Guyana Times - Saturday, March 9, 2019

P11

US$8.5M power plant commissioned at Canefield Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3858

THE BEACON OF TRUTH saturday, MARCH 9, 2019

PRICE

Constitutional crisis

Govt nixes Opposition's compromise for early …PPP GECOM Commissioners elections vow not to be intimidated

Page 3

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P10 More crackdowns on weapons in schools needed – GTU …recommends parents be charged

Ex-cop P8 charged for stealing $900,000 from Police Force

No-confidence resolution

Christopher Ram challenges Govt’s “business as usual” approach to contracts Page 7

CPG increases presence P12 in border communities Berbice P11 farmers battling paddy bug infestation

…seeks order preventing payment of contracts over $15M

Former AG Bernard De Santos dies Page 14

SOCU Head questioned over improper spending Page 9

Deaths of 3 children at GPHC

Dead: Roshani Seegobin

Incorrect method of drug administration led to deaths – findings Page 2

Dead: Sharezer Mendonca

Ban derogatory music in public – Gender P8 Equality Commission

Power P15 cuts bring Venezuela to a standstill

2 news

saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Deaths of 3 children at GPHC

Incorrect method of drug administration led to deaths – findings …non-adherence to hospital’s protocols found

GPHC CEO, Brigadier George Lewis

T

he doctors who treated the three juvenile leukaemia patients who later died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) administered the drugs incorrectly. Instead of intrathecal administration of the drug vincristine, they administered it intravenously. It was this that led to the adverse reactions of those three children and ultimately their deaths.

This is according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Karen Gordon-Campbell, who on Friday at the GPHC’s press briefing, stated that investigations revealed that protocols the medical practitioners should have followed would have stipulated which

Dr Karen Gordon-Campbell

drug has to be administered “when and where.”

“It wasn’t a question of dosage but administration in terms of where it was administered. That was done incorrectly. The dosages would have been fine but in terms of where they administered what,” the Deputy CMO explained.

She stated that the three medical personnel involved in the matters were aware that they had broken protocol but not at the initial stage of administering the medicinal drugs to those patients.

“The reasons that were given encompassed the fact that they were stretched and maybe not fully attentive at the time. That pretty much is the long and short of

GPHC Board Chairman Kesaundra Alves

the reasons given but I don’t think that initially, they realised. But eventually, when they recognised that the patients were deteriorating when they checked they realised their mistake.”

Deficiencies

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the GPHC, Kesaundra Alves told the media that an internal investigation by the hospital’s administration into the circumstances surrounding the treatment of three leukaemia patients and their subsequent adverse reactions has revealed that human deficiencies and systemic challenges contributed to the demise of those three children.

“Statements were solicited from the parties directly or indirectly involved and parties who were witnesses or otherwise privy to pertinent information that could assist with the investigation. The Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr Jeffery, submitted his final report to the Chief Executive Officer on January 28, 2019. That report concluded that human deficiencies and systemic challenges contributed to the demise of the three children.”

She stated that an independent investigation by the Public Health Ministry was also launched and findings were similar to those of the GPHC’s; non-adherence to the hospital’s protocols led to the three young children succumbing at the GPHC. Alves explained that the GPHC Board only received the Ministry’s report quite recently and is still reviewing both reports in its possession.

“As part of its remit, this Committee (from the Public Health investigation) conducted a fact-finding condition. Through the review of each patient’s chart, interviews with the relevant staff members of the GPHC and also with the parents of the

Three-year-old Roshani Sharezer Mendonca

Seegobin

patients. The Committee’s preliminary report was submitted on February 22 and its final report was submitted to CMO to February 28, 2019.”

This final report has also recommended a number of measures to strengthen the GPHC’s system and prevent a recurrence.

According to the Board’s Chairperson, throughout both investigations, officials of the Ministry, Board of Directors, and the administration of the GPHC interacted with the relatives of the three children and officially informed them on Friday of the findings of the investigations.

The GPHC will shortly commence the process of initiating action following the findings of these two reports, she noted.

(right)

and

six-year-old

However, the GPHC is not the body that will determine the final outcome of those staff that were being investigated.

Administrative leave

“That matter is not within our hands. Contractually we can determine who works at GPHC but who is licenced to practice medicine in Guyana is a matter for the Medical Council of Guyana to handle. So we went as far as we could, sending them on admin leave pending a review of reports by the Board of Directors of the GPHC. As I said, this report came into our possession this week and the Board hasn’t, the Chairman has not had the chance to review it.” turn to page 14

news

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saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, March 9 – 05:40h-07:10h and Sunday, March 10 – 06:10h-07:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning sunny weather is expected to give way to sunny intervals that will last throughout the day, followed by light to partly cloudy skies in the evening. Overall temperatures will range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly and Northeasterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 06:09h and 18:28h reaching maximum heights of 2.70 metres and 2.71 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 12:02h reaching a minimum height of 0.49 metre.

Wednesday, march 6, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

05 09 12 17 20 22 03

FREE TICKET FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

02 03 11 17 24 LUCKY 3

01 07 01 Afternoon Draw

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Constitutional crisis

Govt nixes Opposition's compromise for early elections

…PPP GECOM Commissioners vow not to be intimidated

W

ith less than two weeks remaining before the country heads into a constitutional crisis, the David Grangerled administration on Friday shot down a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) proposal to have elections held before the current voters’ list expires on April 30, 2019.

The Head of State led the Government delegation, comprising of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Chief Whip Amna Ally, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, to meet with Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice James Patterson, and Commissioners Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj, Robeson Benn, Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman, as well Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and Deputy CEO Roxanne Meyers.

During the high-level meeting, held at the Ministry of the Presidency, Shadick – an Opposition-nominated Commissioner – submitted a proposal outlining a work plan for the holding of elections at the earliest possible time; that is, April 29, 2019.

This is one day before the voters’ list expires.

However, despite making a commitment to have elections at the earliest time possible, the proposal was not accepted by Government.

“I went trying to help the President to come to a decision, [so that] he could engage the Leader (of) the Opposition to go to Parliament… The President seemed willing to accept it, but Basil Williams intervened and said, ‘No, we cannot accept a document that didn’t come from the Commission; that came from (one side of the Commission)’,” Shadick explained.

Drawing board

Meanwhile, President Granger has sent GECOM back to the drawing board, saying after the meeting that the elections body did not offer him proper guidance to announce a date for the polls.

“We did not receive the sort of guidance that we need to enable me, as president, to make a proclamation to actually announce a date, but we have kept the door open, and we have asked the Guyana Elections Commission to go back to the drawing board to examine how quickly and how easily they could arrive at a consensual position -- merge the various approaches; ensure that the preparations for elections which have already started

President David Granger led a Government delegation to meet with officials of GECOM on Friday to discuss elections preparations

tions could be postponed until February next year.

But while speaking with media operatives following the meeting, Commissioner Alexander posited that a condensed and contracted house-to-house registration process could see the exercise wrapped up by November this year.

Not be bullied

Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners speaking with reporters after Friday’s two-hour-long meeting

continue, and that we could have an agreement as quickly as possible. So as far as the Government side is concerned, this has been productive, it has been edifying, and we feel we have the basis for moving quickly towards having elections in Guyana,” the President said.

According to the Head of State, if the elections body is to resolve or reconcile the different points of view which exist in the Commission now, the body would be able to advise guidance to ultimately set elections at the earliest date possible.

However, Shadick opined that the two-hour-long, high level meeting was no different from a GECOM statutory meeting, since “the song about house-to-house registration is being sung” and there was no room for a way forward that departs from house-to-house registration.

In fact, she noted that

one Government-nominated commissioner, Vincent Alexander, had indicated during the meeting that elec-

Opposition-nominated commissioners, during a press conference on Friday, contended that they will not be bullied into accepting anything other than the constitutionally mandated elections. turn to page 7

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saturday, MARCH 9, 2019

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

Pushing eco-tourism

G

uyana’s tourism product received a major boost a few days ago when this country was named the world’s best eco-tourism destination.

With the political developments that are dominating the news headlines here daily, this news was not given much publicity, but it certainly is something to celebrate, considering the strenuous efforts that are being made by the relevant stakeholders here to push Guyana as a ‘must see’ on the world tourism market.

The award was presented to Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Brian T. Mullis, at the ITB Global Travel Trade Fair in Berlin, Germany recently. The newly created “Best of Ecotourism” category was added in 2019, and puts Guyana up against very well-known and experienced ecotourism destinations, like Sierra Gorda in Mexico, Tmatboey in Cambodia, and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.

President of the Green Destinations Foundation was quoted in the media as saying that the Top 100 Awards Jury was impressed by the dossier prepared by the GTA for the Top-100 nomination, and by the success stories submitted of Surama and Rewa. Both of these eco-lodges have ambitious and admirable goals and successes, are community-owned and led, and aim at preserving Guyana’s ecosystems and indigenous traditions.

Over the years, Guyana has expended considerable amounts of resources to develop new and innovative ecofriendly tourism products. Guyana has a unique tourism product that is offered by no other Caribbean country, and we believe this country has the potential to become one of the Caribbean’s leading tourist destinations, as there are endless possibilities for eco-tourism, yachting, and wildlife, along with a number of other tourism activities.

Certainly, there are some impediments that pose a threat to the development of a thriving tourism sector, such as expensive air travel, lack of trained personnel in the tourism and other related sectors etc. These are issues that must remain on the front burner to be addressed, as they have a direct impact on the quality and affordability of the tourism package we offer. With the oil sector about to take-off soon, more persons, both Guyanese in the diaspora and foreign citizens, will be coming here either to work, visit, or for academic purposes. The focus should be on putting in place systems aimed at projecting a positive image of our country.

Further, we wish to underline the point that Guyana’s tourism product is still evolving, and in order for it to be successful, we all must get involved in the thrust towards making our country a destination of choice. If we are to underscore the importance of tourism to our country’s development, then more public awareness is needed, so that not only the Government and the private sector are on board, but we must ensure that ordinary citizens fully understand and support the industry. Citizens must understand the value of tourism to our country’s development, and the role they could play in ensuring that persons who come here leave with lasting positive impressions of this country.

To begin with, there is need for citizens to start cleaning up their surroundings, especially those living in the capital city, towns and major centres, where tourists traverse.

The capital city is a main centre of attraction for visitors, and on any regular day, a walk around the city streets and surrounding areas would leave one ‘sick’ at the sight of the huge pile-up of garbage and other refuse at certain points. For too long, we have accepted substandard services from city officials without raising our voices in protest at their incompetence and inefficiency in carrying out their mandate. Successive governments have had to inject millions to clean up the city, but not long after, the situation goes back to the way it was before.

That said, a thriving tourism sector would benefit all Guyanese, as more persons would be able to secure employment, our country’s revenue would be boosted, and many other related industries would prosper, among other benefits.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Member of Parliament, Pauline Sukhai share a light moment on International Women’s Day with members of the Women’s Progressive Organisation – the women’s arm of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)

Addressing the fomented primaeval fears expressed by PNC MP Figueira Dear Editor, I have been deeply disturbed, troubled and sitting dejected on reading the letter entitled, “Jagdeo’s system of apartheid,” in the Daily Chronicle of Thursday, March 7, 2019, submitted

by Jermaine Figueira, PNC Member of Parliament for Region 10.

For quite a while, I was torn in mind whether we PPP and PPP/C should respond to his repeating and so propagating the preposterous historical allegations arising out of fomented primeval fears amongst us AfroGuyanese, of the so-called “Indian” PPP and PPP/C, herein Jagdeo and Ramotar “not liking black people,” “discriminating against black people,” “wanting to dominate black people”, “instituting a system of apartheid against black people” and so on. Editor, we of the PPP and the PPP/C of all races have been responding numerous times to these allegations. We stand on our historical record of material achievements and of embracing Guyanese of all races, of all religions and from all regions from the time of the founding of our Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in 1946 to today. Nonetheless, I go once more to the battle line. I do so cognisant that a number of my Afro brothers and sisters are still vulnerable to such preposterous charges. I start as one airline safety routine begins, to remind those who have heard these sentiments before and to inform those who are encountering these allegations for the first time, that these allegations generate lots of emotions but there is much substance to the contrary.

I write also responding directly to Figueira – for I

sense some playing to the gallery, some tentativeness in his opening line, as printed: “Fasten your seat belts, as I tread on delicate grounds.”

Editor, Figueira’s letter seems to call for a response at a number of levels from specific/particular/tangible as well as general historical, social/economic/intangibles viewpoints. Taking account of the limitations of space and time, I will here and now address mainly the specific allegations.

I contend contrary to MP Figueira that during our PPP/C period in office, October 1992 to May 2015 that: * All groups of Guyanese throughout Guyana, experienced similar levels of growth and development, in improved housing, the supply of electricity, water, telephones, education and health services. If vehicle ownership is taken as a proxy for improvement in living standards and aspirations, Afro-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese areas did no less well than other areas. * Addressing Linden and Region 10 specifically, as we have stated a number of times before, the PPP/C entered office in 1992 meeting an International Manager, Mining and Processing Engineers (MINPROC), installed in Linden Mining Enterprise (LINMINE) by the departed PNC Administration, in the course of covenants and conditionalities of the Economic Recovery Program (ERP).

There was the covenant that after two years, MINPROC would declare whether it could see LINMINE becoming profitable or not. If profitable, LINMINE was to be sold, if not, it was to be

shut down forthwith. No more monies from the nation’s treasury were to be thrown away in subsidising LINMINE. If we the PPP/C had really disliked Linden and Afro-Guyanese areas, all that we had to do was to conform to the PNC covenant.

We did not; I reiterate, we did not. We squeezed, and with blood in our eyes, found ways above and below the table to resume and maintain subsidies to that company and community for many years into the future. * We the PPP and PPP/C would welcome a review and audit of our relationships with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) during our period. The recent CoI which included looking into the actions of the former Town Clerk should have opened many eyes to the likelihood that the criticisms of our Ministers and Government were not of bad mind, nor anti-Afro-Guyanese.

Recall the recent Parking Meter debacle. In 1992, my ministerial responsibilities included Local Government and Regional Development which included Georgetown.

The same Parking Meter proposal and some thirty proposals for municipal incinerators were brought to me by teams including some overseas Afro-Guyanese and native New Yorkers.

Inherent, often buried deep in all of them were assumptions of payment fee-structures much the same as in New York – not surprising as all the equipment and installations were as in New York, but very far from affordable by Guyanese in the mid-1990s and even now.

Our public has already heard much about the Parking Meter proposal and over-

whelmingly rejected it. The incinerator proposals would have incurred charges of about G$800 million per year when the Municipality of Georgetown was collecting then about G$200 million per year in taxes. The early charges by then Mayor and Council of Georgetown of our PPP/C Government’s intransigence, and stymieing of proposed revenue-generating initiatives of the M&CC, and with overtones of us not liking black people and wanting black people to fail and to look bad, flowed from my unwillingness to give the go-ahead to those unsound projects. * On the question of the alleged biased support to our various municipal areas, MP Figueira, it appears, is referring solely to the publicly stated schedule of direct grants to municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Areas (NDCs). That does not take account of the very much larger cash flows from Central Government’s overall budget from which those people and communities benefit – for example, the over $2 billion per year to subsidise electricity in the Linden area which works out to more than about $20,000: per household per month which we did not bring to the nation’s attention until forced to; nor does it consider the about $900 million spent in constructing well-surfaced roads and concrete drains in Bartica, and so on. I mention these instances to say that we tried as much as humanly possible to treat even handedly and equitably with all our communities whether mainly Afro-Guyanese, Indo Guyanese, Amerindian Guyanese, or no-nation Guyanese. continued on page 5

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

Impostor trying to walk in the footsteps of Cheddi Jagan

Dear Editor, I noticed Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, on his Facebook page, paying tribute to Cheddi Jagan on the occasion of his 22nd death anniversary. The showering of praises to Jagan and paying tribute to this late great leader of our country indeed is necessary for recognising the contributions Cheddi Jagan made to our people, our country and beyond.

The Prime Minister has, on several occasions, referred to

himself as a disciple of Jagan and that he dearly upholds what Cheddi Jagan stood for.

Jagan, as many know, was a leader who never forgot where he came from and has always been a vocal proponent of uplifting the rights of not only the Guyanese people but the oppressed peoples of the world. He was known for putting people first and was not carried away by the trappings of high political office.

But can we measure the Prime Minister, a self-pro-

fessed devout follower of Cheddi Jagan, by the same yardstick?

Let’s consider some of the PM’s actions.

