Guyana Times - Sunday, December 30, 2018 NEW

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Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 3790 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, December 30, 2018

No-confidence resolution

PPP slams Govt for attempts to violate Constitution Nigel Hughes' “34 is majority” claim “dangerous” – Ram

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Upcoming elections

Jagdeo not ruling out newcomer as presidential candidate

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s the race heats up for the selection of a presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is not ruling out the possibility of a newcomer to

governance emerging as the candidate.

The PPP General Secretary was asked about what to expect from the process after a recent Executive Committee meeting. Contrary to previous re-

ports, Jagdeo affirmed that he did not rule out the possibility that a candidate without Cabinet experience could make the cut.

“I saw (sections of the media) identify people by name. I never did. I said its

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

harder for new persons to function in the position, not that it’s impossible. Because they would not have had the exposure of being in the Cabinet, like I did.”

Indeed, Jagdeo had already served as a Junior Finance Minister, then Finance Minister, by the time he first became President in 1999. In addition, the former President had previously worked as an economist in the State Planning Secretariat.

“I was familiar with all the issues in the Cabinet, so it was easier for me to move seamlessly into the position,” Jagdeo noted.

“But anyone would have a chance, whether you’re new or you’re old, whether you had been in the Cabinet or not. Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you would have a chance to present your candidature.”

Jagdeo also noted that his party has a history of using secret ballots. He pointed out that when this was not done, it was for a good reason. As it stands now, Jagdeo explained that secret ballots would only be used if there is more than one final candidate.

“We had consensus almost all the way through.

We’ve never had to resort to

balloting before. In 1997 (former President) Janet Jagan was chosen as President… and then in 2001 there was a consensus… in 2006, a consensus.”

“In 2011 we went there with several candidates, but before the voting took place the three other candidates withdrew their nominations. Ralph Ramkarran, Clement Rohee and Gail Teixeira. So we had a unanimous candidate. And 2015 again, we didn’t have another challenger. So it’s not true that we opposed secret ballots before.”

With the recent passage of a no-confidence vote against the Government, the Constitution stipulates

when former AFC Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud broke ranks and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.

A total of 10 MPs had previously debated the motion, but when a vote of division was called, Persaud’s vote changed the numbers to 33 versus his colleagues’ 32 votes against the motion.

With the Government’s defeat, the next steps are spelt out in the Constitution of Guyana. Article 106 (6) of the Constitution 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

that elections must be called within three months. As such, parties have either begun or intensified the task of identifying a presidential candidate.

In addition, the upcoming election has seen the emergence of new parties such as the Liberal and Justice Party (LJP) and the New and United Guyana (NUG) party, all hoping for a share in the electoral votes.

On December 21, 2018, the No-confidence Motion brought by the parliamentary Opposition PPP/C against the Government succeeded

of confidence.”

Meanwhile, clause 7 goes on to state that “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.” turn to page 11

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

No-confidence resolution

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, December 30 – 12:30h-14:00h and Monday, December 31 – 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, December 30 – 11:25h-12:55h and Monday, December 31 – 12:45h-14:15h.

PPP slams Govt for attempts to violate Constitution

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has slammed Government for its attempt to disregard the Constitution of Guyana.

This move come as documents emerged on Saturday showing that Government plans to approach Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland to ask him to reverse the no-confidence vote, which brought them down on December 21, 2018.

According to the document, which was written in the format of a legal opinion with Attorney General Basil Williams’ name attached to it, Government wants the Speaker to use his powers to reverse the vote; arguing, among other things, that 34 out of 65 constitutes a majority in Guyana’s National Assembly.

The opinion argues that 50 per cent of the 65 votes in the National Assembly constitutes 32.5, which has to then be rounded up to 33, with an extra vote added to it making it 34.

According to the opinion provided by the Government, passing a no-confidence motion is different from passing legislation. This argument which Williams is now using in his legal opinion was first peddled by Attorney Nigel Hughes; the husband of Government Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes.

The opinion goes on to claim that since former

Both President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had previously accepted the results of the Noconfidence Motion

Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud is a Canadian citizen and had allegedly travelled on his Canadian passport, he forfeited his vote.

In the opinion, Government admits that Persaud’s private travelling records were accessed from Guyana’s Immigration Department and states that a copy will be provided to the Speaker.

As stated in the document, the Government also intends to challenge: Whether the Speaker can reverse the ruling that the Noconfidence Motion was carried? What is the effect of the sub judice rule should the Speaker’s ruling be legally challenged in the courts” and “Whether the Speaker’s ruling on the vote can be quashed by the courts?”

No power

However, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Saturday denouncing the document and attempts by the Government “to subvert and trample upon our Constitution, the integrity of the National Assembly and indeed, the rule of law.”

The Opposition Leader made it clear that the Speaker’s role has come to an end, having previously ruled that the No-confidence Motion was carried. In addition, it was noted that Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Issacs issued a res-

olution pursuant to the motion.

“The Speaker has no further role to play in relation to the No-confidence Motion.

Certainly, he has no review powers whatsoever over the already completed process.

This ‘legal memorandum’ is the latest act of desperation of a power drunk group who wish to cling to power at all cost,” Jagdeo pointed out.

Jagdeo noted that both President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had previously accepted the results of the No-confidence Motion and had pledged to follow the Constitution and the steps it outlines.

“The ‘legal memorandum’ constitutes an amalgam of misconceived and ill-conceived legal arguments and the citation of a host of case law authorities that are absolutely irrelevant to the propositions which they purport to support.”

“In the circumstances, we reject this ‘legal memorandum’ as vexatious, frivolous

and wholly irrelevant. The Speaker is urged to do likewise,” Jagdeo stated.

On December 21, 2018, the No-confidence Motion brought by the parliamentary Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) – against the Government succeeded when Charrandas Persaud, a former AFC Member of Parliament, broke rank and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.

With the Government’s defeat, the next steps are spelt out in the Constitution of Guyana. Article 106 (6) of the Constitution 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.”

Meanwhile, clause 7 goes on to state that “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

In light of the constitutional provisions, Jagdeo renewed his calls on the Government for them to immediately begin the preparations for holding General and Regional Elections in accordance with Article 106 of the Constitution.

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 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

Editorial

Strangulating democracy

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he rearguard action by the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition against the noconfidence vote in the National Assembly, after accepting the decision by the Speaker that “the ayes have it” and after the motion was transmuted into a binding resolution by the Clerk, can only be seen as an attack on the fundamental tenets of our parliamentary democracy and the Rule of law.

The Government cannot, on one hand, accept the 33 seats gained at the 2015 General Elections gave it a “majority” in the National Assembly – which it used to pass several pieces of legislation as well as Budgets – and, on the other, now protest that it takes 34 votes to constitute that same majority to defeat the Opposition’s No-confidence Motion.

The argument proffered to push that position involves a particular procedure in Mathematics that would divide persons into “halves”, which the advocate himself admits is an anomalous proposition. They ignore the fact that reality does not have to bend to Mathematics, but the latter has evolved numerous methodologies for dealing with reality.

The mathematical notion of “sets” offers a more appropriate technique for dealing with the division of the 65 seats in the National Assembly to determine its majority. There is no need for half-persons since the complete set of 65 parliamentarians (P) would be divided according to how they actually voted into subsets. All those who voted “yes” (PY) – 33 and all those who voted ‘no” (PN) – 32, would be compared to determine which subset is greater – and is the majority. In our universe, 33 is always greater than 32 and all those who argue otherwise are simply engaged in sophistry to push some other agenda.

On the course of action for the Government following the passage of the No-confidence Motion as transmuted into a binding resolution, the following extracts from “Confidence Motions/Research Paper 95/197” from the House of Commons describing what occurred after their last passage of a no-confidence motion in the “mother of Parliaments”, when the Labour Government was defeated 311 to 310, should serve as a guide to the PNC-led APNU/ AFC Government: “28 March, 1979: In the aftermath of the devolution referenda, a motion of no-confidence was passed against Callaghan’s minority Labour Government. The effect of the vote is described in the exchange between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition immediately following the result: Mr James Callaghan: “Mr Speaker, now that the House has declared itself, we shall take our case to the country.

Tomorrow I shall propose to Her Majesty that Parliament be dissolved as soon as essential business can be cleared up, and then I shall announce as soon as may be – and that will be as soon as possible – the date of Dissolution, the date of the election and the date of meeting of the new Parliament.” (Mr Callahan announced the next day he would seek dissolution.)

Margaret Thatcher: “As the Government no longer has authority to carry on business without the agreement of the Opposition, I make it quite clear that we shall facilitate any business which requires the agreement of the Opposition so that the Dissolution can take place at the very earliest opportunity and the uncertainty ended.”

At the outset of the 23 July, 1993, confidence debate in the Commons, the Prime Minister John Major, set out clearly the consequences of a defeat for the Government: “We have before us a motion of confidence in the Government, with all the implications that flow from that ..... At the conclusion of this debate, either the Government will have won the vote of confidence and we can proceed with our policy... or we shall have lost and I shall seek a dissolution of Parliament.....”

The rules of democratic parliamentary Government cannot be arbitrarily changed to suit the desires of parties to remain in office. The present course of action invokes the sordid history of the PNC to do so at all costs.

We expect the world to support our fledgling democracy which was only restored in 1992.

This teen takes his cow home after grazing in the backdam of Hague, West Coast Demerara (Girendra Persaud photo)

Jamal Khashoggi: How the ‘stupid, naïve’ plot to kill Washington Post journalist backfired on Saudi Arabia

By Ehsan Knopf

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he murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi not only shocked the world – it also shone a light on Donald Trump’s relationship with his Middle Eastern ally.

The US President initially promised “severe punishment” for Saudi Arabia, if found guilty of Khashoggi’s murder. While the CIA reportedly concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did order the killing, Trump has failed to cut ties.

Trump points out Saudi Arabia’s ongoing role as a key US trading partner and recently referred to MBS as a “very good ally”. “We mustn’t forget Trump is a hard-nosed, takeno-prisoners businessman,” Penfold said.

“Every time he is questioned about why he has not clamped down on the Saudis, Trump points out they spend billions buying military equipment from the US. “Trump has repeatedly indicated he’s not prepared to lose that income for the sake of one life.

“Then there’s the fact the Saudis have historically all but held America to ransom through their oil wealth.” Despite Trump’s support for MBS, the US Senate has condemned the Crown Prince. It has also approved a resolution cutting off US support for Saudi Arabia’s war on Yemen.

The US, the UK, Canada and France have placed sanctions against 18 Saudis linked to the murder. Several European countries have also cancelled arms deals with Saudi Arabia. Penfold said the plot to kill Khashoggi highlighted wrongdoing, not covered it up.

“I would suggest very, very few people around the world were aware of Khashoggi’s criticism of Saudi Arabia (beforehand),” he said. “The muddled plot to kill him only served to throw more of a spotlight on their actions.

“Certainly Saudi Arabia could never have anticipated the outcry. Nor the ongoing

Saudi prosecutors have admitted Turkish evidence shows the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was premeditated (AP)

effects it will have for years to come on their relations with countries around the world.”

The killing When Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, he knew something was amiss.

Former acquaintance, Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, was waiting to greet him.

Khashoggi had met Mutreb during his tenure as a Saudi diplomat, but Mutreb had since turned his hand to spying. His presence at the consulate was, to say the least, unexpected.

“You are coming back (to Saudi Arabia),” Mutreb allegedly told Khashoggi. Turkish intelligence captured their exchange in a secret recording.

“You can’t do that,” Khashoggi replied. “People are waiting outside.”

A hit squad of 15 men then descended on Khashoggi, with one placing the journalist in a chokehold. “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe,” Khashoggi said, according to a transcript of the recording.

Afterwards Mutreb allegedly made three calls to Saud alQahtani – a top aide to MBS. Mutreb assured al-Qahtani “the thing is done, it’s done”.

The team then commenced the next phase of their grisly plan: dismembering their victim’s body with a saw. “Put your earphones in, or listen to music like me,” one member of the team advised. Turkish officials have since identified him as Dr Salah Muhammad alTubaiqi, a Saudi Interior Ministry

official.

Not everyone was happy with the plan. A witness – Saudi Consul General Mohammed alOtaibi – registered his protest.

“Do this outside,” he said.

“You’re going to get me in trouble.” “Shut up if you want to live when you return to (Saudi) Arabia,” one of men retorted.

All the while, Hatice Cengiz – Khashoggi’s Turkish fiancée – stood outside, anxiously awaiting his return. Khashoggi had told Cengiz in the event he didn’t, to call an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Hours passed – first one, then two, then 10. Nothing.

Cengiz went home and returned to the embassy the following morning. But it was in vain.

Khashoggi’s killers had long since departed – and with them all trace of his remains.

The fallout Saudi prosecutors have charged 11 unidentified people over Khashoggi’s death. Five may face the death penalty.

Saudi King Salman has fired MBS aide al-Qahtahi and Deputy Intelligence Chief Ahmad alAssiri.

In addition, King Salman announced MBS would oversee a restructure of Saudi intelligence services. If the killers hoped Khashoggi’s story would vanish along with his body, they were soon proven very wrong.

Authorities descended on the embassy, scouring the grounds for traces of the crime.

Officers also scouted possible resting places for Khashoggi’s

body. Among them were Belgrad forest and farmland in Yalova.

Turkish media published details from the recording, and the case drew scrutiny and condemnation worldwide. MBS was immediately implicated in the crime. The Crown Prince for his part claimed Khashoggi had left the consulate “a few minutes or one hour” after his arrival.

“We have nothing to hide,” MBS told Bloomberg News.

But CCTV captured the alleged Saudi hit team arriving at the consulate before Khashoggi’s appointment. It also showed them leaving hours later.

The vision included a man resembling Khashoggi departing via the backdoor.

The man was later identified as Mustafa al-Madani.

Authorities claim he was hired to pose as a body double for Khashoggi.

As part of the act, Al-Madani donned a fake beard and Khashoggi’s own – “still warm” – clothes, a senior official told CNN. Saudi Arabia claimed ignorance. Yet over the coming weeks, the official account shifted.

On October 20, 2018, Saudi state television said Khashoggi’s death had been an accident.

There had been a struggle, and an unidentified party had put Khashoggi in a chokehold, they said. One Saudi official insisted the murder was a “rogue operation”. Turkey pushed back on these claims. “You don’t need a body double for a rendition or an interrogation,” one official told CNN. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was dismissive, calling the public response “hysterical”. But pressure only continued to mount.

Then, on November 15, a Saudi public prosecutor said Khashoggi had died by lethal injection. He added that Khashoggi’s body had been dismembered and handed over to a local collaborator.

The exact location of Khashoggi’s remains is unknown. (9news.com.au)

guyanatimesgy.com

SunDAY, december 30, 2018

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

Counteracting Police intimidation The tyranny of the 32 – allow the citizens to take videos against all of Guyana on every occasion Dear Editor, Every day, I hear stories of Police harassment and intimidation. Police cars are parked up in front of bars and public places, following patrons as they depart. Frequently, when they confront you there is an attempt to shake down the person. This is outright harassment, entrapment, and intimidation. On a daily basis, our citizens have enough harassment from many sections of the authorities. Putting up with more taxes, regulations, fines, fees, penalties, black-

outs, poor internet, are just some of the daily matters, our citizens must overcome. Add to that, police at every corner, on every street, frequent stopping of vehicles; one can’t blame the average person for a sense of being “fed up” and feeling frustrated.

The Commissioner of Police is better-off calling off the police harassment on persons going to entertainment spots. Every citizen should have the right to video every interaction with the police and post to YouTube or

Facebook.

Every policeman should be courteous and professional. And fellow police ranks should have an obligation to report any case where monies are accepted for food or as a bribe or anything. Only when the Government and the leadership begin to hold their ranks accountable for professional and courteous police service, will the public experience this. Despite meager salaries, some police live a life better than the average citizen. What is their means?

This culture has to be rooted out. Therefore, video and photographs of every police interaction with its citizens is essential and should expressly be encouraged and allowed.

I look forward to the Commissioner of Police making clear such polices that show that they are committed to customer service of its citizens rather than having its ranks intimidate and harass its citizens every day.

Sincerely, Name withheld

The plain meaning rule makes 33 a “majority” over 32

Dear Editor, The United States Supreme Court, in King v Burwell, a recent case about what is commonly called “Obamacare,” in a decision written by the Chief Justice of that Court, Mr John Roberts, invoked the well-known Plain Meaning rule used in courts worldwide and said: “If the

statutory language is plain, we must enforce it according to its terms.” See King v Burwell, 135 S. Ct. 2480, 2489 (2015).

Guyana and the United States have courts with a common English origin. In both countries, the Plain Meaning rule is applicable.

Here, the relevant statute is Article 106 (6) of the

Constitution of Guyana which clearly 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.”

The constitution is silent as to the meaning of the word “majority.” The word is not

ambiguous. That is, it does not have two meanings. We ought to read it for its plain meaning.

Invoking the Plain Meaning rule in the case at hand, thirty-three is a “majority” over thirty-two. Government was defeated.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

Government is now desperate and scared (Pt 1)

Dear Editor, Each time there is a sitting of the National Assembly, I would habitually take a walk to Demico House across the street, and to parts of Stabroek Market to interact with vendors and laborers during the lunch-break. I do this because I need to know how decisions we make in Parliament affect the lives of ordinary Guyanese. Very often they would comment that Ministers of Government are so aloof, they would never do what I’m doing until they’re campaigning for votes.

This was evident when the entire Cabinet descended upon the Stabroek Market square, inviting vendors to “meet and greet your Minister” on Christmas Eve after they were earlier declared persona non grata.

But they were scared from before. On the day of the No-confidence Motion, they were expecting thousands of supporters to amass in front of Parliament building, but only managed to scrape the barrel down to a disappointing hardcore few.

Now that this elitist group of APNU+AFC Ministers need people, they’re now shamelessly asking them to come out in defence of the Government, the same Government that neglected them for three and a half years.

Now we see Ministers dancing and partying with DJs when not too long ago, these same DJs were being hounded and forced to shut down the music by the 2:00 am curfew.

The point has already been made by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, other prominent lawyers and the Guyana Bar Association on the validity of the No-confidence Motion as it relates to Nigel Hughes’ fuzzy maths.

I will only ask if those who now question the passage of this motion would have objected and demanded that Government needed 34 votes to defeat the motion had all 33 members of Government voted against it. I guarantee, this would never have happened and Nigel Hughes would not have come up with his jumbie equation to stir-up trouble.

Immediately following the fall of the coalition Government, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo held a Press Conference in which he admitted that the opposition’s motion “was approved by a majority of all the elected members of the House.” This admission of defeat was echoed by President Granger and several Cabinet Ministers.

Editor, you may recall that in 2014 Carl Greenidge, until recent, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview, that “because a no-confidence vote in the Government is a major issue over the performance of the Government, the behaviour of the Government and the breaking of the law by the Government, it needs to be followed by the resignation of the Government and the calling of national elections.”

But I wonder if he shares the same view now.

Despite previous admissions that the government has fallen, we’re now being told that Cabinet is looking at the legal implications, and is likely to go to court to seek a reversal of the no-confidence vote taken in favor of the Parliamentary Opposition. The audacity of this Government to still have Cabinet meetings, flies in the face of Article 106 (6) of our Constitution which explicitly directs the entire Cabinet to resign.

Article 106 (6) of our Constitution is unambiguous. It clearly states that

“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.” This government has fallen, the President, the Cabinet and rest of Ministers must resign now! And since the APNU+AFC are so convinced that they have done great things for Guyana and its people, they should have no problem calling new elections now.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

Dear Editor, Now that the no-confidence motion has been passed in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, some, especially members from the ruling parties are questioning what constitutes a majority as prescribed by Article 106 of the Constitution and what is the meaning of “absolute majority.” As we seek to expose this 34 votes “arithmetic amorality” we are puzzled by the fact that the Government is supporting such sentiments instead of accepting defeat and moving on in order to savor our democracy.

In the constitutional context, the term majority acquires its precise meaning in Article 106 (6) which states “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the votes of the majority of all elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” So the questions to ask are – Were all 65 elected members present and voted? (Yes). Is the word shall equal to must in this context? (Yes) Were the persons who voted whole individuals, (Yes) or were they half of a person? (No).

So if that is the case, did a vote of the majority take place to command the APNU+AFC Government to resign forthwith? This question then begs another question - what constitutes this majority?

The Collins Dictionary defines a majority as “more than half”, “the greater part of”.

The etymology of the word “majority” corroborates that it was first used in 1550 by the French when they try to message a condition of “being greater than” when comparing things. The French further explained themselves with the phrase “la majorité des électeurs” which means the majority is absolute. To shed light on this concept of absolute we reflect on how the largest democracy in the world conduct themselves with respect to what is a majority.

In the Indian Parliament,

No surprise the Granger Govt is seeking to thwart the No-confidence Motion

Dear Editor, The death throes of the Granger Administration have become a fascinating show; faced with a no-confidence motion they publicly emasculated the role of the Speaker of the House by asserting that it is Government and not the Speaker, who sets the date for the hearing of the motion. Since the fall of the Government and the advent of the theory that 33 votes do not constitute a majority of 65 available, I have watched with morbid interest as the line of those prostituting their intellect grows.

I do understand that some never had intellect to begin with, however, to see Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo assert that 33 being a majori-

ty is an absurdity, and not catered for by the framers of our constitution is tragic comedy.

Editor, there is no surprise that the Granger Administration is seeking to use the courts to thwart the no-confidence motion passed against them. Disregard for the Constitution, misinformation, shamelessness and duplicity have been main characteristics of the Granger Administration throughout its term in office. President Granger ascended to office with a promise to bring law, order and dignity (along with the good life) to our nation. With its latest actions Granger’s Administration will forever be remembered for the parody of Government it became and the level of buffoon-

ery it descended into when forced to face the electorate.

Should the Judiciary agree to entertain a court challenge of the no-confidence motion on this basis, it may well be the shortest mathematics lesson in our nation’s history. For the Judiciary to even hear a challenge on any basis is an overstep in my opinion. In this I concede I may be wrong; lawyers do need to earn a living.

It is my hope that President Granger can curb the enthusiasm of his minions and restore some modicum of pride and decency in the Office upon his return from Cuba. The man, the Office and the nation deserve better.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

they define this absolute majority as more than 50 per cent of the total membership of their house. Their house has 545 voting members. The methodology they use in certifying an absolute majority is that they rounded up the total amount of 545 to 546 and then took 50 per cent of that to derive the absolute majority, which we submit as the mathematical accurate position. Under no circumstances should the rounding up take place at the halfway mark.

In Guyana’s case, an absolute majority is 50 per cent of the total voting members rounded up from 65 to 66. Basic arithmetic will reveal that 50 per cent of 66 is 33. So it is clear that Mr Nigel Hughes has bungled his interpretation of the arithmetic and while that is unfortunate, it is also understandable because his forte is not mathematics.

Then there is the concept of “greater than”. Is 33 greater than 32? Clearly, 33 and 32 are not equal. Elementary arithmetic teaches us that 33 is a larger quantity than 32 and therefore is a majority.

But to guide us on this concept let us reflect on scriptures. In the King James Bible in 1 Chronicle 12:29 it says, “And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.” That same verse was interpreted in the Christian Standard Bible as “From the Benjaminites, the relatives of Saul: 3,000 (up to that time the majority of the Benjaminites maintained their allegiance to the house of Saul).”

It is clear that the majority is the greater part of the many parts and that 33 is the greater part of and is an absolute majority of 65. All this voodoo arithmetic gibberish of a half man and rounding up at the 32.5 mark is nothing else but subjective fiction of dreamers who are neither idealists nor realists, but theorists. And most theorists are not objective on facts.

On that note, we end with Matthew 7:15 which states “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”.

However you twist it or turn it, the absolute majority of 65 is 33. Therefore, we call upon the responsible leaders in the Government to end this shenanigan and conduct the affairs of the country accordingly. The stakes are very high and this should be taken seriously by those in authority. And while time is of the essence, the acting President certainly does have the power and authority to deal with this issue. We must not hold the nation hostage.

Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose Sasenarine Singh Mike Persaud Charles Sugrim

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superheroes teach our children?

By Corey Mintz

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uperheroes, with the exception of Pizza Man and Frogman, are uniformly athletic and attractive. Is that a problem? As the Disney/Marvel marketing apparatus works at full-tilt boogie to convince us that a new Spider-Man movie is an exciting thing, I’ve been questioning my lifelong adoration of costumed heroes.

Princesses also conform to impossible physical standards, and googling “princess culture” results in a minefield of debates. Parents throw down over the gender-role expectations and premature sexualisation instilled by Cinderella, Snow White and Jasmine: some refuse to let their children play with princess toys or watch princess movies at all.

Yet I’ve never heard of parents putting a ban on superheroes, even though Spidey, for all his sweetness, is basically an unregulated paramilitary operative.

Ditto Batman and Squirrel Girl, who also launch attacks against perceived enemies without any governmental or civilian oversight. Daredevil and She-Hulk are lawyers who break the law in their spare time – and all of these characters are largely beloved as role models for children.

Unlike most cartoon princesses, superheroes have complicated lives and personalities. Grownups love these characters for reasons other than spectacular costumes and amazing powers, and that might be why we’re so willing to turn a blind eye to the messages these muscle-heads are broadcasting to the under-10 set.

Take Spidey, who we see in the the new Spider-Man: Homecoming as an awkward teenager. From his first comic-book appearance in 1962 up to his sixth and latest movie, the best handlers of the web-slinger’s tales have understood that people connect with the character because he is chronically, courageously uncool.

Peter Parker is a loser.

He has great power and intellect, but he never wins

Torn between high school, freelance photography and crime-fighting, Parker always arrives too late to help his frail Aunt May, never has enough money, is forever squandering professional and romantic opportunities and is perpetually fighting an unsuccessful public-relations battle with a newspaper editor determined to vilify the hero in the eyes of the public.

As the struggling underdog loner who always makes the right moral choice but never personally succeeds, Peter is someone who we could be.

But that’s an adult’s perspective. To a child, Spider-Man is cool for less complicated reasons.

“Five-year-olds love the bright costume, the fun powers that they can pretend to replicate while swinging on ropes … he’s fun!” says Chip Zdarsky, writer of Peter Parker: Spectacular Spider-Man, one of about 10 Spidey-related comics, aimed at various ages, in publication.

Zdarsky (a friend who illustrated a book I wrote in 2013) says that his own love of superheroes began simply, too – as a child, he found the corny puns that Spidey uses against physi-

cally stronger opponents such as Scorpion, Rhino or the Lizard

hilarious.

But he thinks that this simple appreciation evolves as kids mature, that “as you grow older, you start to relate to Peter more,” as he did. Just like Peter Parker, Zdarsky was bullied as a kid: He sometimes pretended that his super powers and secret identity are what kept him from fighting back. “It’s a strangely fun delusion to help you cope with bullies and the bad stuff that happens to you,” he says.

Unsurprisingly, the truth is complicated: While kids probably do develop an appreciation for Peter Parker’s loveable loser persona with time, it’s still possible for them to absorb the wrong messages, especially during their preschool and kindergarten years.

Lee Essig, co-author of the recent study Pow! Boom! Kablam!, says that small children especially don’t have the ability to appreciate a superhero’s complications. “The minds of three- to five-year-olds are very different from seven-year-old children, let alone adolescent or adult brains,” says Essig, a researcher at Brigham Young University in Utah.

He has two children and his co-author, Professor Sarah Coyne, has five. Their study was subtitled Effects of Viewing Superhero Programs on Aggressive, Prosocial, and Defending Behaviours in Preschool Children, and examined the effect of a year of watching superhero shows on the physical aggression of 240 children.

Younger children were less impacted by a superhero’s motivations than the manner in which they help out, the researchers found. And although heroes usually learn that not every problem can be solved with violence, the first two-thirds of most stories see superheroes punch, kick, optic blast and clobber their way out of trouble.

That, Essig and Coyne found, is the behaviour that most little kids mimicked.

“They see that these characters beat up or kill people and are celebrated and rewarded for their actions,” Essig says. “Kids don’t pick up on the more implicit messages of their moral decision-making that led them to act out violently.”

It isn’t until the ages of seven or eight that kids begin to understand that superhero violence is motivated by “standing up for what’s right and defending those in need,” says Essig. Plus, parental engagement is essential in “helping them learn … the

valuable lessons that were always there, but that the children were unable to recognize.” So if you love superheroes, make time to watch the movies with your kids.

Small children aren’t the target audience of most comics and movies, says Andrew WoodrowButcher, manager of school and library sales for Toronto comic bookstore The Beguiling.

That’s why many comic publishers, including Marvel and DC, have attempted to promote what he calls “kid-appropriate” stories. DC SuperHero Girls, for example, is a multiplatform franchise of shows, books and toys populated by pint-sized versions of branded characters. It’s wildly successful.

“For people under a certain age, who aren’t necessarily filtering through all these moral ambiguities and synthesising them, this is perfect,” says Woodrow-Butcher, who is also the kids program-

ming co-ordinator for the Toronto Comics Arts Festival.

“Because kids want to read something with Superman in it and this is a thing they can read where the adventure is like, someone stole the doughnuts.”

While it’s nice that these companies produce baby and teen versions of popular adult superheroes, the value of these franchises can be as ambiguous as some of the stories.

Disney owns Marvel, along with nearly every popular and profitable collection of characters including those in, but not limited to, Star Wars, Pixar and Winnie the Pooh. In 2013, its annual licensed merchandise sales – everything from Halloween costumes, video games and coffee mugs to key chains, baseball hats and backpacks – passed US$40 billion.

“That said, hooking someone on something that’s going to keep them reading for the rest of their lives doesn’t sound like an evil scheme to me,” Woodrow-Butcher says. “At the end of the day, it’s also giving you opportunities, like learning to read for pleasure, learning to read with your family, learning to go to the library, to be excited when books are coming out.”

Kim Chung, director of programming at the Centre for Family Literacy in Edmonton, agrees in the value of comic books. “The way children learn how to read is by being exposed to something over and over. Pictures give them cues,” Chung says.

“And then they start to notice that there’s little black squiggly things. If you’re reading with them, they start to understand that those are what’s telling the story,” Chung says. Hungry for the same stories again and again, children will eventually want to know everything about their favourite heroes, to unravel the mystery of what’s going on inside those word balloons.

Not all superheroes are created equal, of course: While loving Spider-Man is easy, Wonder Woman is a complicated feminist icon and the Punisher, a mass murderer who was the most popular comic character of the 1990s, oozes toxic masculinity.

