Guyana Times - Sunday, February 3, 2019

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Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 3824 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, February 3, 2019

Guyanese diplomats fail to declare assets to Integrity Commission

Page 10

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Former PNC supporter accuses Govt official of assault

…victim sought protection, P7 escort home

Deteriorating section Cyclist of Linden-Lethem Road killed after frustrates drivers Page 2 colliding with Page 14

car on WCB

…say Infrastructure Ministry turning a blind eye

Berbice farmer stabbed to death during home invasion

Page 12

Irfaan Ali meets Guyanese Diaspora during NYC visit ...promises to restore “lost hope” to Guyanese Page 3

Freak storm rips off P15 section of Corriverton Market roof

Banks DIH Linden Branch records P16 4.2% increase in sales

Oil and gas sector

5 firms P13 shortlisted to conduct cost oil audit – Statia - Canadian consultant to help GRA build capacity

P9 PPP reps verbally abused at La Parfaite Harmonie during verification campaign

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Deteriorating section of Linden-Lethem Road frustrates drivers ...say Infrastructure Ministry turning a blind eye

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rivers utilising the Linden-Lethem Road are calling on the Public Infrastructure Ministry and the other relevant authorities to quickly rehabilitate a section of the roadway from Mabura Police Station to Kurupukari Crossing since it is rapidly deteriorating.

The drivers said that the road is almost impassable, resulting in them taking double the amount of time to traverse

the area as well as costing them more money in repairs and maintenance of their vehicles. They note that several complaints have been made to the Public Infrastructure Ministry but with very little results.

Minibus driver, Terry Ramjohn, told Guyana Times that the road has been in a deplorable state for over one year and he would have personally made complaints to the Ministry, but no one

Some passengers were forced to disembark and walk as their vehicles were assisted through the almost impassable areas

seems to be acting on the information that is being provided. He also provided this publication with several images to support his contention that the road is too deplorable and that the authorities are completely ignoring that.

“From Mabura Station to Kurupukari Crossing the whole road is totally bad. For us bus drivers, and truck drivers and the fuel tankers we know the road but for somebody who is using the road for the first time, it is trouble. It does normally take up about three hours to cross that part but now it is almost six hours and these people not doing nothing,” he noted.

Another irate man related that many times drivers are forced to remain on the road for several hours while they await help from passing vehicles since they are usually stuck in the slush on the road. Sections of the road are completely covered by water which results in the vehicles being stuck in the loam or severe damage to their engines.

“We does have to spend plenty money to service our vehicles because of this road.

Everywhere else smooth but from Mabura to Kurupukari it is hell. Now that it is rain-

The state of the Linden-Lethem Road between Mabura Police Station and the Kurupukari Crossing

ing and the rainy season is not even here yet it is very hard on us. We are hoping that the Ministry can at least send someone out here so that we can get some relief.

They can at least do some repairs before the rainy season come and then everything will get more bad. We are hopeful that they will hear us this time because it is really rough,” he said.

Additionally, several persons using the roadway as transportation from Lethem to either Georgetown or Linden for various Government services or even medical treatment have registered their dissatisfaction with the condition of the road.

The residents, particularly those of remote Amerindian communities in the Rupununi would have to use the road as

their only means of transportation to travel to the city for medical treatment that is not available within the region, since it is too costly for them to take a flight out.

Over the last two years, with the increased use of social media and access to the internet, the road users have taken to various social media platforms to post videos and photos to highlight the struggles of accessing one of Guyana’s newest township.

They have been calling on the authorities to have the issues addressed and the road upgraded but to date, there has been very little action in that regard.

Last year, Government said that the Linden-Lethem road may be realised under the Belt and Road initiative with the Chinese

Government. In late July 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) within the framework of China’s Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road was signed between the Governments of Guyana and China.

The Terms of Reference for the construction of the Linden-Lethem road by the Guyanese and Brazilian Governments is ready. Phase One of the project covers approximately 125 kilometres of the road (Linden to Mabura Hill) and also includes a bridge across the Kurupukari Crossing. Guyana secured funding from the British Government through its UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme to complete the design.

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, February 3 – a night retraction from 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Monday, February 4 – a night retraction from 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, February 3 – 15:50h-17:20h and Monday, February 4 – 16:35h-18:05h.

Irfaan Ali meets Guyanese Diaspora during NYC visit

...promises to restore “lost hope” to Guyanese

ant sectors, while at the same time provide greater efficiencies to existing industries such as health, education, governance and security. He added that they will also look at utilising technological service as an export commodity earning foreign currency.

Furthermore, Ali went on to note that the PPP made mistakes during its tenure but it has learnt from those mistakes.

“There were gaps and sitting from a different position, you can see where the

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy skies with light rain showers are expected throughout most of the day, followed by partly cloudy conditions in the evening. Overall temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 03:42h and 15:54h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.49 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:28h and 21:55h reaching minimum heights of 0.86 metres and 0.71 metre.

Irfaan Ali (second from left) posed with some young barbers in Queens, New York on Saturday

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residential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has promised to create a country that all Guyanese – both local and abroad – will benefit from and feel a sense of pride at the direction the country is going.

Speaking on a radio programme hosted by New York-based Fire Fest 101 Radio, Ali said there is nothing in the country right now that incites excitement among Guyanese, whether at home or in the Diaspora.

“People have lost hope; they don’t see a future, they don’t aspire to something.

Three and a half years ago… everyone was involved in something or the other that progressed them, that showed they have hope for a future, that they have hope for a better Guyana, that they have hope for better prospects for their families to the extent that we had many persons from the Diaspora who came back and they were investing in that future because they saw hope in the country. They saw the country leading in a direction that would create opportunities for them,” he stated.

The presidential candidate promised to lead a Government that will be all-inclusive.

“It is when we achieve that, when everyone feel a sense of hope and pride in Guyana and what Guyana has to offer, that is what will take us very strongly into the future,” he posited.

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali (third from left) shared a light moment with New York-based Guyanese

According to Ali, in order to restore this lost hope and the aspiration that would drive development and economic activity, they need to go beyond the capsuling of ideas into a political party.

“This means all of us have to be in a boat together, our ideals pooled together. We must look at a common vision, a common development strategy that cuts across political-social economic strata that is best for Guyana. And that is why in developing our manifesto… we have now opened up the process and we now have public forums to discuss the ideas not just with persons who are PPP supporters but ideas from all Guyanese. We have to discuss and debate those ideas so that we can come up with a manifesto that is reflective of the dreams and aspirations of all our people,” he asserted.

All-inclusive team

Ali, a former Housing

Minister, reiterated that the journey going forward is not about one person but an all-inclusive team of Guyanese coming together to take the country forward.

On this note, he outlined that among the strategies that are on the forefront of his party’s vision is an ICT driven country that would not only create new jobs but open up new and import-

gaps are and this will help you to improve governance mechanisms and to do better when you come back.

So I’m really humbled by the opportunity given to me by the Party and the wider society in Guyana and to be part of a new Guyana emerging, fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of all our people,” he asserted. turn to page 9

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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

Undermining democratic governance

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he Constitution of a country is its highest law and has been called “the law of lawmaking” for the State. It structures and limits the powers of the three branches of Government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary – and between the organs of the State and the people. Our present Constitution was first promulgated in 1980 and was revised extensively in 2000, after countrywide hearings.

While there has been expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of our Constitution, and “constitutional change” has become a mantra during election campaigns, the unalloyed consensus in Guyana, and in all constitutional democracies, is that the laws of the Constitution must be obeyed by all the institutions its speaks to, if anarchy and the rule of the jungle are not to take over. Sometimes, the wording of a constitutional stipulation may be elliptical and gnomic and these, it is accepted, can be taken to the judicial branch of the Government for an authoritative interpretation, in concrete instances of its operation.

But in others, the Constitution speaks in clear, precise and unambiguous terms and these should not precipitate any controversy. So, for instance, when a “majority” in our 65-member House of Assembly was constitutionally required, it had always been accepted by all parties in that Assembly that this was 33 seats, since this number would always be greater that the highest possible alternative of 32 seats, configured in whatever possible permutation or combination. Thus in 2011, when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) won the presidency on account of garnering the plurality of the popular votes, in the National Assembly, the A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) 26 seats and the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) seven seats automatically constituted a “majority”, which the PPP with 32 seats accepted, for instance when those two parties were allowed to name the Speaker of the House and have the majority in most standing committees.

In 2015, when the APNU and AFC formed a pre-election coalition and acquired 33 seats compared with the PPP’s 32, with that universally accepted majority of the House, they were able to name the President as well as use their majority in the House, to pass their budgets. Not a squeak was heard from that time to 2018 about the nature of the majority on which the Government’s legitimacy was based.

And then came the No-confidence Motion of December 21, 2018 when with all 65 MP present, one MP from the Government benches voted with the Opposition’s 32 to give the latter the majority. And evidently having lost their reason, all judgement from the Government evidently fled to “brutish beasts”, after an initial acceptance of their new circumstance.

Tossed a straw, the Government now insisted that to obtain a majority of 65 MPs, one had to first divide them by two to obtain 33 plus one ½ person and then “round up” by presumably taking the other half body to make the latter “whole” and then add another body to give 34. In the concrete instance in the National Assembly, when the no-confidence vote was being taken when the Opposition received 33 votes one, the Government now insisted that one more vote from the Government benches was necessary to produce the “majority” of 34 to 31.

And it is this contention more than any other that the People’s National Congress-led Government raised in the courts, which demonstrated its callous betrayal of constitutional governance by debasing the constitutional rules in the eyes of the people. As the Chief Justice noted in her oral judgement, if Charrandas Persaud had not voted with the Opposition, the Government would have blithely accepted that it had the “majority” of 33 to defeat the Noconfidence Motion as had been touted by the PNC’s Chief Whip when she taunted the Opposition to “bring it on!”

After the Chief Justice ruling that 33 is the majority of 65, the Government signalled they would be appealing. It is our hope, that even at this late stage, the Government would recognise the cynicism it is engendering in the populace on democratic norms.

Scenes from the costume presentations by nursery students at the Latchmansingh Primary School. Among the schools represented were Liberty Hall Nursery, Blairmont Nursery, Bath Nursery, No 5 Nursery and Carlton Hall Nursery schools (Education Ministry Photo)

Is the Chief Elections Officer guilty of misconduct in public office?

Dear Editor, GECOM Chief Elections Officer, Mr Keith Lowenfield is a public officer holding a constitutional post. He has a fiduciary responsibility to discharge his responsibilities in a constitutional, legal, professional, and honest manner. To date, he has failed miserably at doing so. Hot off the heels of Local Government Elections (LGE), and immediately following the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2019, Mr Lowenfield should have moved into full action to organise for National and Regional Elections.

In fact, he should have started preparations months ago, immediately following the motion being presented to Parliament on November 15. Instead, we have seen delay, prevarication and every tactic to frustrate the achievement of the constitutional deadline of March 20 to hold elections. By December 22, Mr Lowenfield should have submitted a detailed project plan to hold elections which should have been sent to every Commissioner

of GECOM. To date, only a flimsy effort has been attempted. Why are taxpayers’ monies being wasted by such incompetence? Any capable person would have already sent a full and detailed project plan to execute elections by March 20. But not Mr Lowenfield! In my opinion, there is only one explanation—Mr Lowenfield has betrayed his professional and constitutional responsibility.

In the circumstances, a full investigation should be launched into the conduct or misconduct of Mr Lowenfield. A professional manager would have presented, not later than two weeks after the motion was presented to the Parliament, a full playbook and project plan on achieving elections at the shortest possible time.

So, despite over a month’s delay on having the no-confidence motion debated and over 42 days since that motion being passed (a total of 80 days since the motion was submitted), we are no closer to holding elections by the constitutional deadline.

With such high salaries and budgets, Mr Lowenfield is either highly inept or simply a shrewd political operative of APNU/AFC who is abusing his constitutional position to delay elections.

Perhaps his visas should be pulled, and criminal charges brought against him for misconduct in public office. I call on Mr Anil Nandlall to consider filing such actions immediately or the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to similarly do.

We are now heading into a constitutional crisis and a proper plan to execute the elections by March 20 has not been submitted. All due to Mr Lowenfield. Of course, aided and abetted by the Chairman of the Elections Commission, who was neither fit nor proper, to occupy his position. Together, with APNU and AFC, it is yet another effort to manipulate the process of conducting free and fair elections. Bring on the charges immediately against Mr Lowenfield.

Our Private Sector must also act in this re-

gard by lobbying all the observers and diplomatic posts of the apparent misconduct of Mr Lowenfield.

Letters to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Commonwealth Secretariat, Caricom, and other major Bodies, are now essential.

Otherwise, Mr Lowenfield will continue to operate as an APNU political operative instead of conducting himself and the vast agency – GECOM – that he is responsible for, in a state of preparation to hold elections.

After all, LGE elections were just held in November 2018 and all systems were tested and prepared.

Let the bells toll. Mr Lowenfield is guilty of misconduct in public office. Start the prosecution. Cancel his visas. Let the world know that Mr Lowenfield is the key person about the plunge Guyana into a constitutional crisis, by failing to have GECOM ready to conduct elections by March 19, 2019.

Sincerely, A Grant

GECOM ought to be ready to address any constitutional requirement Dear Editor, The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) era has transformed global accountability approaches. Its impacts have driven changes to methods, ease and speed in which we do most things.

In context, its use in improving the speed and accuracy of mechanisms employed for implementation of high national security matters such as General and Regional Elections, cannot be overemphasised.

Indeed, the guaranteed

existence of our citizens in a democratic environment is pivotal.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as a constitutional Body was not left behind as our country adjusted to the changing ICT framework and navigat-

ed to meet acceptable global performance specifications.

Given their role, GECOM’s loud silence and inactivity are more than suspicious in the current waiting game of the fallen APNU/AFC Government. turn to page 5

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Recklessly hurtling Guyana towards constitutional crisis Dear Editor, Since the successful no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018, Guyana was given 90 days within which the Government was obligated to resign, dissolve Parliament and schedule General and Regional Elections. The Constitution is unambiguous and clearly outlines the requirements in Article 106 (6) and 106 (7). While constitutions can sometimes be confusing, this Article is not confusing and does not need lawyers and judges for interpretation. Ordinary citizens who can read know the meaning.

Even citizens who cannot read know the meaning once it is read to them. Yet David Granger and APNU/AFC have chosen to deliberately ignore the Constitution and the law, ignore Parliament and the majority of MPs, ignore the High Court and the Chief Justice, ignore the

pleas of citizens and civil society, ignore investors and businesses, and deliberately, knowingly, unconscionably hurl Guyana towards a constitutional crisis.

This is how dictators behave. This is how power-hungry people behave. This is how bullies behave. This is how people who do not care for the welfare of their country and their sisters and brothers behave. President Granger and APNU/AFC are proving to all that they are comfortable as dictators, totally in their comfort zone as power-hungry people, bullies who simply do not care for their country or their people. All that matters is to hold on to power at all cost. Granger is the leader of the pack. But complicit in this recklessness and travesty is Moses Nagamootoo who exults in his title as Prime Minister. Equally complicit are the Ministers who claim they are champions for

the people, who claim they are patriots, who claim they stand with the working class.

By March 21, when the 90 days expire, Guyana has no Government. Everything that Granger and APNU/ AFC do will be illegal. The Chief Justice confirmed that the Cabinet was resigned by the no-confidence motion on December 21 but there is no provision in the Constitution to recognise a President or a “caretaker” Government, after the 90 days. We will be in “la la” land, with an illegal Government. All money spent by the “Government” will be illegal expenditures.

All contracts will be illegal, all agreements will be illegal, all appointments will be illegal. As of February 2, forty-three of the 90 days have elapsed. There are 47 more days, which will expire on March 21.

The only way to prevent an expiration is for Parliament

to meet and pass a resolution agreeing to an extension, but that will require a mature, responsible approach where the Granger-led APNU/AFC and the Bharat Jagdeo-led PPP/C meet immediately to make such an agreement and pass that resolution with a two-thirds majority. Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP have expressed a willingness to meet to finalise arrangements for elections. Granger and the APNU/AFC seem to think they can simply carry on.

The difference is that Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP are deeply rooted in freedom and democracy and act within those constraints. Granger and the APNU/AFC come from deep within the belly of dictatorship, authoritarianism and bullyism.

With direct leadership from Granger, the APNU/ AFC has tried and continue to try all means to delay and prevent the inevitable. They

wanted their own Speaker to reverse a valid decision. He refused, and they expended 13 valuable days. They went to court and another 28 days have elapsed. The court refused. They now will go to the Appeals Court and then to the Caribbean Courts of Justice (CCJ). By the time the Guyana Courts of Appeal is likely to address the matter, the 90 days will be about to expire. Granger and APNU/ AFC are carrying on as if it is business as usual, behaving as if their approach to the court can suspend the countdown. But the Chief Justice has unequivocally told them the Constitution began the countdown since December 21.

The President unequivocally stated just a few days ago, addressing the national media and, therefore, addressing the nation, that if the judiciary says yes, it is yes, if the judiciary says no,

it is no. Well, the judiciary has said yes, Parliament validly passed the no-confidence motion on December 21. The Judiciary has said yes, MP Charrandas validly cast a vote on December 21. The Judiciary said yes, 33 is the majority of 65. The Judiciary said yes, the Cabinet was resigned on December 21. The Judiciary said yes, elections must be held within 90 days.

Will David Granger now be an honourable man and stand on his word and the law? Will he live up to the DNA of his party and act as a dictator, act like a bully, as the head of a power-hungry group? Will he ignore the cries of his country, the wailing of his people?

Will he allow Guyana at this pivotal moment to regress into dictatorship?

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

If one wrote with GECOM ought to be ready to address... an aim to edify, one must first educate oneself Dear Editor, How often as a child have I lustily bellowed “Born in the land of the mighty Roraima”; the song of Guyana’s Children before assembly, this being a staple of schooling in the ‘70s. I remark on this as I try to comprehend GHK Lall’s missive on the “possible” motives of the Government of Canada with regards to the travel advisory issued to Irfaan Ali prior to his proposed visit there for fundraising and information dissemination activities, I have come to realise that there is a marked difference in brain wiring of Guyanese born pre and post-Independence.

It has become obvious that a ‘colonial’ mentality of looking for approval from ‘massa’ exists strongly in the psyche of those born in a time when our dear land was under the yoke of oppression.

GHK and his contemporaries no doubt set great store by the honorific tea with the Queen of England, a seal of approval greatly sought and cherished thereafter. My sociology Professor Ken Danns often spoke of his irrational desire to be knighted and lamented and no longer being able to receive same because of our changed circumstance. Lall casts around for explanations of Canadian action framed by his limitations but oblivious to same.

GHK Lall should stick to facts and seek same before venturing down the rabbit holes of his own warren.