Nagamootoo, before he hardly warmed his prime ministerial chair, approved for himself and his cohorts a massive pay hike and substantial increases in perks. An Inews article of November 02, 2017, informed that the PM’s foreign travel bill between October 2015 and July 2017 – a span of 22 months – totalled over $19 million. Then the PM benefitted,

according to a May 22, 2017, Demerara Waves article, from a $13 million luxury vehicle to travel about. Then how could the nation forget that prior to the Prime Minister moving into his official residence, it had to undergo a $29 million facelift? Then, we should not forget too that the PM found his predecessor’s office unfit for him and a place had to be found for him at the Ministry of the Presidency. Then the PM, according to February 01, 2017, Guyana Times will ben-

efit from VAT exemptions on vehicles he imports.

So while the PM may want to remind us about Jagan, he, at the same time, does not even stand in the shadow of what Jagan stood for and upheld in his lifetime. So while the PM rightly says “No one could impugn Cheddi’s honesty, his high ethical principles and selfless dedication to Guyana,” can the same really be said about Nagamootoo?

Can the PM not see that he stands now exposed for

the Guyanese people to see and his sweet melodies and charms have become impotent and his true charlatan-like demeanour is there for the world to see.

Jagan was, undoubtedly, a great leader and is deserving of every encomium but the Prime Minister, on the other hand, is just a mere imposter trying to walk in footsteps he certainly cannot fill.

Yours faithfully, Patricia Persaud

Addressing the fomented primaeval fears...

continued from page 4

* On the question of Dr Roger Luncheon’s answer on the appointment of Afro-Guyanese as ambassadors, one must see his answer in the context of the series of questions by lawyers demanding yes/no answers. A number of persons appearing to me to be AfroGuyanese were being considered and not long after were promoted to the level of ambassador. * On the question of Sophia and the adjoining squatting areas, Figueira forces me to recall the policemen and persecution inflicted on the squatters by the PNC in the years before we the PPP/C took office, and that the PNC had earmarked Sophia in particular for high-end housing developments. We the PPP/C regularised the squatting we met in Sophia and neighbouring areas granting the land to those ordinary Guyanese, overwhelmingly Afro-Guyanese, and we sought by finding more land to grant house lots, to get ahead of the pressure for further squatting. * Concerning MP Figueira’s charges “that during Jagdeo’s 12-year imperial rule, 468 AfroGuyanese men were killed by an alleged Statesponsored death squad and phantom gang.” Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo has spoken to these charges a number of times and has been calling for a CoI of that period. The lack of take-up on Jagdeo’s call is an indication of uneasiness somewhere in so doing. I have been maintaining that the period started with the run-up to our 1997 General Elections and the “slow fi-

yah, mo fiyah” marches and real fires as elitists fomented many ordinary AfroGuyanese to reject that second PPP/C win. They were encouraged to loot, burn and vent their frustrations on Indo-Guyanese, who were once again as I said, then made to pay the price for Guyana remaining whole.

I encourage MP Figueira, all Afro-Guyanese and indeed everyone interested to put hands on and read Eusi Kwayana’s letter as he left Buxton and Guyana, on the calamity that had befallen Buxton. * On the reports of UN independent expert Gay McDougal and UN Special Rapporteur Daudon Dienne, I do not know what Figueira might have been privy to but in his quotations, I read a report written in much measured statements with which I would not contest – not charges of apartheid. As an example, let us consider this quote from Figueira’s letter: [She (Mc Dougal) also said that “Ethnically based division and politics have created two separate and conflicting narratives and perceptions of reality in Guyana.” On the part of Afro-Guyanese, Ms Dougal said there is a widely held belief that they are discriminated against by an Indian dominated and supported Government that puts Indian interests to the fore, particularly in resource allocation, Government contracts and employment.]

Editor, we the PPP/C are aware that narrative exists.

It is exploitative of instances where any of our PPP/C leaders, members or supporters being themselves

humans and members of our turbulent society, falls short of what we demand of our people – those instances are overblown. Further, we would charge that there have been persons all along, considering themselves as elites, who have fomented and cultivated the narrative which Mc Dougal refers to and which MP Figueira is perpetuating.

I am prepared to argue as I have maintained on a number of occasions that much of the problems of us, the Afro-Guyanese group, flow from the inability of our leaders to find good, positive answers to our perceived problems. Editor, let me end repeating a position I have written before: “A big part of the confusion and frustration of ordinary Afro-Guyanese would be the historical seeming preferment of Afro-Guyanese in the public service and nationalised industries in the earlier years of that 28-year period, which backfired when that administration had to accept the ERP programme with its medicine of retrenchments, shrinkings and closures in the public service and nationalised companies, and future work being contracted out to the Private Sector.

During that 28-year period, Afro-Guyanese were steered away from private business and into the Government sector, then, later, being largely salary and wage earners, pauperised by an effective devaluation of about 1000 over that period.”

Our problems, my dear Afro-Guyanese brothers, (to paraphrase from

Inoperative traffic lights Dear Editor, For some time now, the traffic lights controlling the junction of the Rupert Craig Highway and Sheriff Street has not been working.

This remains an extremely dangerous situation.

Traffic travelling north on Sheriff Street and attempting to enter and cross the Rupert Craig Highway do so at the peril of their lives.

There are other traffic lights on Sheriff Street that have not been working for some considerable time, for

instance, at the crossing of Duncan and Sheriff Streets.

There is also a traffic light which controls the crossing of the Railway Embankment Road and Ogle Airport Road which is left permanently flashing. The result is that anyone attempting to cross the Railway Embankment Road and the Ogle Airport Road, again, does so at the risk of their life. The Ogle Airport Road is the main road with appreciable traffic to and from the Eugene F Correia International

Airport. At peak traffic hours in the morning and in the afternoon, this light should be turned on to full operation.

It’s noteworthy that as a result of the repairs being carried out on Sheriff Street, the Police Traffic Department has placed officers at Sheriff Street and the crossing roads in the early morning hours, but only up to 09:00h.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

Shakespeare somewhere) lie not in our stars, nor with others, but with we ourselves and with those we countenance to become our leaders, who take themselves and our Afro group down paths that are not progressive as they propagate

narratives that keep us tied to the past and to them with them in office.

MP Figueira may be earnest in his call encouraging “Guyanese from all walks of life to come together for a national and truthful discourse on ethnic relations in

Guyana”, however, his letter is no starting point.

Yours truly, Samuel A A Hinds Former President and former Prime Minister

Freddie Kissoon at it again Dear Editor, I hate to challenge or respond to incorrect and baseless arguments and suppositions but Freddie Kissoon’s column in Sunday March 3rd Kaieteur News took the cake for stupidity. He is critical of entrepreneurship and progressive businesses.

Freddie, this is the only way a country’s GDP expands, it is the only way wealth and employment are created for all. Your chastisement of Eddie Boyer stems from personal hatred and envy, not from the love of the poor and disenfranchised.

Businesses throughout Guyana, whether it be National Hardware or whoever else, are the ones who have legally purchased land and used it for the good of the people of Guyana. For your information, if you do not already know, the land at Lilendaal was procured through legal and open tender. Why did you not say this in your column? People like Eddie Boyer are dedicated, hard workers with an insight to develop and grow Guyana, not sit behind a desk and criticize progress.

In addition, your accusation that the rich do not pay taxes is fallacious. Maybe you are referring to the rich Chinese who are evading VAT, Import Duty and income taxes on all fronts. To the delight of all Guyanese you should go after them.

Please get your facts correct before making false accusations. Until you become Commissioner of Inland Revenue, as you want to be, respect our existing tax department and consult with them.

It is uncanny to note that you, who are living in a GuySuCo “scheme”, and has never worked with GuySuCo, nor a sugar worker who broke your body for Guyana, are critical of others.

In every society there are economic classes and nowhere is wealth shared equally, so I am surprised that you, my learned friend has decided that suddenly

we live in an equal society. I wonder Freddie, if you think or want others to think that you survive at a subsistence level. Far from it, you are part of the privileged class.

You have indicated that your personal friendship with the minister responsible for housing led to an acquaintance of your being awarded a plot ofland. While this is a noble gesture, what about the thousands who wait in line but never hear from the housing minister because they don’t have a friend who could talk to him and get preferential treatment.

You are critical of nepotism, but you practice it.

While I am a member of no political party and free from biases, I can tell you that as I go across the length and breadth of Guyana I can see vast areas that the

PPP government has transformed into residential areas. You have not alluded to these. Did it ever bother you that the APNU/AFC government practically halted this exercise?

Finally, Freddie, every political party wants to run the affairs of the country because it feels that it has the wherewithal to do so. Each of the major parties had long stints at governing and it will be the will of the people both rich and poor who will determine this in the upcoming elections.

Allow the populace to make that decision based on unbiased and correct information. Refrain from personal vendetta and hateful allegations.

Sincerely, Concerned Guyanese

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Page Foundation Why do teenage boys need structure? ….structure can provide numerous benefits, especially for teenage boys

By Lee Bare, PhD

basics of how to play guitar. He practises on his own and seeks out extra instruction to guide him along the way. Allow your teenage son to pick up a new activity.

H

elping teenage boys presents some interesting and unique challenges, including how to help them manage their time.

By the teenage years, boys have begun to explore activities that interest them on their own time. We spend a lot of time, as parents, trying to channel the energy of boys when they are younger, finding activities they can enjoy, learn from, and possibly excel in. Whether it’s sports or computers, drawing or cooking, boys need activity.

By the time they become teenagers, though, they are frequently deep into activities, progressing along in sports by being on several teams or taking apart and rebuilding computers in their own time.

Most adolescents find that school takes up the majority of their day. Add in after-school activities, homework, some sleep, and family time, these teenagers frequently have more to fill their day than most adults.

And while these activities can seem overwhelming to both teenage boys and their parents, it is important to remember that teenage boys need structure and these activities are teaching them life lessons about how to best manage their time. Here are five reasons why teenage boys need structure: Time management skills are essential for life Teenage boys are on the cusp of declaring their independence from their parents. They need to develop a sense of structure and routine so that they understand just what goes into managing the 24 hours that are in any given day. When boys have structure, they are able to keep a calendar

and devote a certain number of hours to each activity. For example, your son may know that school starts at 8:00 am so he needs to wake up at 6:30 am in time to take a shower and eat breakfast and get to school on time. That wake-up time means that he needs to be in bed no later than 10:30 pm to get sufficient sleep. If he gets home from school at 3:30 pm, this means he has seven hours for activities. How he spends these hours is dependent upon his interests, but these are hours in the day for which he is responsible. He is learning how to manage his time in order to develop the skills that are needed for life after high school.

Lack of structure tends to equal trouble The old saying of “idle hands make the devil’s workshop” was likely referencing teenage boys. When teenage boys have no structure, they are much more likely to be impulsive and get into trouble. It is likely they will fill their time with the first thing they think of, which often may have detrimental consequences. Boys without structure may be more likely to use drugs or engage in illegal activity. Even with the best of intentions, though, teenage

boys without structure may be lazy. I have teenage boys who, when faced with free time and nothing to do, will watch videos on YouTube about how to survive theoretical attacks by horror movie villains (Freddy Kruger, Jason, Leatherface).

In the grand scheme of problematic behaviours, this is relatively tame, but it represents the mentality of the teenage boy, not finding the most productive tasks to fill free time.

The structure of various activities helps boys figure out what they enjoy Teenage boys are often adventurous, even if they complain about activities.

They like to try new things and experiment with activities that they may potentially be interested in. How do we know what our sons are interested in if we do not give them the opportunity to try something out? I have a teenage son who declared he wanted to take piano. While I was calling around trying to find a piano teacher who would take on a teenage boy, he decided he would rather play guitar. Being a family who values music and music education, we said, “Great!” and off he went learning the

Structure creates self-discipline Children tend to struggle with self-discipline, but this is a quality we value in adulthood.

Teenagers, especially teenage boys, need structure in their lives in order to develop the self-discipline, which is defined

by Merriam-Webster as the regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement. Many aspects of our growth (cognitive, social, and emotional) can help us to develop self-discipline as we move through childhood into adolescence and into adulthood. However, these natural tendencies must also take place within the environment. Teenage boys may tend to develop the ability to regulate their emotions and desire to improve when they have a structure to their day.

Knowing what will happen next in their day allows teenage boys to expand their skills and improve who they are as individuals.

Structure could help protect against anxiety and depression This may sound counterintuitive to some people who are overwhelmed by the demands that structure places on our day-to-day lives. But think about this, one of the first things we work on in therapy with someone who is anxious or depressed is to try to help them reengage in life and their regular activities because these internalising disorders often force someone to withdraw from activities they previously enjoyed. We know that boys

tend to demonstrate depression differently than girls, with more anger, irritability, and withdrawal. Continuing to remain in activities and forcing teenage boys to participate could potentially help keep symptoms of depression at bay.

In a similar vein, teenage boys

whose days are structured may be less likely to demonstrate worry about what is going to happen next or how they will spend their time. Structure and activities can give teenage boys a protective buffer against internalising disorders, such as depression and anxiety. (psychologytoday.com)

L

et your child’s imagination run wild as she creates simple structures, massive monuments, and pretty palaces.

Objectives: This activity will encourage your child to build important pre-math skills such as understanding the “part to whole” relationship and recognising geometric shapes, while along the way creating a unique work of art.

What you need: Construction paper Glue Scissors Markers or crayons (optional) What you do: Go on a walk around your neighbourhood to look at some different types of architecture. Ask your child to look at the houses and buildings and name parts of the structure (ie, roof, door, window, porch, column). If this is not possible, you can look for some building or architecturebased picture books and read about

building while discussing the illustrations or photographs.

Help your child cut out basic shapes such as squares, rectangles, and triangles from the construction paper. Vary the sizes and widths. These will become “building blocks” of each structure she will make.

Allow your child to first play with the shapes, building new and different creations. A triangle may turn into a roof, rectangles in a row may turn into columns, or a square may become a window.

Have your child make a collage by gluing the shapes onto the construction paper sheet to form a building. This can be repeated for multiple buildings.

Optional: Your child can embellish the building by decorating it with a markers or crayons.

The architecture collage can even serve as the beginnings of a whole shape city if your child likes. Discuss the appearance and uses for different buildings (form and function) with your child to emphasise why architects are important. Remind her that she is a junior architect creating some of her very own special structures! (kinderart.com)

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saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

No-confidence resolution

Christopher Ram challenges Govt’s “business as usual” approach to contracts

…seeks order preventing payment of contracts over $15M

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s the Coalition Government continues its “business as usual” approach following the passage of the no confidence motion back in December, Political Commentator and Attorneyat-Law Christopher Ram has turned to the High Court to stop the awarding and payment of contracts over $15 million.

The legal proceedings were filed on Friday

by Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall on behalf of Ram, and named Attorney General Basil Williams and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Abena Moore, as the respondents.

Ram is asking the court to declare, among other things, that any procurement (contract) in excess of $15 million approved by a purported Cabinet after the evening of 21st December, 2018 is unconstitutional, unlawful, null, void, and is of no legal effect; and that the court should issue an order restraining Permanent Secretaries within all Government Ministries from making any payment towards any contracts in excess of $15 million approved by a purported Cabinet after the passage of the no confi-

dence motion.

The High Court is also being asked for a declaration to state that “…there exists no Cabinet to review or award any contract which exceeds fifteen million Guyana dollars (G$15,000,000).”

It was noted in the court documents seen by Guyana Times that Section 54 (1) of the Procurement Act gives Cabinet the right to review and approve all procurements (contracts) in excess of $15 million. However, Ram pointed out in his grounds for the application that all functions and duties of the Cabinet ceased on December 21, 2018 when the no confidence motion was successfully passed against the Coalition Administration.

The Resolution gives effect to Article 106 (6), which states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

According to the legal documents, the subsequent ruling of acting Chief Justice Roxane George (on January 31 in a case filed by Ram) was that the National Assembly properly, validly and lawfully passed the motion, which immediately effected the res-

ignation of the Cabinet. “…the president and the ministers who constitute the Cabinet [were] compelled to resign their functions in Cabinet but retain their office until elections are held…

I have observed that the Cabinet has not complied… and neither the Cabinet nor the President has expressed a public intention to resign or fixed a date prior to or on 21st March, 2019 for the holding of national and regional elections, nor has a resolution supported by no less than two-thirds of the National Assembly determined that elections should be held after an extended period,” Ram outlined in his application to the court.

Immediately after the passage of the motion, the Coalition Government had said it would uphold the Constitution, but subsequently took a U-turn, ignoring calls from stakeholders, including the Opposition, to resign.

President David Granger has maintained on several occasions that there is no provision in the constitution for a “caretaker” Government. Furthermore, the Government went on to challenge the passage of the motion in the National Assembly back in December.

However, the acting Chief Justice found that the no-confidence motion was validly passed, and that Cabinet should have resigned. Government has since appealed this decision, and those matters are expected to come up for hearing at the Appeal Court next week.

Meanwhile, following the High Court rul-

ing, the Coalition has been meeting as a ‘Ministerial Plenary’, which is imbued with Cabinet powers, to carry on Government business.