But at their best, superheroes are defenders: from the micro to the macro (the neighbourhood bully, Vulture), the real to the surreal (Nazis, Skrulls), they exist to help us when we can’t help ourselves.

In Zdarsky’s words, they’re valuable symbols “of men and women being the best they can be, with a focus on helping others who don’t have the ability to, say, shoot laser beams from their eyes or lift cars.”

And while superheroes have long been seen solely as power fantasies for young boys, he says that their appeal is finally widening. “Sure, a young Muslim girl can read Spider-Man and still relate to the character, but it’s a much more potent fantasy when it’s a character that resembles them, like Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel,” Zdarsky says of a character that debuted in 2013.

As long as I can remember, I’ve been in love with superheroes. They taught me about right and wrong, selflessness, iconoclasm, loyalty, courage and that the West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping centre in the world (or was as of Alpha Flight #26, in 1985). All of those are important things to know – as is reading, and the love of reading, which I learned through comic books.

So even if superheroes aren’t the best role models for young children, I believe they’re worth sticking with. After a while, the “thwips” and “snikts” take a back seat to stories that teach important virtues, and that ingenuity, self-sacrifice and teamwork are necessary to triumph over adversity. (The Gbole and Mail)

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

No-confidence resolution

34 votes for majority argument “absolute rubbish”– former AFC executive ...says Govt, supporters cannot make up rules as they go along

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ormer Alliance For Change (AFC) member has labelled arguments that 34 equals a majority in 65 as “absolute rubbish” in wake of Government’s embrace of this reasoning, with a view to having its defeat at a recent No-confidence vote reversed.

Appearing on a ‘Straight talk Guyana’ broadcast interview on Saturday was Economist and former AFC member, Sase Singh. Singh noted that the math does not add up in the notion Government seems to be clinging to, adding that The Constitution of Guyana is clear on the matter.

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution 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.”

“There are two key words in that statement of the

Constitution,” Singh explained. “One is, shall resign. In law, shall means must resign. And the other key words are a majority of all elected members.

The National Assembly of Guyana has 65 elected members. The majority is clearly construed as 33.”

Singh pointed out that a total of 33 Members of Parliament voted for the no-confidence motion. Hence, he said, the Government has fallen and must obey the constitution. Asked why a lawyer and seasoned politicians would support an argument that goes against decades of parliamentary practise for votes of division, he explained its genesis.

“It’s all an issue where one leading lawyer - and that viewpoint is definitely a minority viewpoint - came forward with a convoluted conclusion that a majority (of 65) is 34. And his interpretation was very confusing.”

“It basically says that half

of 35 is 32 and a half. And for you to round up, you must round up by a whole, and the only number that should be considered a majority is 34.

But that is absolute rubbish.

We have to go by precedents.

We can’t make it up as we go along. We have to be guided by what history has developed.”

Singh pointed out that an absolute majority has always been more than 50 per cent of the voting members, rounded up at the full number. He expressed concern that the Government is attempting to impose its view on the entire nation.

“I see this as a cabal that wants to put the interest of their (32) members in the National Assembly, ahead of the interests of the entire nation. This is a reflection of a party that has a history of constitutional gymnastics… the Government has fallen.

There is no if’s, no but’s, no half man about it.”

“We have the history

of the 70’s and the 80’s… the PNC (People’s National Congress), the dominant party in the APNU/AFC, has made it clear in their Sophia declaration that the party is more important than the state. And this feels like the same old PNC, where they believe that their interest is more important than the entire Guyanese nation,” Singh said.

On December 21, the no-confidence motion brought by the Parliamentary Opposition –the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) - against the Government succeeded when former AFC Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud broke ranks and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.

With the Government’s defeat, the next steps are spelt out in the constitution of Guyana. Clause 7 of Article 106 goes on to state that “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and

No clear plan for GuySuCo’s $30B bond – GAWU

…adds proposal submitted for wages and salary increases

proach to the sugar industry generally,” Singh said, as he read from a prepared statement.

GAWU said it remains supportive of plans that would secure the sugar industry and safeguard its viability. turn to page 13

GAWU officials at the end of year press conference

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has flayed the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), and by extension the Government of Guyana, for not putting forward any clear plan as it relates to utilising the $30 billion borrowed for the revitalisation of the closed sugar factories.

“As the year ends, the GAWU remains concerned that, so far, the stakeholders nor the public, have seen a clear plan regarding the $30 billion borrowed towards the revitalisation of the remaining GuySuCo estates. On this score, we are aware that Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in responding to questions posed to him in the National Assembly, advised that the bond is aimed mainly to acquire two co-generation plants; to upgrade existing factories to produce plan-

tation white sugar; to build storage and packing facilities; and to contribute to two years of general operational costs. Interestingly and conspicuously absent, were any mention of investments in the cane fields to improve productivity,” GAWU Assistant General Secretary Aslim Singh noted.

He made the statement at the Union’s end of year press conference on Friday at the Union’s High Street, Kingston Headquarters.

Singh explained that during the first quarter of 2018, the Union has an engagement with then CEO Paul Bhim who informed them that some $11 billion would be spent on capital works across the three estates namely Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore with about 70 per cent of that sum being utilised in the fields.

Earlier this year, the Government through the National Industrial

Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Special Purposes Unit (SPU) acquired the $30 billion bond from at an interest rate of 4.7 per cent. The Union said despite being a part of the Government and having the responsibility of the sugar industry, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder seems clueless as to the happenings in the industry.

“It seemed to us that apparently Minister Holder is out of the loop regarding the monies that have been borrowed which are backed by a sovereign Government guarantee and secured by the assets of NICIL – which incidentally belong to the people of Guyana. The Agriculture Minister’s tirade, as it were, is yet another demonstration of how the affairs of the country are addressed by the Granger Administration. It also, once more, brings into focus the Administration’s more than confused ap-

Former AFC executive member, Sase Singh

shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after

the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

President David Granger has already committed to following the provisions outlined in the constitution, facilitating early elections and engaging in dialogue with the Leader of the Opposition, upon his return from Cuba where he departed for treatment.

Since the passage of the motion on December 21, however, persons aligned with the coalition party have sought to question the motion’s validity even as the vote has already been certified.

The original proponent of the 34-vote argument is Attorney Nigel Hughes, a former AFC Chairman, who is also the husband of Government Minister Cathy Hughes. Since then, Government has held on to this explanation like a lifeline.

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| guyanatimesGY.com

North Ruimveldt Duo charged for man jailed for armed robbery narco-trafficking

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A

fter a lengthy trial before Magistrate Faith McGusty, 30-year-old Ras Paris who was charged on March 31, 2017 for the offence of trafficking narcotics, will spend the next three years behinds bars after he was found guilty.

Paris was charged for having 908 grams of cannabis in his possession on March 29, 2017 for the purpose of trafficking. He denied the offence and was released on bail.

However, several months later, he was again before the court on a similar charge. On the March 31, 2017 offence, Magistrate McGusty ruled that there was enough evidence for prove Paris’ guilt.

The prosecution had contended that Police acting

Jailed: Ras Paris

on information went to the Paris’ home where they conducted a search and unearthed the cannabis concealed in a black plastic bag in the kitchen area of the home.

Another set of the illegal items were found in an area behind the house.

wenty-six-year-old Levon Cameron along with his alleged accomplice Kevin Watson, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly last week at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after they were slapped with a joint charge of armed robbery.

The duo denied the charge which stated that on December 25 at Dowding Street, Kitty, Georgetown while being together and armed with a knife, they robbed Mahadeo Sookraj of a LG cellular phone valued $40,000.

Cameron was represented by Attorney Stanley Moore, who in a bail application informed the court that his client has no previous convictions, nor is he a

flight risk.

Meanwhile, Watson who was unrepresented, faced another charge which he also denied. That charge stated that on December 27, at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost while being in custody for the offence of robbery under arms, he escaped from said custody.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh, objected to Watson being granted bail on the grounds that he has other pending matters of a similar nature in another court.

However, no objections were made to Cameron being granted bail.

As a result, Magistrate Daly placed Cameron on $40,000 bail while Watson was remanded. The case will continue on 25, 2019.

Venezuelan remanded for armed robbery

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3 0 - y e a r - o l d Venezuelan was remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on an armed robbery charge.

It is alleged that Asdrodel González Berio on December 14, 2018, at Maka Point, North West District, Region One(Barima-Waini), while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed Elroy

Bhisnaught of a Yamaha outboard engine and a Nokia Cellphone valued at a total of $250,000.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield in his submissions informed the court that Berio is not a Guyanese and he does not have a fixed place of abode locally.

Berio was remanded to prison. The case will continue on February 19, 2019 at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court.

Throwing mud…

T

…but exposing the real PNC

he reason Aubrey Norton’s been hiding from the public gaze the past few years could be he’s suffering from vertigo. You know…a feeling that you’re falling down so you need to be supported all the time. This thought came to your Eyewitness when he viewed a tape of a “PNC press conference” with Norton flanked by two persons on either side, who were COMPLETELY mute for the duration of the presser.

Now it could be the persons were there as props to signal that the PNC was “multiracial”, since one was some nondescript Indian-Guyanese fella and the other was the Amerindian Junior Minister, Dawn Hastings.

But your Eyewitness hopes young Guyanese – and both flanking mutes were young – aren’t succumbing to the old PNC practice of using ethnic tokens. They should know history has confirmed that, like its generic category, political tokens have no value in themselves.

They’re simply TOKENS!!

But an interesting question is, why did the PNC do a Lazarus on Norton to resurrect him from the political graveyard he’d been buried in since the PNCled Government took office in 2015?? And the answer is that Granger, like Desmond Hoyte before him, wanted to change the thug image of the PNC it had earned from the 1960s on the tracks of folks like Hamilton Green and Robert Corbin et al. He figured the PNC needed a “kinder, gentler” image to sidle into office without the Burnhamite riggings.

And Norton certainly didn’t fit this image!! He’d been summarily dismissed from his post as General Secretary of the PNC by party leader Desmond Hoyte after one year for his rambunctious behaviour. Hoyte called Norton his “creature” to remind him he should know his “place”. He was brought back by Corbin who succeeded Hoyte as PNC leader during the “mo fyaah; slow fyaah” days. But ran afoul of Corbin when he was ousted as Chairman of the Georgetown District in favour of Volda Lawrence, a Corbin protégé. Similarly, he teed off Granger when he claimed the latter beat him from the leadership position because of “rigging”.

But like Freddy Krueger, Norton’s back!! The big question is “Why?” From his pugnacious and aggressive behaviour and vocabulary at the presser, it’s clear it’s because the PNC hardliners have been shaken by the results of the no-confidence vote and are falling back on what’s worked for them since the 60s – thuggery, brute force and ignorance!! They reject the line taken by Nagamootoo, Lawrence and Granger – and have picked Norton as their attack dog!

And attack he did – with wild and inflammatory allegations of Jagdeo’s “bribing” Charrandas Persaud and being “oil money obsessed”!

Norton has exposed the real (thuggish) PNC!!

… to hide PNC’s desperation

For the PNC to reveal it’s true face so openly means they’re scared sh*itless at losing office through the Noconfidence Motion – which has now been recorded as a binding RESOLUTION by the parliamentary Clerk.

And the rabid rantings about Jagdeo being “oil money obsessed” tells you why: with political power, they can suck up the oil money!! Burnham openly acknowledged he followed Nkrumah’s dictum: “Seek ye first the political kingdom and all things shall be added unto you.” Especially money!!

On the matter of “political bribery”. As an old head in the PNC, Norton would know that in preparing to seize power in 1968 through electoral rigging, Burnham had bribed Sheik Mohamed Saffee and Zaheeruddeen from the PPP and Randolph Cheeks from the UF to cross the floor in 1967. When bribery didn’t work, there was always violence, like when they dangled trade unionist Gordon Todd over the Atlantic from a helicopter.

As for the “criminalised state” they’re trying to tag on Jagdeo, just read the Rodney CoI Report!!

…with fake news

Norton couldn’t provide a shred of evidence of Persaud being bribed by the PPP when pressed by reporters, so of course, had to keep backing up to admit it was “he seh; dem seh”!!

PNC fake news!!

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

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

No-confidence resolution

Nigel Hughes' “34 is majority” claim “dangerous” – Ram

…GTUC urges political maturity

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utspoken political commentator and Attorney Christopher Ram said his fellow legal colleague Nigel Hughes’ contention that the political Opposition needed a 34-seat majority to have the motion of no-confidence against the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government passed is “perplexing, illogical and frankly, dangerous.”

After AFC parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud voted in favour of the motion on December 21, 2018, thus ensuring its successful passage, there have been a number of conspiracy theories ranging from allegations of bribe to the motion being null and void. Notable among the theories was that of former AFC Chairman Hughes,who is the husband of Government Minister Cathy Hughes, posited that a total of 34 of the 65 members in the National Assembly needed to vote in favour of the motion to ensure its successful passage.

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

In response, Hughes posited that “Mathematically one half of the house is 32.5 members. There is no such thing as a half member so half of the house is 33 mem-

Political commentator and Attorney Christopher Ram

bers. This is because you have to round up to identify half of the house. For a no-confidence motion to pass and be valid, the motion has to enjoy more votes than onehalf of the full house, that is, 34 votes.”

“The house voted 33:32.

Thirty-three is a rounding down of what constitutes half of the house. The motion consequently was not carried. But in classic Guyanese style we have embarrassed ourselves again,” he writes, while citing cases of similar nature as precedence for his position.

Ever since Hughes stated his position on the issue, Government has backtracked on the initial statements of following the prescribed ar-

ticles in the Constitution and has now signalled intentions to move to the court as well as having the House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland review the motion that was carried.

Following the public spectacle that has ensued since the passage of the motion, Ram said Article 106 (6) “brooks no ambiguity or misunderstanding and states emphatically” what the Government should do. He noted that there are rules of interpretation of all statutes, of which the Constitution sits at the pinnacle. One foundational rule states that “The only safe and correct way of construing statutes is to apply the plain meaning of the words.”

He noted that what Hughes is attempting to do was already addressed by then Chancellor Keith Massiah in 1987 in the Court of Appeal case of the Attorney General vs Mohammed Alli and Others. In that case, according to Ram, Massiah referred with approval to the words of an English case that “it is a strong thing to read into an Act of Parliament words which are not there, and in the absence of clear necessity it is a wrong thing to do.”

Ram reminded Hughes that he was once the Chairman a Constitutional Reform Committee hence he must know that “there are two instances in the Constitution – Article 160 (2) and Article 180 (1) – in which

must know that the distinction was not accidental. It was intended. In fact, Mr Hughes was the Chairman of the AFC when it brought a no-confidence motion against the Ramotar Government in 2014. I know about the AFC’s calculation of the 3332 because then party leader Khemraj Ramjattan discussed the matter with me extensively prior to the actual motion being brought,” Ram said.

Opportunistic polities

Former AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes

the word “half”, or its variant “one-half”, is used in relation to the number of elected members of the National Assembly.”

“These along with Article 106 (6) are all part of the Year 2000 amendments to the Constitution and Mr Hughes must not only presume but

The attorney challenged that Hughes may be attempting to “to frustrate what Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo referred to on the night of the vote as “democracy at work.”

“In so doing, Mr Hughes clothes his attempt in a way more elegant but probably more dangerous than his AFC party leader Raphael Trotman sought to do during the vote in the National Assembly when he encouraged Ms Volda Lawrence to ask for a “time out” in the middle of the vote. What Trotman (a former Speaker

of the House), Ms Lawrence, the vulgar (Jermaine) Figueira, and others knew when Charrandas Persaud said “yes” was that the APNU/AFC had lost the vote.

Such a result triggers the resignation by the Cabinet including the President, while the Government resigns after a (new) President is sworn in following elections mandated to be held within three months,” Ram said.

The political commentator said the AFC, of which both Trotman and Hughes are leaders, has not only been a disappointment rather it is a prime example of opportunistic polities. He alluded to the recently concluded November 12, 2018 Local Government Elections as the motion of no-confidence in the AFC since its performance was abysmal.

Additionally, he noted that the party’s internal elections also exposed Trotman’s no-confidence in then leader Khemraj Ramjattan when he staged a secret and successful campaign to unseat him. turn to page 12

10 news

SUnDAY, december 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Diamond Secondary School was deliberately set on fire – Fire Service

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n investigation into the fire which destroyed a section of the Diamond Secondary School last Monday has concluded that the building was deliberately set on fire.

Fire Prevention Officer of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Andrew Holder told this publication on Saturday that arson was confirmed after inspecting the crime scene and evidence.

On Thursday, it was confirmed that the GFS have wrapped up their investigation and are awaiting confirmation from the Government Electrical Inspector so as to determine the cause of the fire.

“The fire was deliberately set at the Diamond school,” said Holder when contacted.

Reports are that the guard stationed at the school noticed flames emanating from the front building within the compound at about 02:00h on Monday last and raised an alarm.

With the assistance of public-spirited citizens, the fire was contained before firefighters arrived at the scene.

New Maths S

A section of the administrative building which was deliberately set ablaze

The Education Ministry stated that the fire began in the administrative building, which housed the head teacher and deputy head teacher’s offices along with the computer laboratory and library.

According to the Ministry, checks were made by the GFS to ascertain whether there was a power surge affecting that area at the time of the blaze. It was later found that there

was no fault in the electrical supply.

Regional officials were then engaged to cater for the smooth operations of the school when it reopens. All public schools are expected to open on January 7, 2019.

In November, several persons working at the school were under investigation after a large sum of money, which was collected from students for the school’s graduation ceremo-

ny, reportedly disappeared.

Guyana Times understands that the money was stored in a secured safe and only a few individuals were granted access, causing speculation as to where the monies disappeared to.

During the probe of that incident, four teachers were taken into custody and questioned at the Golden Grove Police Station. They were subsequently released on station bail.

atiricus was so happy he’d left the KFC before their meltdown. As such, he didn’t have to face the tantalising that had been his fate since 2015 from the fellas at the Back Street Bar, where he was presently headed. Christmas wasn’t the time of the year to be getting stick!

“Hey Sato!” called out Cappo as he neared their table, which was already developing a good-sized forest of bottles. “Hari sen’ dong wan small piece an’ beer free today, Budday!!”

“Yeah, de bai done get wan jaab in New Yark,” reported Bungi. “But ‘e seh de place col’ like raas!!”

“De Bannuh ain’t see not’ing yet!” grinned Georgie who had moved in the opposite direction from New York back to Guyana. “He’ll freeze his butt in January!!”

“So what you fellas think about No-Gel Huge calculating that 33 isn’t greater than 32?” asked Satiricus after he downed his first beer in one long gurgle.

“Budday, me na bin far in school,” said Cappo. “But me t’ink da chap guh school in Aagas!” “’E soun’ just like w’en abee two use fuh cut cane,” said Bungi, with a grin. “Yuh always complain YOU half mo’ big dan ME half!!”

“But seriously, Bannus,” interjected Georgie, “it ain’t so simple. The law does move in mysterious ways!”

“Listen Georgie, don’t stifle your conscience because you’re hooked up with that PeenSee businessman,” said Satiricus sternly.

“Contrary breeze ah mek crow and eagle lan’ pan de same line!” grinned Cappo. “De bai gat fuh live, you know!”

“An’ de same t’ing fuh No-Gel Huge!” said Bungi.

“Ah big law-ya money fuh he!!”

“C’mon fellas!” protested Georgie with some heat.

“That ain’t fair! As a lawyer, the man is offering his opinion!”

“But wha’ mek ‘e na affa ‘e opinion w’en GECOM seh Pee’nSee win de elec-shan wid de same 33 seat ‘gainst de PPCEE 32?” demanded Cappo.

“Jargie, nah tek yuh mattie eye fuh see,” said Bungi.

“Me done drink six beer and you drink five. Who drink mo’?”

Georgie grinned sheepishly but remained quiet.

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

2 pedestrians killed after car slams into bus shed male pedestrians, who were standing on the western parapet.

The two pedestrians were picked up in an unconscious state by Police who rushed them to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

PNC cathartic violence in the offing?

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ast Friday night, after Charrandas Persaud voted his conscience on the PPP’s no-confidence motion, I fully expected that there would be a replay of “Black Friday 1962” as described in Martin Carter’s poem “when the sun and the streets exploded/and a city of clerks/turned a city of men”. I had always been troubled by this line which described in Fanonesque terms, a “catharsis” arising out of the violence and arson unleashed by PNC and UF supporters against the body and property of PPP supporters.

Fanon had been writing about the colonial subject, freeing themselves of colonialism through violence.

“Decolonisation is the veritable creation of new men. But this creation owes nothing of its legitimacy to any supernatural power; the “thing” which has been colonised becomes man during the same process by which it frees itself.” On Black Friday 1962 in Guyana, the supporters of the PNC had been convinced by their Ravi Dev leaders that it was the PPP and their supporters who were to bear the brunt of their anger against oppression for them to become “men”. In “Black Skin, White Masks”, Fanon had introduced the idea of ‘collective catharsis’: ‘[i] n every society, in every collectivity, exists – must exist – a channel, an outlet through which the forces accumulated in the forms of aggression can be released’.

And it has been so ever since with the PNC and its supporters. The PPP has been transmuted as the colonial oppressor with its racialized rule and who therefore must not be allowed to govern Guyana. The violent cathartic reaction against the PPP and its putative supporters continue to this day. In 1992, when the first “free and fair” elections in 28 years ended with a victory for the PPP, Hamilton Green of the PNC called out their supporters to attack the GECOM HQ in a cathartic frenzy and demanded that President Hoyte not accept the result. It took a call from the President of the US to Hoyte to ensure that democratic norms were followed.

But in 1997, Hoyte reverted to PNC form and their supporters launched massive protests that involved arson and violence against Indians in Georgetown. More catharsis. The PPP’s term of office was truncated by two years and massive constitutional changes introduced to include the Opposition in governance. However, after elections were held in 2001 and the PPP won once again, more violence and arson were unleashed. The need for catharsis is evidently insatiable once the PPP was in office.

This violence escalated exponentially after five escaped convicts holed up in Buxton and launched a frontal attack on the Government of Guyana – augmented, for good measure with terroristic attacks on presumed PPP Indian supporters in surrounding villages. More catharsis. The lassitude of the Security Forces, which had been described a “kith and kin” by PNC leader Desmond Hoyte, led to private squads being formed to take on and take out the forces of anarchy.

Against allegations that Government was involved in sponsoring one of these “Phantom Squads”, as the MP for ROAR, I joined in calls for an inquiry into the violence “with its epicentre in Buxton”. But at a “Rule of Law March”, which culminated at the Square of the Revolution with all the Opposition parties in attendance, I learnt a lesson that haunts me to this day. At the beginning of the event, there was a roll call of the “victims” of the violence – but not a single name of the dozens of Indians killed by the bandits and “Freedom Fighters” was mentioned. I pointed this out when my turn to speak came – but it was clear that Indian lives were incidental in the drive for “catharsis” by PNC supporters.

And we return from wherein I started: my apprehensions two Friday nights ago of another “cathartic” Black Friday. I was relieved with the immediate reaction of the PNC and AFC leadership in the National Assembly and with President Granger’s statement the following day, all supporting the verdict of Article 106 (6 and 7) that the Cabinet resign and a caretaker regime of the Government continue until the results of elections to be held in three months determine the members of the new Government.

However, the press conference held by Aubrey Norton last Friday was redolent of the attitude of the PNC which sees it as their God-given right to rule Guyana and would be willing to use violence to secure that right. Is more catharsis in the offing?

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wo pedestrians were killed on Saturday afternoon at Marudi Public Road SoesdykeLinden Highway after a car slammed into a bus shed.

Dead are Melva Lucus, 54, and Elsa Fernandes, 51, both of Grand Sand Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Reports are at about 16:45h, a motorcar with registration number PRR 3606 driven by a 28-yearold resident of Kuru Kururu Village was proceeding

north along the western side of the Marudi public road at a fast rate of speed when the driver allegedly swerved west to avoid hitting another motorcar.

Guyana Times understands that the other car was proceeding south along the western lane; overtaking another vehicle. The driver of PRR 3606 reportedly lost control of his vehicle and collided into a wooden bus shed on the western parapet of the road and further collided with two fe-

The driver of the motorcar was taken into Police custody and a breathalyser was conducted.

Police have since said that he passed the breathalyser test. The bodies of the women are at the Lyken’s Funeral Parlour awaiting post mortem.

Jagdeo not ruling... from page 2

President David Granger has already committed to following the provisions outlined in the Constitution, facilitating early elections and engaging in dialogue with the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Several organisations and parts of the diplomatic community, have called for mature leadership and a smooth move to General and Regional Elections con-

stitutionally due next year.

For its part, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has assured that it is capable of delivering elections once the date is set. It is understood that recently hospitalised GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson is on medical leave. The next statutory meeting of the Commission is slated for January 7, 2019.

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Stabroek wharf vendors

New stalls swarmed by vagrants as opening delayed

The vagrant and garbage infested newly constructed stalls which are yet to be painted

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ewly constructed arcades to facilitate vending at the Route 42 Bus Park have now caused some persons to seek alternatives to have their businesses fully functional again.

While most of the structures are completed, many vendors are dissatisfied since they were unable to ply their trade during the holiday season since they were not given the approval to open the stalls. Initially they were told that stalls would be opened

by December 15. However, failed coordination from City hall has extended the waiting time for some more weeks.

While most persons are on the verge of completing their construction, one of the main concerns is the number of vagrants who line the area,

and some who are taking the liberty of spending their nights in the structures which are yet to be completed.

Muneshwar Samad explained to Guyana Times on Saturday that persons have reported valuables being lost when the area is left unattended.

“We never had this problem at first… Now, every day somebody coming and they sleeping in the stalls.

Some brining garbage and all kinda things. I finish my own like a week now but we still waiting on other people.”

He added, “Tools that we use to build the stand missing for many people. For me was some wood that had to finish off the roofing.”

He foresees that these structures will not be opened for them to vend for

a while, since all are supposed to be completed before this can be done.

“Everybody was supposed to get they stall ready by the 15th [December].

City Hall give them four week to do it but nobody checking and telling we if we could open.”

Along with him, another merchant by the name of Jasmattie (only name given) informed, “Up to now I ain’t see nothing yet. I had to hurry ‘cause I said they might come and tell you you got to start.”

She noted that they were not required to make any payments as yet but the amount was already established.

“They say they give you from the time you get the place to four weeks and within four weeks, I got to done make the stand. From the time I start selling, they give you six weeks and then you start paying,” said the woman.

Garbage continues to remain an issue since collection will be done when sales resume.

There is the smaller size, measuring five feet by eight feet with a height of 13 feet, which is set a cost of $3,400 per month. The standard size, measuring 10 feet by eight feet with a height of 13 feet is priced at $6,800 per month.

As it relates to payment, some persons have complained that they were informed of a $10,000 fee which was to be paid to the Council. While only some were briefed about this “arrangement”, others are under the impression that it is not a standard agreement.

Nigel Hughes' “34 is majority”...

“Collectively, the leadership of the AFC has done considerable but hopefully not permanent injustice to the concept of a third force in Guyana’s politics. To restore any decency, the leadership of the AFC must now emphatically reaffirm its position that it accepts the vote on the No-confidence Motion as a done deal to prevent the discord and confusion engendered by the crusade of its former Chairman,” Ram noted.

He urged the Government to recoup advising that if they intend to move to the courts to challenge the House’s decision then “duplicity and dishonesty will triumph over democracy and decency” noting that Persaud would be hailed for exposing this with his yes vote.

Political maturity

Meanwhile, the Guyana Trades Union Congress

(GTUC) issued a call for the toning down of the rhetoric and for sobriety and wisdom to inform the discourse as to how the nation proceeds at this crucial juncture in its history.

It noted that “Strict constitutional adherence must guide us as this time. So in the event election is not held within the stipulated three months period, following a no-confidence motion, the Constitution dictates a course of action.”

from page 9

Additionally, the GTUC called for the other coalition partners to have a seat at the table when President David Granger, upon his return from Cuba, decides to meet with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

They also said that other stakeholders in civic society inclusive of the trade union movement, the Private Sector, and religious representatives be invited to subsequent engagements on the way forward.

Integrity, professionalism makes a good officer – Top Cop …as 32 ranks and 15 Special Constabulary promoted

Commissioner James with the promoted Special Constables

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ommissioner of the Guyana Police Force, Leslie James, during his final inspection of the Police Divisions and Branches on Friday told ranks that integrity, professionalism and dedication to the profession is what makes for a good officer.

James and his team of deputies started the day at the Headquarters of the Special Constabulary at Princess Street Wortmanville, Georgetown. The Top Cop reminded ranks that the Special Constabulary is an equally important part of the Force” and highlighted the need for the focus and motivation of ranks.

“The same Oath that you took, is the same Oath which the Regular Ranks of the Force take when being admitted into the Force” he told the ranks.

Additionally, he highlighted the misconception of some that the Special Constabulary ranks are of lesser value to the Guyana Police Force adding that a void would be created if the role played by the Special Constabulary was taken away. James reaffirmed the need for professionalism and dedication of ranks as they continue to strive for the success.

Fifteen ranks were promoted on the spot, most of whom were recommended for promotion, while others were outstanding on Parade. Those ranks were: to the rank of Sergeant: Woman Corporals 8482 Benjamin, 9335 Bidder, 10598 Bruce and 13096 Benn. To the rank of Corporal: Special Lance Corporal 11640 Thom, Woman Special Constables 9459 Tappin, 10960 Charles, 10871 Thompson and 12175 Loncke. To the rank of Lance Corporal: Woman Special Constables 11975 Jack, 15258 Benjamin, 14721 Andrews, 12041 Glasgow, 14981 Green and 14848 Alleyne.

Subsequently, the Commissioner and his team traveled to the

Mining Town of Linden where the final inspection was held at Divisional Headquarters - Mackenzie Police Station. After commending Commander of E Division, Superintendent Linden Lord for the ranks’ impressive turnout on Parade, James reminded the gathering about the need for ranks to remain studious and highlighted the importance of continuous training of ranks.

The call for motivation was resounded in Linden as the Commissioner highlighted the adverse effects of ranks being “eligible in their own right for promotion” but are not promoted, and added that it is a policy of the Force’s Administration that persons eligible for promotion will be promoted.

“Don’t forget that this is a discipline organisation, therefore, when a breach of discipline occurs, it is expected to be met with the requisite sanctions; there ought not to be any compromise,” the Commissioner noted.

