Guyana Times October 30, 2018

Education Ministry commissions $12M ICT labs P 14

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

Issue No. 3731

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Royston King attempts to halt CoI Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

LGE 2018

P7 GECOM adamant it’s on schedule – promises to deliver results within 24 hours

…files motion questioning legality

President David Granger unwell

Page 9

Linden man jailed for causing P14 woman’s death

…heads to Cuba for medical examination Man charged for rape of schoolgirl P9

Agri Minister greeted by protesting Essequibo Coast rice farmers

…concessions off the table – Holder Page 10

‘CANU’ ranks strip search La Penitence family

Page … any rank guilty of 15 unofficial searches will be fired – CANU Head

Woman dies after cop crashes into light post

Page 7

Mother sues Govt, Police for son’s wrongful death Page 2

…wants $10M compensation

Aviation sector's investigative P14 capacity boosted

Sovereign Wealth Fund

Jordan’s position as “spender P10 and saver” questioned

3 Policemen jailed for accepting $6M bribe P14

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tuesdAY, october 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mother sues Govt, Police for son’s wrongful death …wants $10M compensation

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ix years after losing her son, Shaquille Grant, who was allegedly gunned down at the hands of Police, Shonette Adams, who mounted civil proceedings in the High Court against the State and the implicated Police Officers, is seeking over $10 million in damages.

One of the ranks implicated in the shooting was killed in 2014 in a foiled robbery attempt; another was placed on an international wanted list while the other accused was acquitted of the lad’s murder in 2015.

In a writ against the Attorney General of Guyana, and Policemen Warren Blue, Jamal Lewis and Terrance Wallace, the applicant, on behalf of her son’s estate, is suing the named parties over what she contends was her son’s wrongful death on September 11, 2012. She is seeking exemplary damages in the sum of $10 million, interest, and costs in her December 18, 2014 suit. Exemplary damages, also called punitive damages, are usually awarded when the defendant’s acts are deemed “malicious, violent, oppressive, fraudulent, wanton or grossly reckless”.

Adams is also seeking damages in excess of $ 100,000 each for her son’s wrongful death; for assault and battery meted out to him; and for the breach of Grant’s fundamental right not to be deprived of his life as guaranteed by Article 138 of Guyana’s Constitution.

If these damages are granted, they would amount to more than $300,000 in total.

The 17-year-old young man

Dead teen: Shaquille Grant

was shot dead at Caesar Street in his home village of Agricola, Greater Georgetown, and the Police’s version of events was that they were chasing him and his friends when one of them, Romel Bollers, shot at ranks, who returned fire, causing Grant’s demise.

Blue, Lewis and Wallace were all charged for the teen’s murder, but Wallace was the only one who stood trial for the killing. Denying that he was the one who shot Grant, Wallace was acquitted in a 2015 High Court trial during which he had given sworn evidence, telling Justice Navindra Singh and the jury that he saw Grant, Bollers, Troy Greenidge, Nicholas Eastman, and Jamal Henry, called “Tuna”, in a yard and he instructed that they “freeze”, having informed them that he was a Police Officer. Wallace said that it was then that Bollers shot at him.

Bollers had, however, maintained this was not true, claiming that neither he nor any of his friends opened fire

Mother of the dead teen, Shonette Adams

on the Police, nor did they have a weapon in their possession.

Two days before Grant’s mother filed her claim in 2014, wanted Policeman Blue along with an accomplice was shot and killed by fellow Police Officers in a foiled robbery at a Montrose, East Coast Demerara supermarket.

Jamal Lewis was meanwhile placed on the world’s largest international Police organisation’s wanted list as he and the now deceased Blue evaded jail time for the teen’s killing. The boy’s mother is being represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes.

The trial commenced on September 26, 2018 and current Attorney General Basil Williams was a no-show on that occasion. However, a lawyer from within the AG’s Chambers, Tiffany Castello, appeared and requested an adjournment. As such, the matter was called on Monday, and was expected to continue on November 22, 2018 before Justice Gino Persaud.

news

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tuesdAY, october 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, October 30 – 09:30h-11:00h and Wednesday, October 31 – 10:30h-12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, October 30 – 08:30h-10:00h and Wednesday, October 31 – 09:50h-11:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals can be expected during the day, interrupted by light to thundery showers in the late morning to early afternoon hours, with clear skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 08:23h and 20:41h reaching maximum heights of 2.36 metres and 2.40 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:11h reaching a minimum height of 0.93 metre.

SaturDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

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24 27 28

FREE TICKET

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MonDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2018 DAILY MILLIONS

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Royston King attempts to halt CoI …files motion questioning legality …challenge overruled

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oyston King, Town Clerk of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC), has been unsuccessful in his attempt on Monday to obstruct the work of the Commission of Inquiry into City Hall’s operations by filing an affidavit challenging the legality of its establishment.

Chairman of the CoI, Justice (Retd) Cecil Kennard, ruled that the probe was duly constituted, and in accordance with provisions made under the Local Government Commission Act and supplementary laws.

Having been Town Clerk of the M&CC for some three years, King has been subpoenaed to present himself for questioning. He turned up on Monday with his attorney, Maxwell Edwards, at the Critchlow Labour College, where proceedings of the CoI are taking place. A five-page affidavit was submitted, which questioned the manner in which the inquiry was established, and its legality.

“In terms of the affidavit, it says that…the Commission must be declined jurisdiction to conduct this inquiry, and the basis to that is, I would submit, that this Commission is void and a nullity on two grounds,” the Town Clerk’s attorney said.

Edwards’s argument is that the Local Government Commission Act does not permit for an investigation to be delegated to a Commission of Inquiry, but only that of a local authority.

He also alluded to the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, which states that Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan is responsible for establishing such an investigation. He further stated that this was not done, since the Local Government Commission was the respective body that launched the investigation.

“The first (point of contention) is the jurisdictional ground, and that has to do with the interpretation of Section 14 (1) and (2) of the Local Government Commission Act, under which this Commission has been established,” said Edwards.

Further, he added, “Having a right under the eighth schedule [of Chapter 28:01] to establish a Commission. Certainly, this is not a Commission established by the Minister [of Communities].”

However, submission from the Commission’s lawyer, Everton Singh Lammy, is that the CoI was established legitimately under provisions made by the Local Government Commission Act, and the appeal was effectively dismissed by evidence presented in Section 14.

He further noted that sections of Chapter 28:01 were exercised in the Local Government Commission Act. Singh-Lammy referenced from the Act and stated, “For the purpose of the exercise and discharge of its function, the Commission shall have the power to initiate and conduct investigations into the activities of any local government organ.

“For the purpose of dealing with matters before it, the Commission shall have

Commission?” Edwards questioned, seemingly upset while holding a newspaper that had

matters which were highlighted at the prior sessions. These include the no-confidence mo-

Royston King at Monday’s proceedings. Also in photo is Chairman of the CoI, Retired Justice Cecil Kennard

all the powers to submit witnesses, and all the privileges and immunities as vested in a Commission appointed under the Commission of Inquiry Act,” Section 14 (2) continues.

Provided with concrete evidence, the Chairman ruled, “The magnitude of such an investigation demands that the inquiry be conducted by a trained legal person, and not lay persons who are commissioners of the Local Government Commission; and one would have to adopt a realistic approach and examine all the relevant sections.

Does that mean that the Local Government Commission cannot delegate some of its functions? Surely not. That would be adopting a very narrow view.

“I’ve been spending a lot of time looking at the various legislation, statutes, and I’ve come to the conclusion that this Commission of Inquiry was properly set up.”

In an effort to shortcut the Town Clerk’s time on the evidence stand, Edwards disclosed that King was concerned about whether he would get justice from the inquiry. This was because historical records were examined by Justice Kennard after it was disclosed that King had instructed for those documents to be removed from the archives.

“These are books of historical purposes that date back to 1843. What relevance would that have…with a

the story inked on the front page.

Those doubts were laid to rest by the retired Justice, who outlined that to conduct a proper investigation, the issues that were brought to attention must corroborate at all angles to ensure that ideal recommendations are made. Additionally, he said, the state of affairs of these books needed to be examined as well.

Representing the Commission, Attorney-atLaw Sherwin Benjamin remedied the situation by denoting, “You would appreciate that the Commission of Inquiry have to make recommendations on what is the truth, what evidence came out. We decided that out of abundance of caution, we have to investigate and ensure either side, because the information we got was conflicting.”

Royston King has again been summoned to the CoI, where on Friday he will answer questions regarding several

tion that was dismissed after opinions were sought from his lawyer, and the land owned by NICIL which was leased to a shipping company.

No apology

Prior to commencement of the session, Justice Kennard said he was standing by the words he had directed towards Mayor Patricia Chase-Green when she had attempted to create a disturbance during her cross-examination on Friday last.

Justice Kennard has been a lawyer for 56 years, during which time he had also served as State Counsel, High Court Judge, Justice of Appeal and Chancellor of the Judiciary.

Moreover, he had been seconded to serve as Director of Public Prosecutions in Antigua and Barbuda.

Additionally, he has been conferred with the following National Awards: The Order of Roraima (OR) and the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH).

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

Solutions urgently needed

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ecently, Public Security Minister and 3rd Vice President, Khemraj Ramjattan, said he may be out of options with regard to prison security. Such a statement has worrisome implications not just for the security of prisons, but potentially for the country as a whole. Under Mr Ramjattan’s watch, there were a number of prison riots, including one that led to a fire which killed seventeen inmates and another that completely destroyed the Camp Street penitentiary.

Just a few weeks ago, there was yet another at the Lusignan Prison, which led to the escape of a few inmates while eight others were later shot. Any prison uprising is cause for concern, and the plethora of such incidents since Mr Ramjattan’s tenure as Security Minister may very well be the most for any similar length of time compared to his predecessors.

That lends itself for national concern and for the immediate implementation of necessary corrective measures. Equally worrying is the minister’s pronouncement that nothing much can be done at this time pertaining to the situation at Lusignan.

He cited that request for funding for construction of prisons was rejected. It naturally begs the question: what happens from now and until something can actually be done?

With the ongoing spate of crime, his comments, even though they may be factual, offer little or no comfort to those who continue to suffer at the hands of bandits. Recently, the Police announced that incidents of rape and robberies have increased, which confirm the populace suspicions of crime increasing. Many are now helpless in the face of criminal onslaughts, with some being raped in the presence of family members.

To say that such horrific incidents are humiliating and emotionally devastating would be a gross understatement. They can be seen as symptomatic of the failure to effectively address the growing crime situation. Some believe that there is a lack of concern over what some citizens are forced to endure. Also, concerns continue to grow over how deportees with criminal backgrounds are processed and integrated into society. Many fear that some may be involved, and have possibly brought a new dimension to the execution of crime.

That said, if places of incarceration are not secured, it would not only have a disturbing impact on citizens, but it has potential to erode confidence and enthusiasm of those within law enforcement itself. In other words, motivation to pursue criminals could possibly wane if there is a belief that the confinement of prisoners can be regularly breached. The impact of the statement that nothing much can be done at this time at Lusignan cannot therefore be treated lightly.

While there is no argument over the obvious challenges the Guyana Prison Service face with regard to the security of prisons, the Minister’s statement can be construed in some way as throwing in the towel, and a blow to morale, as options in his mind appear non-existent. While that may not be his thinking, it’s difficult not to point that out. No subject minister -- and by extension no Government -- can afford to give up on situations like that when people’s lives are at stake.

No country, especially one that stands to potentially break new economic grounds, can afford to even convey such an impression.

Alternative solutions must be robustly pursued; and while the harsh realities have to be conveyed to the citizenry, there must be a sense of real optimism and hope.

Law enforcement agencies must be continually encouraged, and ways found to mitigate their challenges. This will help to boost confidence both in them and in residents. It was reported that St Kitts recently deployed forces from the Regional Security System, citing that criminal activities threaten to derail the country’s advancement, human development and economic progress.

While this does not suggest that be implemented here, it shows the acceptance of the gravity of the situation and a willingness to explore alternative measures to safeguard people.

The Government that Mr Ramjattan represents, in the 2015 campaign, convinced the populace of its prowess for national security, including combating crime. What transpired since has caused many to question that promise of comfort in some securityrelated matters. Given the accusations they levelled against the previous administration, some are convinced that things have now gotten worse.

For one: the main prison has been destroyed by fire, and a similar attempt was made on another, which now seems prone to unrest and escape. Secondly: there are daily reports of criminal activities, some with fatalities on the part of the victims. It’s a constant barrage on people’s mindset, as criminals operate with impunity, executing brazen robberies from which no law-abiding citizen feels a sense of insulation.

