said, while responding to media operatives when questioned.

On the other hand, Oil and Gas Advisor to the Department of Energy, Matthew Wilks also weighed in on the issue, explaining that the model contracts are the basis for negotiations and are set in the context of the time in which they are introduced, but evolves overtime.

“So, a model contract that is used to try and attract good investment at the onset of the petroleum industry is very different from a model contract as the industry matures and very different from a very mature industry,” he explained.

This move is in response to criticisms the Government has received over the current Petroleum Sharing Agreement with ExxonMobil and other companies regarding the oil sector. Civil society groups, critics, analysts and commentators have all be advocating for the Government through the Department put better and stronger measures in place for such agreements.

From left: Oil and Gas Advisor to the Department of Energy, Matthew Wilks; Head of the Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe; and Communications Director at the Ministry of the Presidency, Mark Archer at Thursday’s press conference at the Ministry of the Presidency

De-risked

The Energy Department Head made reference to the Canje Block which is referred to as Block C, stating, “We do understand that there is significant interest in Block C and we are not anxious to allocate Block C just yet until we have these complementary pieces in place.”

Dr Bynoe also debunked claims that with the operation of major oil companies such an ExxonMobil and Total in the offshore, the basins are de-risked. As a matter of fact, he claimed that a small portion has been derisked, and not the other way around.

According to him, ExxonMobil has done some work but there are still significant areas in deep water that have not been derisked. In fact, he said there has no activity onshore. But the Government is now look-

ing to offer data packages to stimulate investor interest.

Another major concern regarding the PSA between Guyana and ExxonMobil was also brought up during the press conference which dealt with the stabilisation clause. This clause is commonly inserted in contracts between investors and host nations to protect investors from future changes in the law that affect the economics of the project.

Wilks explained that the weaker the complementary legislation, the greater the demand for stabilisation clauses. As such, in going forward, Dr Bynoe said Government should seek to strengthen the supporting legislation, and possibly reviewing the current stabilisation clause.

The Department of Energy was established in August when President David Granger shift-

ed the responsibility for the petroleum sector from the Ministry of Natural Resources to the Ministry of the Presidency. The move to establish a Department follows a proposal submitted by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, to have a specialised attention placed on the petroleum sector, given the complexity of tasks that exist with the administering of such resources.

The Department plans to work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Revenue Authority and Auditor General’s Office. It is expected to eventually become a full Government Ministry.

At present, Government is looking to recruit more persons to staff the Department with specialists that could make it robust and efficient in handling oil matters.

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guyanatimesgy.com

fridAY, November 9, 2018

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

Public finances

I

t is quite ironic that some of the same accusations that are currently being levelled against the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government are the same ones those parties made against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) while they (APNU/AFC) were in Opposition. It, therefore, begs the question: why is it that when a party wins political power, it conveniently becomes blind, or ignores the concerns of ordinary citizens. The APNU/AFC saw many things wrong during the PPP/C’s tenure in office, but now that they were given a chance to govern and to correct all these “wrongs”, they are proving to be a disappointment.

Over the past recent weeks, the APNU/AFC Government has come under severe fire for its extravagant spending on certain events. And to make matters worse, the Administration has not been forthcoming at all on the details of these expenses; for example, the source of funding, the amount, justification of the expenditures, and what returns or benefits such expenditures would bring to the country taking into consideration the trying economic times we are currently experiencing.

In fact, several politicians from the opposite side, NGOs and even ordinary citizens have been voicing their concerns through various mediums for the Government to be more open and transparent when it comes to spending public money. The perception being created, justifiable or not, is that the Government does not feel that it has an obligation to be accountable to the people.

It could be recalled that it was the APNU/AFC coalition while on the campaign trail which blasted the PPP/C on numerous occasions for being corrupt and secretive in its management of the country’s financial resources. The coalition had promised that this would be a thing of the past, and if it was to form the next government, it would be open, transparent, and responsible in the way the affairs of the country were managed.

Journalists have been asking the relevant questions at various press conferences to get official explanations in terms of excessive spending by public officials, but more often than not, confusing answers are provided, which give rise to the perception that the Administration is merely bluffing when it says that its governance style is “different” from the previous Government’s.

As if there is no need to give account for taxpayers’ dollars, officials just simply dismiss certain queries, or the answers supplied do not address the questions directly. Recently, out of the 2018 Budget, the Office of the Prime Minister has spent millions of dollars on constitutional reform. However, observers are questioning what exactly this allocation was used for, as there seems to be little to no movement on an issue the coalition partly based its 2015 campaign on.

Questions were posed to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo by the parliamentary Opposition and those questions sought to find out how much of the $109.2 million allocated to the Prime Minister’s secretariat under the subheading ‘other’ was spent.

In his response, Nagamootoo revealed that $21.4 million of the amount has been spent as of August 2018. Of this amount, $5 million went towards constitutional reform “activities”. Apart from this, $5.5 million was spent on launching regional radios at Aishalton, Bartica, and Orealla.

Some of the money also went towards training the radio personnel and Nagamootoo’s “outreach activities”.

Some $4.6 million was spent on a supervisory consultancy for the regional radio project, while $1.2 million was spent on information technology and web services and $1.6 million on events and functions. In addition, another $1.4 million was spent on repairs to furniture at the official residence, office and carpets. The remaining amount, according to the Prime Minister, was spent on expenses like “cellphones and work- study students’ stipends”. But no exact details were given as to the “other”.

This is happening against the backdrop of poor economic performance over the three years.

We believe that if the Government is really serious about inclusive and transparent governance, as promised during the election campaign, it would serve it well by being more open and forthright about the manner in which it manages the affairs of the State, especially when it comes to public finances.

President of the Guyana Manufacturer and Services Association (GMSA), Shyam Nokta and Mrs Nokta share a light moment with former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Mr and Mrs Norman McLean at the Association’s annual dinner and award ceremony held at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday evening (Adam Baksh Photo)

Traces of acid, chemicals found at Saudi consul general’s home

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audi authorities used acid and other chemicals to dispose of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s body, a source at the Turkish Attorney General’s Office has told Al Jazeera.

The source said traces of hydrofluoric acid and other chemicals were found in a well at Consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi’s home in Istanbul.

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons, reporting from Istanbul, said on Thursday that Turkish investigators were able to take samples from the well when they were first granted access last month.

“We know that on the night of October 16 to 17, when the Turkish investigators were working inside the residence and wanted to gain full access to the garden and the well shaft, they were not given permission […] but were able to briefly take some samples from it with rods from the top of it,” he said.

“Those samples have been processed and they include proof that there had been hydrofluoric and other chemicals.” Simmons said the other samples taken from the sewerage and drainage system around the diplomatic district also showed the use of acid.

Saudi Arabia had consistently maintained that Khashoggi left the consulate building after obtaining the necessary paperwork that would allow him to marry his Turkish fiancee before admitting to the journalist’s killing on October 20, 2018.

It has since provided conflicting accounts about the way in which Khashoggi was killed. In a meeting with US evangelicals on November 1, 2018, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly reiterated promises to get to the bottom of Khashoggi’s killing and punish those responsible.

According to the delegation’s organiser, quoted in an article published on Axios news site on Thursday, 18 people had been arrested and five sacked in connection with the killing.

‘Cover-up team’

On November 2, 2018, Yasin Aktay, a close aide to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he believed Khashoggi’s body was dissolved in acid.

“The reason they dismembered Khashoggi’s body was to dissolve his

Jamal Khashoggi

remains more easily,” Aktay said.

“Now we see that they did not only dismember his body but also vaporised it.”

A few days later, the pro-government Sabah newspaper reported that Saudi Arabia sent a chemist and toxicology expert to Istanbul in an attempt to cover up evidence of the killing.

According to the Turkish daily, Riyadh sent an 11-member “cover-up team” on October 11, 2018, nine days after the Washington Post columnist vanished.

The paper said chemist Ahmad Abdulaziz al-Janobi and toxicology expert Khaled Yahya al-Zahrani were among “the so-called investigative team”, which visited the consulate every day until October 17, before leaving Turkey on October 20.

Khashoggi murder further complicates ‘Arab NATO’ plan – US sources

President Donald Trump’s strategy to contain Iranian power in the Middle East by forging Arab allies into a USbacked security alliance was in trouble even before the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, three US sources said, the plan faces fresh complications.

Khashoggi’s murder on October 2, 2018, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has drawn international outrage against Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with Turkish officials and some US lawmakers accusing the kingdom’s de facto ruler of ordering the killing.

The Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA) aims to bind Sunni Muslim governments in Saudi Arabia, the

United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan in a US-led security, political and economic pact to counter Shi’ite Iran.

But feuds among Arab allies, especially a Saudi-led economic and political boycott of Qatar, have hampered the founding of the alliance since Riyadh proposed it last year.

A summit meeting in the United States where Trump and the Arab leaders would sign a preliminary accord on the alliance was expected in January. But the three US sources and a Gulf diplomat said the meeting now looks uncertain. It has already been postponed several times, they added.

Khashoggi’s murder raised “a whole bunch of problems” to be solved before the plan - informally referred to as the “Arab NATO” – can move forward, one U.S. source said. One issue is how the Americans could have the Saudi crown prince, who goes by the initials MbS, attend the summit without causing widespread outrage. “It’s not palatable,” the source said.

A senior Trump administration official denied on Tuesday that Khashoggi’s death complicated progress on the alliance, saying that MESA “is much larger than one country and one issue.”

Saudi Arabia has denied MbS’ involvement in Khashoggi’s killing and said an investigation into responsibility was underway.

Robert Malley, a top Middle East adviser to former President Barack Obama who now heads the International Crisis Group, a conflict prevention organization, said it would be difficult for MbS to attend a January summit “given what happened and how raw the feelings are.”

“I’m not sure he would want to come to the United States right now,” Malley said. Retired Marine General Anthony Zinni, the administration’s chief MESA negotiator, said the initiative “is moving forward” but added that the impact of Khashoggi’s death was unclear.

“I don’t know yet how it will affect the process. Awaiting final investigation and decisions,” Zinni told Reuters in a recent email. “I think there may be a wait until the investigation (maybe forensics if a body is found) is complete before a way forward is discussed.” continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

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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

President Granger challenges “Dead Meat” Local democracy and AFC to show its electoral support at the LGE empowerment (Pt 2) Dear Editor, President David Granger, leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) enjoys a wise decision on separate Local Government Elections for the Alliance For Change (AFC). This is a challenge for the AFC to establish its support. The Cummingsburg Accord, after its initial three years of generous political benevolent parliamentary and executive gifts, undeserved to the AFC, should be reviewed. The rewards, concessions should be based on electoral support which may mean down grading ministerial portfolios, and reducing its numbers in the national Assembly, and Cabinet.

The national community recalls that Khemraj Ramjattan had predicted shortly before the 2015 national elections that his political party, the AFC, would become “dead meat” should it team up with PNC/APNU. Well it had subsequently contested the elections under the banner of APNU/AFC and with the active campaigning by the party’s leaders – Ramjattan, Nagamootoo, Trotman, Patterson and others of the party.

Having teamed up with APNU, the AFC claimed that it brought in some 11 per cent of the votes; and the AFC leaders and members were given some 40 per cent of parliamentary seats and ministerial positions in the Grangerled Government.

While the AFC faction was given large and important Ministries, including Public Infrastructure, Agriculture, Public Safety, and the Prime Minister position with attractive and substantially enhanced remuneration packages which motivated them, at every opportunity, to sing loudly for their supper without rocking the Government boat.

This gives the facade of a powerful partnership with ministerial titles and parliamentary seats; but the PNC kept them in their places so that they support without a squeak of opposition to all the actions of the PNC leader and President, who is dominantly and totally in control of the grouping, having remunerated them well, and with the magnificent ministerial and job titles. However, their conduct and performance of their lawful public duties can only be evaluated as third-raters.

Their campaign was deceptive, fooling part of the People’s Progressive Party base, offering them “a good, and even a better life”. The AFC sold out to the PNC. The rice farmers, and the thousands of sugar workers who were vindictively, spitefully, racial and political discrimination, dismissed and placed on the bread line as their 2017 Christmas gifts for themselves, their families, and surrounding communities, now agree and confirm the “dead meat” status of ‘political prophet’ Ramjattan.

Let Trotman tell nation of his

Traces of acid, chemicals...

The eight potential alliance members did not respond to requests for comment about their commitment to MESA.

Many hurdles

Even before the fallout from Khashoggi’s killing complicated matters, two classified White House documents seen by Reuters show the administration was grappling for ways to overcome regional feuds and push MESA forward in order to contain Iran as well as to limit Chinese and Russian influence in the region.

“Our regional partners are increasingly competing and, in the case of the Qatar rift, entering into outright competition to the detriment of American interests and to the benefit of Iran, Russia and China,” National Security Adviser John Bolton wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in a letter late summer, before Khashoggi’s death.

“To arrest these negative trends, we need to change our partners’ strategic calculus,” Bolton wrote in the undated letter, written in response to a June 29 memo about MESA from Pompeo and Mattis.

Three US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there has been a debate within the Administration about whether Washington can persuade Arab allies to put aside their differences, with Bolton emerging as a key proponent for the plan.

A fourth US official said

the broad goals of MESA are widely shared within the administration, but there are discussions over the best approach for reaching a deal.

A Defence Department spokeswoman referred questions to the State Department but pointed out previous Mattis comments in support of the alliance.

A State Department official said the administration continued to “engage with our partners on working toward” the alliance.

White House plan

The Administration’s plan is aimed at furthering Trump’s “America First” strategy to reduce foreign military engagements and have allies shoulder more of the burden for their own security, while advancing US interests in the Middle East, according to one of the White House documents.

US interests in the region range from arms sales and striking Islamist extremists in Yemen, Iraq and Syria to ensuring the free flow of oil to global markets in order to keep prices stable.

One White House document, drafted before Khashoggi’s death, said Trump had warned the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the other members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as well as Egypt that “the status quo is untenable and that the United States will not continue to invest in Middle East security” if they did not resolve their disputes.