Thirty-two ranks were elevated, making this batch of promotees the largest. They are as follows: to Sergeant: Woman Corporals 14832 Quimbie, 19995 Williams Garraway, 18845 De Souza, 17862 Laundry, 39791 Barkoye, 13681 Yaw and 19233 Jackson.

To Corporal: 18307 Bourne, 23235 Wilson, 2749 Elias, 21922 Wilson, 23123 Grant, 21608 McPhoy, 22139 Petrie, 23132 Hinds, 21904 Quimbie, 21736 Williams, 24360 Codogan, 22465 White-Dharlington, 21500 Thomas as well as Woman Rural Constable Greene and Special Constable 14675 La Rose.

To Lance Corporal: Constables 23174 Narine, 22756 Baksh, 23602 Cort, 21762 Halley and 18566 Tucker, 23129 Hercules-Griffith, 24209 Whittington, 22133 McBean, 24171 Mingo and Rural Constable McKenzie.

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GAWU points to marked pay decline for sugar workers

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he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has said that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) workers have seen on average, a pay decline of approximately $284,000 over four years since 2014, something it has major concern about.

General Secretary of the union Seepaul Narine disclosed that workers in the sugar industry are being paid rates-of-pay that were adjusted last in 2014.

He said in the over 1,500 day or over 4 year period that has elapsed since the GuySuCo has chosen not to award its employees a pay rise, the workers have had to contend with several new measures.

“Undoubtedly these impacted on their pockets and well-being. In the period since workers’ pay rates were adjusted, we must point out, according to the Bureau of Statistics, the cost of food, one of the most significant expenditure of workers, has risen by 12.4 per cent,” he highlighted.

Narine also pointed out

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine

that in the intervening period, the cost of medical and personal care has risen by 8.5 per cent. “We recognise from the corporation’s financial statements between 2014 and 2017, average pay per worker in the sugar industry has declined on average by $284,000.”

But the GAWU official did not stop there, he told the year-end press conference that when considering the wages earned by workers represented by GAWU, and taking into account the seasonality of

their jobs, the loss of benefits and their earnings for other categories, it’s hard not to conclude that the field and factory workers take-home pay have recorded further declines.

“It must be difficult for the workers to look around and see their relatives and friends employed elsewhere benefitting from increases in pay and improved working conditions thus allowing them to be better able to cope with the new realities of life and allow them to move forward in their lives whereas they are worse off than they were four years ago,” he posited.

Further, the Union’s General Secretary also underscored that is it sad when GuySuCo, in some respect, repeats what occurred in the 1980s. He recalled during that period a nearly identical situation presented itself and was only corrected when workers’ pay rates suited the reality.

He said, “While we do not believe it is wise to live in the past, we also should commit ourselves to avoiding a repeat of our

No clear plan for...

However, their support is predicated on sound, credible and well-thoughtout plans adding that the seeming secrecy shrouding the plans for the bond borrowed with a sovereign guarantee is something that causes them to feel uneasy and worried.

“If it is there is a plan, as the Minister of Finance says, we urge those in authority to share those plans with a view to having full discussions as all stakeholders are desirous of having a successful sugar industry,” the Union noted.

Zeroing in on the responsibility for the advancement of the sugar industry, GAWU noted that there seems to be confusion in the Government’s camp in this regard. It referred to the move by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Administration to strip GuySuCo of its assets relating to the closed estates and transferring them without liability to NICIL as well as the shares.

“The clear confusion regarding sugar was also manifested when we saw musical chairs being played by the Ministers of Agriculture and Finance, with both gentlemen denying they had ministerial responsibility for the industry. Then suddenly and without any forewarning, the Agriculture Minister announced he was in charge of GuySuCo though no explanation, as far as we recall, was ever provided as to how the contradictions were resolved,” the union noted.

Since the SPU took over the affairs of the closed es-

tates there have been a number of standoffs between GuySuCo and them.

The major one being the issues surrounding the refurbished LBI club house in which the Corporation’s headquarters are located.

“Our Union, from press reports, also recognised that there seems to be some degree of confusion within the Administration regarding the sugar industry. That, it seems, has now spilt over into the industry’s management and which will not help in confidence building and commitment, essential elements for success. At this time, the GAWU reiterates that the situation cannot be allowed to continue the way it is as it is not in the interest of anyone, especially the workers. The GAWU calls on the Government to apprehend the sad situation that is prevailing. It is time to end the tug-of-war,” the Union said.

Increases

Over the past weeks, several sugar workers took to the streets calling for an increase in their wages and salaries, adding that the last increase was over four years ago. GuySuCo announced that this year, it would be awarding its workers a bonus but GAWU has since indicated that the bonus falls under the Annual Production Incentive (API) scheme which has been suspended for a few years now.

“While happy about this development, workers remain concerned that the Corporation has yet to consider the Union’s claim for a

from page 7

15 per cent rise-in-pay retroactive to January 1, 2018.

At the end of the day, the bonus while welcome, at the same time, will see workers in 2019 earning the same rates-of-pay that were approved since in 2014.

At this time, the GAWU and GuySuCo have already concluded discussions on the non-wage benefits.

Those engagements resulted in a few improvements being secured,” the Union noted.

GAWU said it has since submitted a counter-proposal regarding the bonus which GuySuCo has committed to examining.

pitfalls. On this score, we recall what former UK Prime Minister, Winston Churchill famously said seventy years ago “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it”.

Production Speaking about sugar production, Narine said at the week-ending December 22, production for the year stood at 103,511 tonnes for all remaining estates.

While the union representative has expressed satisfaction with the fact that Government had offered a bonus to sugar workers, it said this initiative is nothing new to the industry.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his 2018 National Budget address, had informed the nation that 115,447 tonnes of sugar would have been produced this year.

Meanwhile, while recognising that GuySuCo promised a bonus payment, the Union said this is by no means a new initiative. In fact, the arrangement under consideration is identical to

the Annual Production Incentive (API) scheme which was suspended for a few years now.

The API, as GAWU shared before, dates back to colonial times and is a form of deferred earnings premised on annual sugar production. “For the workers, the fact that the Corporation has offered such an incentive is a clear indication that their collective voices and actions could not be ignored by the GuySuCo hierarchy and, possibly, the powers-thatbe,” he added.

Workers, he said, remain concerned that the corporation has yet to con-

sider the Union’s claim for a 15 per cent rise-inpay retroactive to January 01, 2018. At this time, the GAWU and GuySuCo have already concluded discussions on the non-wage benefits. Those engagements resulted in a few improvements being secured, Narine also stated.

GAWU says 2018 was indeed a remarkable year, which brought justice, though somewhat delayed, to workers. Narine said it also demonstrated the correctness of the Union’s positions and showed that despite adversity and difficulty workers can succeed.

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018| guyanatimesgy.com

EPA Natural Resources Ministry warns spreads of dangerous mining practices Christmas T cheer Mining deaths

he Natural Resources Ministry has once again cautioned against the illegal and unsafe mining practices in Guyana, which has caused serious implications on the sector and resulted in many recorded deaths this year.

Following the death of an 11-year-old boy at Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) in an illegal mining pit on Friday, the Ministry on Saturday highlighted the ongoing plague of mining deaths and underscored the need for individuals to desist from dangerous mining practices.

“Raiding and illegal mining remains significant problems in the sector and this death only reinforces the resulting dangers of these. It is high time persons understand these dangers and deter from doing such acts. Mine safety remains avid to the interest of the Ministry and as such we continue to look into mining deaths that result from these practices,” the Natural Resources Ministry said on Saturday.

Eleven-year-old Tyrone Tyrel De Souza died while working illegally at a mining camp, when the pit caved-in on him.

The young man, who resided at Big Creek, Port Kaituma, Region One

(Barima-Waini) reportedly visited the mining pit with a group of young men.

Owner of the camp, Terrence Yarde had ceased operations for the holidays and he contended that the boys started an illegal search for gold. De Souza was said to be among the group when he was caught by the moving debris.

“Reports indicate that the child, as part of a group of children, ventured onto a mining claim, owned by miner Terrence Yarde and started an illegal search for gold.

This resulted in the collapse of the pit covering the child and tragically leading to his death,” the Ministry noted.

It was announced that an investigation was launched into the incident. Guyana Times understands that officials from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) were also dispatched to the site to assist with the probe.

While this incident raised eyebrows about the potential dangers of these mining camps and the need to increase safety measures, it is among the many cases which were reported for the year.

In January, 23-year-old Handel Payne, also called “Daggie” of Kaneville Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) died after the mining pit in which he was working; at 35 Miles, Konawaruk Backdam, collapsed.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that Payne and others were working in the mining pit when a piece of the mud wall collapsed behind them and subsequently struck Payne in his mid-section.

He reportedly fell unconscious at a time when the water began to rise rapidly.

As a result, Payne was submerged and subsequently drowned. He was later pulled out, and rushed to the Mahdia Hospital, where he was pro-

nounced dead on arrival.

In April, miner Kevin Adams, 25, of Linden, died at Chinese Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)/ after a pit caved in and buried him alive.

One month later in May, Ken Ranny, 20, a resident of Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni River, died after he was covered by mud after the wall of a mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Pepper Camp Backdam, Upper Mazaruni River.

In June, miner Elmo Adams died after he too was buried alive after the walls of a pit in which he was working caved at Imbaimadai, Upper Mazaruni.

September saw two persons being killed in similar conditions at Mowasi Backdam, Konawaruk, Potaro, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni). Deon Sproston, called “Jersey Joe”, 36, of Lot 133 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and a miner only known as “Shawn” lost their lives in similar fashion after the walls caved in while they were in the pit with metal detectors searching for gold while it was raining heavily.

While working, a large portion of the pit wall suddenly broke off and fell on both men, burying them alive.

In October, Lennox Douglas, 33, of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) died at Issano Backdam, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed.

Weeks after, on November 20, a woman miner was on Tuesday killed after a mining pit caved in on her while punting for gold at Arakaka Backdam, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini). Forty-fouryear-old Eleen Figuera of Two Miles Arakaka and some others were working in the pit when the mud walls suddenly caved in and covered her.

The others managed to escape with minor bruises.

Figuera was subsequently pulled from the pit and taken to the Pakera District Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

In the year 2015, 10 persons died when a mining pit in the Konawaruk area collapsed. The incident saw 17 miners being buried under a pile of dirt and rubble, but seven managed to escape with various injuries.

The others remained trapped under the dirt where they perished. Those who failed to escape were Leyland Jones, Jason Trotman, Vick Bernard, Frank Bernard, Desmond Martins, Raymond August, Brian Bank, Trevon Phillips, Nanmore Kurt and another man identified only as “Michael”.

The deaths were blamed on heavy rains in the area, improper mine design, and poor safety practices at the mining camp.

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hristmas is indeed one of the most wonderful times of the year. With the holiday season in full swing, the warmth and joy spread during this time, particularly in Guyana, is felt across the length and breadth of this beautiful nation. It is said that the best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family wrapped up with each other’s love. Unfortunately, this is a gift not everyone is fortunate to have, whether at Christmas or any other day of the year.

It is on this note that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pioneered its first ever “Toy and Gift Donation Drive" on December 21, 2018. Almost 100 children from three care centres across Guyana were targeted in efforts to spread some cheer, warm their hearts and remind them that we care.

The St John’s Bosco Home in Plaisance on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), the Ruimveldt Children’s Home in Georgetown, and the Hope Children’s Home in Enmore (ECD) were randomly selected to benefit from this Chartable activity. These homes are all nonprofit organisations that provide residential care to children in need.

To make this event a success, thoughtful gift donations were made by staff of the Agency for at least one child. In addition to presenting each child with an age appropriate toy or personal care package, officers of the Agency gave talks about the EPA and our role in environmental protection. The children were also told why it is important for them to keep and maintain a healthy environment. They were also encourage to reused gift bags and wrappings and take positive actions for the environment.

The EPA embraces its corporate and social responsibility as a semi-autonomous organisation, thereby, valuing and carefully considering human rights, the community, environment, and society in which it operates.

The Agency wishes to express gratitude to all our partners and those who have worked diligently to ensure protection of our environment and sustainable use of natural resources. As a new year beckons, we hope the goodwill, love and peace of the season permeate your lives and pave the way for rewarding year ahead. Remember to be a part of the solution, not the problem.

A productive 2019 everyone, from the management and staff of the Environmental Protection Agency.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@ gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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SUnDAY, december 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police warn against leaving derelicts on roadways The No-confidence Motion and political instability

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arlier this year, this column featured two articles that addressed the notion of political instability. It was posited that political instability is when a country experiences politically motivated violence and/or crimes in society, violent protests, workers going on strikes and so forth. Political instability is also defined as the propensity of a government collapse and when growth is significantly lower than otherwise. Poor economic performance, however, may lead to a government collapse and political unrest. That being said, there was a time in Guyana when there was political instability – a period characterised as politically motivated crimes and riots in the city, etc.

Notwithstanding that, if one were to consider a few political scenarios; namely the unprecedented event surrounding the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the uproar by several commentators and the political Opposition regarding the appointment of the Guyana Elections Commission’s chairmanship, the deadlock regarding the appointment of substantive judicial appointments; these events, one can argue, do constitute some degree of political instability. But in order for these events to lead to a full blown politically unstable environment – largely depends upon how the people and the political Opposition react to these circumstances. So far, as it relates to the nine thousand plus sacked sugar workers – they have remained quite calm and engaged in only peaceful protests so far.

Similarly, such is the reaction to all the other referenced politically controversial matters, as there has been no extraordinary reaction to these instances by the people and the political Opposition in a manner that may destabilise the economy. However, this is not to say that should the economy continue its contractionary trajectory – of poor economic performance in the short- and medium-term, political instability may not prevail. At the same time, though, such may be an unlikely outcome with the growing optimism and overly exaggerated hope that are being conveyed to the people of Guyana with first oil in 2020.

Now, the aforementioned opening paragraphs were simply restated ‘verbatim’ from the referenced earlier articles. Having said that, in the context of the recent outcome of the Noconfidence Motion wherein the Government has virtually fallen; this columnist is cautious to forewarn that a situation of real political instability is hovering in Guyana should the Government not respect the outcome therein. Such a situation would not be healthy for Guyana’s economic and political climate at this time – especially with the ongoing matter surrounding the Guyana/ Venezuela border and as the country is gearing up to become an oil producing nation in just over a year’s time.

This position is premised against the backdrop of what is seemingly unfolding on the part of the Government – symptoms suggesting that they may challenge the outcome of the Noconfidence Motion that was carried successfully against them by actively considering and contemplating to pursue a number of legal tactics. Should this happen, there will definitely be political instability in early 2019 on a very serious note. If the Government is confident as it claims, then they should not hesitate going back to the polls by March 2019.

In this light, it is perhaps noteworthy to mention too that this author had noted with interest a prominent lawyer is now arguing that for the No-confidence Motion to be valid, it needed at least 34 votes in favour and 31 against rather than 33 in favour and 32 against. Whether this argument has any legal merit, it is for the court of law to decide but this would also mean that everything else – that is, all the other bills that have been passed in the Parliament with a one seat majority (33-32) are also null and void and illegal. Could it be that this is what the learned lawyer is implying as well? Or is it a case wherein this is aimed at provoking political instability in the country to a greater or lesser degree or is it motivated by some other unknown reason (s)?

On this note, mathematically it is a matter of interpretation.

The Constitution explicitly states that “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.” The key word here is majority and majority literally means the greater number. So the greater number out of 65 is 33 and the lesser 32 (33+32 = 65).

Finally, as the year 2018 comes to an end tomorrow, this author wishes to take this opportunity to wish all our political leaders and politicians, and to all of the Guyanese people very best wishes for 2019. And, collectively let us avert a situation of political and economic instability as the country should focus its energy on preparing for a free, fair and peaceful general elections by March 2019. Happy New Year!

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

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ommissioner of Police, Leslie James has warned against the practice of leaving derelicts along the roadways, noting that anyone found guilty of such practice will be dealt with severely.

He was at the time addressing ranks and officials attached to E Division (Linden- Kwakwani) at an Inspection and Promotion ceremony held in Linden on Friday. The Police Commissioner's call also comes in light of a recent fatal accident which claimed the life of 20-year-old Reoul Drepaul Saul. Saul crashed into an old refrigerator, which was discarded on the public road at Number 59 Village, New Amsterdam, Berbice. His 18-year-old girlfriend also sustained injuries in the accident.

Addressing E Division Traffic Inspector Shawn Massay, James urged that serious attention be placed along the Linden-Soesdyke highway to ensure that

Noel Fernandes wins GTT’s Christmas BMW

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n Friday, a combination of excitement, suspense and anticipation filled the atmosphere at the Stabroek Market Square, Georgetown, as GTT’s Christmas promotion’s four finalists competed against each other for the grand prize BMW X1, which comes with oneyear free insurance and one year free super 95 gas from Guyoil.

Families and supporters of the four finalists flooded the location to back their favourite contestant.

Voting was the first leg of the competition, then Shameer Rahamut, Shinella Charles, Noel Fernandes and Sean Charles all battled through several obstacle challenges in the second leg of the competition to win the grand prize. The second leg of the competition comprised of Cake Eating, Dunk that Junk, Balloon blow up, Question and Answers on GTT’s Plus Sized promotion and a sing off battle.

Quadrupling his competitors’ votes with help from the public, was Enterprise Gardens’, Noel Fernandes. He also scored ample points in the obstacle challenges which led to Fernandes emerging as the winner of GTT’s BMW X1.

After being announced the winner of the BMW X1, Fernandes in full excitement said he was elated to be the victor of the competition. “I feel very deserving. turn to page 16

The discarded refrigerator that 20-year-old Reoul Drepaul Saul crashed into Dead: Reoul Drepaul Saul

such practices do not occur. "Some accidents are occurring on the highway, as you know, as a result of vehicles that are parked.

It is brought to my attention too, not necessarily in E Division, but we need to look at it. Persons are leaving derelict on roadways.

As you would have seen, a few days ago a young man lost his life having struck some derelict left on the roadway...", the Police Commissioner pointed out.

He added that he has been informed that persons are deliberately placing items along the roadways. "...The report I'm getting is that people are deliberately leaving those things on the roadway and then in the homes somewhere they're waiting to hear the 'bang'... Anybody that is found guilty of such action will be dealt with severely.

Anybody that we find doing such a thing will be dealt with severely. This is total foolishness", James reiterated. James further asked

that the Traffic Inspector organise with staff to conduct constant patrols along the highway. He noted that they must also ensure that vehicles which are left unattended are equipped with proper reflective materials.

The Police Commissioner also pointed to a tendency of speeding along the highway. "Smooth, straightroad speeding is almost inevitable...so, I would like you to delegate to your staff so that they can patrol the highway properly,” he instructed.

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sunDAY, december 30, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Haitians being duped to Fines to be 50 times higher for illegal travel to Barbados

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he removal of the visa requirement for Haitians going to Barbados has resulted in a major scam where Haitians are being duped out of thousands of dollars with the hope of finding a job here.

However, Barbados’ Ambassador to Caricom, David Comissiong has given the assurance that they are on top of the situation after it was found that scores of Haitians have come to Barbados since the floodgates opened.

What we are finding is that there seem to be some unscrupulous persons in Haiti and perhaps in the Dominican Republic as well, who are misleading Haitians, and taking money from them.

“My understanding is that many Haitians are being asked to pay these persons somewhere between US$2,500 and $3,000, giving these Haitians the assurance that if they pay them this money, that they would arrange accommodation and employment in Barbados.

“A number of the Haitians who are

Ambassador David Comissiong

coming here, are poor people who have been misled, who have paid out this money and are coming to Barbados, believing that there is some job waiting for them in Barbados. This is not true,” Comissiong told Barbados TODAY during an exclusive interview.

This week, a group of Haitians who were evicted from a four-bedroom house at Bonnetts, Brittons Hill, St Michael, were calling on local authorities to help them find temporary ac-

commodation and to fund return tickets to their homeland. The young men said they had come here in search of a better life. However, they said they found no jobs and have exhausted their limited finances.

The Ambassador shared a document with Barbados TODAY, which has been sent to the Haitian Government, informing the people of that nation that they are not entitled to work in Barbados, and also outlining the terms on which they may visit the island.

The press advisory, dated August 15, written in French, Creole and English, explained that it is important that there be a general understanding, not only in Haiti, but all across the Caribbean that while no Caricom national needs a visa to travel to Barbados, that it is necessary when visiting Barbados that the traveller be in possession of sufficient financial resources to adequately maintain himself or herself without becoming a charge on public funds.

(Barbados TODAY)

hunting in T&T

T

he Ministry of Agriculture said there will be stiffer penalties for illegal hunting next year now that President Paula-Mae Weekes has assented to the Finance Act 2018, which increases fines for infractions under the Conservation of Wildlife Act. From January 1, poachers will face fines as much as 50 times higher than currently exists. The minister also has the power to increase the limit of prescribed fines.

In a statement, the ministry said while there are tougher fines for environmentally sensitive species (ESS), including the scarlet

ibis, there is a need for an increase in fines for illegal capture of wildlife which have not been declared an ESS. This, it said, is to demonstrate the severity of an offence, the potential impact it has on conservation efforts and the intention of the government to deter illegal hunting. The ministry also express ed concern about recent reports of illegal hunting and consumption of protected species, including the red howler monkey and the lesser anteater, as well as an upsurge of smuggled wildlife from neighbouring Venezuela and Guyana.

(Trinidad Guardian)

J'can appointed head of Caribbean Scandal involving Brazil PresidentMeteorological Organisation elect’s son clouds inauguration

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former scientific analyst at the United States-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Dr Arlene Laing, has been appointed Coordinating Director of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Meteorological Organisation (CMO).

The Jamaican replaces the St Lucian-born Tyrone Sutherland, who recently completed a 50-year long international career in meteorology that started in 1968.

Sutherland retired at the end of November.

The Guyana-based Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat said that the CMO, a member organisation of the regional integration movement, was established in 1973, and is one of the oldest Caribbean institutions.

It said the CMO coordinates the joint activities of the meteorological and hydro-me-

A

Dr Arlene Laing (left) and Tyrone Sutherland

teorological services of 16 English-speaking countries in the region and that its training arm, climate, research, and instrument centre is the Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH).

The Caricom Secretariat said that Dr Laing was selected by the Caribbean Meteorological Council, which is the ministerial-level governing body of the CMO, after an intensive interna-

tional search.

She has been a weather forecaster, a research scientist, a university professor, and a trainer in operational weather forecasting.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from the University of the West Indies then completed a master’s degree and doctoral degree in meteorology at Pennsylvania State University in the United States. (CMC)

Noel Fernandes wins GTT’s...

I placed my best foot forward and this is the reward I am reaping now. I am just thankful to GTT for affording me such an opportunity and I promise to take good care of the vehicle and drive responsibly.” An overjoyed Fernandes drove off in his new BMW X1 with his wife and son who both shared his sentiments.

Copping the second prize was Sean Charles from Agricola who took home $150,000. Stealing the crowd’s heart was Shinella Charles who placed third and took away $100,000, followed

by Shameer Rahamut who walked away with $50,000.

Partnering on the promotion with GTT was Guyoil who handed over one-year free supply of Super 95 Gas to the winner of the BMW X1.

from page 15

lingering financial scandal involving Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro’s son has soured his inauguration next week and tarnished the reputation of a far-right maverick who surged to victory on a vow to end years of political horsetrading. Bolsonaro, who spent nearly 30 years in Congress, takes office on Jan. 1 after an electoral win that gave him a mandate to hobble violent drug gangs, cut through red tape to kick-start Brazil’s economy and go after the corrupt political class.

But a regulator’s questions about a bank account of the former driver of his son, Rio de Janeiro state lawmaker and Senator-elect Flavio Bolsonaro, has clouded his big day, leading critics to doubt the president-elect’s graft-busting credentials and his ability to deliver a new type of politics. Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio Bolsonaro and the former driver, Fabricio Queiroz, have denied any wrongdoing. “Ever since this case came to light, there has been a spectacle of evasions and unconvincing explanations on the part of the Bolsonaros … (about) an episode with relevant implications for national politics,” Brazil’s biggest newspaper Folha de S.Paulo said in an editorial on Thursday. (Reuters)

Dominican Republic sends soldiers to border to stop illegal migrants

T

Noel Fernandes drove away with the grand prize of a BMW X1

Flavio Bolsonaro, son of Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro

he Dominican Republic has sent 600 soldiers to reinforce the border with Haiti in a bid to prevent Haitians illegally entering the country during and after the holiday season.

The authorities in Santo Domingo said that the soldiers would remain in place until January 13 as part of the anti-return operation.

Earlier this month, Lieutenant General Rubén Darío Paulino Sem announced the launch of the anti-return operation for Haitians, who travel to the French-speaking Caribbean Community country to spend the Christmas and

New Year and then attempt to return illegally to the Dominican Republic in January with their parents.

He said the operation will be deployed in the five border provinces and that measures to prevent these illegal Haitians returning to the Dominican Republic will be conducted by the armed forces.

Directorate General of Migration (DGM) Major General Gonell Regalado said that the decision to send the 600 soldiers to the border was to cover some of the weak points in the area through which many Haitians enter illegally and also to reinforce the border

control points.

“There will be all-terrain vehicles in addition, equipment night vision, three additional helicopters and many other specialised equipment to ensure a better job in this region of the country which will be added to the 500 cameras already in place with infrared vision,” he said.

The reinforcements are in addition to the existing control system which includes 80 permanent military posts and more than 7,000 deployed men monitoring the 360 km border on the Dominican side. (CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

Britain to open new military bases in Caribbean

Gavin Williamson

B

ritain will open two new military bases in the Caribbean and South East Asia as the country looks to step up its military presence overseas after Brexit, Gavin Williamson has revealed.

The Defence secretary urges Britons to stop downplaying the country’s influence internationally and

recognise that the UK will stand tall on the world stage after leaving the European Union.

In an interview with The Telegraph in his Ministry of Defence office, Mr Williamson says: “We have got to be so much more optimistic about our future as we exit the European Union.

(The Telegraph)

sunDAY, december 30, 2018

17

Around the World

Egypt Police 'kill 40 militants' in raids after tourist bus blast

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olice in Egypt have killed dozens of militants during security raids on their hideouts, the interior ministry has said.

The raids killed “40 terrorists” in Giza and North Sinai on Saturday morning, according to a statement from the ministry.

It said the militants were planning a series of attacks on tourist sites, churches and military personnel.

The raids followed Friday’s roadside bomb attack on a tour bus in Giza.

No group has yet said it was behind the blast, which killed three Vietnamese tourists and an Egyptian tour guide, but Islamist militants have targeted tourists in Egypt in the past.

Police killed 30 militants during two early morning

The raids came hours after a tourist bus was hit by a roadside bomb near the Giza pyramids (Getty

image)

raids in Giza, while the remaining 10 were killed in El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, the interior ministry said.

“A group of terrorists were planning to carry out a series of aggressive attacks targeting state institutions,

particularly economic ones, as well as tourism... and Christian places of worship,” the ministry statement said.

It added that police had seized bomb-making materials, ammunition and a large number of weapons

during the raids.

Security is already tight in Egypt, with the tourist season at its height and the country’s main Christian minority, the Copts, preparing to celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7 January.

(BBC)

2-year-old Yemeni boy whose Trade wars cost US, China mother sued US to see him dies billions of dollars each in 2018

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Abdullah Hassan on life support [File: Courtesy of Council on American-Islamic Relations, Sacramento Valley]

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he two-year-old son of a Yemeni woman, who sued the Trump administration to let her into the country to be with the ailing boy has died, the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations has announced.

Abdullah Hassan died on Friday in UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland in the United States, where his father Ali Hassan brought him to get treatment for a genetic brain disorder.

Ali Hassan is a US citizen who lives in Stockton, California. He and his wife Shaima Swileh moved to Egypt after marrying in war-torn Yemen in 2016.

Swileh is not an American citizen and remained in Egypt while fighting for a visa. “We are heartbroken.

We had to say goodbye to our baby, the light of our lives,” Ali Hassan was quoted as saying in the statement published by the council. Swileh had been trying to get a visa since 2017, so the family could move to the US. Citizens from Yemen and four other mostly Muslim

countries, along with North Korea and Venezuela, are restricted from coming to the US under President Donald Trump’ s travel ban.

Rights groups sought to overturn the ban in the US Supreme Court, claiming it was biased against Muslims.

But the top court rejected the petition in June.

When the boy’s health worsened, the father went to California in October to get their son help, while Swileh remained in Egypt hoping for a visa.

As the couple fought for a waiver, doctors put Abdullah on life support.

“My wife is calling me every day wanting to kiss and hold her son for the one last time,” said Ali Hassan, choking up at a news conference earlier this month.

He started losing hope and was considering pulling his son off life support to end his suffering.

But a hospital social worker reached out to the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations, which sued on December 16, said Basim Elkarra, executive director of the group in Sacramento.

The State Department granted Swileh a waiver the next day.

“With their courage, this family has inspired our nation to confront the realities of Donald Trump’s Muslim Ban,” said Saad Sweilem, a lawyer with the council who represents the family. (Aljazeera)

he US-China trade war resulted in billions of dollars of losses for both sides in 2018, hitting industries including autos, technology - and above all, agriculture.

Broad pain from trade tariffs outlined by several economists shows that, while specialized industries including US soybean crushing benefited from the dispute, it had an overall detrimental impact on both of the world’s two largest economies.

The losses may give US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, motivation to resolve their trade differences before a March 2 deadline, although talks between the economic superpowers could still devolve.

The US and Chinese economies each lose about $2.9 billion annually due to Beijing’s tariffs on soybeans, corn, wheat and sorghum alone, said Purdue

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping

University agricultural economist Wally Tyner.

Disrupted agricultural trade hurt both sides particularly hard because China is the world’s biggest soybean importer and last year relied on the United States for $12 billion worth of the oilseed.

China has mostly been buying soy from Brazil since imposing a 25 percent tariff on American soybeans in July in retaliation for US tariffs on Chinese goods. The surge in demand pushed Brazilian soy premiums to

a record over US soy futures in Chicago, in an example of the trade war reducing sales for US exporters and raising costs for Chinese importers.

“It’s something that’s crying for a resolution,” Tyner said. “It’s a lose-lose for both the United States and China.”