It is now obvious that the Granger cabal looked carefully at the possible future presidential candidates of the People’s Progressive Party and moved to have

them disqualified from consideration by way of pending criminal charges. Both Anil Nandlall and Irfaan Ali were prime targets of SOCU, the agency of choice for political chicanery. Irfaan Ali was written to by the Canadian High Commissioner based on information in an article by a previously unknown online news outfit “Guyana Standard”, it also made mention of a hold on his application for a residence visa when no such application was made.

Canada has a clear policy of deeming anyone with a criminal charge from entering the country, this was not a law made especially for Guyana’s Irfaan Ali as suggested by GHK Lall. A simple Google search, (which, I concede, may not be so simple for the aged) would have thrown up a plethora of results to guide in forming an opinion on whether this was a set policy or a sinister plot to interfere in Guyana’s internal affairs. I believe the Chairman of Guyana’s Gold Board owes the nation of Canada an apology; eagerly awaiting same.

Editor, if I have transgressed and committed the offence of ‘ageism’ I beg forgiveness as I was taught that if one wrote with an aim to edify, one must first educate oneself. I take my leave as I began, by way of song “Onward, upward, may we ever go, day by day in strength and beauty grow, till at length we each of us will show, what Guyana’s sons and daughters can be” Respectfully, Robin Singh

This is affirmed by their apparent hesitancy to pronounce on the readiness of the organisation to execute their constitutional mandate.

The administrators at GECOM ought to be ready to address any constitutional requirement in keeping with their functional responsibilities. At the time of writing this; it is a monstrous shame that 41 of the 90 days have passed without a public confirmation as to whether the organisation is ready. This column supports the national call for immediate answers from GECOM. This apparent calculated delay comes during a period when there is a valid List of Voters with an expiry period at the end of April.

Given that the organisation successfully executed the Local Government Elections only two months ago, and that its Public Relations Officer had already said that systems were in place to implement Standard Operating Procedures, the return to work and role of Chairman Patterson raises more questions than answers.

The current position of stymie, therefore emphasises an extremely disappointing, vulgar, and flagrant bias, which signals a posture of unacceptable convenient prejudice to fuel a crisis environment. In an organisation of autonomy, fairness should prevail, contrary to the obviously demonstrated bigotry. There should be no frivolous excuses by GECOM to delay the performance of its mandate. The organisation was tooled to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the execution of its role. Appropriations of hundreds of millions were already spent in updating GECOM’s Crystal Reporting Database system to enhance necessary responses. It is, however, notable that room

for particular areas of ICT improvement still exists, such as the critical fingerprint validation addition.

This GECOM ICT system, together with appropriate legislation, supports continuous updates of needed records and required data.

In so doing, it provides the institution with a distinct advantage to disseminate information, conduct research, analyse data to inform budgeting and conduct training.

It is customised in a manner which positions the organisation to overcome numerous previous challenges and hurdles that were associated with manual systems of the ‘70s and ‘80s when the PNC was allowed to glaringly and notoriously manipulate and infiltrate results.

A number of interventions since its implementation, although not foolproof, would have made it increasingly difficult to tamper and manipulate results.

Such infiltration by external persons of interests now requires surreptitious internal interplay with administrators within GECOM who have access or are otherwise involved in influencing other employed parties.

Protection and preservation of security in this realm remain a matter of strongest concern. The Carter Centre interventions prior to and after 1992, resulted in legislative changes which were aligned to and instructive on neutralising the unfair overwhelming controls the PNC had on the electoral mechanism.

Areas of adjustments included the approach to deciding the GECOM Chairman which was given scant regard by President Granger and the system of counting of ballots at the Place of Polls, which give some measure of limited assurance.

It, therefore, places for strongest scrutiny, the known controls regarding

sealing and transport of ballot boxes to prevent issues like the ‘False Statements of Polls’ finding their way into the tally.

The situation is suggestive of internal infiltration and this has to be prevented by the mandatory ICT SignOff system of results, and the transparent use of fingerprint validation technology in the future.

It is noted that the ICT

from page 4

Sign-Off was not done in 2015 although this is provided for in law, while examination of the ICT fingerprint enhancing approach was indeterminately put on hold by Chairman James Patterson who had refused to meet the United Nations team after they had concluded their analysis.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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Foundation

5 tactics to become a more connected parent

By Robert Myers, PhD

F

or most parents, the desire to love and provide for their child is as natural as breathing. But the truth is in this day and age where people are inundated with text messages, social media, non-traditional work schedules, hundreds of channels on television and increased financial demands – more parents than ever are struggling to feel truly connected to their child. It is normal to become slightly removed in your involvement as your child becomes more independent, but children still need to know they have someone to turn to whenever life becomes challenging. Here are five tactics to help you become a more connected parent.

Implement a screen-free dinner

More families than ever spend their dinner time sitting around a television set or playing with their cell phones.

One way to become a more connected parent is by implementing a strict, no-screen policy for one hour during dinnertime. It may feel strange at first, but as you begin to make this policy a part of your regular routine, you and your family will naturally begin to open up more and experience a more connected environment.

Learn a new skill or hobby together

Whether it is building model airplanes or learning to golf as a family, shared life experiences create greater feelings of connectedness in families. Make sure the skill or pastime you decide to pursue is something each member of your family is happy to learn or try. If you are having a hard time coming up with ideas on your own, invite your children to make suggestions until you each agree on your new hobby.

Everyday practices to make your child feel loved

By Monica Foley, Med

Y

Spend one-on-one time with each child

Connecting as a family can be relatively easy for some parents and children, however, more introverted individuals may need some additional time to truly connect. Having one-on-one time with each child in your family will allow you each to connect on a deeper and more meaningful way.

Make sure whatever activity you choose to do together includes fun and also time for private conversation.

Make family night a weekly occurrence

It is not uncommon for adults and children to occasionally feel mentally depleted. An easy way to respect everyone’s need to unwind and relax without the pressure of conversation and cooking is by doing a weekly family night, where you rent a movie, order take-out food and just relax together as a family.

Take an interest in your child’s passions

Being interested in the things your child enjoys may seem intimidating at first, but it can be one of the most rewarding ways you ever connect with them. If your child is musical it may be a good idea to sign them up for lessons, if they like to build things a robotics club could help them fine tune their skills. When you take notice in the things that are important to your child and give them opportunities to polish their skills, they will feel more connected than ever because your involvement teaches them that their contribution to your family matters.

If you are struggling to slow down and connect with your children there are countless little habits you can shift each day to show your child how valued they are. Of course, one of the best things you could do to foster a more connected relationship is to speak with your child and ask them how they would enjoy spending their time with you! (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

our children need your love, time, and undivided attention. As a parent, you’re likely to be the most significant influence in their lives – it’s up to you to help them to feel secure and build their confidence.

Habits and rituals that become a regular part of your family life will have the most impact. Even on your busiest days, you can show your child that you care during your ordinary, everyday activities.

Consider the following ideas to integrate into your regular routines to make your child feel loved and valued:

1. Be attentive

Actively listen when your child wants to talk to you.

Show that you’re listening by stopping what you’re doing and maintaining eye contact. Share their enthusiasm about what they’re discussing, even if the subject is about insects, or a movie you’ve both watched a hundred times. If you’re not able to put down what you’re doing, let your child know and be sure to follow up on the conversation later in the day when you can provide undivided attention.

2. Show affection

Give your child hugs and kisses on the cheek on a regular basis. Physical contact will help you bond with your children. According to Child Trends, a non-profit research organization, studies show that higher self-esteem, better parent-child communication, and fewer psychological and behaviour problems have been linked to warmth and affection between a parent and their child.

3. Provide genuine praise

When it comes to praising your child, quality is more important than quantity. Let your child know that you’re proud of him or her for making an effort, regardless of the outcome. The key is not

to praise your child for everything they do, but to recognize when they do something out of the ordinary, or when they are working hard towards achieving a goal.

4. Ask for help

Enlist your child’s help with chores and give him or her a chance to teach you how to do things, too. Ask them to set the dinner table, take out the trash, or walk the dog. Tell your child that you appreciate the part they play in keeping your house running smoothly. Thank him or her for explaining a new slang word or showing you how to use popular apps they may be using, such as Snapchat.

5. Go for a drive

Make your errands more meaningful by inviting your child to join you. While it may take you a little longer to complete your to-do list, the one-on-one time and conversations along the way are well worth it.

6. Create bedtime rituals

The time spent preparing for sleep is an ideal opportunity to unwind and connect. Snuggle together and share your favourite books.

Create stories based on your real-life experiences. Take turns sharing something specific that happened that day for which you are thankful.

7. Enjoy family meals

Research indicates that there are physical, mental, and emotional benefits of having regular family meals. Having dinner together is another chance to spend some uninterrupted, quality time as a family. Make it a rule that mealtimes are device-free so there are no distractions. Kids feel important and valued when their parents show sincere interest in their child’s day, ask questions, and share as appropriate about their own day.

Fun activities to make your child feel special Thoughtful surprises and occasional treats also help a child to feel important. There are many ways to brighten up your child’s day without having to spend a lot of money.

Try these ideas: 1. Send “snail mail" Receiving physical mail from someone is so rare these days that anything you send may feel special. Write a letter to your child and mail it for their birthday or send a “Just Because” card to show you care – this is something they’ll never forget.

2. Plan outings Short trips can give you more quality time together as a family and help your child to continue learning outside of the classroom.

Visit a museum in your neighbourhood, and discuss what you experienced. Go to your town library. Encourage your child to pick out a few books that you can read together later that evening.

3. Celebrate holidays Establish family traditions for Thanksgiving and Christmas and any other holidays that are meaningful to you. Even simple practices such as baking a favourite dessert together can create lasting memories.

Making your children feel loved and valued will help them to grow up to be happy and responsible adults. Treasure your time together and create memories that you’ll both enjoy for years to come. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Former PNC supporter accuses Govt official of assault …victim sought protection, escort home

A

former supporter of the People’s National Congress who switched to the People’s Progressive Party is accusing Government official Aubrey Norton of verbally assaulting and harassing her on Friday which resulted in her seeking Police protection and an escort to safety.

Alicia Adams told this publication on Saturday

that the incident occurred on Friday evening in the vicinity of Orange Walk, Bourda.

According to Adams, Norton and herself were at the same location and as she ventured to her car to collect an item, he followed her. She claimed that it was while she was at the car that he began making offensive remarks; threatening her life. She added that she moved away

and approached a group of friends but Norton, who was allegedly in a drunken state, went over to her friends and continued to verbally assault her about her decision to leave the PNC. “He left and he come towards me and he started verbally assaulting me. He said ‘if you know what I would do you and nothing wouldn’t come out of it’. To avoid him,

I sat down. He came and pulled the chair away from me,” said Adams.

She claimed that he positioned himself as though he was armed with a weapon or firearm which prompted persons who were present to intervene.

“I left and went over to my car and Aubrey Norton kept walking behind me. He put his hands by his waist and that’s when one of the girls there said to go in my car while the other one was holding him back before he get to me,” she explained.

The police were summoned and upon arriving, officers detected the seriousness of the matter and both persons were taken to the Albouystown Police Station.

“I went to the station and from the time Aubrey walk in, he start barging and start again…When I was giving my statement, he start interrupting again. He had a boy with him and he barge past the counter towards me.”

Alicia Adams

Senior PNC Govt official Aubrey Norton

Fearing for her life, the woman said that she sought an escort to a secure location.

She claimed that she made a decision not to go home on Friday evening since Norton had reportedly threatened to have her family removed from their Campbellville, Georgetown home.

The woman is contending that it is not the first time such an encounter has oc-

curred. She said that it has escalated now.

Threats were made by the accused ever since she pulled support from the PNC and joined the People’s Progressive Party. However, if she is harmed in any way, Adams pointed out that Norton would be responsible.

Efforts by Guyana Times to contact Norton for a comment proved futile.

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

“Smallie”, Nero murder trial

“Mango Man’s” wife, daughter testify

A

s the 2007 “Mango Man” murder trial continues at the Demerara High Court, the wife and daughter of deceased Kumar Singh called “Mango Man” recalled the harrowing night bandits stormed their Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD) prem-

ises during which Singh was shot and later died. The two accused, Mark Royden “Smallie” Williams and Sherwin Nero called “Catty” were indicted on allegations that they were involved in the August 30, 2007, murder during the course or in the furtherance of a robbery

Clearing underbrush…

Co-accused Mark Royden “Smallie” Williams and Sherwin Nero called “Catty” being escorted from court

at the ECD man’s home. They have, however, denied the State’s case.

Indroutie Singh, wife of Kumar Singh recalled that her sister and her family were visiting from Suriname and were drinking a few shots of rum on the night of the attack. Singh told the jury that she heard a gunshot and someone said: “Pass what y’all get.” She recalled being in the lower flat of their two-storied home when she reportedly saw two men standing in front of her sisterin-law’s husband and her own husband whom she claimed was wearing several gold rings at the time.

The woman further testified to hearing a man ask her daughter for her mother then several gunshots rang out.

Afterwards, she said the men ran downstairs and fled the scene and she then saw her husband was shot and without his rings. Kumar was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital in a police vehicle and he later died. She said she then returned to the institution’s mortuary where she

identified his remains.

Their daughter, Deoranie Singh, who was a teenager at the time testified to hearing “terrible gunshots” and later seeing her father in blood.

She said the bandits asked for jewellery and the $7 million the family was keeping. She, however, noted that she told them that no one kept that amount and repeated that they had no money to hand over.

“We keep telling them ‘no, we don’t have money’ and they keep insisting that ‘yes we have it’”.

She said that their wardrobe upstairs was shot at and a male had lashed her causing her nose to bleed. It was after the men fled that she ran to her father, held him and screamed. The two accused men’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, declined to cross-examine the two witnesses.

It was earlier in the week that Police Detective, Inspector Suraj Singh claimed that the duo, upon being captured in 2008, admitted under caution that an ex-Police accomplice was the one who transported them from the scene via a horse cart.

The matter continues before Justice James Bovell-Drakes in a case being prosecuted by State Counsel Tamica Clarke.

Illegal gun, ammo

Pawnshop owner gets suspended 2-year sentence

A

lmost one year after being arraigned on an illegal possession charge proprietor of Brothers Pawn Shop was on Friday handed a suspended two-year jail term.

Freeman Fordyce was charged for the illegal possession of a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol along with 15 live rounds of matching ammunition. On Friday, almost one year after the initial charge was instituted the businessman was found guilty of the offence.

It was reported that Fordyce was nabbed with the firearm in his crotch, at his jewelry and pawnshop, located at George and Princess Streets, Werk-en-Rust on May 5, 2017 when he was not the holder of a firearm license.

In court on Friday defense attorney, Nigel Hughes, begged for leniency on behalf of his client. The suspended sentence was handed down by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. In addition, he was also fined $60,000.

I

…in politics

n her landmark judgement on the no-confidence vote, Chief Justice Roxane George cleared up a nettlesome issue that had been in suspended animation for decades – the status of dual citizen MPs. The Constitution, in Article 155(1), after all, had been crystal clear: “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who – (a)is by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state…”

Yet, here it was, from the moment the clause was introduced in 1980, dual citizens had been nominated and allowed to become MPs by their parties. Since the matter affected both sides, there was obviously a tacit agreement not to trouble this particular “ants’ nest”!!

Your Eyewitness had wondered whether the CJ would’ve invoked the legal doctrine of “desuetude” by which a law may be abrogated because of its long disuse.

But no, the CJ decided to call a spade a spade and let the chips fall where they may!! Anyone who holds dual citizenship CANNOT be a Member of Parliament!!

And immediately this disqualified not just some regular MPs but a few with higher ambitions. From the Government benches, it knocked out Joe Harmon and Carl Greenidge, who’d been touted as possible PNC presidential candidates if President Granger dropped out of the race. Over in the PPP, dual citizen Gail Teixeira had bowed out of their presidential nomination and has now announced she’ll “renounce” her Canadian citizenship.

And, of course, this is an avenue open to Harmon, Greenidge and any other dual citizen presently in the House. The problem for them in this election, however, is the process takes at least six months and for sure the elections boat would “done gone ah watah”!!

There’s also a lot of ink spilled recently that only those who’d explicitly taken an oath of allegiance to another country were disqualified – and not those who attained the status by birth. In the CJ’s judgement, following precedent from Jamaica, the distinction is immaterial: the issuance of the passport by the second country presumed allegiance. So that eliminates Dominick Gaskin, the President’s son-in-law.

But as the Opposition Leader pointed out, with Guyana needing the services of its (relatively) massive Diaspora, we may need to relook at Article 155 (1). In the meantime, the CJ clarified the impact of having MPs who were disqualified from being so on legislation or Budgets passed with their votes. This was addressed

by Article 165 (2) which states “…the presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present at or to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly shall not invalidate those proceedings.”

The Opposition got its cake and could eat it too!!

…not walking

There are some who’ve maintained that because of President Granger’s “goodness”, he would have obeyed the clear language of the Constitution’s Article 106 (6) and resigned with his Cabinet immediately after the NCM was passed. This was, in fact, his (and his PMs) immediate reaction. But he disappointed those optimists when he latched on to the ridiculous claim of 33 not being the majority of 65, even though the same majority had made him President!! It exposed, once again, that his amiability was only skin deep and he was as opportunistic as any of his predecessors in the PNC leadership.

Wasn’t he the one who’d already called the ruling of Justice George on the qualification necessary for the GECOM chair (doesn’t HAVE to be a Judge) her “perception”?? And this is what he’ll also dub her rulings on the NCM and refuse to “walk”, as we say in cricket. In this, he’s spitting on our WI traditions of fair play.

And acting like a banana republic dictator!

…on ANUG

The ANUG’s founders are nothing, if not “well meaning”. However, Timothy Jonas, is now disqualified by the dual citizenship ruling, and – with 50 per cent voters under 35 – Guyana’s “no country for old men”.

Who’ll be the presidential and PM candidates??

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

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP reps verbally abused in La Parfaite Harmonie during verification campaign

S

upporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Friday expressed disgust over the way they were treated by some residents of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

According to one of the representatives, they were hurdled out of the Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) community by People’s National Congress (PNC) supporters during the Party’s house-to-

house verification as they began their campaign to verify voters on the list of voters.

Several of the representatives said as they entered the community, they encountered some difficulty after identifying themselves as PPP/C members.

As such, one member stated that during the two-day verification campaign, which began on Friday, they were not only “chased out” of the community but they were also subjected to verbal abuse

by residents.

According to the supporter, this has brought fear over other supporters who wished to discontinue the exercise.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Regional Chairman Julius Faeber said it is the Party’s democratic right to engage in such practices.

“It is our democratic right to do our campaigns, so why do we have to be fearful when going into certain areas. We don’t go to harass no one, we go for a purpose and that is

PPP/C presidential candidate...