In fact, they have noted contracts from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and given their approval for various appointments.

This is a move which

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called illegal.

“They have a ministerial plenary to bypass the Chief Justice’s ruling, which is illegal,” the Opposition Leader has said.

Jagdeo had noted, too, that if the People’s Progressive Party, of which he is also the General Secretary, returns to office, then all the actions and decisions of the Coalition Government since December 21 will be reviewed and reversed.

Govt nixes Opposition's...

With the March 21, 2019 deadline less than two weeks away, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had indicated that his parliamentarians will vote for an extension of the constitutional deadline if Government commits to holding elections before April 30.

But GECOM is pushing for house-to-house registration, and according to the PPP Commissioners, the Chief Elections Officer indicated during Friday’s meeting that he has no work plan as yet on the way forward.

N o n e t h e l e s s , Commissioner Robeson Benn noted that they will not be intimidated into changing their position; that is, elections should be held within the constitutionally mandat-

ed timeline.

According to the PPP Commissioners, Friday’s high-level meeting was meant to pressure and intimidate them into going along with an orchestrated plan to delay the hosting of General and Regional Elections by conducting house-to-house registration.

In fact, they asserted that the utterances of the ministers who were part of the Government’s delegation during the meeting cast them as being the “spoil sports” because they refused to support the majority decision of house-to-house registration.

Commissioner Gunraj maintained that they will not be held hostage to toe the line, as he went on to reject accusations that by walking out

from page 3

the GECOM statutory meeting on two occasions, he and his two other PPP-nominated Commissioners are actually pushing towards the looming constitutional crisis.

“At both of those meetings that we walked out of, it was quite obvious that there was no discussion planned or ongoing about the holding of elections, and I maintained that we have an obligation to hold elections, and we will not be held hostage in any meeting to discuss any matter that is not touching or concerning or directly related to the holding of elections,” Gunraj insisted.

The commissioners further indicated that they refuse to be part of such meetings in the future.

8 news Ban derogatory music in public – Gender Equality Commission M saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

usic considered derogatory and defaming to women should be prohibited from being played in public, according to the Women and Gender Equality Commission.

The Commission recently presented a report titled “Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls” to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland.

The report includes 28 recommendations including the ban on derogatory music.

Chairperson Indra Chandarpal told Guyana Times that music can impact how persons think and, therefore, if songs are insulting and offensive, then the results can be negative.

“It’s all about self-respect,” she explained.

“We’re not prude but we believe that if you have certain music that is so explicit, it should not be condoned,” added Chandarpal, who is also a par-

Indra Chandarpal

liamentarian.

She reminded that there was a Censor Board which was responsible for vetting films before they can be played in the country.

Chandarpal suggested the resuscitation of such a body which can police the type of music being played in public spaces.

Meanwhile, the report also included recommendations to improve gaps in the legal system as it relates to sexual and juvenile offences. It also recommended paternity leave for men.

The report, which will be laid at the next sitting of the National Assembly, was prepared by International Legal Consultant Malinda Janki as a follow up to information gathered from their “Access to Justice Programme”.

According to Chandarpal, the Commission visited all ten administrative regions and gave women an opportunity to voice their concerns and challenges.

Carpenter jailed for ganja trafficking F orty-year-old Robert Bhagnauth was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $30,000 on Friday after admitting to having cannabis in his possession.

Bhagnauth was hauled before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he confessed

to the charge which stated that he, on March 6, 2019, at Kettley Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, had in his possession 12 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The prosecution’s case stated that on March 6 at about 18:00h, police were on patrol duties in the area when they observed

Bhagnauth acting in a suspicious manner. As a result, the father of three, who was wearing a grey haversack on his back was subjected to a search by the ranks.

During the search, a black plastic bag containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis was unearthed.

Bhagnauth was arrested and taken into Police custody where the ganja was weighed in his presence and amounted to 12 grams.

In court on Friday, the unrepresented Bhagnauth calmly exited the courtroom after the prison sentence was handed down.

Pork-knocker slapped with ganja possession charge

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pork-knocker was on Friday released on $50,000 bail after he denied a charge of ganja possession when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Lindon Lanizon ap-

peared before Magistrate Leron Daly and pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on March 6, 2019, while in the vicinity of Water Street, Georgetown, he had in his possession 11 grams of cannabis for the

purpose of trafficking.

The prosecution is contending that the 49-year-old man was found with seed, leaves and stems suspected to be cannabis at about 18:00h when police on patrol duties on Water Street con-

ducted a search of his person.

Police Prosecutor Christopher Morris objected to bail. The prosecution’s objection was overruled by the Magistrate. The case will continue on April 5, 2019.

Ex-cop charged for stealing $900,000 from Police Force

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n ex-member of the Guyana Police Force found himself on the wrong side of the law on Friday when he was slapped with nine criminal charges.

Former Police Sergeant, Tamesh Danraj stood be-

fore Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

The allegations against Danraj stated that between September 15, 2017 to December 2018 while he

was employed as an audit clerk in the finance office at the Anna Regina Police Station, with intent to defraud, he embezzled over $900,000 to his own use and benefits.

In court on Friday, the

Prosecution contended that the finance officer was at the centre of an investigation when he left Guyana on a flight to the United States.

However, based on information received, police were able to track down the ex-cop and ordered his arrest.

The court was informed that the father of three was dismissed from the Guyana Police Force on January 26, 2019, following his arrest.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers contended that the 35-year-old ex-cop is also at the centre of another investigation for offences of similar nature.

Defense Attorney Latchmie Rahamat in a bail application asked that reasonable bail be given to her client. He was released on $25,000 bail for each of the nine charges. The case was transferred to the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court and will continue on March 13, 2019.

Vices…

Y

…of the mind

our Eyewitness has been pondering over the President and his PNC Government’s stance on the Constitution in general and the consequences of the NCM. He wondered whether they really didn’t understand the constitutional stipulations for which they keep being dragged over to the courts and getting bitch-slapped! Or is it they’re just playing the fool because they want to hang onto power by any means necessary. As you, dear readers, would know, he’s been leaning towards the latter.

But a friend suggested a different reason for their obdurateness – they just can’t see the light, ‘cause they’re suffering from “epistemic insouciance”!! What’s that, you ask? Well you just echoed your Eyewitness, complete with raised eyebrows and all!! “Epistemic insouciance”, I was informed, is a “vice of the mind” that’s always afflicted a lot of us, but which has taken on a whole new significance in this age of fake news.

The fella who popularised the term informs us that “An epistemic vice is a personal intellectual failing – usually a character trait, attitude or way of thinking - that systematically obstructs the gaining, keeping or sharing of knowledge.”

And what are some of these “vices of the mind”, you ask? ‘Intellectual pride, negligence, idleness, cowardice, conformity, carelessness, rigidity, prejudice, wishful thinking, close-mindedness, insensitivity to detail, obtuseness, and lack of thoroughness’. And as you can tell just by looking at the list: like the regular “moral vices”, such as sloth and greed, which we’ve been warned against, these can also stunt our minds and cripple our actions.

“Epistemic insouciance” is an attitude of casual indifference – a “dong-kay damm” attitude - about the facts, and this is the epistemic vice that’s key to understanding the position of the PNC politicians on the Constitution since they came into power. They really don’t give a horse’s ass about the facts that undergird the Constitution, and they therefore spout bullshit as a matter of course. Unlike when “lying”, the PNC don’t care whether what they say is true or not.

All they care about is the IMPRESSION they make – on their supporters, who’re predisposed to believe them, for one reason or another.

They don’t care about what the Opposition thinks!!

Think of it. Why else would Granger say that Art 162 (2) of the Constitution -- to select the GECOM Chair -meant he had to be “a judge OR a judge”!?! And why else would he and his chorus clamour “33 isn’t greater than 32”??!! There’s got to be something radically wrong with these folks…and we now know what it is – epistemic insouciance!!

Can it be cured?? Of course; but like all vices, the victim first has to admit he’s ill!! Which the PNC will never do!!

…against women

Yesterday being “International Day for Women in Science”, its focus would strike a discordant note in Guyana, where the STEM subjects in the high schools and in university are all dominated by female high flyers!!

Even our Minister of Telecommunications is female, as well as the individual who took the lead in introducing Robotics and STEM in our schools. So we ought to pat ourselves on the back for our forward thinking – and make sure as we translate all this brain power into industries and business, women are represented in TOP MANAGEMENT!!

But the age-old vice that has haunted women – male violence against them, starting from childhood – is sadly alive and (literally) kicking; and from the statistics, even increasing. What’s going on?? One theory is that the excellence displayed by females in the schools, which is being translated into them demanding equality in all areas of life, might be exactly what’s fuelling male rage, since they can’t deal with the new reality.

And this is what we have to rectify here.

…of corrupting institutions

Back in the day, the Chairman of the Elections Commission, Sir Harold Bollers, was once described as a “toothless poodle” because of his slavish obedience to Burnham’s whims and fancies.

So what do we call Justice James Patterson?

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

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saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

SOCU Head questioned over improper spending H

ead of the Special Organised Crime Unit, (SOCU) Sydney James was subjected to questioning over allegations of improper spending at the white-collar crime-fighting institution.

This is in light of the ongoing investigation and audit which stemmed after the termination of British adviser, Sam Sittlington.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan confirmed that an investigation is ongoing into the matter, where he noted that there were allegations of monies not being spent properly and it is now within the jurisdiction of the investigators to understand the spending procedures at SOCU. “There are some allegations being made that monies were not spent properly…and of course, you listen to what the auditors of the Police Force has to say on that score and proceed apace with that. The investigators have asked a number of questions of Mr Sydney James and they’re in the process of understanding better, the system that is in place in relation to spending,” Ramjattan said on Friday.

M e a n w h i l e , Government is still looking for a replacement for British adviser to SOCU, Sam Sittlington, who was fired earlier this year by the British Government after it was revealed that he had set up a private fraud company in Guyana, which was seen as a conflict of interest with his role as a consultant.

According to filed documents seen by this publication, the local company, The Fraud Company (Guyana) Inc, was incorporated under the Companies Act of Guyana on September

SOCU Head Sydney James

25, 2018, with Sittlington as the Director and Orisa Branche as the Secretary.

Both signed consenting forms to the positions last August.

As such, the Public Security Minister on Friday said the possibility of receiving an “alternate person” is still uncertain.

“Having terminated Sam, it necessarily means either we’re going to get the alternate person or not. I’m going to endeavour to make that happen.”

Guyana Times understands that the British High Commission in Guyana was unaware of Sittlington’s decision to establish a business locally and it was after this revelation that the UK Government fired the Ireland-based fraud expert.

Sittlington had revealed that SOCU has not been operating in a manner in which it should and that there are instances of improper spending.

The parliamentary opposition has maintained that SOCU, which was set up to fight money laundering and other white-collar crimes, has become a political unit under the APNU/ AFC regime.

People’s The Progressive Party (PPP) had said that Sittlington was going beyond his advisory role and taking on executive functions, pointing out that he was going on operations such as raids and arrests.

SOCU was also under scrutiny after its Deputy Director, Sheronie James, resigned after a local Magistrate disqualified her as an expert witness based on her lack of qualifications.

Ramjattan said James was recommended by senior officials after she would have indicated her qualifications, which the Ministry thought was genuine. However, he maintained that in the event of such misrepresentation, his Ministry would not hire the individual.

“We were told that she has these qualifications and when she was asked to provide the certain certificates, it was not produced…It was some senior people that recommended her…If you say that you’re of a certain quality and it turns out you are not of that quality or qualification, you’re not going to get employment, not under me,” said Ramjattan.

Education Ministry to introduce reformed Primary School curriculum

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hrough its curriculum reform project, the Education Ministry will be introducing the newly reformed curriculum in schools across the country, through a pilot programme that includes space for any modifications.

Assistant Chief Education Officer Carol Benn made this announcement recently, where she also informed that a new timetable will accompany the curriculum in 115 primary schools. Both will be implemented as pilot projects.

“Presently, we have a new timetable that is being piloted at selected primary schools throughout the country.

This timetable will soon be rolled out to Grade One and Two classes countrywide along with the new curriculum, which will also be piloted in 115 schools,” said Benn.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry also commented on the project, noting that it is a critical

component in the delivery of education and one that is necessary for the newer generations.

“We recognised that an important part in delivering education is reforming and improving curriculum so we have undertaken the process of reviewing this country’s curriculum and a curriculum that would not have been reformed since the 1970s.

We want to ensure that each generation that comes is well prepared,” said Henry.

Discussions for the new curriculum were facilitated with nine Canadian consultants from the Saint Francis Xavier University and the Mindbloom School, who were collecting information from educators and schools from various regions across Guyana.

Many teachers related that the standard school curriculum was used to teach children with disabilities while others informed that the current curriculum is too packed to reach the needs of every

student.

Additionally, it was noted that Guyana depends heavily on the assistance of outsiders, which is not as effective as an internal guide. To modify this, the curriculum will be modified to suit the needs of Guyana’s children.

One of the consultants, Paula Mackinnon, has stated, “This is a curriculum for Guyana. We can provide assistance for the development but it is yours and we hope that it provides every student with the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Henry had noted previously that there is a high chance that grammar will be one of the restructured component of the new syllabus.

She explained that there are different ways of reintegrating grammar into the classroom where it can prove to be more effective. This might include the idea of singling out the subject as a separate component.

10 news

saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

More crackdowns on weapons 4 months later Passengers still awaiting in schools needed – GTU …recommends parents be charged reimbursements from Fly Jamaica

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nnovative, makeshift weapons along with other forms of injurious objects continue to be found in the possession of students and stashed away in schools, and this situation continues to escalate.

This is according to General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald, who told this newspaper on Thursday that the issue of safety in schools is of major concern.

McDonald stated that parents need to be more responsible and check the bags and pockets of their children before they leave for school.

She added that this is one of the immediate ways to crack down on weapons in their possession or in classrooms, since, more often than not, students bring those items from their homes into the schools’ compounds.

“Most parents don’t take the time to check their children’s bags. Parents need to be more responsible in the safety of their child/ children as well as in ensuring that they do checks into their bags, lunch bags, and other items they usually take to school… Because if the parents are not going to do it, then it means that

Coretta McDonald

they should be charged by the Education Ministry, by the court,” the GTU General Secretary also stated.

She added that too often there are recurring instances of assault and threats to teachers by students, and also to students by their classmates.

“We have posited that there be students’ pat down twice a week at schools, to help in this regard. When it is done spontaneously, at least if students have weapons in their pockets or on them, these harmful objects will be found. I am calling on all parents to be more responsible in their child’s welfare,” McDonald noted.

According to the GTU General Secretary, parents and guardians need to become more involved in their children’s lives at school, because the lack of parental involvement leads to delinquency and truancy. It even aids in the negative actions of students in the school premises, and in some cases results in a teacher being harmed.

“Like in the case of the head-teacher that was assaulted in Berbice recently, she was assaulted by a student of her school. That boy was suspended, and his parents did not know this.

Every day he was putting on his uniform and leaving home under the pretext of going to school, and it was the second day that he was in the school compound. The head-teacher chased him out, and that is when he retaliated and assaulted her,” she explained.

She added that parental involvement in a child’s education is vital, but it is also crucial that parents be more responsible when it comes to communicating with teachers at the schools, so that they (parents) are aware of the ongoing development of their child/ children, and what bad habits, if any, they have.

T

oday makes four months since a Fly Jamaica aircraft, destined for Toronto, Canada, crash-landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Timehri, East Bank Demerara, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded who are yet to be reimbursed.

Passengers, who not only were onboard the crashed aircraft, but others who booked their flights ahead of their actual travel date are also still waiting in suspense for their monies to be refunded.

Several fuming passengers reached out to this publication on Friday and complained that although they were promised a refund by the end of last month, they are still waiting with no word from the company.

One person said that she contacted the travel agent with whom she booked the flight but was informed that

the agents are also awaiting word from Fly Jamaica on the matter.

Meanwhile, another passenger explained that he too was promised that payments would have commenced since last month.

Other affected passengers have turned to social media to complain of the customer service being provided by Fly Jamaica, as telephone calls to the airline are seemingly going unanswered. Persistent persons have said they would have exhausted their efforts to contact the local office, only for their calls forwarded to voicemails and answering machines.

Vikask Ramnarine, an inconvenienced passenger told <<<Guyana Times>>>, “I understand that the process to refund customers will take time, but I expected this period [to] be at least 3 days since this was not our fault and it’s very un-

fair that we have to wait 6-8 weeks for our money to be returned to us. Also taking into consideration the airline held this money since August 2018 and they do not have any service to provide, no instant refund”.

According to him, the company owes him a total of US$720.