Total U.S. agricultural export shipments to China for the first 10 months of 2018 fell by 42 percent from a year earlier to about $8.3 billion, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

(Reuters)

Israel's coalition party splits ahead of April election

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religious-nationalist party in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition Government split on Saturday, with its leaders saying they were bolting to appeal to more secular constituents ahead of an April election.

The Jewish Home party’s schism posed no immediate threat to Netanyahu, for whom polls predict an easy win to a fifth term.

But it suggested his fellow rightists were interested in poaching votes from a center-left opposition energized by the candidacy of

Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett (R) and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, from the Jewish Home party, enter the room before delivering their statements in Tel Aviv, Israel December 29, 2018 (Reuters/Corinna Kern)

an Israeli ex-general, Benny Gantz.

The Jewish Home leader,

Education Minister Naftali Bennett, told reporters that he and his deputy, Justice

Minister Ayelet Shaked, were leaving to form “a new party, of religious and secular together ... in true partnership”.

The party, “New Right”, would, like Jewish Home, pursue hawkish security policies including opposition to a Palestinian state, Bennett said.

It was not immediately clear whether Jewish Home was also continuing as a party.

Jewish Home, which has drawn on support from Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, had eight of parliament’s 120 seats.

(Reuters)

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guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY, december 30, 2018

Archie

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Think matters through and make a decision based on what works for you. Stop trying to please everyone else or you will never reach your personal goals.

You’ll have what it takes to turn your dream into reality. Added discipline and an example from the past will lead to the results you are looking for.

Keep your life simple by GEMINI sticking to the truth and (MAY 28- living within your means.

June 20) Make plans that include the people you care about most.

A change of heart will lead to a positive outcome.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Give yourself a makeover. A new look will get you ready for success. Tell a loved one exactly how you feel and what your intentions are. Romance is highlighted.

A change of scenery will do you good. Get out with friends, but make sure you have a designated driver.

You’ll be tempted to overdo it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Stay calm, ask questions and refrain from jumping to conclusions. How you deal with sensitive issues will affect how others respond and how they treat you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Learn through observation. Be willing to listen to someone before you respond or take action. An emotional change will lead to a new beginning. Follow your heart, but rely on your intelligence.

Consider where you would SCORPIO (Oct. 24- like to go and what you would Nov. 22) like to learn. Expand your interests and friendships to gain greater insight into what you need and want.

SAGITTARIUS Make a positive change (Nov. 23- that will help you feel good Dec. 21) about your appearance and how you deal with others.

Say no to anyone trying to manipulate or tempt you.

Calvin and Hobbes

Dealing with friends and CAPRICORN family will lead to sensitive (Dec. 22- issues. Keep your opinions to Jan. 19) yourself and don’t make an impulsive move. Keeping the peace will be in your best interest.

Agreements can be deAQUARIUS vised by you and a colleague (Jan. 20- or loved one. A plan that Feb. 19) encourages you to save for something special will bring you closer to your goal.

If you look at all sides of PISCES (Feb. 20- a situation, it will become Mar. 20) clear what’s best. Don’t let an emotional situation cause you to make a poor choice.

sunDAY, december 30, 2018

19

Sir Alastair Cook: Wagner’s burst leaves England’s record run-scorer to Sri Lanka on the brink become first knight since Botham S

Sri Lanka 104 and 231 for 6 (Dilruwan 22*, Lakmal 16*, Wagner 3-47, Southee 2-61) need 429 more to beat New Zealand 178 and 585 for 4 dec (Latham 176, Nicholls 162*, de Grandhome 71)

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lastair Cook, the former England captain and his country’s leading Test run-scorer, is to receive knighthood in the New Year’s honours list. Cook, who retired from Tests at the end of the summer, will become the first England cricketer to be knighted since Sir Ian Botham in 2007.

Cook scored 12,472 Test runs, and more hundreds than any Englishman before him. He bowed out at The Oval in September with his 33rd ton, scored in his final innings – mirroring the 104 not out he made on debut, also against India, in Nagpur in 2006, a tour that signalled the arrival of a rare batting talent.

He led the Test team between 2012 and 2017, overseeing two Ashes victories as well as famous wins in India and South Africa, and went on to amass 161 caps – another England record. His run of 159 Tests in succession until his retirement has no equal in the game.

Cook, who turned 34 on Christmas Day, is to be knighted for his services to cricket, becoming only the tenth England cricketer to be awarded the honour. The last active player (Cook

will continue to represent Essex next season) to be knighted was New Zealand all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee in 1990.

Cook led his country in a record 59 Tests, winning the Ashes on home soil in 2013 and 2015, and leading from the front with three centuries in a famous 2-1 series win in India in 2012-13. His most prolific series with the bat, and arguably his most famous hour, came during the Ashes of 2010-11 when he racked up 766 runs in five Tests, including a then-best of 235 not out at Brisbane, to underpin England’s first series win in Australia since 1986-87.

He also captained the ODI side from 2011 until late 2014, when he was removed in bitter circumstances less than two months out from the World Cup. With another 3265 runs in limited-overs cricket, he is by some distance England’s record run-scorer across the three international for-

Leonard & VanVleet bemoan Raptors display in Magic blow-out

K

awhi Leonard and Fred VanVleet conceded the Toronto Raptors made life too easy for the Orlando Magic in Friday’s heavy defeat.

The Raptors, sitting second in the NBA’s Eastern Conference with a 26-11 record, went down 116-87 to the Magic (15-19) despite leading by four at the end of the first quarter.

The Magic outscored the Raptors by 33 points across the next two quarters, and VanVleet provided an honest assessment after the game.

“We want to give them credit, they played a great game, I don’t want to disrespect them in any way but in the most part from our end it felt like most of that stuff we could do better,” he said.

“You can make wide open shots,

make your lay-ups, make your free throws and not make it so easy on them.

“They played a good game but we definitely helped them play a good game and we just couldn’t get a hold on them. “We didn’t play tough enough in spurts and that’s a recipe for disaster in this league.”

“We didn’t make many shots, we didn’t play too well defensively, they got a lot of easy lay-ups and open shots,” added Leonard, who contributed 21 points in a losing cause. “We’re not making shots [so] it’s not going to be a good game for you.” (Sportsmax)

mats.

The only Test that Cook missed in the course of a 12-year international career was at Mumbai in March 2006.

It was the same trip on which he marked his debut with a century, at the age of 21, having flown halfway around the world from the Caribbean as a last-minute injury replacement.

Though his returns fell away in the final 18 months of his career, Cook’s tenacity remained at the forefront of his game to the bitter end, with two more double-centuries against West Indies and Australia in the final 12 months of his career, prior to an extraordinary send-off in his final match against India at The Oval.

Having announced his impending retirement, following a fallow summer in which he had made a solitary half-century in 10 innings against Pakistan and India, Cook bowed out in remarkable fashion at The Oval in September. He followed up a first-innings 71 with a commanding 147 in the second, a brace of scores which culminated in an extended standing ovation as England pressed on to a memorable 118-run win. (CRICINFO)

do not seem to possess a defensive technique of note, New Zealand could potentially wipe out the remainder of the Sri Lanka innings within a matter of a few balls on day five.

While Mendis and Chandimal were together, though, Sri Lanka entertained thoughts of another great escape. The pair had largely been careful to avoid pushing at balls that were not threatening the stumps, even if on occasion a loose drive produced a play-andmiss. Southee and Boult swung it appreciably – but not prodigiously – in the morning, but failed to create any clear-cut chances. After the first hour, sun fell on the track, and the ball grew softer, and run-scoring became easier.

ri Lanka fought hard on day four, seeing out the early swing and seam of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, riding what seemed like a billion Neil Wagner bouncers, defusing the gentle spin of Ajaz Patel, but for all their grit, they are still facing a gigantic defeat. The last four wickets were at least two too many to give them half a chance of avoiding a series loss.

Just as importantly, they also lost Angelo Mathews – their form batsman – to a suspected torn hamstring, which means although Sri Lanka are technically only 6 down, New Zealand are now properly into their tail.

Whether Mathews bats or not on day five, he is likely to be substantially hampered by the injury, his footwork and his running between the wickets severely affected.

Unsurprisingly, it was Wagner who did much of the legwork for New Zealand, after Boult and Southee had gone wicketless in their opening spells. Wagner broke Sri Lanka’s best partnership of the innings – the 117-run, 318-ball third wicket stand between Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal – having Mendis caught brilliantly at

Neil Wagner celebrates a wicket with his teammates

Mendis, in particular, grew in confidence as lunch approached, hitting five boundaries in the final half-hour of the session. One of those boundaries took him beyond 1000 Test runs in the calendar year, making him only the second batsman after Virat Kohli to achieve the feat; that he has got to the milestone at 23, when Kohli had himself been five years older before making his first 1000-run year was particularly remarkable. He got to his half century shortly before the end of the first session ended, and (104 Overs, RR: 2.22) Yet to bat: CBRLS Kumara, PVD Chandimal got Chameera to the milestone Fall of wickets: 1-1 (FDM soon after play Karunaratne, 0.6 ov), 2-9 (MD resumed.

Gunathilaka, 1.5 ov), 3-126 (BKG Chandimal Mendis, 54.5 ov), 3-155* (AD Mathews, retired not out), 4-158 was more reti(LD Chandimal, 76.2 ov), 5-181 (N cent than Mendis Dickwella, 85.1 ov), 6-208 (ARS for much of the Silva, 95.4 ov) partnership, conO M R W tributing BOWLING only TA Boult 27 1 1 73 1 45 off 171 to the TG Southee 27 13 61 2 C de Grandhomme 10 1 23 0 stand, but givN Wagner 28 10 47 3 en his propensiAY Patel 12 9 21 0 ty to instinctively play the hook, he was also per-

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings (target: 660 runs) MD Gunathilaka c †Watling 4 b Southee FDM Karunaratne c †Watling b Boult 0 LD Chandimal (c) c Nicholls b Wagner 56 BKG Mendis c sub (MJ Henry) 67 b Wagner AD Mathews retired hurt 22 ARS Silva c †Watling 18 b Wagner N Dickwella † b Southee 19 22 MDK Perera not out RAS Lakmal not out 16 Extras 7 (b 4, lb 2, w 1) TOTAL 231/6

short cover by substitute fielder Matt Henry.

In the evening session, he struck twice. The first felled Chandimal, who had been ducking and jiving out of the way of Wagner’s bouncers all day, but finally found himself in an awkward position against another throat-high ball. He could do nothing more than fend at it with his gloves, the ball popping up for a simple short leg catch.

Roshen Silva, who had frustrated New Zealand for 72 balls, was Wagner’s next victim, with an angled length delivery shaving the outside edge on its way to wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

The only other wicket of the day fell to Southee, when halfway through the third session, wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella became the only batsman on the day to be dismissed without facing at least 50 deliveries. Eyeing a wide length ball, he threw his hands, and ended up chopping the ball back onto his stumps for 19 off 31.

At stumps, Sri Lanka’s batsmen were the dogged Dilruwan Perera, batting on 22 off 60 balls, and Suranga Lakmal, on 16 off 22. Given Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara

haps exercising the greater self-denial. Chandimal’s negotiating of the short ball was more-or-less been perfect before tea.

He ducked extremely well, and on the occasions when he has felt he must play the ball, he had middled it and struck it into the ground.

Wagner, though, eventually bowled the ball that shook Chandimal out of his Zen. With Mathews having hobbled off the field at tea, and having failed to take the field after that break, Chandimal’s wicket meant that Sri Lanka had no more senior batsmen remaining.

Silva’s resistance was admirable, but it was also somewhat lucky – he played and missed at length balls angled across him often, and his defence was not quite as tight as those of Mendis, Chandimal and Mathews. He did, however, play the short balls reasonably well, never really being tempted into a hook or a pull.

Perera was also excellent in the period leading up to stumps, even copping a nasty blow on the gloves from Wagner in the last 20 minutes. Lakmal was solid enough for a number nine as well. (CRICINFO)

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sunDAY, december 30, 2018

Peek into the future

Garfield Benjamin – poised and driven

Defiant Cummins keeps India waiting

I

ndia stood on the brink of a famous win at Melbourne but were denied on - focuses on scoring heavily in the fourth day 2019 youth tournaments by a defiant Pat Cummins who e is one of the names to played crickremained unwatch in 2019 – Garfield et; either beaten on a 103Winslow Benjamin, the in their ball 61. Having trailblazing right-handed bats- yards, on set Australia a man has been among the runs the streets, daunting target of in youth cricket. With a sound or at the 399, India’s bowltechnique, the Berbice under 19 b a s k e t ers combined well batsman is looking forward to ball court. to pick eight wickthe New Year which may be his “ I ’ v e ets but were not breakthrough season to repre- p l a y e d allowed to run sent Guyana Under 19 or even s o m e though, held firm in the final sesbeyond. In an exclusive chat with of best o f s c o r - through for the <<<<Guyana Times Sport>>>>, c r i c k e t ing big runs,” last two despite taking an extension sion after Head chopped on against Ishant and denied India with Tim Benjamin told this reporter that at that B e n j a m i n of play.

Pat Cummins, who had earlier Paine, Mitchell Starc and Nathan the latter 2018 cricket season he s a m e stated.

In had undergone a purple patch, b a s the calen- in the day registered his career-best Lyon chipping in. While Paine and scoring runs with ease and grace. k e t b a l l dar year, bowling figures of 6/27 before India Starc were eventually dislodged by declared, then went on to register his Jadeja and Shami respectively, Lyon “From August 2018 to December, court, evhighest Test score too after Australia’s and Cummins remained unbeaten for I was batting as the greatest ery time top order failure.

14.5 overs until stumps. thing ever, I will continue to it rained Australia’s chase got off to a false The start of the day had seen work hard and make an impact p e o p l e start with Aaron Finch complete- Cummins continuing his good work in the major 2019 GCB tourna- would Benjamin ly at sea against the incoming deliv- from the previous day with the ball. ments,” Benjamin explained. b e t h e r e , worked treGarfield Benjamin has of- y o u d i d n ’ t mendously h a r d , ery, and eventually out nicking to sec- India went in positively through ten been associated with great- e v e n have to call scoring three c e n t u - ond slip against Jasprit Bumrah. His Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant. ness and possess the ability of a n y one. 2019 will be ries and numerous 80s and 90s partner, Marcus Harris, saw off the The former was particularly aggresbeing a natural leader and a the final year of junior cricket for in his unforgettable 2018 season. fast bowlers but Ravindra Jadeja got sive against Nathan Lyon, hitting quick learner. Born on November Benjamin; in the 2019 Under-19 The son of Channon Hetmyer him just as he had in the first innings, him for two sixes in an over. However, just as he was in sight of a second 3, 2000, Benjamin resides in inter-county tournament, he and Gairy Benjamin, Garfield’s caught at short leg.

Usman Khawaja, looking comfort- 50 on debut, Pat Cummins had him the upper flat of the health cen- wants to further announce him- most memorable innings was tre, Douglas Jones Road, Fyrish self. The 18-year-old comes from his match winning knock of 59 able against Jadeja with lofts and re- chopping on and completed a well-deVillage. The stroke maker start- a family with sport knowledge; at the inter county Under 15 fi- verse sweeps, and Shaun Marsh kept served five-wicket haul.

Cummins added one more later, ed his club career at the illustri- his father passes on cricket- nal against a power packed India at bay with a 30-run stand beous Tucber Park Cricket Club ing knowledge while his mother Demerara team. Benjamin rep- fore Shami had Khawaja LBW with a getting Ravindra Jadeja with a snortin New Amsterdam in 2013 af- gives him the continuous support resented the Guyana Under ball that kept low and beat his outside er before Josh Hazlewood got the last word against Pant after being hit for ter he gained entrance to the he requires. Benjamin’s favourite 15s once and has played for the edge with some movement.

But Shaun Marsh and Travis a six. That wicket also brought about prestigious New Amsterdam local cricketer is his first cousin, Berbice junior teams for the Secondary (Multilateral) School.

Shimron Hetmyer while he em- past four years. In the 2018 in- Head continued to be positive, adding India’s declaration towards the end Benjamin’s highest score was ulates the English star players, ter county season, Benjamin was 51 in quick time before Marsh got one of the first hour of the day, setting 140* against Rose Hall Canje Joe Root and Jos Butler. His cur- given few opportunities at the from Bumrah that kept a trifle low, Australia a daunting target.

Australia ended the day still adrift at the Welfare Ground where rent Berbice teammate, Kevlon top of the order but when giv- and was adjudged LBW on 44. The he smashed the ball to all parts Anderson has been a good friend en the opportunity, he scored in- review didn’t help him either. His by 141 runs, with Cummins’s resisof the huge outfield in a limited along with club-mate Reuben valuable runs for the winning brother, Mitchell, who walked in next tance ensuring that they live to fight over match. “I started playing at Latcha and Tiseena.

Berbice Under 19 team. The ele- tried to take on Jadeja, even hitting on the final day. (cricbuzz) age four, but competitive cricket Scoring 40s and 50s on a con- gant right-handed batsman, who him for a six became to me at age 13,” Benjamin tinuous basis, prior to 2018, captains the Tucber Park First fore chipping a related.

Benjamin had only scored one Division team in the absence of simple catch to In a cricket dominated area in century. “Life is filled with chal- Romario Shepherd, will be hop- cover minutes Australia 2nd Innings Fyrish, Benjamin’s parents and lenges, in cricket my biggest chal- ing to bring more to the table giv- before the tea India 1st Innings 443-7 dec Australia 1st Innings (target: 399 runs) break. the villagers strongly motivat- lenge has been my concentration en he has more opportunities.

151 all out MS Harris c Agarwal b C u m m i n s , ed him. At every corner, people while batting and my consistency India 2nd Innings 106-8 dec 13 Jadeja GH Vihari c Khawaja b AJ Finch c Kohli b Bumrah 3 Cummins 13 UT Khawaja lbw b Mohammed MA Agarwalb Cummins 42 Shami 33 CA Pujara c Harris b Cummins 0 SE Marsh lbw b Bumrah 44 V Kohli (c) c Harris b TM Head b I Sharma 3 Cummins 0 MR Marsh c Kohli b Jadeja 10 AM Rahane c †Paine b TD Paine (c) † c †Pant b Cummins 1 Jadeja 26 RG Sharma c SE Marsh b PJ Cummins not out 61 xtreme heat is likely icy.”

5 Hazlewood

MA Starc b Mohammed to remain a source Tiley said the new RR Pant † c †Paine b 18 Shami of discontent at policy, developed with 33 NM Lyon not out Hazlewood 6 the Australian Open dethe University of Sydney RA Jadeja c Khawaja b Extras 10 (b 2, lb 6, w 2) spite tournament organand taking into account Cummins 5 TOTAL 258/8 isers introducing changes player feedback, would Mohammed Shami not out 0 (85 Overs, RR: 3.03) aimed at improving condiprovide greater clarity to Extras7 (b 5, lb 1, w 1) Yet to bat: JR Hazlewood TOTAL 106/8d (37.3 Fall of wickets: 1-6 (AJ Finch, tions for players. Officials players and better preOvers, RR: 2.82) 1.2 ov), 2-33 (MS Harris, 9.2 have scrapped the use of Gael Monfils struggles with the pare them for the conFall of wickets: ov), 3-63 (UT Khawaja, 20.6 wet bulb globe tempera- heat during his second round ditions by providing re1-28 (GH Vihari, 12.6 ov), ov), 4-114 (SE Marsh, 32.2 ture readings for the sea- match against Novak Djokovic on al-time updates.

2-28 (CA Pujara, 14.2 ov), ov), 5-135 (MR Marsh, 39.1 son-opening grand slam, day four of the 2018 Australian Australian world 3-28 (V Kohli, 14.6 ov), ov), 6-157 (TM Head, 50.3 starting on January 14, Open at Melbourne Park in 2018 number 35, Nick Kyrgios, 4-32 (AM Rahane, 16.1 ov), ov), 7-176 (TD Paine, 61.3 ov), 2019. said there was a clear 5-44 (RG Sharma, 22.5 ov), 8-215 (MA Starc, 70.5 ov) A newly developed need for improvement at 6-83 (MA Agarwal, 32.6 ov), Bowling “heat stress scale” which the major.

7-100 (RA Jadeja, 36.3 ov), I Sharma (12-0-37-1) takes into account air tem“It is dangerous, they 8-106 (RR Pant, 37.3 ov) JJ Bumrah (17-1-53-2) Bowling RA Jadeja (32-6-82-3) perature, radiant heat, huneed to do a better job,” But tournament director Craig Tiley MA Starc (3-1-11-0) Mohammed Shami (21-2-71-2) midity and wind speed, will instead be he said in Brisbane. has confirmed none of this year’s contenJR Hazlewood (10.3-3-22-2) GH Vihari (3-1-7-0) applied along with more comprehen“I remember playing a game against tious decisions to continue play would NM Lyon (13-1-40-0) sive measuring of conditions across Benjamin Becker (in 2014) and it was so have been overturned under the rePJ Cummins (11-3-27-6) Melbourne Park. hot out there – ball boys were fainting, vamped system.

A 10-minute break between the third people in the crowd weren’t feeling too “On the (new) scale, the actions that and fourth set will also be introduced in good.” were taken in that (Djokovic-Monfils) men’s singles matches when the fiveThe introduction of heat-related Laver Arena during this year’s men’s final – a decision widematch would have been the same,” Tiley point scale nears its most extreme point. breaks for male players brings the tour- ly seen to have helped Roger Federer win his 20th grand slam told reporters on Saturday.

The previous heat policy was widely nament into line with the US Open title.

“The work that we’ve done over the criticised during this year’s tournament. which was repeatedly forced to stop play “We’re absolutely comfortable with the decision. It was the last 12 months of pulling together all Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils earlier this year. right decision,” Tiley said. this data, one of the first things we did complained after struggling through Play will be suspended on outdoor “I’ve spoken to both players since then... and made very on the outcome of that data was to do an 39 degree Celsius heat in their seccourts and the roof closed on the mar- clear why we made our decision.” overlay of decisions that were made over ond-round match, while other players quee courts when the heat scale reading Tiley said ticket sales were tracking strongly with Serena the past five years. and commentators called for more prois 5.0 or above.

Williams and Andy Murray set to join a star-studded field af“It was aligned to all the decisions we tection.

Tiley defended closing the roof at Rod ter missing this year’s tournament. made (being) correct under this new pol-

H

S COREB OARD

Australian Open introduces extreme heat policy ahead of ‘scorching summer’

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Shannon Gabriel

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Returning big players nd should excite 2 phase of 4-day tourney

ollowing a strong start to this season’s Regional 4-Day Championships, franchises will be licking their chops as they await a few of their returning international stars who will most certainly buff the level of competition in 2019.

Although the core of the West Indies senior team is made up of players mostly from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Guyana; a few other players who represent the Windies occasionally in the various formats could significantly add to their team’s arsenal when the tourney resumes with round three from June 4, 2019.

Second place Barbados Pride will tackle the defending champs and table-leaders, Guyana Jaguars, at the Kensington Oval from January 4, 2019, with hopes of their Windies stars possibly returning to boost their franchise.

The Pride will be sweating the availability of their stars. Such as world ranked Test and ODI batsman Shai Hope, whose form in the Test series versus India and Bangladesh saw him shoot up the rankings.

Windies stand-in skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, all-rounder Roston Chase, pacer Kemar Roach, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, Windies T20 skipper Carlos Brathwaite and injured Captain Jason Holder could all change the complexity of the team should they feature before the 10 rounds expire.

While Holder is still recovering from injury, the likes of Roach,

nus for the Pride who will bank on a full quota of players as well as their home advantage which could lend a bit more to their pros.

While Guyana has recalled three of their West Indies players in Raymon Reifer, Sherfane Rutherford and Chandrapaul Hemraj to help buff their already strong team which features the likes of Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Chris Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Keon Joseph – all of whom donned the Windies colours at some point – it will be keen to see how their opponents select their final XI for this week’s game.

Looking down the road, a side

Roston Chase

Brathwaite and others could likely surface for the next round versus Guyana or the round which will follow after. Should the big name players return for round three, Guyana could face a more stern challenge than expected, especially with them missing out on the services of Windies stars in Keemo Paul and Shimron Hetmyer; one recovering from injury and the other rested.

Both sides are familiar with each other, having engaged in some of the most exciting and tense battles over the years but having a full roster of players to select from will be a bigger bo-

Shai Hope

Darren Bravo

like the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force could easily pose a huge threat to the rest of the franchises should the likes of skipper Denesh Ramdin, Darren Bravo, Shannon Gabriel and Kharry Pierre be inserted back into the fold; having come off of fruitful international stints.

The Red Force apart from Guyana and Barbados has a studded team without their international players. However, their potential could be fully unlocked should they field their full team with the inclusion of the aforementioned players; making their chances a glory this season increasingly possible.

Other teams like the Leeward Island and Windward Island are beefed up with more regional veterans as well as a few players who are currently bursting onto the international scene. Contesting with the powerhouse nations that have players who are in the forefront of the Windies current campaigns is also difficult as most of the big name stars will look to take advantage of the regional circuit to further sharpen and develop their games for the international arena.

While the Jaguars/Pride clash will be crucial for points as the two top sides’ battle; it will be more important to see how the teams with international players manoeuvre and tinker with their combinations, given that every franchise will be or could possibly gain buffs with the inclusion of one or more star players going forward.

The Guyana Int’l Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy…

Academy concludes 2018 final exams

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he Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA) recently concluded its final examinations of the year, whereby 34 students took part in a karate exam under the watchful eyes of Dr Nazim Yassim, moving from one level to the next.

The students participated from the schools’ various branches such as Enmore with 18, Wales with nine, and Enterprise with seven.

Graduating from the Enterprise branch were Satish Udit, Shonna Seusingh, and Rahul Miaram (10th Kyu to 9th Kyu Yellow Stripe); David Mangru, Nickolas Rampersaud, Nirel Ramrattan and Alesha Paul (9th Kyu Yellow Stripe to 8th Kyu Yellow belt); while the Wales branch produced Junior Shilchand, Ganesh Persaud and Sharada Sookwah (9th Kyu Yellow Stripe to 8th Kyu Yellow belt). Marcus Chowtie (Green belt), John Brown and Christian Freeman (5th and 4th Kyu blue belt, Nkosi Jupiter, Bhudesh Shilchand (3rd and 2nd Kyu Brown Belt) and Maranda Bennett (Judging 7 Weapons).

The Enmore Branch, which produced the most students, saw Dharshanie Ahmad, and Shahid

Shah (10th Kyu to 9th Kyu Yellow Stripe), Ronald Ramkissoon, Mark Sue-Poi, Antonio Kumar, Anthony Gouveia and Jefferson Jaikissoon (9th Kyu Yellow Stripe to 8th Kyu Yellow belt); while Naveed N Emamally and Mohamad Yasin (7th Kyu Orange belt), Avinash Somwaru and Totaram Jainarain (6th Kyu Green belt) Govindanath Persaud (5th Kyu Blue belt and Jason Haywood and Shakeel Rahat (2nd Kyu Brown Belt) Kelvin Walcott, Umisha Parasram, Vikash Somwaru and Govind Ramkur all graduated.

Chief Instructor Kelvin Walcott, Senior Instructor Maranda Bennett, Junior Instructors

Umisha Parasram and Vikash Somwaru, Sampais Govind Ramkur and Bhudesh Shilchand have thus far completed their 1st Dan Kobudo Weapons Exams. Dr Nazim is very happy with the progress of his students and their levels of discipline, adding they worked very hard in preparation for their exams.

Anyone interested in joining the Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy can make contact with SOKE Nazim Yassim on telephone numbers 662-7211 or 6542789, or visit the Academy’s Facebook page: Kyokushinkai Guyana.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, decEMber 30, 2018

National table tennis players

Reflections on Windies Cricket in 2018 (Part 3)...

return from Chinese training camp More disappointments than glory in T20 Internationals

Keemo Paul

- Keemo Paul is stand out performer

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The four Guyanese players pose amongst their Chinese peers

quipped with knowledge and new best practices, a group of four Guyanese table tennis players have returned to home soil after a month-long training camp in one of the world’s best table tennis nations.

The one-month engagement, lasting from their departure on November 25 to their return on December 27, 2018, saw Guyanese Joel Alleyne, Elishaba Johnson, Natalie Cummings and Nigel Bryan jetting off to the People’s Republic of China destined for the Hebei Zhengding Table Tennis Training Centre.

It was a month of eating, sleeping, and breathing table tennis as the Guyanese quad spent six to seven hours, six days per week on the training grounds. There the players had the chance to train, compete and test their skills in a world class training centre which were equipped with different levels of state-of-the-art gyms. The players also had the opportunity of interacting with coaches who provided drills and on the spot tips.

As such, this hands-on approach led the players to believe that an extended stay in the foreign land would lead to them becoming committed, world-class players. The four Guyanese indicated that they would be open to such possibilities.

Moreover, the quad noted that the training provided was of exceptional quality and high standards owing to the fact that many of the World’s top players visit and attend the centre. Additionally, players from nations such as Singapore, Sweden and Australia among others were present at the centre.

In a detailed account of their stay, the players shared that team members were provided with high-quality Chinese sparring partners/players who were very consistent in their approach; being helpful, encouraging, and strong enough to provide great sparring partners to push players to their limits with drills.

While noting that the environment truly provided an atmosphere for total concentration and development of one’s skills, the players disclosed that a variety of players who utilised different styles of competing were provided which allowed for great adaptation and learning to combat players with different styles rubbers tactical ele-

ments.

One participant even stated that, “The environment is for serious players and the results benefits of participants is reliant on their desire to excel work and put in the effort be receptive to coaching, learning and to adapt to challenges all tenants required for development in the game.”

They indicated that development of fitness, strength, consistency in drills (playing multi balls footwork), opponent-centred drills service and reception of serves work were key areas of focus for the Guyanese team.

To put icing on the cake, competitions were also held to provide match practice to reinforce training elements. The players indicated that a lot was learnt and they are now more confident in their consistency and feel they are better prepared to represent Guyana.

Taking into account all that they have learnt in China, the players expressed the key to their return was trying to continue such a regimen and system of training.

Aside from their rigorous work, the Guyanese had the opportunity to understand Chinese culture and forge meaningful relationships.

The training was facilitated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China through support from the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, and current technical and diplomatic engagements between the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) and the Government of Guyana through the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The GTTA believes such engagements will provide key benefits to raising the level of performance of Guyanese players and will enhance the cooperation between the peoples of China and Guyana.

