Guyana Times - Sunday, June 9, 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. 3949 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, June 9, 2019

Govt, Princess Casino collude to quash Marriott Casino tenders – Jagdeo Page 7

...new casino would have ensured competition, raked in finances for Guyana

4 homeless after house allegedly set on fire Page 10

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

SPU’s HeathLondon P11 appointed Chairman of Skeldon Energy Inc ‒ former Chairman retained as board member

Missing woman P17 dragged from house found alive

SEI might use grass to produce fuel for P17 generators

Winners in the Department of Energy’s Art and Logo Competition with Director of the Department, Dr Mark Bynoe (back row, centre) and Chief Judge of the competition, Regina Torrington (second row, centre) along with the Office Manager, Sharon Patterson (extreme left) and Legal Adviser in the Department of Energy, Joanna Simmons (right) at the National Gallery of Art, Castellani House

Residents of Black Mother of 3 Bush Polder continue shot during armed robbery to battle floodwaters

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Soesdyke man gets 4 years for narcotics trafficking, assault P8

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

Sunday, June 9 – 09:30h-11:00h and Monday, June 10 – 10:30h-12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, June 9 – 08:30h-10:00h and Monday, June 10 – 09:45h-11:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

President confirms ‘operational interference’ in Army – Opposition Leader …ranks concerned about “whimsical” changes affecting promotions, benefits

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers are expected to prevail throughout the day and in the evening hours.

Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-easterly to East North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 09:11h and 21:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.42 metres and 2.33 metres.

Low Tide: 15:20h reaching a minimum height of 0.78 metre.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

President David Granger

hanges being sporadically and whimsically made by the Ministry of the Presidency into the operations of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are affecting the promotion of army ranks and inevitably their morale.

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who recently told the media that an anonymous letter highlighted the complaints and concerns from some army officials about practices which are having negative impacts on their performance and their future in the military.

However, he noted that President David Granger was yet to address those issues raised, which specifically spoke to allegations that centred on his involvement and interference in the smooth operations of the GDF. “They (army ranks) are saying that the changes, that the junior officers, have a shifting goal post to meet to get to be promoted and that the standards and that the rules keep changing all the while. And that they are done based on the whims and the fancies of the Ministry of the Presidency, and it is not discussed with the senior officers even in the GDF. That is a very specific allegation that it is done this way, that, therefore, officers’ promotions are affected and they don’t get answers,” he said.

Jagdeo pointed to another major concern that was raised by the army ranks which revolve around the process of interdiction.

“The rule has been changed now that if you are interdicted and one year passes, the instruction from the Ministry of the Presidency and the President, is to terminate your employment. And they are saying that the court matter could even take more than a year. So, if their employment is terminated now

the ranks themselves were crying out for intervention and have done so publicly, then he would have to speak out on their behalf.

“All I want to say to the Army is to ensure that we treat our soldiers well and the Joint Services…If these concerns have been raised and now publicly, then they need to be addressed and if they are counterproductive, I think the Government should change this.”

Jagdeo also lashed out at the President for his direct interference in the smooth operational process that the GDF had enjoyed prior to the coalition coming into power.

He noted that while President Granger wishes to cast blame on the PPP/C for what he deemed as “organisational neglect” resulting in the destruction of the National Cadet Corps, this is far from the truth.

“I am not sure it was destroyed, but look how disingenuous this is. This government now has former chiefs of staff Atherly, Collins and Gary Best, together they span almost two decades or so, a decade and a half, of governance at the helm of the GDF, so what they are saying is those people presided over the destruction of the National Cadet Corps, and they have all of them in their bosom across there and that’s what they are saying.”

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before the case is concluded, and they prevail, how do they then address that situation?” he queried.

Resignation vs retirement of military personnel

Thirdly, the Opposition Leader zoned in on the issue of military ranks retiring from the GDF in comparison to him (Granger) resigning. Changes that have been apparently made by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government have resulted in many of them having to worry about their future and benefits if they choose or have to retire, he said.

“They claimed in the past once they had served after 20 years, they were free to leave, to retire from the Army, with all their benefits once they had met that threshold of 20 years. So, this government has changed this now to say that even if you finish the 20 years and you want to retire, you cannot get your full benefits because we will treat it as a resignation. Therefore, you don’t get any of your benefits, you have to wait out all the years … so this is a big change too,” Jagdeo stated.