Head of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field told this publication on Friday that he was unaware of payments being made to affected customers.

Meanwhile, when contacted on Friday, an officer at the airline told this newspaper that “refunds are not available at this time”. The employee was also unable to provide a timeline for when payments can be expected.

A representative from the airline recently told sections of the media that it was considering resuming services by mid-March. turn to page 12

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saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

US$8.5M power plant commissioned at Canefield

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The new Canefield power plant

he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) on Friday commissioned a US$8.5 million power plant at Canefield, Berbice as part of the company’s expansion programme.

However, although the plant was commissioned on Friday, it has been in use since September 2018.

The plant has the capacity to produce 5.5 megawatts of power and forms part of the Demerara-Berbice in-

terconnection system which supplies electricity through most of the coast and the capital city.

This is considered a significant improvement since the old plant which was commissioned in the 1970s was capable of producing 4.5 megawatts and had already completed 130,000 running hours.

At the commissioning ceremony, GPL’s Project Manager Linden Edwards

said the old plant could no longer supply the needed power.

“Even with the best of maintenance, its reliable operations could not be guaranteed. This meant that the supply of electricity to the Berbice region was heavily dependent on power being transferred from the Demerara-Berbice interconnection system and as a consequence, the integrity of the 69 KV lines. This situation could be alleviated with a 5.5-megawatt plant,” Edwards explained.

However, while the company boasts of improved capacity, the Guyana Water Inc in January said GPL was not providing the 440 volts needed to push its water pumps in Canje and along the Corentyne, forcing thousands to be without a regular supply of water.

Nonetheless, this new plant was first tested on September 19, 2018, and started operations on September 24.

Chief Executive Officer of the power company, Albert Gordon explained that the investment is in keeping with the company’s mandate to support sustainable development.

“Within that context, GPL seeks to become a world-class utility service provider. We want to be among the best of the best in order to deliver the best to the people of Guyana and in order to do that we want to focus on seven areas where we want to excel.”

These areas, he said are service quality, reliability, access, efficiency and affordability of the service being provided. The protection of the environment is also among the areas of focus.

Speaking of additional plans, the CEO said a further 10 to 15 megawatts will be added to the Canefield facility within the next two years so that Berbice will not be affected if the Sophia plant goes down.

Meanwhile, new lines and substations are to be developed in other areas as the company moves towards producing solar energy.

Some 30 megawatts from solar and a further 10 megawatts generated from wind are part of the plans.

Gordon said Wakenaam, Bartica and Anna Regina are three areas which will benefit from solar power.

Berbice farmers battling paddy bug infestation

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ice farmers in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) are likely to earn less from their yields this crop. This is as a result of the prediction that the quality of rice produced is likely to be poor as a result of a paddy bug infestation.

There are 58,000 acres under rice cultivation in the region and the only areas spared are the East Bank along with East and West Canje, leaving 95 per cent of the production area exposed to the insects.

The bugs damage rice by sucking out the contents of developing grains from pre-flowering spikelets to soft dough stage, therefore causing unfilled or empty grains and discolouration.

Region Chairman David Armogan told the Regional Democratic Council on Friday that the infestation has worsened in the region.

After the meeting, he explained at a press conference that Black Bush Polder is one of the worst affected areas.

“It is happening also in the front lands as well where there is a paddy bud infestation in the region.”

He said the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has been made aware of the situation with the aim of getting recommendations on the type of insecticides which could be effectively used.

Several insecticides have been used in the past put the bugs have become resistant to them preventing farmers from exterminating them.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

“There are some new chemicals on the market and they are looking at them but it is going to affect the crop because the quality of the paddy will be reduced and as a result of that they will get less money from the millers because millers pay based on the quality of the paddy they received,” Armogan said.

While productions levels might be the same as last crop. More than 500,000 tonnes of paddy was produced during the last crop resulting in excess of tonnes of rice.

Armogan, who met with officials from the rice sector on Wednesday, says it is not dooms day for rice farmers.

“At that meeting the RPA [Rice Producers Association] President did indicate to us that there is a new chemical that he has been using and he has been getting excellent results from it so it might be interdicted to the other farmers,” the Chairman highlighted. (Andrew Carmichael)

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saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

“We need more women working” – Caricom rep

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he need for more women joining the labour force was recently stressed by the Deputy Programme Manager in Gender and Development at Caricom, Ann-Marie Williams during a recent interview with Guyana Times.

Her sentiments were shared at a forum earlier this week before Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing International Women’s Day. According to Williams, Government should do more for women in the area of violence, while also highlighting the importance for the rates of women’s participation in the workforce to increase.

The need for more women earning their own living has been earmarked as a major method of decreasing the levels of violence against

Deputy Programme Manager in Gender and Development at Caricom Ann-Marie Williams

them.

It is a known fact that most women endure abusive relationships, especially if they have children to fend for.

Asked what Caricom has been doing to ensure that more women join the work-

force, Williams said it is not an issue that can be tackled independently.

“It’s not really an issue for Caricom to tackle singlehandedly but it is an issue for the entire region to tackle. We need to support women in economic empowerment opportunities,” she said.

Williams stressed that parents tend to train their children to grow up and gain employment with the Government, instead of teaching them to create jobs.

“If you look at where

women are concerned a lot of them work in the informal sector so how do you help them with small loans and small grants to sort of formalise that kind of business and to raise the labour force participation rate,” the Caricom representative posited.

She was keen to note that some educated women choose to stay at home, which is an important decision.

According to her, if the Government is serious about employing measures to help

women build their own businesses then more taxation may be necessary.

Williams, when asked by this publication if she feels that the Government is doing enough for women in this regard said “no”.

She explained, “It will never really be enough but we really have to look at how development agencies and partners can really support countries in these initiatives for them to raise more grant monies and also small corporative and communities can support each

other in terms of getting more employment for women”.

The Social Protection Minister, Amna Ally, at a recent forum acknowledged that Guyana is currently grappling with certain issues pertaining to gender equality.

Ally also pointed out that she is cognisant of the fact that limited access to finances for women to pursue business ventures can be a major obstacle that prevents women from becoming entrepreneurs.

CPG increases presence in border communities

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ommunity Policing Groups (CPG) have increased their presence in border villages, in order to amplify security in remote locations, where access to a law enforcement agency is absent.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told media operatives on Friday that there are a number of initiatives which these policing groups have embarked on within the last year.

Mechanisms were put in place to establish more community policing groups as well as Police stations in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

“We must emphasise because of the developments in the border area, more Police stations, more CPG group

formations in these communities, especially when it’s hard to get more Policemen in these areas… CPGs are now active in villages spanning the hinterland,” said Ramjattan.

Moving forward, the Ministry will seek to increase the number of such groups in the interior regions. However, he admitted that these groups have provided some level of security to communities that are subjected to criminal activities.

“Community policing is premised on that philosophy whereby the community has that definite interest and therefore, must perform that defined obligation… The efforts of Community Policing Groups have been in a way, helping to reduce the negatives of crimes,” the Minister

said.

Ramjattan noted that these groups have received international support from the United Nations and the International Organisation for Migration.

Adding to that, administrator of the groups, Dennis Pompey, mentioned that groups across the country would have produced many successes in their bid to combat crime.

“The main focus in community policing is ensuring safety and security through various crime prevention mechanisms. The community policing over the years have yielded tremendous benefits from the hard work we delivered in 2018.”

To date, there are 16 divisions, 210 policing groups, consisting of 4255 members.

There was an increase in the number of patrols from 5765 in 2017 to 9182 in 2018.

These were carried out by foot, vehicles and vessels.

“We have established groups in non-traditional areas… Community policing continues to engage the youths of today through our 35 youth groups that are currently existing within the divisions,” said Pompey.

After taking office in 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government had taken away the vehicles from the CPGs and handed them over to the Guyana Police Force. In 2017, realising the importance of CPGs, Ramjattan announced that several of those resources have since been returned to the CPGs.

Passengers still awaiting...

On November 9, 2018, a Boeing 757 aircraft operated

by Fly Jamaica crash-landed at the CJIA in the wee hours of the morning resulting in at least 10 people being medically examined.

The aeroplane, carrying 118 adults along with two infants and an 8-member crew, took off from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at about

02:10h but after some time, the aircraft encountered hydraulic problems and as such, returned to Timehri where it crash-landed. The aircraft was destined for Toronto, Canada.

All passengers and crew members on board were accounted for but officials had confirmed that five passengers suffered spinal injuries while a senior citizen died one

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week later.

Since the accident, passengers have been decrying the slothful nature in which their requests are being processed.

A number of letters were written to this publication with persons even explaining that they were awaiting their refunds from the airline to repay relatives for their tickets.

13 West Watooka farmers raise E Division Commander issues of access to water conducts outreach R news

saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

esidents of the West Watooka farming community in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) on Wednesday voiced a number of concerns with Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes.

Members of the farming community took the opportunity to voice their concerns during a visit by the Minister, who was at the time distributing farming tools. Chairman of the community’s Farmers Development Council Arthur Johnson pointed to some major concerns, including inaccessibility to water.

He said that farmers are forced to fetch water from the West Watooka residential area. The area’s farming community has approximately 103 live-in farmers and approximately 50 per cent of these have families.

The section of the community consists of approximately 700 metres of land. Farmers indicated that though water is obtained from a canal, it is too far away.

A farmer told this publication that the water lines are cut off at the residential area.

“One of our biggest concerns right now in this community is water...we asking

all the relevant authorities and they saying they don’t have pipe, they don’t have manpower,” Johnson told the Minister.

He noted that farmers are willing to do self-help if given the pipelines.

Speaking to Johnson and the Minister via cell phone, Managing Director of the Guyana Water Inc, Dr Richard Van West-Charles said he will seek to have a company representative visit the area, noting that the company will try its best to respond. The Minister promised to follow-up.

Meanwhile, a fourth form student of the community also shared her concerns.

“My main concern is internet and street lights because sometimes we come from lesson late in the night and the road does be dark,” she explained.

Farmer Ernestine Culpeper also noted that students in the area have to walk long distances to receive internet access.

The Minister said she will lobby with Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes for an internet hub to be set up in the farming community, while Johnson noted that the community centre can be utilised.

Minister Broomes

said the situation regarding street lights is a major and “ridiculous” one as she promised to liaison to have it corrected.

“We do have a street lights project pushing.

I’m going to get Minister Patterson and this is no promise but things I will act upon,” she said.

Speaking with this publication, farmers also called on the relevant authorities to look into the state of the community’s access road which is in a deplorable condition.

They noted that this affects the transport of their produce and in some cases, they are made to pay high taxi fares. The farmers also pointed to the lack of landline telephones, limited opportunities in acquiring farmland and inaccessibility to loans.

Minister Broomes told residents that she will relay their concerns to relevant Ministers while noting that she will also seek to have Regional Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira visit the area along with a local team. The Minister also visited the recently burnt-out Victory Valley Community Centre and made a donation of a wheelchair to a resident of West Watooka.

Region 2 to launch stray campaign

From left: Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, Anna Regina Mayor Rajendra Prabhulall, and a Police representative

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he Regional Administration of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) in collaboration with the Municipality of Anna Regina have taken the decision to launch a new campaign targeting the numerous strays that line the roadways posing imminent dangers to motorists and other road users.

A meeting, which was held on Monday last in the boardroom of the Anna Regina Town Hall with Regional Chairman Davanand Ramdatt, Mayor Rajendra Prabhulall, Senior Representatives of the G Divisional Police, the Essequibo Coast Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Councillors and other stakeholders who discussed means and ways to get rid of the many stray animals roaming the roads, streets, playgrounds, parks and other public places within the

township.

A public sensitisation campaign is presently ongoing by the Council, advising residents of the township to remove all strays before the rolling out of the campaign. It was suggested that all abandoned donkeys be caught by the Stray Catching Unit and placed in a holding area on a dam in Richmond until they can determine a more permanent solution.

The staffers of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the regional engineer are currently fixing the barricade. Additionally, the other animals will be impounded at the municipality’s pound in Anna Regina.

Drivers, farmers and residents were bitterly complaining of the many stray animals roaming the roadways causing many accidents. Farmers welcomed

the move because of the damages they suffered on a daily basis due to these stray animals.

The police in the region promised to give their full cooperation to clear the roadways and streets of these animals and will be working closely with the Township.

Regional Chairman Ramdatt said that he is very much disappointed with the Regional Road Safety Committee which is doing nothing to make the road a safer place and is strongly calling on the Committee to get their act together and bring some safety to road users in the region.

Meanwhile, the Mayor said that he will be seeking the assistance of the Public Infrastructure Ministry to have one of the trucks that were designed to hold the animals which are in Georgetown to be placed permanently in the region.

Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord chats with residents of Block 22, Wismar, Linden

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esidents of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, were given an opportunity to voice concerns over issues affecting them during a recent visit to the community by E Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord and other senior police ranks and regional officials.

The team, which also comprised of Assistant Superintendent P PetersFernandes and other ranks, Linden Town Clerk Orleena Obermuller and a representative of the Cops and Faith, conducted a walkabout around the community where they interacted with residents by listening to their concerns and issues.

During the visit, the Divisional Commander also distributed grocery hampers to 67-year-old Cheryl Henry and 69-year-old Silvia Giles. Lord noted that the visit was a timely one and cited that such visits should be made more often so as to improve the relationship between Police and residents.

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Former AG Bernard De Santos dies Guyana’s first photo, film expo

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ormer Attorney General and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos died on Friday evening.

Guyana Times understands that De Santos was rushed to the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital after he felt unwell and later became unresponsive. The legal luminary was 80 years old at the time of his passing.

Senior Counsel De Santos has had an illustrious career, which begun upon his return to Guyana after completing his law degree in 1965 at the Inns Court School of Law of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple London, England.

He joined the Luckhoo and Luckhoo law firm before becoming an acting Magistrate in the

Former AG and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos

Georgetown Magisterial District in 1968. After one year, he returned to the Private Sector and opened his own law firm.

In 1991, De Santos was appointed a Senior Counsel.

That same year, he joined the civic component of the

People’s Progressive Party upon the request of Dr Cheddi Jagan and the following year, campaigned for the Party as a candidate – an election which the party won. He was then appointed Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister when the PPP/C took office in 1992 and served five years.

As AG, De Santos held several appointments including Member of the Constitutional Reform Commission, Member of the Sub-Committee on Governance, Member of the United Nations Permanent Court of Council, Member of the Sectoral Committees on Constitutional Reform and Foreign Relations.

Senior Counsel De Santos then went back to private practice up until his death.

Diamond dealer’s botched robbery

Suspected bandit died of multiple gunshot wounds – PM report

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he 25-year-old suspected bandit Gerally Johanison Henry, who was gunned down during an attempted robbery at Kay’s Diamond Enterprise Ltd on Saturday last, died of multiple gunshot injuries about his body.

A post mortem examination was performed on his body by pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh on Friday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s mortuary, and the body has been handed over to his relatives for burial.

Meanwhile, investigations into the botched robbery continue. Police in an earlier statement said the diamond dealership is owned

and managed by a male caucasian, who told investigators that he had received a phone call from Henry on the fatal Saturday morning.

He said the man had indicated that he wanted to buy diamonds, and advised him to go to the office.

Henry, the businessman said, arrived at the business establishment at about 12:03h, and they had what he described as a “general” conversation before the now dead man asked to use the washroom.

“Upon his return from the washroom, Henry pointed a pistol in the direction of the owner, who was sitting in his chair behind his desk in the office, and told him not

to move; but [the businessman] instinctively drew his licensed handgun and discharged several rounds in the direction of Henry, who was struck in the upper part of his body and he fell [to the ground],” the Police said.

The matter was reported and emergency medical technical (EMT) personnel were summoned and pronounced Henry dead at the scene.

The Police had recovered a 9mm pistol along with eight live matching rounds in the magazine and one round in the breech, which was allegedly in possession of the deceased. The weapon and ammunition have been lodged.

Incorrect method of drug...

According to the GPHC’s Board, the Guyana Medical Council has already requested information from the entire findings of these investigative proceedings.

Meanwhile, CEO of the GPHC, Brigadier George Lewis stated that with regard to the three medical staff involved in the incidents, their

administrative leave commenced on January 29, 2019, and they remain on administrative leave pending further review of the report and possible disciplinary actions if necessary.

Compensation

In terms of compensating

T

Students viewing the photo exhibition at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

he Cineffx Photo and Film Expo was officially launched with much pomp and circumstance on Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Designed to encourage the growth and visibility of photographers and filmmakers within Guyana, the three-day expo represents the first of its kind within the country.

Founder of Cineffx, Jason October urged entrepreneurs in the field to focus on their dreams as he reflected on his journey that began in 2016. “I was on the road for one year, running about looking for sponsorship. No one didn’t buy into the idea.