This has a telling impact on all, as fear builds and hovers.

Naturally, it is also counterproductive to development, as investors are more concerned with a crime-free or low-crime environment.

This is where a vision for both short-term and long-term solutions becomes imperative. The longer this takes, the more fear and despondency would grow. This is what the Honourable Minister needs to fully understand, if he does not.

These students of the Eccles Primary, East Bank Demerara testing out their computer skills on Monday during the commissioning of an Information Technology lab at their school (Dexter Ceres photo)

“Where’s his body?” Khashoggi’s fiancée demands justice ...Hatice Cengiz tells London event in memory of slain Journalist that she believes Saudis know where his remains are

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atice Cengiz, Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée, has addressed a memorial for the slain Journalist in London.

The event in the British capital was attended by politicians, Journalists and activists.

Cengiz said Khashoggi “felt it was his duty to be the voice of the voiceless”, before repeating her demand for justice to be served.

“I want the role of the political leadership in this brutal killing to be brought to light. I want justice for Jamal,” she told the crowd.

“I call upon the conscience of humanity and the international community, please help us to reveal the truth and hold the perpetrators and their masters to account for their crimes.

“I want to bury the body of the beloved Jamal. Therefore, I am asking once again, where is his body? I believe that the Saudi regime knows where his body is. They should answer my demand. For this is not only the demand of a fiancée, but a human and Islamic demand from everyone, every nation.

“I want justice to be served. Not only for those who murdered my beloved Jamal, but for those who organised it and gave the order of it. These questions are not just my questions, they are now being asked by millions.”

Last week, speaking to Turkish media, Cengiz said she had declined an invitation by the White House, saying she perceived US President Donald Trump’s move to be “a statement to win public favour”.

During her speech in London, Cengiz said: “President Trump should help reveal the truth and ensure justice be served. He should not pave the way for a cover-up of my fiancée’s murder. Let’s not let money taint our conscience and compromise our values.

“There should be no cover-up. Jamal was my beloved fiancée, but he was also a gentle human being, a loving man, a journalist and true believer in freedom and democracy in the Arab world. Let’s demand justice for Jamal and stand up for his ideals.”

Turkey ‘unsatisfied’ following meeting with Saudi Prosecutor – sources

Sources have told Al Jazeera that Istanbul’s Chief Prosecutor’s office was left “unsatisfied” following a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s top prosecutor over Khashoggi’s killing.

HSBC chief: Khashoggi case likely to have only “limited impact” on Saudi economy

Saud al-Mojeb, who arrived in Istanbul from Riyadh on Sunday, had been expected to provide testimonies from the 18 suspects being held in Saudi Arabia, but according to the sources he did not.

Turkey called for the suspects to be extradited from the Kingdom, saying their alleged use of a local collaborator in the killing was a legitimate reason for them to face trial on Turkish soil.

Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Istanbul, said the meeting, which lasted around 75 minutes, “didn’t go well because each party had its own expectation about what it wanted from the other side”.

He added: “The Turkish Government wanted the top Saudi Prosecutor to deliver more information from the 18 suspects, particularly on who gave the order to kill Jamal Khashoggi, and about the [missing] body,” he said.

“Meanwhile, the Saudis were hoping to hear more from the Turkish investigator about the ‘strong evidence’ it has on the case.

Our correspondent added: “It’s now likely that the Saudi Prosecutor will return to the Kingdom for further consultation with the country’s top political leadership.

“After that, we’ll receive more clarity about whether there will be cooperation or strained relations between the Saudis and the Turks.”

Shortly after the meeting ended, Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the sharing of information between Saudi and Turkish Prosecutors would be useful and that Saudi Arabia should conclude the investigation into Khashoggi’s killing as soon as possible.

He also called on Saudi Arabia to reveal “the whole truth” regarding the killing of the Journalist, Reuters news agency reported.

HSBC’s Chief Executive, John Flint, said Saudi Arabia is unlikely to see any significant impact on its trade and investment flows following Khashoggi’s killing.

Speaking to Reuters news agency on Monday, Flint acknowledged that the case had damaged the Kingdom’s reputation internationally, but that any negative feeling will likely not be reflected in trade.

“It has been a difficult few weeks for the Kingdom, this has not been good for Saudi Arabia.

“I understand the emotion around the story, but it is very difficult to think about disengaging from Saudi Arabia given its importance to global energy markets,” he said.

UK knew of Saudi plot to kidnap Khashoggi three weeks before killing – Express

Britain’s Sunday Express newspaper is reporting that the United Kingdom was made aware of a plot to kidnap Khashoggi and take him back to Saudi Arabia, three weeks before he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

An intelligence source told the Sunday Express: “We were initially made aware that something was going on in the first week of September, around three weeks before Mr Khashoggi walked into the Consulate on October 2.

“These details included primary orders to capture Mr Khashoggi and bring him back to Saudi Arabia for questioning. However, the door seemed to be left open for alternative remedies to what was seen as a big problem.

“We know the orders came from a member of the royal circle, but have no direct information to link them to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

The source added that MI6 had warned their Saudi counterparts to cancel the mission, though this request was ignored.

“On October 1, we became aware of the movement of a group, which included members of Riasat Al-Istikhbarat Al-Amah (Saudi Arabia’s General Intelligence) to Istanbul, and it was pretty clear what their aim was.

“Through channels, we warned that this was not a good idea. Subsequent events show that our warning was ignored.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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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

Audit reports Companies like Stabroek TV Inc would benefit from the copyright legislation can boost accountability and efficiency if Govt takes them seriously Dear Editor, The recently released Auditor General reports indicate a troubling state of public financial management across public agencies, including Government ministries and regional administrations. There are numerous cases of financial mismanagement, breaches of public procurement laws, and management inefficiencies that are draining scarce public resources. For the fiscal year 2017, taxpayers lost more than $1 billion in overpayments to contractors, payments for goods without any vouchers, and payments for goods that were not delivered, according to the report. A review of audit reports from previous years suggests that these problems are systemic, deeply entrenched, and are costing taxpayers billions over the years. This raises the question of whether lawmakers pay attention to these findings and whether their commitment is to ensure taxpayers money is used transparently and efficiently to benefit society.

Public audits are meant to provide lawmakers and taxpayers with an assessment of how well public agencies deliver public services, whether they have operated within their budgets, and more importantly, whether they have executed their functions, consistent with good public financial management practices.

Audits, therefore, can be used as a tool to identify and tackle inefficiency, mismanagement, waste, and fight corruption, if lawmakers take them seriously and act on their recommendations.

Taxpayers foot the bill of $750 million a year on average to finance the operations of the Audit Office of Guyana. Not taking these audits and their recommendations seriously, and holding agency heads accountable, amount to encouraging the abuse of public resources and the non-compliance of good public financial management practices.

It also undermines public trust and confidence in the Government.

As a poor country, there is not enough money to pay for all of society’s needs at once. Every year, the government takes on billions of dollars in new debt to supplement tax revenues in order to finance its budget’s priorities. Tax revenues are monies taxpayers pay upfront, while debts are mon-

ies they must repay in the future. These are monies people are giving to the government to use in a sensible way that will benefit the society and build a strong economy. It is incumbent on the Government to ensure these funds are used in a transparent and efficient manner, and in full compliance of public financial management laws.

When public resources are mismanaged, wasted, or used for corrupt activities, taxpayers are not only robbed of the benefits of their taxed dollars, but still must repay all debts.

The Government which currently has control over parliament has the ultimate authority to enforce existing regulations, or implement new rules and regulations that will reign in mismanagement and abuse of taxpayers’ money. The Public Accounts Committee, a parliamentary sub-committee, which has oversight of the audit office lacks the authority to enforce fiscal management and accountability rules and regulations.

The Audit Act of 2004 empowers the Auditor General to request the Director of Public Prosecution and Commissioner of Police to take appropriate action and prosecute offenders where he believes an offense was committed. Unfortunately, the definition of what constitutes an ‘offense’ in the Act does not include the mismanagement and abuse of public funds, the violation of public procurement laws, or corruption. The current lack of enforcement and the failure to hold agency heads and other public officials accountable, contribute to the persistent and severity of mismanagement, abuse and waste.

Lawmakers can disagree on policy priorities and how best to move the country forward. What they should not disagree on is ensuring taxpayers’ money are used efficiently and transparently to address public needs.

The Guyana Budget Policy Institute urges lawmakers on both sides of the house to take necessary and immediate actions to stop the abuse and mismanagement of public resources.

Sincerely, Boamattie Singh CFO and Finance Analyst Guyana Budget Policy Institute

Dear Editor, Stabroek News’ editorial on Monday, October 29, 2018, provided for interesting reading, more so given that some arguments proffered were not contextually based, not fully at least.

The editorial, in stressing the need for copyright legislation, took issue with comments made by former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and raised several points.

The former president is quoted to have said: “We are a poor developing country.

Wait until such time in the future when people can afford to pay for the copyrighted stuff. That is how I see it. It may not sound like the most enlightened position given that you have international treaties and stuff but half of those treaties don’t protect us small countries. They don’t protect our interests”.

One, the editorial talks about photocopied text books and the need for copyright legislation to stop this practice. I have a simple question for the author of that editorial, when one text book costs thousands of dollars and many low-income families survive on a minimum of $15,000 a week, how are people sending their children to school? I would vote for a government that reduces burdens on families trying to make a better life for their children, over one that would do the opposite, any day. Already the $10,000 cash grant to help with trans-

portation for children has been taken away and in total that was about $1.6 billion a year. So how can the former president be wrong when he advocates for a delay in passing copyright legislation until people can afford to pay for the copyrighted stuff?

Two, Stabroek News states that the under the former President’s tenure “Guyana’s development languished and the country” and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is to be blamed for economy’s performance.

Editor, most all of Guyana is aware of the fact that Guyana’s economy under the Jagdeo presidency saw consistent economic growth and saw Guyana being one of the fastest growing economies in the Caribbean. Also, it was under a PPP government that Guyana was reclassified from being a Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) country.

Three, Stabroek News argues that the absence of copyright legislation will undermine international commitments, for example under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). However, as I said earlier, the arguments raised are not completely grounded in the context of real time occurrences. Legislation does not guarantee compliance by countries that sign onto treaties. As recent as June 2018, Antigua and Barbuda was

still battling with the United States of America (USA) to have it comply with a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling. Antigua and Barbuda went to the WTO in 2003 and eventually won the right to compensation of $21 million annually after the WTO judges upheld its complaint that USA laws were discriminatory. The USA has not paid and Antigua and Barbuda have lost $315 million so far, equivalent to more than a quarter of its annual GDP and less than 0.1 per cent of the U.S. economy, according to a Reuters report on June 22, 2018.

Four, the editorial said that the former president is “rushing to the aid of the same oligarchs” who would be in immediate jeopardy once legislation is updated. Who are the oligarchs? Are the schoolchildren, the hundreds of thousands of Guyanese who will be affected and the small vendors the oligarchs that Stabroek News is referring to?

The only oligarch here seems to be Stabroek TV Inc., which has a monopoly with the distribution of DirecTV. It is companies like Stabroek TV Inc that would benefit once the copyright legislation in place. The cost charged to set this up is a whopping 45,000, plus a monthly fee.

How much more will this cost increase once legislation is in place? How much more revenues will the company

rake in? So is this argument about some companies being made to pay more? Or about Stabroek TV Inc being able to make more?

Fifthly, editor, copyright legislation is not just about the DVDs and music, as the Stabroek News tries to focus on. It is also about software.

Has Stabroek News paid monies to Microsoft for using its ‘Word’ and other software, such as the very expensive Adobe Creative Suites? Has Stabroek News paid for its Servers’ operating system, as well as operating systems for users? Has Stabroek News paid for the software, which is used in the press department and needed to allow for the printing of its daily newspaper? Has Stabroek News paid for its anti-virus software? I have to point out that these are not one-off payments that have to be made. Payments for this software are either monthly or yearly subscriptions. There must be an acknowledgement that there are wider impacts to the proposal to implement copyright legislation.

Finally, the Stabroek News editorial created the impression that nothing was said by the former president about protecting local content. The former president said clearly: “We should protect the copyrighted material for our local artists.”

Sincerely, Kumar Kowlessar

GWI is lucky Guyanese do not actively sue for damages Dear Editor, Guyana has earned its name from the Amerindians, meaning “Land of Many Waters”. Ironically, in this land of many waters, that precious, supposedly colorless mineral, has become the most abused, wasted and expensive commodity.