He added that he, along with the rest of his Party, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), do not want to politise such issues, but if

He added that the response from the Ministry of Presidency to that letter mainly focuses on an explanation seeking to justify President Granger’s involvement in the affairs of the army but that he failed to address any concern that the ranks desperately need addressed.

“The release said that the President in his private capacity before entering office complied a book called “Values and Standards of the GDF”. So, imagine what they are saying, they didn’t deny interfering, they are saying the President when he was private citizen compiled a book and now implying that the Army, a State institution must follow what the President complied when he was not even President. So, they have only confirmed now what the officers are saying that there is operational interference.”

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SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019

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

Questioning our nation-state premises

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orm dictates function in politics as much as biology does, and this is a lesson that Guyanese politicians need to take to heart. The unitary “nation-state” is one such form that forces people to act in ways that ensure conflict when its inhabitants are from different cultural strains. The concept of the “nation-state” has become such a ubiquitous international norm that it is difficult for us to realise that the modern state was born only in the last few centuries.

While the state and nation were stipulated as identical, in reality the state could never become identical with the people living within its territory. The state may represent the people, but the people inevitably will identify easier with their “nation”; as constructed by their personal experiences lived within a common language, culture, and traditions other than their state’s. This does not mean that the state cannot be a site of identification for the people, but since the values promulgated by the state are more abstract and “drier” than their nation’s, the state’s values will have to be transmitted to the people independently.

Where there are different “cultures/nations” within a state, inevitable systemic strains are unleashed; since, to create the unified nation, there has to be continued application of force -- symbolic and physical -- on some groups to maintain the imagined community”. However, while the concept of the “nation-state” has become a central pillar of the dominant European political paradigm, and a dogma in modern politics, it is but a contingent moment in European history that definitionally insisted on the “societal consensus” and the “melting pot” theory of assimilation.

Even within Britain itself, the Scots, the Welsh, and most obstinately the Irish, never fully accepted the homogenising premises of the nation-state. Early in the day, Ireland declared it would go its own way. The disappearance of the Soviet yoke in 1989 precipitated the formation of a score of “ethnic” republics in Europe.

National unity is always ultimately impossible if it means homogeneity, since such a unity would have to be created (or, more mildly, be represented) by a suppression of differences.

The contradictions and problems of the nation-state were compounded after those imperialistic European states, during their 19th century consolidation phase, partitioned the world into empires and “spheres of influence”, claiming huge swathes of real estate, which they divided into colonies for administrative convenience. The multitude of ethnic groups within each enclave were suddenly told they had to become cohesive “nations”. The onus was even greater in those colonies such as the West Indies, where the “native” groups were practically wiped out, ensuring there were no “natural” cultural strains, as in the European model, to evolve into any “national” culture. The society had to be created almost sui generis – patterned on the European ideal of course.

The local politicians that inherited the colonies adopted this imperialistic homogenising arrogance, and even insisted on utilising force, when necessary, to create homogenous “nation-states”. We are reaping the whirlwind, for while both the modernisation school of the West and the Marxist school of the East had prophesied the eradication of ethnicity and the creation of unified “nation-states” (implied with the Marxists), history has proven them both completely misguided.

The reasons for this are complex, but essentially lie at the heart of the nature of power, the potential for its abuse, its relationship to status, the power of the modern state, and the fact that the group that controls that power is invariably from one section. In a cultural plural society, then, power always has an ethnic contour, and will be challenged along that parameter.

In ethnically heterogeneous states, ethnicity became a dominant cleavage along which mobilisation took place, even though those who led were invariably from the dominant classes. Thus, behind its egalitarian façade, in Britain, the English were always the dominant ethnic group, and its elite the ruling class. In Guyana, whether the PNC or PPP ran the Government, it was seen by the group on the outside as the “other” ethnic group dominating the Government. Quo vadis?

One of the contestants vying for the title of Miss Earth Guyana 2019, Phelicia Adams performs a dance during the talent competition.

The grand coronation is set for Saturday, June 15 at the National Cultural Centre

Venezuela crisis:

Venezuela's economic and political crisis exacts heaviest price on children

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he United Nations children’s fund says Venezuela’s economic and political crisis is having a devastating impact on millions of children.