One particular Ministry had bought into the idea, which is the Ministry of Business, and from that day I said to myself ‘if one person can buy into my idea, many others

could buy in’,” he is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

October also noted the financial support and advice he received from the Institute of Private Development (IPED). The Cineffx’s founder also acknowledged his gratitude for funding from the Social Cohesion Ministry, GoInvest along with other sponsors.

Branding and Communications Officer of Cineffx, Timothy Blair emphasised the goals he hopes the Photo and Film Expo will achieve. “One of the focuses of the expo is the education experience and we want persons who are desirous of getting into the creative industry to see the possibilities […] to be able to share and interact with each

other”.

In addition, international speaker, Yaphet Jackman lauded the event. “This is powerful. This is definitely a day in history,” said Jackman. To the organisers, Jackman stated “many have tried, and many have failed… you guys made it to this point.” While emphasising the importance of women in the photo and film industry. “The people that are the best storytellers are women,” Jackman said.

M e a n w h i l e , Telecommunications Minister Catherine Hughes was at the launching where she said that the event is a great opportunity for persons that are interested in the industry to come together and to take advantage of the training and networking.

CAL’s plane brake system was not functional

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the affected families, no decision has been made as yet by the GPHC since the reports still have to be reviewed, Lewis explained.

“There are a number of processes. At this stage we are reporting to you the findings of the investigation, the next stage would involve the hospital administration engaging the Board of Directors which will have the opportunity to study the reports and thereafter…all options are on the table. We can decide on that but in terms of me saying to you today that compensation will be offered I don’t have that type of answer.”

The first child who died was 7-year-old Curwayne Edwards on January 14, followed by three-year-old Roshini Seegobin of Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on January 18.

The third child, six-yearold Sharezer Mendonca of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, died on January 24.

Mendonca’s body was given to the wrong family for burial in what was alleged to have been an attempt to cover up her true cause of death.

(Kristen Macklingam)

Airport personnel near the ATR aircraft after it crashed into the terminal building

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preliminary report has shown that the braking system on CAL’s ATR aircraft was not functional at the time the aircraft collided with a wall at Piarco Airport on Wednesday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said on Friday.

And he was also unable to say if the person steering the aircraft from the airport ramp to a hangar when the incident occurred at 11.15 pm, was certified to do so.

Imbert gave the explanations in Parliament yesterday, responding to Opposition queries on the accident. He stressed it was not a “crash” as the Opposition called it.

CAL has said the aircraft was being taxied from the ramp to an aircraft hangar when the incident hap-

pened. The aircraft was not in active service and there were no passengers or crew aboard. It was withdrawn from service and a probe started.

On Thursday Imbert said, “Preliminary reports indicate the braking system wasn’t functional at the time. However, these are just preliminary reports and it would be irresponsible to speculate on the actual cause of the accident until all investigations are complete. I’m sure (investigations) will be done in the shortest possible time.”

He said CAL is doing its own investigation and the Civil Aviation Authority is doing an independent probe also to determine the root cause of the accident.

On Thursday, Imbert said a preliminary estimate

of repair cost was about US$1M. On Friday, CAL stated the cost is being assessed and this will be covered by CAL’s insurance.

CAL, in a release, stated the aircraft had been using its own power and was being operated by a licensed aircraft engineer. CAL added that a preliminary report indicated that as soon as the aircraft began to taxi, the aircraft engineer noticed that the hydraulic system was not activated.

CAL said prior to the incident, it was in discussions with a potential lessor to obtain a wet lease to supplement its fleet using a similar aircraft type. Once arrangement is complete, the wet lease will operate from April 8 to September 30, which will cover the busy Easter and August vacation period.

(T&T Guardian)

news

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saturday, MARCH 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Power cuts bring Venezuela El Salvador: 3 women jailed for abortions freed to a standstill S chools and workplaces in Venezuela have closed as an electricity blackout continues into a second day.

The power cuts, which started on Thursday afternoon, have been caused by issues at a major hydroelectric plant.

The Government of President Nicolás Maduro has blamed the opposition, accusing them of sabotage.

It comes amid rising tensions over opposition efforts - backed by the US and some Latin American countries - to remove Maduro from power.

Commuters in Caracas were plunged into almost complete darkness during rush hour on Thursday before the blackout extended to other areas.

The lack of electricity has caused flights to be diverted from the main airport in Caracas, from where thousands of workers were forced to walk home.

The problems stem from the Guri dam plant and have affected the telephone net-

María del Tránsito Orellana (L), Cinthia Rodríguez (C) and Alba Rodríguez pictured before their release

People walked home after workplaces and schools closed

work and metro in Caracas.

State television on Friday said power had been restored in some parts of the capital.

However, local media reports say 15 of the country’s 23 states have been affected by the blackouts, as well as Caracas.

Venezuela depends on its vast hydroelectric infrastructure, rather than its oil reserves, for its domestic electricity supply. But decades of underinvestment has damaged the major dams, and sporadic blackouts are commonplace.

Maduro has accused opposition leader and self-de-

clared interim president Juan Guaidó of trying to mount a coup with the help of “US imperialists”.

Guaidó said on Twitter that the blackout was a matter of “chaos, concern and anger” and “evidence of the usurper’s inefficiency”, adding that “light would return” once Mr Maduro was removed from power.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also weighed in, blaming the “Maduro regime’s incompetence”.

“No food. No medicine.

Now, no power. Next, no Maduro,” he tweeted. (BBC)

E

l Salvador’s supreme court has freed three women jailed for 30 years after being accused of aborting their babies.

The women say they suffered miscarriages but were convicted of aggravated homicide.

They were welcomed by well-wishers and activists near the capital San Salvador on Thursday.

Alba Rodríguez and María del Tránsito Orellana had both served nine years, while Cinthia Rodríguez had spent more than 11 years in prison.

The Central American

country has some of the world’s strictest abortion laws.

Women found to have had an abortion face between two and eight years’ imprisonment, but this can rise to up to 40 years if they are found guilty of aggravated homicide. Dozens of women have been given jail sentences for the deaths of their foetuses in cases where they said they had suffered miscarriages or stillbirths.

“I am happy, happy to recover my freedom, happy for everything that I’ve been waiting for for a long time,” Cinthia Rodríguez told reporters outside the prison.

They were informed of the court’s decision to commute their sentences in a letter from the country’s deputy justice and security minister on the eve of International Women’s Day. According to a local activist group, the ACDATEE, the court found that the women were serving “disproportionate and immoral” sentences and that their families had been negatively impacted by their imprisonment.

Campaigners say at least 30 women jailed for abortions under the country’s strict abortion laws have been freed following retrials and reviews in the past 10 years, but around 20 women remain in prison.

Last month, 20-year-old Evelyn Beatríz Hernández Cruz was released from prison after the court ordered a retrial. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison after giving birth to a still-born baby in a toilet.

According to Amnesty International, El Salvador is “one of the most dangerous countries to be a woman”. (BBC)

TT$1M bail for woman accused US town elects goat as ‘mayor’ of stealing 2 dogs

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n a divided America where politics seems increasingly to get people’s goat, a small town in Vermont has taken the concept to heart — this week electing one as mayor.

He may be a political novice but the goat’s name, Lincoln, brings with it a storied pedigree.

And the leading human official in Fair Haven — population about 2,500 — hopes the long-eared, three-yearold animal’s election can serve as a bit of a lesson in democracy.

In Tuesday’s poll, Lincoln was victorious over 15 other candidates including Crystal the gerbil and many dogs and cats.

Fair Haven has no official mayor but the Town Manager, Joseph Gunter, holds similar functions.

When Gunter read in a newspaper that the village of Omena, Michigan, had made Sweet Tart the cat its “top” official, he got the idea to organise a similar election to raise funds for building a playground.

Steffie Ramdhanie, right, escorted by a Court and Process police officer outside the San Fernando Magistrates Court on Friday This March 6, 2019 handout photograph, obtained March 8, 2019 courtesy of the Rutland Herald, shows Lincoln, a Nubian goat, who was elected

Lincoln’s 13 votes were enough for him to squeak past Sammie the dog.

The goat, which belongs to a school math teacher, will get an education in the town’s major festivals which it will represent during its one-year mandate: “Memorial Day parade, the Apple Fest and the events we organise every Friday in the summer,” Gunter says.

Although the playground fundraising effort only generated about $100,

at five dollars per candidate, Gunter isn’t bleating because he says the animal election was also “a good way to get the kids involved in local government.”

With 53 votes cast the turnout was low, Gunter admits, “but it was the first time, we expect it to be better next year.”

That happens to be the year that US voters will also elect a human president, in a contest expected to shake out like a barnyard brawl.

(AFP)

A

woman accused of stealing two dogs, among a range of household items, has been granted bail in the sum of $1 million on Friday when she appeared in court.

Steffie Ramdhanie, 27, a vegetable and fruit vendor, appeared before Magistrate Alicia Chankar in the San Fernando First Magistrates’ Court charged with stealing more than $.9 million worth of items.

It is alleged she stole the items, including an English Bulldog and an American Bully, both valued at $30,000, dog chow, a lawnmower, a bicy-

cle, oxygen and propane tanks, air condition units, hammers and other types of equipment and tools between February 24 and 25 at American Flats, Eccles Village, Williamsville.

The items valued at $986,530 were stolen from a ranch belonging to Anderson Martin who operates a hydroponic business. She was charged by PC Guerero of the Gasparillo Police Station.

Ramdhanie who has been in custody for seven days also lives at American Flats with her parents and two young children.

However, defence attorney Shirvani Ramkissoon said

Ramdhanie does not know Martin.

In seeking bail, Ramkissoon said the accused was a first-time offender. She said Ramdhanie developed an infection due to the conditions of the cell at the police station. She said her client was hospitalised for two days.

Prosecutor Ramdath Phillip confirmed that Ramdhanie was hospitalised, but could not say what caused her illness.

The prosecutor said he could not verify whether or not Ramdhanie had a criminal record since the complainant was still awaiting the results of the fingerprint trace.

With Ramdhanie’s assistance, Phillip said the police recovered some of the items, but not the dogs.

Accompanied by Guerero, the accused, her attorney and court staff, the magistrate viewed the recovered items in the tray of a police vehicle parked in front of the court building.

Ramdhanie is also being represented by attorney Criston J Williams.

The matter was adjourned to April 5. (T&T Newsday)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, march 9, 2019

Regional

Regional lender to vote on Venezuela’s Nearly quartermillion Venezuelans Opposition representative

F

orty-eight member countries of the Inter-American Development Bank will vote over the next week on accepting a representative from Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaido to the board of the regional lender, bank officials said on Friday.

The 48-member Board of Governors will have until Friday, March 15, to vote on the issue. It is not clear what would happen to President Nicolás Maduro’s representative, Oswaldo Javier Perez Cuevas, if the vote supported a change.

The IADB is the largest source of development financing to Latin America and the Caribbean. Guaido, who has

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognised as the country’s rightful interim ruler, speaks during a rally marking the International Women’s Day in Caracas, Venezuela, March 8, 2019

the support of 57 countries, including the United States

and others in Latin America, named Harvard University

economist Ricardo Hausmann as the country’s representative to the IADB. If member countries agree to accept Hausmann, the IADB would be the first financial institution to back Guaido. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have yet to make such a move.

Washington has said that billions of dollars of financing from multilateral banks will be needed to rebuild Venezuela’s economy when Maduro steps down. The country, hurt by years of hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine, was paralysed on Friday by the worst power blackout in decades. (Reuters)

Tax break: Government relieving Jamaicans of $14B tax burden

J

amaicans will be paying J$14.032 billion (US$110.3 million) less in taxes as the Government reduces the tax burden as part of measures to stimulate greater business and economic activity and boost growth.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Nigel Clarke made the announcement on Thursday as he opened the 2019/20 budget debate in the House of Representatives.

The measures, which take effect on April 1st, include abolishing the Minimum Business Tax, payable by all registered companies. In addition, there will be an increase in the annual General Consumption Tax (GCT)

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Nigel Clarke, announces the tax breaks as he opens the 2019/2020 Budget debate in the House of Representatives

threshold to J$10 million (US$78,603), up from the current J$3 million (US$23,581).

“This means that approximately 3500 small businesses that currently file GCT will

no longer be required to do so.

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), which currently has to see to the compliance of these 3500 [businesses], will now free up resources, allow-

ing them to concentrate on larger businesses and ensure they are complying. This is economic opportunity for all,” Dr Clarke said.

Also, the House is being asked to consider a proposal to supplant all Ad Valorem Stamp Duty rates payable on any instrument pursuant to the Stamp Duty Act, including the granting of security as collateral for loans, with a specific (flat rate) stamp duty of J$5000 (US$39.30) per document.

Other measures include a reduction of the transfer tax payable on the transfer of real property and financial instruments. It is proposed to reduce the transfer tax to two per cent, down from five per cent. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

More medical tests for T&T PM

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rinidad’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley who completed one set of medical tests on Wednesday, has to do two more sets of tests tomorrow and next Monday.

And after that he’ll have a good idea of his health situation. That was the word yesterday from acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert, at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.

Imbert gave a status report on Rowley who left

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

for California on Carnival Tuesday for a check-up on his heart. Doctors found soft arterial plaque which was observed in 2016 had gotten bigger last month. Rowley was told this required immediate attention. He has admitted he was delinquent with dealing with the matter due to work.

Imbert said Rowley underwent a series of tests in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Imbert said Rowley is going to another part of

California on Saturday for a second set of tests. Rowley will also have a third set of tests next Monday. “He’s advised me that after the results of the three sets of tests are in, he’ll have a good idea of his situation.”

“He’s in good spirits and I think the country is hoping and praying for a clean bill of health for the Prime Minister...(so) we hope and pray and wait for more information,” Imbert added. (Excerpt

from Trinidad Guardian)

sought asylum in 2018, UNHCR says

M

ore and more Venezuelans are seeking asylum abroad, with nearly a quarter of a million applications lodged in 2018 alone, double that of the previous year, the UN refugee agency said on Friday.

In all, 414,570 asylum claims have been filed

by Venezuelan nationals abroad since 2014, UNHCR said. Nearly 60 per cent, or 248,669, were filed during 2018, following 110,825 in 2017.

“As a result of the situation in Venezuela, the number of asylum applications by Venezuelan citizens worldwide has increased exponentially,” UNHCR said in a statement reporting national statistics.

Venezuela’s economy has been crippled by mismanagement and, since 2014, a drop in the price of oil, its most vital export. Inflation is running at more than two million per cent a year, in

a country where the minimum wage is around US$6 a month.

On Friday, Venezuela shut schools and suspended the workday as the worst blackout in decades paralysed most of the nation for a second day, stirring outrage among citizens.

The food and health crisis has worsened since President Nicolás Maduro was re-elected in May 2018 in an election widely condemned as fraudulent.

Amid massive demonstrations, Opposition Leader Juan Guaido was declared interim President by the National Assembly.

Maduro has clung to power, responding to his opponents with violence and repression, according to Amnesty International.

During five days of protests from January 21 to January 25, dozens were killed and 900 arrested, the human rights group said. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Haiti to get help from the IMF

A

two-week visit by an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation to Haiti ended on Friday with an announcement that the impoverished country could get US$229 million from the Washingtonbased financial institution to help it out of its economic woes.

Head of the mission, Chris Walker said in a statement released today that the three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) – which allows lending at concessional rates and is aimed at stabilizing Haiti’s economy by putting its budget deficit on a downward trajectory and managing its debt while protecting the poorest in the country – was negotiated with the Government and the country’s Central Bank.

The zero per cent interest rate loan – once it receives approval from the IMF Board

which is expected to meet to consider Haiti’s request in coming weeks – will be paid over three years in return for reaching agreed goals.

The IMF team had been in Haiti from February 25, in response to a request from the Haitian authorities, to discuss IMF support for measures to ease poverty, encourage good governance, raise growth and stabilize the country’s economic situation.

The IMF official said priority has also been given to the fight against corruption and improvements in governance. “The IMF backs the Government’s aim of state reform. In its agreement, it has drawn up measurable targets to boost this fight with the goal of injecting greater transparency into the management of public finances, tax and revenue administration, as well as expenditure control,” he said.(Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

Peru’s PM to resign as President seeks Death penalty is law of the land, says Bahamas Govt ratings boost – sources

P

eru’s Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva will step down from his position, three Government sources told Reuters on Friday, as the country’s President Martín Vizcarra looks to shake up his Government and revive falling approval ratings.

Villanueva, in the position since last year and who was also Prime Minister in

Peruvian Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva leaves the Congress after asking for the approval of four anti-graft bills in Lima, Peru September 19, 2018

2013-2014, has handed in his letter of resignation to the President, the sources added, asking not to be named because the news was not yet public.