It did not give details of Trump’s threat or when he made it. Washington de-

half-hearted campaign, how many votes he brought to the coalition and the secret ‘Nassau’ understanding with Granger. Many, like prophet Ramjattan, predict that Trotman is easing his way back into the PNC with an eye on a leadership position in the PNC. The declared results of the 2015 elections gave the combination a one seat majority with a one vote win of the seat for Region Eight. Some people argue that we have a Government with a one seat which was won by one vote and consequently a one vote majority Government.

The reported declaration by Trotman and other AFC leaders that the AFC was considering contesting the 2018 Local Government Elections independently was welcome news. The reality of this is good and will confirm whether their status as “dead meat” or otherwise. It would be useful information for Granger’s assessment. The voters may be required to bury the “dead meat” AFC party or freeze the meat.

The voters will not be fooled again.

President Granger, let the National Assembly and the Cabinet reflect the electoral strengths for the parties through radical changes – Cabinet reshuffle and review of composition of the National Assembly.

Yours faithfully, Joshua Singh From page 4

ploys aircraft, warships and more than 30,000 military personnel at bases in the GCC countries. Senior US military officials say they have no intentions to change that posture.

The strategy paper, titled “The Middle East Strategic Alliance Concept Overview,” calls for a series of shortand medium-term measures requiring “very little, if any, new US resource commitments to the region.”

The measures include developing regional “operational centres” aimed at integrating forces in areas such as missile defence, ground warfare and other

fields, according to the paper and a source familiar with the plan.

A long-term goal would be a formal treaty alliance and a multilateral freetrade pact negotiated over perhaps five to seven years, the paper said. It also raised the possibility that the pact could eventually include Iraq, Lebanon and other countries, and formal ties could be forged with Israel and “select European and Asian allies.”

Without those “endstates,” the paper said, “our regional partners are unlikely to fully commit.” (Al

Jazeera and Reuters)

Dear Editor, This Government since the last Local Government Election has done nothing to empower the Local Democratic Organs (LDO) of this country but they have been creating new ones and gerrymandering old ones in order to control them. May I remind the coalition that empowerment can only be realised when resources are sufficiently available to carry out the functions of these Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and municipalities. There can be no empowerment without sufficient resources. This Government is all about empty rhetoric! A pertinent question here is: Has LDOs in Guyana truly empowered the people? The answer is again NO! You cannot empower your wife and giver her just a few dollars to run the home!

Moreover, the finance garnered from rates and taxes and the meagre subvention are wholly inadequate. This is compounded by the fact that proposals made by the NDCs and municipalities are badly decimated when included in the regional budget. Many of the proposed projects are then ‘scissored’, leaving the few selected ones at the mercy of the Central Government.

However, this Government will ensure that they carry out developmental works in their support-base areas. There are numerous evidences of this and this has been raised at the Region 6 (East BerbiceCorentyne) RDC statutory meetings more than once.

What is important to note also is the fact that the NDCs have little or no say how the ‘huge’ subventions should be spent. Section 21(a) of the Procurement Act Chapter 73:05 says, “The National Board may, at its discretion, create District Tender Boards for procurement by Neighbourhood Democratic Councils… comprising parttime members as follows: (i) two members appointed by the relevant Regional Board; (ii) one member appointed by the relevant NDC.” It must be sub-

mitted that this Section serves to give empowerment to the NDCs where goods are to be supplied to them or works to be contracted or tendered out on their behalf. What is even more worrying is the fact that NDCs do not know what projects will be done and by whom and at what cost. Is this ‘empowerment’? Why is it that NDCs are given subventions and cannot participate in how it is spent?

This is how the coalition empowers NDCs – they delegated the powers to their politically appointed Regional Executive Officers and Deputy Regional Executive Officers effectively ‘hoarding power at the centre while keeping local governments weak’! This is the manner in which they stifle and destroy development at the Local Government level. If this Government and the Communities Minister are serious about empowerment, then they must ensure that NDCs are empowered to spend their monies as they see fit.

Moreover, since the coalition controls the Regional Tender Board, contracts are awarded to many fly-by-night contractors who fail to deliver value for money! Another debilitating blow to ‘empowerment’!

In conclusion, if this Government is serious about empowering NDCs then they should have never wasted and squandered monies on wasteful projects such as the D’Urban Park Project and the rental of a bond to store condoms. These two wasteful projects alone could have given each NDC and municipality a small excavator to maintain its drainage system and save communities from inevitable flooding once the rains come and they will!

Local democracy is under attack and is being eroded by the coalition and empowerment without resources will remain an illusory concept!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region Six

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By Janet Hicks, PhD

R

ecently, I was talking to a mother of three young children who said she wants to spend a few hours away from her kids. She was obviously feeling guilty for even discussing these thoughts and it was clear she loves her children. Is it normal to need time without our children? How much time away is acceptable?

Before I answer this question let me be clear, we are not talking about leaving children unattended or without adult supervision.

This would never be okay. We are also not talking about leaving children for extended periods without parent contact or communication.

Too much time away from children can be detrimental to an otherwise healthy parent/child relationship. By extended time, I am also not referring to those who work and leave their children with caregivers during the day and come home and spend time with their children at the end of the workday. By “extended periods” I mean leaving your child for weeks on end without communication or connection. Obviously, this would not help family relationships or communication in an otherwise healthy family.

So, what am I talking about? For this post, time away refers to spend-

Foundation

ing several hours doing things you enjoy while your children stay with their grandparents or another trusted caregiver in a safe environment. Is this type of time away helpful or harmful to children and families?

Let me start by saying that children benefit when their parents are happy and mentally healthy. A parent’s frustration and anger are felt by children and can negatively

impact child, parent, and family well-being. For this reason, I recommend that parents take time for their own wellness and this often means leaving children with another caregiver while they hang out with friends, go to movies, participate in sports, art activities, or whatever healthy activities they desire.

If children like their temporary caregiver, the time spent in their company can also be good for children’s

well-being. Consider children who get to spend time with a beloved grandparent, aunt, uncle, or build connections with another warm caring adult.

These caregivers have the opportunity to share what a couple of researchers named Lew and Bettner (1995) referred to as the “Crucial C’s” (ie helping children feel Connected, have Courage, know they Count to others, and that they are Capable).

These Crucial C’s have the potential to enhance the social and emotional well-being of all children.

So how much time away is too much? The important thing here is making sure your child knows you love them and that they are very important to you.

Unfortunately, I have seen what I would refer to as absent parents who are absent even while sitting in the same room as their child. These parents are continually distracted by other influences (ie the Internet, working, gaming, etc) and communication and caring suffers. I don’t recommend this type of negative “away time” whether in the child’s physical presence or out of their sight if it impedes your relationship, connection, and communication. If you have built a caring relationship with your child and you leave them in good, caring hands, however; a few hours away can be helpful to you both. (psychologytoday. com)

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t's a message worth repeating — hand washing is by far the best way to keep kids from getting sick and prevent the spread of germs.

What's the best way to wash hands?

Here's how to scrub those germs away. Teach this to your kids — or better yet, wash your hands together often so they learn how important this good habit is: Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).

Make sure the water isn't too hot for little hands.

Use soap and lather up for about 20 seconds.

Antibacterial soap isn't a must

— any soap will do.

Make sure you get in between your fingers, on the backs of hands, and under the nails where germs like to hang out. And don't forget the wrists!

Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.

When should we wash our hands?

To stop the spread of germs in your family, make regular hand washing a rule for everyone. It's especially important: before eating and cooking after using the bathroom

taking care of any sick friends or relatives after blowing one's nose, coughing, or sneezing after being outside (playing, gardening, walking the dog, etc) How do clean hands help health?

Good hand washing is the first line of defence against the spread of many illnesses — from the common cold to more serious infections, such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, the flu, hepatitis A, and many types of diarrhoea.

How do germs spread?

Germs can spread many ways, including:

touching dirty hands changing dirty diapers through contaminated water and food through droplets in the air released during a cough or sneeze on contaminated surfaces through contact with a sick person's body fluids When kids come into contact with germs, they can become infected just by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.

And once they're infected, it's usually just a matter of time before the whole family comes down with the same illness.

So don't underestimate the power of hand washing! The time you spend at the sink could save you trips to the doctor's office. (kidshealth.org)

after cleaning around the house after touching animals, including family pets before and after visiting or

news

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fridAY, November 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana must not depend solely on oil – former TT PM …says Govt should work to develop energy security, independence

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iven the evident downfall of Trinidad’s oil and gas sector, the former Prime Minister of the twin-island republic is urging Guyana to steer clear of being solely dependent on its booming oil reserves in the future.

The Leader of the Opposition in Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla PersaudBissessar made these statements on Thursday evening at the Pegasus Hotel during the Guyana Marketing and Services Association (GMSA) 23rd annual award ceremony.

While reflecting on her country’s oil industry, the former Prime Minister noted that Trinidad would have made the decision of relying on its reserves to fuel the economy and Guyana should not follow in these footsteps.

“It is an imperative. You do not become locked on to just the oil and gas sector.

Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persaud-Bissesar

Use it and monetise it and save some of that and spend the rest on the development of human capital. To do this, you need to have robust legislation to project your country’s patrimony, but at the

invested in exploration as oil was a finite resource. This is in keeping with the decades of experience which would have been part of the country’s extensive history in oil and gas.

As such, she urges Guyana to take control of its production and seek to expand in the sector. In her address, she also outlined the concept of having a State-owned establishment and its pros and cons.

According to the Opposition Leader, State ownership would mean total control but it can limit profits disastrously. Additionally, while the Government may be in control, innovation

prises,” she added.

The current administration of Trinidad and Tobago is indicating a possible closure of the country’s petroleum company. She sought to point out that this is a faulty move since they will be forced to import what they once produced.

“That decision has raised many questions which remain unanswered regarding the supply of imported fuels, exported crude and the mystery of what is happening to the Petrotrin refinery…

When we become dependent now on imported energy, while you (Guyana) will be shooting rockets up into the sky, Trinidad and Tobago

rations should be made in the present time so that there can be a practicable blueprint for where the country wants to position itself on the global markets and as well as on a developmental trajectory.

Her recommendations are that a national policy be crafted along with efforts to achieve energy security and independence. She noted that sustainable plans must be made for the future generations.

“I would recommend that you develop a national policy for the development of Guyana. All stakeholders should sit now if you have not done that and get contri-

and capacity requirements can be restricted due to constraints.

Persaud-Bissessar pointed out, “The fact that it is State-owned; you would have Government control [and] Government regulation. This sounds all well and good. However, that can also be very negative and impact adversely on the profitability.”

“The State enterprise owning it is like the taxpayers [and] citizens own it through the Government, but then it is very difficult for innovation, productive capacity in the State enter-

will be shooting down into the grave.”

In her words, the once “force to be reckoned with” is now facing its defeat which could have been avoided had effective systems been put in place.

butions from labour, civil society, the business community and develop a national policy. What do you see seven generations down?” the former Prime Minister posited.

While it is too late to turn back the clock for her country, Persaud-Bissessar once again advised that Guyana and its Government should be on the alert and seek to expand exports, build human capital and set up local manufacturing to propel the country’s economy. (Rupa Sewnarine)

same time, it must not be filled up with endless red tape that will drive away potential investors.”

She stated that having a flourishing oil industry was only possible if countries re-

Duo found guilty of murdering guard at Berbice Mandir

Ryan Persaud Shivnarine Jainarine

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ollowing a four-hour deliberation, a mixed jury returned the guilty verdict against two men who were accused of murdering a security guard at a Mandir in Berbice.

The duo – Shivnarine Jainarine of Train Line Dam, Port Mourant, Corentyne; and Ryan Persaud, also called “KK”, 17, of Williamsburg, murdered Jagdat Ramcharran, called “Ronald”, 61; a security guard of Bloomfield, Corentyne between January 6 and 7, 2013.

A third suspect, Kerwin Hintzen, had earlier pleaded guilty to the heinous crime and given a 20-year sentence.

State Prosecutor Mandel Moore during the trial stated the trio murdered the security guard during the commissioning of a robbery.

The man’s body was found bound and gagged at the Iskcon Hari Krishna Mandir at Block 6 Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice.

During the trial which started on October 1, the prosecution called 12 witnesses. The lengthy trial was over shadowed by a voir dire which took weeks.

It was to determine the admissibility of caution

statements given by the two suspects. The trial was heard

by Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry, while Attorney Mursalene Bacchus represented Jainarine and Attorney Arudranauth Gossai represented Persaud.

Among those who were called to the witness stand were Magistrate Sherdell Isaacs who conducted the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) and committed the trio to stand trial to the High Court.

In his opening address, Moore told the court that Ramcharran was a watchman at the Mandir when the two men and others broke and entered the place of worship and in the course of committing a burglary, murdered the victim.

A bell, two golden murti, a pair of slippers and a tape recorder were missing and the entire building was ransacked. The bandits had reportedly cut open a grill on a window to gain entry to the building.

The security guard’s body was discovered around 03:00h by a worshipper who visited the temple for his early morning worship.

When he arrived, no one came to greet him and the gate was locked.

After making several calls and getting no response, the worshipper scaled the fence and to his horror, found the watchman lying

on the ground. Government Pathologist, Dr Vivakanand Bridgemohan gave the cause of death as strangulation.

Ramcharran’s head was also bashed in.

Both accused told the court that they were beaten to sign caution statements.

Police witnesses during the trial said there were video and audio recordings of those caution statements.

Persaud said he was beaten four times.

He also told the court that after he was remanded to prison, he was taken to the Mibicuri Police Station and locked up for several days in an effort to prevent prison authorises seeing the injuries he received as a result of the beating.

However, one Police witness told the court that there was no evidence available to the police to indicate that Persaud made those utterances to the Magistrate during the PI. In a mitigating plea, Attorney Bacchus asked the court to take into consideration the age of Jainarine who was 16 when the murder was committed. Attorney Gossai asked for a probation report.

The trial Judge proponed sentencing until November 29 when the probation report is expected to be presented to the court.

Energy security

Guyana has made sizable discoveries of oil offshore and extraction is set to commence in just a few months.

“Guyana is now in, my respectful view, a global exploration hotspot…

The former Prime Minister pressed that prepa-

8 news Baker found with $1M worth of ganja to spend more time in jail fridAY, November 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

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h a r l e s t o w n , Georgetown baker Colin Denny who was charged for having more than $1 million worth of cannabis in his possession will be spending more time in jail as he was further remanded to prison.