Venezuela used to be one of the richest economies in the region, considered a model in the provision of health care and other essential services for its citizens. It also was a country where children could thrive. That has changed dramatically.

The United Nations estimates one-third of Venezuela’s population of 10 million children is in need of humanitarian assistance. It says they lack basic nutrition, health and education services.

The UN children’s fund says it fears children’s inability to access essential services is increasing their vulnerability and risking their health and well-being. UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac says the impact of Venezuela’s economic and political crisis is all too visible.

For example, he says the mortality rate for children under the age of five has more than doubled between 2014 and 2017.

“Under-five mortality increased from 14 per 1000 live births in 2010-2011 to 31 per 1000 live births in 2017,” said Boulierac.

Additionally, he says 190 suspected cases of diphtheria and 558 suspected cases of measles have been recorded since the beginning of this year.

UNICEF says Venezuela’s health system is broken. It says many doctors and nurses have left the country because of the deteriorating situation. It adds

Children play on top of an abandoned car at the “Aguerridos Liberator” shanty town in Caracas, Venezuela, May 9, 2019

medicine is in short supply and medical centres are functioning at minimum capacity.

UNICEF underscores that conditions are so bad and hospitals so ill-equipped that women in labour need to bring their own midwifery supplies when they check into the hospital to have their babies.

UNICEF says it is scaling up humanitarian aid for children in Venezuela. Since the beginning of the year, it has sent 55 tons of health supplies, and provided access to safe drinking water and other essential services for hundreds of thousands of people.

While critically needed, the agency says its humanitarian operation is barely scratching the surface.

It says millions of children need to be immunised, go to school, drink safe water and feel protected — though currently there is not enough money available to help them. (Excerpt from VOA)

Angelina Jolie urges international support for Venezuelan children

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie on Saturday urged the international community to provide more support to

three South American countries with the most migrants from crisis-hit Venezuela, saying 20,000 Venezuelan children are at risk of being without basic citizenship rights.

Jolie spoke in Colombia as a special envoy for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She is on a twoday trip to meet Venezuelan migrants there and met with Colombian President Ivan Duque in Cartagena.

Four million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have fled economic and humanitarian crisis in their homeland.

More than a million are living in Colombia, where the Government and aid agencies have scrambled to provide housing, food and healthcare to an ever-growing influx of migrants arriving in already-poor and violent border regions.

The parents of Venezuelan children born abroad often struggle to register their baby’s birth, either because they do not have access to an ever-shrinking number of Venezuelan consulates or because they do not have migration papers.

“The President and I

spoke of the risk of statelessness for more than 20,000 Venezuelan children, his commitment to always helping children,” Academy Award-winner Jolie, 44, said at a press conference.

“We agreed on the urgent need for the international community to give more support to Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, who are bearing the brunt of this crisis.”

Duque said he hoped the visit would alert the world to the seriousness of the migration crisis.

He, Jolie and UNHCR officials had a productive meeting on Saturday morning, Duque said, including a discussion about how to nationalise the stateless children.

Jolie visited Venezuelan migrants in Peru in October last year. She will conclude her visit in the desert border town of Maicao later on Saturday.

Venezuela’s imploding economy has brought widespread shortages of basic foods and medicines, while political hostilities have led to waves of fatal violence.

The crisis has deepened since the United States imposed sanctions, including on the pivotal oil industry, in an effort to oust leftist President Nicolás Maduro in favour of Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó.

Dozens of nations around the world recognise Guaidó as interim president, saying Maduro rigged his 2018 re-election, but their support has not been enough to unseat Maduro, who still has the backing of the top military brass.

Maduro accuses his foes of plotting with Washington to bring about a coup.(Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

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

My response to MotP Diaspora Community Development Dear Editor, The MotP decided to do a hasty press release, on Sunday 2019-06-02 around 23:00 hours, in response to my letter. This release, in my opinion, is nothing but unadulterated “balderdash.”

It actually strengthens my point about the legal advisers to His Excellency.