The GTTA has sought to express their gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China; the People’s Republic of China Embassy (Guyana), through His Excellency, Ambassador Cui Jianchun; and Charge d’Affaires Chen Xillai and Wang Quiyi for their input and support in the provision of critical high-level table tennis training and other key initiatives and support programmes being offered to Guyana, aimed at supporting and improving the performance and development of Guyana’s table tennis.

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familiar format for the two-time World T20 Champions, and a similar performance was recorded at the end of the 2018. The West Indies played six T20I series and won two, including a lone T20I match that was played against an ICC World XI team in England for the purpose of raising funds. Rovman Powell emerged as the leading run scorer with 180 runs, with a poor average of 20. In the bowling department, Keemo Paul has the most wickets for West Indies in 2018 finishing with 17 T20I wickets. Keswick Williams finished second with 10 wickets and Carlos Brathwaite finished with nine wickets.

The West Indies started their T20 campaign with the 2017-2018 T20I series against New Zealand which they lost 2-0. In the first match, New Zealand defeated West Indies by 47 runs after Windies failed to chase down 188 runs in their allotted 20 overs. The second T20I was washed out due to inclement weather and the West Indies could have only managed to level the series. New Zealand came in the final T20I and outplayed the Windies by 119 runs.

Colin Munro was the showstopper, with a masterful 104. The out of sort West Indies team were bowled out for 124 as they started 2018 on a wrong note.

More misery continued as West Indies toured Pakistan to play a historic T20I series which was the return of cricket in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s country. West Indies lost the T20I series 3-0; the first match saw the Caribbean team succumb to a 143 run victory.

In pursuit of Pakistan’s 204 for victory in 20 overs, the maroon boys were bundled out for 60 in 13.4 overs. The second match was the similar result, Pakistan closed in the series victory with an 82-run victory. After being bowled out for below-par totals in the first two matches, Windies batsmen fought valiantly as they suffered a eight-wicket victory.

It took the West Indies five months in 2018 to register their first T20I win of the year; West Indies defeated the make-shift ICC XI by 72 runs in the Hurricane relief match played in London, England. Evin Lewis was the star of the show as the 20-over specialist smashed a player-of-the-match 58. With Bangladesh

The Carlos Brathwaite-led Windies team

touring the West Indies to play a three match T20I series, the Caribbean team got the home advantage. However, the Windies went downhill as they suffered a 2-1 series defeat. In the first T20I, West Indies won by seven wickets; Andre Russell made his return to the team in style, smashing an unbeaten 35 and bowling four economical overs, which rewarded him the player of the match award. A revengeful Bangladeshi team returned in the second T20I and won by 12 runs and gather momentum to win the final T20I by 19 runs.

After the poor series in the Caribbean and USA against Bangladesh, West Indies were in for a tough challenge. In November 2018, India whitewashed West Indies 3-0, recording three comprehensive victories. The batting woes continued all year long as Windies were restricted to a below-par 109-8 after India’s wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav’s heroics. A dominant Virat Kohli-less Indian team led by Rohit Sharma, trounced the Caribbean by 71 runs. Rohit Sharma a white-ball genius smashed 111 to arrest West Indies. The final T20I saw Windies led by a Nicholas Pooran 53* scored 181-3 which was insufficient. Shikar Dhawan’s 92 led India to a third straight win in the three match T20I series.

Perhaps the Windies were saving their best T20I performance for the last. The Caribbean team’s final T20I assignment was against Bangladesh, away from home. Windies snatched a 2-1 series win; in the opening match, the sergeant Sheldon Cottrell and the brilliant Shai Hope led a thumping eight wicket win over Bangladesh. The Shakib Al Hassan-led Bangladesh team bounced back with a 36 run win in the second match but Keemo Paul won the West Indies a T20I series with a superb 5-15 after Evin Lewis’ 89.

Evin Lewis, who played only six matches in contrast to Powell’s 12, finished 2018 with 169 runs while axed opening batsman, Andre Fletcher finished with 162 runs. On March 5, 2019, West Indies will play their next T20I against the touring England in St Lucia. The Carlos Brathwaite team will be aiming to make amends for their poor performance in their specialised T20I format.

Ronaldo praises VAR after Juventus’ dramatic win over Sampdoria R onaldo praises VAR after Cristiano Ronaldo praised the Sampdoria 2-1 in dramatic circumRonaldo scored twice to take his tally to pions onto 53 points at the halfway stage of The 33-year-old opened the scoring after ized after the referee awarded a penalty for view.

The video technology was called on again in the box, allowing Ronaldo to restore a stunning injury-time leveler when he was The stoppages led to eight minutes of the Allianz Stadium, but Ronaldo insists should be supported.

“I’m in favour of VAR because there “We have to let the referees work in peace. them.”

Juve’s win puts them 12 points ahead giving them a commanding position heading “The team is doing well,” Ronaldo said. have to keep working so as to confirm our Christiano Ronaldo

Juventus&#039; dramatic win over Sampdoria use of VAR in Serie A after Juventus beat stances on Saturday.

14 league goals in 2018-19 and move the chamthe season - a new record in Italy’s top flight. just two minutes, but Fabio Quagliarella equalhandball against Emre Can following a VAR rewhen Alex Ferrari was penalized for handling Juve’s lead, and Riccardo Saponara was denied deemed offside in the build-up after a review. time being added on at the end of the game at anything that makes life easier for referees are fewer mistakes,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

Certain situations are not simple, even for of Napoli, who face Bologna later on Saturday, into the mid-season break.

“We’ve had a good first half of the season and we position in the second half.” (SPORTSMAX)

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, december 30, 2018

23

GFF/ExxonMobil International Futsal Festival...

Guyana, Galacticos De Roraima, T&T, Georgetown continue impressive run

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he GFF/ExxonMobil International Futsal Festival continued on December 28, 2018 at the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, as Guyana, Galacticos De Roraima, Trinidad and Tobago and Georgetown All Stars recorded victories once again on the second night.

In the headlined match for the evening, the Georgetown All Stars continued their impressive run in the tournament as they settled one of the most long-standing rivalries in football, crushing the Linden All Stars 7-0. The match was instant action from ball one as both teams played with vigor and nerves of steel as many opportunities were created for them to score early on in the match. But no one could stop the inform Ryan Hackett who has been known to tear apart defences in the early part of games; Hackett drew first blood two minutes into the game. But it wasn’t over as Kelvin Moore added his name to the tally in the third minute to take the score to 2-0, the Linden side looked flustered as they attempted resurgence but failed miserably as they allowed Adrian Aaron to score the third goal in the 12th minute of play.

Playing and lacking defence, Linden All Stars started to play in a downward spiral as they knew early on they had already lost the game, allowing Ryan Hackett to score two more goals in the 17th and 22nd minute. Hubert Pedro and Stephen McLean to add two more goals in the 30th and 40th minute respectively to give the Georgetown side a convincing win to end the rivalry.

Esuan Crandon

In the other matchup, the attacking Galacticos De Roraima following their 11-3 victory over the West Demerara All Stars on the first night of the tournament brushed aside the East Coast All Stars 6-3.

Once again, Raphael Lopes struck in the 3rd minute of the game to give the Brazilian side a lead; three minutes later, Romailson De Jesus saw through the errors of the East Coast side to take the score to 2-0. In the 9th minute of the game, East Coast All Stars Alzaliel Davis provided some form of comfort as he capitalised on a mistake from the Brazilians. With the score at 2-1, Dwain Jacobs equalised in the 24th minute of the game to give East Coast a fighting chance in the competition. But all hopes were thrown through the window as no less than a minute later, De Jesus returned to

Adequate preparation key for Jaguars success T

Head Coach Crandon happy with squad selected

he Guyana Jaguars are on the hunt for a fifth consecutive Regional 4-Day championship win; as the Leon Johnson-led team started the 2018-2019 season on a high, register-

Clinton Pestano after nets session

give Roraima the lead 3-2. The torture was not over for the All Stars as the Brazilian side scored three more goals, with two coming from De Jesus in the 25th and 31st minute and Maxivon Carvalho ending the All Stars in the 39th minute.

Following two intense match fixtures, Trinidad and Tobago outclassed the out of form ZV All Stars of Suriname 5-1. The animosity could be sensed between both teams as one was hungry to win while the other needed a desperate win. After 13 minutes of play, Kareem Perry took the mantle upon himself as he scored goals in the 13th, 14th and 35th minute respectively, being given support by Jomel Williams in the 18th minute and Rondell Elexic in the 33rd minute.

Trinidad went on to win easily despite the consolation goal in the 40th minute.

In the final showdown for the night, many gathered as they witnessed the highly anticipated matchup which saw the Guyana All Stars take on West Demerara in a one-sided affair, which saw Guyana win 5-2.

The match started off in an emphatic manner as the All Stars made substitutions early on in the game to throw the West Demerara side off their game, by doing such it resulted in Sheldon Shepherd scoring the first goal in the 5th minute. Not finished with the West Demerara side Andrew Murray took the score to 2-0 in the 14th minute to leave their opponents feeling like fish out of water. West Demerara then changed their tactics as they looked to make a comeback in the early part of the game, as Dion Terrence scored the first goal in the 18th minute, six minutes later Trayon Bobb added his name to the tally as West Demerara did not intend to leave without a fight. But things took a turn for the worst as they slipped up and allowed Delroy Deen to sneak into their box in the 29th minute to take the score to 3-2.

Needing only one more goal to equalise, West Demerara played lacklustre football as they gave away perfectly good opportunities and failing to convert passes into goals. This resulted in Solomon Austin adding the fourth goal in the 31st minute and Eusi Phillips with the fifth in the 37th minute to culminate the entire night of football.

The finals will be played today which will commence with the third place playoff at 22:00h and the grand finale at 23:00h.

(Timothy Jaikarran)

ing two victories in as many matches. Speaking to Guyana Times Sport, Guyana Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon emphasised the importance of the team’s preparation for the upcoming

4-Day matches. After the Christmas break, the Jaguars team has resumed their intense training sessions at the Everest Cricket Club ahead of the third round, which is scheduled for January 4, 2019.

Crandon told Guyana Times Sport in their first of three practice sessions before departure to Barbados on January 2, 2019, that the team had some time with their family and some additional time to reflect on their earlier matches.

“The Barbados pitch will offer a bit of pace and bounce for the faster bowlers and the spinners will come into play,” related Crandon.

The Jaguar’s head coach further explained that the team will have to utilise their practice sessions in Guyana before their departure, since the team will have one day for a complete practice session in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Guyana Jaguars team has done well in Barbados over the past seasons and is confident of extending their dominance.

The Head Coach is delighted with the combination of the squad for the third round; with

two all-rounders and one opening batsman being the latest addition to the squad. Sherfane Rutherford will play his 11th First Class match against the Barbados Pride and he will be aiming to make a smooth transition from the white ball formats, into the red-ball format. The 20-year old who has had a fantastic 2018 season, averages 35.40 with the bat, scoring two half centuries and picked up 23 First Class wickets, with his best bowling figures being 6-32. Rutherford will join the all-rounders in Christopher Barnwell, Clinton Pestano and Romario Shepherd who has all contributed with bat and ball in the first two rounds.

Meanwhile, Barbadian born Raymond Reifer will also be another useful asset to the Jaguars’ unit; having played 62 First Class matches, scoring one century and 12 fifties brings a wealth of experience to the squad. In addition to Reifer’s 2400 First Class runs he has 129 wickets bowling his left arm seam.

The 25-year-old Chanderpaul Hemraj has now evolved and is seen as the front-line Guyana Jaguar’s

Sherfane Rutherford after a practice session at the Everest Cricket Club

opener. Hemraj, who played ODI cricket for West Indies in 2018, played 19 First Class matches and is 70 runs away form 1000 First Class runs. The three additions are all players that played international cricket and the Guyana Jaguars Head Coach is happy with the squad selected, even though Keemo Paul, Shimron Hetmyer and Devandra Bishoo will miss out.

In the two rounds of the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional Four Day Tournament, Guyana Jaguars ahead with 37 points with their next opponent, Barbados Pride sitting in second place with 22.6 points.

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

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

GFF/ExxonMobil International Futsal Festival...

Guyana, Galacticos De Roraima, T&T, Georgetown continue impressive run Pg 23

National table tennis players return from Chinese training camp

Pg 22

Peek into the future

Garfield Benjamin – poised and driven

- focuses on scoring heavily in Pg 20 2019 youth tournaments

The Guyanese squad inside their home for one month, the Hebei Zhengding table tennis training centre

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December, 2018

...Govt has to resign and call elections in 3 months â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PM

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December , 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

ExxonMobil makes another Firm to valuate GuySuCo blacklisted in India Wash bay attendant first major oil find in Guyana - fined, handed two year ban by regulator for alleged fraud road fatality for 2018 I JANUARY

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slam Baksh, 24, of Lot 65 La Grange Old Road, West Bank Demerara was marked as the country’s first road fatality when he died following an accident on January 1. Baksh was a passenger of motorcar HC 7477 driven by 42-yearold Vijay Bidoor of Goed Fortuin. Amanda Rickyram,28, of Unity Street, La Grange, WBD; Gobin Dannyram,29,of 225 Goed Fortuin, WBD; and Diana Chand,19, of Cemetery Road, Georgetown were all passengers of the same car proceeding south along the Meer-Zorgen Public Road when HB 4105, proceeding in the opposite direction drove into their path and collided with them.

They all sustained serious injuries and wwere rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Baksh died while receiving medical attention.

Pensioner killed by speeding car

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oyclyn Joseph, 72, of YY Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown was killed on January 2 after she was struck down by a speeding car on Brickdam, Georgetown, while on her way to uplift her pension from the Bourda Post Office.

Police investigations revealed that motorcar PLL 2838 driven by a 35-year-old labourer of ‘A’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was proceeding east along Brickdam Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate, in anticipation of passing the stop light at the intersection of Winter Place. The light was

reportedly showing “green” with a few seconds remaining.

However, as the car sped across the intersection, it came into contact with the elderly woman, who was said to be crossing the road from south to north. As a result of the impact, she was reportedly dragged about 39 meters before the vehicle came to a halt some 158 meters from the point of impact, investigators recorded.

Joseph’s left foot has been severed as a result of the accident. She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.

n what was described as its second biggest single oil reservoir find to date in Guyana’s waters, ExxonMobil has announced the discovery of 230 feet of high quality oil in its Ranger-1 well within the Stabroek Block, early January.

The company has stated that the well was at the time being drilled by the Stena Carron drillship. Work on the Ranger-1 well had started last November and it was drilled to over 6,000 feet before Exxon made its discovery.

The well is 60 miles North West of the Liza phase one project.

The discovery of oil in this

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well is Exxon’s sixth in local waters since 2015. It is estimated that all these discoveries add up to more than 3.2 billion recoverable oil-equivalent barrels.

Signed oil agreement makes Govt look ‘silly’ – Gaskin

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s part of the new agreement signed with U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil, the Natural Resources Minister will have to file for the company’s tax returns with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), something outspoken political analyst and economist, Ramon Gaskin has described as ‘foolish.’

According to Gaskin, this agreement which the Government signed onto makes them look silly in the eyes of many and only puts the Minister (Raphael

Trotman) in a bad situation, where he now becomes the company’s ‘water boy,’ who has to provide a receipt of payment to the company at the end.

The new contract states that ExxonMobil and its partners shall provide the Minister with its income tax returns to be submitted by the Minister to the Commissioner General, GRA, so the Minister can pay income tax on behalf of ExxonMobil and its partners as provided under Article 15.4.

Rose Hall sugar workers protest for severance pay

Controversial US$18M singing bonus

Monies to remain in private account – Harmon

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espite numerous calls for Government to transfer the controversial US$18M signing bonus received from Exxon Mobil and placed in a private bank account, to the Consolidated Fund, the Government remains firm on its position to keep the monies in that account for a bit longer.

State Minister Joseph Harmon told Guyana Times on January 3 that Cabinet has not deliberated on whether to have the monies transferred yet, reiterating that there was a purpose for which these monies were not placed into the Consolidated Fund and that has to do with the border dispute with Venezuela.

After admitting that Government had received a signing bonus from ExxonMobil and its partners more than a year ago and never disclosed this to the public, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said that the bonus was intended to be used for legal fees pertaining to the preservation of Guyana’s territorial integrity, should its case with Venezuela reach the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

But when the oil contract was released to the general public, ExxonMobil clarified that the US$18 million bonus paid to the Government was meant to secure a 10year extension of the renegotiated contract.

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rate workers attached to the former Rose Hall Sugar Estate on January 9 braved the inclement weather to protest for their severance payment as they demanded that the Government get its act together.

Eight hundred and fifty workers whose last day of employment was December

- NICIL says firm to commence work in Guyana shortly

29, on Tuesday protested the non-payment of millions of dollars which are collectively owed to them by the David Granger Administration and the Guyana Sugar Corporation.

A one-minute of silence was held in honour of the two former workers who took their lives after being sent home.

ricewaterhouse Coopers, the international audit firm selected by the coalition government to valuate Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) multi-billion dollar assets, has actually been banned from auditing listed companies in India due to its alleged involvement in fraud.

According to a report originating from international news agency Reuters, the company was handed the two

year ban in January for allegedly overstating earnings and assets for Indian Software Company, Satyam Computer Services.

The report states that Pricewaterhouse was the audit firm at the time the more than $1B fraud occurred. It was founder of the company, Ramalinga Raju, who blew the whistle on the fraud in 2009, costing shareholders billions and shaking the industry.

High drama: NBS shuts down during 6-hour standoff with Police …as marshals move to execute High Court order …managers, security guards arrested …bank settles $59M payment

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t was high drama outside New Building Society (NBS) as attempts to execute a High Court order on the entity’s properties resulted in a standoff between lawyers, bank officials and the Police. Lawyers for litigant Maurice Arjoon, accompanied by High Court Marshals, descended on New Building Society to levy for a $59M court awarded judge-

ment. What followed after was a protracted standoff from out of a movie, a Police officer, a Court Marshal and civilians were locked in the banking institution.

This situation necessitated the involvement of Deputy Commander of ‘A’ Division and Senior Superintendent of Police, Wendell Blanhum, as well as other high-ranking Police ranks.

UN sends case to International Court of Justice for settlement

Estates closure

Dismissed sugar workers to be given 50 % severance pay this month …other half by year end

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overnment had announced, on January 10, that it will pay 50 per cent of the severance benefits to dismissed sugar workers by the end of this month. This commitment represents over $2B in severance payments.

The announcement was made in Parliament when Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, read a statement from President David Granger.

However, he said that the remainder will be paid in the second half of the year.

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fter years of mediation, the United Nations (UN) has finally moved to send the on-going border controversy between Guyana and neighbouring Venezuela to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); an outcome which Guyana has long been calling for.

According to the UN’s Spokesperson, Stephane

Dujarric, the decision came after careful analysis of the good offices process. Dujarric explained in a statement that enough progress was not made towards a solution on the controversy. As a result, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres referred the matter to the ICJ. This is in accordance with the framework left by his predecessor, Ban Ki Moon.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Revaluation of GuySuCo pension fund need to determine status – CEO …fund has been destabilized – source …Hand-in-Hand Insurance tightlipped

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hile there have been major concerns regarding the

status of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Pension Fund, which is said to be at a crisis level, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Paul Bhim has defended his company stating that there have been certain mistruths about the fund.

Bhim told Guyana Times that there are currently two pension funds for sugar workers, one which is for all unionized employees which is fully funded by GuySuCo, and another for senior staff.

In the case of the general employees’ fund, Hand and Hand Trust Corporation is the trustee.

Appointment of Chancellor, CJ

Opposition Leader rejects President’s nominees – Greenlights persons for integrity commission

No review of ExxonMobil contract Minister admits to

– President Granger says

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ust over one week after Presidential Adviser on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal, said that the government can review and renegotiate the Production Sharing Agreement with ExxonMobil, President David Granger said that Cabinet does not intend to do such at this time.

He noted that the PSA is currently engaging the attention of Cabinet and a decision would be made.

– Say its Govt way or no way while denying personally instructing police

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Govt releases CGX oil contract

…Guyana gets 1% royalty, 53% profit sharing

W

eeks after its own self-imposed deadline expired, the Guyana Government has begun the process of releasing the contracts between the state and other oil companies - beginning with Canadian company CGX Resources Incorporated.

Under the Article 11 ‘Cost Recovery and Production sharing’ heading of the contract, the Government agreed to a one per cent roy-

alty. In addition, a 53 per cent share of profit oil and gas; after recoverable costs have been satisfied was negotiated. This is providing the company moves from exploration to production.

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the President, Jagdeo said, “I have duly considered the two (2) nominees for whom you seek my agreement for appointment as Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice, respectively, in accordance with Article 127 (1) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.”

in environmental tax

acting on information received, a group of officers from ‘A’ Division (East Bank Demerara) went to a property at Monument Hill, Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, and conducted a search.

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has managed to rake in close to $1.2 billion in environmental taxes as of the end of last year, ever since its implementation on February 1, 2017.

This is according to Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, who told this newspaper that companies are generally compliant with this relatively new tax.

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This was confirmed by Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo, Paul Bhim, who told this newspaper that this new increase was implemented early in February.

Minister Raphael Trotman.

Immediately following the conclusion of Cabinet discussions, Trotman informed the media that he would in the coming months no longer have responsibility for the oil sector, a role he has faced much criticism about.

Police accused of beating Enterprise man, residents

…says privatization proceeds from sale to repay bank loans

Price for sugar increased by 5 %

ocal consumers will now have to pay more for sugar, as the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has moved to increase the cost of each bag of sugar on the local market.

bility for oil …dept of energy to be created under Ministry of the Presidency

xxonMobil has discovered oil in a new well offshore Guyana.

This announcement was made during Cabinet’s discussions where it was also disclosed that Government plans to strip away the responsibility for the oil sector from Natural Resources

Hijacking ring busted: Ex-cop, 4 women nabbed with stolen cars Govt to borrow $15B to reopen R Skeldon, Enmore estates anks of the Guyana Police Force made inroads in the carjacking network, arresting seven persons after a quantity car parts and vehicles were found as they swoop down on two separate houses.

In the first instance,

ne day after the Coalition Government was accused of blocking and sabotaging the annual flag-raising ceremony of the Corriverton Town Council, Minister Amna Ally has admitted that she was responsible for causing this event to be cancelled even while preparations were already made.

The senior Government minister told Guyana Times on Sunday that flag raising ceremonies are national events organised by the Government. She noted that there are also committees set up in the various regions which hold responsibility for planning and executing these events.

ExxonMobil discovers more Govt collects over $1B oil offshore Guyana …as Trotman to stripped of responsi…no concrete plans outlined for usage of fund

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has rejected the appointment of Justice Kenneth Benjamin as Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards as Chief Justice following their nomination

by President David Granger.

In a letter dispatched to the media and addressed to

blocking Corriverton flag-raising ceremony

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s part of plans to temporarily reopen two sugar es-

tates, Government has now made a decision to borrow between over $15 billion which it hopes to repay over the next three to five years.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan said Wednesday that that money will be used specifically to fund the operations of the Skeldon and Enmore sugar estates, which is likely to reemploy some workers.

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esidents of the East Coast Demerara village of Enterprise are accusing ranks of the Vigilance Police Station of brutality following an incident which saw officers excessively beating an allegedly unarmed man while facing off with residents.

Police have since refuted claims made by the res-

idents by saying they were compelled to use “excessive” force after being attacked first.

Guyana Times was told that at least five residents of Enterprise had to seek medical attention after being released from custody late Monday night, following an encounter with Police ranks.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Pensioner stabbed to Father drowns while WCD/EBE flooding, 300 death in WBD home trying to save children

residents affected

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onster waves of the agitated Atlantic Ocean demolish a part of the sea defence structure on March 3 and rush invasively into sections of West Coast Demerara/ East Bank Essequibo, flattening fences, confiscating bridges, ransacking homes, and destroying cash crop and poultry enterprises as flood waters besiege hapless communities leaving some 300 resident affected by the

tidal phenomenon.

Areas such as Leonora, Meten-Meer-Zorg, Uitvulgt, Stewartville, Windor Forest, West Coast Demerara (WCD) along with residents of Zeelught, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) were affected.

Displaced residents in some area had to be relocated in community centres as Government worked to have their homes cleaned and repaired.

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he community of Belle West, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was plunged into a state of shock after the body of 68-year-old pensioner, Ursilla Padarta called “Data” was found in her Lot 566 Belle West, Canal Number Two Polder, with a stab wound to her head and one to her neck.

The discovery was made some time after 07:00h by a carpenter who had returned to discuss the construction of a septic tank that the woman planned on doing.

According to the Police, the woman was murdered with an ice-pick which they found in her home.

30 homeless as fire destroys 3 bandits shot 4 Pike street homes while attempting to rob bank customer

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everal families were rudely awakened from their early morning slumber when a fire raged through four houses in Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, razing three to the ground and destroying another leaving some 30 persons homeless.

According to the Police the fire had started at

around 03:00h in the Lot 185 Pike Street apartment of Oswald Layne. The buildings destroyed were located at Lot 185 and 191 Pike Street.

The Social Protection Ministry after assessing the situation had provided supplies for the victims as well as alternative living arrangements.

Former bishop teacher remanded on rape charge

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hirty nine year old former Bishops’ High School teacher, Coen Jackson was arraigned after he was charged with the rape of an underage girl.

Charges were instituted against Jackson after three months of being implicated in a sex scandal which alleged that he had been sexually involved with students Jackson however, vehemently denied the accu-

sations on numerous occasions but did admit to having sexual relations with two former students who are now both in their early 20s.

Linden businessman killed during robbery

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Linden shop owner, 53 year old Romel Gomes, called “Eddie”, of Buck Hill, Wismar Housing Scheme, Linden, was found dead at

his place of business with a gunshot wound to his head and his throat slit after his home was invaded by bandits.

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he man, 43 year old Larchman Benjie, a farmer of Waramadong Village in Region Seven was attempting to save the lives of his children ages two and three after a boat in which they

were travelling capsized in the Kamarang River.

Benjie who was at the time returning from his farm, managed to save the children by subsequently went under the water.

Six homeless as Mabaruma house goes up in flames A family of six were left without a roof over their heads after their Mabaruma Settlement , Barima Waini home went up in flames.

The owner of the two storey wooden house Elaine Sam had left the home to take food for her husband who was working a farm

some distance away sending her four children to fetch water.

However upon their return, they were greeted by thick smoke emanating from the property. The fire was reportedly started by a stove which was left alight.

Pensioner killed in bath settlement accident

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hree suspected bandits were killed in a shootout with Police ranks at the Kingston Seawall opposite the Guyana National Service Ground in Georgetown as they were reportedly attempting to rob a customer who they had trailed from a city bank. Those killed were 46-year-old Dextroy Cordis, also known as “Dutty,” a resident of Grove, East Bank Demerara; Kwame Assanah of Buxton, East Coast Demerara; and 57-year-old Errol Adams, also known as “Dynamite”, of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast and of Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

The Police had reported that ranks perform-

ing duties in the vicinity of Scotiabank on Robb Street, Georgetown when they observed a motorcar with two suspicious looking characters prowling the area.

Those ranks followed the black Toyota IST motorcar, PTT 9034, which at the time was observed following a customer who had just exited the bank.

This car reportedly drove up to the customer’s vehicle and two men exited, one brandishing a small firearm at the customer. The Police acted swift and alerted the men to their presents who opened fire. The ranks took cover and returned fire killing three of the bandits while on escaped.

Teenager fatally stabbed at Barima River

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ighteen-year-old Lawrence Leon, a labourer of Kariabo, Barima River, was stabbed to his upper back by the suspect, 22-year-old Eon Charles.

Based on reports, the suspect, along with his wife and Lawrence, was consuming alcohol when an argument ensued.

During the argument, the now dead man stabbed the suspect to the left hand with a knife and in retaliation; the suspect armed himself with a lance and stabbed the now dead man to the upper back. Both men were rushed to the hospital where Lawrence succumbed to his injuries.

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pensioner, Majeed Indraneah 68, of Lot 561 Bath Referendum, West Coast Berbice lost his life when he when he came into the path of a lorry along the Bath Public Road, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice).

Indraneah was at the time said to be attempting to cross the road.

The man, who worked as a Drainage and Irrigation employee with the Neighbourhood Democratic

Council (NDC), did not sleep at his home in an attempt to escape attacks by villagers.

Wife, friend gets death penalty for killing of husband

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emwattie Abdulla also known as “Annie” and her friend, Seerojini Permaul, known as “Usha”, murdered Abdool Shakeel Majid in 2012, whose battered body was discovered on the Number 63 beach, Corentyne on April 26, 2012 and were both sentenced to death by Justice Sandhil Kissoon at the High Court in the Berbice Assizes.

Majid and his wife Abdulla had arrived in Guyana back in April 2012, with the intention of spending a two-week vacation.

However, five days after

coming to Guyana, Majid’s battered body with the scalp missing was found on the beach.

By then, Abdulla had returned to the United States of America, where she is a resident and had informed relatives of the deceased that her husband was enjoying himself in Suriname and that he had urged her to return home as her daughter was ill.

It was a relative of the dead man who found his suitcase and other personal belongings including his passport at a house and the Police began a probe.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

2 teens, mother charged for Guyanese miners at mercy killing Berbice security guard

of ruthless Sindacto gangs T M iners operating in the Upper Cuyuni River say they are at the mercy of the ruthless Sandicato Gang as they begged the Government to provide escort services as they traverse the river following attacks by members of the said Gang.

According to the miners in their appeal for help, the situation is hampering their businesses. They claim that members of the Venezuelabased Sindicato Gang have set up a camp about three miles below Eteringbang on the Cuyuni River and is stopping all boats (both Venezuelan and Guyanese),

demanding gold and cash for fuel, ration and so on that are being transported for their operations.

“This Sindicato Gang is heavily armed and would fire at our boats if we do not stop. They also have boats and would drive up to us if we do not stop,” the miners complained.

They also noted that there is another group of members from the Sindicato Gang that has recently set us base at Butanamo about 20 miles further down the Cuyuni and have begun to do the same to persons traversing the river.

GDF Captain kills girlfriend, surrenders

wo teenagers and the mother of one of them were on Friday remanded to prison for the murder of a Corentyne, Berbice security guard.

Carlos Ballers, 19, of Williamsburg and Yuvraj Singh, 17, of Guava Bush, Albion Front appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court. The two were jointly charged. Also charged was Lalita Ballers of Section E Port Mourant. However, she was charged separately also for murder.