On Thursday, Magistrate Leron Daly stated that no special reasons were given for her to grant the defendant his pre-trial liberty.

However, Denny’s Attorney in an application for bail informed the court that his client maintained his innocence and also did not pose a flight risk if granted bail.

Moreover, the Attorney stated that his client had no previous brushes with the law and was willing to lodge his travel documents and report to the Police on a frequent basis.

Colin Denny

Further, the court was reminded by the Attorney that the marijuana was not found on his client’s person, but rather in the possession of a minibus driver, in whose company his client was at the time the bust was made.

Meanwhile, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford maintained objections to bail.

Sandiford told the court that if the defendant was granted bail, he was likely to commit the offence again, since he was previously cleared of a charge of similar nature.

Sandiford, on his first appearance, had also informed the court that the State was in receipt of surveillance footage to prove that the transaction was conducted by the

defendant.

The court was also informed that Denny was a known character to Police and CANU. As a result, the prosecution’s submission was further upheld and the father of two was further remanded to prison.

He will make his next court appearance on November 22, 2018 as the Preliminary Inquiry continues.

Denny was accused of having over two kilos (five pounds) of marijuana at Howes Street, Charlestown.

Prior to this charge, the baker and his wife were cleared of charges which stated that they allegedly trafficked over $25 million in ganja in gas cylinders and were freed owing to insufficient evidence by the prosecution.

Rejecting…

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…the CCJ he good citizens of Grenada and Antigua just voted – in separate referenda – to reject the CCJ as their final Court of Appeal in criminal and civil matters. They’d rather continuing taking their appeals to the Privy Council of Britain, thank you!! Grenada had already done this few years ago…and was followed by St Vincent’s rejection back in 2011. So, what does this say about the CCJ when only four Caricom countries – Guyana, Barbados, Belize and Dominica – have accepted its appellate jurisdiction?

Well, that 9 of the 13 members of Caricom that were colonised by Britain and ruled for hundreds of years under slavery and indentureship feel justice will be more fairly dispensed by the British Judiciary!! And it’s not as if the idea of a Regional Appellate Court is a new one: even British members of the Bar – and of the Privy Council even! – over the years have advocated for one. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the reason for their stance: in law, context is always a major factor in reaching decisions on matters before a court – and who but local jurists would appreciate local context more?

When Caricom was in its formative stage in 1970 – led

by Jamaica, there were proposals from locals to establish a Caricom Appellate Court. They might’ve been making up for breaking up the WI Federation when they voted out in a referendum in 1962. But ironically, when the CCJ was finally launched in 2005 in the wake of the Caricom Single Market and Economy, Jamaica stood determinedly aloof – as did its fellow heavyweight Trinidad!

All the members of Caricom, of course, accept the CCJ’s ORIGINAL jurisdiction to interpret the Treaty of Chaguramas – it’s the final appellate power they balk at. And the question, once again, is why? Well, from our experience in Guyana since 2005, it’s not hard to figure the answer to that question. It’s not just a matter of jurists not being respected in their own countries – but the quality of some of the judgements coming out of the CCJ. While the old positivist, scholastic and exegetical approach to law might’ve worked for the British, because they wanted the law to be whatever they wanted, West Indians intuitively reject interpretations that go against their own reading of “what ought to be” for their own good. The fear is the excruciating contortions that the CCJ sometimes engages in on sensitive cases – especially when it concerns constitutional issues – is unduly influenced by the old “buddy system”.

The Privy Council – with no skin in the game – is seen to be more impartial.

Maybe it’s time Guyana takes another look at the CCJ?? …army discipline?

Maybe it’s not only the British Privy Council that might be seen as more solid than its autochthonous version – the CCJ – but also our “Disciplined Forces”. It’s rather shameful to read about all the dodges being practised by so many high-ranking officers of the GDF. Last year these officers racked up $10.6 million in fuel and lubricants – with one officer’s Mark X alone guzzling $3 million – or $256,000 per month!! So imagine the games that might’ve been played with the $569 million – more than HALF A BILLION DOLLARS – that the rank and file paid for fuel!!

When we were granted independence, the Disciplined Forces were promoted by Burnham as a “modernising” force. They were supposedly steeped in discipline – and along with the Civil Service – would provide the example to framework for our development as a nation. Sadly, Burnham threw out the British-trained officers – and their stress on loyalty to the State.

The personal loyalty Burnham demanded involved shooting civilians and stealing elections.

From there, stealing gas is practically honourable!! …the world’s slap on the wrist As your Eyewitness predicted, the developed world’s always short attention span has allowed the murder of Journalist Jamal Khassoghi to fade from the headlines.

Saudi Crown Prince MbS (!) just thumbed his nose at them, touring the realm with his father, the King!

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

News

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fridAY, November 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Local Content Policy to be completed before first oil – Energy Department

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s criticisms loom over Guyana’s non-establishment of a Local Content Policy, the Government’s Energy Department has assured that the document will be ready long before first oil which is expected in less than two years.

This commitment was given more than three years after oil was first discovered off Guyana’s coast by United State oil giant ExxonMobil.

The Local Content Policy will guide the State in guarding against local companies being bypassed for contracts and services with foreign companies and workers being favoured. Speaking at the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP) on Thursday, Energy Department Head, Dr Mark Bynoe assured that a second draft policy will be finalised before yearend. He says he has been collaborating with the Private Sector, a section of the economy which stands to gain wide-ranging benefits from a favourable Local Content Policy.

“It’s not only been with Government, [the Energy Department] has also been engaging in the Private Sector which is anxious for us to move this into policy.

They are content that there has been more than sufficient consultation and what we are aiming at is to take the points they would have raised and input them into the second draft before the ending of the year,” Dr Bynoe outlined.

He meanwhile, updated the press that once all is settled and ironed out, a white paper while be presented to the National Assembly to be debated upon. Dr Bynoe has been running the Department for the last three months and its aim is to be eventually set up as a separate ministry. He expressed that the final policy will be ready by 2020.

“Where I sit and where my colleagues sit; we are confident that there will be a Local Content Policy long before first oil,” the Energy

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

Department Head assured.

He said that any decision the Department makes will be evidence-based, data and information driven as opposed to be determined by whims and fancies.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin has said the second review of the Local Content Policy is expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year as Government wants new legislation to be ‘balanced’. Its position is that a ‘too strongly national’ local content policy could jeopardise the efficiency or the viability of the company being relied on to extract the resource. According to the draft Local Content Framework document, the policy seeks to address the suite of opportunities that may arise and the approaches to be taken in selecting and developing opportunities related to enhancing the capabilities of Guyanese nationals and businesses through training and well-tailored social contributions for greater impact and benefits among others.

The draft Local Content Policy has been criticised for lacking provisions which would safeguard against exploitation by companies. It had been reported that the document does not cater for issues such as how to avoid procurement fraud, conflict of interest and favouritism, among others.

LGE results can be expected by November 13 – GECOM

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he much anticipated results of the Local Government Elections (LGE), which are to be held on Monday, November 12, can be expected by the following day.

This is according to the Public Relations Officer at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Yolanda Warde, during a telephone interview with Guyana Times.

According to Warde, after the polls are closed on Election Day, officials at GECOM will begin the counting process and results may even be available the same night.

“We have some Local Authority Areas which are smaller than some but I am not sure what time they (the officers) will cease operations. That will be the call of the Returning Officer but we do not anticipate a very lengthy process,” she explained.

Questioned about why the process may not be lengthy and whether there may not be a massive turn out to the polls, Warde said she does not want to speculate as she is unable to determine turnout.

Earlier this year, some $2.9 billion was allocated to GECOM for the hosting of LGEs which is only three days away.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had noted that the allocation will go towards voter education as it was much needed.

“It is an opportunity that is being offered to citizens to elect a council that will have responsibility for the management of whatever area you live in,” he said.

Candidates for Guyana’s major political parties and other smaller players on September 21 presented their lists of candidates to Returning Officers at offices of GECOM for the Local Authority Areas in which they are contesting.

GECOM has disclosed that seven political parties, 21 voluntary groups and 33 individuals are vying for victories

in some or all of the LLAs. The Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are contesting in all municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC), while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic is contesting in 80 LAAs. The United Republic Party (URP) and the United Party for National Growth and Development are competing in all LAAs, while the Guyana National Congress (GNC) is expected to submit candidates for LAAs in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) only. The GNC party will meanwhile only contest in all of the 10 municipalities. These 10 include the city of Georgetown and nine towns.

The towns are Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini); Anna Regina in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); New Amsterdam (the country’s oldest), Corriverton and Rose Hall in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Additionally, candidates will contest in Bartica in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni); Mahdia in Region Eight (Potaro-

Siparuni); Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Linden (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Some of the 21 voluntary groups contesting include Independent Group for Local Development in the Best/ Klien Pouderoyen NDC; People’s Village Movement in Diamond Place/Golden Grove; and the Kwakwani United for Progress (KUFP) contesting in Kwakwani NDC. Meanwhile, 33 individuals are vying to be representatives in 26 constituencies across the country.

These include Phyllis Carter in Constituency Four in the Mora/Parika NDC and Ronald M Griffith in Constituency Seven of Wakenaam Island NDC. There are 12 persons contesting in various constituencies in Georgetown, which is the largest LAA. This list includes Malcolm De Freitas who had also contested in Constituency One at the last LGE which was held in March 2016. For this November polls, Rajendra Bissessar will contest in the Buxton/Foulis NDC in Constituency Six, while Omeshwar Sirikishun will contest Constituency Four of Bloomfield/Whim.

Only the political parties, voluntary groups and individuals with approved symbols to contest LGE 2018 were allowed to submit their lists of candidates, having used the prescribed GECOM forms. These lists will be examined by the Returning Officers to determine whether they were properly submitted in accordance with the relevant laws.

10 news

fridAY, November 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ex-Cop gets life sentence Lindeners charged, fined for raping 3-year-old girl for several traffic offences

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ormer Police rank Deon Aaron was on Thursday jailed for life after he was last month found guilty of raping a three-year-old female relative in 2016. It was a 12-member jury that declared him guilty.

The 53-year-old man, of Friendship, East Bank Demerara, was handed the heavy sentence by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Sexual Offences Court and follows similar sentences the specialised court has been giving to rape offenders.

Justice Barlow observed that Aaron will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years in prison and outlined that the offender participate in all programmes offered by the Guyana Prison Service.

Convicted ex-Policeman Deon Aaron

The case facts noted that on March 16, 2016, at an East Demerara village, he sexually penetrated the child. The girl is now five years old and she was able to testify to the jury about the ex-Policeman’s unlaw-

ful acts.

The offender who walked out of court appearing to be on the verge of tears was reportedly entrusted by the child’s mother with her care when he committed the act.

Reports were that after the child cried out to another relative, the former law enforcement officer was reported to the Police and was arrested and charged.

The victim through her impact statement called Aaron a “bad man who hurt her,” though he maintained that he is an innocent man.

The convicted man was represented by Attorney Madan Kissoon while State Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Seeta Bishundial and Abigail Gibbs presented the case.

Magistrate recuses herself from hearing narco-trafficking matter

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enior Magistrate Leron Daly on Thursday recused herself from presiding over the Preliminary Inquiry into a narcotic trafficking charge against Collin Hopper who was allegedly caught with 514 grams of cocaine in a pipe.

The reason for Magistrate Daly recusing herself was not stated.

As a result of the Magistrate recusing herself, the matter was then transferred to the Chief Magistrate’s court for reassignment. It will then be reassigned to Magistrate Daly’s court, where the trial will recommence on November 13.

The charge against

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everal Lindeners who appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Thursday were fined in connection to various traffic offences.

Twenty-one-year-old Winston Junior of West Watooka, Wismar, Linden, was fined $7500 for failing to conform to a stop sign.

He pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that he failed to conform to a stop sign while driving motor car PPP 7954 along Republic Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden on October 23, 2018. The fine carries a default sentence of seven days in prison.

Eon Lorrimer also faced the court on Thursday accused of failing to wear a safety belt while driving.

The facts stated that the 24-year-old labourer failed to wear his safety belt on

October 30, 2018 while being the driver of motor car PPP 4502 at Causarina Drive, Mackenzie.

Lorrimer pleaded guilty and was fined $7500. Failure to pay the fine will result in an alternative sentence of a week in prison.

Joshua Mangar received his first strike on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to driving while his breath alcohol level was over the legal limit. The facts stated that Mangar of Bamia on October 30, 2018 drove motor car PTT 5311 while his breath alcohol level was 200 micrograms.

Magistrate Azore fined Mangar $7500 and made a note on his licence. She warned the defendant against drinking and driving, and reminded him that his next offence of a similar nature would see his licence being suspended for one year.

Blueberry Hill woman jailed for breaching protection order

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the South Ruimveldt, Georgetown businessman, stated that on February 2, 2018, at Lot 49 Blue Sackie Drive, South Ruimveldt, he had the illicit substance in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

According to reports, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit ranks swooped down at Hooper’s premises and

found the cocaine stashed in a pipe leading to a septic tank.

Defence counsel James Bond had informed the court that the substance was found in a pipe which connects to many apartments and as such, his client should not have been charged.

Leniency

Meanwhile, a 67-yearold pensioner on Thursday received leniency from Magistrate Azore. Patricia Lewis stood before the court facing charges of being an unlicensed driver, driving an unfit and uninsured motor vehicle and obstructing traffic.

The pensioner of Baraballi Street, Retrieve pleaded guilty to all charges, but explained that she took a chance to uplift her medications at a local pharmacy and was very sorry for the incident.

Police Prosecutor Vinetta Pindar related that the woman had two prior convictions for the same offence.

However, Magistrate Azore let Lewis off with a warning before discharging the matter.

woman who hails from Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden was jailed for breaching a protection order instituted by her reputed husband .

Onika Griffith will spend the next two months behind bars after she was found guilty of the offence.

The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Clive Nurse on Thursday at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

The 27-year-old woman

Onika Griffith

was called to lead her defence on Tuesday last after a prima facie case has been made out against her.

Griffith opted to take the stand to give a sworn statement in her defence; however, her testimony was not enough to prove her innocence.