According to the Ali, his party is looking to create thousands of new jobs, the rebuilding of communities, transformation of infrastructure, undertaking transformative projects that will have sustainable energy and cheaper energy especially for the manufacturing sector, agro-processing and other critical sectors. He added that high on the Party’s agenda too is to create an enter economy on education and health services.

Emerging oil and gas sector

Turning his attention to the emerging oil and gas sector, Ali posited that the PPP had built Guyana into one of the strongest economies in the Region without oil and gas, and now with this new resource much more can be done.

“It will improve things and give you greater access but it must not be seen as the only hope. Oil and gas would be an avenue that creates tremendous opportunities in other sectors,” he contended.

He resounded commitments made by the Party to keep politicians away from the emerging industry.

“We have already promised the politicians will take an arms-length approach in terms of the way the resources from oil and gas would be managed. That must be done by technically competent people and the political system must be far away from the management of this and we must criminalise certain actions, like strong laws that if you don’t declare income from the sector – like the case we had with the US$18 million – then there

from page 3

must be strong penalties defined in law to address these issues…,” he stated.

Against this backdrop, Ali assured Guyanese in the Diaspora that should the PPP return to office, there will be a more transformative, developed and secure Guyana awaiting them.

Meanwhile, accompanying him on the radio programme on Saturday was former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who in brief remarks, said that among the things the PPP intends to aggressively address is stable utility service especial electricity.

“Guyanese in Diaspora have a lot to look forward to because when their families are doing better back home, then they will have a better time when they visit,” Dr Ramsammy asserted.

to verify voters on the voters list that was given to us by [the Guyana Elections Commission] GECOM. The community is not owned by any of us.

The PPP/Civic over the

years has condemned what it described as “the wide scale provocations currently being meted out to its supporters by the [A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change] APNU/AFC support-

ers.”

On May 11, 2015, several vehicles belonging to PPP supporters were burnt in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, during an unrest by residents in that community.

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyanese diplomats fail to declare assets to Integrity Commission

Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil, George Talbot

Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed

Guyana’s Ambassador to Belgium, David Hales

Guyana’s Ambassador to the US, Dr Riyad Insanally

Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Clarissa Riehl

Guyana’s High Commissioner to London, Hamley Case

n a public notice issued on Saturday, February 2, 2019, the Office of the Integrity Commission published the names of 66 persons who are required by law to declare their assets but failed to submit their declarations. Among the names of the identified defaulters whom the Integrity

Commission publicly called out were 20 of Guyana’s diplomats. The published names were in accordance with Section 19 of the Integrity Commission Act, the Integrity Commission and the deadline was listed as January 25, 2019.

The diplomats included Guyana’s Ambassador

to Brazil, George Talbot, Ambassador to Belgium, David Hales; Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed; Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Shamir Ally; Ambassador to Suriname, Keith George; Ambassador/Permanent Representative to United Nations, Michael Ten-Pow; Ambassador/Permanent

Representative to Switzerland, John Ronald Deep Ford; Venezuelan Ambassador Cheryl Miles, and Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr Riyad Insanally. Meanwhile, the High Commissioners named were Clarissa Riehl (Canada); Hamley Case (London); Dr Kenneth Hunte (South Africa); Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop (Trinidad & Tobago).

Other Counsel Generals were also identified as defaulters. Within the Legal Affairs Ministry, former Solicitor General Joycelin Kim Kyte-Thomas and Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS), Tamika Barkoye were named by the Integrity Commission.

There was one official each from the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Education Ministry and Social Protection Ministry identified while six Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP) defaulters were named including Head of Political Division, Fredrick McWilfred and Political Assistant Ronald Backer.

Six Public Infrastructure Ministry officials secured

places on the list while four from the MOTP’s Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport garnered places.

The Director of Dance at the National Dance School and the acting Administrator of the National Cultural Centre were identified. Additionally, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau, Lowell Porter made the list.

There were 14 officials from the Communities Ministry who did not submit declarations to the Integrity Commission while one of the largest Ministries, the Agriculture Ministry, had six officials failing to meet the January 25 deadline.

This included former Permanent Secretary George Jervis who now functions as Director of the Agricultural Sector Development Unit.

Chairman of Guyana Fisheries Limited, Mohamed Khan was also named as a defaulter.

In the past, Members of Parliament (MPs) including Government Ministers had been listed among those who did not honour obliga-

tions as set out in Section 19 of the Integrity Commission Act. The law, in fact, states: “Where a person who is required to do so fails to file a declaration in accordance with this Act or to furnish particulars under section 18, the Commission or the President, as the case may be, shall publish the fact in the Gazette and in a daily newspaper.”

The Commission has the mandate to improve public confidence in the integrity of persons in public office by ensuring that they submit their declarations in compliance with the Integrity Commission Act. The Commission is responsible for the accountability of persons holding public office but prior to February 2018, the Body had been reportedly functioning with skeletal staff after the resignation of the Commission’s Chairman, Bishop Randolph George in 2006.

Its current Commissioners are Chairman Kumar Doraisami, Rabindranauth Persaud, Rosemary Benjamin-Nobel and Thandi McAllister.

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Mon Repos family seeks assistance after fire

A For agonistic, not antagonistic politics

T

he no-confidence vote (NCV) and its subsequent passing in the House of Assembly; its further reaffirmation by the Speaker and its eventual constitutional validation by our Chief Justice has only served to increase the always simmering polarisation of our society into two antagonistic camps, with their ethnic cores. There are some new “parties” promoting “constitutional change”, to address this, but unfortunately they all seem enamoured of the failed Liberal model we were bequeathed.

This proclivity to struggle is ineradicable because humans, pace the liberal view, do not only act out of cold, rational calculus. There is always the messy business of predispositions, feelings, and emotions that coalesce in group solidarities, exclusions and antagonisms.

All societies are therefore “plural” to a lesser or greater degree. In our plural society where our divisions are not just around economic class Ravi Dev issues, but include ethnicity and religion – going to the very heart of ascriptive identities – the emotional affects are with us in spades because of incommensurable values. Consequently the always latent tendency for our political struggles – and all the other struggles are ultimately over questions of power and so “political” – is to careen out of control.

This view of politics that places conflict at the centre goes beyond the old, familiar school of “conflict theorists” such as the Marxists. The latter, for instance, propose while class conflict is immanent in the present capitalist conjuncture, once the working class assume power, the conflict will disappear. Utopia would have arrived. I believe this to be a fairy tale. Humans will always find one or other reason to divide themselves and deal with the “other” aggressively.

There is now a school of thought that accepts this tendency of humans to cleave into groups that manifest hostility towards each other: agonism. But rather than treating each other as enemies to be obliterated, the “other” is considered as adversaries with positions we cannot agree on but yet respect.

Rather that pretending, as liberalism does, that we can always rationally discuss away the immanent hostility between deeply divided groups, agonistic politics aim to challenge and channel it in non-destructive, institutionalised ways. If this is not done, then violence will erupt periodically, or large sections of some subaltern groups will have to be locked away as in the US. The goal is not to find consensus at any cost but to manage dissensus.

Each polity has its unique blend of incommensurable pluralism generating its own volatile melange of conflicts and consequently there is no one silver bullet to confront them all.

However, we can observe the trends in polities that have exposed the hollowness of both Marxist and liberal utopian thinking to deal with deep pluralism. Britain has devolved. India continues to do so. Sudan has just fissioned as has Czechoslovakia earlier; not to mention Bosnia a tad more violently. Kenya went into a government of national unity – but that has not stopped the corruption and tensions among the groups. It was a coalition of the elites that just broadened the pillage.

ACDA has grasped the inadequacy of our specific political model to deal with our pluralism but their solution is still firmly positioned within the aforementioned failed liberal premises.

I’ve asked on several occasions as to why they invoke the advice of Sir Arthur Lewis on plural societies re coalitions but never about Federalism. In our specific case, I have advocated we carry the devolution all the way down to the village level. The extensive deep, institutionalised devolution should facilitate agonistic politics at the grassroots level and hopefully defuse the build-up of hostilities that can tear the country apart. Local Government should spend greater portion of the budget than the Central Government.

Thus far from saying that we should have a love fest going, I am suggesting the ever present simmering hostility ought not to be fanned but given expression institutionally. Worse, it ought not to be moralised as a struggle between “good” and “evil” as is presently the case. This reinforces the feeling that the “other” is the “enemy” to be eliminated. No one gains when there are explosions. More pertinently, for peaceful political change, open hostilities scare away key constituencies that can secure victory of the “other”.

I am further saying that the present political arrangements will ensure that whichever side wins the election, unless a system is introduced that equitably distributes power among the various groups, we are ensuring that the inevitable resentment in the “remainders” will erupt sooner or later.

Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara family whose home was ravaged by flames on Thursday afternoon, which also saw the death of a child who was trapped in the building, is seeking assistance from the public to help them recuperate from the disaster.

Mala Rampersaud, who lost her child during the tragedy, told Guyana Times that the nine persons who resided in the home were rendered homeless. For now, they are staying with neighbours and are receiving assistance from persons within the community.

“We’re currently staying at our neighbour right next door. Whatever the neighbours bring and give us, we’re accepting. We’re asking the public that whatever they give, we will accept,”

What remains of the house at Agriculture Road, ECD

Rampersaud noted.

She noted that the Guyana Fire Service is yet to determine the cause of the fire, and they were told that another investigative visit will be made on Monday.

“They did not say what cause it. They say they will come on Monday again,” she said.

According to the woman,

her four-year-old daughter who survived the fire is not aware of the situation that her brother died, and has been constantly asking for him.

Nine persons were left homeless after the fire started at about 02:00h at the Lot 83 Agriculture Road house.

Mahin Rampersaud, who is almost two years old, was

sleeping in the upper flat of the two-storied house when neighbours were alerted by thick, dark smoke emanating from the house and immediately raised an alarm.

However, by the time public-spirited persons rushed to the scene to rescue the children, the little boy was already consumed in the flames. They managed to save his sister, who escaped unhurt, along with other family members.

While the upper flat of the concrete and wooden structure was completely destroyed, a section of the lower flat was saved but has water damage.

The children were at home with their grandmother who was unsuccessful in her attempts to render assistance to the toddler when she realised that the building was on fire.

12 news

SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Berbice farmer stabbed to death during home invasion A

Corentyne, Berbice farmer was stabbed to death on Friday evening during a home invasion.

Dead is Deoprakash Lallbachan called “William” of Lot 22, Grant 1655 Crabwood Creek, Berbice.

Reports are the 59-yearold man was stabbed to his right and left side chest, and

the abdomen. Guyana Times was told that the intruder entered the home via a window on the lower flat of the building at about 22:30h on Friday. To gain entry, the intruder removed two metal bars from the window.

This publication was told that Lallbachan was watching television in the lower flat while his ailing moth-

Deoprakash Lallbachan’s Crabwood Creek, Berbice home

er-in-law was in a room next to him and his wife was upstairs.

The farmer’s wife, Nalini Lallbachan told Guyana Times that Lallbachan shouted for her after the intruder pounced on him.

“I hear he say ‘Nalini!

Nalini! Come them bore me!

Them bore me!’ I saw him hanging over the cupboard with blood running down.

He said to me ‘They come out, they want to kill me’,” the wife recalled.

The window through which the intruder gained entry

Dead: Deoprakash Lallbachan

The widow related that she placed her husband on the floor and rushed to close the backdoor.

“I had closed it earlier, but I see it open,” she said, indicating that the intruder may have opened it to run out of the house. She said she started screaming for help but no one responded.

She said that she then telephoned one of her husband’s friends who lives in the same village and he rushed over.

They then took the injured Lallbachan to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

While it is believed that the suspect is a kitchen thief, the grieving woman is of the opinion that it was not a robbery.

“I can’t say but I think that if it was a robbery they would have gone upstairs because everywhere was opened,” Nalini contended.

Police were called and upon arrival found that the suspect removed vegetables from a freezer that was outside and placed the items along with some biscuits just outside the back door.

However, after the stabbing suspect escaped, leaving his loot as well as the murder weapon at the scene, the Police recovered a bloodied knife in the kitchen, a cutlass in the yard and a piece of clothing.

There were footprints leading from the house to the back fence of the yard.

Police are on the hunt for the suspect. The couple had been married for 37-years and has two children.

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SUnDAY, february 03, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

ve

Mandatory elections in 90 days

PPP Commissioner decries “delaying tactics” by GECOM

P

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) Commissioner on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Sase Gunraj, on Saturday revealed that promised work plans on preparations for polls are yet to be delivered to the Commissioners.

Following last Tuesday’s meeting at GECOM, the Secretariat agreed to provide members of the Commission with several work plans detailing the various options and the timelines regarding the holding of General and Regional Elections.

“No excuse, or attempt at an excuse, has been forthcoming for this refusal and or neglect to provide these work plans, which should have been ready or in any event, easily prepared, from the Secretariat,” he said.These plans were to be submitted on Friday and were to be discussed by members of the Operations Committee at a meeting scheduled

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

for this Monday. However, Gunraj said on Saturday that no such documents have been received nor was any excuse forthcoming from the Secretariat.

According to the Opposition Commissioner, this is just another tactic that is being employed to delay the commencement of preparations for holding elections in the constitutionally mandated timeline.

“I have had cause to

comment, both within GECOM meetings and publicly, about the obvious dilatory tactics that are being employed to prevent the commencement of preparations for holding of elections in the constitutionally mandated timeline. I view this as another such delay,” Gunraj noted.

The parliamentary Opposition and other observers have accused Government of attempting to delay the holding of the constitutionally mandated elections following the no-confidence resolution of December 21, 2018.

The three-month time frame in which the polls should be held was validated in last Thursday’s interpretation by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, who declared that the motion was validly passed 33-32. GECOM has been unforthcoming about its preparedness for the mandatory elections despite being mandated by the Constitution of Guyana

GECOM’s Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson

to hold elections within three months of the passage of a no-confidence motion. In fact, during a meeting with both Opposition and Government Chief Whips, the Chairman of GECOM, retired Justice James Patterson abruptly ended a meeting on the Commissions preparedness after he was pressed for answers. On Friday, United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Mikiko

Tanaka urged the Guyana Government to demonstrate integrity and respect the Constitution. She told a gathering at an interfaith ceremony at the launch of Harmony Week, that building a peaceful and just society requires respect for the rule of law and confidence in national institutions.

“Recent political developments triggered by the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, are a test for Guyana’s strength and integrity with regards to the effectiveness of the rule of law and governance…The delivery of the decisions by the Chief Justice demonstrates the independence and integrity of the Judiciary in protecting the Constitution and upholding the rule of law.

The Honourable Speaker’s earlier validation of the process of the controversial voting at the National Assembly was testimony of the integrity of the legislative arm of the State,” she said last week.

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

Tanaka lauded acting Chief Justice Roxane George for demonstrating the independence and integrity of the Judiciary when it comes to protecting the Constitution of Guyana.

“It is hoped that the third arm of the State, the Executive, will demonstrate its integrity and respect for Guyana’s Constitution and the Judiciary that constitute the foundation for the rule of law,” Tanaka added.

Oil and gas sector

5 firms shortlisted to conduct cost oil audit – Statia - Canadian consultant to help GRA build capacity

By Jarryl Bryan

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total of five audit firms have been shortlisted from a pool of 14 applicants vying to conduct audits into the over US$400 million in cost oil claims submitted by oil giant Exxon Mobil to the Government.

This was revealed by Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Godfrey Statia during a recent press conference in which he provided updates on prior year matters and the Authority’s efforts to build capacity for the oil sector.

He referenced the World Bank US$35 million Development Policy credit to Guyana, noting that money from this will enable the Government to procure the services of the accounting firm to do the cost oil analysis. Statia also revealed that Exxon has been co-operating with the Authority.

“We have so far shortlisted five of those firms, out of 14,” Statia said. “It has since been sent back to

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

the World Bank and they should send in their proposals and we should pick one of those proposals and we move ahead. In the meantime, I want to assure you that we have been getting information that we requested from Exxon on a quarterly basis.”

“And we’ve been getting information going forward.

They’ve been estimating their information going forward. That information will allow us to see their rate of return and whether there should be some tweaking and the emphasis we

should put on some of these issues.”

When it comes to developing the administrative capacity for oil and gas at GRA, Statia revealed that a Canadian expert in the area of petroleum taxation will be brought on board to assist.

“I’m happy to say that we have been able to procure the services of an expert, who was in charge of the Canadian Revenue Authority oil and gas operations. He’ll be here for the next two years, for a maximum of 30 weeks every year.”

“He would be in charge of building that capacity based on what we would have had to do. So basically we’re going to spin that off, from the large taxpayers unit and we’ll have a fullfledged oil and gas unit,” Statia said.

Cost oil

After its 10th discovery of oil in the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil has estimated the recoverable resource in the block to be 5 bil-

lion oil-equivalent barrels. At US$50 a barrel, that equates to well over US$200 billion.

In addition, an independent assessment, or competent persons report, had found that 2.9 billion barrels of oil existed in the Orinduik block.

Exxon is expected to use A Canadian will be brought on board to help with GRA’s capacity building revenue from of all such costs incurred Agreement prior to the year its production in order to reunder the 1999 Petroleum ended 2015.” coup its capital investment.

Whatever remains of this is the “profit oil” Guyana will have to split with the oil company and its associates.

According to Annex C of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed with Exxon, pre-contract cost “shall include four hundred and sixty million, two hundred and thirty-seven hundred thousand and nine hundred and eighteen United States Dollars (US$460,237,918) in respect

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Cyclist killed after colliding with car on WCB World Wetlands Day 2019

The car which was involved in the accident

The dead man’s bicycle

West Coast Berbice (WCB) man was killed on Saturday afternoon after he reportedly collided into a motorcar on the Onverwagt Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Dead is 41-year-old Joel Jacobs of Number 28 Village, WCB. The accident occurred at about 15:30h on a bridge along the Onverwagt Public Road.

from south to north and in so doing, came into contact with the front right side of the hire car.

As a result of the impact, the cyclist fell onto the bridge where he sustained injuries. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to Fort Wellington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body of 41-year-

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According to the police report, hire car bearing registration number HC 8140, was proceeding east on the northern side of the said bridge whilst the pedal cyclist was proceeding in the opposite direction on the southern side of the bridge.

The driver told investigators that while in the process of passing the bicycle, Jacobs suddenly swerved

old Jacobs is presently at Fort Wellington Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination.

Meanwhile, a breathalyser test was conducted on the driver and no alcohol was detected.

The 27-year-old driver of El Dorado Village, WCB, remains in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

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f you are living on the coast, chances are you are living on a wetland which has been reclaimed. This is not to say wetlands cannot be found in all administration regions of Guyana because depending on where you are, you may be exposed to various types of wetlands. Important to note is that, wetlands are not waste lands, they have great value. Wetlands can be defined as transition zones between aquatic (water) and terrestrial (land) ecosystems. These areas are significant since they provide countless natural services which include the important role they play in the battle against climate change. However, while they are our natural weapons to combat this global threat, they are also vulnerable to it. World Wetlands Day is observed every year on February 2 to spread awareness about wetlands. This year, the theme for the day is “Wetlands and Climate Change.”