The three are accused

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Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain has been arrested following a shooting which resulted in the death of his girlfriend in Alexander Village, Georgetown.

Dead is Reona Payne.

According to reports received, at around 11:00h, the couple was in a car bearing registration number PWW 7163, proceeding along First

Street, Alexander Village.

Subsequently, residents of the area heard the now dead woman and the GDF Captain Orwain Sandy arguing, after which she was reportedly seen exiting the vehicle. Sandy then followed her carrying a loaded firearm and discharged several rounds at her killing her instantly.

Gunmen invade Cuyuni mining camp …kills miner, escapes with 100 ounces of gold

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Dominican Republic national was shot and killed on April 6 when a group of armed, masked bandits invaded a mining camp at Cuyuni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Dead is 55-year-old Pedro Pablo Rosario, a night supervisor at the camp located at Black Water Backdam, Cuyuni, River. The incident occurred at about 02:00h.

According reports, Rosario along with four other workers were on duty while the other workers were at the dredge, which was about 30 feet away, the gunmen pounced on them.

This newspaper understands that the owner of the camp reportedly told investigators that a total of 100 ounces of raw gold were on the mats to settle.

GuySuCo $30B bond interest rate pegged at 4.75 %

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uyana will have to repay approximately 4.75 per cent interest on the whopping $30 billion bond it secured recently to revitalise the operations of the three estates which fall under the management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) or all of the assets and companies owned by the National Industrial Commercial and

Investment Limited (NICIL) could be lost.

A source close to the Finance Ministry’s Special Purposes Unit (SPU) told Guyana Times that while the interest rates secured would appear to be very favourable, the implications of failing to consistently repay the bond and related interest rates would be dire.

of killing Munisperen Iyasammy Monien of Lot 45 Clifton, Port Mourant, Corentyne during the course of a robbery on March 31.

Jailed: Mother to serve 98 years for killing children

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wenty-five-year-old Hofoswana Awena Rutherford, who was found guilty of killing her two children by poisoning them with carbon tablets, was sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh to 98 years’ imprisonment on two counts Reona Payne and Captain Orwain Sandy in happier times

Lalita Ballers, mother of murder accused Carlos Ballers

of manslaughter.

On the first count, killing of four-year-old Hodascia Codogan, Rutherford was sentenced to 45 years’ jail; while on the second count, killing of one-year-old Jabari Codogan, she was ordered to serve 53 years’ jail time.

The jury believed the State’s evidence that the mother had given each of her children half of a tablet of aluminium phosphide on March 27, 2014 at Supply Branch Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

Region 5 driver given free housing, handpicked for promotion - PAC hears

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uestionable employment practises in Region Five and suspicious privileges and responsibilities being afforded to one of the region’s drivers were put under the microscope during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing.

Appearing before the PAC was Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison.

He was made to account for the deferential treatment of

his driver, who was provided with housing at the region’s expense despite not being entitled to such.

Questions were also raised about the “heavy duty driver” being promoted to transport officer. The position was not advertised, despite express instructions from the Ministry of the Presidency’s Public Service department that this be done.

Govt launches scathing attacks against Indigenous leaders

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he Government of Guyana accused the country’s independent National Toshaos Council (NTC) of disrespecting President David Granger as it launched a scathing attack on several vocal Indigenous representatives who were not towing the line but exposing serious malpractices of the current A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government.

In a scathing attack on the NTC and its Vice President, Lennox Shuman, the Indigenous People’s

Affairs Ministry accused the Council of being confrontational, demanding and disrespectful in their writings to President David Granger.

The Ministry said it has observed a trend of public posturing by NTC executives and Shuman in particular, stating that the NTC executive has so far not distanced itself from what they described as rather divisive, disingenuous and sometimes incoherent statements being made by these officials.

2 Government Ministers facing misconduct, corruption charges

Govt admits economic growth lowest in 5 years

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n the heels of a report

by Guyana Times, the Government has admitted that Guyana’s macro-economic outlook for 2017 turned out to be worse than projected, with a 2.1 growth rate being recorded.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan made this admission during a press conference at his Ministry.

Revealing that the 2017 end of year economic report has been completed, he linked the dismal figures to sectors including sugar.

“The economy did not perform as robust as we expected during last year,” the Minister admitted. “Even at the half year we were pre-

dicting that the economy would not, given what we knew about sugar. At the end of the day, it was even worse than we predicted. So even though there was positive growth last year, the growth rate ended up being 2.1 per cent.”

Previously, Jordan had said the economy was expected to grow by 2.9 per cent, failing to meet the revised growth projection of 3.1 per cent for 2017. The initial projected growth of the economy was 3.8 per cent. This was, however, revised by midyear to 3.1 per cent after the economy only grew by 2.2 per cent by July.

Drug shortage forces doctors, nurses to sit-in at Skeldon Hospital

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octors and nurses at Skeldon Hospital staged a sit-in and refused to see patients.

Their drastic action came as a result of shortages of drugs and lack of basic equipment

for them to carry out their duties. Since they had no tools to down, the staff at the Accident and Emergency Unit simply refused to see patients who turned up at the facility.

Bank of Guyana gold reserves plummet

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he Bank of Guyana’s latest Statement of Assets and Liabilities are out and it shows that the bank’s total assets are on a slide, with several indices ranging from the bank’s gold holdings to its market securities showing reductions when compared to previous years. The statement was only recently released.

According to the bank document, its total assets as of March 28, 2018, were

$206.4 billion. This includes $1.9 billion in gold reserves, $82.1 billion in capital market securities and $5.6 billion in money market securities.

This is a reduction from the gold reserves the bank recorded in June 2017.

According to the bank’s Half Year report last year, it had $4.8 billion worth of gold in its foreign holdings as assets.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawerence

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rivate criminal charges of financial misconduct and corruption were instituted against two senior Peoples National Congress officials and A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change Government Minister serving with President David Granger’s Cabinet.

The Ministers who are facing the private action are Public Health Minister Volda Lawerence and Social Cohesion Minister Dr George

Social Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton

Norton who also served as Guyana’s Health Minister after Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), Bishop Juan Edghill and Vickram Bharrat filed a criminal case at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The matter which was heard before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan saw Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall representing on behalf of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) ministers.

Criminal charges filed against 3 more Govt minsters

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he Opposition moved to the courts and filed charges against three ministers in the coalition Government in relation to the controversial D’Urban Park project.

These private criminal charges were filed against Finance Minister, Winston Jordan; Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson and Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, as the attorney and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill as an applicant.

The charges against the ministers alleged breach of the Procurement Act, in re-

lation to the expenditure of $906 million in public funds to a private company, Homestretch Development Inc for the construction of the controversial D’Urban Park project which has been a contentious issue for some time now.

Jordan and Patterson have been jointly charged with misconduct and abuse of public trust for having allegedly authorised the payment, while Dr Roopnaraine, who was a director of the company, has been charged with alleged misconduct and the abuse of public trust for having received in his capacity as director the $906M in public funds while serving as minister.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

19 homeless after Georgetown, NICIL still retains dividends President, PM, ministers Berbice fires from state companies - source

…despite pre-election criticisms, forensic audit recommendations

boycott Cheddi Jagan centenary stamp launch

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t the launched of the commemorative stamp to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former President Dr Cheddi Jagan, there was a no show at the event that was organised to launch the item at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Some close relatives of former President Dr Cheddi Jagan and staff of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre were the only ones present for the launch of the commemorative stamp.

P u b l i c

Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes had announced that the GPOC would be issuing commemorative stamps to celebrate the former President’s 100th birth anniversary. However, on the day of Jagan’s birth anniversary, March 21, the Research Centre never received the stamps from the post office.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo also did not position that nor the PPP or Opposition invited to attend that event.

Captain killed, crew missing in another pirate attack

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wo separate fires at Cotton Tree on the Corentyne Coast and Hadfield Street, Georgetown left 19 homeless.

At Berbice, swift action by the fire department prevented two nearby houses from burning after the family of six were trapped in the burning building. Reports are that the family was asleep and at about 00:30h was awoken to a building filled with smoke. Initial efforts to exit the Lot 28 Cotton Tree building proved futile.

According to Jairam, after an alarm was raised, he tried to get everyone out of the burning two-bedroom,

two storied building but they were trapped. He said they were all barefooted and received burns as a result.

Meanwhile in Georgetown, Two houses were gutted while 13 were rendered homeless following a fire of unknown origin.

The fire started in an one storey wooden house, which is located at Lot 69 Hadfield Street. At that time, one of the occupants of the home – an elderly woman - was at home with her grandchildren. Neighbours said that smoke was seen emanating from the house and the occupants of the house managed to escape unharmed.

re-2015, the then Opposition had been heavily critical of the powers wielded by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Specifically, there had been much criticism of NICIL retaining dividends from several state-owned entities.

However, now that the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) are in Government and with a forensic audit conducted by former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran, nothing

has changed about the operation of NICIL. According to a closely placed source, the APNU/ AFC Government continues to run NICIL the very same way. According to the source, the Government has taken one od Guyana’s largest entity and placed it into the realms of NICIL. Following Government’s decision to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates, as well as sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, a Special Purpose Unit (SPU) operating out of NICIL has been leading the divestment process.

Amaila Falls back on the table – Trotman

…says Govt will meet requirements for US$80M

Judicial appointments

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ne week after sea bandits attacked a 20-crew member, mostly Guyanese, in four boats off the coast of Suriname, there was another attack in which a boat captain was killed and his crew members were missing.

The first attack came on the heels as Dutch authori-

ties continue the search for the missing fishermen. Of the 16 fishermen who were initially reported missing and two were accounted for. One of them managed to survive five days after the incident while being injured but only the body of the other fisherman was recovered.

Meanwhile on May 6, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan was accompanied by Deputy Crime Chief, Michael Kingston and Deputy Commander ‘B’ Division, Wayne De Harte as he departed Guyana for Suriname to meet with their security counterparts after the recent spate of pirate attacks on Guyanese fishermen.

In addition, seven relatives of missing fishermen were provided with the necessary documentations to travel to Suriname to join in the search for their loved ones.

Govt rakes in $171.2B in taxes for 2017

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hile a number of indicators point to Guyana’s economic growth declining, one thing that isn’t declining is tax collection. The statistics show that for the year 2017, tax and non-tax collection rose to $194.7 Billion.

The 2017 end of year outcome report states that out of this, tax revenues accounted for $171.2 Billion.

At the heart of this increase

in tax revenues, which account for 87.9 per cent of total revenue, is the government raking in more taxes than ever.

For instance, there was a $1 Billion or 1.4 per cent rise in the collection of income tax; $600 Million or a 3.5 per cent hike in import duty collection and a $300 Billion or 0.4 per cent hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise tax collection.

Human rights body calls for end to impasse

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n regards to comments made by President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in about the appointments of a substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice, it is a clear indication that the impasse has further deepened.

Head of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), Mike McCormack shared his opinions that that both parties should put aside their differences. McCormack said he felt the longer it takes to appoint persons in these two top positions, it will continue to affect the quality of justice here.

The GHRA head said this same issue obtained for the appointment of the chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

“These are major appointments as is the chairperson

for the Elections Commission but the process by which they are being selected is secretive,” he noted.

McCormack told the Guyana Times that no one has a clue about the process by which President Granger used to select Justice Kenneth Benjamin for Chancellor and Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards for the positions, nor is anyone aware why they are unacceptable to the Leader of the Opposition.

Enterprise house goes up in flames, police hunt arsonist

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hree men were on the run after they reportedly barged into an Enterprise, East Coast Demerara house and set it alight.

The two storey wooden and concrete house owned by 30-year-old, Vickram Sookraj was set alight at about 12:30h.

It was reported that two of the men exited a silver car which they arrived in, entered the yard and asked for the whereabouts of a "pump-

kin".

Rajputtie Sookraj, the sister of the owner who was at home alone at the time with a minor child said that the men approached her and asked for the individual for whom they were looking.

However she told this publication that she responded by telling the men that no one by that name lives at that house.

They exited and shortly after smoke was seen emanating from the building.

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hile Minister of State Joseph Harmon had said Government shelved the idea of continuing the Amaila Falls Hydro Power (AFHP) project, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman affirmed that the project is actually a renewable energy option for the Government.

Trotman was at the time fielding questions before the Natural Resources

Committee of the National Assembly. Asked about the conflicting statements on hydro, he denied that the project was off the table.

But while he noted the project, which was a brainchild of former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has potential, the minister observed that funding is an issue.

In addition, Government is still interested in using the natural gas that goes hand in hand with oil production.

IUF urges Govt to look into plight of ex-sugar workers

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he International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF), an international trade union confederation, through its General Secretary Sue Longley, expressed strong concerns over the reducing of the sugar via a letter issued to President David Granger.

The IUF has strongly urged the President that his Government to “…actively look at the plight that have befallen the thousands of workers of the sugar industry who have lost their livelihood…” The trade union body said the situation “…if left unchecked, would not be in the interest of your beautiful country and hospitable people.”

In its letter to President

Granger, the IUF, which speaks on behalf of 10 million workers through its 422 affiliated unions in 131 countries, said it is aware that the sugar industry “… has made substantial contributions to your country’s national life and development…Its role as a national institution cannot be diminished especially recognising the absence of alternatives at this time.”

Moreover, the IUF said it is aware that the coalition Government, despite being advised to, did not pursue any considered study to get a better grasp of the eventualities that will flow from its reform plans.

As such, the international body told the President in their missive that it was not the wisest of positions.

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Berbice man stabs wife, PPP questions mysterious daughter to death ...commits suicide in abandoned deaths of 4 GGMC workers house …claims deaths may be linked to mercury poisoning

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he parliamentary Opposition has raised questions over the recent deaths of four Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) staffers; a matter that has seemingly been shrouded in an information blackout.

In a statement issued, the party expressed condolences to the relatives of the deceased staffers, whose names were given as Dwayne De Jonge (ranger), Latchman Chiti (surveyor), Leroy Green (carpenter) and Clement Profit (lab technician).

According to the PPP Party, all four men were documented to have been affected by mercury poisoning and precautionary measures such as testing and treatment for all staff must be operationalized by

the GGMC and the Public Health Ministry.

Calls by this publication to Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and his junior Minister Simona Broomes went unanswered. When contacted, a top-level official within the Ministry was also at a loss to provide information about the men. He could only confirm that the men were employed at the GGMC and indeed died but did not have any more information.

When contacted, President of the Guyana Civil Servants and General Workers Union (GCS & GWU) Gregory Gaspar declined to comment on the issue. Sources have informed this publication, however, that the men died in close proximation

n East Bank Berbice man was found hanging from a rafter under an abandoned house at Glasgow Village, moments after he killed his wife and daughter.

The double murder was witnessed by the couple’s 11-year-old son.

Dead are Dindamattie Behari, 37, a housewife; her daughter Surujdai Khan, 20; and their killer, Jainarine Seetaram, 41, also called “Radoo” all of Lot 1078 Glasgow, New Housing Scheme, Greater New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Behari’s body was found in a hammock, while her daughter died on her way to the New Amsterdam Hospital. A short distance

away, Seetaram was found hanging at an abandoned house.

According to the Police, the couple’s 11-year-old son related that about two weeks ago, his father accused his mother of having of an extra-marital affair and they had a misunderstanding over it.

He stated that his father was armed with a wooden handle hammer, then dealt his mother a lash to her head with the said weapon.

Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Lyndon Alves told the media that the Police were informed of the incident but by the time they reached the scene, the suspect had already fled.

DDL Chairman calls for more attention to manufacturing sector Govt announces plans to …says local exporters must build 2 more roundabouts lift standards …Kitty round about open W

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ublic Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, officially opened the Kitty roundabout, and plans were announced to construct two more of the structures, which will help to ease traffic congestion and wastage of time.

The Minister also announced that he expected a waterfront project to be completed by 2019, which will accompany the Kitty roundabout as a tourist destination in the country.

According to Patterson, the two planned structures are scheduled to be erected at the Timehri junction, East Bank Demerara and at the corner of Mandela Avenue and Sheriff Street,

Georgetown, under the Sheriff Street road expansion project.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson; Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes; Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Deputy Mayor Akeem Peters cut the ribbon to officially open the Kitty roundabout.

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

ith Guyana’s Balance of Payment position showing a US$69.5 million deficit last year, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Chairman Komal Samaroo made a charge for more emphasis to be placed on developing the manufacturing and export sector.

Samaroo was at the time addressing persons gathered for the launch of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s business magazine. The business executive warned that, with the global market as competitive as it is, more needs to be done to lift local standards.

He noted that to do this, high levels of technical competence and discipline are needed; but, he said, there are challenges even with these lofty goals. Here he was referring to the bureaucracy some manufacturers must deal with when transacting their business.

Samaroo pointed to statistics that a quarter of the US economy is made up of manufacturing physical goods. This, he said, coupled with distribution and sales to retail outlets, means the superpower economy is built largely around manufacturing.

Guyana will fall behind if youths not involved in ICT – IDB …as Govt promises full digitalisation by 2020

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overnment has committed to offering 200 services online to citizens as part of its ICT manifesto promises, while the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is urging more inclusionary policies for youth to advance the sector.

At an IDB-sponsored training summit at the Marriott Hotel on Friday, IDB Regional Head Therese Turner-Jones, in addressing the participants, urged Government to avail itself of youth innovators.

It has been pointed out that youths have led the data revolution in other countries, and those countries have gone on to achieve some form of eco-

nomic prosperity. As such, transforming the sector can be expedited by more involvement of youths.

IDB Country Representative Sophie Makonnen stressed the need for countries to keep up to date with advancing technologies. With new technology, Makonnen noted, there are new ways to solve old problems, such as with health care.

A presentation was made by Dr Nicholas Haan, the Track Chair and Vice President of Impact at Singularity University (SU) in which he said there have been major technological transformations which have created opportunities for agencies to rethink the way they serve people.

Private criminal charges

Jordan files $200M ‘malicious prosecution’ lawsuit against Edghill

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inance Minister Winston Jordan has filed a $200 million lawsuit against Opposition Parliamentarian Juan Edghill, whose private criminal charges against several Government ministers, including Jordan, have since been dismissed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In the court document seen by Guyana Times, Jordan is claiming damages in the sum of $200,000,000; for the “Malicious Prosecution of the Offence of Misconduct in Public Office” and other damages.

Edghill initiated private criminal charges against Minister Jordan and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson jointly as well as against Public Service Minister Dr Rupert

Roopnaraine. The charges against the Ministers allege a breach of the Procurement Act in relation to the expenditure of $906 million in public funds to a private company, Homestretch Development Inc, for the construction of the controversial D’Urban Park Project, which has been a contentious issue for some time now.

Jordan and Patterson were jointly charged with misconduct and abuse of public trust for having allegedly authorized the payment, while Dr Roopnaraine, who was a director of the company, was charged with alleged misconduct and the abuse of public trust for having received, in his capacity as director, the $906 million in public funds while serving as minister.

Westfield Prep student tops NGSA with perfect score DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

On the one hand, the Current Account shows a deficit of US$287.4 million for the year 2017. But in the previous fiscal year, the report notes, this was just US$12.4 million. The report admits that this is because of a negative balance on the merchandise trade account.

When Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented the 2018 budget last year, he had announced that merchandise imports were estimated to grow by 9.6 per cent. This had been attributed to increased imports of mining machinery, chemicals, fuel and lubricants. According to the report, imports exceeded the Government’s projections.

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leven-year-old Nalia Rahaman of Westfield Prep has been announced the top student at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations, having secured a perfect score of 529.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry made the announcement at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) on Thursday.

The elated student explained that she was very happy to have been informed that she had secured the top spot this year. Rahaman had sat the examination at a tender age of ten with the aspiration of becoming an author.

Meanwhile, the second top performer, Arthur Roberts from the New Guyana School, who secured

525 marks, indicated that he was all along aiming for a place at Queen’s College, and he is now working towards his lifelong goal of being a paediatrician.

Cianna Barkoye of North Ruimveldt Primary, who secured 523 marks, noted that she was expecting to excel because of her endless studying.

The top Success Elementary School performer, Zyia Braithwaite, who gained 523 marks, explained that she is satisfied with her performance as she can relax and take a break from studying.

Krystal Duncan of the New Guyana School, who acquired 523 marks, recalled the long nights which accompanied hours of studying to learn everything that she needed to know.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Avenue ‘A’ & ‘B’ Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was reportedly stabbed several times including once to his abdomen.

Based on reports received, the 15-year-old former Diamond Secondary

School student and his friends left their respective homes on Sunday with the intention of “taking a lime” at the Soesdyke/Linden Highway Junction but instead went to the wedding, which was close by.

Leguan stelling on verge collapse – residents Berbice River …also blasts T&HD for unreliable Bridge facing Ferry Service bankruptcy

…company applies for toll hike, losses $2.8B …Govt says no to increase

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proval of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) that was created to replace the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said it will only put pressure on the treasury, and if the PPP returns to office, it would be automatically scrapped.

Jagdeo described the draft strategy which he has had a look at, as one that is a basic ‘cut and paste’ of

best practices from around the world, which essentially lacks the ability to attract funding for Guyana.

NTC blasts Govt for ‘broken’ promises

- Granger, Nagamootoo claim ignorance of breaking faith

The loose decking on the stelling

esidents on the Island of Leguan in the Essequibo River are calling on the Government to urgently fix the Ferry Stelling since it is on the verge of collapse, warning that if emergency works are not executed immediately then there is the potential for loss of lives since the stelling’s collapse is imminent. The timber planks supporting the stelling are rotten and this has caused fear for residents since heavy vehicles traverse the stelling. In addition, the decking is loose and uneven with rails hanging on to literally nothing on certain sections on the ramp.

Govt pussyfooting around on teachers’ salary increase – GTU The Guyana Teachers’

Union (GTU) is running tired of the continuous delays and excuses being made by Government with regards to the proposal for an increase in teachers’ salaries and other benefits.

While Education Minister Nicolette Henry has said that the matter is now at the hands of Cabinet and that recommendations were made and these were submitted for initial evaluation, the GTU said it is fed up. President of GTU Mark Lyte said that the Union has learnt unofficially that the work of the HighLevel Task Force of Public Education has been dealt with by Cabinet. However, he said the union is yet to hear a word from the Government on their decision.

PPP 2020 presidential candidate

Any frontrunner could be maliciously charged – Jagdeo

…selection process to be fair, determined by party CC

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agdeo accuses Govt of plotting against potential PPP presidential candidates Any candidate who considers himself or herself a front runner for the post of presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) at the upcoming 2020 elections could find themselves facing malicious, trumped up, or spurious charges for dubi-

ous offenses following directions handed down by the ruling APNU/AFC Coalition Government.

This is the view expressed by Opposition Leader and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo as he responded to questions raised by the media in regard to the likelihood of the next PPP Presidential candidate being singled out for charges.

From left: Civil Engineer Bert Carter; BBCI Vice Chairman Paul Chung; Chairman, Dr Surendra Persaud; PR Consultant Kit Nascimento and the Bridge’s Finance Comptroller, Steven Ramchan

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ore than a decade after a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement allowed the construction the Berbice Bridge; the bridge company is now facing bankruptcy following the Government's decision to drop the toll and subsequent refusal to allow for an increased as per the initial agreement when the company was formed According to Board Chairman Dr Surendra Persaud, they have had several engagements with Minister of Public Infrastructure David

Patterson. He noted that following a previous engagement, Patterson had informed them that a maintenance proposal would be taken to cabinet.

According to the Chairman, they were subsequently informed that it was not approved. In fact, the company applied for a toll adjustment on three occasions; twice in 2015 and once in 2016, to no avail. They have since made another such application, dated July 9. In that application, the company had requested that the toll increases take effect

by August 1.

119 deaths recorded for past year

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he Parliamentary Opposition has raised concerns over what they described as the high number of deaths of newborn infants at the Georgetown Public Hospital over the past year.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Vindhya Persaud who was allowed oral questions in Parliament on Thursday, requested Health Minister Volda Lawrence to provide statistics in relation to these deaths.

teenager was in the wee hours of Monday found dead in the vicinity of a wedding house at

Soesdyke on the East Bank Demerara with stab wounds to his body. Ricardo Singh also called “Cardo” of Lot 63

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NTC Chairman Joel Fredericks

he National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) conference of 2018 opened on Monday with incumbent Chairman Joel Fredericks blasting Government for a number of unfulfilled promises.

According to Fredericks, the indigenous peoples of Guyana were promised a number of things; such as the revision of the Amerindian Act of 2006; Constitutional

reform and land to build a Secretariat for the NTC. The Chairman added that for three years the NTC listened carefully to every indigenous people’s policy Government announced.

However, Fredericks noted that in those three years, the trust has been eroded by the Government’s failure to effectively act on these promises.

5 bandits killed during shootout with Police

…high powered weapons recovered

Lawrence confirmed the MP’s suspicion when she revealed that there have been 119 deaths of newborn infants at the Georgetown Public Hospital during the period June 2017 and June 2018. According to the Minister, from a total of 1155 admissions of neonatal over the period some 10.3 percent of those admissions resulted in deaths, which she also claimed is far too many.

Teen stabbed to Green State Strategy death at Soesdyke will put pressure on … CPG member, friend in custody the treasury – Jagdeo

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DHB feasibility n reiterating his disap-

...Says PPP will scrap policy if party returns to Gov’t in 2020

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ive armed bandits, who were allegedly attempting to rob a house at Pattersen, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown were shot dead during a gun battle with the Police.

The dead men have been identified as 38-year-old Timothy St Hill of Warlock,

East Ruimveldt, Georgetown and also Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Andrew Daly, 40, of Westminster, West Bank Demerara; Levi Braithwaite, 31, of North Ruimveldt and also of Albouystown, Georgetown; Ian Forde and Jermaine Doobay.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Judicial appointments

CCJ President urges President, Opposition Leader to resolve deadlock

…says non-appointments a “serious concern”

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ustice Adrian Saunders, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), is calling on Guyana’s political leaders to urgently resolve their issues and appoint a substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary and a Chief Justice for Guyana’s courts. He has said this current impasse has implications for the proper running of the Guyana courts.

Following a session of interaction with the private sector at the Pegasus Hotel on August 2, Justice Saunders told reporters that the delay in making these substantive appointments of key judicial

personnel is a matter of “serious concern”.

“Guyana has not had a Chancellor for 13 years, since Chancellor [Desiree] Bernard demitted office to become a Judge of the CCJ. Since then, there have been persons acting in that position… We are outsiders to Guyana’s political system, but we are entitled to express views we have that directly concern the administration of justice. But ultimately, it’s a matter for the Guyana political directorate, and I just wish that steps be taken to resolve those issues,” the newly appointed CCJ President asserted.

Abusive relationship ends in murder, suicide …husband slits wife’s throat, commits suicide …Police left victim alone with husband

- says “troubling questions” raised in report Police probing Public Infrastructure

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ven as Government continues to review the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report into the Lindo Creek Massacre, Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, Brigadier David Granger, on Wednesday said that those officers who are implicated in the Lindo Creek Massacre will face the consequences of their actions.

“The report’s recommen-

dations will be acted upon in due course. The days of concealing security sector mistakes and misdeeds are over. The Force’s officers will be held accountable for the consequences of their actions, and for the instructions they issue to their subordinates,” the President said in his remarks at the swearing-in of the new Police Service Commission.

3 killed, 1 critical after drunken driver crashes into parked lorry

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n the wee hours of August 12, a car in which four friends were travelling crashed into a parked lorry at La Grange, West Bank Demerara, killing three of the occupants and leaving the fourth in a critical state.

The dead men were identified as 33- year-old Leroy Levans Jr of Nismes, WBD -- a father of one, who had been preparing to go on vacation in the United States

later this month; 25-yearold Devindra Hardyal, also called “Slice”, and 20-yearold Reshi Pasha, both of La Grange, WBD. The fourth occupant of the car, 22-year-old David Bourne of Goed Fortuin, WBD, was admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), after initially being treated at the West Demerara Regional Hospital for the injuries he sustained.

Natural gas eruption

Capped well at Diamond erupts

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Corentyne, Berbice man turned a knife on himself after killing his wife of 15 years on August 6. Dead are Subrina Lakhan, 29, a housewife, and her husband, Ramesh Ramdeen, 42, a labourer, at Rose Hall Estate.

The couple lived at Lot 101 Chesney New Housing Scheme, Corentyne, and had three children ages six, eight and 13 during the 15-year relationship, which was marred by physical and verbal abuse.

This newspaper was told that the couple on August 6, appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court.

Following the court appearance, the mother of three went to the Police Station and requested that an officer accompany her home, saying

A that she was scared for her life and had decided to go live with her mother. Reports are that the woman asked for the officer to be there while she packed her belongings. This publication was told that a female officer accompanied the woman, but left while she was packing.

breach in the pipeline that was used to cap the gas pocket that exploded back in June in Diamond, East Bank Demerara, has caused a blockage which in turn saw several mini gas eruptions at the Diamond, East Bank Demerara, residence.

The eruptions occurred sometime around 01:00h on Wednesday at the same Sixth Avenue, Great Diamond home where contractors had hit a natural gas pocket causing an immediate explosion two

months ago.

The exposed area was initially capped and the gas was being released into the atmosphere through a pipeline. However, that pipeline became compromised with a sand blockage; and as a result of this blockage, the gas was unable to escape and the built up pressure resulted in the gas being released through other compromised openings. There were at least two mini-gas eruptions while various spots in the yard could be seen bubbling.

Ministry’s procurement breaches – SOCU

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he Parliamentary Opposition People’s Progressive Party has written to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), asking that the procurement breaches in relation to the award of consultancy contract to Dutch company, LievenseCSO, for the feasibility study and design of the new Demerara River Bridge be investigated; and SOCU has responded, informing that the issue is engaging the attention of the Guyana Police Force.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira wrote to SOCU head Sydney James on August 15, requesting that

the procurement breaches be investigated “with a view to instituting criminal charges against the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Minister David Patterson.”

In a response dated August 16, James acknowledged receiving the correspondence, and said, “The matter is now engaging the attention of the Guyana Police Force.”

Additionally, he informed that Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, and Police Legal Advisor, Retired Justice of Appeal Claudette Singh, have been informed of the request for an investigation.

PNCR elects Volda Lawrence as first female chairperson - Annette Ferguson – Vice Chair - Dr George Norton 2nd Vice Chiar

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oud cheers erupted in the wee hours of August 20 at Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, as longstanding party member Volda Lawrence was officially declared Chairperson of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR), creating history in the party as the

first woman to hold the post.