The charge stated that Griffith on October 16 at Blueberry Hill breached a protection order by physically abusing her reputed husband, Eon Marks.

news

11

Court to hand down ruling on S RAIGHT High PPP case against gerrymandering

fridAY, November 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

LAA alteration

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Strapped for foreign cash, it is time to think out of the box?

By Sase Singh, MSc – Finance, ACCA

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ontinuing its decline, the country’s foreign exchange reserves slumped by US$126 million to GY$452.6 million as at the end of September 2018 due to a fall in foreign currency assets, especially the holding of short-and long-term debt instruments of foreign governments, such as US Treasury Bills. This information was sourced from the Bank of Guyana September 2018 Statistical Bulletin. This is the worst foreign reserves position since 2008 when the size of the economy was 40 per cent smaller. This has now pushed our import cover to 2.2 months, meaning we only have enough cash to back some two months of imports. The world standard is three months. Guyana is out of order, plain and simple.

Expressed in US dollars, foreign currency assets include the value of the national gold holdings, balance with foreign banks owned

by Guyana, and other easily convertible securities. For the record, foreign currency reserves had touched a record high of US$825 million in 2012. However, since then, it has been on the decline, but from the graph below, it is clear there is a rapid deterioration of

the situation since December 2017 with a serious dive happening in the first six months of 2018 as a result of some US$32 million being drained from the local system.

This cannot be good news for the Guyanese business community. The decrease was larger than the same period last year.

The main cause principally was weak growth in exports, a higher outflow of investment income (capital flight mainly) and stagnation in remittance. The supply of foreign currency is at an all-time low because a former big foreign currency contributor (the sugar sector) has now imploded with sugar exports expected to be less than 50 per cent of where it was in 2016. To add salt to the wound created by the policy incompetence in the sugar industry, the foreign currency contribution from the gold sector has declined over 2018 with a complimentary decline in gold exports. The export of gold has declined by some eight per cent over the first nine months of 2018 with the market price almost US$100 lower than it was a year ago.

These are all bad omen for the economy in 2019.

If the entire banking sector is considered, according to the Bank of Guyana September 2018 Statistical Abstract, the stock of foreign currency declined by US$125.4 million. (see graph above).

Any rational thinker would be very concerned about the evolving patterns of the foreign reserves since 2016. It is the responsibility of the policymakers in the Finance Ministry to construct and launch a policy response but since May 2015, that has been very absent.

The time for making excuses is over and the usual spates of political sound byte and propagandist deflection have lost their potency. It is time for action. REAL ACTION! The reserves act as an instrument of confidence that gives the assurance to the international community that the nation can pay its bills. When international players start to question your ability to pay your bills, it will have many adverse consequence including whether Guyana is fit and proper as an investment destination. This will impact the future long-term growth potential of the Guyanese economy and does spell doom for the people today, in 2019 and even beyond with the initial oil revenues in 2020. Refined petroleum products being our largest foreign currency consumer does have a direct impact on the foreign reserves. This is the real issue thanks to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s inability to rapidly expand the green energy portfolio. They destroyed a great investment opportunity in the Amaila Falls Hydro Project but offered nothing worthy of serious response in response. Same nonsense from the APNU+PNC+AFC; different day. So let us focus on what can be done immediately. – SELL THE MARRIOTT! This is a transaction that should have been sold in US dollars months ago. Such a transaction will easily reap upwards of US$40 million on the open market. Such a move will boost the international reserves over the short-term and would immediately change the trajectory of the stock of foreign currency until first oil. Too many policy mistakes were made under this Granger regime. Reading the Minister’s Half Year Report and the Bank of Guyana Half Year Report was not comforting at all. If one is to quote the Central Bank, one will find a pertinent statement which is quoted as “gross international reserves are projected to further decline at the end of 2018”. Is this the good life?

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

igh Court Judge Gino Persaud will today send out notices to inform when he will make a decision in a People’s Progressive Party-filed case over the Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan’s changes to several Local Authority Areas (LAAs) that the Party deems gerrymandering.

Attorney and PPP/Civic Member of Parliament (MP) Anil Nandlall, is representing the applicant, Bibi Shadick while Attorney General Basil Williams and a battery of lawyers from his Chambers are appearing on behalf of the State.

During heated and tense proceedings on Thursday, both sides presented arguments before Justice Persaud, debating whether or not the Minister was required to make public the seven boundaries that were changed.

However, Attorney

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

PPP GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick

General Basil Williams outlined that the Minister is not required by law to publish the boundaries. Nandlall highlighted that only the changes to the seats were published.

The lawyer noted since the country is only four days away from the 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE), the ruling will impact future elections. He had said in the past, the Attorney General’s side was deliberately trying to

delay the case.

Among Shadick’s several orders of which she petitioned the court, is to bring the Communities Minister’s alterations into the conformity with Local Democratic Organs Act, Chapter 28:09.

In so doing, the PPP’s Guyana Elections Commissioner (GECOM) Commissioners wants to have Bulkan’s orders declared null and void.

The grounds that Shadick

outlined were that Bulkan failed to issue an order to identify the said boundaries under the Local Democratic Organs Act, making his actions null and void. She meanwhile said that GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield went beyond his exercise of discretion, re-demarcating the existing constituency boundaries as outlined in the orders sought before the court.

The writ, which Guyana Times had seen, also outlined that the purported establishment of seven NDCs without complying with the provisions of the Local Democratic Organs Act is unlawful, ultra vires, null, void and of no effect. She had said that Lowenfield acted with authorisation in this regard, while adding that Minister Bulkan unilaterally made changes to the number of seats in 14 LAAs.

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Months after its commissioning

Guyanese Pastor among 2 Ministry yet to decide on landscape killed in Suriname smash-up design for Kitty roundabout

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onths after the commissioning of the Kitty roundabout, a design for the landscaping is still to be decided on, according to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson.

When questioned by Guyana Times about the $78.9 million project on Thursday, Minister Patterson explained that the contractors were not responsible for the landscape component of the project.

He said, “The contract (for that aspect) hasn’t gone out because I, to be quite honest, we haven’t, or me, haven’t quite decided on how we want to finish landscaping wise”.

Patterson added that the contract for that component of the project definitely has to be done, but he is however, baffled as to how to go about doing it.

According to Minister Patterson, “We will have to award a landscaping contract. I don’t know how we are gunna do this and that’s why it hasn’t been done as yet”.

Nonetheless, he informed that as of now several design options are on the table for that area, which requires feedback from his officials at the Ministry, the Private Sector and even the public.

One option he said for the roundabout is flowers only to

The yet-to-be completed Kitty roundabout

fill the centre, while another option will allow for flowers and a fountain or even a signage.

Back in June when the Minister commissioned the first ever roundabout he did mention plans to beautify and complete the area with landscape.

Earlier this year, the contract for the project was awarded to S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services in the sum of $78.9 million. The decision to construct a roundabout at this busy junction was made after a sinkhole had formed nearby.

The roundabout is expected to reduce waiting and stoppage time for motorists heading to the East Coast of Demerara and those using

Carifesta Avenue, Vlissengen Road, and the Kitty Public Road.

Plans are already afoot to construct two other roundabouts with the same intent.

Patterson had noted that the two planned structures are scheduled to be erected at the Timehri junction, East Bank Demerara, and at the corner of Mandela Avenue and Sheriff Street, Georgetown, under the Sheriff Street road expansion project.

While the Minister did not elaborate on the details of the planned Mandela Avenue and Sheriff Street roundabout, he reported that works for the Timehri roundabout have begun by Gaico construction for the sum of $74 million.

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he driver of a blue Toyota Wish motor car bearing registration number PVV 3080 died after he reportedly slammed head on into a Canter truck some 50 miles from the capital city Paramaribo, Suriname on Thursday. He was later identified as a US missionary called “Pastor Tim”.

The second victim is Patrick Tulsi, 73, an Apostle of Living Water Fellowship of Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara.

Guyana Times was told that the car was heading to Paramaribo and the Canter truck was heading to Nickerie, Suriname. One online media outlet reported that the car was speeding and it suddenly began to sway on the roadway before colliding with the truck. As a result of

The mangled car with Guyanese plates. Inset: Patrick Tulsi

the impact, the truck struck a utility pole while the car ended up in the ditch.

The drivers of both vehicles were reportedly thrown from their vehicles and landed on the ground. Based on

reports received, public-spirited citizens rushed to the scene to give assistance, but the two men were already dead. The now dead pastor leaves to mourn his three children and wife.

Guyana records 58% reduction in malaria cases

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uyana has seen a whopping decline in the number of malaria cases between 2000 and 2015, according to US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway during his address at the launch of a new malaria project on Thursday at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown.

According to Holloway, “With a 58 per cent reduction in (malaria) cases from 2000 to 2015, Guyana has made excellent progress in reducing malaria”.

While applauding the efforts of the Public Health Ministry along with the US Embassy, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and other agencies, Holloway noted efforts should not stagnate as Guyana still had a long way to go.

According to the World Malaria Report of 2017, some 445,000 deaths were recorded in 2016 while 446,000 were recorded in

2015 globally.

The Report says that the World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region accounted for 91 per cent of all malaria deaths in 2016 followed by the WHO SouthEast Asia Region, which recorded six per cent of the deaths.

It, however, states that “15 countries accounted for 80 per cent of global malaria deaths in 2016; all of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa, except for India. All regions recorded reductions in mortality in 2016 when compared with 2010, with the exception of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, where mortality rates remained virtually unchanged in the period.

“The largest decline occurred in the WHO regions of South-East Asia (44 per cent); Africa (37 per cent) and the Americas (27 per cent). However, between 2015 and 2016, mortality rates stalled in the WHO

regions of South-East Asia, the Western Pacific and Africa, and increased in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Americas”.

Around the globe, more countries are beginning to move towards the elimination of the dreadful disease.

In fact, some 44 countries were reporting fewer than 10,000 malaria-infected persons in 2016, the Report detailed.

In fact, Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka were certified

by WHO as malaria free in 2016. In 2016, WHO identified 21 countries with the potential to eliminate malaria by the year 2020. WHO is working along with the Governments in these countries – known as “E-2020 countries” – to support their elimination acceleration goals.

On Tuesday, Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing World Malaria Day. This year, the event was held under the theme, “Ready to beat malaria”.

13 Essequibo rice farmers raise concerns with Opposition Leader news

fridAY, November 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo speaking with rice farmers on Thursday

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo met with a number of rice farmers at a special meeting at the Affiance Cricket Ground on Thursday.

At the meeting, farmers complained bitterly about the delay in payments by the millers. The payments they claimed take more than a year to reach them. The Opposition Leader told the

gathering that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had laws in place so that rice farmers could receive their payments within a specified time, but also blamed the farmers for not signing an agreement with the millers.

“You can't take them to court, because you have nothing binding the millers,” Jagdeo stated.

Farmers explained that they met with Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Nizam Hassan to discuss the payment arrangements of the Panama market deal and were told that if the GRDB paid farmers before the eightmonth arrangement and Panama knew this, it would delay the payments further.

The Opposition Leader in

Wakenaam, Leguan sea defence to be completed before 2019 – Patterson

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

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ea defence works which were awarded for the islands of Leguan and Wakenaam in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) are on stream and will be completed before the end of 2018.

This was the position shared by the Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson who told Guyana Times on Thursday that the project is now in the mobilisation stage after which works will commence.

“As far as I am aware, I would think that the contracts have been awarded and contractors were mobilised. We expect them to be substantially completed before the end of the year.

It’s a three-month contract but I don’t know exactly how far they’ve gone but so far, they’re on stream.”

The three-month arrangement was awarded earlier this year and the new structure will feature a modernised design.

This was taken into account after sections of the West Coast Demerara seawall was ruptured by the Atlantic waves back in March. The new construction features new materials and design which can withstand any mishaps.

“The first thing they do is mobilise the materials and that is going on right now. We’ve taken accounts

for all the issues and so we’ve modified it slightly to ensure that it stands better,” said Patterson.

The Minister would have also stated that 1.2km of works was completed at Winsor Forest, Waller’s Delight and Ruimzeigt on the West Coast of Demerara.

On the West Coast, works were done to mend the broken sections of the seawall and these were carried out La Jalousie, Blankenburg, Den Amstel, Stewartville and Leonora.

A separate project was also allocated for the restoration of sluices.

Waves from the high spring tide crashed into the seawalls, resulting in the destruction of four sections along the concrete structure and causing major flooding. Immediately, members of the Civil Defence Commission were deployed to the varying areas. Sandbags were the only available option and were later replaced with boulders, which were placed at areas where there were breakages in the sea-defence structures. This temporary intervention was later replaced with the permanent works.

A part of the new design, rip rap materials were used, which is robustly suitable for the magnitude of waves that are continuous. In the near future, the main focus of the newly designed permanent structure will be in Leonora and Uitvulgt, which suffered more severe damages.

For the past three decades, there have been ongoing efforts to replace the concrete structures with rip-rap, especially since Guyana’s coast is meters below sea-level. Additionally, there is also some impact to Guyana when its neighbouring countries are at the hands of natural disasters.

response said he never heard of such nonsense and condemned the GRDB for not being honest with the farmers about the Panama market deal.

The farmers also raised the issues of the blast and bug infestations, but, more importantly, the destruction of thousands of acres of rice.

Farmers had no other choice but to burn the fields to control the infestation.

Government, they said, is of no help to them and as such, they had reasons to picket Agriculture Minister

Noel Holder at the Land of Plenty pump station opening before they could have gotten his attention.

But the Minister said that he could not intervene because the rice industry was privately owned; however, he advised that the Rice Producers Association write him on the issue. Farmers are, however, appealing to the Opposition Leader to meet with the commercial banks and negotiate the rescheduling of their loans to provide some relief. Jagdeo blasted Government for neglecting

rice farmers and accused it of focusing all its attention on oil. “Oil will not be forever, so we have to invest oil revenues into the other sectors to make them stable and vibrant,” the PPP General Secretary noted.

He promised to raise the farmers’ concerns at his next press conference and at the 2019 Budget debate in Parliament.

In ending the meeting, he is of the belief that the Government can help, but it has no plan and no vision, labelling the Ministers as the most corrupt in the Region.