Wetlands – a natural remedy for climate change There are different types of wetlands, all of which have characteristics that help them to combat the effects of climate change. Wetlands exist as marshes, mangroves, floodplains, lakes, swamps and mudflat. Wetlands provide both environmental and socio-economic benefits. Some of these include: - Protection of the coastline; - Prevention of natural disasters; - Purification of water; - Provision of habitat for many species of organisms; - Provision of resources to encourage agricultural activities; eg fishing, apiculture In addition, wetlands are important for the reduction of climate change impacts since they rapidly absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide. For instance, mangroves store 50 times more carbon than tropical forests. Additionally, mangrove forests are also used as adaptation mechanisms by protecting shorelines from sea-level rise.

Climate change – a threat to wetlands Wetlands provide a natural response to climate change impacts. At the same time, however, they are vulnerable ecosystems. For instance, with increases in global temperatures, sea-level rise and extreme weather pattern are resulting in the degradation of wetland ecosystems. With the increase in average global temperatures, it has led to the loss of many habitats resulting in extinction of many species. In addition, degradation to wetlands leads to desertification, making it impossible to use the land for agriculture. It was recorded that since 1970, we have seen a loss of 35 per cent of the world’s wetlands.

Measures taken to protect wetlands The Ramsar Convention, on Wetlands was first held in Iran in 1971. It is the main initiative taken to manage the use of wetlands.

Through this convention, an intergovernmental agreement was drafted which provides the structure for countries to be guided on the sustainable use and conservation of wetlands.

With the ratification of 170 countries, there are currently 2339 Ramsar Sites around the world which are noted as Wetland of International Importance and are protected under the Treaty.

Guyana has not signed on to the Convention. However, measures are in place to manage and conserve wetlands in Guyana. One of the main focus areas is the North Rupununi, a unique ecosystem that influences Guyana’s rich biodiversity particularly aquatic organisms. National actions are also taken to protect mangroves which are the natural guardians of our coast. You can play a role in Wetlands Conservation If we do not start recognising the importance of wetlands and conduct more researches to examine how vulnerable they are, all the wonderful services and benefits they provide will eventually disappear. Since, wetlands provide numerous benefits, citizens can help in clean-up efforts, restoration and conservation of these ecosystems. In addition, it is advised that proper studies be done before reclaiming wetlands for developmental activities. World Wetlands Day allows for us to reflect on the many services these ecosystems provide especially as we continue to battle against climate change. In addition, World Wetlands Day calls for global awareness and education on these valuable areas.

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, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Freak storm rips off section of Corriverton Market roof The importance of educating youths in business

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here is currently a draft policy framework entitled “National Youth Policy of Guyana”, which speaks to the commitment by the Guyanese Government to honour its pledge made to the Commonwealth Youth Programme through the Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ meeting held as far back as 1994 to develop, along with other Caribbean countries, a national youth policy.

The draft document acknowledged that a constant refrain was that the education system needs reform – yet, specific policy initiatives were not forthcoming. To this end, the authors of the document having examined trends in educational programmes at the international and regional levels – the policy seeks to ensure that the following initiatives be pursued: * That existing internship programmes be strengthened and in particular a specific youth attachment and internship programme at the secondary school and university level phases of education be designed; * Competitions that focuses on literary, creative writing and animation skills for young people and that the products of such competitions be used to enhance the marketability of the creators; * Wider exposure to technical and vocational training tied to enterprise development be an ongoing responsibility of the Ministries responsible for youth and education; * A special youth agricultural programme that provides certification and attachment functions and be tied to existing agricultural projects; * A programme that connects agriculture and care of the environment for youth at school and youth in business be developed as an ongoing activity; and * Training in customer care, service and network building.

Moreover, it is noteworthy to highlight that the document also acknowledged the notion that not much is available to young Guyanese in respect of business development programmes and assistance – noting that other Caribbean countries provide enterprise development assistance programmes directed at young people including business advice, preparation of business plans, grants and soft loans. Though some of these services are provided by various agencies across Guyana, the policy recommends that existing programmes across the region be examined and a model that can satisfy the uniqueness of Guyana be developed in consultation with the youths of Guyana.

Against these backgrounds, education is critical to creating a competitive economy. Nelson Mandela once said, “Without education, your children can never really meet the challenges they will face.”

Therefore, it is important to consider whether the educational system is aligned with the current and future needs of the economy.

Many young people in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union (EU) cannot find employment. This has become particularly acute since the onset of the 2008 global financial crisis. Evidence shows that the unemployed are unhappier, more likely to experience a range of health issues, and face difficulties integrating back into the labour market. Evidence also suggests that a spell of youth unemployment increases the likelihood of poorer wages and unemployment in later life (Blanchflower and Oswald, 1998). Such outcomes also have pronounced social costs. It represents a loss of potential output and leads to increased costs to the taxpayer. Henceforth, one potentially good way of integrating young people into the labour market is to increase youth entrepreneurship.

Becoming an entrepreneur potentially offers benefits to the young people through deepening their human capital attributes (selfreliance, skills development) and increasing their levels of happiness (Blancfflower and Oswald, 1998).

Entrepreneurs create jobs, increase innovation, raise competition and are responsive to changing economic opportunities and trends – in addition to offering positive externalities.

The way forward: Education * Countries need to target skills development through improving the quality of education and training systems; * There is a need for better training programmes and Private Sector incentive schemes that help to fill the skills gap and to improve employability among youth; * Better tailored programmes are more successful in meeting the needs and abilities of specific groups; * A combination of subsidised work experience and vocational training is a good strategy to deal with youth unemployment * A degree of obligation is desirable to maintain attachment to the labour market The way forward: Entrepreneurship Work more closely with the Private Sector to support programmes to disseminate entrepreneurship skills and to assist marginalised people to become entrepreneurs: • Create incentives for the Private Sector to integrate youth entrepreneurs into value chains • Improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem: 1. Entrepreneurship training 2. Simplify procedures for starting and doing businesses 3. Make national policies more youth oriented, including labour market regulations 4. Support innovation 5. Better access to financial market (innovative financial products) The way forward: Macroeconomic level Countries should adopt new industrial policy that could promote global competitiveness and labour-intensive growth. In order to do so, the creation of effective engines for higher sustainable growth becomes necessary to create adequate jobs for youth. And, finally, invest in the key areas and underprivileged regions could, address regional inequality, release pressure on the big cities, and improve labour market efficiency (UN, 2017).

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

A section of the damaged roof

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freak storm on Friday ripped off a section of the Corriverton Market roof.

Reports are the storm hit at about 10:00h on Friday leaving more than 24 stall holders with water damages.

Grocery, clothing and haberdashery vendors oc-

One of the stalls that were damaged

cupy the section where the roof ripped off.

“The storm just twirl around and pick up everything and carry them to the parking lot over there,” a vendor told this publication.

The incident sent scores of vendors and customers running for shelter.

According to Kenneth Jafiq, who has been a vendor of that market for more than 30 years, apart from the removal of the zinc sheets by the wind, pieces of the rafters fell, damaging stalls and merchandise.

“Everything happen so sudden that you didn’t get a chance to do anything.

Within seconds everything damage,” Jafiq related.

On Saturday, efforts were being made to replace the section of the roof which was ripped off.

Several buildings in close proximity to the market were also affected.

There were no injuries reported.

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Banks DIH Linden Branch records Police destroy ganja field at Coomacka 4.2% increase in sales

Chairman of Banks DIH, Clifford Reis (third from left - front row) among the shareholders during the Linden AGM

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he Linden Branch of beverage giant, Banks DIH Limited has performed “creditably” over the past fiscal year ending September 2018, officials announced on Friday during the company’s 63rd Annual General Members Meeting (AGM) held at the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) location.

The Meeting was hosted under the theme, “The winning team; Celebrating People, Inspiring Greatness.”

In her report on the branch’s performance for the fiscal year, Branch Manager Shaundell Easton praised its performance, noting that it achieved a total sale of $1,123,806,988 which is a 4.2

per cent increase from the previous year.

Easton also pointed to the branch’s physical case sales of seven hundred and forty-two thousand, six hundred and seventy-six cases, noting that it was a slight decline of 1.7 per cent when compared to the previous year.

The Branch Manager added that the company remains committed to building community relationships, through sports, education and entertainment.

Meanwhile, Chairman Clifford Reis in commenting on the branch’s performance of the company over the past year, congratulated Easton and her staff, noting that she has increased

profits by 75 per cent. Reis said the Linden Branch of Citizens Bank has also had a good year, recording significant profits for the financial year. He congratulated Branch Manager Lytton Thompson and staff on the achievement.

“During the financial year...the total revenue of the Linden Branch increased by 8.6 million, while the customers’ deposits at this branch now stands at 1.1 billion dollars”, Reis boasted.

The Chairman added that the branch of the bank has also handed out $82 million in loans over the fiscal year.

Scholarship

Reis said the company

will be offering a scholarship to a successful Linden student to pursue studies at the University of Guyana.

“Your company is offering a scholarship to any student from the Linden area... if they want to study Marketing at the University of Guyana.

They’d be given a scholarship for four years and when they’re finished they have to work with us... We have the funds now to put you into University so you can get a Marketing Degree and come back and work with the Linden branch,” he said.

The Chairman also provided the overall performance of the company, noting its continued commitment.

“Banks DIH Limited, your company, continues to be managed and guided by the principles of sustainability and accountability so as to ensure that the best interest of our shareholders...and to reduce or eliminate any impact which our operations may have on the environment and the communities within which we conduct our business activities”, he said.

The company also awarded the Coomacka and Silver Hill Primary schools and the team leader of the region’s nationals team for winning the championships.

The marijuana farm which Police found at Coomacka, Upper Berbice River

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he suspicious actions of an unidentified man led E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) Police to the discovery of a marijuana farm at Coomacka, Upper Berbice River.

According to Divisional Commander Linden Lord, ranks were on patrol in the Coomacka Mines area, when they gave chase to the male, who was observed acting in a suspicious manner. The male reportedly ran into

some bushes, with Police in hot pursuit, where about a mile in they stumbled upon a cannabis farm. Ranks discovered some 150 cannabis plants, measuring from one to four feet in height, with an estimated weight of 100 kilograms. They also found 75 kilograms of dried cannabis in the makeshift camp along with a hammock and clothing. The camp was burnt by ranks. An investigation has been launched.

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Probe launched into woman’s death at NA Hospital

…autopsy ordered

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n investigation has been launched into the death of a woman at the New Amsterdam Hospital after she was allegedly given nine injections by a doctor at the health facility.

Director of Health Services in Berbice, Jevaughn Stephen told reporters on Friday that following the protest in front of the medical facility, an investigation has been launched. He added that the issues which the residents were protesting over are being addressed as the region seeks to improve its services.

Sooroojdia Dookeram, 69, was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital on Tuesday last complaining of stomach pains.

She was reportedly given five injections but began vomiting. According to her daughter, as a result, she was given two more injec-

Protesters on Tuesday in front of the NA Hospital Dead: Sooroojdia Dookeram

tions to which she again displayed a negative reaction and was thereupon administered a further two injections. She died shortly after the last two injects were administered.

The pathologist attached to the medical facility is on leave in her home island of Cuba but Stephen assured that an autopsy will be performed on Dookeram’s body.

Dookeram’s death is one of the several issues which forced residents to the picket line on Tuesday last as they expressed their disapproval over the state of affairs at the medical faculty.

Seepaul Ramlochan, whose brother’s body was left to decompose at the hospital’s mortuary, was also on the protest line.

Stephen added that the issue of lengthy delays by persons who showed up at the medical facility seeking

attention is because of a new system which should have been implemented two years ago. The system, Stephen explained, requires doctors to obtain additional information from the patient. The four-page form was shown to this publication and on the front page, there were 23 questions. According to the Health Services Director, additional staff have been deployed to the department to assist with filling out the forms.

The Health Services Director further pointed out that the Accident and Emergency Departments will no longer be operating in the same place as from next week. This was a contentious point of the protesters, who had explained that it was illogical to have both outpatient and A&E Departments operate as one.

On Tuesday last, residents of New Amsterdam and surrounding areas called on Government to address the rapidly deteriorating condition at the NA

Hospital.

Additionally, the residents alleged that several critical pieces of equipment are out of order in addition to a shortage of basic medicine leaving them to come to the conclusion that the state of the institution’s affairs is not being properly managed.

The residents turned out in their numbers and staged a picketing exercise in front of the hospital’s compound while chanting “The CEO must go” for several hours as they marched to have their concerns addressed.

Linden business community wants reform in allocation of lands for investment …says investors are delayed by slothful system

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he business community in Linden on Friday called for a reform in the way properties and lands are allocated for investment during a meeting between the President of the Linden Chamber of Industry Commerce and Development (LCICD), Victor Fernandes and Business Minister Dominic Gaskin.

The meeting was set up by the Linden Enterprise

Network (LEN) to address the issues that affect business development in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) and to commemorate the third annual business conference.

The President of the Chamber, while highlighting the fact that a number of investors have expressed interest in expanding businesses in Linden, said the sector seems not to be working.

Fernandes said the Chamber would like to see reform in the way properties and lands are allocated for business investment, adding that investors are made to wait years given the slothful nature of the system.

“We would have had a number of investors indicating their willingness to invest in Linden...we were expressing concerns with regards to the processes...One

of the things that we would like to see is that there be a reform with regards to allocation of properties because many of these businesses have to go through a long process, wait a number of years before they can implement the programme. This would stymie the whole investment, per se because it’s crucial that initially what persons would like to have is properties being allocated or a portion of land might

be required...No investor would have his resource and be waiting...naturally they would gravitate to another area where they would be easily facilitated,” he expressed.

Fernandes also outlined that there is a current backlog of thousands of applications in the system, which he complained were in the system for too long.

According to him, the business sector there was

quite pleased with the announcement with regards to the implementation of 20 per cent being set aside for small businesses in Guyana.

Prior to this, he said many were at a disadvantage and he is hoping that benefits would be as pronounced as was announced.

Minister Gaskin in his response, acknowledged that the issue of acquiring lands for investment is nothing new.

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SUnDAY, february 3, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

More emphasis needed on sexual abuse awareness for men – ChildLink

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ctivist group, ChildLink recently outlined the need for more educational programs to be conducted to target men, as it was found that a large number of abusers are unaware that their actions are inappropriate.

According to the group which conducted research on Child Sexual Abuse, a grave need exists for educational programs for men and boys specifically as a majority of the abusers are men.

It said male members of the child’s immediate or extended family, such as a father

or stepfather, uncle, step-uncle or cousin, a brother-in-law or grandfather make up the second largest category of abusers which accounted for 40 per cent of those reported cases.

ChildLink reported that the males who oftentimes abuse their relatives are mostly of the view that they are entitled to have sexual access to any of the females in their sphere. As such, the report noted, “Boys and men need to be educated about appropriate sexual boundaries and the harms of sexual abuse. They also need to understand the illegality of these acts and be

educated on the seriousness of the offences”.

On another note, when it comes to dealing with children and sexual abuse, the organisation pointed out that there is also a grave need for the implementation of more Health and Family Life Modules which would generally place emphasis on younger children disclosing or ‘telling’ of abuse including sexual abuse and know about “good and bad and inappropriate touching”.

The report compiled by ChildLink went further to say that all children who have been sexually abused need

emotional support and should be referred for trauma counselling even if the abuse may have taken place years ago.

“Children should be encouraged to tell their stories in an environment where professionals are skilled to communicate with children and that children are not interrogated or have to confront the abusers or tell their stories over and over,” the agency stated.

The report found that stepfathers accounted for 12.4 per cent of the cases reported, fathers 6.8 per cent and brothers 6.2 per cent.

According to ChildLink,

Venezuela’s opposition launches massive protests …as Maduro suffers a military defection

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assive numbers of anti-government protesters rallied Saturday in a dramatic show of resolve, escalating the campaign to drive President Nicolás Maduro from power even as the first major defection occurred among his crucial military backers.

The demonstrations alone were unlikely to cause Maduro to buckle. But the open defiance on the streets seeks to keep the pressure on Maduro at home while sending a message to other nations considering throwing their support behind the opposition and its leader, Juan Guaidó.

Opposition leaders also hope large-scale protests — in combination with international isolation and sanctions — will push Maduro to negotiate his exit or prod the military to force him out.

Guaidó — who heads the opposition-controlled National Assembly that last month proclaimed Maduro a usurper — was set to speak later Saturday to European Union envoys as builds that France, Britain and other European powers would join the United States and oth-

ers to recognize Guaidó as Venezuela’s de facto leader.

Shortly before anti-Maduro demonstrators started to gather on the streets, a senior figure in the armed forces broke publicly from the government. It marked the most serious act of dissent yet from the military brass, which has so far stood behind Maduro as his main bulwark against the opposition.

In a video circulating social media on Saturday morning, an acting Venezuelan air force general, Francisco Yanez, denounced the “dictatorship” of Maduro and recognized opposition leader Guaidó’s claim as the nation’s legitimate interim leader.

“People of Venezuela, 90 percent of the armed forces are not with the dictator,” Yanez, in uniform, said a video that he appears to have filmed himself. “The transition to democracy is imminent.”

The Twitter account of Venezuela’s air force, which consistently retweets Maduro and other government officials, released a photo of the video with the word “traitor” in red letters scrawled over Yanez’s face.

Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gather to mark the 20th anniversary of the rise of power of the late Hugo Chavez

“We have to highlight that he has no command over troops and less so over air force units,” an air force tweet said. “He has no leadership at the air force and was only serving planning functions.”

For the opposition, the massive protests on Saturday marked a key step forward in its ability to sustain a social uprising against Maduro.

The anointed successor of leftist Hugo Chávez, who died in 2013, Maduro was sworn in for a new six-year term last month following elections internationally derided as fraudulent.

Guaidó has evoked constitutional powers declaring himself the nation’s rightful interim leader, setting up a global power play that has

seen Russia and Cuba back Maduro while a growing list of Western nations, led by the United States, back Guaidó.

In an attempt to rally his side, Maduro also brought supporters onto the streets for counterprotests marking 20 years of socialist rule.

Although official media did not broadcast the protests, government forces, at least by midafternoon, appeared to be using restraint in crowd control.