At about 01:00h on Monday, the votes were tabulated and Lawrence emerged victorious in front of former Chairman, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams; and bypassing fellow contender, Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

Lawrence, who is the Public Health Minister, secured 346 votes; while Harmon got 287, and Williams secured 183 votes.

Mother stabs 3-yearold son to death

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fter years of mistreating and neglecting her children, a 26-yearold mother of two has fatally stabbed her three-year-old son because she reportedly had a dream that she would die on August 25.

The infant Ramdeo Ferreira of Lot 585-Fifteenth Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara is now dead following an ordeal that, according to the Police report, began at about 09:45h on said day, when this mother began pursuing her hapless infant in the yard with a knife in her hand.

A few minutes lat-

er, ranks at the Enmore Police Outpost received a report that the child had been stabbed by his mother; and when they arrived on the scene, they found the child lying unconscious in a pool of blood with suspected stab wounds to his neck and back.

Police rushed the threeyear-old to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), but he died at about noon (12:00h) while receiving medical treatment. He was stabbed to the heart, a post mortem examination later conducted, revealed.

Queen’s College, Anna Regina Traditional sectors Secondary dominate CSEC ExxonMobil discovers 9th …over 600 students receive suffer decline oil find offshore Guyana Mid-Year Report 2018

…although economy grew by 4.5 %

zero passes

espite the economy growing by 4.5 per cent in the first half of 2018, the traditional sectors, such as sugar and rice, have seen decline in their performances, with contractions of 30.6 and 3.8 per cent respectively.

This was revealed in the Finance Ministry’s MidYear Report 2018, which was laid in Parliament on August 8, and which focuses on the state of the economy

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and performances of various sectors.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan admitted that the gold sector also suffered a decline of 9.1 per cent. This is equivalent to a decrease of 288,114 ounces in gold declaration. The report also revealed that this represented a 19.4 percent shortfall (below the original projection set by Government).

Lindo Creek CoI Report

Officers will be held accountable – President

ixteen-year-old Christian Pile of Queen’s College has been named Guyana’s top performer at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) examinations for securing a remarkable 19 grade ones at the examination sat earlier this year.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Friday, Pile indicated that he was surprised at the results, but said he was somewhat certain that

he would have excelled. Plans for the aspiring orthodontist include attending sixth form.

Among the top performers are Shakira Bholo of Anna Regina Multilateral; Salma Majeed of ISA Islamic Academy; Areeb Ali of Queen’s College; Cemecia de la Cruz of Anna Regina Multilateral; and Haema Dasrath, Aarti Hooblall, Reseda Hack, Leshanna Binda and Yashoda Samaroo of Queen’s College.

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S oil giant ExxonMobil made its ninth discovery offshore Guyana, marking its fifth discovery on the Stabroek Block in the past year and proving a new play concept for potential development.

The discovery was made

at the Hammerhead-1 well, where approximately 197 feet of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir were encountered. The well was safely drilled to 13,862 feet depth in 3,373 feet of water. The Stena Carron drillship began drilling on July 27, 2018.

President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Steve Greenlee, said the Hammerhead-1 discovery reinforces the potential of the Guyana Basin, where ExxonMobil is already maximizing value for all stakeholders.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Over 4000 teachers on AG loses case against country-wide strike

former SWAT head

…as court quashes David Ramnarine’s decision

Former SWAT Commander, Deputy Superintendent Mootie Dookie

The decision made by the former acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, to send Commander of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Deputy Superintendent Mootie Dookie on ‘special leave in the public interest’, after he was allegedly found smuggling alcohol, was quashed

by Justice Fidella CorbinLincoln.

Dookie had filed a challenge on June 15, 2018, against the decision made on May 21, 2018, on the grounds that the said decision was “unconstitutional, capricious, whimsical (and) irrational, based upon irrelevant and extraneous considerations, contrary to the rules of natural justice, unreasonable unlawful, null, void and of no effect.”

Dookie was represented

by Attorneys Anil Nandlall, Manoj Narayan, Rajendra Jaigobin and Anuradha Deodasingh in the case against Ramnarine, who was represented by the Attorney General Basil Williams.

After reviewing the written legal submissions, Justice Corbin-Lincoln handed down the ruling.

As part of the decision, Ramnarine and his attorney were also ordered to pay to the Applicant $100,000.

Coast guard medevac unresponsive 5-year-old from ferry

Hospital (GPHC), after quick action from the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Coast Guard expedited his access to medical attention.

According to the GDF, fiveyear-old Marian Santiago was travelling to Mabaruma from Georgetown aboard the MV Lady Northcote, when he reportedly complained The child lying in his mother’s arms as he was being taken to the hospital of feeling unwell at about midday on the five-year-old lad day in question. As his conwas been trans- dition began to deteriorate, ferred and admitted his parents sought help from to the Georgetown Public the Northcote crew.

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1000 nurses needed in Guyana – Minister Lawrence

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he issue of migrating professionals, including those in the health field, is one Government is actively grappling with, and the plan is to increase student intake even as there is a need for approximately 1000 nurses in Guyana.

This was communicated

by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence on the side-lines of the launch of a Medex programme.

According to Lawrence, the issue has reached the level of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Migration is not only a Guyana issue. We have signed on to CSME (Caribbean Single Market Economy), and that gives the right to any person, any Caribbean person, to be able to move from one country

to the next to be able to ply their trade or earn in their profession. So it’s no different from Guyana,” she explained.

“We will continue to see migration, not just in midwifery, not just in nursing; but this has been a complaint right up to WHO about the developed countries, where the developed countries are coming up into our territory and employing persons,” she declared.

Guyana has been named one of two countries showing the strongest emigration movements, with 9.65 per 1000 persons emigrating in 2013. It was cited in a previous study that at least 40 per cent of the people in Guyana would migrate permanently if they get the opportunity.

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An empty classroom in Berbice

housands of students decked out in their new uniforms, bags and shoes were on the first day of the school term greeted with the absence of teachers, and in some cases closed school doors and padlocked gates, as they made their way to school for the beginning of the new school year.

This was the scene at many public schools, even as

the Education Ministry continues to face the full wrath of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), whose members gathered in their hundreds outside the Education Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown office as they continued to call for a ‘livable income’.

The scene was no different across the country in other regions.

Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan confirmed reports that young Tappin was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital by his mother after she observed he was vomiting on Wednesday.

Reports stated that the child would usually be left in the care of his nine-yearold brother on numerous occasions. Guyana Times was told that the nine-year-old boy sometimes misses school to care for his brother.

Ecstasy being sold to students at 5 secondary schools

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he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) has announced a “worrying” trend whereby date-rape drug ‘Ecstasy’ is being sold to students in at least five schools across Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

The anti-drug enforcement agency is working with education officials to address the illegal practice.

The date-rape drug is making its way into schools after being already popular among many affluent members of society, according to CANU Deputy Head, Lesley Ramlall.

T&T promises to relook at Policeman nabbed attempting to throw ban on honey transshipment contrabands into Lusignan Prison

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rank of the Guyana Police Force was caught attempting to throw a bag containing contraband items into the Holding Bay of the Lusignan Prison.

According to Director of Prisons (ag), Gladwin Samuels, the plastic bag, when examined, was found

to contain one cellular phone, one cellular phone charger, and seven packs of cigarettes.

The cop was detained before subsequently being handed over to an Inspector of Police who came on duty.

He was then escorted to a Police Station for further investigation.

PPP takes Govt to court over added Local Authority Areas

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ollowing complaints that the Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan is involved in the gerrymandering of Local Authority Areas (LLA) in Opposition strongholds, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) filed a legal challenge in the High Court to halt the Minister’s move even as Bulkan maintained that everything he did was above board. Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall filed the Fixed Date Application (FDA) on behalf of People’s Progressive Party Guyana Elections Commissioner (GECOM) Commissioner, Bibi Shadick.

The Applicant filed judicial review proceedings in the High Court against decisions of named respondents, Communities Minister Bulkan and Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield. Nandlall told reporters on Monday that the PPP’s action is not geared at delaying the entire Local Government Elections set for November 12 but rather; elections in the contested

Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) could be rescheduled until the outcome of the court case.

In the writ seen

by Guyana Times, the Applicant is seeking a several orders which seek to bring the Communities Minister’s alterations into the conformity with Local Democratic Organs Act, Chapter 28:09.

In so doing, the Applicant is petitioning the court to have Bulkan’s orders declared null and void.

The Applicant made an application for an Order or Writ of Certiorari to quash Bulkan’s order of holding elections of seven NDCs without first issuing an Order under the Local Democratic Organs Act, to identify the NDCs by name, boundaries, and number of members. These NDCs are Moruka/Phoenix Park; Kitty/Providence; Nile/Cozier; Lamaha/ Yarrowkabra; Hauraruni/ Yarrowkabra; Plegt Anker/ Kortberaad; and Wyburg/ Caracas.

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rinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has committed that his country is looking into the 80-yearold law which restricts Guyana from transshipping honey exports through the twin-island nation.

The 1935 T&T law prohibits the transportation of honey within one mile of the country. In fact, back in 2015, Laparkan was fined US$3000 by Trinidad and Tobago’s customs for facilitating the shipment of honey.

The authorities had also seized the quantity of hon-

Tombs broken into, skeletal remains scattered in cemetery

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our tombs in the La Belle Alliance Cemetery on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two have been broken into, and their contents were dumped in the cemetery.

This gruesome discovery was made by a cattle farmer who was at the time grazing his animals.

Guyana Times visited the scene and observed that the

mise after he eat carbon tablets (rat poison). The dead child was identified as Andre Keron Tappin of Lot 18 La Grange Public Road, WBD.

tombs had been breached in several places. The skeletal remains of at least one woman had been taken out from her casket and was placed on the ground a short distance away. The skull and certain other bones were missing from those remains. The corpse was identified as that of Sara Garraway of Danielstown, Essequibo Coast.

The three other tombs that were broken into still had their caskets intact, but it was not clear if bones were missing from them.

The headstone of the second tomb read “Campton Britton of Danielstown”, while only the word “Persaud” was visible on the third tomb. The fourth tomb was unmarked.

Thieves break into Finance Ministry

Child dies after accidently P eating rat poison S hockwaves were rippling through the West Bank Demerara (WBD) village of La Grange, following the death of a oneyear-old, who met his de-

ey which was in-transit there. Apart from Guyana, Grenada also faces similar troubles with twin-island laws.

However, Dr Rowley, in responding to questions following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Energy Sector Cooperation between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, told media operatives that while he was not aware that Guyana was also affected by the restriction, he assured that steps are being taken to address the matter.

olice in A Division (Georgetown) were investigating a breakin at the Finance Ministry during which several documents and hard drives, among other items, were stolen.

Guyana Times was told that the burglary is believed to have taken place sometime on Friday evening into the wee hours of Saturday morning.

It was reported that the discovery was made later Saturday morning when employees showed up for work.

Upon realising that the documents and data-saving devices were missing, authorities at the Ministry were informed and the Police was called in.

This newspaper understands that investigators had visited the scene and took fingerprint samples.

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Pensioner shot, robbed

GuySuCo misappropriated A bond -NICIL/SPU -says misuse of funds has caused worry for lenders

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he National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is expressing concern over the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) use of money from the syndicated bond it raised for unauthorized purposes.

Days after reports that Republic Bank halted GuySuCo’s bond financing over misuse of funds, the very entity that raised the funds has joined in expressing concern. In a statement,

NICIL’s Special Purpose Unit head Colvin Heath London made it clear that GuySuCo appropriated the funds for unauthorized expenses.

In fact, London said that Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and GuySuCo have appeared disinclined in using the monies for capitalizing GuySuCo. According to London, this has caused lenders to express alarm for the way things are unfolding with the bond.

Closure of Skeldon sugar estate takes toll on Corriverton businesses

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he closure of the Skeldon Sugar Estate has taken a toll on the business community in the bordering town of Corriverton, Berbice, Region six. Nine months after the estate was closed, businesses are recording very low sales and many of them are operating at a lost.

Following the closure of four sugar factories last year, and the displacing of almost 5000 workers sever-

al communities recognised a slowdown in commercial activity.

Last year 1851 workers were sacked from the Skeldon Sugar Estate, 1181 from the Rose Hall Estate, 1480 from the East Demerara Sugar Estate and 251 from the Wales Sugar Estate.

The impact on Corriverton as a result of the Skeldon closure is being referred to as great.

PPP files legal action on fraudulent LGE list

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) through one of its constituency candidates in Berbice has filed legal proceedings against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and another individual to have the names fraudulently affixed to the backer’s lists for Local Government Elections (LGE) in the Ancient County removed.

The court document seen by this newspaper names Shafraz Beekham as the applicant, along with the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and Orlando Christopher Persaud as the

respondents. The document outlines that the challenge is seeking to have the names of 49 other electors appearing on list of backers in support of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Constituency candidates removed.

It noted that the submission was made to Persaud on September 21, 2018 in Whim Bloomfield, Berbice Local Authority Area (LAA), for the LGE 2018. The PPP is challenging on the grounds that the said decision is unlawful, illegal, and unreasonable and is in violation of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act.

Pirates attack 8 Guyanese fishermen in Waini River

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ishermen plying their trade close to the Guyana Venezuela borders pounced upon by a group of armed Spanishspeaking men, in an area referred to as Crabdog, Waini River, Region One. The gunmen demanded that the crew hand over their boat and valuables, forcing the men to plunge into the murky waters of the Waini River.

Information reaching this publication indicated

that the incident occurred at about 15:00h on Thursday.

The boat was captained by 40-year old Julian Marks, of Dartmouth Village, Essequibo Coast and had seven crew men.

Police investigations revealed that as the men were about to throw their nets they were attacked by Spanish-speaking men, who arrived in a wooden balahoo powered by a 75hp outboard engine.

70-year-old woman is now nursing a gunshot wound on her arm after she was shot during a robbery by motorbike bandits.

The robbery occurred at about 13:15h on Laluni Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

According to reports, earlier in the day the victim and her husband went to a city bank where she withdrew a sum of cash. She was traced and robbed.

The injured woman was rushed to a Georgetown medical facility, where she is was admitted a patient.

Son shot, father beaten as bandits invade Corentyne business

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The injured father and son duo in the hospital

father and son are now hospitalised after three armed bandits attacked their Corentyne, Berbice, business, terrorising them.

The incident occurred at about 18:00h at the Lot 6 Cromarty Farm, property where the family operates a grocery shop that is attached to their house.

Injured are 52-yearold Dhirah Kumar and his 22-year-old son, Balram,

who was shot to his jaw.

Guyana Times understands that three men – one masked, one carrying a gun and the other a cutlass – entered the grocery store, which Kumar and his son operates.

According to the businessman’s wife, 48-year-old wife, Asha Kumar, at the time she was preparing dinner for the family when she heard her husband screaming.

Teachers' wage impasse ends

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fter more than one month since a nationwide teachers’ strike was called off, the government has finally agreed to increase the salaries of teachers by 12 percent for 2016 and eight percent for 2018. This was disclosed on Friday at the Education Ministry’s 26 Brickdam, Georgetown Office following a six-hour long discussion between Education Minister, Nicholette Henry and the Executives of the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU).

The minister revealed, “What we have proposed essentially is in so far as 2016 in concerned, we finalized at 12 and eight percent respectively and for 2018 we’re at eight percent and the debunching figure (is) the one that we shared earlier the $315,000,000”.

Although fewer smiles were seen on the faces of the executives, the President of the GTU, Mark Lyte told Guyana Times that the Union is satisfied with the amount being given to teachers.

Mother of two killed by mentally unstable boyfriend

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mother of two was stabbed several times by her mentally unstable boyfriend and left to die in a muddy drain at Crane Street Queenstown, Corriverton, Berbice.

The dead woman identified as Iransa Frank, 38, was a waitress of Crimson Light Bar located on the Corentyne and formerly of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The woman was heading home from work when she was seen running up the street with the suspect in hot pursuit. He eventual-

Dead, Iransa Frank

ly caught up with the woman. The woman was trying to fight him off but her throat was reportedly slit in the process. The woman fell into a nearby. She was further stabbed four times to her neck.

Fire guts Sophia home, 12 homeless

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fire of unknown origin on Sunday afternoon gutted a “B” Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown house leaving at least 12 persons homeless.

The fire reportedly started just after midday in the lower flat of the building and quickly spread to the entire building this leaving the occupants anytime to save any household items. The fire

was first detected by an occupant of the house who immediately raised an alarm.

By doing so, the other occupants of the house ran to safety and the fire fighters were summoned. However, by the time the fire tenders arrived, the house was almost gutted. The entire upper flat was destroyed along with the front wall of the lower flat was intact.

December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

3 escape from Lusignan prison

…security ranks were clearly not alert – Director of Prisons

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Sudesh Dyal; Travis Evans; Dexroy Pollard

manhunt is underway for three prisoners, who escaped from the Lusignan Prison in the wee hours of Monday.

The men reportedly scaled the perimeter fence at about 04:30h.

The escapees are 23-year-old Travis Evans of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Sudesh Dyal, 23, of Wales Backdam and Dexroy Pollard, 29, of Wales Village. Evans is a murder accused.

Acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels has since confirmed that of

the three who escaped, one was incarcerated for murder while the other two were on remand for break and enter and larceny.

Those on the run are 23-year-old Travis Evans of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Sudesh Dyal, 23, of Wales Backdam and Dexroy Pollard, 29, of Wales Village. Evans is reportedly the murder accused. Pollard was convicted for breaking and entering and was sentenced to two years imprisonment. Dyal was on remand for breaking and entering.

Ogle Shaheed orphanage destroyed by fire

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ighteen orphans of the Shaheed’s Girls Orphanage were awakened after an early morning fire at their Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD) residence on Saturday.

Reports are the fire started at about 06:45h in the upper flat of the partially wooden and concrete building, which is located at Lots 7 and 8, Oleander Gardens, Ogle, ECD. This newspaper was told

that one of the two caretakers, 59-year-old Shantie Pooram, was alerted by one of the children, who noticed the dense smoke emerging from a room on the western end of the building.

An alarm was raised, and the children were rushed out of the building. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were also alerted about the fire.

Guyana records fiscal deficit over $20B

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uditor General Deodat Sharma has found that Government’s overall deficit has increased and indeed, swallowed the current surplus - resources saved from taxes, royalties and other revenue earing activities embarked on by the state.

This is contained in the Auditor General’s 2017 report, which notes that for that fiscal year there was a net overall deficit of $24.268 billion as of December 31, 2017. The net deficit is made up of a current surplus of $5.939 billion and a capital deficit of $30.207 billion.

The AG found that Government attracted total capital revenue of $28.4 billion but capital expenditure, which is usually long term, project oriented and non-recurrent spending, was recorded by the AG at $58.6 billion.

Total revenue for the year 2017, which includes current and capital, was $323 billion. Government, however, spent more than it earned as total expenditure was pegged at $347.3 billion, a deficit of $24.2 billion. The deficit has in fact increased from last year, when it was $20.3 billion.

President David Granger unwell, heads to Cuba

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overnment had issued a terse statement on Monday that President David Granger would be going to Cuba on today for almost a week.

However, Guyana Times was told that President is unwell and will be going to the Spanish speaking country for medical tests.

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

to undergo surgery.

Instead, she said, he will be undergoing a medical test in Havana, the capital of Cuba. She also informed that the president called a meeting with Cabinet ministers from his Peoples Nation Congress (PNC) party on Monday.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

NOVEMBER

Govt nationalises Berbice River Bridge ... “this is a slap in the face to all private-public partnerships – BBCI Vice Chair … no respect for rule of law, constitutional rights of citizenry – former AG

Marcus Bisram loses extradition case in US T …expected back in Guyana to face murder charge

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he month of November started off with news that Guyanese Philanthropist Marcus Bisram is expected back in Guyana to face a murder charge after he lost an extradition challenge in a New York court. Bisram is wanted in Guyana for the murder of a Berbice carpenter.

District Judge, Kiyo A Matsumoto presided over the case on Tuesday, where she upheld that there was sufficient evidence for Bisram to be repatriated to Guyana. Judge of the Eastern District, Peggy Kuo had similarly ruled that the evidence was enough, and an extradition order was signed.

On October 31, 2016, Faiyaz Narinedatt was beat-

en and ran over with a motorcar at the alleged orders of Bisram, after the carpenter declined sexual advances that were made by the overseas-based Guyanese.

The body of 27-yearold Narinedatt was later found on the Number 70 Village Public Road on the Corentyne. Bisram, as well as five alleged henchmen, is alleged to have conspired to commit the act.

Police kill bandit after ECD robbery

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n Agricola, Greater Georgetown man was shot dead by Police on November 1 while trying to escape after robbing a taxi driver and a cattle farmer.

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

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

to purportedly go to an ECD destination.

The matter was reported, and the stolen vehicle was intercepted by Police ranks in an unmarked vehicle at Mahaicony. However, the suspects fled, discharging rounds that hit the police and later abducted and robbed a cattle farmer after this stolen vehicle got stuck.

After taking another taxi, they were again intercepted by police. A shoot out ensued, during which Solomon was fatally wounded.

BBCI offers Govt lifeline on Berbice Bridge toll hike -says 40-year contract period means no increases

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ith just a week to go before toll increases are slated to go into effect, the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) has made a major offer to the Government.

The Company has offered Government a chance to extend the life of the contract to spare commuters toll increases.

In correspondence to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson,

BBCI Finance Controller Stephen Rambajan requested a meeting with the Minister on the Board’s behalf and in the public interest to discuss the terms of this offer.

According to the offer, BBCI is seeking an agreement to extend the contract period to 40 years. This extension, according to Rambajan, will make it unnecessary to implement the toll increases the company announced on October 16, 2018.

he Government of Guyana has snatched control of the Berbice River Bridge on Monday in an apparent effort to nationalise the structure, which was financed mainly by private investors.

In a surprise move on Monday, the People’s National Congress (PNC)led Government said that in accordance with the pow-

ers conferred upon Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson by Sections 4 (1) and 11 of the Berbice River Bridge Act and in the interest of public safety, it would maintain and operate the bridge as of November 5 “until the date the Minister specifies by notice on the cessation of the threat to public safety.”

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(LGE).

According to Jagdeo, they secured massive wins countrywide with more than 45,000 votes than the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) combined.

for hearing on December 5 before Justice Gino Persaud.

Jagdeo to file complaint with ERC over Govt’s threats to divide Guyanese

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has taken Government to task over comments made by one of its senior Cabinet and party officials at a recent political rally.

Jagdeo has said he plans to file an official report with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and the international community, as the comments seek to di-

vide Guyanese.

He was making reference to an online news report wherein Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, remarked that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will target Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) supporters and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) that sabotage Government.

Fly Jamaica crash-lands at CJIA Govt’s chances of re-election after encountering hydraulic issues low – petroleum expert -10 passengers hospitalised – firefighters arrested for theft

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Boeing 757 aircraft operated by Fly Jamaica crash-landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, in the wee hours of Friday morning thus resulting in at least 10 people being medically examined.

The airplane 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 sometime, 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 onboard were accounted for but officials have confirmed that five passengers suffered spinal injuries which is not life threatening.

President David Granger diagnosed with cancer – sources

-starts chemotherapy in Cuba

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resident David Granger has been diagnosed with cancer and will undergo chemotherapy in Cuba. This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Embassy of Guyana in Cuba late Wednesday.

The President left with

his wife, First Lady Sandra Granger for Cuba around two weeks ago. A statement issued by the Ministry of the Presidency on October 29, 2018, confirmed his travel.

It said that the President and the First Lady will spend one week in Cuba.

PPP files no-confidence motion against APNU/AFC coalition Govt

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motion of no-confidence in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government has been filed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo with the National Assembly.

At his weekly news conference held on Thursday at his Church Street office, Jagdeo made the announcement, adding that the move

came after a meeting of his party’s leadership.

He listed several things to support the move, including the loss of 30,000 jobs; the decimation of the sugar sector; massive increases in the cost of living; and the imposition of hardships on the Guyanese people, via Government policies, such as $60 billion in increased taxes per annum.

PPP records massive wins countrywide with over 45,000 votes BBCI moves to High Court to reverse more than APNU, AFC combined Govt’s takeover

espite some challenges at some Local Authority Areas (LAAs), People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo said on Tuesday his party still managed to prevail during the 2018 Local Government Elections

lenge it has mounted. The application is set to come up

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he Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) has turned to the High Court in an attempt to retake operations of the facility, which the coalition Government took over earli-

er this month.

In a statement on Thursday, the BBCI said both Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and Attorney General Basil Williams have been served with notice of the legal chal-

-says oil revenue should be used towards developing Guyana

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ormer Presidential Advisor on Petroleum to Guyana, Dr Jan Mangal says a lot of what the coalition Government does now and how it plans for the future, particularly as it relates to the oil and gas industry, will determine whether or not it can be re-elected to office.

However, Dr Mangal believes that the Government’s chances are low based on a number of factors. His comments come in light of the recently-concluded Local Government Elections (LGE) which saw the coalition performing poorly as compared to the main Opposition party.

Scotiabank pulls out of Guyana -Govt expresses concern

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major shake-up is looming on the financial landscape, as Canadian-based Scotia Bank will be pulling out its operations in Guyana and a number of other countries.

The bank branches will in turn be bought over by Republic Bank.

Guyana Times understands that the deal is worth US$123 million.

According to Chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) Ronald Harford, who made the announcement, the move will benefit everyone in the long-run. This includes Scotiabank clients and employees and the group’s own

stakeholders.

But Scotia bank’s presence in Guyana is of such a magnitude that even Government is concerned about the transaction, with the Finance Ministry expressing regret at the buyout soon after it was announced.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the Financial Institutions Act (FIA) has clear stipulations regarding ‘acquisition of control’ and requires approval from the Bank of Guyana. The Ministry noted that an application must first be submitted and due diligence conducted.

$300.7B budget presented to National Assembly ...no measures for ordinary citizens …$1000 increase for pensioners

…tax exemptions for dentures, electric cars

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t $300.7 billion, the National Budget for 2019 was presented on Monday to the National Assembly. But through it all, measures that can directly benefit the small man are noticeably absent.

The only thing that Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who spoke almost uninterrupted for five hours during his budget presentation, announced under ‘measures to increase work-

ers’ income was the increase in the income tax threshold to $780,000 per annum ($65,000 monthly).

This is an increase per month of $5,000, as the salary threshold was previously $60,000. Accompanying this increase was a promise from the Government that it would re-engage the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) in negotiations to improve allowances.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt defeated …PPP wins no confidence motion in National Assembly …as AFC’s Charandass Persaud votes against Govt

Finance and Public Security Ministries were scrutinized.

In the case of the Finance Ministry, the Parliamentary Opposition was especially concerned about the finances of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited’s

(NICIL) Special Purpose Unit (SPU). This budget, themed ‘Transforming the Economy, Empowering People, Building Sustainable Communities for Good Life’ is the administration’s fifth since coming to office in 2015. It is also the largest.

ExxonMobil halts 3-D seismic operations offshore Guyana

…after Venezuelan military forces ship out of area

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T

here was shock in the National Assembly as a no confidence motion brought by the Opposition – Peoples Progressive Party - against the Government succeeded when Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Charandass Persaud broke ranks and voted in favour of the motion.

A total of 10 MP’s debated the motion, but when the dust was settled, and a vote of division was called, Persaud’s vote changed the numbers to 33 versus his colleagues’ 32 votes against the motion. Persaud has since indicated that his vote is one of conscience and was in no influenced by anyone to side with the opposition.

Govt has to resign and call elections in 3 months – PM

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ollowing the passage of the no-confidence motion filed by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Opposition against the APNU/AFC Coalition, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said that Government will be upholding the law. This means, in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, the Coalition administration will have to resign and call national elections within the next three months.

The Guyanese must understand that the democratic process is sometimes unpredictable. You may have

results that are not planned for… but the outcome has to be accepted… It may be a surprise to some, it may be a shock to others, it may be welcomed by some and others may rejoice over the results but that is how democracy works and we are fully committed to the rule of law,” Nagamootoo posited.

Nevertheless, he noted that Government will remain in office until such time that a date for elections is set. In the meantime, he posited, the Coalition will have to deliberate on its options going forward.

Govt must resign as per Constitution – Jagdeo

“T

he Government should resign,” said Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo bluntly on Thursday as he called for the Administration to abide by the Constitution during a media engagement outside Freedom House on Thursday following a meeting with the Party’s Executive Committee.

“This government has lost a no-confidence motion; the Constitution has provided the clear prescription [that] you resign on losing it. They should’ve resigned by now …

[I’m calling on Government] to resign now; that is what [Article] 106 (6) is – it didn’t say “may” resign, it said “shall” resign,” Jagdeo told reporters.

Jagdeo on Thursday had reiterated that he was ready to have these discussions with the Head of State. However, while Government had assured a meeting would be held between President Granger and the Opposition Leader, this was not likely until the President returns from Cuba.

$300.7B budget approved -Opposition, Govt clash over NICIL/ SPU, Public Security allocations

A

fter a week of crutiny from the Parliamentary Opposition, the National

Assembly approved $300.7 Billion Budget timates. But the final saw some fireworks as

the esday the

ovt condemns “hostile” act; to file complaint with UN ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary has suspended the 3-D seismic operations it started only a month ago in Guyana’s Stabroek Block after the appearance and approach of the Venezuelan military on Saturday forced the company’s seismic vessel to pack up shop and vacate the area.

The vessel in question is the ‘Ramform Tethys’, which is owned by Norwegian company Petroleum and Geo Services (PGS) was contracted by ExxonMobil to carry out tests and acquire

O

ver 300 rice farmers in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and from the island of Wakenaam in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) flocked the gate of the Hack Rice Mill in Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast demanding their payments.

Farmers are concerned over the long delay in receiving payment from millers for paddy purchased since September and some even earlier this year. After a com-

motion erupted in front of the main gate of the rice factory, its management was forced to meet with the frustrated rice farmers. The owed farmers said the manger eventually met with them and agreed to give them payments between $50,000 and $100,000 until full payments are available.

The farmers said they have their monthly bank installment to meet and the cash given to them in some cases cannot even meet the required payment.

Budget 2019 has nothing for the poor, marginalised- Audit firm

-says budget tailored along neo liberal, pro-business lines

I

seismic data. Speaking with this publication, the company’s Senior Vice President, Bard Stenberg confirmed the encounter.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge has since indicated his intention to formally lodge a complaint with the United Nations.