Just over a year ago, I had reason to publicise a Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) billing issue. Senior management and executives subsequently met with me over it. I presented my facts, and the issue, which had greater reach than my simple highlight, was acknowledged and efforts were subsequently made to correct it.

My publicity of the GWI issue did not go down well with some persons and even resulted in minor collateral damage. A once close friend, who was closely linked to the GWI executives, took offence to my actions and our friendship dissipated over the ensuing months. In life, you win some and you lose some.

GWI’s operation, is again the subject of my attention. On October 19, 2018 at 12:11h, I sent a video and photograph of a leaking water main located in a North-Eastern section of Georgetown to the GWI Facebook Account. All relevant details were provided. My message was read by someone at the GWI at 12:12h- one minute later- the

same day. To date, the water main continues to leak. I estimate that thousands of gallons of water have been wasted over the months since the main first started leaking, although some ingenious resident in the area placed an old bucket over the breakage to prevent the water from sprouting into the air.

Hundreds more gallons of water may have been wasted since I took my precious time and effort in a public-spirited gesture to inform the GWI via its fancy Facebook public interface over a week ago. Is GWI really serious about its PR, advertisements, and appeals for members of the public to report breakages and leaking water mains?

I am no stranger to this type of culture of inaction in my hydrophilic country, but it is stifling to absorb the hypocrisy and even animosity that some in the corporate arena develop when the public media is engaged in such matters, which invariably expose their apparent slighting attitudes or incompetence.

The people at GWI may, again, be unhappy with this missive, notwithstanding their untimeliness in addressing my report of the leakage. If acted upon, the entity will undoubtedly avert the unnecessary spending of hundreds of thousands of dollars in water wastage, as well as restore full water pressure

to consumers in the affected areas.

Some other time I will address the issue of that orangeish-brown colour of the water, which permanently stains everything it comes into contact with, from linens to toi-

lets and sanitary ware. GWI is lucky to be operating in a country where persons do not actively sue for damages.

Yours faithfully, Orette Cutting

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By Sean Grover

W

hat can we do to help empower girls in today’s world?

How can we help them to develop self-worth?

I sat down with Yoon Im Kane, a Yale-trained psychotherapist and the founder and executive director at Mindful Psychotherapy Services, a private outpatient therapy centre with offices based in Manhattan.

Yoon is passionate about therapy and women empowerment. Here’s what she had to say: We’ve trained girls to be nice and sweet. We rewarded girls who show empathy and cooperation. Now, we have an issue on our hands.

Young women are confused and conflicted about how to be there for others while also taking care of themselves. This is evident in the thoughts that arise from young women in my practice: “Sometimes I don’t speak up when I don’t want to do something because I want people to like me.”

“I don’t want to be difficult and cause problems, so I act responsible and cooperative even when I don’t feel like it.”

“I get resentful when I sell myself out by taking care of other people’s needs instead of listening to mine.”

From a young age, women receive messages about how to be nice, compliant, accommodate others, and gain approval, both from the families and the com-

Foundation

munities they grow up in.

Messages are often subtle and not conscious. They can sound like: Be nice to your brother. Don’t interrupt.

Stop being so dramatic. Why are you being so difficult?

Don’t you care how I feel?

These messages can hinder women’s natural development of a sense of selfworth and entitlement.

Healthy self-worth involves cultivating a level of self-acceptance that validates a full range of desires and feelings. Healthy entitlement requires self-compassion, accepting negative feelings without self-criticism, and making mistakes without shame. Not developing self-worth and entitlement early on can lead to heartache as girls grow into women.

Bolster girls’ sense of self

Life is full of upsand-downs and while we can’t prevent the downs, how can we provide the right nutrients to bolster girls’ sense of self early on in ways that will insulate them later in life?

Empowerment is best modelled in the environment.

Most learning comes from what’s demonstrated moment-to-moment.

Opportunities abound in daily interactions with your daughter. For example, sometimes your daughter

doesn’t feel like being nice to her brother, seems angry for no reason, or refuses to join a family gathering. You may tell her to behave and stop being difficult. Whether she refuses or complies, consider that she also hears a disempowering message that harmony and keeping peace is more important than what she feels and wants.

This doesn’t mean you can’t have expectations and set bound- a r -

ies. Setting healthy limits will foster her sense of selfworth. When you try to understand the source of her feelings and help her put them into words, she will feel empowered to express herself.

For example, when you are annoyed at your teen’s interactions with her brother, saying something like, “You seem really angry at your brother, I totally get that.” This statement helps her feel understood and accepted. It’s important to support her in expressing her feelings constructively and negotiating conflict.

Validating her feelings and helping her communicate them effectively is empowering.

Young women today are growing up in a culture in which people may be uncomfortable with woman expressing feelings like anger. This sets up a dichotomy where the cost of feeling powerful and expressive is a loss of connection and belonging.

Encouraging messages about “girl power” a n d women’s

rights are juxtaposed with our public debate over issues of gender and power in which women’s voices are not always equally valued.

What can parents do to help empower their daughters? Here’re three suggestions:

Foster healthy entitlement

Encourage your daughter to express needs and provide opportunities for her to make real choices. Girls need to feel that their needs are worth just as much as others, even if they don’t get what they want. Help them tolerate disappointments.

Healthy entitlement grows from balancing self-care with caring for others.

Teach boundary setting

Too often girls are taught to take on the burden of other people’s feelings. Help your daughter to set healthy boundaries by saying no when she feels uncomfortable. She can stay connected in relationships without complying with demands

or becoming a caretaker. Relationships are more about give and take and negotiation rather than requirements.

Nurture self-worth

When adults share their feelings and own up to their mistakes, they are great role models for their children.

They are demonstrating the courage to be vulnerable. Validating your daughter’s feelings has big rewards. Teenagers are going through a confusing phase of life – it makes a big difference to them that you recognise their struggle.

Teaching and modelling compassion and acceptance of vulnerable feelings is crucial. Supporting healthy communication and inviting girls to make healthy choices that foster new beliefs offers opportunities to test out new ways of being. These experiences will embolden your daughter and give her the confidence to counter dysfunctional cultural norms. (psychologytoday.com)

Continued from MONDAY

By Alison Escalante, MD

The idea that one small thing will alter our child’s destiny forever is driving us crazy.

We come to parenthood vulnerable and open for advice, looking for guidance. But the culture around us values getting it right as a parent so highly, we get swept away by anxiety. We respond to that anxiety by looking for the right things we should be doing, but there are thousands of sources to sift through. So we tend to do what our neighbours are doing.

Have you ever tried relaxing about your kids? Doesn’t somebody show up to tell you you’re doing it wrong? Your Facebook feed, a news story, a neighbour?

We are up against paralysing parenting anxiety that cuts us off from connection with our kids, even when we know that connection and attachment is supposed to be the most important thing.

The moment I started in paediatric practice 10 years ago, I knew there was a problem. My older colleagues commented daily on how anxious parents were and how it was getting worse every year. “What is going on?” They asked.

Recently, Alex Williams wrote in The Independent that “… anxiety is starting to seem like a sociological condition... a shared cultural experience that feeds on alarmist CNN graphics and metastasises through social media.”

It’s a shouldstorm

The moment that parenthood approaches, we get pulled into a storm of shoulds. We should do this, we should do that. And we definitely should not do that other thing. It makes us anxious and restless. It drives us to work very hard for our kids, but it steals our joy. We are told that everything we do matters, and that we will harm our kids if we mess up. For just a moment, if we can step out of the shouldstorm, we might notice that twinkle in our child’s eye when they notice something interesting.

And that’s where life really happens. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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LGE 2018

GECOM adamant it’s on schedule

– promises to deliver results within 24 hours

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he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is denying suggestions that it is behind schedule in its preparation for Local Government Elections.

It has noted that, on the contrary, ballot boxes are under Police guard and are ready to be set up ahead of disciplined services ranks (D Day) voting.

The GECOM position was articulated by Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield at a press conference on Monday. He explained that GECOM would be prepositioning the ballot boxes at locations around the country to aid in ease of movement for November 2, when Police, army and fire service ranks would turn out to vote early.

This includes prepositioning ballot boxes at locations in E Division, which would cater to ranks in Mackenzie, Wismar, Mabura, Ituni and Kwakwani. Boxes will also be prepositioned in places like Bartica, to cater for guards from the Mazaruni prison to vote.

“Going westward, we will be prepositioning ballots for ranks at Leguan, because ranks at Leguan and Sans Souci will be voting at Leguan. And going further west, in G Division, we will be prepositioning (boxes) at Anna Regina to take care of the ranks,” Lowenfield said.

“We’ll be going as far west as St Mary’s Police station up the Essequibo River.

So while D-Day is intended to be on the second, we are

LGE

From left: GECOM PRO Yolanda Warde, GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield and DCEO Roxanne Myers

prepositioning for the ease of movement on D-Day, so that the inordinate time associated with movement will be minimised,” Lowenfield explained.

He noted that preparations for the disciplined services to vote are well advanced.

In addition, Lowenfield reported that he had held meetings with stakeholders earlier on Monday. He revealed that he has also advised them on the process for nominating agents and scrutineers.

A total of 10,700 polling day staff has been trained.

Lowenfield noted that they would be employed and carry out mock polls as practise. And in light of concerns about the time it would take to tabulate results, the CEO assured that results should be provided in 24 hours.

But when it comes to polling stations, Lowenfield revealed that GECOM has

1,674 polling stations. He noted that private residences would also be used as polling stations. In fact, there are some 272 of those.

Lowenfield explained that the Commission had invited comments from the commissioners on the suitability of the residences, but, for some time, none has been forthcoming.

“At the level of the commission, I did indicate the areas they are located and asked if there are any comments, meaning negative comments. I have not received any negatives, so we’re moving to confirm those locations,” he explained.

“The posting of polls: we have started, and that will be completed on November 2; so all electors will know, approximately 10 days prior to elections, the locations they will be voting. So the exercise has started. In my engagement this morning with

Woman dies after cop crashes into light post A hot and sunny Monday turned deadly when 27-year-old Clonbrook resident Keiola Thomas met her demise following a mid-afternoon accident on the Bee Hive Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Thomas had been an occupant in motor car PWW 5851, which was being driven by a male companion, Police Constable Oswin Argyle. Reports are that the Policeman, a resident of Supply, Mahaica, was proceeding south along the eastern side of the road at a fast rate of speed when, at about 14:15h, he lost control of the vehicle, and it rocketed into two Guyana Power and Light utility poles situated on the eastern side of the road before plunging into a nearby canal, where it appeared to be badly mangled.

According to the Police, both parties were rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage

persons can apply to vote by proxy has begun, and would last until November 2. She noted that application forms for proxy voters will be issued on November 8.

The Policeman’s car following the accident on the Bee Hive Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD)

Hospital with injuries.

Thomas was pronounced dead on arrival, while Constable Argyle was treated and sent away.

A breathalyzer test con-

ducted on him, according to Police, gave a negative reading for alcohol.

However, he remains in Police custody as the investigations get underway.

political stakeholders, they indicated they do have some concerns, and I advised that they provide those details by the end of today,” Lowenfield indicated.

Meanwhile, Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers related that the time period within which

LGE will be held in all municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Guyana using a mixed electoral system of Proportional Representation (PR) and First Past the Post (FPTP).

The PR electoral system is one in which parties’ gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them in a municipality or NDC. For someone to be elected under the Proportional Representation system, they must be on a party list or voluntary group list. Individuals cannot contest in the PR sys-

tem.

The FPTP system has been explained as one in which an individual gains control by the number of votes cast for him or her.

These candidates can come from a party, voluntary group, or as independent contestants.

Fifty per cent of councillors for each municipality and NDC are elected through the Proportional Representation component, while the other half comes from FPTP component of the electoral system.

Under the FPTP system, an individual candidate can contest for only one seat in a single constituency in which he or she is registered and resides. Candidates can only be nominated for one group for the PR and FPTP list.

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IN THE COURTS

Ganja possession lands man in court

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hirty-four-year-old Dwight Pindar on Monday found himself before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman to answer to a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Pindar appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he denied that on October 26, 2018, he had in his

possession five grams of cannabis while he was at Regent Street, Georgetown.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris told the court that on October 26, Police ranks were conducting a raid on Regent Street, when the defendant was seen acting in a suspicious manner. A search was conducted on his person and two ziplock bags contain-

ing what was suspected to be cannabis were found in his pants pocket.

He was cautioned, arrested and later charged for the present offence. The Police Prosecutor made no objections to bail. The defendant was released on $10,000 bail. The case will continue on October 31, 2018.

Technician slapped with fraud charge

A

fter leaving Guyana for some months, a 53-year-old was arrested shortly after returning and hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a fraud charge.