I will now try my best to respond to the MotP press release: With regard to the President sitting as the Chairman of the Defence Board and Minister of Defence, that is indeed true, according to our Constitution. However, in his role as Chairman of the Defence Board and Minister of Defence, he is supposed to be acting in the interest of the state, and not for the Government.

The army is “LOYAL” or “SUBORDINATE” to the state, and not the “Government.” It is clearly defined in the Oath taken by each and every officer upon commissioning: “I will bear true faith and allegiance to the State of Guyana; that I will support and defend the State against all enemies whomsoever.”

I will not bother to reply to the issues dealing with neglect, the Cadet Corps, the Reserve and the former Government. We are, first and foremost, soldiers and NOT politicians; please don’t drag us into your political squabbles. Those issues should be addressed in Parliament. As a matter of fact, were they ever addressed when you were sitting on the other side of the table?

As regards training, based on our geography and environment, Exercise Greenheart remains relevant to our training doctrine. However, Exercise Ironweed needs to be revised. Modern wars are fought from the air, and not

with troops running around the savannahs. Our army is more involved in military operations other than war, or MOOTW, a term coined by the US Military. I am quite sure that, as Chairman of the Defence Board and Minister of Defence, you are very aware of this too.

Kindly allow me to thank you, on behalf of all the “equestrians”, for the horse-riding lessons. This will help us greatly in our hinterland patrols, as opposed to using ATVs. Horseback patrolling was implemented by Major General Joe Singh, after the Rupununi Uprising in January 1969, to counter cattle smuggling. I am sure that all of Guyana would be happy to know that, after 50 years, we are still using horses to patrol the hinterland while the enemy is using ATVs, SUVs and aircraft.

With regard to all the wonderful things you have done for the GDF since 2015 to present, isn’t it your obligation, as the Chairman of the Defence Board and Minister of Defence, to do so, sir? You are not doing us a favour by providing for the army; for the GDF to execute its mandate, we need to be properly equipped with the relevant tools and resources.

The problem some of the politicians and public officers in this country seem to be suffering from is clearly understanding who they work for, and not who works for them.

The MotP press release failed to address the legitimate concerns in my letter.

They attempted to play politics and gain cheap political mileage. I wish to ask the intellectual author/authors of the MotP press release a few questions: 1. Why did the President change the retirement policy? How many former officers who currently work for

this Government retired after 20 years of service with all of their benefits?

2. Why is the Executive arm of the Government intruding on the Judicial arm with regard to interdiction of ranks?

3. Why is the President changing the promotion criteria as detailed in the Defence Act, Chapter 15:01 of the Laws of Guyana?

This is the same document that was referenced by MotP. “The Ministry of the Presidency wishes to make it pellucid that the Head of Government, since Independence, had been Chairman of the Defence Board and Minister of Defence; his duties are detailed in the Defence Act, Chapter 15:01 of the Laws of Guyana.”

The new retirement policy will result in a top-heavy force with no room or scope for the younger officers to be elevated to higher rank. All over this country, the youths are stagnated, with no room for elevation. This practice has to stop at some point.

To the senior officers of the GDF, stop making wild accusations about the author of the first letter. I am a junior officer seeking answers to the legitimate questions you all failed to address.

Allow me to say this in closing, please: We are in 2019; we are evolving slowly but surely as a country and a people. Gone are the days when the military was used to do political work, such as selling “New Nation” papers

by Kitty Market. Those days will never be allowed to return. Kindly provide some answers to us regarding the questions.

Sincerely, Concerned Junior Officer

Dear Editor, The Guyana Diaspora is Guyana’s second state. The population of the diaspora is almost as large as the entire population of our homeland. This has been because of direct migration and the existence of second- and third-generation Guyanese.

This unique situation has great competitive advantages for Guyana: Guyanese in the homeland, in the United States, and in Canada. With such a distribution of our population, we can create great opportunities to harness the diaspora’s potential. There is the need to develop comprehensive strategic plans for solutions to national issues.

There are many national issues that cannot be solved by the Executive and their territorial coverage. Therefore, the need for a Diaspora Strategy Map is necessary. There are many individuals and groups that have been working to bridge this divide, but they have failed to develop a holistic approach. Many have specific purposes, and often work in isolation of each other.

In analyzing what has been done so far, there has been some progress with education, youth and robotics, donations, and small cultural activities. However, these are very random, and do not mesh the entire country and diaspora.