Some of the rice farmers sharing their concerns with the Opposition Leader

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Motorcyclist killed after colliding with cow in Berbice

Dead: Ravindra Nazamoodin

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Corentyne welder was killed on Wednesday evening when the motorbike he was riding collided with a cow on the Corentyne Highway at Number 55 Village.

The dead man has been identified as Ravindra Nazamoodin, 25, of Number

56 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Police in a releases said the accident occurred at about 21:00h when Nazamoodin was proceeding South along the eastern side of the roadway when he collided with a dark brown cow. As a result of the impact, he fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries to his head. He was taken to Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The animal was discovered dead a short distance away. Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that the man had gone to a shop to make a purchase for his wife and was on his way back when the accident occurred.

Reports are a canter truck was coming from the opposite direction while the animal was lying on the roadway. As the canter ap-

and it was then the bike and cow came into contact.

Nazamoodin is said to have been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The helmet was found hooked to the cow’s horn.

Meanwhile, the now dead man’s brother, Looknught Iszamadeen, told this publication that he saw the cow with its brand. “I see the brand and I recognised it.

79GC. I made this brand for

a farmer last year. So after I see the brand, I cut out the part with the brand because I don’t trust the Police…”

The investigation continues.

New malaria programme to kick off soon The bike the now dead man was riding at the time of the accident proached the animal, it reportedly got up and started to run towards the parapet

Charges against Attorney dismissed

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he perverting the course of justice charges that were levelled against Attorney Chandra Sohan were on Thursday dismissed by Magistrate Alex Moore in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

Sohan was represented by Attorneys Sanjeev Datadin, Mursalene Bacchus, Ryan Crawford, Arundranauth Gossai and Horatio Edmondson.

Sohan was charged with perverting the court of justice whereby it was alleged that he told Zubair Ally, a witness in the murder trial against Marcus Bisram and others, to change his story.

The body of Faiyaz Narindat was discovered in the wee hours of the morning of October 1, 2016, on the Corentyne Highway at Number 70 Village.

It is believed that he was killed elsewhere and his body placed on the roadway to make it appeared as if he was the victim of an accident.

Five men have been committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of Narinedat. The alleged mastermind, Marcus Bisram, re-

Attorney Chandra Sohan

cently lost a bid in a US court to be extradited to stand trial for the murder.

Meanwhile, the case against Sohan collapsed when Defence Counsel Sanjeev Datadin exposed in cross-examination that the witness (Ally) said exactly what was in his Police statement.

Ally had given the Police several statements. Initially, he said he had no knowledge of what transpired on October 1, 2016. However after he was arrested, he gave

five different statements.

When Ally was preparing to give evidence at the Preliminary Inquiry before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, it was alleged that Sohan told him what to say.

However, during Sohan’s trial, it became apparent from cross-examination that the first statement Ally gave to the Police was exactly what he said in evidence at the Preliminary Inquiry.

In submissions made to the Magistrate at the close of the prosecution’s case; the defence team alleged that there was no evidence that pointed to any wrongdoing on the part of Sohan.

Datadin said it was clear that Ally made a statement to the Police in the very beginning of the investigation that corresponded exactly with his evidence before the Magistrate. Bacchus entered a no case submission which the court upheld.

The case was presented

by Inspector Bernard Brown, who called six witnesses; all Police Officers from the Major Crime Unit.

Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings poses with US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, Ministry officials and supporters of the programme

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espite reports of the reduced number of malaria cases, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings on Thursday announced plans to launch yet another anti-malarial campaign, while noting that the disease remains a threat to the country.

The campaign dubbed ‘the Malaria Action Project’ was launched at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown.

Dr Cummings told the gathering that the breakthrough project is currently being rolled out in the hinterland areas in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and, “Advocates for social and behavioural changes within these malaria endemic communities with the aim of eliminating malaria in these areas”.

“Malaria continues to be a major concern in the region of Americas and the world.

In fact there is (a) resuscitated drive for the elimination of this disease of pub-

lic health concern. In 2016, there were approximately 216 million cases of malaria worldwide, resulting in a reported 445,000 deaths,” she explained.

The Minister nonetheless assured that of the 21 malaria endemic countries in the region of the Americas, Guyana is currently one of the 18 countries who have so far grooved into robust actions and policies to combat the disease.

She said, “Currently the National Malaria Programme of the Ministry of Public Health is implementing innovative interventions which target the delivery of services at the community level”.

It was explained that one of the strategies includes building capacity of miners and loggers in testing and treating themselves for the mosquito-borne disease.

The Minister said although this initiative may seem “simple”, the success of the programme is subjected to the influence of key determinants of the targeted

persons.

On that note, the Minister explained the importance of the Ministry in conducting an assessment to determine the gap between the patients.

“The National Malaria Programme has been able to design a social and behavioural intervention which is human centred and which is informed by formative research by the gaps in the knowledge, attitudes and perception of the groups of communities being targeted.”

Breakthrough Action, which is the company contracted by USAID for the social behavioural change intervention, will be working in collaboration with John Hopkins University.

The Minister pointed out that the country is presently utilising a limited pool of anti-malarials. “It is therefore important that this pool be managed properly from both the perspective of the healthcare provider and that of the patient,” she added.

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Fire Service holds Strategic Over 100 graduate from Carnegie Management consultations School of Home Economics

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan examines some of the equipment displayed at the Guyana Fire Service’s stakeholder consultation held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

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he first of three initial consultations held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) today attracted a wide range of stakeholders.

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, in his remarks to the gathering, stated that the government is cognisant and working to improve all agencies, under his purview. hese changes, the minister explained, have already begun and include the Prisons, Fire Service and Police Force. The need to boost skills and capacity was also noted.

“If we start today, we are going to get there earlier.

That is what we want from Guyanese. That is what we want from the individual’s efforts and the individual initiatives of each and every Guyanese. So, we at the Ministry of Public Security are supporting this important collaboration that is going to integrate the efforts of the units and ensure far more productive results.”

Minister Ramjattan reminded the stakeholders that they have a role to play, including monitoring and

the Great Fire, the formation of the British Guiana Fire Brigade in 1957 and continuous development over the years to present day.

Gentle stated: “With the dawn of a new modern world, changes in infrastructure and urban development, more than ever as the country is on the cusp of greater heights, there is the need for structured fire protection services.” He added, “Larger revenue bases, more industries, more use of machinery and other types of activities that generally add to the quality of life for citizens. This fire service has to change in order to encompass the possible risks associated with development.”

Attendees at the Guyana Fire Service’s stakeholder consultation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

evaluating the proposed plans via the Strategic Management Unit.

“This is what is going to lift this country out, from where it was, to higher heights. So, I ask of you, in your deliberations here, that you will continue the task of self-evaluation and self-introspection. Also, know you have a Ministry of Public Security that is going to give you all the assistance that you need, and lots more in about 14 months’ time.”

Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle recalled the formal organising of a firefighting force in 1873, its reorganization in 1945 after

According to the Chief Fire Officer, the consultations will ensure that all are apprised of the state of the proposed plans and the way forward. Gentle explained that the Strategic Management Plan, initiated in 2014 and ratified in 2016, has had the government’s full support. These plans will see the construction of five more fire stations and the procurement of more equipment including a firefighting boat to service the developments along the banks of the Demerara River.

Education Minister Nicolette uates ver 100 students graduated on Thursday from the Carnegie School of Home Economics’ Craft Production and Design Division. The graduates completed various subject areas such as garment construction, general cosmetology, interior design, commercial food preparation, catering and hospitality and visual arts.

The ceremony was held at the National Cultural Centre under the theme, “A step in the right direction.”

Delivering the feature address, Education Minister, Dr Nicolette Henry told the students the completion of their respective course demonstrates a positive advancement in their lives.

“Carnegie School of Home Economics has always stood as one of the leading training institutions that offers essential skills… So,

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Henry addressing the grad-

curriculum to reflect the occupational standards and needs relevant to the economic expansion of Guyana.

She also urged the students to, “let your passion inform every decision you make as you pursue excellence in everything you do.”

The Department of Public Information (DPI) stated that the Carnegie School of Home Economics also offers certificate and diploma programmes that are accredited by the Education Ministry and is open to both male and female students, including early school leav-

Some of the items the students completed

it is very important for you to use your newly acquired skills to be creative with your knowledge for it is this that will set you apart and be your unique selling point for future employees or even as you open your own businesses,” Minister Henry said.

The Minister also commended the institution for continually expanding its

ers.

The school, which was established by Scotsman, Andrew Carnegie, in 1933 as the Carnegie Trade School for Women was funded by the Carnegie Board of Trustees until the Government of Guyana assumed full responsibility for the entity in 1973.

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News

Guyana Medical Guyana’s representative off to China for Miss World competition Mission returns M O

ver 30 health-care professionals attached to the Guyana Medical Mission (GMM), who arrived in Guyana on November 1, are conducting a week of medical outreaches.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) stated that the GMM was a group of dedicated medical professionals who travel to the Caribbean and Guyana annually to bring healthcare services to the citizens.

The group of 39 health professionals from the GMM in conjunction with the Caribbean Medical Mission, comprises 11 medical doctors along with 18 clinic staff, including professional nurses and assistants, and 10 surgeons.

The Mission’s spokesperson, Sharon London, who is also a nurse, disclosed that this year’s outreach is expected to provide services to

Director of Regional Health Services in Region Six, Jevaughn Andrew Stephen

Hospital, Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) for the very first time, then moved to the Fyrish Village Health Centre on November 4.

The group of medical professionals attended to over 60 patients at the Mibicuri

Spokesperson of the Guyana Medical Mission, Sharon London attending to one of the residents

six communities in Guyana.

They will be visiting Liverpool on the Corentyne; Belladrum on the West Coast of Berbice; Mahaica, Buxton, and Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara and Mibicuri.

The outreach, which commenced on Saturday, November 3, was hosted at the Mibicuri Cottage

Cottage Hospital and saw over 200 persons from Fyrish and the surrounding communities.

According to Doctor Ezema James, one of the medical professionals, most patients were being treated for diabetes, kidney disease, and arthritis. Persons also received blood pressure, cholesterol, and eye tests. The team also provid-

ed three months’ worth of free medications for their patients.

The Director of Regional Health Services, East Berbice-Corentyne, Jevaughn Andrew Stephen noted his satisfaction with the outreaches hosted by GMM. Stephen added all three of the region’s medical theatres were functioning and could accommodate the approximately 50 surgeries scheduled to be conducted by the professional surgeons attached to the medical mission. Several Mibicuri residents expressed their satisfaction with the treatment they received from the GMM. Last year, the Medical Mission attended to approximately 5500 patients and previously conducted approximately 850 successful surgeries.

The Guyana Medical Mission was founded in 1996 by six physicians and three nurses, with the aim of treating underprivileged people in the Caribbean.

They have made several trips to Guyana over the past decade.

According to the head of the Guyana Medical Mission, Dr James Cort, he looks forward each year to dedicating his service to the citizens of Guyana.

Pedestrian critical after being struck by motor car

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pedestrian is clinging to life at the Georgetown Public Hospital (gphc) after he was struck by a motorcar while attempting to cross the Strathspey Railway Embankment road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. The identity and other particulars of the man are unknown.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the Police revealed that at about 19:45h, the unknown man was attempting to cross the road when he was hit by a motorcar bearing registration number PVV 9941, driven by a resident of Friendship, ECD. The man sustained injuries and he was picked up and taken to the GPHC in an unconscious state and admitted a patient in the Accident and Emergency Unit in critical condition. He suffered injuries to the head

The injured man at the GPHC

and other parts of his body.

The driver of the motorcar was detained and subsequently released on bail. The Police are urging family members of the patient to visit the hospital or to contact the Police station to furnish them with the relevant information pertaining to the patient.

iss World Guyana Ambika Ramraj left for China on Thursday to compete in the Miss World 2018 competition. Ramraj will be competing with 120 other delegates for the top spot on December 8 in Sanya, China, at the annual Miss World competition.

Miss World Guyana 2018, Ambika Ramraj extends warmest regards, love and appreciation to all her sponsors, contributors, supporters her entire team (UK, USA and Guyana) and says she is ready to do her utmost best to make all of Guyana proud. Since leaving Guyana with the compliments of Fly Jamaica in October, Ramraj spent a week in London touring, training and holding fundraisers before returning to the USA, where she completed her final preparation and training with top trainers in the field, such as Lu Sierra for Top Model.

The Guyanese representative also participated in a wedding themed professional photo shoot with Designer Yumi Katsura and was shot by renowned Fadil Berisha.

She is prepared, eager and

Miss World Guyana, Ambika Ramraj

excited to represent Guyana on the international stage and will need your love and continued support throughout the Miss World competition.

All of Guyana is invited to rally around Miss World Guyana 2018, Ramraj in her quest to become Guyana’s first Miss World by supporting her journey on the vari-

ous social media platforms.

Social media plays an integral part in the Miss World competition, as a multimedia fasttrack challenge. To lend support, you can follow Ambika’s progress by liking, sharing and commenting on her posts while in China via Mobstar, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the Miss World website.

GTT launches +size Christmas promotion

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ollowing a few days of teasers via social media and triggered messages to its mobile customers, GTT unveiled its Christmas promotion on Wednesday evening at the Stabroek Market Square.

Hundreds of patrons joined the company for the launch of “GTT +Sized Christmas”.

The event was filled with fun and excitement as acts such as the Euphoria Dance Group; Mark Kazim (Chinee Man); DJ Energy; Calvin Burnette; Kwasi Ace and the FAME band entertained the crowd. There were also lots of prizes to be won as Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones kept everyone engaged.

GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd was very excited as he shared the company’s intention to spend $8 million in cash and prizes, with more

winners this year.

“We know that Christmas is a big deal for all Guyanese, so as ‘the do more’ company, we are giving more to several communities across Guyana. It will be a +Sized Christmas with GTT this year where one lucky winner will be the owner of the grand prize BMW X1, which comes with one year free insurance, as well as one year free Super 95 gas from Guyoil!”