Wayne Foster stood before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday and denied that on

January 25, 2018 while he was in the vicinity of George and Bent Streets, Wortmanville, Georgetown, he was solely entrusted by Trevor Brummel with $720,000 to buy an ice machine. However, he reportedly converted the money to his own use and benefit.

In an attempt to de-

fend himself, the East La Penitence, Georgetown man told the court that himself and the Virtual Complainant had accumulated monies together to buy the machine, but had encountered difficulties in getting the machine to Guyana from Trinidad.

However, the prosecution

is contending that the defendant left Guyana after he took the cash from Brummell.

After listening to the prosecution, Foster asked the court for a chance to reimburse the money. He was released on $150,000 bail, and the case scheduled to continue on November 12, 2018.

Women face court for assault, abusive language

A

45-year-old vendor and a teen were on Monday granted bail

by Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after they were both slapped with charges of assault and abusive language.

Shontel Williams, of Lot 11 A Public Road, Kitty, Georgetown, admitted that on October 23, 2018 at Lombard Street, Georgetown, she unlawfully assaulted Tiffany Hamilton. Another

charge stated that on the said date and location, she made use of abusive language towards Hamilton.

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Hamilton, of Lot 1120 B Field, Sophia, was charged for unlawfully assaulting Williams with intent to cause her actual bodily harm and using abusive language towards her, on the aforementioned date and location.

Hamilton denied both charges.

Williams, in an explanation to the

court, said that she did not assault nor used abusive language towards Hamilton. After listening to her explanation Magistrate Latchman entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris made no objections to bail being granted.

Both Williams and Hamilton were granted $50,000 bail. The cases will continue on November 9, 2018.

Change…

M

…in Brazil

ost Guyanese probably don’t even realise that the giant on our southern border – Brazil – just had a change of government that’s gonna affect us significantly. Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, is a former army captain who’s the exact opposite of that other army officer who became a South American president.

Naah! Not David Granger, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

If Chavez was the fiery socialist who smelt a whiff of “sulphur” – an allusion to the Devil -- in the presence of Republican US President George Bush, then he would’ve smelled a volcano of that stuff from hell when Bolsonaro’s around!! The labels “left” and “right” came out of the Cold War between Communist USSR and Capitalist USA, but they now represent constellations of values instead of who runs the economy.

They now signal a person’s stand on a host of social issues. Bolsonaro, for instance, abhors gays, coloureds/ blacks and environmentalism. He would “privatise” the Amazon forest and open it up for business. To heck with the “peanuts” his country gets for maintaining trees as “carbon sinks” to allow the developed nations to keep on polluting.

But his rise from obscurity is -- as is also the case in Venezuela -- due as much to the missteps of the leftists who governed Brazil, starting with the charismatic Lula in 2002. With a tremendous amount of popular goodwill behind him, Lula started out like a house on fire. Brazil surpassed Britain as the 5th largest economy in the world, and was looked at to provide a possible new fulcrum of power in the western hemisphere against the US. But the rot of corruption set in, inevitably slowing down the economy and dashing the inflated hopes of Brazilians.

Enter Bolsonaro. Just as Trump did up north, he vented the anger of Brazilians who consider themselves the backbone of the country, and were not enthused about the “liberal” values that had become dominant. Nostalgia for the “good old days” of the military dictatorship of the sixties, when there was “order” and “stability,” gripped the old oligarchy and the upper strata. Bolsonaro publicly approved of the torture used in those days to keep dissidents like Rousseff in line.

But how will all of this affect us? For one, Brazil will now take a hard line against Venezuela -- which has always been an irritant to Brazil -- for their pretentions as the pre-eminent Latin American power. This should bolster our stand on our border rights with Venezuela. Bolsonaro will definitely dam the river of Venezuelans pouring into Brazil…and for sure we may see some more of them coming here.

As we advised before, our military-origin President should move the GDF to our western borders pronto!

…the script

The AFC are in panic mode now that it’s clear they’re being dumped into the dustbin of history. Addressing the PNC party faithful in the Stabroek Market Square, new party Chairman Volda Lawrence tore into them even more viciously than to their supposed arch foe the PPP. This should remind party leaders like Ramjattan and Nagamootoo that betrayers are held in contempt, especially by the folks to whom they sold their souls. And betrayers will never be trusted!!

Since your Eyewitness only reads the Chronic on line, he missed Nagamootoo’s column, since it wasn’t highlighted in the list of “featured” columns. He’s now read a report on it in the Chronic (slow news day?), in which Nagamootoo complains about the PPP holding a meeting nearby to his in Whim…and leaving his to speak to a few stragglers.

But he told a lie that must be corrected: that he was fired as PPP Local Government Minister when Cheddi was out. Not so. Only the President can fire a Minister!

…the messenger

The Chinese business community was lectured on Guyana’s labour laws by the Junior Minister responsible for the Department of Labour in the Ministry of Social Protection. Implying they didn’t understand English, he stressed the need to have the laws interpreted for them.

Has he had them interpreted for himself?

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

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President David Granger unwell …heads to Cuba for medical examination

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overnment has, on Monday, issued a terse release, stating that President David Granger would today be going to Cuba for almost a week.

Guyana Times has however been told the President is unwell and would be going to Cuba for medical tests.

This was indeed confirmed by People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) General Secretary Amna Ally in an interview with sections of the media, whom she assured that the President was not expected to undergo surgery.

Instead, she said, he would be undergoing a medical test in Havana, the capital of Cuba.

She also informed that the President called a meeting with Cabinet ministers from his Peoples Nation Congress (PNC) party on Monday. It is understood that while the President is out of the jurisdiction, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will perform the functions of President, while Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

will perform the duties of Prime Minister.

In May of this year, the First Couple had travelled to the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to undergo what was referred to as their annual medical check-up. At the time, and in response to speculation in the press, the Government had revealed that the couple did their examinations under a Caribbean medical insurance scheme at the Good Health Medical Centre.

Those results, Government had said, indicated a clean bill of health.

It was further explained that Mrs. Granger first joined the scheme 28 years ago as a staff member at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, and the President, as her spouse, was eligible to participate.

“The First Couple (have) been travelling to Trinidad and Tobago for annual medical examinations for over 12 years, long before the President’s entrance into politics. They will both undergo two more days of physical examination and medical tests as part of their annual medical check-up, which is usually done in August each year.

“However, President Granger opted to do those tests in May this year, so that he would be in Guyana for the lead up to Local Government Elections, which are due this year,” a release from the Government had said.

This time around, the fact that he is expected back on November 11 means the President will be just in time for Local Government Elections (LGE).

on a charge of rape committed on a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Mario Bruce is accused of engaging in sexual penetration of the child between August 21

and August 22, 2018, at Princes Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown. Bruce was released in $300,000 bail. The case was adjourned to November 12, 2018.

President David Granger

Man charged for rape of schoolgirl

A

21-year-old man made an appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday, and stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan

Shortfall in applications for election observers – Lowenfield

...PSC, GPSU, diplomatic missions among applicants

GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield

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he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) on Monday confirmed receipt of applications from entities for election observer status. However, the number of applications is cause for concern.

At a press conference on Monday, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield was asked for an update on local and international observers, and whether they have been approved.

While not clear on whether the commission has approved the observers, Lowenfield did explain that entities such as the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) are among the local applicants.

“As far as the observ-

ers go, you may be aware that we had made a public advertisement for groups who are desirous of participating in the observation of the process. We have received very few of those.”

“The Private Sector, the Public Service Union, I think some of the embassies, I think the US and Canadian (missions) would have made submissions to the Commission for approval. So they’re the only ones who’ve responded to us in terms of participating in the observation subset,” Lowenfield said.

He explained that the applications received were deliberated on at the level of the Commission. Asked if any applicants were turned down by GECOM, Lowenfield noted that he had no knowledge of this.

The last time Local government elections were held, in 2016, the US Embassy and the British and Canadian High Commissions had fielded observer teams. With elections expected to be held on November 12, the deadline for application for local observer status was October 11.

Lists of candidates in Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils have already been approved.

The disciplined services are expected to go to the polls on November 2, with the general populace being scheduled to vote on November 12.

The People’s Progressive Party had previously indicated that over 3000 candidates have been put forward by that party to contest local elections in all 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). The other parties will be contesting on a smaller scale.

A Partnership for National Unity will be contesting elections in 76 of the 80 LAAs. Meanwhile, the Alliance For Change (AFC) on Wednesday announced plans to contest only 38 LAAs at the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), scheduled for November 12.

This announcement follows previous statements made by that party to the effect that it had planned to contest the elections in more than 50 LAAs.

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Agri Minister greeted by protesting Essequibo Coast rice farmers …concessions off the table – Holder

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ssequibo Coast rice farmers picketed Agriculture Minister Noel Holder as he commissioned a $103 million pump station at Land of Plenty, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

On Monday, Region Two rice farmers demonstrated against Minister Holder at the commissioning of two new pumps installed at the Land of Plenty koker. As the Minister made his way to the pump station, rice farmers accused him of ignoring them. According to the farmers, several letters were dispatched to the Minister concerning the hardships they are facing in the industry, but they never received any response nor acknowledgement. The farmers said that they also wrote the Minister asking for a meeting, but again to no avail.

Leading the protest was Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj, who said that after visiting the farmers and listening to their complaints, he too wrote Minister Holder seeking his intervention, but, to date, did not receive any acknowledgement. He said the unresponsiveness of the Minister was the driving force behind the protest on Monday.

After the opening ceremony, the Minister met with the rice farmers, who shared their many concerns.

Farmers are seeking the Government’s intervention to negotiate with commercial banks for loan rescheduling, assistance with fuel, seed paddy, etc. However, during the meeting, the Minister said that there was little he could do at this point, since

if he granted concessions to Essequibo Coast rice farmers, it would set a precedent for others to follow. This did not sit well with the farmers, who said that they believe that Government can do something to help them, but chooses not to act. The farmers reminded the Minister that former President Bharrat Jagdeo had previously rescued the industry when they were experiencing difficulties by meeting with local banks to have loans rescheduled as well as millers, helping with removal of taxes, fertilisers, and much more to bring the industry back on its feet.

The farmers questioned why the coalition Government could not do the same for the industry.

During the protest on Monday, farmers said that the lending agencies have

Protesting Essequibo Coast rice farmers

started to seize machinery and equipment purchased with loans.

Ken Albert Cornette of Dartmouth said that his tractor was seized earlier this month, and he lost over $3 million in down payments. Additionally, the farmer said he lost over 200 acres of rice owing to bugs.

The Minister advised that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) would meet with the millers, but the farmers said that they had lost all confidence in that agency.

However, GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan said that he met with millers in Region Two, but Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt was contending that he was informed of the meeting, although it was done in the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) boardroom a few feet away from his office.

The Minister advised that all such meetings must go through the Regional Chairman, since he was part of Government and headed the Region.

On Tuesday last, having already faced reduced prices for their paddy and increased production costs, farmers in Region Two were forced to destroy over 1000 acres of their rice at State Farm, which lies aback Dartmouth on the Essequibo Coast, as a result of ‘blast and bug’ infestation.

Guyana Times was told that in their bid to prevent a complete annihilation of the crop, some of which was badly damaged, the farmers set the fields on fire.

Sovereign Wealth Fund

Jordan’s position as “spender and saver” questioned

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hartered Accountant Christopher Ram has raised concerns over Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s position as a spender and saver of Guyana’s wealth. He noted that under the previous administration, the very matter would have drawn the attention of the then serving Opposition.

Ram raised his concerns at an Energy Forum held last week at Duke Lodge.

He said, “I wonder whether they (the Government) would have liked the same mechanism that they are setting out here if another Government -- let’s not call the name of that other Government -- if another Government was in place?

Would we want a situation where a minister who is responsible for spending is also the minister responsible for saving and generating revenue and protecting those revenues?”

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

The accountant said he is confident the administration would have rebutted this, thus he questioned the Government’s recommendation to have Jordan spearhead the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

In a subsequent interview with this publication on Monday, Ram sought to point out the need for transparency in handling of the Sovereign Wealth Fund. He

recommended the SWF be entirely isolated from the “spending ministry,” as it could have an impact on everyone.

Ram also pointed to the need for an article to be “entrenched” in the Constitution so that no one, including Ministers, would be able to unilaterally access funds in the SWF, as he described it as a generational fund for the future.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had earlier this year made a similar comment on the issue at one of his weekly press conferences.