It is necessary to develop strategies that take into consideration our current disposition in the homeland and diaspora. In the US, and specifically New York, we are distributed across the five boroughs, with a large population being in the Queens area. In analyzing NYC demographic data, it can be stated that South Richmond Hill and surrounding areas have the largest number of Guyanese. This concentra-

tion has advantages, since we can focus the development of social and economic plans for the community. The successes can ripple across the state, so that we can all benefit.

What are the benefits of pursuing this? An effective Diaspora Strategy is important to promote the consolidation of the two economies, create direct investment opportunities, and the utilise our professional potential so that we can bridge our homeland’s integration into the global economy. While we are very occupied with the development of the oil and gas sector, the diaspora community has always been a resource that has a higher return on investment if we pursue the right strategies.

One of these is as a complement to a Sovereign Wealth Fund. How? It’s important that research and development are pursued to determine the generation and preservation of wealth in the Guyanese diaspora in New York.

Specific questions would be on determining overall diaspora engagement, awareness of our knowledge-based economy, business and employment types, professional skills, changes to immigration and demographic trends, and what types of local and homeland policies must be developed to address the top priorities.

lum on the one hand, and the ‘paranormal’ activities on the other; but everyone knows that there does indeed exist a mind/body connection.

In any case, The Caribbean Voice joins Pandit Deodat Persaud and others in calling for urgent intervention to improve the training/living conditions; for the curriculum to include mental health issues such as suicide, sexual and domestic violence, stress management, self-esteem, coping skills and emphatic communication; and for counselling to be made available to all trainees, with a special focus on building resilience and positive self-esteem, while arming trainees with coping skills to be able to handle challenges.

We also strongly suggest that the training should include a focus on ethics and value-laden norms.

Many countries have obtained exemplary success in this domain. Those include India, Israel, Russia, and the Polish-Slavic communities. Their diasporas actively participate in the national economic development processes by facilitating the realisation of goods and services, as well as creating joint productions and investing in several areas of the economy.

For Guyana, we need to begin by bringing the right people together, and identifying and analysing the knowledge gaps. This would include an advance understanding of business activities in terms of imports and exports, the local economy, cultural activities, education and sports, employment, travel, and vulnerable populations.

It would also be very important to develop correlation with other economic data sources to create superior socio-demographic and economic diaspora profiles.

The Guyanese diaspora has a similar cultural affinity with the homeland. This is both advantageous and disadvantageous for the development of national economic cooperation. In the diaspora, it would be important to create a unified self-organisation, superior strategies, and policies that address all our concerns. This is important because, like with the other communities, we are all the same, since we share the same foreign national identity. This is not a paradox! The Guyanese diaspora can develop a world-class global shaping economy.

As we pursue a diaspora strategy, it’s important that there is the restoration of the trust paradigm. Any administration must understand that there may exist political indifference. The fact is that the diaspora is important to national development and sustainability.

Therefore, it is necessary to include us as we develop a common goal and vision for a modern Guyana. The activities like the annual Unity Parade demonstrate how emotionally attached a part of the community is to our homeland. However, this has a very narrow temporal interest. In the short term, there is the need to bridge the political and cultural divide between communities in Brooklyn and Queens.

Once this has been achieved, there would be an understanding of the dispersed realities of our people. We can then begin to create policies and strategies for sustainable national development.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

Yours respectfully, Dustin Fraser

In support of this, it’s important to discover and understand the various existing contributions to development, support groups and organisations, vulnerable populations, and the changing US policy and expectations. This is not everything, but a top output of this discovery would be to correlate remittances and family assistance data in support of our econ-

Urgent intervention needed Dear Editor, Two days before the media carried stories of paranormal activities at the Police Training Centre, Pandit Deodat Persaud, ERC Commissioner and Youth Liaison of The Caribbean Voice, wrote on his Facebook page, “On my way home from Georgetown tonight, I happened to share the company of a few Police trainee officers who, like their colleagues, managed to ‘escape’ from the training centre at Eve Leary.

“Apparently, some paranormal activities developed

since last Saturday. Many wanted to return to their homes ever since; however, permission was denied.

It was unbearable, and from observation, everyone was leaving.