Nedd also shared that the second, third and fourthplaced prize winners will receive cash amounts of $150,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

GTT’s Head of Mobile, Rhonda Allicock, explained how the promotion works – prepaid customers get a character(s) to spell out ‘+MORE’ whenever they top up $1000 or more or pur-

chase a three-day or more data plan.

“In other words, once they spell the phrase '+MORE', they get a chance to win weekly prizes or grand prizes. Twenty-one weekly winners will be given one of three prizes: $10,000 credit, 10GB of data or Super 95 gas voucher from our partner, Guyoil. Our postpaid customers only need to pay their bill on time and in full to get an entry,” she explained.

Allicock continued that there was a third element whereby customers could purchase letters for $500 each to secure an entry.

GTT’s grand finale event will be hosted at the Stabroek Market where four lucky finalists will compete in a series of obstacle- filled activities for the grand prize of the prestigious BMW X1.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

California bar shooting: At least Lions blamed as hundreds of buffalo 12 killed in Thousand Oaks drown in Botswana

Reports said the bar was packed with college students before the gunman, Ian David Long (centre), forced his way in. At right is Sergeant Ron Helus, who was one of the casualties

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gunman killed at least 12 people late on Wednesday after opening fire on a bar packed with college students in southern California, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's office.

Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said on Thursday that more then a dozen other people were wounded following the incident at

Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, about 50km west of Los Angeles.

"It's a horrific scene in there. There is blood everywhere," Dean said. The gunman, who Police identified as 28-year-old Ian David Long, died inside the bar.

Dean said Long was armed with a Glock 21, a .45-caliber handgun designed to hold 10 rounds

plus one in the chamber. But the sheriff added the gun had an extended magazine that is illegal in California.

The sheriff said he does not know how many rounds that magazine can hold.

There were also reports that the gunman used smoke bombs before opening fire. The bar's website says it hosts "College Country Night" every Wednesday.

Police said hundreds were inside when the shooting occurred.

Among the dead is Sergeant Ron Helus, who was with the force for 29 years. According to police, at least one person who survived the shooting suffered a gunshot wound. Others were injured from jumping out windows and diving under tables. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UN: Number of migrants, refugees from Venezuela reaches 3M

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he United Nations says there are now three million refugees and migrants from Venezuela who have left the country due to its crumbling economy, violence, hyperinflation and shortage of food and medicines.

The figure amounts to around one in 12 of the population. Of the three million, 2.3 million have left Venezuela since 2015, according to United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

spokesman William Spindler who added that the exodus has accelerated in the past six months.

"The main increases continue to be reported in Colombia and Peru," Spindler said on Thursday.

More than one million refugees and migrants are in Colombia. Peru has more than half a million, Ecuador over 220,000, Argentina 130,000, Chile over 100,000 and Brazil 85,000, according to the UN.

In Colombia, there are around 3000 arrivals each day, and the Bogota government says four million could be living there by 2021, costing it nearly US$9 billion.

The World Bank says the crisis has already cost Colombia almost half a per cent of its GDP in 2018: $1.2 billion. Earlier this year, Ecuador and Peru announced tighter entry rules, with the former declaring a state of emergency in three northern states

which receive up to 4200 Venezuelans daily.

Venezuela is in a fourth straight year of recession, with double-digit declines in its gross domestic product.

The inflation rate is expected to reach one million per cent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Since 2013, the currency has fallen 99.99 per cent against the US dollar on the black market. (Excerpt

Local people woke up to find hundreds of dead buffaloes in the Chobe River

H

undreds of buffaloes have drowned in a river on the border between Botswana and Namibia. Early investigations suggest the herd was being chased by lions and ran into the river, say Botswana authorities.

A local lodge owner told the BBC that it looks like the buffaloes then got stuck because the bank on the other side of the river was too high and that they panicked and stampeded.

He has never heard of such a large group of buffaloes drowning before. The authorities in Botswana estimate that roughly 400 buffaloes died. People living in the area collected the buffaloes and took them home to eat.

The river flows through the Chobe National Park, a major tourist attraction known for its huge num-

bers of elephants, giraffe, sable and buffalo. Simone Micheletti, who owns a lodge on the Namibian side of the river, said that the herd was unusually large – at roughly 1000 buffaloes.

Micheletti told the BBC that he heard the lions roaring a lot on Tuesday night.

When he went down to the river on Wednesday morning he saw hundreds of dead buffaloes. He added that it was cloudy on Tuesday night so he suspects the clouds blocked the moonlight, meaning the buffaloes couldn't see. Botswana's Environment Ministry released a statement saying that mass drownings are not unusual in the Chobe River, but Micheletti says that the scale of the deaths is unheard of. The biggest mass drowning he has heard of before was around 50 buffaloes. (Excerpt from BBC News)

At least 27 killed in UK PM May dives into diplomacy Tajikistan prison riot from Al Jazeera)

in bid to clinch Brexit deal

P

rime Minister Theresa May steps up attempts to court European support for a Brexit deal on Thursday as negotiations on securing a smooth British divorce from the world’s biggest trading bloc enter their final stages.

She met three other EU leaders in Brussels at a NATO dinner on Thursday and will have lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron today. EU officials and diplomats tried to play down speculation on an imminent deal after an Austrian newspaper report that a deal could be reached “in the coming days” sent the pound higher.

Some diplomats said they

felt more optimistic than earlier in the week about seeing a deal completed this month.

Even a deal among May and her fractious Ministers would not necessarily mean the EU would fall in line, he said. For their part, British officials also suggested agreement was drawing nearer but not quite imminent. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said to get a deal within seven days was “probably pushing it” and a Government source said May would probably not gather her Cabinet until next week.

Nonetheless, with both sides believing a deal must be done in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth withdrawal in March, talks

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May stands at the door of 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, October 24, 2018

have become intense. After the commemoration in Mons today, May is due to meet President Emmanuel Macron in France for further events. The EU wants to see a breakthrough with-

in a week if leaders are to endorse any deal in November, official and diplomatic sources told Reuters. An EU summit tentatively scheduled for November 17-18 is no longer on the cards. (Excerpt from BBC News)

A

t least 25 inmates and two security officers have been killed after a riot broke out at a high-security prison in Tajikistan, three security sources said on Thursday.

The violence started late on Wednesday when an inmate, believed to be a member of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), attacked a guard and seized his assault rifle, said an interior ministry official who declined to give his name.

Officers restored order hours later with the help of reinforcements, a security official speaking on condition of anonymity said.

The prison in the northern Tajik city of Khujand is where prisoners convicted of religious extremism offences, including membership of ISIL, are generally held. It also

houses other prisoners.

The officials said at least 25 inmates were killed along with a warder and a policeman. The third source, also a security official, said three guards had died.

Local authorities confirmed a riot had occurred but gave no details. Khujand is about 300km north of capital Dushanbe.

In July, ISIL claimed responsibility for an attack which killed four Western tourists in Tajikistan, an impoverished Central Asian country. In 1997, security forces had reportedly killed at least 24 people after a riot broke out in Khujand prison, according to a Human Rights Watch report. Nongovernmental sources, however, claimed that as many as 100 prisoners were killed.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

CDB approves funding to expand and rehabilitate Barbados airport

T

he Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a loan of US$40.4 million to upgrade infrastructure and services at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) in Barbados.

The Grantley Adams International Airport Pavement Rehabilitation and Expansion Project will support improved quality of infrastructure at GAIA; improve the institutional capacity of GAIA Inc.; and reduce energy consumption

from pavement lighting at the airport.

The project is scheduled to be rolled out over a period of approximately 26 months.

GAIA Inc will contribute US$17.3 million to it. The project will address aging and weakening airside pave-

ments at GAIA. In addition, it will support the construction of a new apron to meet the demand for improved capacity for corporate and other general aviation aircraft, particularly during peak seasonal travel. At GAIA, high-intensity runway and

apron lighting contribute to high energy costs. The project will replace existing edge lights and apron lights with light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures to reduce energy consumption and operational costs. On the land side, parts of the main car park

and other roads on the GAIA facility will be rehabilitated or upgraded. The works will also facilitate the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles. Best also noted GAIA’s need for a Sustainability Management Plan. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

18

T

he Courts Christmas Tree Light-up has become an annual family activity and most anticipated event, hosted by the furniture giant to signal the beginning of the Christmas season.

Over the years, children and

their parents/guardians would flock the Main Street Avenue, Georgetown, to get a glimpse of Santa Claus and Mrs Claus along wither their helpers.

The highly anticipated event is billed for this evening in front of the

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, november 9, 2018

store starting from 17:00h. There will be lots of exciting performances for the entire family. These including a stage presentation comprising songs, skits, poems and the main attraction; the arrival of Mr and Mrs Claus.

There will also be carolling and speeches from Government officials, as well as the executives of the store.

There will also be lots of giveaways where persons can actually win their purchases on spot.

To ring in the Christmas, the

children who are present will be given goodies and if you were good over the past year, Santa will throw in a gift.

So the place to be this evening is definitely Main Street for the Courts Christmas Tree Light-up.

T

his past year has been nothing short of a whirlwind for local make-up artist Tristell Manifold, also known as MakeupByTrisee.

Manifold recently returned from New York where she fashioned edgy and inspired looks for Annie Couture, Anarchy People, and John Ashford, among other Brooklyn-based designers as part of “Brooklyn Fashion Week.”

“It was an experience that felt more like a dream than reality,” explained Manifold, while adding “and while I learned several new tips and tricks from fellow artists overseas, most importantly I learned the importance of time management as a make-up artist.”

According to the entrepreneur and creative artist, the atmosphere behind the scenes of the official “Brooklyn Fashion Week” felt like a mix of a medical emergency room, a carnival and a mad artist’s studio. Yet it afforded the artist a distinct thrill to see the models walking down the runway and knowing that she perfected the make-up just applied.

“The energy in the air was palpable – with anywhere from 14 to 26 hairstylists and make-up artists each trying to wrangle models into chairs, feverishly carrying out artistic directives issued by the lead make-up artist or hair artist, while precariously seeking to maintain some level of calm and an upbeat attitude,” Manifold said.

W

IST Ministries International will host its 5th annual Christmas production on November 24, at the National Cultural Centre, beginning at 19:00h.

Under the theme “Behold!”, the production will showcase creative presentations from over 50 dancers through a compendium of dance, poetry and song, which aims to share the true meaning of Christmas.

This year’s production comes as part of the organisation’s celebration of its 16th anniversary in service to Guyana’s youth. In recognition of this outstanding service, WIST was a recipient of the 2018 National Youth Award given by the Ministry of the Presidency.

WIST Ministries International was founded in the year 2002 by Sandia Harold-Ramnarine and serves as a conduit for the development of youth through dance and the creative arts.

The school caters for students ages five and older and offers a blend of contemporary, jazz and ballet dance style. The organisation also celebrates unity in their service, irrespective of religious or denominational affiliations.

Apart from dance and the creative arts, the organisation places special emphasis on serving Guyana through

compassionate giving. WIST has given to various charities all across Guyana and has adopted the Leonard Cheshire Home as their charitable organisation of focus for this year’s Christmas production.

The Leonard Cheshire Home provides a permanent place of residence, giving support and specialised care for persons with disabilities.

Tickets for the 5th annual Christmas production are being sold for $1000 and $1500 and can be uplifted at WIST Ministries International, Pinnacle Business Service Inc (at the Giftland Mall), FonRoje, and Roxie’s Fashion. Proceeds from the event will be given to the Leonard Cheshire Home.

Local make-up artist Tristell Manifold (first from right) along with some models for the Annie Couture clothing line during Brooklyn Fashion Week

The make-up artist continues to push the envelope by opening her MakeupByTrisee Studio and announcing the upcoming launch of a false eyelash line; all within a few short weeks of her return. “I am excited to share my affordable, stylish and glamorous 3D mink lashes, Trisee Luxury Minks, featuring four different styles – Eye Da Hoe, Viola Voss, Lulu Lease and Glamour Wispies – will hit the markets very soon,” Manifold said.

Manifold began her career in the make-up arts in late 2016 after noticing an absence of quality make-up services and beauty products in Guyana. Within months of debuting MakeupByTrisee, Manifold also began to offer courses to teach clients how to apply their own make-up. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” Manifold shared.

So when the opportunity arose for her to share her skills with others, she produced a simplified make-up booklet and course outline which guide clients into creating their own natural and trendy make-up.”

Interest in the courses quickly broadened and Manifold now offers at-home lessons in Berbice and Georgetown and is also available for bookings, where her customers can either have their make-up done in the comfort of their own homes, or at her stylish studio.

As for make-up trends to watch, Manifold suggests that make-up enthusiasts try bold blue eyes, bright red lipstick, golden finishes, metallic lipsticks, halo eyebrows, and super daring lashes, “but not all at once though,” Manifold joked.

To book an appointment or learn more, call 6729537 or visit MakeupByTrisee on Facebook and Instagram. All official photos was taken by Tariq Mohamed, proprietor of Image Ready Production, while her trip to New York was sponsor by Fly Jamaica.

FRIdAY, november 9, 2018

19

Sonics record win against Kobras

Stand-alone ICC Women’s World T20 Tournament…

Taylor confident of …Guardians defeat Pacesetters defending World T20 title I T

By Brandon Corlette

he defending Women’s World T20 champions West Indies will defend their title in the 2018 Stand-alone International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 tournament that is playing in the Caribbean.

On the eve of the first matches in Guyana, West Indies Captain Stafanie Taylor explained that her team were confident heading into this tournament. Taylor noted that prior to this tournament, the T20 International series against South Africa was successful for the Caribbean ladies with the highlight of the series being Hayley Matthews’s superb century in Barbados. The 27-year-old West Indies Captain, who has represented West Indies in over 200 matches, including 88 T20Is, when questioned, told this reporter at the press conference that her team’s fitness level was beyond par.

West Indies cricketers in the modern era have dominated T20 cricket, and this tournament will suit the attacking players who will showcase calypso-like cricket strokes throughout the tournament. In the bowling department, Captain Taylor commended the experienced Anisa Mohammed on her stellar performances in re-

Stafanie Taylor at a press conference at the Marriott Hotel in Guyana

cent times. “The Trinidadian spinner, Mohammed had started playing since she was around age 15,” Taylor noted.