A video circulating on social media showing a national police officer in the city of Barquisimeto, 220 miles west of Caracas, telling protesters he would not use violence against them. One protester was shown hugging the guard. (The Washington Post)

“in 2014, there were 3883 reported cases of child abuse to the Child Care and Protection Agency, 628 (16 per cent) were child sexual abuse cases. In 2017, the CCPA report reflected a total of 4179 cases of

abuse with 841 (20 per cent) of those cases being child sexual abuse. In a period of three years (2014-2017), there has been an increase of 5 per cent of reported child sexual abuse cases”.

sunDAY, february 3, 2019

Holder dedicates Test triumph to Alzarri Joseph after death of mother

Alzarri Joseph

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ason Holder dedicated West Indies’ stunning victory in the second Test in Antigua to Alzarri Joseph and his family, after the young fast bowler played on despite the overnight death of his mother, Sharon, to help deliver a 10-wicket victory over England, and with it, an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Speaking at the end of a hugely emotional day, Holder admitted that the death of Joseph’s mother, who had been ill for some time with a brain tumour, had forced his team to come together and put on a show in support of their bereaved teammate. “It’s difficult to describe the feelings,” said Holder. “We started the day with a daunting task, trying to push on our lead, and then we got the news about Alzarri’s mum so we all wanted to rally around one another and we wanted to do it for her.

“Joseph, who had claimed the wicket of Joe Denly in the first innings with the first ball he had ever bowled in a Test on his home island, took a full part in the team’s warm-ups, and was then given a long and sympathetic ovation by the crowd when

he came out to bat at number 10 in West Indies’ first innings. He scored seven from 20 balls to help stretch their lead to a precious 119, with players from both sides wearing black armbands as a mark of respect. Joseph then delivered a searing seven-over spell to help devastate England’s prospects of a fight back, bowling Joe Denly with an inducker before having Joe Root caught behind on review, and also having Ben Stokes dropped at slip for what would have been a second-ball duck.

“Alzarri was exceptional.

It took a lot of heart for him to be on the field today, I think a lot of people wouldn’t have been able to, but credit to him. “I just want to say condolences to him and his family, it is a tough loss. I came here two or three years ago and visited his mum, she wasn’t doing well at that stage but fought through, so I felt it personally this morning when I got the news that she had passed away. “To see him in tears this morning was even harder, and we came together in the huddle and we just wanted to do it for him and we dedicate this day to him, his mum and his family (espncricinfo)

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guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, february 3, 2019

2018-2019 Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Crandon’s after-effect;

Jaguars suffer 2nd successive defeat this season Red Force snatch 93-run win in 3 days 317 runs with a lead of 275 runs. Raymond Reifer endith the West Indies torturing ed with figures of 4-64 in England under new-coaching 19.1 overs and Keemo Paul staff and rejuvenated players, grabbed 4-81 in 24 overs as the Guyana Jaguars have lost their secJaguars required 276 runs ond match this season. After the former to win.

Jaguars head Coach Esuan Crandon left The defending chamand took up Windies assistant coach dupions fancied their chancties, perhaps he took the Jaguars’ wines to chase a target of ning spree with him. In the match played 276 runs with one day at Queens Park Oval, the Jaguars lost inand approximately two side three days, chasing 276 runs to win. sessions remaining.

Romario Shepherd scored 50 but it Tagenarine Chanderpaul proved insufficient for the Guyanese and Chandrapaul Hemraj team, as they were bowled out for 182 in went out to bat and negoti67.3 overs. Earlier, Jaguars bowled out ated the first 11 overs scorthe Red Force for 317 in the second ining 29-0 at the lunch internings. Keemo Paul and Raymon Reifer val. Hemraj was unbeaten grabbed four wickets each after the 89on 20 from 27 balls, while run partnership between Imran Khan Chanderpaul was on nine and Jason Mohammed was broken. from 39 balls.

The first run of the morning came In the afternoon sesfrom the bat of Jason Mohammed who sion, fast bowler Smith took his overnight score of 79, to 83. produced a ripper and Keemo Paul and Raymon Reifer began found the edge of Hemraj proceedings with the ball for the Jaguars. but Denesh Ramdin spilled After some disciplined bowling, Paul rethe opportunity. After moved Mohammed in the third over of Hemraj was dropped on 23, the morning. Mohammed was out leg beOdean Smith continued to fore to Paul for 83 from 204 balls includ- Romario Shepherd stroked 50 ruffle the batsman’s feathing nine fours, adding only four runs to ers; Smith bowled a ripper his overnight score. to Hemraj and the ball passed between Hemraj’s bat and hips.

At 270-6, Odean Smith partnered with Imran Khan and Red Force appealed and the ball missed the bat but Hemraj the duo only managed to add 15 runs together. Paul and Reifer was given out for a 46-ball 30 decorated with three boundaries. continued to bowl in tandem, with Reifer removing Khan for After umpire Jacqueline Williams raised her finger, Hemraj 46 from 103 balls. After hitting four boundaries, Khan was out expressed his disappointment but the decision remained final. caught by Leon Johnson with the Red Force score on 285-7 in That brought Johnson at the crease with the score on 44-1 af103.5 overs. ter 16.1 overs. Another Jaguars setback came in the 31st over The wickets came in bulk for the Jaguars as Red Force when Chanderpaul was trapped in front from a full-length decrossed the 300-run barrier – Bryan Charles was removed for livery from Ravi Rampaul. Chanderpaul failed after scoring 19 five by the impressive Keemo Paul. Charles was out caught from 94 balls facing 86 dot balls.

by Tagenarine Chanderpaul with the score on 303-8. The Jaguars were 61-2 in 30.5 overs when Vishaul Singh came Jamaican Red Force franchise player, Odean Smith struck a to bat but his stay was a brief one; he was out for a nine-ball counter-attacking 27 from 23 balls after his stumps were shat- duck. Singh was pushing at a turning tered by Paul at 315-9.

Bryan Charles and was brilliantly caught Two runs later, Reifer wrapped up the innings trapping at silly mid-on by Jeremy Solozano, with number 10 batsman Anderson Phillip leg before for two. In the score on 62-3. Johnson ended on 21 109.1 overs the Red Force 2nd innings concluded after scoring

By Brandon Corlette

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Nurmagomedov & McGregor receive bans for post-fight brawl

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FC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor have been banned for nine and six months respectively for their roles in a postfight brawl at UFC 229.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission handed out the suspensions and fines of $500,000 for Nurmagomedov and $50,000 for McGregor at a hearing on Tuesday. Both suspensions are retroactively imposed from October 6.

Nurmagomedov’s suspension can be reduced to six months if he “cooperates in the filming and distributing of an anti-bullying public service announcement”.

The 155-pound fighter defeated McGregor by submission in four rounds in October and subsequently jumped out of the cage and got into a fight with McGregor’s training partner, Dillon Danis.

Nurmagomedov was eventually calmed down, but his actions brought about further incidents in the ring where McGregor threw a punch at a member of from Khabib’s corner and was then hit with a sucker punch from another man.

Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz expressed his unhappiness with the disparity between

the two punishments.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” he told ESPN. “Khabib gets $500,000 and Conor gets $50,000? I think its b******t.”

Nurmagomedov’s brother, Abubakar, has also been suspended for one year for jumping into the cage after the fight. He was additionally fined $25,000.

Raymon Reifer

from 84 balls while Reifer scored five as Jaguars entered tea at 79-3 after 43 overs.

Requiring 197 runs to win and seven wickets intact and with four sessions remaining in the game, the match was evenly poised. Two balls into the final session on day three, Leon Johnson attempted a drive but edged the delivery to first slip after scoring a disappointing 21.

Johnson was out caught

by Joshua Da Silva who completed a smart catch to remove Jaguars captain off Bryan Charles.

Jaguars were on the back foot at 79-4 when Johnson departed; two runs later another wicket fell for Jaguars. Raymond Reifer was out for five when he edged an Anderson Phillip delivery into Ramdin’s gloves. The game further slipped from the Jaguars as Bramble attempted to sweep a straight full delivery from Imran Khan and was out leg before for three. Jaguars lost five wickets for 28 runs after a solid start; the batsmen played some poor shots.

At 89-6 in 47.4 overs, it then became a tall ask for the all-rounders in Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul at the crease, requiring 187 runs with four wickets remaining at that stage in the match. The leg-spinner Imran Khan tossed a delivery and Paul went after the ball, hitting the ball into the air and was out caught. Phillip completed a smart catch running 10 meters to his right as Paul departed for 19 from 20 balls including one four and one six.

Red Force was in the driver’s seat when Paul departed with the score on 121-7; wickets continued to fall as Pestano was trapped in front by Smith for two. At 136-8 Shepherd was standing tall but Phillip removed the Jaguars number 10, Permaul for nine. Red Force was inching closer to victory with the score on 160-9. Shepherd’s breezy inning came to an end when he scored his third First-class half-century. He was out leg before to Khan for 50 from 58 balls after hitting seven fours and one six.

It was all celebrations for the Red Force when the final Jaguars wicket fall as the match ended in three days. Guyana Jaguars will play their next match from Thursday February 7 at the National Stadium Providence against the Jamaica Scorpions.

T&T Red Force 1st Innings 108 all out Guyana Jaguars 1st Innings 150 all out T&T Red Force 2nd Innings 317 all out J Solozano lbw Reifer 45 J Da Silva c Chanderpaul b Reifer 49 T Webster c Singh b Motie 8 D Ramdin b Paul 10 J Mohammed lbw Paul 83 Y Cariah lbw Permaul 15 I Khan c Johnson b Reifer 46 O Smith b Paul 27 B Charles c Chanderpaul b Paul 5 A Phillip lbw Reifer 2 R Rampaul not out 0 Extras 27 Total 317 all out (109 overs) Fall of Wickets 1 - 84 (Jeremy Solozano, 27.1 Ov), 2 - 95 (Tion Webster, 31.4 Ov), 3 - 112 (Denesh Ramdin, 38.2 Ov), 4 - 130 (Joshua Da Silva, 45.6 Ov), 5 - 181 (Yannic Cariah, 66.6 Ov), 6 - 270 (Jason Mohammed, 100.4 Ov), 7 - 285 (Imran Khan, 103.5 Ov), 8 - 303 (Bryan Charles, 106.4 Ov), 9 - 315 (Odean Smith, 108.2 Ov), 10 - 317 (Anderson Phillip, 109.1 Ov) Bowling R Shepherd K Paul V Permaul G Motie C Pestano R Reifer

17-3-43-0 24-5-81-4 27-6-57-1 15-4-30-1 6-0-30-0 19.1-3-64-4

L Johnson

1-1-0-0

Guyana Jaguars 2nd Innings 182 all out (276 target) T Chanderpaul lbw Rampaul 19 C Hemraj c Ramdin b Smith 30 L Johnson c Da Silva b Charles 21 V Singh c Solozano b Charles 0 R Reifer c Ramdin Phillip 5 A Bramble lbw Khan 3 R Shepherd lbw Khan 50 K Paul c Phillip b Khan 19 C Pestano lbw Smith 2 V Permaul c Ramdin b Phillip 9 G Motie not out 15 Extras 9 Total 182 (67.3 ov) all out Fall of Wickets 1 - 44 (Chandrapaul Hemraj, 16.1 Ov), 2 - 61 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 30.5 Ov), 3 - 62 (Vishaul Singh, 33.3 Ov), 4 - 79 (Leon Johnson, 43.2 Ov), 5 - 81 (Raymon Reifer, 44.4 Ov), 6 - 89 (Anthony Bramble, 47.4 Ov), 7 - 121(Keemo Paul, 53.4 Ov), 8 - 136 (Clinton Pestano, 56.4 Ov), 9 - 160 (Veerasammy Permaul, 62.5 Ov), 10 - 182 (Romario Shepherd, 67.3 Ov) Bowling R Rampaul A Phillip B Charles O Smith I Khan

12-5-27-1 16-4-52-2 17-6-21-2 11-3-29-2 11.3-1-45-3

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Barker keen on improving in 2019

21

– prepared to make franchise team

A

s the 2018/2019 season of the New Building Society (NBS) 40 overs cricket competition continues, many players are aiming to up the ante on their batting and bowling. However, Nichosie Barker has been reaping the benefits in the white ball format of the game.

The young all-rounder, who hails from the Malteenoes Sports Club, stated to Guyana Times Sport that he considers himself more of a batting all-rounder as the right arm batsman. As an off spinner he has played six matches and scored 170 runs at an average of 42.5 with his high score being 51* against GNIC; while in the bowling department, he has grabbed eight wickets bowling 39 overs at an economy rate of 5.28 with best bowling figures of 8-1-28-3. Barker also stated that he enjoys batting at number four as he understands his role in the team and is quite ok with the cementing the middle order, as he has seen many results.

Barker also stated that while his bowling is on par, he has to convert more on his starts, while he

makes a lot of 40s and 50s he must learn to convert them in to hundreds as this will be his main focus for 2019.

When asked how his relationship with his coach Derian Best has benefited his success, Barker said, “it has been great because he works mainly on my fitness, mindset an creating a better habit when we do specific drills.

He is a young coach but he is willing to learn, and the results are seen on the field”.

He also stated that with the white ball there isn’t a lot of success in the bowling department but he likes a good challenge, as compared to the red ball where he is able to bowl longer and take more wickets. In closing, Barker relayed that for the year 2019 he is hungry for runs and wickets and is working hard to be selected back into the Georgetown fanchise team and carry on his impeccable form.

Rain washes out King of Games 2019

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he highly anticipated King of Studies 2019 small goal tournament scheduled to be hosted on Saturday at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, opposite the Behavioural Sciences Building has been postponed until further notice due to inclement weather.

The rains commenced on Friday which was a bit of problem for the tournament, however organisers were optimistic as they believed everything would have been green lighted once there was no rain on the said day of the game. However Mother Nature had different plans as the down pours commenced from 01:00h in the morning and continued making the field soggy and partially water logged. However upon speaking with the teams about moving the date, they pledged their allegiance as they were eager to compete in the tournament no matter what troubles lay ahead. Gibbons also apologised to his fans and thanked them for their continued support, as the hype for the tournament will only continue to grow from here. Gibbons is currently in the works with the sports administration as the young or-

ganiser is hoping to have the tournament pulled off very soon in the near future, providing good weather prevails.

The tournament was created with the intention of encouraging student interaction and bringing students together at the University of Guyana. Therefore the competition will feature teams that comprise members from various faculties as opposed to University norms (inter faculty sports).

Ten teams will be vying for top honours such as Goons FC, Kanaima FC, Hot Topic FC, Hot Strikers FC and many more.

The matches will be round-robin style, followed by the knockout stage, which will see three games – two semi-finals and the final. The games will be played in two five-minute halves for the one-day event.

Some of the entities on board are C&L Construction Inc, Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Guyana Football Federation Inc, the Office of the Vice Chancellor at the University of Guyana, Signature Moov, Robbie Rambarran, Asim Shakur, ASP Antonio Fredericks, Sharma Solomon and Lavern Fraser.

Jafar Gibbons

Singh’s 5-27 highlights ECCC/SPR Enterprise 40 Overs Cricket Tournament

...Owen

T

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

blasts 61*

he 2019 edition of the ECCC/SPR Enterprise 40 Overs Cricket Tournament commenced on Sunday last at several different venues across the East Coast, as Better Hope defeated Strathavon SC ‘B’, thanks to a five-wicket haul from Sachin Singh to highlight the competition.

The following scores are as follows: At Strathavon, Strathavon SC ‘B’ went in to bat with the intention of posting a big total at the Enmore Community Centre Ground but fell victim to Sachin Singh who bagged five wickets.

Strathavon were bowled out for a meager 69 in 13 overs as Singh tormented them with figures of 5-27. Needing 70 for victory Navin Singh composed a beautiful 49 to lead the Betterhope side over the line in 12 overs.

At Cane Grove, Buxton SC defeated Cane Grove New Generation SC by six wickets. Batting first, Cane Grove New Generation SC was restricted to 107 in 20 overs with R Zaman top scoring with 30.

G Surujpaul and Clive Andries bagged three and two wickets respectively, following up his bowling performance two weeks ago. Owen Andrews showed his all-round ability when he scored an un-

beaten 61 to lead Buxton SC to 110 for 4 in 12 overs.

At Fairfield, LBI SC overcame Fairfield SC by five wickets. Fairfield SC batted first and was able to compose 162 all out in 28 overs. T Charles hit 33 while Y Bishun snared 3-15.

LBI then responded to the total be scoring 163-5 in 26 overs as N Dowlatram lead the innings with an unbeaten 42 not out.

At Enmore, Enmore CC Enforcers beat Paradise SC Allstars by four wickets in a rain Owen Andrews played Sachin Singh bagged 5-27 affected game. Paradise SC All- an unbeaten 61 in 25 overs, batting first. C Hemraj had stars were bowled out for 77 in 3-8 and M Ronald 3-25. Chasing a revised target 22 overs, taking first strike. Ranjeet Hiralall took of 52 in 15 overs, Strathavon SC scored 52-6 in 11 2-3 runs and then returned to stroke an unbeaten overs.

23 for ECC Enforcers who finished on 78-6 in reply Action will continue this weekend with matchO Neblett claimed 2-13. es at Fairfield, Enmore, Enterprise, Strathavon, At Ogle, Strathavon SC got the better of Ogle Buxton, Ogle and Better Hope providing good SC Blasters by four wickets in another rain affectweather prevails. ed contest. Ogle SC Blasters were dismissed for 84

22

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, february 3, 2019

GFF head foresees 2-year timeline for NTC completion

Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde

T

he National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara, which has been an ongoing project of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), saw its first official games being played on the AstroTurf surface on Saturday. Guyana Times Sport spoke with GFF President, Wayne Forde, who gave a twoyear timeline for the completion of the facility.

After a first look at the Under-15 payers on the recently laid AstroTurf, the Guyana Football Federation President is pleased about the development and the change that the National Training Centre will bring to Guyanese football.

“Well I think all of Guyana’s football will be happy and pleased with what has taken place here today. We all know that the nation has been holding it’s breathe for several decades, so this is a historical moment for football. More so, the players that would have had the opportunity to play the first game on the venue. We understand the importance of having a home for football in Guyana. And in the not so distant future we’ll see the benefits of being able to play consistently on a high-quality pitch,” Forde explained.

In his assessment of the morning session of the Frank Watson U15 tournament which

is currently ongoing at the venue, Forde stated that he has noticed that the players are already adjusting to the new conditions.

Moving on to phase two of the facility, the GFF head detailed the aspects that will be focused on next.

“Well the second, will include the lighting, the stands and the dorms. Because those three facilities have a direct impact on the national team project that we want to run.”

He emphasised on the need to get this done in a timely manner, so that the facility will be able to cater to the needs of the youth players.

“One of the key pillars of the national team programme that we want to run, is we want to have our youth teams and senior teams in contact with the coaches as often

as possible. We want to have them playing as often as possible,” In an example of this, Forde explained that a currently existing building within the facility’s compound will be transformed into dorms, so as to cater for the youth teams that will be encamped this year.

As such, the Forde has given an estimate of two to two and a half years for the completion of the facility. He also shared his vision for the training centre.