Representatives for Villanueva and Vizcarra did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Peruvian media reported the resignation earlier on Friday. (Reuters)

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he Bahamas Government says capital punishment remains the law here and that its position on the death penalty has not changed.

“The death penalty remains a part of Bahamian law, and as the nation’s chief law officer, responsible primarily for the enforcement of all Bahamian laws, I can say affirmatively that The Bahamas’ position on the death penalty has not changed and is not

likely to change anytime soon,” Attorney General Carl Bethel said.

Executive Director of the French-based non-governmental organisation, Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM), Raphael Chenuil-Hazen, called on the Hubert Minnis Administration to abolish the death penalty. ChenuilHazen was critical of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) country’s continued non-support of a United

Nations resolution for a moratorium on the death penalty.

In 2006, the Londonbased Privy Council, the country’s highest court, abolished the mandatory death sentence here and five years later ruled that the punishment should be reserved only for “the worst of the worst” and the “rarest of the rare” cases. The last execution in The Bahamas took place in 2000. (Excerpt from Jamaica

Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, march 9, 2019

17

Around the World

Algerians mobilise for mass SpaceX Dragon capsule ends test flight with ocean splashdown anti-Bouteflika protests

A

T

ens of thousands of Algerians have defied large contingents of riot police and resumed mass demonstrations against ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s bid to extend his already 20-year-old-rule.

A rally on Friday in the capital, Algiers, was slowed to a near-crawl by the huge numbers taking part, with participation swelled by women marking International Women’s Day. Train and metro services were suspended without explanation.

While the demonstrations were mostly peaceful, police used tear gas to block the road to the presidential palace and also used it in several other areas of the capital.

Protests were also being staged in several other cities, including easterly Oran and westerly Constantine, according to Algeria’s TSA news website.

The demonstrations marked the third consec-

The demonstrations are the largest display of discontent in Algeria since the 2011 Arab Spring

utive Friday on which Algerians have taken to the streets in a bid to press the 82-year-old Bouteflika to step down.

The ongoing unrest - the largest display of discontent in the North African country since the 2011 Arab Spring was sparked by the wheelchair-bound leader’s announcement last month he would stand for a fifth term in office in a presidential election scheduled for April

18.

Bouteflika has been all but absent from the public eye since suffering a debilitating stroke in 2013, prompting critics to question whether he is being used as a puppet candidate by a shadowy cabal of civilian and military figures close to the octogenarian.

He is currently in hospital in Geneva, Switzerland, for what the presidency has described as “routine medical tests”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

n unmanned SpaceX capsule has successfully splashed down into the Atlantic Ocean after a short-term stay on the International Space Station (ISS).

The return of the Crew Dragon spacecraft to Earth on Friday morning capped the first orbital test mission in US space agency NASA’s long-delayed quest to resume human space flight from US soil later this year.

After a five-day mission on the orbital outpost, Crew Dragon autonomously detached about 2:30h EST (07:30 GMT) on Friday and sped back to Earth reaching hypersonic speeds before an 8:45h EST (13:45 GMT) splash-down in the Atlantic, about 320km off the Florida coast.

A SpaceX rocket launched the 16-foot-tall capsule from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Saturday.

The first-of-its-kind mission, in advance of SpaceX’s crewed test flight slated for June, brought some 180kg of

SpaceX’s Dragon capsule carrying a test dummy splashes down into the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast

test equipment to the space station, including a dummy named Ripley, outfitted with sensors around its head, neck and spine to monitor how a flight would feel for a human.

The space station’s three-member crew greeted the capsule last Sunday, with US astronaut Anne McClain and Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques

entering Crew Dragon’s cabin to carry out air-quality tests and inspections.

The crewless mission, called Demo-1, was SpaceX’s chance to show it can build a spaceship that can carry people.

The company, founded by celebrity entrepreneur Elon Musk, has so far shuttled only cargo to the ISS.

Turkey and US head for showdown “Just one more push” to get over missile contracts (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brexit, Britain’s May urges EU

P Russian servicemen drive S-400 missile air defence systems during the Victory Day parade, marking the 73rd anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at Red Square in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2018 Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo

T

urkey is running out of time to avert a showdown with the United States over its plans to buy advanced Russian air defences and spurn a counter-offer from its NATO partner, raising the chance of US sanctions against Ankara.

The last diplomatic crisis between the two countries contributed to driving the lira to a record low in August. Disputes over strategy in Syria, Iran sanctions and the detention of US consular staff remain unresolved, and the issue of

missile defence threatens to widen the rift again.

President Tayyip Erdogan’s Government has missed a ‘soft deadline’ set

by Washington to decide whether to buy a $3.5 billion Raytheon Co Patriot missile shield system. The formal offer expires at the end of this month, US officials have said.

If it goes ahead with the Russian deal, Turkey also risks losing delivery of Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets and could face sanctions under a US law known as Countering

America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

But Erdogan has ruled out cancelling the deal with Russia, an increasingly powerful regional force which is building a nuclear power plant in Turkey and a gas export pipeline across Turkish territory to Europe.

“It’s done. There can never be a turning back,” Erdogan responded this week when asked about the S-400 contract. “This ...would be immoral. Nobody should ask us to lick up what we spat.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump “confident” about getting a trade deal with China

P

resident Donald Trump on Friday said he is confident the United States can forge a trade deal with China, but added that he thinks his country would do very well with or without an agreement with the world’s second-largest economy.

Asked if he was still confident he could get a deal with China: “Sure, I’m confident, but if we don’t make a very good deal for our country, I wouldn’t make a deal,” Trump said.

Asked about a report

that China was not positive about a trade deal and that a meeting with President Xi Jinping might not happen, Trump said “I haven’t heard that. I think we’re doing well ... We’ll do very well either way, with or without a deal”.

China’s exports tumbled the most in three years in February while imports fell for a third straight month, pointing to a further slowdown in the economy and stirring talk of a “trade recession”, despite a spate of support measures.

The increasingly weak China data comes amid months of intense negotiations between Washington and Beijing aimed at ending their trade dispute.

On Wednesday, the US reported its goods trade deficit with China surged to an all-time high last year, underlining one of the key sticking points.

Chinese shares fell more than 4 per cent on Friday after the data showed exports contracting, pushing global equities to threeweek troughs. (Excerpt from Reuters)

rime Minister Theresa May urged the European Union on Friday to make “just one more push” to break the Brexit deadlock but proposals from the bloc’s chief negotiator fell short of anything that would win over the British Parliament.

In a last-ditch appeal to the EU and to lawmakers at home, May said in a speech it was time to end the uncertainty over Brexit and for Parliament to approve the deal on Tuesday.

In her speech in the northern English port of Grimsby, where 70 per cent voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum, May said lawmakers risked putting Britain’s departure into doubt or triggering many more months of ar-

British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a speech during her visit in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, Britain

guments over the country’s biggest shift in foreign and trade policy for decades.

The Brexit effort “needs just one more push to ad-

dress the final, specific concerns of our Parliament,” she said.

“So let’s not hold back.

Let’s do what is necessary for MPs (Members of Parliament) to back the deal on Tuesday.”

Asked if she was responsible for the uncertainty that has forced many businesses to put off investment decisions, May again said there was only one way to ease their concerns - and that was to vote for her deal and move on.

Otherwise, she said Brexit might never happen and voters would be betrayed. Or, she added, Britain could leave without a deal to soften the shock, a nightmare scenario for many companies. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Man arrested over Kashmir grenade attack

I

ndian police have arrested an alleged member of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group after a grenade attack killed at least two people and injured more than 30 others.

The attack took place on Thursday in a bus station in the Indian-administered State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Last month a suicide attack against security forces triggered cross-border air strikes between India and Pakistan.

Hizbul Mujahideen has said it was not behind Thursday’s attack.

But police told BBC Urdu that the accused, Yasir Javed Bhat, had confessed. He is a Kashmiri and reported to be in his 20s.

“He revealed that he was tasked with throwing the grenade by Farooq Ahmed Bhat, a district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Kulgam district,” Inspector General Manish Kumar Sinha said.

Sinha added that they were gathering more intelligence on Yasir.

Hizbul Mujahideen was formed in 1989 when an armed insurgency against Indian rule first broke out in

the valley. It was the largest Kashmiri militant group through the 1990s and is considered to be pro-Pakistani.

India has blamed Pakistan for supporting militancy in the region - a charge Islamabad denies.

This has long been a source of tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours as groups based in Pakistan have carried out deadly attacks on Indian soil. The suicide attack last month killed more than 40 central reserve policemen in Indian-administered Kashmir. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, March 9, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

dilbert

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Take better care of your health and reputation.

What you do will affect how far you advance personally and professionally. Execute your plans with precision.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

A physical change may make you feel better, but the cost will bring you back down.

Consider a way to prop yourself up without taking a physical or financial risk.

CANCER

Speak up and share your thoughts with someone you respect to get positive feedback and the support you need to make your dreams come true.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

You don’t have to like others’ actions. Getting into a dispute is a waste of time. Do your own thing and let others go about their business.

Get in touch with someone who inspires you and share your ideas and plans.

The information you receive will encourage you to expand your horizons and implement positive change.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Get out and do things with people who encourage you to improve and take part in activities and events. Refuse to give in to selfish demands or criticism.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Protect your honour and safety, but don’t hesitate to join in if something or someone intrigues you. Use your intelligence to make wise decisions.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t let what’s behind you dictate your future.

Choose whom you associate with carefully. If someone seems evasive, they could be unreliable.

SUDOKU

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

THURSDAY’S WORD

Expand your interests, knowledge and friendships.

Interacting more will give you a sense of belonging and help you gain insight into what’s available to you.

Romance is highlighted.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Keep emotional matters to a minimum. Put your energy into home improvements and changes that will benefit your health and physical well-being. Take the initiative, but be realistic.

Don’t make a change or purchase just because someone else does. Look for a way to improve without going into debt. Set your own standard instead of trying to obtain the impossible.

Listen to what’s being asked of you before you agree to participate.

Someone will use emotional tactics to take advantage of you. Put your interests and reputation first.

saturday, march 9, 2019

19

Trophy Stall on board inaugural Bartica Cycling Challenge – pedals off on March 16

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rophy Stall has continued to exhibit its corporate and social responsibility in a tangible way, and has agreed to be on board the inaugural Bartica Cycling Challenge, the first road race to be held there on Saturday March 16.

Yesterday, at the entity’s Bourda Market location, Manager Ramesh Sunich handed over the three trophies he has agreed to sponsor to Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall in the presence of Assistant Racing Secretary of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), Joseph Britton. The Overall winner, along with the top Female and Juvenile, will ride away with the trophies.

Mayor Marshall, passionate about the advancement of athletes across the sports spectrum in Bartica, expressed gratitude to Mr. Sunich for his partnership of the event, which is being sponsored by the Bartica Town Council.

“We are very pleased with your contribution to this event, which as you know would be the first such race in Bartica. We are pulling out all the stops to ensure that the cyclists have a memorable time, and fans are thrilled with the performances that we are told would be fantastic,” he said.

Mayor Marshall also expressed appreciation to the Guyana Cycling Federation for approaching them to bring off the day of racing, which apart from featuring the top riders of the nation competing, would see persons from the Town also having an opportunity to showcase their talent.

Sunich said he had no hesitation in being a partner for this historic event, which will see the cream of the nation’s cyclists from Berbice, Linden and the City matching resilience there for the first time.

“Like the cyclists, who will be the main focus, we at Trophy Stall also want to be a part of this historical event. We have always been supportive of athletes in every sport, and therefore we had no hesitation in coming on board,” Sunich said.

On behalf of the GCF, Britton expressed appreciation to Mayor Marshall, Bartica Town Council, and Sunich for their collective efforts, which would no doubt be appreciated by the cyclists for this event.

To date, well over 50 riders have stated they would be travelling to the town of Bartica for next Saturday’s event. Over $400,000 in cash prizes would be up for grabs in the senior, junior, juvenile, female and masters categories.

Races for BMX riders in the 6-9 years, 9-12 years and Open categories for Residents would also form part of the day’s activities.

Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall (right) receiving the main trophy from Trophy Stall Manager Ramesh Sunich with GCF’s Joseph Britton displaying the female and juvenile trophies

Manchester City: Premier League Chelsea transfer ban: Fifa denies request to freeze follow Uefa in FFP investigation punishment during appeal C

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Manchester City won the Premier League with 100 points in 2017-18

he Premier League is investigating Manchester City for allegedly breaching financial fair play rules.

On Thursday, Uefa said it was looking into “several alleged violations” concerning FFP at the club.

City claim the allegations are “entirely false” and on Friday, manager Pep Guardiola insisted the situation would not affect his legacy.

The Premier League now says it is investigating financial matters and academy player recruitment at City.

German news magazine Der Spiegel has published a series of claims, based on leaked documents, that Premier League champions City have violated FFP rules.

The publication also claims City made a banned payment of £200,000 to Jadon Sancho’s agent when the England winger was 14 years old.

“The Premier League has previously contacted Manchester City to request information regarding recent allegations and is in ongoing dialogue with the club,” a Premier League statement read.

“The league has detailed financial regulations and strong rules in the areas of Academy player recruitment and third-party ownership.

“We are currently investigating these matters

and will allow Manchester City every opportunity to explain the context and detail surrounding them.”

City won the Premier League in 2017-18 and currently top the table.

This season they have been investigated by the Premier League, Uefa, Fifa - over allegations they broke third-party ownership rules - and the Football Association, over the claims relating to a payment to Sancho’s agent.

The club claims allegations in Der Spiegel are “resulting from the illegal hacking and out of context publication of City emails”.

FFP rules are designed to ensure the amount clubs spend on their players and wages is approximately equal to what they earn in commercial revenue and prize money.

Uefa previously found City had breached FFP rules in 2014.

The two parties reached a settlement, with City paying a £49m fine - £32m of which was suspended - while their Champions League squad was reduced for the 2014-15 season.

In January, Uefa’s chief FFP investigator Yves Leterme said City could face a Champions League ban if the claims are proven. (BBC Sport)

helsea say they are “astonished” after their request to freeze a transfer ban while they appeal was denied.

The Blues have been banned from registering new players until January 2020 for breaking rules over the signing of foreign under-18 players.

The Premier League club deny any wrongdoing and have appealed against the decision.

But Fifa says it has denied measures which would see the transfer ban frozen during the appeal process.

Chelsea were charged after Fifa said it found breaches in 29 cases of 92 investigated, including that of striker Bertrand Traore, now at Lyon.

The Blues have also been fined £460,000, while the Football Association has been fined £390,000.

In previous cases, involving Spanish clubs, Fifa has relaxed the measures so transfer bans were not enforced during the appeal process.

“Chelsea Football Club is astonished by the Fifa appeal committee’s decision not to suspend its sanction pending completion of the appeal process,” read a statement.

“So far as the club is aware, in all previous cases where a registration ban has been imposed by Fifa, a decision has also been made to suspend the sanction until the appeal process has been completed.

“In this case, Chelsea considers that it is being treated inconsistently in comparison with other European clubs.”

The ban, which covers two transfer windows, does not prevent the release of players and will not apply to the club’s women’s and futsal teams. (BBC Sport)

Bertrand Traore scored four goals in 16 first-team appearances for Chelsea in all competitions

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturday, march 9, 2019

2019 CWI Senior Female Regional Tournament…

8 Berbicians in Guyana’s senior female 14-member squad – former Windies player Munroe on stand-by

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he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) earlier this week officially announced their 14-member squad to play in the 2019 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Female Regional tournaments.

The tournaments will be played in two formats: T20 Blaze and 50 Over format will commence from Sunday March 17, with all matches being played in Guyana. The 14 players selected will be engaged in a training camp from Monday March 11, 2019.

In the 14-member squad that was announced, there are eight Berbice female players, seven of whom have had Regional experience at the senior level. Newbie Lafona Gilgeous, a top order batter, is the only Berbician that has received her maiden call-up at the senior level, after representing Guyana three years at the under 19 level.

Additionally, six stand-by players were announced, and the notable stand-by player is former Windies Women’s player Subrina Munroe, who played 23 ODIs and 21 T20Is. The 33-year-old right arm fast bowler played in the recently concluded GCB inter-county tournament in the star-studded Berbice team.

The 14-member Guyana squad features six female players from Rose Hall Town Youth

and Sports Club. Those players are: Top order wicket-keeper batter Melanie Henry; Captain Shemaine Campbelle; flamboyant batter Sheneta Grimmond; fast bowling all-rounder Shabika Gajnabi; left arm seamer Erva Giddings, and off-spinner Plaffiana Millington.

The other two Berbicians to complete the eight players selected are the Tucber Park duo Tremayne Smartt and teenager Lafona Gilgeous.

Along with Munroe on the stand-by list, Dian Prahalad and Marian Samaroo are the other Berbician stand-by players.