Since this tournament will be played in the Caribbean, the West Indies team will have the edge over other teams. “With Shenseea performing at the first match, this will help the girls in the team to be more pumped during the match against Bangladesh,” Taylor said.

Stunningly, the West Indies women’s team have not played an international match at Providence prior to the warm-up match they played a few days ago. But Taylor remained confident that her team were capable of making necessary adjustments despite the fact that

they had not played at Providence as a side.

The West Indies women will play only one of the 11 matches scheduled at the National Stadium Providence. Shemaine Campbell, the lone Guyanese in the team, is an all-round package since she offers stability in the middle order and is an extraordinary outfielder and a useful wicket-keeper.

In closing, Taylor thanked the ICC for the initiative that it has taken to transport fans to witness the matches at the various venues. Caribbean fans will show much support, since cricket is more than a sport and is a lifestyle in the Region.

n the 2018 Rainforest Water/ Malta Supreme/Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League, play on Wednesday night at the Burnham Hard Court on Carmichael Street saw the Kobras lose to the Pepsi Sonics and the Plaisance Guardians walked away with a win over the Pacesetters.

In the first match-up of the night, the Kobras shocked the Sonics as they slumped to a twopoint defeat 60-58. For the Sonics, the first quarter was not half bad, since they won 15-14 and then went on to take a commanding lead in the second quarter winning 21-9. For once in the team’s career, the game looked as if it would have gone their way. But they lost the third quarter 22-17 which was not bad as they still were in the lead with the score being 58-40 at the end of the third quarter. The Sonics players looked confident, but it was in the fourth quarter that the Kobras started to make a comeback. Then, the Sonics team looked flustered as the Kobras won the fourth period 18-2 leaving the entire team with a look of dismay on their faces as the night ended with the score 6058. Scoring for the Sonics were Denzil Logan and Jamal Booker with 18 and 16 points respectively, while Akil Hughes of the

Terrence Daniels

Kobras top-scored with 17 as he was assisted by his team-mates to take the game home.

In the other matchup of the night, the Plaisance Guardians showed the Pacesetters why they were the superior team in the tournament as they defeated them 66-61. Leading the way for the Guardians was Terrence Daniels who led from the front with a commanding 23 points as he was supported by team-mate Jared Sears with 15 points. Z Gray’s 18 points wasn’t enough to take the Pacesetters over the line as the Guardians clamped down on their defence to keep the Pacesetters at a five-point deficit.

The Kobras will now have to tighten their grip if they want to qualify for the quarter-finals while the Guardians are already, almost certainly, a shoe-in for the spot.

GFSCA says “thank you” to sponsors, stakeholders for success of “Guyana Softball Cup 8”

Ariel Speedboat (Open) poses with their trophy

T

he President and Executive Members of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all the sponsors and stakeholders of “Guyana Softball Cup 8” for making the 2018 edition another success.

Some of the entities on board that made this tournament a major success were Stag Beer, Rubis

Guyana, Clear Waters, A & R Jiwanram Printery, Ramchand Auto Spares, Trophy Stall, Steve Jewellery, Mike’s Pharmacy, Survival Group of Companies, Busta, Rohan Auto Spares and WJ Enterprise. The tournament also drew the likes of first-time sponsors Nand Persaud and Company under the Karibee Rice Brand, Palm Court Restaurant and Bar on Main Street and Windies Sports

Parika Defenders, first-time winners of the inaugural Legends Cup (50 years and over) at the Guyana Softball Cup 8

Bar of Toronto, Canada.

The GFSCA also recognised the participation of the teams from North America, including for the first time, four teams out of Canada: Ontario Masters, Royal Canadian Masters, Softball Cricket Canada and Ontario Softball Cricket League. Present also were teams from New York such as NYSCL, NY Hustlers, SVC and SVC Spartans, and Orlando

Masters while Guyana was represented by our local clubs: Parika Defenders, Floodlights Masters and Floodlights Legends, Farm XI, Regal All Stars and Regal Masters, Albion Masters, Tropical Springs, Fishermen Masters, Invaders Masters, Wellman, NY President’s Eleven, Narine Masters, Ariel Speedboat and Cotton Field Wild Oates.

The executive body would also

like to thank Ariel Speedboat, who defended their title for the second time; Regal Masters and Parika Defenders for winning their respective categories and the Demerara female team for defeating their Berbice counterparts. Praise also went out to the caretakers of the DCC, Malteenoes, Enmore, Ogle, Police, GNIC, YMCA, Transport Sports Club and MYO grounds.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

FRIdAY, november 9, 2018

Tamim targets return during West Indies Tests T

amim Iqbal hopes to mark his return to competitive cricket when West Indies tour Bangladesh later this month for a full series. He had originally targeted the second Test against Zimbabwe in Mirpur.

Tamim has only now returned to batting against the cricket ball this week, after undergoing rehabilitation for a wrist fracture. Tamim injured himself while batting during the Asia Cup opener in September, a game remembered for his heroic return to bat with one hand, with Bangladesh nine down.

"I think I will be fit for the first Test [against West Indies]," Tamim said. "I always wanted to play the second Test against Zimbabwe; at least that was the plan three or four weeks ago. I am not

ready. I don't think the physio will even permit me. It has just been three days of batting against spin bowling and the dog-stick. It is actually semi-batting what I am doing right now. Unless I start full-fledged nets, it won't be fair for the team to declare myself fit."

Tamim still had some discomfort while playing certain strokes. "Today [Thursday] is probably the third day that I am batting. I haven't had a full net session. There's a lot of difference between playing 130-140kph and playing against spin and the dog-stick. As of now, things are looking very positive. In the next three days, there's going to be a full net session, after which I can tell where I am at."

Batting and net sessions aside, Tamim had words of encouragement for Bangladesh despite their loss in Sylhet. According to him, while there remains room for improve-

ment in the longest format, the loss wasn't a reflection of the progress they've made in Tests over the last two years, particularly at home where they've beaten England and Australia.

"They will bounce back. I know that we didn't play our best cricket. We are a much better team than this," he said. "It is a fact that we haven't performed in Tests, like we have done in ODIs. I don't think any of our team members said that we have become a very strong Test team.

"But it is also true that we have started to play better Test cricket than five years ago. We have defeated two of the best sides in the world. But our West Indies Test series wasn't good at all. Our graph in Test cricket hasn't gone as high as we'd liked." (ESPNcricinfo)

Chris Gayle loses his mom Lakers signing Chandler to reported heart attack plans to ease LeBron burden T Gayle's mom Hazel died Wednesday of a reported heart attack

G

ayle's mom Hazel died Wednesday of a reported heart at-

tack.

Messages of condolence have begun to come in for West Indies batsman Chris Gayle, whose mother Hazel, died Wednesday morning, reportedly of a heart attack.

Hazel, the matriarch of the Gayle family, is survived by her husband Dudley, and seven children - Vanclive, Lyndon, Michelle, Michael, Andrew, Christopher and Wayne.

Shortly after news broke of her passing CWI President Dave Cameron offered a message of sympathy on behalf of the Windies Board.

“On behalf of CWI @ windiescricket we would like to send condolences to @ henrygayle, Dulla, Michelle, Lyndon and Vanclive on the passing of their mom and also to Mr Gayle and the rest of the Gayle family and friends,” Cameron posted Wednesday morning.

His message coincid-

ed with a Facebook post from the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA). “The Jamaica Cricket Association is today sending its deepest, heartfelt condolence to Christopher Gayle as he mourns the passing of his mother. Our prayers are with you Chris and the entire family. We hope that the happy memories you shared over the years will be a tower of strength,” said the statement from the JCA. (Sportsmax)

yson Chandler feels he can free up LeBron James to do "special things" and is relishing the opportunity to be a hero rather than a villain at Staples Center after joining the Los Angeles Lakers.

The veteran centre signed for the Lakers this week after clearing waivers on a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns. Chandler claimed nine rebounds on a winning debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday and the 36-yearold believes he can play a big role in ensuring the Lakers get the best out of superstar James.

Asked what it is like to play alongside James, he said: "I can't describe it, it's amazing.”To be able to have him close out games and know how special he is on both ends defensively and offensively - I just want to take some of the pressure off

Tyson Chandler

him.

"The more pressure I can take off him, it will free him up to do all the special things he has been doing his entire career." Chandler went to school in Compton but has been accustomed to a hostile reception at Staples Center, so he will lap up adulation from Lakers fans.

"It's all love, I love them

the way they love Me." he said. "When you're homegrown and going to high school here, now you have the same fans and you represent the jersey everybody has been cheering for their entire lives, you kind of become one. “I’ve been on the other side and played the villain, now it's great to be on this. (Sportsmax)

Sarfraz slams "disgraceful" Ross Taylor in Hafeez action controversy S

arfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, has lashed out at Ross Taylor after the New Zealand batsman appeared to publicly question the legality of Mohammad Hafeez's bowling action during the first ODI in Abu Dhabi.

Taylor made the gesture at the end of Hafeez's first over, when he seemed to look directly at the umpires - or his partner Tom Latham - and mimicked delivering the ball with a bent arm. Whether or not it was an attempt to call attention to Hafeez's action, it enraged Sarfraz, who had a lengthy chat with the umpires, and had to be calmed down.

That wasn't the end of the episode as Sarfraz persisted with Hafeez, and kept exchanging comments with Taylor, looking none too happy with the New Zealand batsman. The umpires Shozab Raza and Joel Wilson eventually got involved and had a chat with Taylor.

Later, Sarfraz called Taylor's gesture "disgraceful". "I will say that Taylor's action was not correct," Sarfraz said in his post-match press conference. "It's not his job to

give (the) action which was shown on TV. It was disgraceful, for me.

"His job is to do batting and if he concentrates on that, it's better.

I complained to umpires that his action did not come under sportsmanship.

"Ross is a professional cricketer and he should not have done that. He did it two or three times - it's (the) umpires' job.

Hafeez's action has no problem and (Taylor) was trying to create an issue without a reason."

As well as how it impacts how the officials view Hafeez's ac-

tion, Taylor could face the possibility of sanctions himself. They may not relate to dissent but it could come under on-field behavior.

Pakistan a r e understood t o have spo-

ken to the match referee Javagal Srinath about it as well.

A similar incident had occurred in 2009 when Saeed Ajmal was called for a suspect action and he felt it had been the result of an opposition batsman - in that case, Australia's Shane Watson - who had directed the umpire's attention to the way he bowled his doosra.

That this one involves Hafeez makes it particularly uncomfortable for Pakistan.

The ICC has ruled his action illegal no fewer than four times in his career; three of them in the last four years.

Hafeez was first reported almost 14 years ago during an ODI tri-series in Australia in 2005.

Regulations concerning illegal actions were different back

then and he soon returned. In 2014, his action was reported during the Champions League T20, and then again following a Test match against New Zealand later that year. He was suspended from bowling after results indicated the flex of his elbow was more than the allowed 15 degrees.

Hafeez finally got to bowl again in April 2015, but a month later, he was back under the umpires' scanner. Since that constituted a second report in the space of two years with the first one resulting in a suspension - the ICC put his offspin on ice for 12 months.

Hafeez returned to bowling after his ban, clearing a test of his action in 2016, but the issue cropped up again leading to his latest suspension in October 2017. He eventually received a clean chit from the ICC in April 2018 and now, after a late call-up to Pakistan's squad for their ongoing home season, he has bowled 19 overs in one Test and six T20Is against Australia and New Zealand, without drawing any attention to his remodelled action before this. (ESPNcricinfo)

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sports

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MACORP, LGC strengthen link

M

a c h i n e r y Corporation of Guyana (MACORP) recently reassured the golf fraternity as well as the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) of its perpetual support for the development of the sport going forward.

During Wednesday’s launch of the 13th annual MACORP Open tournament, new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Guillermo Escarraga said during his remarks that the company was committed to golf. Under former MACORP Head Jorge Medina, who retired from his post a few months back, the sport as well as the LGC Course underwent big transformations.

Now Medina’s successor, who was introduced to the sport by his former boss and clubmate, has confirmed that the relationship and the overall drive to put golf on the map would continue into the foreseeable future.

“We have been working

MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga (left) and LGC President Aleem Hussain during Wednesday’s launch

with the LGC over the years and we’ve seen the development of golf in Guyana. This year we’ve decided to throw our support behind the Club, because we see that there is a lot of potential for golf, not only Guyanese but for foreigners who come and want to be part of this,” Escarraga said during Wednesday’s launching.

The machinery giant had

been behind the LGC for a while, but had really gotten into the core of refurbishing Guyana’s lone golf course, around this time last year when Medina donated millions in machinery equipment to aid in the drainage and irrigation project.

LGC President Aleem Hussain recently told Guyana Times Sport that he was happy with the pro-

longed relationship with MACORP, whom he believes was deserving of all the credit. He noted that were it not for the company’s kindness, then golfers would have not been able to play throughout the year while the course’s unstable condition might have gotten worse.

Escarraga, one of Guyana’s top golfers and winner of a few tournaments this year, believes that the sport brings individuals together. He also urged persons to get more involved with golf as he further advised the public to come out and support this weekend’s big event.

“Golf is a sport that brings about the best in every player and we really embrace the camaraderie that we enjoy at the golf course.

We want to put a lot of emphasis in this tournament, we want to make it big for everybody to enjoy,” ended the CEO. (Clifton Ross)

More than 200 countries to view ICC Women’s T20 T he International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced details ahead of Friday’s start to the ICC Women’s World T20 2018, which bowls off in Guyana.

For the first time ever the tournament has been separated from the men’s event, as it gave more to the identity and securing of a spot on the international cricket calendar. With action bowling off in Guyana at the Providence National Stadium with Friday’s triple-header, the ICC has released a bit of logistical info regarding the broadcasting of the monumental event across the globe.

Building on the momentum from last year’s ICC Cricket World Cup which broke all viewership records with 180 million people watching the final, the coverage is part of the ICC’s commitment to accelerating the growth of the women’s game.

It also reflects a growing demand for women’s cricket, 70 per cent of cricket’s one billion plus fans said they want-

ed more coverage of the women’s game in the recent ICC global market research project.