“I have said before that there should be no ministerial involvement in the Petroleum Commission; that the remaining oil blocks should be subject to a competitive auction or kept for future generations; and that we should complete the work on the Local Content framework. There

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

have been no substantive moves in any of these directions. As I have said before, there is no clear management framework for the oil and gas sector,” Jagdeo had said.

The Opposition Leader noted that on multiple occasions he has “urged that Government take cognisance of the Santiago Principles and a model similar to the principles on which

the Norwegian model was developed. Establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund is only one element of a management framework for the oil and gas sector.

Jagdeo has made it clear that, for various reasons, he disagrees with the Finance Minister being given control over the SWF. He zeroed in on Jordan’s silence on the signing bonus Government had received from the oil company.

Meanwhile, the document sets out specific rules, including the Fiscal Rule, which caters for the development gaps that exist both in terms of human capital and physical infrastructure, and the need to accommodate development spending via the National Budget.

To oversee these decisions, the Government has recommended the establishment of a Macroeconomic Committee which would consist of five members, in-

cluding a representative of the Finance Minister.

In terms of management of the SWF, a Sovereign Investment Committee would be responsible for advising the minister on the suitability of any investment being contemplated. A representative of the Finance Minister would also be on that committee.

Further, the Green Paper states that the Bank of Guyana (BoG) will be the operational manager of the Fund. The Opposition Leader has already expressed deep concern about this proposal.

Although the Government has catered for a representative from the Opposition to sit on the SWF committee, Jagdeo has already objected to this proposal, stating that politicians should not be included.

A SWF is a state-owned investment fund that is made up of surpluses from official foreign currency operations, proceeds of privatisations, governmental transfer payments, fiscal surpluses and/or receipts resulting from resource exports.

It has been articulated as an important mechanism for the oil and gas sector, and with ExxonMobil announcing that production would start in 2020, calls have been made by stakeholders and the political opposition for establishment of Guyana’s SWF to be swift.

Guyana’s SWF Bill was drafted by the Commonwealth Secretariat with input from the Government, and was presented to the subject minister in December 2016.

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Aviation sector's investigative capacity boosted

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he Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) and the Transport Safety Board of Canada (TSB).

In regard to aircraft incidents and accidents, this MoU will allow for investigations to be enhanced through the exchange of expertise, training, and the use of facilities among the member states of the CASSOS and TSB. The MoU was signed on October 15, 2018 in Montreal, Canada on the sidelines of the 13th Air Navigation Conference.

Director General of the GCAA, Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Egbert Field, signed the MoU on behalf of Guyana, which provides for improved investigative standards, policies, guidelines, procedures, training of investigators, and providing investigation support as

requested by either party.

The MoU also provides for the exchange of information on investigation and operational experience, joint development of techniques, methodologies, standards and procedures, and initial training and refresher courses for investigators.

The Director General of GCAA welcomed the initiative to have the opportunities presented in the MoU for greater assistance in aircraft accidents’ and incidents’ investigations, as well as the training opportunities for investigators available to each member state from the Transport and Safety Board of Canada.

The member States of CASSOS include Barbados, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago; and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), which include Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and

From left: Director General de l’Aviation Civile Haiti, Olivier Phillip Jean; Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, Donald McPhail; Director for TSB Canada, ICAO Secretary General Dr Fang Liu; and GCAA Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Field, during the signing of the MoU

the Grenadines.

Currently, Paula McAdam is Guyana’s only aircraft accident and incident investigator.

In 2017, Guyana had three aircraft accidents, two of which were fatal. Investigations into those accidents are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, on September 18, 2018, the GCAA inked yet

another MoU, this time with the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC), with the objective of providing managerial, technical and operational cooperation in the field of civil aviation with each other.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Fourth World Aviation Forum of the International Civil Aviation

Organisation (IWAF/4) held in Fortaleza, Brazil from September 17-19, 2018.

This agreement was also signed by Field along with the President of ANAC, Jose Ricardo Pataro Botelho De Queiroz. This MoU will see the two civil aviation regulatory bodies enhancing their existing relationship through knowl-

edge exchange, technical cooperation, and best practice in developing, modernising, operating and maintaining the civil aviation systems of both countries.

Other areas of “mutual interest” include the development of a State Safety Programme (SSP) and Safety Management Systems (SMS), safety surveillance and oversight, aircraft certification, personnel licensing, aerodromes, and airworthiness.

Under this agreement, provisions will be made for training of personnel, institutional strengthening, human resources management, regulation of air transport, as well as economic regulation.

In this regard, officers of the GCAA and ANAC will also exchange their expertise in the various aspects of civil aviation, to provide training and/or technical visits either to Brazil or Guyana; and develop studies to benefit both countries in the field of civil aviation.

Linden man jailed for causing Education Ministry commissions woman’s death $12M ICT labs

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fter a lengthy trial, Keith Hollingsworth, 47, of Linden, was found guilty by Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday of causing the death of Samsonisha Batterlamo of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) by driving dangerously on August 21, 2017.

Hollingsworth and another driver, Ron Walker, who was the driver of motor lorry GGG 9877, were charged jointly for

the accident, but the charge was dismissed against Walker after he was found innocent.

Magistrate Latchman, who conducted the trial, informed Hollingsworth that the evidence presented by the prosecution was sufficient to make out a case against him.

As such, he was found guilty and was jailed for four years and six months.

When he was first charged, Hollingsworth had denied

that he drove motor car PJJ 8918 in a dangerous manner to the public thereby causing Batterlamo’s death.

During Hollingsworth’s first court appearance, the court heard that the now deceased woman had just left the Diamond hospital in a taxi when it collided with the two defendants’ vehicles, as they were said to be overtaking the car in which she was travelling.

P

upils of Eccles Primary on the East Bank of Demerara are now learning Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills, with the commissioning of the new lab handed over by the Education Ministry on Monday morning.

The newly-erected facility, along with equipment which will benefit more than 200 pupils, is said to be worth some $6.5 million according to the System Development Coordinator, Geodfrey Munroe.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry pointed to the need for such facilities in each school and announced plans for more ICT labs in other primary schools.

She said, “I am very excited to have the opportunity to do that (commission the ICT lab, because) I know that ICT is very important for the delivery of education at this current time.”

The Minister told the pu-

Education Minister Nicolette Henry cuts the ribbon with a pupil of Eccles Primary to declare open the new lab

pils who attended the brief commissioning ceremony that the lab would serve to benefit both themselves and the teachers there. Henry stated, “If you use the computers that we are putting in the lab, it will help you with both literacy and numeracy. The reason why we are putting these computers is to bridge the gap in access to quality education … we also want to ensure that all our students are digitally literate…we also want to ensure that our teachers, our edu-

cators have access to resources that are available online”.

Also benefiting from a new ICT lab was the Tucville Primary in Georgetown. There, 432 pupils will utilise the $6.5 million facility.

Last year, some 95 primary schools benefited from ICT labs, and three more are expected to be commissioned.

Minister Henry noted her commitment to continue this drive until all primary schools across Guyana have ICT labs.

3 Policemen jailed for accepting $6M bribe

T

hree former Police ranks were on Monday sentenced to terms of imprisonment and fined for accepting a six-million-dollar bribe back in September 2015.

When the trial concluded on Monday at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on the Corentyne, Magistrate Charlyn Artiga found the three ranks guilty, and sentenced each to one year’s imprisonment and fined each $25,000.

Corporal Shawn McPhoy of 174 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Constable Ray Drepaul Saul of Eversham, Corentyne, and Constable Trevon McKenzie of Princeton, Corriverton, Corentyne were charged jointly for the offence, which was committed between September 10 and 11, 2015.

Assistant Superintendent Terrence Browne, 48, who was the officer-in-charge of the Whim Police Station at the time the incident was committed, had also been charged with the offence, but was tried separately.

In September 2016, Magistrate Artiga ruled that the prosecution had failed to

convince the court that the Assistant Superintendent is the person who had received the plastic bag, and that anyone had seen him. He was set free.

The three former ranks had collected a $6 million bribe and had allegedly relinquished some of the cash to Browne.

Female Constable Stacy Welch had testified during the trial that she had received a share of the money when it was parted.

She further stated that McPhoy had placed a portion of the money into a plastic bag and had said it was for the boss.

On September 10, 2015, a few Police ranks were performing patrol duties along the Corentyne Corridor when they stopped a minibus which was loaded with cocaine and cash.

The ranks had received information that a route 63 ‘A’ minibus would usually be transporting drugs, guns and cash. They were provided with the vehicle number and the travel schedule for the minibus.

While in the vicinity of Springlands, East Berbice/ Corentyne, they observed the vehicle and decided to stop it to conduct a search, during which

they discovered that the vehicle was indeed transporting a very large quantity of cocaine and cash at the time.

It is alleged that the ranks on patrol, with the most senior one at the time being a corporal, entered into negotiation with the occupants of the vehicle, which led to the occupants of the vehicle handing over $6 million in cash to the ranks. The ranks then allowed the vehicle to continue its journey, and even provided some amount of escort for the vehicle before returning to a Police Station.

The ranks reportedly informed their most senior officer of the illegal transaction, after which he allegedly took a sum of the money.

It had been reported that the cash was actually borrowed from a businessman who resides in Republic Park.

The trio was represented

by Attorneys at law Chandra Sohan, Murseline Bacchus and Horatio Edmonson.

Following a notice of appeal issued to the Magistrate on Monday, she placed the convicted cops on $50,000 bail each.

news

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‘CANU’ ranks strip search La Penitence family …any rank guilty of unofficial searches will be fired – CANU Head

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wo Georgetown families are now sleeping with one eye open as they remain on the alert, following a raid to their homes last Wednesday evening by persons claiming to be Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks.

The still-traumatised

Carlene Kishna

residents of Independence Boulevard, La Penitence, Georgetown, recently related their frustration to Guyana Times , noting how afraid they still were.

Sheneza Bacchus, 41, of Lot 241 Independence Boulevard, told this publication on Monday that 10 alleged CANU ranks, two of whom were females, barged into her home about 17:00h on Wednesday last.

Bacchus said she was at home with her two daughters and her son when she saw a van pull up in front of her yard and the men started kicking down her gate. The

woman said she ran to her two girls, who were eating, to inform them of what was going on and by the time she got to her back door, a man approached her and demanded that she step aside.

The frightened woman said she questioned the ‘officers’’ intentions when she was told they were CANU ranks who received reports that the family had drugs. The startled woman told this newspaper that she informed the men that her family was not involved with anything illegal and even requested a search warrant, but she was pushed aside.

According to the woman, the men proceeded to her children’s room before ransacking the home. A female rank, Bacchus said, even demanded that she and her daughters strip.

“The female rank, she tell me that I have to go in the room and strip, me and my two daughters. She stripped my big daughter first and then I said how can you strip a little girl? she is only 15, so she said okay and she didn’t touch us or anything like that. She took off her top and when they finish with those two, I tell her that ‘I am unclean, I cannot do this’, she said ‘no, you have to go through with this’, so I didn’t take off my clothes completely, I just pulled down my skirt and my top and that was it,” the woman recalled.

Following the strip search, Bacchus said the female rank told the male officers that “ev-

One of the houses which were searched by ‘CANU’ ranks

erything was clear”.

According to her, the men said they believed she had something to hide and went into the bottom flat of the house and continued with their search. After nothing was found, Bacchus said one of the men from the group said he was sorry for what happened as they were just doing their jobs.

The group then proceeded to the home of Carlene Kishna, who lives a few houses away from Bacchus, who also shared her experience.

Kishna told Guyana Times that the same group of men entered her home about 17:30h on Wednesday after finding nothing in her neighbour’s home.

The woman, who almost had tears in her eyes, explained that she was home with her sickly husband, two children and grandchildren when the men claiming to be CANU ranks went into her home and flashed what was supposed to be an identifica-

tion card in front of her face while saying that they received reports that she too had drugs and guns in her home.

The mother told this publication that she requested a search warrant, but she was told that they were CANU ranks and did not require one.

“When we go upstairs, one of them turn to me and say ‘(if) you have jewellery and hundreds of thousands of dollars in here, bring it out’.

So I said ‘where am I going to get that sort of money from; I don’t have no money. We is poor people; we just mind two cows to survive’,” she recounted.

Kishna told this publication that after the men searched for about 45 minutes, one shouted from the top flat of her home to abort the search.

“When they finished I ask them what about our character and so, because this is what we gun got to be living (with), people gun got to be

thinking like if we involved in some sort of illegal things … we really, really scared about this. I am calling even on the President to look into this matter, because is not right.

We can’t continue living in fear like this. My children are traumatised. I am traumatised,” she added.

The frustrated woman said she suspected that a neighbour, who was an ex-CANU rank, might be the one behind the searches, since they are involved in a land dispute.