“The concept is that when you walk into the facility, you see a really nice mini stadium but within the facility there’s the gyms, the pools and everything we need to really develop high-quality athletes. So it’s taking a little bit of architectural genius to find the balance and come up with the final product,”

Forde explained.

Setting his sights on the future of Guyana’s football, the GFF boss disclosed that it is his wish to have a similar AstroTurf facility in every regional member association.

“There are other massive infrastructure projects that will be announced, some of them in a matter if days and others over the next couple of weeks. But the idea is to have one of these venues in every association. Not to the level of engineering that will go into this one, but an artificial turf with all the basic amenities so that the association can conduct consistent development programmes and football at the venue that will be their home within their respective association,” he said.

Downes reigns supreme at GTA awards

D

uring the course of 2018, Anthony Downes played his way to the top, resulting in him being the number 1 tennis player in Guyana for the seventh consecutive year.

This came when the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) sought to reward their players for their efforts over the

course of 2018, with an award ceremony on Friday evening.

Aside from the task of distributing awards, the event was sprinkled with addresses from a few persons who are close to the Association.

On such person was KA Juman Yassin, President of the Guyana Olympic

Association, who took his time to detail technical aspects of being an athlete and encouraged the players present to focus on academics as well. “ I want to say that your academics and sport g o hand i n hand.

You do not deprive or Kalyca Fraser won her first c o n s i d - junior female accolade er your on Friday evening academics less than sports. There are a lot of top athletes who have done well academically, paired with sports,” Juman Yassin advised.

Although the Director of Sport Christopher Jones could not be present, the feature address was delivered by Denroy Tudor, who pledged that the National Sports Commission will be actively involved in the development of tennis.

“So certainly in life continue to play, continue to work hard and the NSC, we will continue to be behind each and every one of you as you represent our country proudly”.

Prolific player Anthony Downes romped to his seventh year as the best senior player in Guyana as he received the award once again on Friday evening. Cristy Campbell was his female companion as she received the senior female award for the third consecutive year.

Expectantly, after a scintillating 2018,

Christy Campbell was the senior female Player-of-the-Year

Heimraj Resaul walked away with his third best junior award and Kalyca Fraser won her first junior female accolade.

The most improved players were Hayden Mentore and Saskia Persaud, while the coach of the year was Shelly Daly Ramdhyan.

President of the GTA Samuel Barakat, attributed the players’ success to the dedication of their parents.

“Most important in tennis of course, are the parents. One of the things that really encourage me to give my all and ask for executives to give unselfishly their time, their effort their energy is because the parents support their children all year round. From under 10, right up to 18 and then they go off on their own to bigger things in tennis,” Barakat stated.

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guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, february 3, 2019

London has fallen Windies beat England by 10 wickets to win series 2-0 F

or the second match in a row, England were out-played in every area as West Indies won the second Test in Antigua by 10 wickets to claim the series 2-0. While England were left holding out for a hero, stand up with the bat for England West Indies have channelled David Bowie, not Bonnie Tyler, to produce multiple heroes throughout the series so far, with a dead rubber in St Lucia to come, starting next Saturday. Kemar Roach, whose five-wicket haul was instrumental in bowling England out for a first-innings 77 to set up victory in Barbados, and Jason Holder, the West Indies captain who scored an unbeaten double-century to put that win beyond doubt, took four wickets each on day three in Antigua to restrict the tourists to just 132 in their second innings and set their themselves a meagre target of just 14 runs.

when Roach bowled Stokes for just 11, the rot set in.

Bravo had not played a Test in more than two years before Barbados, where he managed scores of just 2 and 1. But the value of his 50 in Antigua proved immeasurable. It was the slowest half-century by a West Indies batsman in terms of time but in those 342 minutes, Bravo displayed patience and intelligence. He withstood the difficult batting conditions and some searching England bowling, particularly from Broad on the second day, to bring up his 50 off 215 deliveries late in the morning session on day three. On his next ball, however, Bravo succumbed to a stumping by Bairstow off the bowling of Moeen Ali. While Bravo was the only West Indies

Team West Indies were comprehensive in essaying a series win

SCOREBOARD Windies 1st Innings KC Brathwaite c sub (KK Jennings) b Ali 49 JD Campbell c Buttler b Stokes 47 SD Hope c Bairstow b Broad 44 DM Bravo st Bairstow b Ali 50 RL Chase b Broad 4 SO Hetmyer c Anderson b Ali 21 SO Dowrich † c Buttler b Broad 31 JO Holder (c) c Bairstow b Anderson 22 KAJ Roach c Stokes b Anderson 6 AS Joseph c Burns b Stokes 7 ST Gabriel not out 1 Extras 24 (b 8, lb 13, nb 2, w 1) TOTAL 306 all out (131 Overs, RR: 2.33) Fall of wickets: 1-70 (JD Campbell, 33.1 ov), 2-133 (KC Brathwaite, 52.4 ov), 3-151 (SD Hope, 59.2 ov), 4-155 (RL Chase, 59.5 ov), 5-186 (SO Hetmyer, 68.6 ov), 6-236 (SO Dowrich, 91.5 ov), 7-281 (JO Holder, 118.1 ov), 8-289 (KAJ Roach, 122.1 ov), 9-298 (AS Joseph, 127.1 ov), Jason Holder led from front, grabbing four wickets in the 2nd Innings

Fellow fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was nothing short of heroic, claiming two wickets while mourning the death of his mother overnight. Joseph also took a catch off Holder to dismiss England’s last man out, James Anderson, for a duck.

West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell reeled in the target in just 13 balls, Campbell bringing up the winning runs with a thumping six off Anderson to sum up the magnitude of his team’s triumph.

Brathwaite had helped lay the foundations for West Indies’ most recent victory in the first innings, his disciplined 49 alongside Darren Bravo’s tenacious half-century on a pitch that was particularly challenging for the batsmen, building a 119-run lead.

Holder’s captaincy was also a highlight. He made confident use of the DRS with critical effect, ultimately leading to the dismissals of Joe Root and Ben Foakes in the second innings.

England openers Joe Denly and Rory Burns safely negotiated tricky spells either side of lunch but, when Holder brought himself into the attack, his first ball had Burns out to a miscued cut shot that flew straight to Campbell in the slips.

Holder struck again to remove Jonny Bairstow. Batting at number three despite standing in for injured wicketkeeper Foakes for the entire 121 overs of West Indies’ first innings, Bairstow drove hard at and missed a ball that clipped the top of off stump.

Root was out in dramatic style. Joseph did not appeal despite the wicketkeeper and entire slips cordon, which included Holder, going up in unison for caught behind, with umpire Chris Gaffaney ruling it not out. Holder, convinced he had heard something, called for the DRS which appeared to show ball had brushed glove and the decision was overturned.

Joseph, understandably, showed no emotion when he bowled debutant Denly with a neat delivery that angled in to take the top of off stump. Just three balls later, Joseph watched as Campbell grassed a thick edge off Ben Stokes.

That meant Stokes and Jos Buttler returned from tea shouldering the responsibility of posting a defensible target, but

10-306 (DM Bravo, 130.6 ov) BOWLING JM Anderson SCJ Broad BA Stokes SM Curran MM Ali JL Denly

O M R W 29 5 73 2 36 16 53 3 27 8 58 2 13 0 38 0 25 4 62 3 1 0 1 0

England 2nd Innings RJ Burns c Campbell b Holder 16 JL Denly b Joseph 17 JM Bairstow b Holder 14 JE Root (c) c †Dowrich b Joseph 7 JC Buttler lbw b Holder 24 BA Stokes b Roach 11 MM Ali b Roach 4 BT Foakes † lbw b Roach 13 SM Curran not out 13 SCJ Broad lbw b Roach 0 JM Anderson c Joseph b Holder 0 Extras 13 (lb 3, w 10) TOTAL 132 all out (42.1 Overs, RR: 3.13) Fall of wickets: 1-35 (RJ Burns, 12.1 ov),

batsman to reach 50, his first innings combined with those of Brathwaite, Campbell (47) and Shai Hope (44) proved to England’s batsmen, the difficult pitch could be contended with. The problem for England was – half centuries to Moeen Ali and Bairstow in the first innings aside – no one

2-49 (JM Bairstow, 16.6 ov), 3-56 (JE Root, 21.3 ov), 4-59 (JL Denly, 23.2 ov), 5-88 (BA Stokes, 31.5 ov), 6-96 (MM Ali, 33.6 ov), 7-118 (BT Foakes, 37.5 ov), 8-118 (JC Buttler, 38.2 ov), 9-125 (SCJ Broad, 39.1 ov), 10-132 (JM Anderson, 42.1 ov) BOWLING O KAJ Roach 13 ST Gabriel 10 JO Holder 12.1 AS Joseph 7

M R W 2 52 4 3 22 0 2 43 4 4 12 2

Windies 2nd Innings KC Brathwaite not out JD Campbell not out Extras 1 (lb 1) TOTAL 17/0 (2.1 Overs, RR: 7.84)

5 11

BOWLING O M R W JM Anderson 1.1 0 10 0 SCJ Broad 1 0 6 0

could step up when it really mattered. It was a similar story for England’s bowlers, who were hardworking and at times luckless, but who were unable to capitalise where their West Indies counterparts did. England’s poor Test series record in the Caribbean – with just one triumph (in 2004) since 1968 – continues as a result. (espncricinfo)

Frank Watson Under-15 Tournament

Santos FC wins first cluster

T

he Santos FC Under-15 team is in the second encounter of the day. the first to enter the final four Corriverton were keen on displaying of the GFF Pele Alumni Frank their skill with Michael Cumberbatch Watson Under-15 Tournament after finding the back of the net in the they registered commanding wins on 7th for his team’s 1-0 lead. Roydon Saturday afternoon.

Chapman of BV/Triumph replied The Frank Watson Under-15 in the 35th for a tied score. Alfred Tournament was first played at the Dominic ensured that the score was regional member association levels 2-1 at the half with a goal in the 45th. and thereafter, the winners of the reFenny Adrian sealed Corriverton’s 3-1 spective areas were invited to a nawin with a goal in the 60th. tional competition to test their skills The final game of the day was of the next generation of players and a deciding one with Santos and crown a national Under-15 champion. Santos’ Tyler Lyle (3) locked in battle with Corriverton Lynx FC facing off. The As such, Santos FC (Georgetown), BV/Triumph’s Simeon Shepherd (1) Berbician boys were no match for the BV/Triumph United FC and Georgetown players as Santos got Corriverton FC met at the National Training Centre of the scoreboard ticking as early as possible. Raymond Bandhu Saturday for a day of decision in cluster one. found the back of the net in the first minute of play to comThe first game of the day was a contest between BV/Triumph mand a lead. Shemar Fraser then contributed in the 18th to FC and Santos FC, in a truly one-sided affair. Although the BV push the score to 2-0. Miguel Stoll then followed up in the 20th boys were quick on their feet, adjusting to the new AstroTurf, with the third goal for Santos. They then focused on defence in they were often outplayed by Santos. Kenin Mullin was the the second half in order to seal a victory and a spot in the fifirst to strike early on in the 7th minute, giving Santos an ad- nal four. vantage. His teammate Miguel Stoll returned in the 35th to The second cluster will kick off today at the National sink another goal for the 2-0 win.

Training Centre, providence with battles between Timehri Corriverton Lynx FC and BV/ Triumph United FC met Panthers, FC Eagles and Milerock FC.

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

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

London has fallen Windies beat England by 10 wickets to win series 2-0

Pg 23

Player-of-theMatch Kemar Roach was at his best with ball in hand

The winning moment.

John Campbelle embraces Kraigg Brathwaite

2018-2019 Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Crandon’s after-effect;

Jaguars suffered 2nd successive defeat this season Red Force snatched 93-run win in 3 days

The winning Red Force team

Downes reigns supreme at GTA awards Pg 22

Pg 20

Anthony Downes walked away with a handful of prizes at the GTA award ceremony

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February 3, 2019

TIMES BOLLYWOOD:

Tiger Shroff says he is under pressure with Student of the Year 2, Baaghi 3 Page 14

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Year Of The Pig

2 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Messages

T

he 2019 Chinese New Year is the year of the pig.

It symbolizes wealth and good luck. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, I wish everyone a Happy New Year along with good health, prosperity, a happy family and all the best in the New Year.

The Chinese New Year, as the most important traditional festival in China, is part and parcel of the Chinese culture. Today, the Chinese New Year is celebrated by more and more people around the world, turning into a global event.

The year 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. China has been impressing the world with remarkable achievements which have brought tremendous benefits to its people, as well as contributed to the sustainable development of the world economy.

The year of 2018 witnessed the continuous development of China-Guyana friendly cooperative relations with frequent high-level visits. It has also been a productive year for the cooperation in economy, trade, health and many other areas. Our people-to-people and cultural ex-

O

changes have been flourishing, bringing the two peoples closer to each other.

2019 is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and also a crucial year to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and to realize the first centenary goal of China. 2019 is also an important year for Guyana to push forward its national development, economic diversification and improving people's livelihood.

There are great potentials and broad prospects for cooperation between our two countries. We stand ready to work with Guyana to further enhance our friendship and broaden our practical cooperation. I believe that with the concerted efforts of our two governments and peoples, we can bring our friendly cooperative relationship to a higher level.

I wish everyone a happy and auspicious year of the pig! I wish China-Guyana relations greater progress in this New Year!

n behalf of the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, I wish to extend best wishes to the Chinese community on the occasion of Chinese New Year 2019.

The ‘Year of the Pig’, which commences on February 5, 2019, would be celebrated not only by the People’s Republic of China, but also millions of Chinese descendants residing in all parts of the world, including Guyana.

The first set of Chinese arrived in Guyana 166 years ago as indentured labourers, and since then, people of Chinese origin have made indelible contributions to this ‘Land of Many Waters’.

This includes the late President of Guyana, Arthur Chung.

Over the years, Guyana and China have been able to continuously strengthen bilateral ties that were established within just two years of Guyana gaining its Republican Status. As a matter of fact, Guyana was the first English speaking country in the Caribbean to establish diplomatic relations with China.

These ties have

seen both countries benefiting from a number of cooperation agreements in all areas including infrastructure, health, energy, education and technology, etc.

With China’s economic performance being a source of inspiration to many countries, Guyana also continues to benefit from deepening relations in this regard.

Even further, the two countries also enjoy a very fruitful partnership in the area of culture. With the beauty and vibrancy of the Chinese culture being part of the Guyanese identity, there was always the call for Chinese descendants to embrace their heritage and keep the splendour of it, alive.

Today is no different, and we encourage all Guyanese to participate in the festivities and observe the traditions of entering a New Year, with fresh perspectives and renewed hope.

Best wishes for a prosperous Year of the Pig!

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Chinese New Year 2019

By Lakhram Bhagirat

I

t does not matter which part of the world a Guyanese is, from the moment they find out that a fellow Guyanese is going to visit their area, their first request is “bring a fry rice fuh me nah”. Without even

thinking twice, one knows exactly what type of fried rice they are craving, since it is something distinctly associated with us Guyanese.

Nowhere in the world, not even in China, can you find the perfect chicken fried rice as you would in Guyana.

It is something we are eternally grateful for - something we get to call our own.

When the Chinese arrived here in then British Guiana on January 12, 1853 on board the “Glentanner”, they brought with them, like those before them, their cul-

ture and cuisine signalling the extension of Guyana as a diverse nation with a melting pot of different cultures.

They brought their unique customs and food, but had to adapt to the harsh realities of then British Guiana.

The late Anthony Bourdain once said: “Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist

feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the getgo,” and that is something that is very applicable in Guyanese society and particularly with the Chinese culinary influence.

It does not matter where

you are in Guyana, one thing is certain: most of us Guyanese crave a chicken fried rice from our favourite Chinese restaurant. It is one of the most requested items from Guyana by Guyanese living overseas. A friend who works at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport once told me that on an average day they would see over one

hundred parcels of Chinese fried rice frozen, wrapped in various types of packaging, stuffed away in suitcases with destinations all across the world.

But what is it that makes the Guyanese Chinese fried rice different from the rest of the world’s? Is it the fresh ingredients or is it just the way it is prepared?

We will never know. I have had the opportunity to have

Chinese f o o d from several places within the Caribbean region and it is true that none tasted like the one I get from Bright Star Restaurant at Vreeden-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara.

Over the years, the influence of Chinese cuisine continues to bridge the cultural divide in society between

the Chinese and other ethnic groups. The way our Chinese prepare their fried rice is a secret one would never know and while many have come close to figuring out the recipe and methods, it

is something they are yet to achieve.

For me, I am always excited to walk into the restaurant and watch in amazement as they prepare my order. From the time they

splash the wok with water to clean it, followed by the oil and veggies, I am intrigued.

It always baffles me, since I am not sure whether they steam the rice before they fry it with the veggies, but that is a secret I and most Guyanese as a matter of fact

would n e v e r know.

But my bet is, it is steamed.

Chinese fried rice is a part of our Guyanese culture. It is part of our diverse identity as a people. So grab a ‘cokes’ and some fried rice and have a hearty meal.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Chinese New Year 2019

T

he Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, has more than 4,000 years of history and is the longest holiday of the year. In the 21st century, the national holiday begins on the first of the Lunar Calendar and lasts until the 15th of the first month. This year it is being observed on February 05.

In China, all stores are closed during the first five days of the Spring Festival, with some not opening until the very end. People must stock up on New Year beforehand and many begin on the Laba Festival.

Kitchens will also show the first signs of Spring Festival dishes with the preparation of cured meat, salted fish and other preserved food.

However, in the traditional sense, the Laba Festival of the lunar December (January 13th, 2019) marks the beginning of the Spring Festival.

Memorial ceremonies are held on this day to pray to ancestors and gods (such as door gods) for fortune and a successful harvest.

Though paganist in nature, the festival has become integrated into religions such as Daoism and Buddhism.

The main food for this festival is the Laba porridge. It includes seven types of grains, such as red bean, red dates and husked rice. There are many different myths regarding this porridge, but all teach the lesson of being grateful and not taking what you have for granted.

In addition, the Laba menu includes Laba tofu, noodles and wheat kernel rice. It is also said that eating ice on this day will prevent any stomachaches for the year.

Kicking off the main festivities is the Little Year on January 28th, with the Spring Festival officially beginning February 5th (February 4th is New Year's Eve) and ending with the Lantern Festival on February 19th. The Spring Festival is long and has specific activities and traditions for each day. As usual, they vary between regions. Here is a short summary of what may be

on the schedule.

Year of the Pig

The Pig is the twelfth of all zodiac animals.

According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived at his party. The pig was late because he overslept. Another story says that a wolf destroyed his house. He had to rebuild his home before he could set off. When he arrived, he was the last one and could only take twelfth place.