Head of Media Rights Broadcast and Digital, Aarti Singh Dabas said: “The ICC Women’s World Cup last year proved that there is huge demand for the women’s game. By providing extensive coverage of the pinnacle women’s event in the T20 format, we are catering to that growing demand from fans to have more and better coverage of women’s cricket.

“We are fortunate to have broadcast partners led by Star Sports who are committed to growing the women’s game and providing such broad coverage that will shine a light on new heroes and role models.”

The commentary line-up for the event features former India Captain Anjum Chopra, former Australia player Lisa Sthalekar, leading cricket broadcaster Melanie Jones, former England Captain Nasser Hussain, former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar and

former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop amongst others in the 14-member panel.

Star Sports, the ICC’s Global Broadcast Partner, and its licensees will bring coverage to fans across the world through live and highlights television coverage in close to 160 territories. Live digital coverage via simulcasts on mobile and other digital platforms like Hotstar in India and other parts of the world and channel apps such as ESPN Play in the host nation, will be available globally – in over 200 territories.

The 19 broadcast partners confirmed for the event include Star Sports (India and the rest of the Indian sub-continent); Sky Sports (United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland); SuperSport (South Africa and SubSaharan Africa); OSN (Middle East & North Africa); Fox Sports (Australia); Willow TV (USA); Sky TV (New Zealand); Ten Sports (Pakistan); ESPN (Caribbean); Gazi TV (Bangladesh); SLRC (Sri Lanka); Fox Networks Group

(South East Asia) and Digicel (Pacific Islands).

In addition, the semi-finals and final will be broadcast live in China via Star Sports China and the final broadcast live to certain territories in South East Asia. Short form nearlive digital clips will be available in 179 countries via 12 licensees, including Hotstar (India); BBC (UK & Ireland); ESPNcricinfo (UK & Australia); Cricbuzz (USA & Canada); OSN (MENA); Dialog (Sri Lanka); Cricinfo (Pakistan); Bongo (SE Asia); Cricket Gateway (SE Asia & Australia); Bolt (SE Asia); SKY (New Zealand) and Channel 2 Group (UK & Ireland, Europe, SubSaharan Africa, Caribbean, Australia and SE Asia).

The coverage, produced

by ICC TV, will see a minimum of 22 cameras at all three venues and the semi-finals and the final in Antigua will also see the use of a Spidercam – the first time the camera is being used for cricket in the Caribbean.

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FRIdAY, november 9, 2018

Turbo Knockout Football

Police maul Beacon on 2nd night of action T

he Guyana Police Force FC showed that they are intent on taking home the Turbo knockout tournament spoils, as they handed a crushing defeat to Beacon FC on the second night of competition.

The tournament, which is in its second year, saw a double portion of football action on Wednesday evening, as 16 teams battle in hopes of clinching the grand prize of $800,000.

The straight knockout format of the tournament poses a challenge for the participating teams of having to excel from the first game.

In Police’s case, they did just that, showing that the team still have some leftover momentum from the previous tournament which they won.

In the electrifying encounter, Deon Alfred was

minute. But Beacon’s reply was followed by a flurry of goals from Police players.

Manaset Primo completed his helmet-trick with goals in the 70th and 74th minutes. Stephan Ramsey later netted Police’s seventh and final goal for a 7-2 finish.

The other match of the night also held its own thrills as Santos FC met Buxton United’s Under-20 team. Santos’ scoring was opened by Samuel Dey in the 22nd minute and three minutes later, a mistake by

goal, which was followed by Anthio Wallace’s double. His brace pushed the lead to 4-1 for Police at halftime.

When the whistle sounded again, Beacon were the first to rejoice in the second half with a goal from Kiefer Brandt in the 60th

Batting key, as defending champs tackle focused Bangladesh

“Top Gun” Hopkinson and Dr Pravesh Harry excel at IPSC/Suriname Open 2018

Pravesh Harry receiving his trophy

L

ocal marksmen continued their fine form throughout 2018 as Guyanese Pravesh Harry and Harold “Top Gun” Hopkinson were among the top gunners in the 2018 International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Suriname Open, held at the MTC Shooting Ranges, Grankreekweg.

The Guyanese duo was among the top shooters at the annual event flocked by shooters from Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, French Guiana, Guyana and the hosts --Suriname. The 63-year-old Hopkinson, the IPSC Regional Director of the Guyana NRA, opted to rest from the Open Division, leaving his appetite open for the stern test of shooting his way to the number one spot in the Production Division, with the use of a CZ Shadow 2 semi-automatic pistol.

Meanwhile, Harry, the Director/Steel Challenge Chairperson of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF), who started shooting professionally some four years ago, shot his way to the bronze medal in the Production

Wilson finishing third. In the Standard Division, Ronald Brown (the High Overall Senior Production); Hopkinson and Harry, took first, second and third in the Production Division.

The Guyanese pair winged out to neighbouring Suriname Wednesday last via Gum Air ahead of Thursday’s and Friday’s scheduled training programme conducted

by Practical Shooting Grand Master, Jamaican Ronald “The Dragon” Brown.

Also, the Guyanese duo

Harold “Top Gun” Hopkinson poses with his winning trophy

Division.

Harry finished third behind more experienced shooters, with the homeboy Bruce Djosetiko shooting his way to the number one spot.

Second place was occupied by Suriname Open 2018 Match Director, veteran shooter Romano Adel. Yuhong Lee of Aruba took the Open Division from Surinamese favourite Desmond Chang, who placed second, with Andrew “Shaggy”

sent heartfelt regards to the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, DSS, DSM; Commissioner General of GRA, Godfrey Statia, MS; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force and President of the Guyana NRA, Brigadier Patrick West, MSS; Guyana NRA Small-bore Captain Dale Hing and Secure Innovations & Concepts who all made this tour possible.

The action will continue on Monday, November 12 with another two exciting games. It will be a clash of West Coast versus East Coast when Pouderoyen meet Buxton Stars in the first game of the night.

Then, Fruta Conquerors (Under-20) and Mahaica Determinators will close off the night of activities with their contest beginning at 20:00h. All matches are being played at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

2018 ICC WWT20 R1…

A glimpse of the contest between Santos (black and white) and Buxton United

the first player to find the back of the net, placing Beacon in an advantageous position. But their reign was short-lived as Manaset Primo of Police netted his team’s first goal in the 34th minute. Three minutes later, Beacon volleyed an own

Buxton saw Santos being rewarded with another goal.

Buxton then began to attack, but their efforts were not rewarded as they were unable to pierce the capable hands of Santos’ goalkeeper. Ronaldo Dover opened the second half with another precise shot for Santos and a while later in the 60th minute, Tyron Harper flashed a glimmer of hope for Buxton, but regulation time soon ran out on the youth team leaving the score at 3-1 in Santos’ favour.

Windies Vice Captain Hayley Matthews’s form will be crucial for the champs

By Clifton Ross

W

indies women will be gunning for a win in their opening International Cricket Council (ICC) World T20 title defence against the Bangladeshis under lights when their encounter bowls off from 20:00h at the Providence National Stadium, Guyana.

The defending champs lost to India by five wickets a few nights ago in their warmup match at Providence and with the practice match now history, it will be crucial for the Caribbean ladies to shrug off the woes and focus on getting back to their winning ways.

Batting will be the key for Windies, who have been in good form over the past few months. Much will revolve around their senior players: Captain Stafanie Taylor, all-rounder Deandra Dottin, Vice Captain Hayley Matthews, spinner Anisa Mohammed and others who have been the core of the team.

Matthews in particular could play a big role, as the opener scored her maiden hundred in the series versus South Africa which concluded a little before the Cup. The Bajan also top-scored against India the other day showing her aggression with a 37-ball 41 in a losing cause, but will be keen on continuing her form tonight.

Taylor, Guyanese batting star Shemaine Campbell, who is also in good nick; Natasha Mclean and others have been solid in the runs department during their campaigns leading up to the event. The champs will also strongly back their star-studded bowling department, which will be a force to reckon with by any side.

With the leg-spin twins – Mohammed, their most successful T20 bowler and her partner Afy Fletcher –coupled with Matthews’s part-time spin, the Windies have a strong slow-bowling clique. Fletcher and Mohammed will be X-factors as their experience and form have only improved heading into The World

Cup. Dottin remains a main player in both departments and her three-fer against the Indians in the warm-ups is a reminder of her class while Taylor and medium-pacer Shakera Selman will strongly support the seam unit.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, have adapted well to the Asian-like scenario as they showed skill and confidence by trouncing the Irish by a six-wicket margin in their warm-ups, to help get their campaign underway. The Tigers will be keen on capitalising on the outcome of their last game as well as their opponents for this evening.

Ayasha Rahman, Fargana Hoque, and Sanjida Islam were all amongst the runs against Ireland, showing their hunger as most of their top-order looked to be in good match form and they will need to be should they countera t tack a world-class Windies bowling attack.

The visitors will also feel joy when it comes to their bowlers as the ladies showed their adaptability on the local surface.

Rumana Ahmed, who snared three wickets and J a h a n a r a Alam, who grabbed two to complete an aggressive bowling outing, will need to maintain their form with the ball and look to contain a dangerous West Indies line-up.

Meanwhile, Friday’s triple-header at Providence bowls off from 11:00h with New Zealand battling India followed by the Aussies squaring off against Pakistan at 16:00h; before the grand finale under lights which bowls off from 20:00h.

Bangladesh’s Ayasha Rahman is among the key players in her side

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FRIdAY, november 9, 2018

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Stand-alone ICC Women’s World T20 tournament…

Let the games begin – 3 historic matches scheduled today at Providence stage from 14:30h at the Grass Mound (party-stand) to entertain the large crowd that is expected to support the Women’s World T20.

Transportation will not be an issue as shuttles will be used to transport the diehard cricket fans in the following areas: Albion, Unity, Mahaica, Corriverton, Rosignol, Soesdyke, Linden, Timehri and Parika. The exact points of pick-up will be publicised.

For individuals who did not have the opportunity to purchase tickets be-

Australia Captain Meg Lanning accompanied by the team manager

By Brandon Corlette

A

s the warm-up matches concluded, the official matches of the historic Stand-alone International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 tournament will bowl off today

at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, Guyana.

The first of the three matches that will be played today is scheduled for 11:00h with New Zealand taking on India. In the second match, Australia and Pakistan will battle at 16:00h, while the

most-anticipating and final match of the day is scheduled for 20:00h with World T20 champions West Indies playing Bangladesh.

It will be a carnival-like atmosphere today at the National Stadium with well-known Jamaican artiste Shenseea taking the

Chanderpaul positive about impact of Women’s T20 World Cup L

egendary Guyanese batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is looking forward to the next few days of cricket in Guyana, as he believes that the upcoming Women’s World T20 tournament will have a positive impact on female cricket in Guyana.

The West Indies Test stalwart, who has recently received an honorary doctorate from the University of West Indies, noted that he was looking forward to the competition that will run from November 9 to 24 as it will showcase some highclass cricket.

“It’s the first time we’re having something as big as this in the Caribbean, we’ve had regular World Cups but this is the first time for women. I’ve seen them play all over the globe already and I’ve seen the standard of cricket they’re playing and this is very good for us in the Caribbean, it’s really exciting,” Chanderpaul stated.

More so, the former West Indies batsman shared a little story of his childhood where he would engage in cricket games with his sister. ‘Devi’ as he affectionately called her, was said to have been a better player than the West Indies star.

When questioned about his sister’s career, “Tiger” explained that there weren’t any opportunities for female players at that time.

“There was no wom-

West Indies batting legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul

en’s cricket at that time in Guyana that much for her to carry on, when we were kids playing together she was actually better than me, it was just that there was no women’s cricket for her to continue playing,” Chanderpaul explained.

In this light, the batting legend went on to explain why he is of the opinion that the 11 preliminary games in Guyana will give young female cricketers a pattern to follow suit.

“We already have a lot of young female cricketers in Guyana and this inter-county tournament that just finished playing, the Essequibo girls won it. This is the perfect thing to have for them to see that there is a future for them if they want to pursue a career in cricket,” Chanderpaul noted.

He even had a bit of encouragement for those who have already been involved in the sport, but have put their careers on hold.

“This is the perfect opportunity for them to have a look and see how they can take their career forward.”

As such, “Tiger” encouraged cricket fans in Guyana to take the opportunity to witness the historic standalone Women’s World Cup at Providence Stadium, which begins today with three matches.

“It’s exciting and I think this is something everyone needs to see, the world needs come out and see what this is all about. I know it’s going to be broadcast around the world. You cannot miss it, you have to come and look at it,” Chanderpaul noted.

New Zealand Captain Amy Satterthwaite

Shenseea will be performing from 14:30h on the Grass Mound

fore-hand, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) office and Providence has tickets on sale from 09:00h to 17:00h daily. Additionally, daily vehicle passes are also available at $1000 each.

Ahead of New Zealand’s first match against India, the white fern’s skipper, Amy Satterthwaite spoke about the impor-

tance of their first match in a press conference held at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown, Guyana.

Satterthwaite explained that the teams in Group B are strong and in their match-up against India, they will have to be at the top of their game. The New Zealander added that her team would have to continuously make adjustments to their game since the pitches in the Caribbean, especially Guyana, will suit spin bowling. “We will have to improve on certain aspects of the game since West Indies exposed us in the warmup match”.

In conclusion, Satterthwaite noted that the Kia Super League (KSL) in England and the Women’s Big Bash League

(WBBL) in Australia have nurtured women’s cricket, and New Zealand have had discussions on creating a women’s cricket league.

Meanwhile, the consistent Australian team, who are among the teams favoured to win the tournament, will play Pakistan in the second match of the day.

“The conditions have been hot and humid in Guyana, but we have acclimatised quickly since we played cricket in similar conditions on the tour to Malaysia,” the Australian Captain noted. Lanning concluded at the press conference that T20 cricket was expected to change quickly and her team are prepared to play according to the game scenario.

FRIdAY, november 9, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Stand-alone ICC Women’s World T20 tournament…

Page 23

Let the games begin – 3 historic matches scheduled today at Providence

Chanderpaul positive about impact of Women’s T20 World Cup

Turbo Knockout Football

Police maul Beacon on 2nd night of action Page 22

A glimpse of the contest between Santos (black and white) and Buxton United

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