“I then learnt of their horrible living conditions: complains about unsanitary living conditions, lack of proper meals, among other areas of concern. While I understand that Police training is an intensive one, there were concerns that the programme is inhumane. I became very empathetic to their plights,

since they are young people who, given the lack of job opportunities, resorted to the Police Force, only to be greeted by these torturous conditions.

“As expected in Guyana, the fear of victimisation for complaining, and with parental expectations, these officers, as I understood, have limited or no options, and that is exploited upon. Young people are sadly at the receiving end of poor management and incompetence by persons whose eras have long gone.

“I therefore call for an urgent investigation into the living conditions of the Police Training Institute, and an assessment of the current curriculum. In my opinion, these officers are under severe stress, and as a result, these paranormal activities are a manifestation of the situation. I am calling for immediate counselling for these traumatised future guardians of our nation, as well as mental health training.”

In commenting on Pandit Deodat’s post, ex-Police officer Linden Johnson stated, “Every batch of recruits gets the same story, and it seems like no one cares.” He went on to call for the Police Commissioner to make impromptu visits to the centre, adding that “Former Commissioner Carl Austin would just walk over to the school without giving notice,” and his visits ensured that standards were kept high.

Another comment, by social activist Vidyartha Kissoon, indicated that “Dr. Janice Jackson had developed training modules for self-awareness and domestic violence prevention, but these were thrown aside”.

He added, “The last time I interacted with recruits, I was horrified that they were drinking Red Bull to stay awake.

Now, we don’t know if there is a connection between the awful training/living conditions and limited curricu-

omy. Individually, many Guyanese have achieved great success in the diaspora. It’s important that we begin the discovery process to effectively encourage community involvement.

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Foundation

The "real" harm of screen time? …the "real" harm caused by screens might be hidden in plain sight

By Mike Brooks, PhD

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here has been much written about how screens are affecting us – including by me! Given that screens are so ubiquitous, and we are spending a LOT of time on them, it's important to understand their impact on us. This is particularly true for children and teens, who seem quite attached to their devices.

Honestly, though, many adults struggle with putting their phones down about as much as teens.

One would be hard-pressed to find identify the introduction of any new technology (eg, the automobile, radio, television) that changed the way that we communicated, socialised, sought information, and entertained ourselves so profoundly in such a short amount of time as the smartphone. When it comes to the importance of studying the effects of our screens, there is a clear consensus that this is a worthy endeavour. It's how they are affecting us that is still up for debate.

Do screens cause us harm?

A number of researchers, psychologists, and parenting experts have written at length about the many dangers of smartphones and social media. These include Dr Jean Twenge (with her article “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” and her book, iGen); Dr Sherry Turkle (MIT professor and author of Alone Together and Reclaiming Conversation) and Dr Nicholas Kardaras (with his NY Post article, “It's 'digital heroin': How screens turn kids into psychotic junkies” and his book, Glow Kids). You might have seen or heard about the documentary Screenagers, which details the many dangers of screens. There have been quite a number of studies in which researchers have found various negative effects of screen use.

Yet, there are a number of researchers, such as Dr Chris Ferguson and Dr Andrew Przybylski who have not found such negative effects or, at least when they do, such effects are very mild. For example, Dr Amy Orben and Dr Przybylski recently published a study using the same large scale social data sets (n = 355,358) that Dr Twenge used to support the dangers of screen time. Using more sophisticated and comprehensive statistical techniques, Drs Orben and Przybylski found that only a paltry .4% of the variation in adolescent well-being can be explained by screen use. I've speculated that at least some of the contradictory findings might be because many of the short-term harms attributed to screens don't really undermine life satisfaction in the broader sense.

the many claims that psychologists have made. Can we trust the psychological sciences?

What are we to believe?

Given some conflicting findings in the research, just what are we supposed to do about screen time? Nothing? Set and enforce rigid limits on screen time for our kids? If you are parent, mixed messages and recommendations to "wait until there is more/ better research" just fall flat. This is all unfolding before our eyes at such a breakneck pace, we just can't keep up. Many of us see our kids glued to their screens, staying up late on their devices, and eschewing the outdoors and in-person social activities because they prefer the screens. Should we be worrying about this? We want the truth! We want answers! We want to know what to do!