The Berbice Cricket Board have made their concerns public on their official social network page, whereon they stated their profound disgust at the non-selection of Subrina Munroe.

The BCB have also advised the former Windies player to stay focused. Earlier in the month, BCB boss Hilbert Foster spoke to this reporter in an exclusive interview, expressing his disappointment at the GCB not hosting any of these matches in the ancient county. His sentiments remained unchanged when it was known that the official squad, which features eight Berbicians, will not be able to play in front of their family members and friends.

The tournament, featuring Barbados, Jamaica, Windward Islands, Leeward Islands,

Amerith Rocky Rai Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament…

Berbice ladies at the 2019 GCB Inter-County tournament

Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, is expected to conclude on Thursday April 4. All of the topclass Windies Women’s player will showcase their talents at venues across Demerara.

The venues confirmed to host these matches are GCC Bourda, Everest Cricket Club, Enmore, and the National Stadium at Providence.

(Brandon Corlette)

Cheddi Jagan Memorial Windball tournament bowls off in fine style

Maxwell scores unbeaten T 127 in latest round T

he action continued over the weekend in the Amerith Rocky Rai Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament with Jermain Maxwell highlighting the latest round with an unbeaten 127.

At Meten-Meer-Zorg West, Meten-MeerZorg Cricket Club beat Windsor Forest by 18 runs. Batting first, Meten-Meer-Zorg Cricket Club scored 156-5 in 20 overs. Rabindra Dasrat scored 51 runs from 40 balls, with 6 fours and 2 sixes. He was supported by Kevin Coleman with 21 runs, and Mahendra Nandkishore’s 46 not out, which included 4 sixes and 3 fours.

Bowling for Windsor Forest, Mohan Chaitram with 2-13 was the most successful bowler. Windsor Forest managed 138-7 in 20 overs, as Lalta Suknanan top scored with 32 runs, Doodnauth Dhanraj scored 27 runs and Deoram Chanderbir supporting with 26 runs in a losing cause.

Bowling for Meten-Meer-Zorg Cicket Club, Nandkishore returned with his left arm spin to pick up 2 – 7, even as Vishal Jaigobin picked up 2-32.

In the second match, Meten-Meer-Zorg beat Leguan by 155 runs with a score of 2322. Captain Jermain Maxwell scored the fourth century at Meten-Meer-Zorg West in the competition with a shot-filled 127 not out from 68 balls, which included 7 sixes and 13 fours.

He was well supported by Sheldon Alexander who scored 68 runs, with 3 sixes and 6 fours.

The 8 man Leguan Team was never in the game, as they were bowled out for 75 runs. Sham Persaud top scored with 30 runs, and Wazir Ali contributed 17 runs. Sheldon Alexander’s 2-18 and Timur Mohamed’s 2-15 sealed the Victory for Meten-Meer-Zorg Future Youths.

At the Zeeburg cricket ground, Zeeburg beat Saw Pit by 8 wickets. Batting first, Saw Pit were bowled out for 91 runs in 18.1 overs.

Zafar Khan top scored with 30 runs. Bowling for Zeeburg, Reylex Payne was good with the ball, picking up 4 -14. Malcolm Hubbard and Utesh Dhanpaul snared 2 wickets each, for 13 and 27 respectively.

Zeeburg, in reply, raced to 92 for 2 in 16.2 overs. Mark Jeffers’s 36 out and Balbinder Shivpersaud’s 34 not out saw Zeeburg to victory.

At Canal #2 Sports Club, Rising Stars A beat

Jermain Maxwell scored an unbeaten 127

Christ Ambassadors by one wicket. Batting first, Christ Ambassadors scored 113 runs for 9, with Damian Ross top scoring with 40 runs, including 2 sixes and 4 fours, and Melroy Albert 21 runs.

Bowling for Rising Stars, Marvin Cheong with 4 -14 and Shane Persaud with 2 -16 were impressive with the ball. In reply, Rising Stars reached the target in 16.3 overs, Cheong returned with the bat to score 34 runs. Bowling for Christ Ambassadors, Emmanuel Martin bagged 2 -24 while Joel Thomas chipped in with 2 -12.

In the second fixture, Canal Sports Club beat Dynasty by 51 runs. Batting first, Canal Sports Club scored 175 for 6, with Chabiraj Ramcharran top scoring with 54 and Tejpaul Persaud 31 runs.

Bowling for Dynasty was Brian Puran with 2 - 26.

Dynasty, in reply, scored 124 for 7, as Robin Singh’s 19 runs and Devindra Ramdial’s 16 runs weren’t enough to save Dynasty.

Bowling for Canal Sports Club, Narendra Persaud with 3 -20 and Seecharran Persaud with 2 -14 were good with the ball for Canal #2 Sports Club.

The action will continue this Sunday.

he action continued in the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Schools Windball Cricket Competition with over ten matches taking place on an action packed day in the male and female categories.

The four-day competition is being hosted in memory of the late President Cheddi Jagan, and is being played in the former politician’s birth month.

The finale will be hosted on Sunday evening at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

On Friday, in the female category, Annandale Secondary were able to post 63-3, with Avril Prashad top scoring with 28, while Tricia Singh bagged 2-4. In return, Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary raced to 70-0, as Tricia Singh showed her all-round skills with a brilliant 34.

Goed Fortuin Secondary were able to post a healthy 108-0, with Ashley Yard scoring 68 and Celine Liverpool 34. Covent Garden Secondary, in reply, ended on 109-1. Mikhaila Agrippa with 40 and Finella Moore with 36 led the side to victory.

Carnegie School of Home Economics missed the 100 mark as they composed 99-2, with Mellisa Persaud scoring 56 and Grace Fung-Fook a quickfire 26. But that wasn’t enough to deter Soesdyke Secondary, who chased down the score with ease and ended on 103-3.

Camille’s Institute for Business & Science Studies were able to post a healthy 132-0 as Stacy Flores guided the team with 80 and Ameny Singh chipping in with 34. In reply, Tucville Secondary made light work of the mammoth total, as they ended on 136-1, Uizan London scoring 30.

Needing a second chance at redemption, Queenstown Secondary registered 79-0, with Kellisa Cozier top scoring with 48. They, however, could not defend that score, as Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary chased down the total and scored 840, with Tamara Gill leading with 48 and Tricia Singh 28.

Carnegie School of Home Economics posted 121-1 as Grace Fung Fook led the way with 56 and Tina Chappelle chipped in 30. Covent Garden Secondary, however, chased down the total and ended on 127-0, with Mahaila Agippa scoring 66 (9x6s) and Finella Moore 52.

Carmel Secondary posted 95-1, with Siana Abrams scoring 70. Saint Mary’s Secondary fell short of that total, scoring 94-2 despite Zabeiah Green’s 48.

In the final fixture of the day, Queenstown Secondary scored 91-1, with Kellisa Cozier’s 58 leading, while Camille Institute for Business & Science Studies chased down the total and scored 97-1, with Amancy Singh (44) Stacy Flores (38) leading the way.

Mahaila Agippa top scored with 66 for Covent Garden Secondary

Male category In the male category, Beterverwagting Secondary were able to score 119-0, as Tomindea Singh top scored with 44 and Kapeldev Phagoo chipped in with 30. In reply Camille’s Institute for Business & Science Studies could muster only 1080, as they fell short despite John Pillay’s 48 and Alex Arinda’s 42.

Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary posted a challenging 87-2, and Carnegie School of Home Economics could muster only 65-3, as they were restricted in the latter overs due to tight bowling.

Goed Fortuin Secondary, doing better than their female counterparts, posted 116-1, with Satesh Persaud on 72 leading the way. In the end they were able to defend their total, as Soesdyke Secondary could score only 75-3.

Carnegie School of Home Economics posted 113-3, with Kwame Goodluck on 52 and Abdool George on 30; but it wasn’t enough to prevent East Ruimveldt Secondary from chasing down the total and ending on 118-2. Q Wallace scored 54.

In the final match of the day for the males, Central High School made 111-5, as Deonarine Tiwari top scored with 47. Akeem Charles bagged 2-26. In response Carmel Secondary led the way with 115-3, as Rawle Singh’s 44 did the trick, despite D. Tiwari’s 2-25.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, MARCH 9, 2019

Nikita Miller honoured for 100th First-Class match T

he Jamaica Cricket Association celebrated Nikita Miller on his 100th first-class game prior to the start of the Jamaica Scorpions and Barbados Pride match that commenced at Sabina Park on Thursday.

The 36-year-old off-spinner made his debut for Jamaica against the Leeward Islands in Discovery Bay, St. Ann from January 7-10, 2005. During that time, he has taken 532 wickets at an average of 16.99. He has 36 five-wicket hauls and on 12 occasions he claimed 10 wickets in a match.

He has also been handy with the bat scoring 2282 runs averaging 17.55 runs at each turn at bat.

JCA President Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven presented the ace spin

bowler with a commemorative plaque just before the match.

“Nikita Miller has been a stalwart of Jamaican cricket for many years. He has served as captain and led the team in various ways. His records are a testament to the strength of his technical abilities. Nikita’s body of work serves as motivation to bowlers across the region.

Today, we laud him on achieving this milestone, a journey which has been decorated with numerous magnificent performances,” Heaven said.

JCA’s CEO Courtney Francis described Miller as part of a special group of players who have represented Jamaica.

“Only some of the best cricketers achieve this milestone.

Having represented Jamaica at this level and performed admi-

rably throughout his career, I would say, puts him comfortably in Jamaica’s top 10 cricketers.”

Francis said that young players could learn from Miller’s determination and a strong focus on pre-game preparation. “Nikita always has his game plan in mind. Beyond that, he’s very involved in the life of the team and he’s always honest,” Francis said.

“He will call himself out when he underperforms and will do the same to teammates without berating them; these are qualities to emulate.”

Miller, in response, said his fondest first-class memory is a 10-wicket haul against Trinidad and Tobago at Sabina Park in the final of the Carib Challenge in April 2008.

Jamaica won the encounter by nine wickets with Miller return-

ing figures of 5 for 29 and 5 for 92.

“It was my first five-wicket haul and then I followed it up with five more in the second innings so I ended the game with 10,” he said.

“It was special because going into that game I trailed (Amit) Jaggernauth by about nine wickets, but the (Jamaica) team got together and said they were going to make me the number one wicket-taker in the regional competition. I ended up winning the Courtney Walsh Award by one wicket, I’ll never forget that.”

The man, called “Killer” by teammates, represents the Melbourne Cricket Club. He credits the lessons learned from his early days playing cricket in St. Elizabeth as a crucial part of his current success.

21 Nikita Miller

“I got a very good start at STETHS through Coach Junior Bennett and Dr Donovan Bennett,” he said. “The foundations were set there for a very good career.

At the club level, there was the late Colin Fletcher and former Scorpions Coach Robert Samuels among many others.

“I learned confidence and how to be mentally strong.

These are things which are now a part of me on an off the field.” (Sportsmax)

NBA: Former Air Force Lieutenant Bermuda’s Emmerson flying high as head of NBA referees Carrington appointed to ICC Panel of Development Umpires

R

etired US Air Force Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson has reached the upper echelons of two very different but equally male-dominated fields and credits her decorated military career with helping her serve as the NBA’s head of referee operations.

Johnson, who was the first woman to lead the US Air Force Academy and one of the top women’s basketball players in school history, had no previous NBA experience when the league named her senior vice president and head of referee operations in 2017 While some might have considered her an out-of-thebox hire, she believes her time as a command pilot, where

Emmerson Carrington

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Former US President Barack Obama (right) speaks with Lieutenant General Michelle D Johnson, superintendent of the Air Force Academy, after presenting the Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the US Air Force Academy football team in the East Room of the White House in Washington May 7, 2015

team work was critical to successful missions, made her someone who could easily relate with NBA referees as they too must make snap decisions in tense situations.

“Being a pilot on a crew airplane where you fly around the globe and have a small crew, you have to have a deep knowledge base on many fronts and make quick decisions that have high stakes, it’s something that’s just really similar,” Johnson told Reuters in a telephone interview.

“You might not think of it, but that’s been a real connective point for me and the officiating staff.”

Johnson, who said the chance to help shape the direction of a key operational group within the NBA made the job appealing to her, is responsible for recruiting, training, developing and evaluating referees.

She also oversees the NBA Replay Center.

Female referees

There are currently three female referees at NBA level, two of whom were promoted to full-time officials last November. About a third of the approximately 70 officials working in the NBA’s official minor league are women.

Johnson, who last month joined The Female Quotient for its ‘Equality Lounge’ at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte to speak on a panel about female trailblazers, said there is no “magic number” when it comes to the amount of female referees.

“We look for the best referees and we want to look for the talent where it is,” said Johnson. “But we need the referee staff to look like our league, so we’re mindful of diversity on all fronts so that the talent can come from all avenues.”

During her military career, Johnson became the U.S. Air Force’s first woman cadet wing commander, first female Rhodes Scholar and was the Air Force aide to former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

The trailblazing Iowa native said there have been at least two all-women officiated games in the G-League this season but believes it could take years before that happens at the NBA level.

According to Johnson the current crop of female referees will need to log more years of service before they have the credentials needed to form a three-person officiating team that consists of a crew chief, referee and umpire.

“The thing about (referees) being at the top of their craft I mean there’s a deep knowledge base but there’s also an experience base,” said Johnson.

“So it’ll take a few years for our (female) refs to be able to become crew chiefs and playoff officials. So it’ll take a few years.” (Reuters)

E

mmerson Carrington of Bermuda was this week selected to the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires, the Bermuda Cricket Board [BCB] has confirmed.

The ICC Associates and Affiliates Umpire Panel is a panel of international cricket umpires chosen by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Established in 2005, its members are drawn primarily (though not exclusively) from the organisation’s associate and affiliate members (rather than its full members). It stands alongside and is intended to offer a career path into, the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires.

Umpires on the panel are not restricted to matches between associate and affiliate teams and have officiated at One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International level.

In confirming Carrington’s appointment, President of the BCB Lloyd Smith praised the Bermudan policeman.

“On behalf of the BCB, I am pleased to congratulate Mr Emmerson Carrington who has been selected to the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires,” Smith said.

“The International Panel of ICC Development Umpires is intended to offer a career path into the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires. Emmerson’s selection reflects his long-standing experience as both a local and international official. I am confident Emmerson will represent Bermuda well on this panel and hope that this appointment will open doors for more of our local umpires.”

President of the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association [BCUA] Steven Douglas also offered his congratulations to Carrington, who is the second umpire from Bermuda to have been appointed to the panel.

“We wish him well in his future assignments,” Douglas said. (Sportsmax)

22

saturday, march 9, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

GABA, Let’s Bet Sports officially launch 3-division knockout tournament J

GABA President Adrian Hooper (centre) receives the sponsorship cheque from Let’s Bet Sports Assistant Brand Manager Joel Lee in the presence of Brand Manager Rawle Toney

DeSinco lends support to Chelsea Juma – to compete in Junior Chess Championships today

A

s the national Junior Chess Championship continues today, all eyes will be on rising female player Chelsea Juma of Saint Stanislaus College; but for Juma, her eyes will also be focused on the CARIFTA Junior Chess Championships which will be hosted in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles from April 18 to 23.

DeSinco Limited, through their Milex brand, has decided to sponsor the young talent through the Wendell Meusa Chess Foundation by presenting her with a cheque valued $106,766 (US$500).

At the simple ceremony, senior brand and marketing manager at DeSinco, Aisha D’Abreu, said, “DeSinco, through Milex, is extremely

proud to support Chelsea in her Chess Championship tournament, Both DeSinco and Milex, we like to sponsor young talent, because it’s a company that supports young and upcoming talent in society.”

Head of the Wendell Meusa Chess Foundation, Wendell Meusa, said, “I first of all am grateful to DeSinco for sponsoring Chelsea.

It is actions like these that help to push these young talents in terms of mentoring them and developing their skills. In terms of the Carifta Junior Chess Championship, last year we took 6 persons, but this year we will be taking fourteen persons, of which 4 are experienced players who participated in last year’s games in Suriname.”

ust one week remains before the tip off of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA)/Let’s Bet Sports 1st and 2nd Division Knockout Tournament which is scheduled to be contested over ten days at the Burnham Hard Court.

Let’s Bet Sports, brainchild of the Guyana Lottery Company, which was recently launched, sees venturing out into the world of sport to be compulsory in today’s world. More interestingly, it gives fans who love the thrill of betting and sport, a chance to place bets on games in different sport disciplines.

Brand Manager of Let’s Bet Sports, Rawle Toney, and Assistant Brand Manager, Joel Lee, were present at the launch along with GABA President Adrian Hooper.

The sponsor’s reps expressed that their company is pleased to be onboard with GABA, the most active of sub associations in the Guyana Amaterur Basketball Federation (GABF). Lee also mentioned the company believes is supporting local development and are looking forward to other sport ventures.