Georgetown gets new Mayor, Deputy

T

he city of Georgetown will now be spearheaded by People National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Councillor, Pandit Ubraj Narine after he was elected as the new mayor. Narine, who represents Constituency One, was nominated by Councillow Ivelaw Henry and entered the race with People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Bishram Kupen who was selected by Deon Younge.

The new mayor secured 21 votes in his favour and was elected accordingly.

Following his lead was Alfred Mentore who was elected as the Deputy Mayor with 23 votes and six against the nomination.

The Council elected seven persons to charge the Finance Committee, com-

“Dull Christmas for us” – rice farmers

prising of Patricia ChaseGreen, Yvonne Ferguson, Ivelaw Henry, Oscar Clarke, Trichia Richards, Yvonne Ferguson and Bisham Kuppen. Oscar Clarke was appointed as the Chairman to govern this financial body while the outgoing mayor was elected as ViceChairwoman. The newly elected councilors and mayor will commence their duties as of January 1 2019.

n a candid assessment, Audit firm Ram and McRae have called out the recently presented 2019 budget for having little to no provisions for the poor, women and gender issues and other critical matters like the Berbice Bridge, now headed to court after government took it over.

In its annual publication of Budget focus the firm which was founded by anti-corruption advocate Christopher Ram, acknowledged the provisions in the budget for peo-

ple with disabilities, the employed and self-employed and Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s stamina for having presented the almost five hour long budget speech uninterrupted.

According to the firm, however, the budget “is silent on women and gender issues, single mothers, the unemployed, including the recently unemployed, the National Insurance Scheme and the Berbice Bridge which the Government took over earlier this month.”

Govt to establish Tobacco Council in 2019

S

erious steps will be taken to prosecute individuals and businesses that do not adhere to laws related to the Tobacco Control Bill which sets out tough fines for violators.

Health Minister Volda Lawrence has announced that the Government is currently fine tuning the terms-of-reference (ToR) for the establishment of a Tobacco Council in Guyana.

The Minister said that the document is still being crafted but is expected to be presented to Cabinet for approval before the end of this year. The Council could be established as soon as January 2019.

Lawrence confirmed that no one has been charged since the bill became law in July 2017. However, the Ministry has started a campaign aimed at educating persons on the legislation.

ExxonMobil makes another oil discovery offshore Guyana

T

he future of an oil industry in Guyana seems even more promising with another announced oil discovery offshore Guyana

by United States oil giant, ExxonMobil.

The company’s 10th discovery was announced by Director for the Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe, who expressed satisfaction with the way things are going.

He revealed that the discovery was made at the Pluma-1 well. It has increased the estimated recoverable resource for the Stabroek Block to more than 5 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

The Pluma-1 is located some 17 miles (27 kilometers) south of the Turbot-1 well and follows previous discoveries on the Stabroek Block.

Millions wasted through procurement scandals – Anthony Ali innocent until proven guilty – Harmon ...as MP lambasts gov’t for mismanagement of projects

T

he second day of the Budget 2019 debates kicked-off on Tuesday with Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Frank Anthony taking the government to task for breaches to the procurement laws, the shady deals it has been entering and wastage of tax payers’ dollars.

In his presentation, the MP noted that Guyana has not been getting value for

money. He pointed to the Auditor General’s 2017 report, which found that 13 contracts totalling $91.4 Million were awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to Caribbean Medical Supplies.

These contracts did not go through a competitive process. According to the Auditor General, these contracts were single-sourced.

-says due process must be followed for MP, PAC Chair

E

ven the government, by way of cabinet spokesperson and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, is of the view that due process must be followed for Opposition parliamentarian Irfaan Ali when it comes to the constitutional offices he holds.

19 Politically trumped up charges were instituted against Ali by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), in a move the parliamentary opposition and the International Centre for

Democracy (ICD) have criticised and deemed “victimization of a political opponent”. However, Ali sits as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which reviews the Auditor General’s reports and calls officials to account based on discrepancies the Audit Office highlights.

At his post cabinet press briefing on Friday, Harmon assured that Ali’s post as Chairman of the PAC is secure under the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Caribbean Premier League 2018 review

Guyana Amazon Warriors

By Brandon Corlette

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tournament that is known for cricket played louder, and the biggest party in sport, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has been spectacularly entertaining. Trinbago Knight Riders won consecutive tournaments; 2017 and 2018 while Amazon Warriors continued their consistency, ending as runners up in four of six CPL finales.

The 2018 CPL in particular, had Trinidadian and Guyanese fans at combat; ‘a chicken curry and curry chicken’ battle that saw the Amazon Warriors defeating Knight Riders in the preliminary round but lost in the final.

In the 2018 edition, the Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders topped the preliminary rounds; after 10 matches, Knight Riders finished with seven victories while Amazon Warriors finished with six victories.

play hit 24 sixes in 12 matches he played in the tournament finishing with a strike rate of

Outstanding CPL 2018 performers

New Zealand T20 superstar Colin Munro led his team to victory, being the most consistent batsman with 567 runs in 13 matches averaging 51.54. Munro had a strike rate of 140.34 where he constructed six half-centuries, hitting 54 fours and 24 sixes throughout the tournament.

Another overseas batsman, New Zealand’s Glenn Philips playing for Jamaica Tallawahs dominated with the bat finishing second on the charts with 457 runs including a sensational century against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

However, the best Caribbean batsman in the Hero CPL 2018 was Guyana’s Shimron Hetmyer who notched up 440 runs averaging at 40. Hetmyer who is amongst the brightest prospects in the Caribbean has passed through the ranks, captaining the West Indies under 19 team to World Cup triumph.

Hetmyer stand-out innings was his majestic 100 against the Jamaica Tallawahs. The 21year old, Hetmyer was the youngest centurion in CPL history when he blasted the Tallawahs bowlers around the packed capacity in Lauderhill, Florida. Hetmyer, who is very aggressive in his stroke

. Shimron Hetmyer

148.

The majestic player took his success throughout the year and also land an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract worth over half of a million US dollars, to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Hetmyer along with fellow countrymen and Warriors players, Sherfane Rutherford and Keemo Paul, have all been selected for IPL 2019.

The axed West Indian class act, Trinidadian Darren Bravo was the other top Caribbean batsman completing the tournament with 353 runs in 13 matches at an average of 39 striking 24 maximums in the tournament. Kieron Pollard who scored an unforgettable century and new and improved Rovman Powell had good outings in the CPL 2018, scoring over 300 runs.

A tournament that began in 2013, the CPL has been growing rapidly across the globe, it has developed immensely. For Fawad Ahmed, CPL has aided in his growth and development finishing with 22 wickets, topping the bowling charts. The Pakistan born

Ahmed, who played 5 limited over internationals cricket for Australia, announced himself with his stint with the Trinbago Knight Riders.

The leg-spinner played 13 matches for the Knight Riders, averaged 13.77 bowling at an economy rate of 6.18. As Ahmed, Jamaican speedster, Oshane Thomas announced himself with finesse finishing the tournament with 18 wickets. The Tallawahs pace ace had the speed gun clocking staggering speeds as he showed glimpses of the four horsemen.

I m r a n Tahir, the veteran S o u t h African leg spinner, was brilliant throughout the tournament not only with his celebration where cover yards of ground, but his 16 wickets he picked up for the Warriors. Amazon Warriors captain, Chris Greene was brilliant in his debut tournament with the ball, picking up 10 wickets. Aussie star, Ben Cutting, Dwayne Bravo, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Tanvir, Khary Pierre and Sheldon Cottrell were amongst the wickets in CPL 2018.

the latter aspect of the agme and picked a hat trick that included Brendon McCullum, Darren Bravo and Denish Ramdin.

Russell’s night was far from over, he returned with the bat and blasted 121* off 49 balls including 13 humongous sixes and 6 timely fours. It was a once in a generation performance by “Dre Russ” a rear feat of scoring a century and picking up a hat trick in the same match; England’s Joe Denly was the other player to achieve such rear feat.

Keiron Pollard’s explosive century against his former CPL team, Barbados Tridents. It was a runs fest in the tenth match at St Lucia where the Pollard led St Lucia Stars amassed 226. It was a memorable moment for the St Lucians since they were struggling to win matches consistently. Pollard’s maiden ton led the Stars to a 38 run victory.

In the eleventh match of the tournament, the moment filled with magic was Shimron Hetmyer’s 100 off 49 balls. American soil witnessed astonishing hits from the 21-year old Guyanese who resides in Berbice. The Amazon Warriors dominated the experienced Tallawahs bowling attack posting 209-7 in 20 overs. Hetmyer’s innings included 11 crunching fours and 5 huge sixes.

Rutherford set the home of the Amazon Warriors, the Providence National Stadium, on fire, with his 45* that included six maximums and an unbelievable switch hit which is labeled as the better shots in T20 cricket. In match number 30, Rutherford ensured that the Warriors crushed the Knight

Magical CPL Moments

Each match played in the CPL 208 was filled with magical moments. In the Caribbean Premier League 2018, 34 monumental matches were played but they were moments that stood out.

Andre Russell’s hat trick and his 40 ball century against the Trinbago Knight Riders in the third match of the tournament.

Russell’s heroics ensured that his team chased down 224 with 4 wickets to spare and 3 balls remaining.

The Knight Riders batting first set a daunting 223-6 in their 20 overs but they were more runs for the taking. Russell, the superman in cricket, returned with the ball in

The electrifying supporters

Riders by six wickets with 35 wickets.

The limited over game of cricket has been dominated by batsmen with big bats, Mohammad Irfan mesmerizing spell proved different. Irfan had batsmen in all sorts of trouble when he produced the most economical four over spell in the history of T20 cricket. Two wickets, one maiden, three runs, four overs; unreal bowling figures from the Pakistan giant who represented the Barbados Tridents in CPL 2018. In the sixteenth match Irfan’s spell proved insufficient as Barbados Tridents suffered a 6 wicket win by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Impact of CPL

When CPL comes around, the people in the Caribbean comes alive. With West Indies cricket downhill, the Caribbean Premier League 2018 reminds cricket fans of the exciting prospects in the region. The spicy music, the drinks, and the beaches blends brilliantly with the exiting brand of cricket played in the Caribbean. The tournament brings individuals around the Caribbean together, celebrating the game in a harmonious manner.

Since all the West Indian stars are axed, the CPL provides viewers the opportunity to see the best players from the Caribbean and around the globe perform in different teams. The Caribbean has been the ultimate destination for tourists, with international starts performing the tourist sectors in various Caribbean countries benefits from the biggest part in sport, the Caribbean Premier League.

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ICC Stand-alone Women’s World T20 Tournament

December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

The National Sport Policy: A promise on the Horizon for Guyanese Athletes

By Jemima Holmes

- Inspirational Windies entertained the Caribbean

By Brandon Corlette

D

eandra Dottin’s b o w l ing heroics and Harmanpreet Kaur’s sensational century were the highlights of the tournament; leaving the Guyanese supporters stunned at the National S t a d i u m Providence Guyana.

The 2018 International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 Tournament was significant; eleven matches were played in Guyana. A dominant Australia team that was led by Meg Lanning emerged as champions while Heather Knight’s England was runner’s up. West Indies fell short of a consecutive World T20 triumph, losing their only match of the tournament in the semi-final against Australia.

Alyssa Healy was the player of the tournament, leading the batting chart while Deandra Dottin top the bowling charts.

West Indies Women and India were the only undefeated teams in the preliminary rounds; topping Group A and Group B respectively.

Guyana was the fortunate; the first Caribbean to witness the Women’s tournament when India and New Zealand clashed at the National Stadium, Providence Guyana. The opening match saw India defeated New Zealand by 34 runs on the back of Harmanpreet Kaur’s 103. India scored 194-5 and restricted the top ranked New Zealand team to 160-9, as the Indian spinners shared eight wickets among themselves.

The second match of the day saw the team from down under, Australia thumping Pakistan by 52 runs.

It was arguably the greatest comeback ever in the history of the game; West Indies stunned Bangladesh by 60 runs in a thrilling encounter. The Guyanese fans came out in their number, as they were treated by a special performance from Jamaican artist Shenseea. It was an even more brilliant performance from Deandra Dottin who took 5-5 to bowl out the weary Bangladesh team for the lowest total in Women World T20 Tournaments.

Bangladesh was bowled out for 46 in pursuit of Windies’ below par 106-8.

The tournament got spicier with Australia’s Alyssa Healy hitting match winning half centuries. In a low scoring encounter between Ireland at Providence, Healy blazed away with a 31-ball 56 as Australia eased to a nine wicket victory. India, West Indies, Australia and England showed signs of early semi-final qualifications. In the

Australia defeated England to claim the title of the Stand Alone ICC Women’s World T20 Tournament in the Caribbean

matches in St Lucia, a string of low scoring matches were seen at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.

After the 11 matches concluded in Guyana and St Lucia, an upbeat West Indies team entered the first semifinal at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound Antigua. The cricketing world was in for a rematch of the 2016 Women’s World T20 Tournament; the clash of the giants, Australia and West Indies. The Stafanie Taylor led team; West Indies won the toss and opted to field first as Australia racked up 142-5 with the ever-consistent Healy top scored with 46.

Windies Women’s were confident of chasing the target but they were humbled by the Aussies. The Caribbean women were bowled out for 71 with only Stafanie Taylor reaching double figures scoring 16, as the discipline Aussie bowlers shared the wickets among themselves.

In the second T20 semifinal, India entered as overwhelming favorites but the Women’s 50 over World Cup champions, England stunned the Asian giants. A Mithali Raj-less Indian team were bowled out for 112 as England cruised to the final with a eight wicket win as India were sent home. After the anti-climactic semifinal matches, the final was set at the home town of the legendary Sir Vivian Richards. England was bowled out in the final for 105 and the powerful Aussie batting lineup won with eight wickets to spare.

Top performers

Barbadian born Deandra Dottin was the joint tournament’s leading wicket taker with Ashleigh Gardener, and Megan Schutt who captured 10 wickets apiece. Windies fast bowling all-rounder, Dottin had a bowling average of 7.70 and an economy rate of 5.63. In the star studded Windies bowling unit, Captain Taylor called upon Dottin to produced wickets and on most occasions she delivered.

Australia’s Ashleigh Gardener was the player of the final scoring runs and picking up wickets. Gardener snatched 10 wickets at an average of 10.70 and an economy

rate of 5.94. Megan Schutt, Elyse Perry, Stafanie Taylor and England’s hat trick star, Anya Shrubsole were other outstanding bowlers.

Alyssa Healy was the leading run scorer with 225 runs averaging 56.25 and a strike rate of 144.23. In all the matches she played for Australia she had impacted the game affecting in dismissals and scoring invaluable runs at the top of the order.

India’s aggressive captain, Harmanpreet Kaur was the only batter to score a century in the tournament, hitting 103 at Providence Guyana. She ended the tournament with the most sixes (13) and the second most runs (183). Smriti Mandhana further announced herself scoring 178 runs in the tournament while the legendary Suzie Bates racked up 161. The highest partnership of the tournament came from India duo, Jemima Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur who scored 134 runs for the fourth wicket.

Negatives in World T20 tournament

The batting woes in the Caribbean are seen in the men’s and women’s format; in the World T20 Tournament, the batters were not consistent. The main reason for the West Indies qualifying for the semifinal was the outstanding bowling and brilliant fielding performances.

Positive’s in World T20 tournament

A tournament that will be remembered for a long period of time saw effortless and innovative batting from the women across various cricketing nations. In addition to the exciting matches played across the venues in the Caribbean, the women cricketers took time off their busy schedule to visit schools. Three schools befitted in Guyana; Presidents College, East Ruimveldt and Diamond Secondary School.

The ICC and CWI took a great initiative to spread awareness of the game and inspired the young girls across the globe.

The Caribbean was the suitable venue to host this exciting tournament; the party-like atmosphere was electric and the calypso cricket was entertaining.

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018 has been a busy year for all sport disciplines in Guyana, however, aside from their individual advances every sportsman and woman have seen a glimmer of hope for pursuing their passion. This has come in the form of the long awaited National Sports Policy which is said to be equipped with the necessary regulations to male sport more mainstreamed in Guyana.

The cries of sportsmen and women from all across Guyana were answered on June 19 of this year when the Social Cohesion Ministry, which covers the portfolio of sport, released a draft of the long awaited National Sports Policy (NSP).

But this draft release did not come without strife, as athletes, especially those of international caliber, on numerous occasions (prior to the release of the policy) had called on the Ministry to speed up the process since the promise of such a policy was made in 2015 as part of the A Partnership For National Unity’s (APNU) election manifesto.

The most vocal sport personality to urge on the release of the policy was Boxing Coach Terrence Poole who called for the swift implementation of the National Sport Policy so as to provide a basis so athletes who have medaled in international engagements could have ‘tangible rewards’ when they return to Guyana.

In response to this, the Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton had stated that “We want to have a structured system, so that we can avoid claims like what were made.”

He further noted that the implementation process would take on an inclusive ap-

proach, which would allow the policy to cater precisely to the needs of every sporting entity, sportsman and sportswoman in Guyana.

The NSP draft has been in generation from November 2016 to June 2018 and focuses on a number of crucial areas that have been stifling the development of sport in Guyana.

Several of those areas are national, regional and internationally applicable laws, collaboration among national agencies on sport programmes and projects, sport governance, administration, management, organization, education and educational institutions, medicine, financing (funding, sponsorship, incentives), tourism, manufacturing, intellectual property rights, elite athlete development, the media, overseas offices, Diaspora support, and anti-doping.

The Policy aims at raising Guyana’s sport fraternity to a level where, “Sports in Guyana is no longer viewed only as a casual pass time, leisure or recreational activity, but as an entire sector which services the fundamental needs and requirements of the Guyanese athlete, from the amateur to the elite.”

As such, implementation of the Policy would mean that sport will be fostered not only at the organizational level but also in schools. In this instance, the common practice of only track and field in schools will be put aside and students of every primary and secondary school across the 10 administrative regions will be exposed to all sport disciplines and it is the hope of the Policy that adequate facilities will be established to foster that change.

Another key aspect of the Policy mandates that there will be “… awareness of and support for people with disabilities (PWDs) to access sports.” A feature that would be a table turner especially since para-cycling athlete Walter Grant-Stuart has found it difficult to receive participation funding even after bringing home a gold medal.

Additionally, the Policy will focus on allocating financing and funding for national sport organisations and federations hosting

competitive games in various sport disciplines and geographic areas, compulsory physical education in schools and anti-doping.

Since its release, there has not been any changes made to the policy and it will remain available for viewing online and is open to input and suggestions from sporting organizations and citizens. This consultation process, which the Social Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton described as ‘lengthy’ in an interview with the Guyana Times Sport, will continue throughout 2019.

Advances in athletics

Track and Field in Guyana is on a steady rise and with the addition of two more Synthethic tracks to the country’s portfolio, athletes will have a greater opportunity to improve their skill.

The Ministry of Social Cohesion, with Responsibility for Sport, in October of this year sealed contracts with two Guyanese construction companies, initiating the third phase of work on the new synthetic tracks to be laid in Region Six, East Berbice/Corentyne, and Region Ten, Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice.

The two new tracks — at Burnham Park, New Amsterdam, Berbice and Bayrock Community Centre ground at Wismar, Linden — will carry to three the total of such tracks to be laid in Guyana, following the laying of the Leonora Synthetic Track.

The bidding process for the construction works was carried out by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), which saw the project at Region Six receiving 14 tenders and at Region Ten receiving 12 tenders.

Assistant Director of Sport, Melissa DowRichardson, detailed the work that will be done by the two companies which have emerged successful from the bidding “We’re in phase three, this is specific to the ground preparation. There will be ground work, the laying of drainage pipes, curb works, asphalting and concrete where necessary. This is prior to stage four, where the laying of the synthetic material will be done,” Dow- Richardson explained.

The contract for the Berbice track has been awarded to BK International at a cost of $141 million, while the Linden track will be done by Builders Hardware and Supplies at a cost of $179 million.

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, expressed his satisfaction with the construction of new tracks, noting that the pressure would be taken off the lone track at Leonora, which is experiencing some deterioration.

“I am indeed pleased, but I must confess that this signing is long overdue. It was only last year (that), for the first time, we had our National School Athletics Championships being run on a synthetic track at Leonora. (In) my last inspection of that facility, it was not too encouraging,” he said.

The Minister has stressed that the additional synthetic surfaces would go a long way towards improving the level of athletics in Guyana.

“We’re hoping that, with this effort, it will bring us closer to where we want to be,” Dr. Norton had said.

Works on the third phase of the tracks were expected to be completed within 3 to 6 months of its initiation.

When probed by media operatives about sticking to their deadline, Rajesh Samaroo of Builders Hardware and Supplies gave all assurance that the company will complete the work on time.

“With regards to the deadline, it depends on the weather, but surely we should finish on time,” Samaroo stated.

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December, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GABA League…

IPL-bound Hetmyer, Rutherford, Trojans, Ravens and Paul – the future of Guyanese, Guardians Record wins Windies and possibly T20 cricket T T he year 2018 has been a nacious middle/lower-order hitter. The tremendous year for Essequibian was purchased by the Guyanese crickDelhi Daredevils for 50 lakhs or et both individually US$70,000; a small purse comand holistically; with pared to the big bag his teamthree of the counmate snapped up by the try’s premier playChallengers. ers in Shimron Rutherford’s selection H e t m y e r , was no surprise, but his S h e r f a n e price tag certainly was; havRutherford and ing been the least popular of Keemo Paul landthe three; the left-hand powing major deals er-hitter surpassed all exof the upcoming pectations after starring in Indian Premier the CPL as he walked away League (IPL) INR 2 crore which is rough2019. ly US$277,000 to emerge one The Guyana of the most surprising yet deJaguars and serving big buys for a newbie Windies trio are this season. products of the 2018 Hetmyer smashed 106 off 78 Shimron Hero Caribbean Premier balls and 94 off 64 balls in backHetmyer League (CPL) which was to-back games at Guwahati and responsible for building their Visakhapatnam during the ODI series in stock in the T20 format. Their prowess India. His T20 strike rate of 144 coupled in the shortest format along with their with his 26 sixes in 19 T20s, 30 sixes in abilities to single-handedly win games for 20 ODIs; makes for a star player in any their teams, resulted in the million-dollar side. price tags which are now associated with Rutherford stunned fans with his their names. power-hitting in the CPL before going Hero CPL has always been a breeding onto the Canadian T20 where he smoked ground for young talent, having paved a big hundred against a bowling heavy a way for a number of youngsters from Chris Gayle-led franchise. The fast-bowlaround the Caribbean to either feature in er then earned his Windies call up to the the IPL or break into the Windies limited T20 side but really showed his dimension overs team; a trend which has remained as a pure six-hitter during the T10 league prominent over the years. where he smashed scores like 47*, 24, 16, Players continue to mix 39 and 46 off a handful of deliveries. with international stars A very lucky Royal and heroes due to the Challengers Bangalore could overwhelming influx have easily been without of stars from around the left-hander as their enthe world who more try number for bidding fell and more seem to be last. Meanwhile, it was a jumping onboard the tussle between the likes Caribbean’s biggest of Sunrisers Hyderabad, party. But shifting Kings XI Punjab and gears to India’s bigRajasthan Royals who gest cricket fiesta, it were all gunning for the would appear that 21-year-old Hetmyer. the Guyanese conPaul recently made tingent will certainhistory with the ball, snarly be the new blood of ing his first 5-fer in T20 stars who could possicricket against Bangladesh bly entertain the crickin the T20 series decider et-hungry Indian fans during the recently concludSherfane for the next few years. ed tour of Asia. The right-arm Rutherford The devastating form fast-bowler was one of the engiof the Berbician Hetmyer neers who took the Guyana Jaguars could not be overlooked as his purto their 4th title last season in the 4Day ple-patch commenced since the Windies league, before earning his Windies selechome tour versus Bangladesh. Since then tion. the left-hander has become a regular in The pugnacious batsman has been a all three formats and currently is one of mainstay and a go-to bowler for his team the team’s best batsman for 2018. over recent months; establishing himself He has since made a number of impres- as one of the Windies key bowlers in the sions and gained favor when he racked death overs during T20’s. With all three up some good scores during the tour of Guyanese in the Windies team, the proIndia; impressing skipper Virat Kohli. fessionalism of international cricket has It was no surprise that Kohli, certainly rubbed off on the trio who are who is captain of the Royal now bound for the Glitz and Glamour Challengers Bangalore of IPL cricket.

(RCB) was indeed a Also, the three became hisfan of the Guyanese tory-makers as they were the who was snapped first three Guyanese ever to up by the franchise be selected for the IPL franor a whopping bid chises during the same aucof INR 4.20 crore tion , with Chris Barnwell, (US$588,000); inShiv Chanderpaul and stantly making the Ramnaresh Sarwan being former Windies the first group of Guyanese U19 World Cup to play in the Indian franwinning Captain a chise over the seasons. millionaire with a With much to live up to long way to go. and much to prove in just His deputy at the a few months’ time; Paul, u19 World Cup, Paul Hetmyer and Rutherford has also been a reguwill defeiontly be on a mission lar face in the Windies to cement their statuses as the Test, ODI and T20 teams; next crop of Caribbean T20 world Keemo Paul thanks to his ability as a stars. sharp seam bowler and a pug-

he Rainforest Water/Malta Supreme/ Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League first commenced its 2018 season on September 1, 2018 at the Burnham Hard Court as it featured teams being represented in the first, second and under 23 divisions.

Under – 23 Trojans vs Guardians

The action all started for the Trojans on December 8, 2018 when they faced the Pacesetters in the semifinal. It was a see-saw battle for most of its duration, with each team pushing the other to its limit. In the end, the Trojans stunned the Pacesetters 75-73, with Denzel Ross leading the way with 16 points, while Kadeem Peterkin supported with 12.

With the penultimate hurdle crossed, the Warren Wilson-led side now had a shot at the title. Prior to this match, Wilson had said the players were hungry and wanted the win badly; and this was displayed when they emphatically carved out for themselves a 79-62 win over the Plaisance Guardians on December 9, 2018.

At start of the highly anticipated finals, the

Trojans accelerated the pace from ball one, and led the scoring in all four periods of the game, besting every performance they had registered at the beginning of the league.

Showing composure, style and class, they managed to restrict the in-form Terrence Daniels, upon whom great pressure was applied, and forced the other players to become desperate.

Scoring for the Trojans were Jonathan Browne, who top-scored with 18 points; Kadeem Peterkin, who scored 17; and Darrol Williams, who scored 15.

As the final buzzer sounded, the Trojan fans could scarce contain themselves.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, coach of the University side, Warren Wilson, said: “I feel vindicated; because the odds weren’t against the players, but a lot of the coaches felt that since I had no experience playing basketball at a national level, and the fact that I am young…but I am happy that I was able to lead the guys this far.“I really worked hard with them, and I think that this is a really good first step; and I hope that the administration would push basketball to get it more recognised,” Wilson declared.

For the under 23 division the UG Trojans came into the competition being ranked as one of the lowest teams and most inexperienced teams as they were coached by Warren Wilson.

Wilson was ridiculed by many coaches as he had no experience nationally nor coaching a team.

Throughout the tournament the Trojans played their hearts out defeating some of the top teams in the league such as the Plaisance Guardians and the Pacesetters. As the preliminary rounds ended the Trojans qualified for the tournament as they ranked third on the table winning six of their ten games. They surpassed the mighty Pacesetters to give them self a shot in the finals against the inform Plaisance Guardians and they defeated the Guardians to boost their confidence heading into next year’s league.

1st Division- Ravens vs Pacesetters

The GABA League culminated its First Division leg of the tournament on Thursday night with the Ravens sinking the Pacesetters by eight points to claim the championship.

Ravens looked confident on the court with a good season’s performance in the bag, having won seven of their eight games in the preliminary stages compared to the Pacesetters’ win-

ning six games; and they expectedly closed it out in the final-four showdown by romping to a convincing 83-75 win over their opposition at the final buzzer.

The match was a see-saw battle in the opening quarter, with scores being level at 19 going into the second quarter. Both teams looked for consistent scoring to try taking the lead, but the eventual victors got acclimatized and thereafter asserted their dominance. At the half, Ravens were leading 42-31. It was more of the same in the third quarter, with Ravens comfortably outscoring the Pacesetters 25-14, which saw the final quarter starting at 67- 45.

Sensing victory in the air, Ravens eased off the gas pedal and held their form to complete the win.

For the Ravens the tournament has been a walk in the park as they have always been on top of the points table and were declared as one of the strongest teams in the league winning seven of their eight games in the preliminary round. The Ravens showed a class above every other team in the league as they could neither be outmatched nor out classed. The Ravens will

now have to look forward to the 2019 season as it has been rumored that fierce competition has are awaiting them.

2nd Division Guardians vs Pacesetters

The Guardians pulled off a stunner as they narrowly escaped defeat winning by a margin of two points.

In the headline event for the night the Guardians narrowly escaped defeat as they won 67-65 against the Pacesetters, despite the Guardians winning all eight of their games in the preliminary stages as compared to the Pacesetters five games the Guardians somehow allowed nerves to sneak into their camp.

The match commenced with a shaky start as the Guardians led the first quarter 8-6 as both teams played on the defensive trying to weigh each other down with every tactics in the book.

As the nerves began to ease the Guardians took command in the second quarter leading 21-18 as they now led the Pacesetters by a margin of five points.

With what looked like victory on the horizon the Pacesetters stunned the Guardians as they left gaps in their defense to allow them to take the lead in the third quarter 23-10 now giving them the upper hand and a lead of 8 points as the Pacesetters needed to defend those 8 points for victory with the fourth quarter now approaching. The Pacesetters looked confident heading into the fourth quarter with their eight point lead but it all went up in flames as the Guardians pulled the rug out from beneath them as they took the final round 27-18 top scrape one of the most thrilling matchups in the GABA league as it all came down to the wire.

For this intense matchup despite clean sweeping the preliminary rounds the Guardians still had to fight for their title as the Pacesetters did not indent to give up so easily. Despite being a thriller, the Guardians must now review their 2019 calendar as they will not want any more incidents like these occurring again.

When compared to many other leagues the GABA league is one that will stay forever as it creates opportunities for player to represent the country nationally. It caters for everyone hence the first, second and under 23 divisions. For the Trojans, Ravens and Guardians they have all proven that once there is heart and determination you can achieve anything you believe once hard work is done.