The truth that we don't want to hear is still the truth. It is this: It's complicated. In life, there are rarely simple answers to complex questions such as "How are kids being affected by screens?" and "What should I do as a parent about screen time for my kids?" Although this truth might be unsatisfactory and leave us uncomfortable, we must deal with reality as it is.

Screens are affecting people in a variety of ways – some good, some bad, and probably much of our use is rather benign or inconsequential. While we don't want to dismiss the possibility that screens can sometimes have a detrimental impact on people, we don't want to default to alarmism or ignore their many benefits.

When do screens cause problems?

Here is what I believe to be true about screen time. To be healthy and happy, we need to meet our basic human needs.

These needs haven't changed much in thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of years. These include the needs for sleep, physical activity, a healthy diet, and in-person social interaction.

When these needs aren't being met, we will experience negative outcomes such as problems in our physical and mental health.

At times, I do believe kids, teens, and adults are using screens in ways that interfere with these basic needs. Thus, if we or our teens are only getting 6 hours of sleep per night because we have gotten into the habit of watching YouTube or Snapchatting in bed, this chronic sleep deprivation will result in a variety of health problems. Yes, we are adaptive creatures, but adaptation has its limits. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

Try something new with your kids: focus on the 3Cs …9 tips to teach your children caring, compassion, and creativity this summer

Continued from Saturday

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Creativity

n this section, I am defining creativity as the ability to transcend traditional thinking, ideas, etc and create new ways of thinking and doing things, innovate, and think “outside of the box.” As we develop creativity, we build our perspective-taking skills, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving – all of which enhance our emotional intelligence and resilience. Here are some fun and easy ways to develop creative thinking with your children this summer: Start a family game night. If you aren’t already doing family game night, start this summer. Using language-based games like Apples-to-Apples, or activity games like Pictionary and Quelf, or strategic games like Blokus, and even Uno can

A much-needed revolution in psychology The debates over the effects of screen time are actually subsumed under a broader problem within the social sciences.

We are at the beginning of a revolution in the social sciences due, in part, to a replication crisis. In short, much of what we thought we knew to be "true" in psychology is not. Efforts to replicate many landmark studies have fallen flat. Some of these problems might be because biases on the part of the researchers, publication biases, statistical shortcomings, poorly designed studies, cherry-picking results, p-hacking, ego, self-delusion, and blindspots. While the factors contributing to the replication crisis are varied, the aggregate effect is that shadows now loom over nurture cognitive flexibility, problem-solving skills, social skills, and more. Set aside a specific time and take turns picking the games. Everyone will have a blast without ever realising how much “learning” is actually happening.

Schedule creativity sessions. Using the spontaneous activities from Odyssey of the Mind or other creativity exercises, have children learn creative problem-solving and teamwork through activities. Use these types of activities at summer parties. Your children will be entertained while they learn collaboration and creativity skills.

Allow plenty of time for play and solitude. To keep kids engaged and out of trouble, parents and educators have devalued “play” and non-tech solitude. Kids, themselves, have gotten out of the habit of creative play and solitude that doesn’t involve passive engagement with a screen or technology. Use this summer to bring back play, solitude, and relaxation (not vegging in front of a screen, but soaking in nature and mindfulness). Kaufman, a leading researching in the field of creativity, often sites solitude and a necessary ingredient to creative activity. As an artist and a highly creative human, I have to agree. Schedule playtime and solitude this summer. The children may balk initially, but by the end of the summer months, they may find solitude and non-screen downtime to be an essential part of their self-care.

Nurturing the 3Cs with your children this summer can also help increase your positive family relationships, build community at home, and nurture the social environment.

With all of the potential positives, it makes sense to focus in this area. Your children will have fun, your family will grow closer, and everyone will reap the educational benefits of increased social-emotional skills in the fall. Give it a try! (psychologytoday.com)

news

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SUnDAY, june 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt, Princess Casino collude to quash Marriott Casino tenders – Jagdeo …new casino would have ensured competition, raked in finances for Guyana

The Guyana Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has accused the Government and the authorities of Princess Hotel and Casino of working in tandem to ensure that the realisation of another casino at the Marriott Hotel did not take place so as to cement a monopoly in the casino business.