No record of search

The two determined housewives, desperate to get justice, on Monday visited the CANU head office and re-

quested to speak to the Head of the agency in relation to the matter. They were, however, unable to meet with the Head.

According to Kishna, the ranks told her that they have no records of such a raid in the said area. She noted too that she was told that she could not make a report at the Police Station, because it involved CANU ranks.

The Head of CANU, Michael Atherly, when contacted by this newspaper, said that he has no record of such a raid. He, however, noted that should any of his ranks be implicated in the unofficial search, they would be immediately dismissed.

More jail time for family busted with over 42kg of ganja

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North Ruimveldt, Georgetown family will be spending more time in jail as they were further remanded to prison on Monday by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The family made another appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a drug trafficking charge.

Keith Barker, 64, and his wife, Cheryl Barker, 56, along with their daughterin-law, Loretta Chisholm, were jointly charged on September 21, 2018 for having 42.5 kilograms of cannabis at their Lot 2926 North Ruimveldt home.

The trio denied the charge when it was read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on their first appearance.

Although they were charged jointly, Chisholm and Mrs Barker were slapped with two other charges. Chisholm was charged for having one kilogram of cannabis on the day in question while her mother-in-law was charged for having in her possession 628 grams of the said narcotic for the purpose of trafficking. They denied those charges also.

The trio will return to court on October 31, 2018.

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tuesdAY, october 30, 2018

Around the World

Indonesian plane crashes into sea, all 189 on board feared dead

Pittsburgh shooting:

n Indonesian airliner crashed into the sea on Monday, with the likely loss of all 189 people on board, as it tried to return to Jakarta minutes after take-off.

Lion Air flight JT610, an almost new Boeing 737 MAX 8, was en route from the capital to Pangkal Pinang, centre of the Bangka-Belitung tin mining region. Rescue officials said they had recovered human remains from the crash site, about 15 kilometres (nine miles) off the coast.

Indonesia is one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, but its safety record is patchy. If all aboard have died, the crash will be its second-worst air disaster since 1997, industry experts said.

The pilot had asked to return to base (RTB) shortly after take-off. The plane lost contact with ground staff after

he deadly attack at a Pittsburgh synagogue will “not break us”, religious leaders said, after the shooting of 11 people.

Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, who helped hide people during Saturday’s shooting, said: “What happened yesterday will not break us. It will not ruin us.”

The rabbi, along with other congregation leaders, spoke at an interfaith memorial service on Sunday.

Suspected gunman Robert Bowers is now in the custody of US marshals.

During his first court ap-

A

13 minutes.

“An RTB was requested and had been approved, but we’re still trying to figure out the reason,” Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of Indonesia’s transport safety committee, told reporters, referring to the pilot’s request.

“We hope the black box is not far from the main wreckage, so it can be found soon,” he said, referring to the cockpit voice recorder and flight Indonesian rescue team members recovering parts of data recorder.

Search and rescue agency Lion Air flight JT610 that crashed into the sea, at Tanjung head Muhmmad Syaugi told Priok port in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 29, 2018 a news conference that no disemployees of a Timah subsidi- duty”. tress signal had been received ary, were on the plane. A Lion Edward Sirait, chief execfrom the aircraft’s emergency Air official said one Italian utive of Lion Air Group, told transmitter. passenger and an Indian pilot reporters the aircraft had had Yusuf Latief, spokesman were on board. a technical problem on a flight of the national search and resSpeaking at a hospital, a from the resort island of Bali cue agency, said there were tearful Finance Minister Sri to Jakarta, but it had been likely no survivors.

Mulyani Indrawati paid trib- “resolved according to proceAt least 23 Government ofute to the 21 officials from her dure”. ficials, four employees of State ministry on the doomed flight Sirait declined to specitin miner PT Timah and three who she said “died doing their fy the nature of the issue, but said none of the company’s other aircraft of that model had the same problem. Lion had operated 11 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and it had no plan to ground the rest of them, he said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

“What happened will not break us”

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pearance on Monday, Bowers waived his detention hearing and has requested a public defender, US media reported.

A hearing has been scheduled for November 1.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced during a news conference that President Donald Trump and the First Lady will travel to Pennsylvania today.

Scott Brady, US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, says he is seeking the death penalty against the suspect. The final decision will depend on US Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Germany’s under-fire Merkel plans era-ending exit in 2021

G

ermany’s Angela Merkel said that her fourth term as Chancellor would be her last and that she would step down as leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU), heralding the end of a 13-year era in which she has dominated European politics.

Merkel, who has been CDU chairwoman since 2000 and Chancellor since 2005, announced the decision after her party suffered its second regional election setback in as many weeks.

“I have the firm feeling that today the time has come to open a new chapter,” Merkel, looking serious but calm, told reporters in Berlin after a meeting of the CDU’s leadership on Monday.

Merkel, 64, made the announcement a day after Sunday’s vote in the state of Hesse, at which the CDU came first, but suffered a slump from the last election there in 2013.

Her authority has already been dented this year by the two election setbacks and a close ally losing his role as leader of her conservatives’ parliamentary group.

Brazil’s far-right President -elect readies trips to US, Chile (Excerpt from Reuters)

J

air Bolsonaro, a His election far-right former alarmed critics Army Captain around the globe, who clinched Brazil’s however, given his presidential election by defence of Brazil’s a comfortable margin, 1964-1985 military won the approval of dictatorship, vows US President Donald to sweep away leftist Trump on Monday and political opponents began planning trips to and a track record Washington and a conof denigrating comservative ally in Chile. ments about gays, Bolsonaro, who earwomen and minorily in his legislative ca- A supporter of Brazil’s new president-elect, Jair ties.

Bolsonaro, celebrates in front of Bolsonaro’s reer declared he was condominium at Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood Bolsonaro’s vic“in favour” of dictator- in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 29, 2018 tory brings Brazil’s ships and demanded military back into Bovespa stock index to an allthat Congress be disbanded, the political limelight after time high in early trading bevowed on Sunday to adhere it spent three decades in the fore turning negative as tradto democratic principles while barracks after the country’s ers booked profits on a sharp holding up a copy of the counreturn to civilian rule. Several rally this month. try’s Constitution. retired Generals will serve as Markets have surged Trump said he had an “exMinisters and close advisers. on Bolsonaro’s ascent, as cellent call” congratulating “You are all my witnesses he pledged to quickly close Bolsonaro and tweeted about that this government will deBrazil’s gaping budget defitheir plans to “work closely tofend the Constitution, of libercit and privatise State firms, gether on trade, military and ty and of God,” Bolsonaro said but investors said further everything else!” in a Facebook live video in his gains will hinge on clearer Investors were quick to first comments after his victosigns he will deliver on a marcheer Bolsonaro’s victory, ry. ket-friendly agenda. sending Brazil’s benchmark (Excerpt from Reuters)

C’bean progress under threat from anti-migration policies, says Phillips

O

pposition Leader and People’s National Party (PNP) President, Dr Peter Phillips, on Sunday told the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) 80th annual conference that the vision and reality of Caribbean progress were under threat from anti-migration policies in the global economic centres.

The Opposition Leader said the Region must take serious note of the re-emergence of anti- migration policies, all of which would affect the Region as countries that have benefited from global migration.

“The doctrines which support a revival of military interventionism, threaten small countries like ours,” Phillips was quoted as saying in a PNP release.

“We have no armies, no leverage available to match the great trading centres and powers of the world; our people can only hope and dream of development in a world bolstered by the rule of law, and not by might. Our only beneficial course is to support the rule of international law,” he continued.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2018

19

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Be willing to do something for others if you want something in return.

Offering a fair and equal partnership will help you gain respect and the help you need to move forward.

You’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Review the possibilities and the longterm effects that could result. An open discussion will broaden your vision. Romance will enhance your life.

Put everything at your disposal into getting ahead.

Living up to your promises and taking care of your responsibilities will ward off complaints and interference.

Put your best foot forward. If you’re doing something creative or joining forces with someone else, the more flexible you are, the better.

Emotions will get in the way of a good decision. Don’t let stubbornness or insecurity stand between you and what you want. Make your position clear, but be willing to listen and compromise.

Sign up for a cause that will benefit your community. The people you encounter will be impressed with the cut of your jib, and interesting proposals will be offered.

Staying focused and livLIBRA (Sept. 23- ing up to your expectations Oct. 23) and promises will pay off.

Don’t leave room for error or complaints. Put your energy where it counts the most.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — NEBULAE (NEBULAE: NEB-yuh-lee: Clouds of gas or dust in outer space.)

SUDOKU

Can you find 17 or more words in NEBULAE? The list will be published tomorrow.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — ATTIRES tier tire titer trait treat tries trite tsar irate raise rase rate rest

rise rite east sari sate satire sear seat seta sire sitar site sitter

stain star stare start stat state stet stir strait stria striate

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Learn through observation. The best way to get others to see things your way is to offer incentives and to treat them with respect. A positive attitude can make a difference.

Keep changes to a minSAGITTARIUS imum. Make the most with (Nov. 23- what you have available.

Dec. 21) Rely on your resourcefulness, and don’t pay attention to hearsay. Look for substance and honesty and eschew rhetoric.

Average mark 13 words Time limit 25 minutes

arise artist aster astir tare tart taste taster tastier tear teat test tetra

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Make your position clear.

Whether dealing with a personal or professional matter, lay down ground rules and form a foolproof strategy that will benefit everyone.

Evaluate your situation and the choices available to you. Anger will not solve problems or help you move forward. If you ask for something, expect to give something in return.

Explore your ideas and share them with people you feel close to. The changes that will result from your words and actions will pave the way to a brighter future.

20

tuesdAY, october 30, 2018

2018 GCB Female Franchise U-17 Schools T20 League…

GFF ‘Always’ National Women’s Development League…

West Demerara, Lower Corentyne record wins

Fruta Conquerors dominate opening day T

Anna Horsham celebrates after scoring in the GFF Always Women’s Development League

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t the end of the first double-header of the GFF ‘Always’ National Women’s Development League (WDL), Fruta Conquerors FC solidified popular opinion of their being a competitive force in football when both their first and second order teams comprehensively defeated opponents they respectively faced.

In the first match, Fruta Conquerors “B” team defeated Foxy Ladies 8-2. A hat-trick from Annastacia Horsham, who scored in the 8th, 17th and 41st minutes; a brace from Shamya Daniels, scored in the 48th and 49th minutes; and a goal apiece from Jammaica Hunte (7th), Amanda Mc Kenzie (31st) and Alleia Alleyne (26th) were what produced this result.

In response, Foxy Lady FC

players Shontel Greene and Shamika Marcus made their mark on the board with goals scored respectively in the 24th and 37th minutes.

In the second match, which began at 16:00hrs, a sextuplet of goals from National Player Lekeisha Pearson saw Fruta Conquerors ‘’A” demolish Buxton Youth Developers 15-0. Pearson scored in the 2nd, 17th, 20th, 37th, 43rd and 50th minutes to set the pace for a comprehensive win.

Her performance was complemented by that of Tiandi Smith, whose helmet trick was compiled by goals scored in the 1st, 9th, 14th and 48th minutes.

Then the demolition of Buxton Youth Developers was accentuated by a hat trick from Odessa Romeo, her goals being scored in the 10th, 11th and 21st

minutes; and Selena Chan and Kendra Thomas registered goals in the 25th and 36th minutes respectively.

Prior to the start of the match, held at the Tucville Ground in Georgetown, the teams were greeted by GFF President Wayne Forde and other GFF officials.

Forde also did the official kickoff.

Among other things, the WDL seeks to significantly increase player population across Guyana; act as a base of the Talent Identification Recruitment pathway; and produce players for the GFF national teams.

This development league will be played in 11 ‘regions’, including Upper Demerara, Essequibo, Madhia, Berbice, Bartica and Moruca. Matches in the other regions are scheduled to begin on November 3.

Guyana Shore Base Inc Golf Tournament…

Reis casts best ‘Net’ to be victorious

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eteran Golfer Clifford Reis was crowned champion of the inaugural Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) Golf tournament played over the weekend at the Lusignan Golf Course.

Played under the 3-Flights Medal Play system, in which players were grouped by handicaps 0-9 for ‘A’ Flight; 10-18 for ‘B’ Flight, and 19-28 for ‘C’ Flight, and the lowest score received the win, the tournament was a refreshing and exciting challenge to all, as they jostled for top places.

In the ‘C’ Flight, Reis finished 64/25; while Haresh Tewari, with 71/19, was second. Following closely were Eion Blue (73/28), Guillermo Escarraga (74/21) and Robert Hanoman (75/28).