The Pig is also associated with the Earthly Branch and the hours 9–11 in the night. In terms of yin and yang, the Pig is yin. In Chinese culture, pigs are the symbol of wealth. Their chubby faces and big ears are signs of fortune as well.

Pigs might not stand out in a crowd. But they are very realistic. Others may be all talk and no action. Pigs are the opposite. Though not wasteful spenders, they will let themselves enjoy life.

They love entertainment and will occasionally treat themselves. They are a bit materialistic, but this

is motivation for them to work hard. Being able to hold solid objects in their hands gives them security.

They are energetic and are always enthusiastic, even for boring jobs. If given the chance, they will take positions of power and status. They believe that only those people have the

right to speak, and that’s what they want.

Pigs are gentle and rarely lose their temper.

Even when they do, it’s never a dramatic commotion. They’ll always try to compromise and settle things quickly. Because their goal in life is for everyone to live in harmony, they are suitable for careers related to charity and fundraisers.

They are also very tolerant and understanding.

If someone makes a mistake, they’ll try to help the person fix it. They are patient and want the best for everyone. This makes them great teachers and coaches.

If Pigs are interested in business, they should be braver. Take some risks in investments but to an extent. After some small obstacles, the road to wealth would be smooth. Real estate is a good option for these Pigs.

Pigs mostly have a great build and a resilient body. They are always spirited as if they will never run out of energy. Their natural health is something Pigs are proud of.

But sometimes they can be overconfident and overlook some minor symptoms. If

neglected for too long, even the smallest things can become grave.

In addition, Pigs lead very busy lives. Even if they don’t feel tired, they should still remember to take breaks. Seasonal changes have an effect on Pigs’ health too. They may be at risk for respiratory diseases. Unhealthy diets can lead to diabetes, high cholesterol and heart problems too.

Pigs are never one to give in to difficulties. This is a positive trait in the workplace, but might not be here. For good health, Pigs must learn to take small illnesses seriously and get regular checkups.

The Spring Festival is a time of celebration. It’s to welcome the New Year with a smile and let the fortune and happiness continue on. At the same time, the Spring Festival involves sombre ceremonies to wish for a good harvest.

Strict rules and restrictions go without saying.

During this time people are encouraged to not say negative words, do not break ceramics or glass, do not sweep or clean, do not demand debt payment, avoid taking medicine and avoid fighting and crying.

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Chinese New Year 2019

T

his year, China and Guyana are celebrating 47 years of diplomatic relations – a milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries. Guyana was the first English-speaking country in the Caribbean to establish diplomatic ties with China in 1972, resulting in the establishment of an embassy in the capital Beijing.

China is the second largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, which is also a major destination for outbound Chinese investment, second only to Asia. Total China-Latin America trade increased from US$17 billion in 2002 to almost US$262 billion in 2014 and was valued at

US$257 billion in 2017. In 2015, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) President set a goal of total China-Latin America trade reaching US$500 billion in 10 years.

China’s imports from Latin America and the Caribbean amounted to about US$126 billion in 2017, accounting for seven per cent of China’s overall imports; China’s exports to the region amounted to US$131 billion, accounting

for 5.7 per cent of China’s total exports.

China’s diplomatic overtures in Latin America underpin China’s economic activities and help it to institutionalise its engagement in the region and garner support in international fora. Some analysts argue that China’s activities in the region reflect a global strategy to reduce US dominance, although they do not aim to challenge the United States directly or militarily.

China’s diplomatic efforts include being an observer at the Organisation of American States, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, and an active par-

ticipant in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. A 2016 PRC policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean stated that China sought to strengthen cooperation on the basis of “equality and mutual benefit” in several key areas, including exchanges and dialogues, trade and investment, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and technological innovation.

Despite this being the 47th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Guyana and China, the relationship between the two countries began as early as 1853. Chinese citizens from Guangdong province migrated to Guyana (then British Guiana), to assist with alleviating labour shortages across the country. Many of the descendants of these immigrants became influential members of Guyanese society, such that

in 1970, Arthur Chung, a man of Chinese descent, was appointed as Guyana’s first President. He was the first ethnic Chinese to be Head of State of a non-Asian country.

Over the years, the relationship between the two countries has continued to grow and strengthen in the fields of transportation, infrastructure, information technology, health and security. Guyana has benefited significantly from increased

Chinese investment and the trade volume between both countries has tripled within the last decade.

The recent discovery of oil serves to complement the country’s core industries, including forestry, mining, energy, agriculture, construction and manufactured goods. All of these assets continue to make Guyana a lucrative investment destination for Chinese companies.

The two nations remain further committed to a series of wide-ranging initiatives through the China-CELAC Forum, the principal vehicle for China-Caribbean cooperation.

With China becoming an increasingly more influential partner in the region, it stands to reason that its partnership with Guyana will continue to be one of strategic importance.

While enjoying deep diplomatic relations, China and Guyana hold similar views and have consistently echoed and supported each other’s positions, be they on key international issues such as UN reform, climate change, sustainable development, regional integration and cooperation between China

and the Caribbean. Over the years, the strong, comprehensive programme of bilateral cooperation has resulted in Guyana benefiting from the services of Chinese medical doctors and technicians, the donation of equipment to the health sector, the educational work of the Confucius Institute, the support given to the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, infrastructural support for the expansion and renovation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the widening of the East Coast Demerara Public Road, and the donation of vehicles and other equipment to the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

Latin America is driving faster on the path toward deeper involvement in and with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this time with the Caribbean on board.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road were launched in 2013 with routes from China through Asia and linking to Europe and Africa.

But Latin America soon indicated interest, as did several other regions.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Chinese New Year 2019

The Great Wall of China

T

ogether with European and Arabian architecture, ancient Chinese architecture is an important component of the world architectural system. During its long development, it gradually formed into a style which featured timberwork combining stone carving, rammed earth construction, bucket arch buildings and many other techniques. Industrious Chinese laboring people created many architectural miracles such as the Great Wall, Forbidden City and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.

The most significant characteristic is the use of timber framework.

Paintings and carvings were added to the architectural work to make it more beautiful and attractive. Ancient Chinese buildings have a long history which can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC - 771 BC). It has its own principles of structure and layout. Through the long development, many wonders have been created by industrious and clever laboring people.

Ancient architectural miracles are innumerable ranging from Great Wall, White Horse Temple, Mogao Caves to Summer Palace and Forbidden City.

Ancient Chinese architecture is mainly timberwork. Wooden posts, beams, lintels and joists make up the framework of a house. Walls serve as the separation of rooms without bearing the weight of the whole house, which is unique to China. As a famous saying goes, 'Chinese houses will still stand when their walls collapse.' The specialty of wood requires antisepsis methods to be adopted, thus develops into Chinese own architectural painting decoration.

Colored glaze roofs, windows with exquisite applique design and beautiful flower patterns on wooden pillars reflect the high-level of the craftsmen's handicraft and their rich imagination.

The layout of a courtyard complex is also unique to China. The main structure is located on the central axis of a court while less-important structures are located to the left and right. The whole layout is symmetrical. Compared with European architectural style which is open and shut, a courtyard is like a hand scroll of painting which should be unfolded little by little. The scenery is different in each courtyard. Even in moving several steps within the court yard, you will be surprised at the changing of prospects. Likewise from the interior of the buildings the view from no two windows is the same.

(China Travel Guide)

The Forbidden City

The Temple of Heaven

Summer Palace

Mogao Caves

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Chinese New Year 2019

T

raditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) arose through a lengthy historical process. The Chinese ancestors’ evolving understanding of medical science is revealed in ancient records concerning deities, sages, shamans, instinct, human interaction, and physical labour. TCM does not have a single root; rather it represents the synthesis of numerous elements and disciplines.

Ancient Chinese legends contain many stories about the invention of medicine by legendary figures such as Suirenshi, Fuxi, Shennong, and the Yellow Emperor. These stories do not record actual incidents. Rather, they represent the experience of ancient clans and tribes over the ages, as they struggled against disease and developed therapeutic methods and medicinal remedies. Such legends offer numerous clues to the development of medicine throughout China, and also reflect the traditional Chinese veneration of ancestors and sages.

Shennong and the 100 herbs

Traditionally Chinese remedies include various types of mal, vegetable, and mineral substances. However, the majority are made

from plant products. As a result, the traditional Chinese term for medical remedies and their application as bencao (herbal medicine).

Most C h i n e s e medical classics concerning the theory and clinical applica-

tion of traditional remedies use the term bencao in their titles.

According to one of China’s most popular legends, Shennong, the Chinese god of medicine and farming, originated traditional Chinese medicine when he personally tested 100 herbs, of which 70 were poisonous, on himself in a day. Shennong is another name of the Yan Emperor, on of the legendary ancestors of the Chinese people.

Primitive human society had very limited productive capability. Humanity had not yet learned to cultivate and propagate agricultural crops and relied entirely on hunting and gathering for survival. People lived in caves, eating raw meat and whatever wild fruit, seeds, and roots they could find to allay their hunger.

There were many opportunities for them to accidentally consume poisonous plants, resulting in purging, unconsciousness, or even death. Through a long process of trial and error, humanity’s ancestors gradually learned to distinguish the

the nine types of needles used in Chinese acupuncture: chanzhen (ploughshare needle), yuanzhen (round needle), tizhen (arrowhead needle), fengzhen (sharp-edged needle), haozhen (fine needle), changzhen (long needle) and dazhen (large needle).

For thousands of years, Fuxi has been honoured as the originator of acupuncture.

From the stone age well into the bronze age, stone tools played a paramount role in human society. Bianshi stones were one of humanity’s earliest surgical instruments.

Bianshi stones were slender implements with a sharp tip or blade, used primarily to lance abscesses and drain pus and blood.

They may also have been used to therapeutically stimulate specific points on the body in an early version of acupuncture. As therapeutic methods developed, Bianshi stones evolved into knives and needles. Bianshi stones continued to be used for several thousand years after the

ani-

effects and uses of various plants. They determined which were poisonous, which were edible, and which had therapeutic applications. For instance, they discovered that rhubarb causes diarrhea, melon stalks induce vomiting, and ginger relieves nausea. As humanity learned to utilize various plants to achieve specific effects, the science of herbal medicine was born.

The legend of Shennong testing herbs upon himself in a metaphor for the Chinese ancestors’ long process of discovering the properties of medicinal herbs. As their store of practical experience increased over the ages, herbal medicine progressed from occasional, intuitive applications to a comprehensive and scientific system, culminating in the compilation of the fundamental health treatise.

Fuxi invents the nine acupuncture needles

Fuxi is another legendary ancestors of the Chinese people, said to be one of the originators of traditional Chinese medicine. Legend has it that Fuxi invented

end of the stone age.

The evolution of surgical instruments was closely connected to social progress and increasing productive capability.

Primitive bianshi stones were refined into stone blased and needles, which were replaced in turn by bamboo, wood, and bone and finally by bronze, iron, silver and gold.

Yi Yin invents Herbal Decoctions

Decoctions are a type of traditional Chinese remedy made by boiling various substances, primarily herbs, in water to extract their medicinal properties. Legend has it that the process of decocting herbs was investing by Yi Yin, a renowned Prime Minister said to have lived during the king Tang reign of the Shang Dynasty. Yi Yin was an excellent chef who also had a deep understanding of medicine. It is said that Yi Yin invented the first medicinal decoctions by simmering together various culinary flavourings such as cinnamon , ginger, licorice, jujube, and peony. (Excerpts

from Traditional Medicine in Chinese Culture

by Yu Youhua and Lin Qian)

8 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Chinese New Year 2019

W

indsor Forest is a small village on the West Coast of Demerara and it is also the first village the Chinese indentured immigrants settled it. Today, the village is predominantly occupied by Indo-Guyanese with very little trace of its Chinese heritage. However there is a monument in the compound of the Windsor Forest Primary School that is dedicated to the Chinese immigrants. Windsor Forest is also the home of Guyana’s First President, Arthur Chung.

Photographer Dexter Ceres recently visited the village and took these photos.

The Chinese Commemoration Monument

The Windsor Forest Primary School

One of the Churches

One of the many Chinese Restaurant in Windsor Forest

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

9

Chinese New Year 2019

T

he Spring Festival is a time of change and new beginnings.

Practically every activity during the Spring Festival has the purpose of removing the old and welcoming the new. Forget about the misfortunes and be ready for good luck. In addition, new clothes are auspicious and can protect you from evil spirits.

Like the New Year couplets and other deco r a tions, n e w

clothes also add to the festivity. In the past, China was an agrarian society. There was only 1 harvest per year in the north and 2-3 in the south.

Throughout the entire year, people scrimped and saved.

But during Chinese New Year, people can finally splurge and treat themselves.

Here are a few looks people would go for during the season.

10 Sunday Times Magazine

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Chinese New Year 2019

Jiaozi – Boiled Chinese Dumplings Jiaozi Dough 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 cups all-purpose flour Up to 1 1/4 cups cold water Filling 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry) 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper (or to taste) 1 cup ground beef (or desired meat) 3 tablespoons sesame oil 1/2 green onion (spring onion, finely minced) 1 1/2 cups Napa cabbage (finely shredded) 4 tablespoons bamboo shoots (shredded) 2 slices fresh ginger (finely minced) 1 clove garlic (peeled and finely minced) Directions Stir the salt into the flour. Slowly stir in the cold water, adding as much as is necessary to form a smooth dough. Knead the dough into a smooth ball. Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.

While the dough is resting, make the filling; add the soy sauce, salt, rice wine, and white pepper to the meat, stirring in only one direction. Add the remaining ingredients,

Nian Gao –New Year Cake Ingredients 16 ounces sweet rice flour (glutinous rice flour), plus a bit extra for sprinkling on the baking dish 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, or 3/4 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs 2 1/2 cups milk 1 to 1 3/4 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you like it) 1 tablespoon baking soda One can red azuki beans Directions Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-by13-inch baking dish with oil or spray with nonstick cooking

Spring Roll

should not be watery, it should be kind of sticky.

Filling 1 tbsp oil 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or minced 400 g / 13 oz minced meat 6 dried shiitake mushrooms soaked in boiling water OR 8 fresh 1 1/2 cups shredded carrot 1 1/2 cups bean sprouts 1 1/2 cups (packed) shredded green cabbage 1 tsp cornflour/cornstarch 1 1/2 tbsp Oyster Sauce 2 tsp soy sauce

Spring Roll Mix cornflour and water in a small bowl (for sealing the rolls). Carefully peel off one spring roll wrapper, keep the others covered under a damp tea towel. Place a very heaped spoon of filling on the bottom. Roll up halfway, fold sides in, then finish rolling. Use cornflour sludge to seal.

Heat oil and fry spring rolls for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown.

Spring Rolls 15 – 20 spring roll wrappers 2 tsp cornflour (for sealing rolls) 1 tbsp water (for sealing rolls) Oil for frying stirring in the same direction, and mix well.

Divide the dough into 60 pieces. Roll each piece out into a circle about 3 inches in diameter.

Place a small portion (about 1 level tablespoon) of the filling into the middle of each wrapper.

Wet the edges of the dumpling with water.

Fold the dough over the filling into a half moon shape and pinch the edges to seal. Continue with the remainder of the dumplings.

To cook, bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Add half the dumplings, giving them a gentle stir so they don’t stick together. Bring the water to a boil, and add 1/2 cup of cold water. Cover and repeat.

When the dumplings come to a boil for the third time, they are ready. Drain and remove.

If desired, they can be pan-fried at this point. spray.

Place all of the ingredients but the beans in the bowl of an electric mixer and mix at medium speed for 2 minutes. Beat for 2 more minutes at high speed.

Sprinkle the extra rice flour into the baking dish and then add half of the batter.

Spread the red adzuki beans on top. (You can mix some batter into the beans if they are too thick to spread).

Spread the other half of the batter over the red azuki beans.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a chopstick.

If it comes out clean, it is done.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Combine ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to simmer, stirring regularly, then simmer until it thickens to taste (about 3 - 5 minutes).

Sweet and Sour Sauce 2 tsp cornflour/cornstarch 2 tbsp water ½ cup apple cider vinegar 1/3 cup brown sugar (adjust to taste) 2 tbsp ketchup 2 tsp soy sauce Instructions Filling Heat oil in a skillet or wok over high heat.

Add garlic, stir quickly, then add meat. Cook, breaking it up as you go. Add carrot, bean sprouts, cabbage and mushrooms. Cook for 3 minutes or until vegetables are wilted. Add cornflour, soy sauce and Oyster sauce, cook for 1 minute until the liquid is gone. The Filling

Longevity Noodles Ingredients 8 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 pound dried thin egg noodles or spaghetti Sauce 3 cups chicken broth or stock 1 tablespoon soy sauce or to taste 1 teaspoon sesame oil 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 4 teaspoons water White or black pepper to taste For Poached Eggs, Optional 2 eggs, lightly beaten Garnish: 3 green onions (spring onions, finely chopped) Directions Bring the salted water to a boil and parboil the noodles, using chopsticks to separate them.

Rinse the noodles repeatedly in cold water and

drain thoroughly. Divide the noodles equally among soup bowls.

Bring the broth or stock to a boil over medium heat. Stir in the soy sauce, sesame oil, and pepper.

Give the cornstarch and water a quick re-stir and stir it in.

Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the beaten egg, pouring it slowly through the tines of a fork and stirring rapidly in one direction for about 1 minute.

P o u r the hot b r o t h over the noodles.

Garnish with the chopped ham and green onion.

To Include Poached Eggs: Use the wok to poach the eggs.

The poached eggs are placed on the noodles and the sauce is poured over. Garnish with the green onion and the sliced ham as in the recipe above.

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Feature

Lomarsh Roopnarine

I

f you are unfamiliar with rural Guyana, particularly in the Corentyne, and happen to be traveling in this region you will find one unique c h ara cteristic

that is probably absent elsewhere in Guyana and the Caribbean. You will find groups of young men around eighteen to thirty years old hanging out in a semi-circle on one or both sides of the public road.

It is customary for young men, and sometimes older

men, to form groups on the parapets of the main public road on the Corentyne in the early mornings and evenings to discuss all sorts of events that happen in the village, in Guyana and in the international community. If a cricket match is being played between the West Indies and England,

if someone is having an affair, or if a young lady is sexually available, the discussion can go on late into the night with selective whispering occasioned by a sudden burst of laughter.

The gathering of these young men is more than just about hanging out, more than idle talk and speculation. It is an opportunity for them to discuss what is not said in their homes, what has not been allowed in their schools, temples, churches. It is also an opportunity for them to unlearn what they have learned, to learn about what they were not allowed to learn such as sex, dirty jokes, foul language, and the challenges of a budding masculinity.

The roadside hangout is a sanctuary, a rite of passage in the absence of formal private dwellings for unemployed, perverse, progressive, inexperienced young men. One white American visitor to the Corentyne described this daily gathering of young men as “conversational corners of village life.� He was apparently confused as to why so many young men would rather hang out on the side of the road than attend his evening pastoral preaching.