Hooper, who was quite appreciative of the partnership looks at the tournament as just more than whipping players into game mode

but also the spotting of new tlents.

The under-23 division will be the first up to display their talents with a 6-Team Single Elimination tournament.

Next Friday, March 15, Sonics and UG Trojans will contest the opener, then Kobras take on Eagles in the second match of the night, both for a spot in the final four to battle Pacesetters and Plaisance Guardians, respectively.

The following night, March 16, the final four will battle for a spot in the finale, which is billed for Sunday, March 17.

For the 2nd division, it will be a 5-team single elimination with Sonics and Vikings trashing it out for a stake in the final four which has Guardians, Pacesetters and Eagles already in the semi-final stage.

Their leg of the tournament starts on March 19 alongside the 1st division and will run for seven days. However, the most senior division will see eight teams trash it out for top honours, but must get the Sonics/UG clash out of the way to see who makes the final eight.

On game nights, matches are at 18:30 and 20:30 hrs.

Meusa also noted that the Junior Champions starting today will be an excellent training ground for the CARIFTA Games.

Juma said she is very grateful for the sponsorship, as she thanked the company for supporting her. She also relayed to this publication that she expects to do well at the

National Junior Championship, since she has been putting in lots of hard work.

In Juma’s qualifier match for the National Junior Championship, she won all of her games on the final day to qualify to show why she is currently the top ranked under 14 female Guyanese player.

Chelsea Juma (centre) is presented with a cheque from Senior Brand and Marketing Manager at DeSinco, Aisha D’Abreu (left), in the presence of Wendell Meusa (right)

Khan, Blue excel at Romel & Robin 9-hole Golf Extravaganza

V

eteran player Kassim Khan and rookie player Eion Blue each put up a splendid performance at the Romel & Robin 9-hole golf tourney on Sunday last at the Lusignan Golf Club.

The competition, part of a BBQ and Fun Day activity, was played in 2 flights of handicaps, namely the 0-7 and 8-14. The tournament was as exciting as promised, and the participants enjoyed great camaraderie while yet being k e e n on the

co m p e t i t i ve n e s s , as they strove to be in the winners’ row.

Prizes were awarded to 1st to 3rd place winners in each flight, but there were also lots of incentive prizes for participants.

In the 0- 7 flight, winners were: Kassim Khan (31/4) – 1st; David Harry (33/7) – 2nd; and J Dhanpat (33/5) – 3rd. Other

From left are Mohanlall Dinanauth, Mark Thomas, Eion Blue, Robin, Kassim Khan, Patanjilee Persaud, J Dhanpat, Romel and Aleem Hussain

notable performances were registered by Mike Gayadin (35/7); Avinash Persaud (36/1); Aleem Hussain (36/5); Mike Mangal (36/5); Patrick Prashad (36/5); Mohanlall Dinanauth (37/3); and Joaan Deo (37/7).

In the 8-14 flight, the winners were: Eion Blue (32/14) – 1st; Patanjilee Persaud (33/8) – 2nd; and

Paul Uditt (33/8) – 3rd. The close competitors were: Imtiaz Subhan (33/11); Videsh Persaud (34/14); Satrohan Tiwari (36/8); Sugrim (36/8); Rohan Albert (36/13); and Maxim Mangra (36/14).

Best Gross was won by Kassim Khan, Nearest the Pin

by J Dhanpat, and the Longest Drive by Mark Thomas.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, march 9, 2019

23

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Jaguars require 93 more runs to win on penultimate day – Johnson, Chanderpaul stand tall in unbroken 57-run partnership

By Brandon Corlette

O

n the verge of achieving greatness, four- time defending champions, Guyana Jaguars are in a familiar strong position ending day 2 on 69-2. Watched in front of a fair size crowd at the National Stadium Providence day two of the day/night pink ball match saw 251 runs scored between the teams and 10 wickets tumbled from the respective teams.

Red Fore were bowled out for 206 in their second innings; Romario Shepherd and Raymon Reifer shared five wickets between themselves. Jaguars required 162 runs to for a victory in their tenth and final round. Jaguars ended day two on 69-2 in 20 overs with Captain Leon Johnson on 37 from 59 balls, including eight timely fours and Tagenarine Chanderpaul on 22 from 55 balls.

After an absorbing day one at the National Stadium Providence, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force resumed the day on 17-2, with Joshua

Romario Shepherd in full flow. He finished the match with eight wickets

Da Silva and Denish Ramdin resuming. Red Force captain, Ramdin hit three fours in his 34-ball innings but was out bowled by Reifer for 23.

It was the first wicket of day 2; Reifer got a delivery to nipped back into Ramdin who played back and watch his stumps shattered.

At 43-3, Jason Mohammed joined forces with Da Silva and the duo looked to set a respectable target for Jaguars. The introduction of Veerasammy Permaul led to the demise of Da Silva at 71-4; the opener added 15 runs to his overnight score when he perished, out trapped in front for 25 from 87 balls, hitting four boundaries.

The Red Force team reached the first interval taken at 16:00h at 81-4 in 37 overs, enjoying a lead of 36 at that stage. Jason Mohammed stood tall on 19 from 51 and Khary Pierre was unbeaten on one. Eight overs into the second session of day 2, Mohammed‘s fighting innings of 27 from 82 balls concluded when he slashed at one outside off and was safely taken at second slip by Vishaul Singh.

Christopher Barnwell reaped success when he dismissed Mohammed with the score on 97-4. Eleven runs later, Imran Khan was undone by some brilliance by Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Anthony Bramble. Jaguars got their sixth wicket via the run out route, with Chanderpaul throwing one from the boundary and Bramble held his composure to pull off a Dhoni-like run-out, hitting the stumps from behind.

Pierre, known for his left-arm spin bowling, has proved effective

3

SCOREBOARD

Red Force 1st Innings 120 all out Jaguars 1st Innings 165 all out Red Force 2nd Innings 206 all out J Solozano c Bramble b Shepherd 0 J Da Silva lbw Permaul 25 T Webster lbw Rutherford 7 D Ramdin b Reifer 23 J Mohammed c Singh b Barnwell 27 K Pierre c Bramble b Reifer

30 I Khan run out Chanderpaul 4 O Smith c Rutherford b Shepherd 21 D St Clair not out 31 B Charles lbw Shepherd 8 A Phillip lbw Permaul 21 Extras 9 Total 206 all out (75.2 overs) FOW 1 - 0(Jeremy Solozano, 0.1 Ov), 2 - 17(Tion Webster, 7.4 Ov), 3 - 43(Denesh Ramdin, 19.1 Ov), 4 - 71(Joshua Da Silva, 28.6 Ov), 5 - 97(Jason Mohammed, 45.4 Ov), 6 - 108(Imran Khan, 49.6 Ov),

7 - 140(Odean Smith, 55.2 Ov), 8 – 156 (Khary Pierre, 58.5 Ov), 9 - 172(Bryan Charles, 61.3 Ov), 10 - 206(Anderson Phillip, 75.2 Ov) Bowling R Shepherd R Reifer S Rutherford C Barnwell V Permaul R Lewis

17-1-52-3 16-5-43-2 8-1-20-1 13-3-19-1 14.2-2-49-2 7-2-17-0

Guyana Jaguars 2nd Innings 69-2 T Chanderpaul not out 22 C Hemraj b Phillip 0 V Singh c Webster b St Clair 5 L Johnson not out 37 Extras 5 FOW 1 - 3(Chandrapaul Hemraj, 2.1 Ov), 2 - 12(Vishaul Singh, 5.1 Ov) Bowling A Phillip D St Clair O Smith B Charles I Khan

6-1-15-1 5-1-21-1 4-1-13-0 4-2-13-0 1-0-5-0

with bat in hand this season scoring a century in last round’s encounter against Windward Islands. He was partnered by the explosive Odean Smith who smoked Permaul for three sixes in his run-a-ball 21. He was out dismissed hooking a Romario Shepherd delivery and was out at 140-7 when Sherfane Rutherford completed a smart catch at long leg.

After the 32-run partnership between Pierre and Smith was broken, Daniel St Clair and Pierre took the score to 156-8, when he was out caught by Bramble, attempting to hook a delivery way above the shoulder, off the bowling of Reifer for a composed 40 from 84 balls, hitting three fours and one six.

The big Berbician, Romario Shepherd continued to impress; he trapped Bryan Charles leg before at 172-9. Red Force batsmen in Daniel St Clair and Anderson Phillip saw their team to the dinner

An ecstatic Raymon Reifer jumping for joy at taking the wicket of Khary Pierre

interval taken at 19:00h with the score on 204-9 in 74 overs. St Clair was unbeaten on 30 and Phillip was not out on 20, with the visitors enjoying a lead of 159.

With 24 overs remaining, the final session got underway, it took eight balls for Jaguars to get the final Red Force wicket. It was Permaul who wrapped up the innings on 206 all out when he trapped Anderson Phillip in front for 21 from 43 balls. Permaul broke the frustrating 34-run last wicket partnership as he finished his season with 42 wickets.

Romario Shepherd who finished his season with 37 wickets, ended the second innings with 3-52 from 17 overs, following up his 5-24 in the first innings. New-ball partner, Reifer had 2-43 in 16 overs; Permaul grabbed 2-49 while Rutherford and Barnwell had one wicket each.

Number nine batsman, Daniel St Clair top scored with an unbeaten 31 from 58 balls, with Red Force final four batters scoring 81 runs combined, in contrast to the top four’s 55 runs combined.

Jaguars required 162 runs to complete what may be a monumental victory.

For the final time this season, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Chandrapaul Hemraj accompanied each other at the crease with 20 overs remaining. On a slow pitch that requires cautious batting, Hemraj went for a booming drive but played on an Anderson Phillip ball onto his middle stumps. The left-handed sighed off his season with a duck as he continued his failures, when Jaguars were 3-1 in the third over.

Vishaul Singh opened his account with a slash through backward point for four, off Phillip. Chanderpaul then pounced one into the covers for four off St Clair to set a positive tone. It soon became 12-2 when Singh got a leading edge and was out caught for five at backward point off the bowling of left arm paceman St Clair.

It was redemption time for Leon Johnson with bat in hand, to steer his team past a possible collapse, he ensured no further hiccups for Jaguars at stumps. A match that is likely to finish today, the first ball will be bowled from 14:00h local time.

Windies blown away for 45 as England seal series

S

am Billings rescued England before Chris Jordan’s four-wicket haul demolished West Indies for a paltry 45, handing the tourists a 137-run victory in the second T20I and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Man of the Match Billings’ career-best knock of 87 off 47 balls and a return to T20I form for Joe Root, who made 55 off 40, resurrected England’s innings from a dire 32 for 4 after 5.2 overs.

Then Jordan’s

against Pakistan in Karachi last year.

With the top order tumbling around him, Root produced a composed innings, sharing an 82-run partnership with Billings to reach 55 off 40 deliveries. It was the first time Root had reached double figures in four T20I innings and his 10th knock since he last reached fifty, in the 2016 World T20 final won by West Indies in Kolkata.

When Root was run out, scrambling to the danger end for a second with the fleet-footed Billings as Fabian Allen threw the ball in to wicketkeeper Shai Hope, the rescue mission fell to Billings and he chose t o accept it willingly. Billings racked up 17 runs off o n e Sheldon Cottrell over, including a six to bring up his 50.

Sam Billings scored his second T20 half century and Carlos Brathwaite first since 2015 had been economical through his first three overs, claiming 1 for remarkable 4 for 6 off two overs 11, but he conceded 22 off his last meant West Indies were never in over, including three fours to Billings the contest and they fell for the and a six to David Willey. The pair put second-lowest T20I total, behind on a 68-run stand for the sixth wicket, Netherlands’ 39 against Sri Lanka at before Billings was dismissed on the the World T20 in 2014. It was the last ball of the innings, but not before lowest total by a Full Member nation, he had scored 22 off the over, bowled worse than the 60 posted by New by McCoy. Billings was dropped by Zealand against Sri Lanka at the same Shimron Hetmyer on the third ball tournament and West Indies’ 60 of the over then picked up six thanks

to a fumble by Brathwaite who was trying to palm the ball back into play.

Billings punished the next one for four before attempting another big hit and edging to the keeper.

By then, he had led England to a respectable total, especially given their early position.

Willey, who had questioned the noise around Jofra Archer’s World Cup prospects in the lead-up to the match, continued to press his own claims for a berth when he snared the wicket of Chris Gayle for just 5, caught simply by Root at mid-on. Willey had West Indies’ other opener, Hope, out cheaply too with Eoin Morgan holding the catch despite colliding heavily with Tom Curran as he took the ball.

Then Jordan went on the rampage, bowling some superb lines and excellent pace. He claimed the wickets of Darren Bravo, one of only two West Indies batsmen to reach double figures, and Jason Holder with consecutive balls. He then dismissed Nicholas Pooran, caught behind off a ball with a little extra bounce, and, four balls later, Allen, who was beaten for pace and bounce, guiding the ball to Root at slip.

The damage done, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett chimed in with two wickets apiece, the latter removing Hetmyer when Willey juggled a catch at square leg.

West Indies had won the toss and sent England in on a pitch that was expected to improve as the match

went on. Unfortunately for them, determine the extent of the damage. they were not in long enough for that (ESPNcricinfo) to play out, 3 as England sealed their largest T20I victory 183 runs from 20 overs) inside 12 England Innings (20 overs maximum) 5 CH Gayle c Root b Willey overs.

H a v i n g AD Hales c Brathwaite SD Hope † c Morgan b Willey 7 a l r e a d y b Allen 8 SO Hetmyer c Willey b Plunkett opted to JM Bairstow † c Bishoo b Cottrell 10 give McCoy 12 DM Bravo c †Bairstow b Jordan 0 his debut JE Root run out (Allen/†Hope) 55 JO Holder (c) lbw b Jordan 0 and rest EJG Morgan (c) c †Hope b N Pooran c †Bairstow b Jordan 1 Oshane 1 FA Allen c Root b Jordan 1 T h o m a s , Brathwaite JL Denly b Allen

2 CR Brathwaite c Willey b Rashid West Indies 10 were forced SW Billings c †Hope to make a b McCoy 87 D Bishoo c Billings b Plunkett 8 late change DJ Willey not out 13 SS Cottrell b Rashid 2 w h e n Extras (lb 2, w 2) 4 OC McCoy not out 1 A s h l e y TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 9.1) 182/6 Extras 0 N u r s e TOTAL (11.5 Overs, RR: 3.8) 45 i n j u r e d Did not bat: TK Curran, LE Fall of wickets: 1-12 (CH Gayle, his finger Plunkett, CJ Jordan, AU Rashid 2.3 ov), 2-13 (SD Hope, 2.5 ov), in slips Fall of wickets: 3-14 (DM Bravo, 3.4 ov), 4-14 c a t c h i n g 1-15 (JM Bairstow, 2.1 ov), 2-27 (JO Holder, 3.5 ov), 5-20 (N p r a c t i c e (AD Hales, 3.2 ov), 3-29 (EJG Pooran, 5.1 ov), 6-22 (FA Allen, before the Morgan, 4.1 ov), 4-32 (JL Denly, 5.5 ov), 7-33 (CR Brathwaite, 5.2 ov), 5-114 (JE Root, 15.5 ov), m a t c h .

6.5 ov), 8-35 (SO Hetmyer, 7.5 D e v e n d r a 6-182 (SW Billings, 19.6 ov) ov), 9-39 (SS Cottrell, 10.1 ov), B i s h o o BOWLING: SS Cottrell (3-0-2810-45 (D Bishoo, 11.5 ov) r e p l a c e d 1), JO Holder (4-0-29-0), FA BOWLING: DJ Willey (3-0-18-2), him in the Allen (4-0-29-2), CR Brathwaite TK Curran (1-0-1-0), CJ Jordan (2side and (4-0-33-1), D Bishoo (2-0-170-6-4), AU Rashid (3-0-12Nurse was 0), OC McCoy (3-0-44-1) 2), LE Plunkett (2.5-0-8-2) due to have West Indies Innings (target: scans to

SCOREBOARD

saturday, march 9, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Captain Courageous, Leon Johnson

Jaguars require 93 more runs to win on penultimate day

Guyana Jaguars players gather to celebrate the fall of a Red Force wicket on day 2 (Brandon Corlette photos)

– Johnson, Chanderpaul stand tall in unbroken 57-run partnership

Windies blown away for GABA, Let’s Bet Sports 45 as England seal officially launch series 3-division knockout

tournament

Chris Jordan took four crucial wickets which turned the tide of the match

The head table at the launch included GABA President Adrian Hooper (left), Let’s Bet Sports Brand Manager and Assistant Brand Manager, Rawle Toney and Joel Lee

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