The ‘B’ flight category saw Gavin Todd (65/18) finishing on top, with Kalyan Tiwari (67/15) second and Shanella

Clifford Reis

Webster (67/16) third.

In the ‘A’ Flight, two-time Guyana Open Champion Mohanlall Dinanauth (68/5) reigned supreme, while Munaf Arjune (73/9) was second and Jaipaul Suknanan (74/9) third.

Prizes were awarded for the top two finishers in each flight, Nearest to The Pin, the

overall Best Gross, and the overall Best Net. In addition, Golfers had some excellent tournament preparation as they ready themselves for next weekend’s international Guyana Open 2018 Golf Tournament, which commences on November 3 and ends the following day.

CEO of GYSBI, Mark Edwards, an avid golfer, in congratulating the winners and addressing all present, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be involved in golfing in Guyana, and pledged that this tournament would be an annual one.

Immediately following the Guyana Open, there will be tournaments sponsored

by MACORP, Banks DIH, and Microsoft among others, and this will be followed by the Mariott’s largest charity tournament for the region, in January 2019.

he 2018 GCB Female Franchise Under 17 T20 tournament got off to a brilliant start on Monday with West Demerara and Lower Corentyne gaining victory over West Berbice and Upper Coprentyne respectively.

As the action commenced over at Albion ground, Lower Corentyne posted an acceptable 93 for 2 in a reduced 15-over match, after

winning the toss.

Openers Ashmini Munisar and Shenia Simon featured in a 52-run partnership, scoring 22 and 18 respectively, while Amesha Samaroo and Niveena Ramnauth were not out on 9 and 3 respectively when the overs expired.

Leading the bowling for Upper Corentyne was Shanaya Fraser with 1- 20, while the other wicket was a runout.

In reply, Upper Corentyne struggled to reach their total, scoring 66 for 8 in their allotted 15 overs, and falling 27 runs short of the target. Fraser top-scored with 17, while Upper Corentyne’s Ashmini Munisar picked up 3 for 14, with support from Niveena Ramnauth who took 2 for 5.

Up to press time, the details from the other matches had not been received.

Sir Hilary Beckles congratulates CCC on inaugural title

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fter a thrilling and consistent performance in the Regional Super 50 tournament, the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners emerged as winners.

The CCC Marooners faced the Guyana Jaguars confidently in the finals of the tournament on Sunday 28 October, 2018 at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

The stellar teamwork and disciplined bowling of the CCC Marooners was enough to defeat the 204 run target set by the Guyana Jaguars.

The outstanding leadership of captain, Carlos Brathwaiteand top performances of batsmen Kyle Corbin and Kjorn Ottley, and bowler Jermaine Levy were critical to the team’s success in this final.

The CCC cricket programme continues to play a major role in West Indies Cricket.

Celebrating11 years since its entry into the regional first class competition, the programme is managed by The University of the West Indies (The UWI), enabling young talented players in the region to hone their cricketing skills while pursuing tertiary education.

Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who negotiated the inclusion of the CCC in the regional first class competition, during his time as Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus, notes that the CCC programme is critical in creating a pathway for student

Sir Hilary Beckles

cricketers and expanding a talent pool of “thinking cricketers” for the West Indies selectors. Commenting on the team’s performance in the Regional Super 50 final, ViceChancellor Beckles said “Today our students have inspired the cricket world of the Caribbean and beyond, in both the execution of their victory and in the explicit display of high sporting values and principles.

At the outset I asked of them to recognize they will be playing for a purpose and cause much bigger than themselves or their university – the resurrection of West Indies cricket performance culture. They gave me an assurance of agreement and did not depart from their commitment. The evidence is now clear; they constitute the heartland of the West Indies

cricket academy. I extend congratulations to Captain Brathwaite and his brilliant boys, as well as the magnificent management and coaching team. The University of the West Indies today declared the CCC team heroes of our community and the region we serve. Thank you for inspiring us all.”

The CCC Marooners team, coached by Floyd Reifer, has been on an upward trajectory in first class regional cricket.

It reached its first regional four-day final in 2011 against Jamaica and in 2013, successfully reached their first regional 50-over final against the Windward Islands.

The Super 50 performance is demonstrative of the competitiveness, form and development of its students at first class level.

The programme has come at a significant investment for The UWI, but results such as this one is testament to its success. The University remains committed to its further enhancement in order to make an even greater impact on West Indies cricket. Since its introduction to regional first class cricket in 2007, CCC has made a meaningful impact within the region. Several players that have graduated from the programme have gone on to make valuable contributions to territorial as well as West Indies A and Senior teams. (SLNO)

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The newly branded GBTI GCC ladies team

G

uyana’s largest indigenous bank, already synonymous with high quality customer service, has delivered yet again in support of the GCC ladies hockey team.

The GCC ladies have, much like their sponsors, developed a stellar reputation for success, dominating the local league for over ten years, and enjoying great success regionally in neighbouring Trinidad and

Barbados as well. Currently reigning GTT National Indoor Champions and Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Festival Champions, the GCC ladies are again looking to make a clean sweep of the two major indoor events on the Guyana Hockey Board’s annual calendar this year.

Captain of the new GBTI GCC ladies hockey team, Tiffany Solomon, has expressed great satisfaction

with the new partnership.

“GBTI is a sound local entity, and those are the kinds of companies with which we like to be associated and to represent,” she said.

“We look forward to performing at our best, and satisfying GBTI that they made the right decision in partnering with us,” Solomon added.

This team has not only been a leader at the top level of hockey, but also manag-

es a vibrant junior academy which has produced some of the best junior players and has dominated the recent junior competitions. This places the team in a good position for success in the coming years.

The GBTI GCC ladies will first represent the banking agency in this year’s GTT National Indoor tournament which began on Sunday, 28th October.

Regal continue form in Guyana Softball Cup 8 – Parika Defenders defeat GFSCA

R

egal Masters, fresh from winning the 2nd edition of the Prime Minister’s Cup cricket tournament, continue to show why they are a class above the rest, convincingly defeating Fisherman’s Masters in the Over 45 category of the Guyana Softball Cup 8, played at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.

Batting first, Regal Masters cruised to a 60-run victory over Fisherman’s Masters, bludgeoning Fisherman’s Masters as they scored 218-7 in their allotted 20 overs.

Throy Kippins laid the foundation for Regal Masters with a quick-fire 47 before his wicket fell; and skipper Mahendra Arjune then blasted 72 off 34 balls as he and Eon Abel (39) added 104 runs for the third wicket.

Bowling for Fisherman’s Masters, L Persaud and P Singh claimed 2-37 and 2-47 respectively. Set a target of 219 for victory, Fishermaen crumbled to 158-5 off their allotted 20 overs, as Regal Masters were just too good for them.

Fishermen made a brisk start, but Regal tightened their grip on them in the middle overs. The only two substantial scores came from Fazal Ali, with 50, and

Part of the prize-giving ceremony

Baldeo Persaud offering 40 as Fazleen Mohamed of Regal bagged 2-32.

Regal Masters then went on to pocket $600,000, trophy, and medals for the players.

In the over-50 category, Parika Defenders became inaugural winners as they beat the Guyana

Softball Cricket Association by 25 runs. Batting first, the Defenders raced to a total of 214-4 in their allotted 20 overs. This innings was steered by Rasheed Mohamed who scored 73, which included seven sixes and three fours; and his brother Saddiq, who supported him with a well com-

posed 53 not out, which contained five sixes and a four.

Bowling for the GFSCA, Vickey Ramsaywack, Hakim Majeed and Randolph Perreira each took one wicket.

Chasing down 215 for victory, GFSCA could manage only 189-6, with Sahadeo Budhoo (38), Richard Persaud (27) and Majeed (21) not being able to cultivate any significant partnership to take them over the line.

The winners of this tournament collected $400,000 and a trophy, while all the players received medals.

The runner-up got $100,000 and a trophy, and all the players received medals.

At the Over-50 presentation, Tony Fernandez of the New York Softball Cricket League was awarded the MVP, and also collected a prize for scoring a century.

Imam Gafoor also received a prize for his hundred. The man-of-the-match in the final was Rasheed Mohamed.

Fernandes and Usuff received gold pendants with diamond studs, compliments of Steve’s Jewellery, as they were adjudged men of the series.

All trophies and medals were donated by Trophy Stall’s Ramesh Sunich.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, october 30, 2018

National Indoor Hockey Championships

Old Fort Lamborghini and GBTI GCC complete big wins T

he annual GTTsponsored National Indoor Hockey Championships have seen a riveting first day of matches, with the young guns displaying new tactics and the experienced players showcasing their prowess.

The participating clubs have tasted both success and defeat as they scramble to accumulate points before next Sunday’s finals.

The recently upgraded Cliff Anderson Sports Hall has been venue for eight entertaining encounters in the men’s and women’s first and second divisions.

Pepsi Hikers and Old Fort Lamborghini have led the men’s first division competition; while, unsurprisingly, the GBTI GCC Tigers and Woodpecker Hikers have won for the ladies. The second division ladies competition has seen Saints upstaging Old Fort Goal Chasers while their male counter-

parts, the SHC Sensations, and Old Fort Top form rounded out the evening’s winners in the male second division competition.

Supernova, comprising of the National Under 20 selection, rejoiced in an early moment of bliss as Samuel Woodroffe’s penalty corner flick found the back of the net with the game’s opening goal being scored in just the third minute of play. However, experience prevailed in the remainder of the matchup, as the Lamborghinis churned out three within the first half of play, compliments of Warren Williams and Askofu Simon.

The second half of play was no different, as the younger players struggled to find another opening while Simon continued his dominance by scoring two more goals, to seal victory for Old Fort at 5-1.

The Pepsi Hikers, meanwhile, secured win by a

GCC Pitbulls striker Shaquille Leung evading Oshazay Savory of Saints

similar four-goal margin in their defeat of Saints.

Hikers’ star-studded lineup met a determined Saints’ defense, and it would take 12 minutes before Aroydy Branford’s penalty shot would break the deadlock

by beating goalkeeper Paul D’Andrade.

Young Shakeem Fausette squeezed in a goal for Saints one minute later, but the Hikers’ juggernaut rolled on to victory with two more goals from Branford, whose hat-trick was matched by a hat-trick from teammate and captain, Robert France.

Hilmar Chester scored a second for Saints late in the game to salvage some pride for this valiant team.

A while later, the same two clubs battled in a women’s first division encounter, and that contest ended in a similar margin of victory: 5-1 in favour of the Woodpecker Hikers. Maria Munroe, Latacia Chung, Captain Nicole Eastman, Michelle Mahabir and Tianna Da Costa all scored for the Hikers; while Charlia Webb scored the lone goal for Saints on the final buzzer.

The GBTI GCC Tigers looked impressive as they dominated their encounter with the young, ever-improving Bingo Spartans, outmatching them skill for skill.

Sonia Jardine opened the GBTI account with a penalty corner strike in the 8th minute, while a Marzana

Fiedtkou single and a double from Gabriella Xavier gave GBTI GCC a 4-0 victory.

The Saints Sensations managed a 2-1 victory over the GCC Pitbulls in the men’s second division competition, while Old Fort Top Form defeated the Hikers Young Guns by 6-3. The first ever women’s second division match of the GTT Indoor Championships finished in an entertaining 2-2 draw between the Woodpecker Hikers and the Bingo Spartans, while Saints created a minor upset in defeating the Old Fort Goal Chasers 1-0.

In other matches of the day, Old Fort Top Form overcame Hikers Young Guns with a thrilling 6–3 win in the men’s second division.

Jael Gaskin was the star of the game with 4 goals, while his teammates Omar Hopkinson and Warren Williams netted one each.

Samuel Garnett, Shomere Garnett and Baraka Garnett contributed to Hikers Young Guns’ tally of three.

And over in the women’s second division, Saints walked away with a 2-1 victory over Old Fort Goal Chasers.

National swimmer receives 1-year scholarship O Fairfield beat TSC

ne of Guyana’s most promising swimmers has been granted the opportunity of his lifetime, and will join a handful of other swimmers who have been equally fortunate in past years.

Andrew Fowler has been commanding the pool since his teenage years, and the Sea Otters club member now majors in the 50M and 100M freestyle races.

Having endured the sacrifices, the 22-year-old is now seeing the fruits of his labour, as he has been offered a one-year scholarship to a learning institution in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Questioned about this golden opportunity, Fowler noted that he has a long list of persons to thank for his success.

“I’m very happy, and I want to thank GASA, my club, club management, Coach Sean and the rest of people that helped me on the journey to this scholarship,” he stated.