No one is entirely sure where this tradition of young men hanging out on the roadside mornings and evenings comes from since it is uncommon in urban Guyana and in other Caribbean islands. In these latter places, the gathering tends to occur in the homes, shops, churches, bars, parks, abandoned buildings and at the marketplace. It appears that the custom of young men hanging out on the roadside started during the indentured period, supposedly a tradition transferred from rural India to British Guiana in the nineteenth century.

Interestingly, too, is that the structure of the road and tropical climate dictate why and when the grouping occurs. Unlike most roads in the Caribbean, the road in the Corentyne does not have significant feeder roads, so the main public road is wide enough to facilitate all sorts of activity from general traffic that includes motored vehicles, bicycles, donkey carts, pedestrians, peddlers, and, yes, conversational corners.

The tropical heat allows for grouping to occur in the cooler mornings and evenings, although, grouping can occur at any time when quarrels and fights happen

in the village.

What makes this tradition even more intriguing is that it has survived police surveillance, but with the introduction of television in the early 1990s the tradition has been fading slowly as the younger generation has become victims of excessive TV watching.

Real conversations are being replaced by fictional TV

characters. I am not sure if roadside hang-outs will continue in rural Guyana.

We cannot, however, nonchalantly downplay the significance and importance of roadside hang-outs to village life replete with limited social services. Roadside hang-outs have empowered, especially impoverished village denizens, to deal with the exigency of

village life. The closing down of the sugar estates along the Corentyne might very well provide fodder for the longevity of roadside hang-outs insofar as to cohere and co-exist in an environment where rural stability and happiness have become elusive goals. (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums. edu)

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Puzzles

ACROSS

1 Jewelry box

6 British dandy

10 Great destruction

15 Exploding stars

20 Nader or Bellamy

21 Zahn or Abdul

22 Quested of "A Passage

to India"

23 Get used to

24 "The Zoo Story" penner

25 Place to wed

26 Town -

27 Detect

28 Livelihoods (2 wds.)

30 Fortune (2 wds.)

32 More idle

33 Thoughts

35 Lampreys

36 Subsides

39 Windhoek's cont.

40 Footed vase

41 Shoe-wiping place

42 Drops the ball

46 Lao-Tzu's "way"

47 Moonbeam

48 Bait fish

51 Movie with a posse

53 Track-meet org.

54 Parka

56 Gladly, old-style

57 Horse's ankles

59 Bass or alto

61 Lean person

62 Mesa's cousin

63 Wee parasite

64 Exxon -- spill

65 Self-defense art

67 Mr. Feliciano

68 A hundred percent

69 Big celebration

72 Shogun's capital

73 They have moons 76 Museum employees

80 NFL gains

81 "How've ya --?"

82 Math subj.

83 Conforming to facts

85 Showy yellow moths 86 Farm feline

88 Eclipse

92 Reuben bread

93 Pentathlon event

94 Stein filler

95 Padlock adjunct

96 Home furnishing (2 wds.)

99 European capital

102 103 104 108 109 110 111 112 113 115 116 117 118 120 121 123 124 125 127 129 131 135 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151

Desert feature Air-lifted "Gigi" composer Curie or Antoinette Sounds gruff Untold centuries Sci-fi weapons Afore Spanish carnival Chatty starling Dude, Jamaica-style Hyundai rival Video-game name Bad-mouth Links org.

Pooch -- spumante Hall-of-Famer -- Speaker Fountain in Rome Mechanic's job, at times Amtrak's Acela (2 wds.)

Functional Diva's tunes Afterward Kremlin name Waited in line Give off, as sweat Delete a file Carve a canyon Macbeth's title Lemon peels Pub throws Large purse Tuxedo trim DOWN 1 Jam-pack 2 Comet -- -Bopp 3 Napoleon's island 4 Stints 5 Frat letter 6 Motormouth

7 Toward the edge

8 Greenhouse tray

9 Iran's language

10 Virus carrier, maybe 11 TV's -- Monk

12 Marble markings

13 Cassini of fashion

14 Toddlers' safety items (2 wds.)

15 Twangy

16 Port in Denmark

17 FedEx trucks

18 Lhasa - 19 Flower part

21 Calm

29 Angler -- Walton

31 Nerve network

34 Smite a knight

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME

TODAY'S WORD -- INALIENABLE

(INALIENABLE: in-ALE-yuh-nuh-bul: Incapable of being surrendered or transferred.)

Average mark 29 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 41 or more words in INALIENABLE?

inane nail nene nine able alee alibi alien anile anneal label lain lanai

lane lean liable libel lien line lineal linen elan enable bail bailee bale

baleen ball banal bane bean beanie been belie bell belle biennial bile bill

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Snug retreats Dylan contemporary Try to influence Commits perjury -- avis Mr. Saarinen Gravy vessel Jennifer on "WKRP" Blissful spot

See Solution on page 14

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

A

pple has restored Facebook's permission to run iPhone apps used and tested internally by the social media giant's employees.

The iPhone maker yanked Facebook's enterprise certificates after it discovered that the social network sidestepped the review process for consumer apps. Instead, Facebook went through a program that allows companies to create apps for their employees to use and test.

Facebook subsequently distributed the Facebook Research app to iPhone users, paying some people as much as $20 per month to access a user's phone and web activity for market research.

The software gave Facebook access to user data including web searches, location data and private messages.

The problems with Apple comes as Facebook slogs through a series of scandals that have called into question leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg. The New York Times reported the two executives ignored warnings and deflected blame as Facebook's scandals mounted.

The social network has also faced criticism for not doing enough to protect the data privacy and security of its 2.3 billion users. Facebook reportedly giving other tech companies more access to user data than originally disclosed and suffered a software bug that exposed the photos of up to 6.8 million people to third-party app developers.

Q

A Cambridge Analytica, a UK political consultancy, also harvested the data of up to 87 million users without their permission.

Initially, Apple blocked Facebook from offering the Facebook Research app to iPhone users. It then revoked Facebook's enterprise certificates, which affected apps that employees used internally including a workplace version of Facebook and an app to hail rides.

"We have had our Enterprise Certification, which enables our internal employee applications, restored," a Facebook spokesperson said in a state-

ualcomm may be facing fire for its licensing practices, but it managed to reach an interim agreement with one previously resistant handset maker.

The company on Wednesday said Huawei, the world's secondbiggest smartphone company, has signed a short-term licensing agreement with Qualcomm. The deal, reached in Qualcomm's fiscal first quarter that ended Dec. 30, runs through the company's fiscal third quarter.

Huawei will pay Qualcomm $150 million each quarter, Qualcomm Financial Chief George Davis said during a call with

ment on Thursday. "We are in the process of getting our internal apps up and running. To be clear, this didn't have an impact on our consumer-facing services."

Facebook wasn't the only company that ran afoul of Apple's rules for developers. Apple also prevented Google from running apps used by the search giant's employees. The decision came after Google pulled its Screenwise Meter app from Apple devices. Like Facebook, Google bypassed Apple's review process for consumer apps by going through a program that lets companies distribute app internally. (CNET)

analysts about the company's financial results.

Huawei and Apple were the only two major companies still fighting with Qualcomm over its licensing terms. Reaching a deal with Huawei -- even if it's currently only interim -- alleviates some worries about the company's future in charging handset makers for using its technology.

Qualcomm continues to battle Apple in courts around the world.

The two will face off over patents in March and over licensing in April, both on Qualcomm's home turf of San Diego, California.

Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf on Wednesday said

he's confident in the company's prospects when it comes to the ongoing litigation over its licensing practices.

"We continue to believe that over the course of 2019, we will reach a resolution on the key outstanding issues in our disputes with Apple through settlement or litigation, and we are prepared for both outcomes," Mollenkopf said Wednesday during a call with analysts.

Huawei, for its part, also facing legal battles. Just Monday, the US slapped it with 23 indictments for alleged trade secret theft and fraud.

Qualcomm is the world's

lite version of the Nintendo Switch is in the works, says a Thursday report. Nintendo is planning to offer a smaller version of the Switch hybrid console to make the gaming device more portable, according to a report from Japanese publication Nikkei. Nintendo told manufacturing partners and game developers about the plan, the publication said.

The new model will be easier to carry around, though its functionality will be limited, according to Neowin's translation of the Nikkei report. The smaller Switch device may appear in mid-2019.

This comes after October rumors that Nintendo may release an updated ver-

sion of the Switch as soon as the summer of 2019. In September, the gaming giant launched Nintendo Switch Online, a subscription service that costs $20 a year and lets users play games in multiplayer mode and gives them a library of classic titles.

Nintendo reportedly may also launch another subscription service this year.

The rumored service will reportedly target users who don't mind spending a lot of money on in-app purchases.

Nintendo didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Nikkei is the largest Japanese business newspaper and has accurately predicted the arrival of new Nintendo products before. (CNET)

biggest provider of mobile chips, and it created technology that's essential for connecting phones to cellular networks. The company derives a significant portion of its revenue from licensing those inventions to hundreds of device makers, with the fee based on the value of the phone, not the components.

Because Qualcomm owns patents related to 3G, 4G and 5G networking technology, as well as other features like software, all handset makers building a device that connects to cellular networks have to pay it a licensing fee, even if they don't use Qualcomm's chips. (CNET)

Next iPhone may swap Lightning port for USB-C, have three rear cameras

T

G

oogle+ content will start vanishing on April 2, the company said Wednesday.

The search giant planned to "sunset" the consumer side of its also-ran social network since its October admission that the personal data of up to 500,000 users was exposed between 2015 and March 2018.

Originally, Google said the service would close in August 2019, but it announced last month that the date had been moved up to April after a new bug revealed further vulnerabilities in the platform.

Now you've got an exact deadline for saving any photos or videos you put on it. At that time, the company will shut down your Google+ account and start deleting pages, photos, videos and other content.

Disappearing sooner are the

Google+ API developer tools, which lay at the heart of the security breach. They'll cease to be on March 7, Google product manager David Conway wrote in a blog post. Companies using Google+ needn't worry though, since Google will continue to support the enterprise side. (CNET)

he next iPhone may feature a handful of new hardware and tricks, particularly related to its camera setup, Bloomberg reports.

The Apple iPhone is one of the most popular and recognizable devices in the world. But after years of steady growth, Apple reported a disappointing fiscal first-quarter, and its iPhone sales of $52 billion is 15 percent lower than last year's.

Adding compelling features to the successors of the iPhone XS, XS Plus and XR may push customers to upgrade their phones, increasing Apple's sales and pulling it up from this slump.

According to Bloomberg, which cited people "familiar with the plans," the next iPhone may include three rear cameras, instead of the current two. The third camera will have a more powerful zoom, a higher resolution and a wider field of view than any camera on today's iPhones.

In addition, 2020 iPhones could have a rear 3D camera system.

(Right now, the iPhones only have a front-facing 3D camera.) With this new update, the camera could sense distance and measure depth through lasers, improving the iPhone's handling of augmented-reality apps and features.

Apple is purportedly testing out iPhones with a USB-C port as well.

Most iPhones are outfitted with Apple's proprietary Lightning port.

To change from Lightning to USB-C would be a notable move for Apple, and would increase the iPhone's compatibility with third-party accessories and Android phones. (CNET)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Bollywood/Hollywood

A

ctor Tiger Shroff, who delivered a successful film in Baaghi 2 in 2018, says he is under pressure for his forthcoming releases that include Student of The Year 2 and Baaghi 3.

“Definitely. There is pressure because I didn’t expect Baaghi 2 would do the numbers which it did so there is lot of expectations among audience for Baaghi as a franchise and not only that, I am also doing Student of The Year 2 which is a very big franchise,” Tiger said at photographer Dabboo Ratnani’s 2019 calendar launch.

“I am stepping into the shoes of three very big stars (Alia

Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra) along with my co-stars who are two new beautiful girls.

We have lot of pressure on us,” he added.

Tiger added that it is a big film and “we want the franchise to live on so, we have kept our fingers crossed.” Talking about his shooting schedule, Tiger said: “I have finished shooting of Student of The Year 2 and currently I am shooting for ‘Hrithik vs Tiger’ film.”

Apart from Student Of The Year 2 and Baaghi 3, Tiger will also be seen sharing screen space with his childhood idol actor Hrithik Roshan in a yet-

L

untitled film produced by Yash Raj Productions. Sharing his experience of working with Hrithik, he said: “It was like a dream come true moment for me. After every shot, when I see him on the monitor,I feel like I am dreaming because it has been my childhood fantasy working with him. When we do a high speed shot or an action scene then it feels amazing.” (Hindustan Times)

il Wayne is suing his former lawyer for $20 million. The rapper is suing Ronald Sweeney, an attorney who represented him from 2005 until 2018, for overcharging him during their 13 years working together, reports TMZ. According to documents obtained by the website, Wayne claims that Sweeney was charging him 10 percent for every deal he helped close, even though industry standard is 5 percent.

In addition to overcharging Wayne, the rapper also accused his former lawyer of trying to get even more money out of him. The documents claim that Sweeney, by enlisting the help of another firm, allegedly got himself an extra 23 percent from Wayne’s multimillion-dollar settlement with Cash Money Records and extra 15 percent from his settlement with Universal Music Group.

Wayne is seeking at least $20 million, according to TMZ. (Page Six)

Is Dostana 2 happening? Karan Johar addresses rumours

N

ews about the second instalment of the 2008 hit film Dostana has been doing the rounds for a while now, but it seems like the rumour mills have got it all wrong. Filmmaker Karan Johar took to his Twitter handle to clear speculations related to the film.

“For the record.....

NO ONE has been officially approached for DOSTANA 2!!!!

Some thoughts and ideas are underway but nothing official has moved,” he tweeted.

According to various media reports, Alia Bhatt had apparently been roped in to play

P

resident Trump on Thursday condemned the brutal assault on “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett in Chicago, an attack that was being investigated as a possible hate crime.

“That I can tell you is horrible. It doesn’t get worse,” Trump told reporters from the White House during an unrelated event.

Smollett told cops a pair of goons yelling “This is MAGA country” struck him early Tuesday while yelling

racist and homophobic slurs, then placed a rope around his neck. The MAGA details were reported by TMZ but have not been otherwise confirmed. He was not seriously hurt and was expected to be back performing by the weekend.

Chicago cops released surveillance footage of “potential persons of interest” in the case but have not verified all of the details of the incident as described by Smollett. (Page Six)

Crossword Solution

the lead in Dostana 2. Reports also stated that the 25-year-old

actor who made her debut with KJo’s Student of The Year 2 is

O

ffset just wants his fans to be patient. The only Migos member to not release a solo album last year recently told i-D that his record will come out when he’s ready for it to come out.

“Yes, I am releasing a solo record,” the 27-year-old told the magazine. “And no, you can’t get a title.

Nowadays, we’re drowned in a constant flow of information. You get tons of content without having to do a thing, it’s just getting to you non-stop. I want my album to come out when the time is right, and the way I see it a title is already one piece of information too many.”

He went on to explain that he feels the hunger for every little tidbit of in-

formation surrounding the release of cultural products only serves to lessen

their impact.

“I don’t want people to be projecting anything into it before the album’s even out, whether it’s their wishes or their opinions,” he said. “I take my time because I want to be sure it all makes sense.”

Offset’s still as-yet-untitled album was originally supposed to come out on the rapper’s birthday, December 14, following releases from the other Migos members, Quavo and Takeoff.

The record was delayed indefinitely shortly after news broke that Offset and wife, Cardi B, had separated, but with rumors that the two have reunited only growing in intensity, maybe the album will finally see the light of day. (Page Six)

F

ilm and television producer Ekta Kapoor is now a mother to a baby boy. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, she welcomed her first child via surrogacy. The report states that the child was born on January 27 and is healthy.

The Kapoor household is all set to bring the little one home soon.

Just like her brother Tusshar Kapoor, Ekta has also opted for the surrogate route to embrace motherhood. The two are the children of veteran actor Jeetendra and producer

Shoba Kapoor.

Tusshar had welcomed a baby boy on June 1, 2017

also keen about working on the film.

However, KJo has cleared the air about any speculations surrounding the upcoming film.

Amidst all the confusion, he further confirmed that although no one has been approached, some ideas are being discussed.

After the success of the 2008 romantic-comedy film, fans have been eagerly awaiting a sequel. The film Dostana featured Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles. Bobby Deol too was seen in a cameo in the Tarun Mansukhani directorial. (Hindustan Times)

who was named by Ekta as Laksshya. She is a doting aunt to the two-and-a-half-

year old who is often spotted with his father on playdates with other star kids like Taimur Ali Khan or at his playschool. The actor is a full-time father to the boy and juggles his parental duties amid his professional commitments.

In a special post, shared on Instagram, she revealed that she has named her son Ravie Kapoor, after her father and veteran actor Jeetendra. His original name was Ravie Kapoor, before he made his Bollywood debut. (Hindustan Times)

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

September 2, 2018

Fun Times

Archie

Keep life simple, and only offer to do what's within rea(March 21son. Use your intelligence April 19) and physical attributes to live up to your promises. A change will turn out to be better than anticipated.

ARIES

If you touch base with a TAURUS friend or relative who could (April 20- use some help, you'll get May 20) something in return. Actions will speak louder than words, so do a lot and say little.

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

Develop one of your ideas and share your plan with a loved one. An unexpected gift or offer will take you by surprise. Don't take too long to make a decision.

A desire to have more money shouldn't lead you to (June 21- make an unwise investment.

July 22) You are better off cutting your overhead than putting your money into a risky venture.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

A change will do you good.

Visit someone you haven't seen for some time or take a day trip with a loved one. Physical improvements will boost your ego.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Spend less time at home and more time with people who share your interests, concerns and goals. Refuse to let someone's excessive behavior cause you grief. Take better care of yourself.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Get out and do things with people who make you laugh and spark your imagination.

The ideas you come up with will lead to a joint venture that looks promising.

Visit a friend or relative, SCORPIO and listen to what others have (Oct. 24- to offer. The information that Nov. 22) comes your way will help you avoid making a mistake.

Too much of anything SAGITTARIUS will cause a problem for you.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21) Focus on positive changes that will encourage better health, wealth and happiness. A romantic encounter will enrich your life.

Calvin and Hobbes

Avoid getting involved CAPRICORN with unpredictable individu(Dec. 22- als. Stick to what and who you Jan. 19) know best, and protect your possessions, passwords and reputation. Don't get involved in secret dealings.

A snap decision will lead AQUARIUS to regret. Slow down and (Jan. 20- consider the consequences Feb. 19) before taking action. When in doubt, take a time-out and enjoy the company of close friends or family.

Be wary of anyone boastPISCES (Feb. 20- ing or making unrealistic ofMar. 20) fers. Stick to people who offer valuable information that you can use. Your kindness will not go unnoticed.