Like any athlete aspiring for greatness, the national swimmer divulges that this has been one of his dearest dreams, and he has been working tirelessly towards its fulfillment.

“I’ve been training hard over the years, and hoping and asking for a scholarship,” he disclosed.

Fowler has always had his sights set on participating in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Even when

despite Redman’s efforts I

Andrew Fowler

he participated in the 2018 Commonwealth Games earlier this year in Australia, Fowler saw the international meet as a preparatory stage for what to expect at the Olympics. Now the exposure to a higher level of training will help to fine-tune the swimmer’s craft.

“I’m a really dedicated person, and I

know (that) with the help of this scholarship I will do it, because the technology, the science behind the sport, everything is there,” the athlete said.

President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), Ivan Persaud, took the opportunity to extend felicitations to the athlete.

“Best wishes to Andrew, and we’re very hopeful that he’s going to do well for his one year stint,” Persaud said.

Persaud sees Fowler’s scholarship opportunity as yet another indication that swimming is being taken to new heights in Guyana. “We are more than happy for him and his family, and with that I’d like to say thanks to all the members of GASA who continue to play a great role in the development of swimming in Guyana.”

n preparation for the 2018/2019 NBS 2nd Division 40-Over tournament, the Transport Sports Club (TSC) were invited to play an invitational game against Fairfield on Sunday on home turf.

On a sunny but humid day, Fairfield won the toss and elected to bat first. Because of the late start, the overs were reduced, leaving each team to play an allotted 35 overs.

With the pitch looking like a batsman’s paradise, Fairfield posted 251-7 off their allotted 35 overs.

Ramnarine Chaturia got the Fairfield innings started with a responsible 32 (3x4, 1x6) but did not receive support from his team mates, four of whose wickets had by then fallen for 33 runs.

Shortly after Ramnarine fell, thanks to the bowling of Shaun Massiah, to leave Fairfield wobbling.

However, the partnership of S. Ramotar, 39 (3x4, 3x6), Richard Chaturia, 45 (5x6, 4x4), and M Shaw who blasted 71 not out, which included five sixes and four fours, led the Fairfield innings to 251-7.

Bowling for TSC, Shaun Massiah bagged 3-53, Alvin Mohabir 2-21, and Akeem Redman 1-19, which included two magnificent catches out in the deep.

With a total of 252 to chase down for victory, TSC were able to make

only 210-4 in their 35 overs. Sent in to bat, A. Hinds and R. Davies looked composed, but Ramnarine Chaturia’s deceptive bowling saw Hinds departing for 8.

Davis was still at the crease, and he composed a resistant 30, which included a four and a six. As he tried to stabilise the innings, he was bowled by Leon. Shortly after, A. Mohabir fell for a duck off the bowling of Chaturia, leaving the innings up to Akeem Redman, 62 (5x4, 3x6) and Shamar Yearwood, 40 (3x4).

Their efforts weren’t enough to save TSC, as Redman was clean bowled, leaving Yearwood and Massiah, 31 (2x4) under pressure to try taking the team over the line. They couldn’t, and Fairfield won the match by 41 runs.

Bowling for Fairfield, R. Chaturia claimed 3-36 and Leon 2-28.

With TSC losing their warmup match, they will be looking to employ new strategies as they aim to lift the title from Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in this year’s edition of the NBS 2nd Division 40Over tournament. (Timothy Jaikarran)

Akeem Redman starred with the bat and ball in a losing effort

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, october 30, 2018

23

Sharma, Rayudu tons give India heavy win N

ot often does a knock of 162 get lamented as a missed double-century. If it is your seventh, though, and three of the previous six have been double-hundreds, and if your name is Rohit Sharma, that is exactly the reaction.

West Indies finally managed to deny Virat Kohli a century, but Rohit and Ambati Rayudu made use of excellent batting conditions to take India to 377 and a 2-1 lead with one match to go in the series. Most pleasingly for India, perhaps, Rayudu managed to score the first century for India from outside the top-three slots in the last 21 months.

Kohli might have failed to score a fourth straight big score but he got everything else spot on. He took on the evening dew and batted first because he said he expected the ball to move around a bit under lights. This could well be inputs from coach Ravi Shastri, who played a lot in Mumbai, because there is no sample size to arrive at the conclusion otherwise: the last ODI played at Brabourne Stadium was 12 years ago. At any rate, the ball did move, perhaps for the first time this series, and India bowled the opposition out for 153, sealing their third-biggest win and West Indies’ second-heaviest defeat in ODIs. When Kemar Roach got rid of Kohli in the 17th over, West Indies would have hoped to put the top-heavy Indian batting under pressure, but their newest interviewee for the No. 4 role, Rayudu, put the bowlers under extreme pressure in the middle overs. Rohit and

fore he got into act, though, India’s sensational fielding had reduced West Indies to 20 for 3. Kuldeep ran Shai Hope out from mid-on with a direct hit, and Kohli produced one for the highlight reel, taking out Kieran Powell with a back-flick direct hit while diving.

Khaleel then began to swing it, and West Indies kept playing as if this pitch was just another batting beauty, a common feature of this series so far, and indeed in today’s ODI cricket. Movement is one thing, but using it is another, and Khaleel showed the where-

3

Jason Holder

Rayudu added 211 for the third wicket in 27.1 overs.

There was a boundary every 5.4 balls in that partnership. There was one boundary in at least 14 of the last 17 overs they were together at the crease. In all, 220 of India’s runs came in fours and sixes.

If Rayudu manipulated the fields and bowlers’ lengths by moving around the crease and down the wicket, Rohit chose to hit from a solid base. The switch was almost seamless. Rohit had just seen Kohli get out - he was 39 off 43 and India 101 for 2 in the 17th over and had decided to tighten up his game a little. Keemo Paul bowled five straight dots to Rayudu. And then he effortlessly drove the sixth ball wide of sweeper cover.

India can often be blamed for consolidating for too long and thus aiming a little under, but here Rayudu and Rohit both kept hitting the

withal to do so. He mixed the swing up with ones that go with the angle without losing any accuracy.

Shimron Hetmyer, who has put spinners under pressure, didn’t even get to face them as Khaleel got him lbw with one that held its line.

Rovman missed a swinging delivery, and Marlon Samuels edged one that left him.

However, Khaleel didn’t get to add to his three wickets in four overs. Kuldeep went through the rest with his wrong’uns even though Jason Holder played a lone hand with a fifty. (ESPNcricinfo)

boundaries. Rayudu targeted the spinners, jumping out of the crease first ball he faced. He kept doing that until he got a flighted delivery, which he deposited over cover.

The plan through the day had been to bowl wide to Rohit, not let him access the ball from his steady base. They also wanted to deny him the drive. Only 18 of his runs came in the “V” down the ground. Fifty-two, though, came square and behind square on the off side, which shows West Indies bowled to their plan but Rohit was too good for them.

West Indies had initially managed to keep Rohit relatively quiet, but once Rovman Powell bowled in his arc in the 27th over, the flood gates opened. Three fours came in that over, and immediately - Rohit was only 77 off 81 - speculation around the double hundred began. With a career

strike-rate of over 170 after he reaches hundred, and of over 200 in the last 10 overs, the odds were even at this point.

The hitting at each end was sublime. It finally ended with Ashley Nurse finally sliding one wide enough to draw a thick edge from Rohit. Rayudu kept hitting, bringing up his third ODI century before Allen ran him out brilliantly off his own bowling. The scoring refused to slow down; 116 came off the last 10, and Paul, who bowled the last over, registered the joint-worst figures for a West Indies bowler against India, 1 for 88.

Paul and other fast bowlers would have wondered how it might have been if they had bowled with the movement under lights available to them. Khaleel Ahmed, in particular, found consistent swing, which rarely happens with the white Kookaburra. Even be-

SCOREBOARD

India Innings (50 overs maximum) RG Sharma c Hemraj b Nurse 162 S Dhawan c KOA Powell b Paul 38 V Kohli (c) c †Hope b Roach 16 AT Rayudu run out (Allen) 100 MS Dhoni † c Hemraj b Roach 23 KM Jadhav not out 16 RA Jadeja not out 7 Extras (b 6, lb 1, nb 1, w 7) 15 TOTAL (5 wickets, 50 Overs, RR: 7.54) 377 Did not bat: B Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, KK Ahmed, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-71 (S Dhawan, 11.5 ov), 2-101 (V Kohli, 16.4 ov), 3-312 (RG Sharma, 43.5 ov), 4-344 (AT Rayudu, 47.1 ov), 5-355 (MS Dhoni, 48.3 ov) BOWLING: KAJ Roach (10-074-2), JO Holder (9-0-62-0), AR Nurse (8-0-57-1), KMA Paul (10-0-88-1), R Powell ( 4-0-23-0), FA Allen (8-0-520), MN Samuels (1-0-14-0)

West Indies Innings (target: 378 runs from 50 overs) C Hemraj c Rayudu b Kumar 14 KOA Powell run out (Kohli) 4 SD Hope † run out (Kuldeep Yadav) 0 MN Samuels c Sharma b Ahmed 18 SO Hetmyer lbw b Ahmed 13 R Powell b Ahmed 1 JO Holder (c) not out 54 c Sharma b Kuldeep Yadav 10 AR Nurse c Sharma b Kuldeep Yadav 8 KMA Paul st †Dhoni b Jadeja 19 KAJ Roach b Kuldeep Yadav 6 Extras (lb 4, w 2) 6 TOTAL (36.2 Overs, RR: 4.21) 153 Fall of wickets: 1-20 (C Hemraj, 4.2 ov), 2-20 (SD Hope, 4.4 ov), 3-20 (KOA Powell, 5.2 ov), 4-45 (SO Hetmyer, 9.3 ov), 5-47 (R Powell, 11.3 ov), 6-56 (MN Samuels, 13.4 ov), 7-77 (FA Allen, 18.5 ov), 8-101 (AR Nurse, 22.4 ov), 9-132 (KMA Paul, 27.5 ov), 10-153 (KAJ Roach, 36.2 ov) BOWLING: B Kumar (5-1-30-1), JJ Bumrah (8-1-25-0), KK Ahmed (5-0-13-3), RA Jadeja (10-1-391), K Yadav (8.2-0-42-3)

Champions Games end with upset

– Linden dethrone 3-time champions

U

nder the theme “Crossing the finish line”, The National Youth Ministries of the Assemblies of God in Guyana hosted their annual Day of Sports, branded ‘Champions Games 2018’, on Saturday at the Leonora Synthetic Track, West Coast Demerara.

The day was opened with National Youth Director Winston Assanah urging the participants to give of their best as they engage in clean, healthy fellowship. He said that from this year’s sports, some of Guyana’s best athletes will be birthed, and he aims for the Champions Games to be hosted all over the Caribbean.

Some of the participating regions were Linden (Section 8), East Bank Demerara (Section 7,) Essequibo (Section 10), East Coast Demerara (Section 5), West Demerara (Section 9), and three-time defending champions West Abary - Ann’s Grove (Section 4).

At the end of the Games, as the results were called out, Linden had topped the competition with 247 points, while East Bank came in second with 206 points, and Essequibo finished 3rd with 175 points.

During the athletics segment of the Games, both male and female 100m Open races were dominated by

West Demerara, but in the 200m race, Essequibo reigned supreme in the male race while West Demerara carted off the females.

East Coast, East Bank, West Demerara and Linden continued to record top bracket finishes for the remainder of the segment, which also saw 15000m, 3000m and a few sprint relays.

With the races now completed, it was time for cricket. Defending champions Linden took on East Coast, who posted a whopping 102 for 1 off their allotted 5 overs. Linden was then restricted to 46 for 4, as they lost by 57 runs.

In the final of the futsal match, it was Linden once again facing Essequibo in a match that brought the players to their knees, as it came down to a sudden death penalty shootout.

The tensions were high, as players could be seen holding each other. The atmosphere was quiet, but the pressure had gotten to Essequibo, as the Lindeners rushed the field with excitement after the 2-1 result.

Some of the sponsors on board are Andrews Supermarket on Aubrey Barker Road, T/A Shaw’s Investments, Dunamis Studios, and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. (Timothy Part of the action in the 2018 Champions Games Jaikarran)

tuesdAY, october 30, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

National Indoor Hockey Championships

GBTI GCC Tigers striker Sonia Jardine scored the opening penalty corner against the Bingo Spartans

Page 22

National swimmer receives 1-year scholarship Page 19

Old Fort Lamborghini and GBTI GCC complete big wins

Andrew Fowler

Page 23

Rohit Sharma

Sharma, Rayudu tons give India heavy win

Ambati Rayudu

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