The Opposition Leader recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the actions of Government for poorly handling the tendering process for this initiative.

“Minister Jaipaul Sharma said that they met also with

everyone else under the sun.

So, according to Sharma when he met with the Princess officials, he was told they had made appointments with other Ministers including Jordan, then Minister of State Joseph Harmon, then Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin and Minister Amna Ally. I was the first Minister that readily agreed to meet with them so why would the person mention to the reporter that AHI [Atlantic Hotel Inc] squashed the expression of interest because of a private meeting with a Minister? This stinks.”

He emphasised that the scrapping of the tenders for the establishment of the Marriott Hotel’s casino occurred because of the unethical and questionable actions of some Government Ministers with regard to them secretly meeting with a bidder of the project and this was part of a plan to ensure that the Princess Hotel Casino did not have competition in that business.

“The Ministers and the people who are putting out the bid, the Board, are complicit in this, they have achieved their purpose; we

have nothing now. There is no competition, there is no competition, so because when you have one operating casino you get all the benefits. So, this stinks too.”

Jagdeo stated that this entire situation fits in with the Government’s corruption theme that it continues to promote and that had the Administration pursued the Marriott Casino project in the transparent manner that was necessary, then the country would have gained a lot financially.

“Remember this was supposed to be a corrupt PPP [People’s Progressive Party] project – the Marriott Hotel and it is supposed to be a hospital; they were converting it, now it is probably one of the most profitable hotels anywhere in the world. And they need more rooms; in fact, I am hearing they want to expand. And the Government owns 100 per cent of it, but the value would substantially be enhanced if you had a casino operation there too.

Because people pay a premium for that licence so the value to our country and to the treasury would be greatly enhanced,” he explained.

Jagdeo added that since it was a fruitful initiative that would have benefited Guyana immensely, the

Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma

Opposition believed that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration would have pursued such plans, since the results would have eventually benefited the Guyanese populace.

Recently, Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma, insisted that he was the one who “blew the whistle” on the Marriott tendering process, which appeared to have been flawed and subsequently it was quashed.

This was after he had been reportedly accused of secretly meeting with representatives of Princess Group, which runs Princess Casino.

The Turkish-controlled group was one of a number of investors which signalled intentions to run a casino operation at the State-owned Marriott, in Kingston.

The Princess Group and a Surinamese investor were said to be frontrunners while the evaluation process was being conducted in 2018.

However, the process was scrapped after the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), that is mandated to handle investments, said it was alerted to an irregular meeting and correspondence between the group and Minister Sharma.

The AHI is the NICIL special purpose company that owns Marriott, a 197room hotel that opened in 2015, whose financing structure had depended on a casino and entertainment centre to make enough money to repay up to US$30 million in debts to the banks and other creditors.

The Government of Guyana took over the loan after Marriott was unable to pay.

It was decided that an unfinished section of the hotel would be opened for investment in a casino.

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SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Soesdyke man gets 4 years for narcotics trafficking, assault Snake oil salesman…

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Narest Gopaul

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man who hails from Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by Magistrate Wanda Fortune after he pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, cultivating a prohibited plant, and assault.

Naresh Gopaul was sentenced to four years for the narcotics trafficking charge, three years for cultivating a prohibited plant and three months for assault. The sentences will run concurrently.

According to Police information, ranks on June 1, 2019 responded to a report of an assault committed on Homouttie Narine, 69, a farmer of Yaruni, Upper Demerara River by Gopaul, also called “Rickey”, 29, who is

The ganja plant that was found in Gopaul’s camp

also a farmer of Lot 27 Soesdyke.

Upon arrival at the location, the ranks conducted a search of the camp and found approximately 14 cannabis plants.

Gopaul was told of the offence committed and is said to have told ranks

“...about two months now I plant them plants”.

He was arrested and taken to the Mackenzie Police Station where he was charged for assaulting the woman. Gopaul pleaded guilty to all of the charges.

8 drivers fined for traffic violations S everal drivers were fined in relation to traffic offences on Wednesday when they appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrates’ Courts.

Quincy Stephen was slapped with a $10,000 fine

for failure to wear a seatbelt with a default sentence of 10 days’ imprisonment.

The other drivers included Keith Warden, who was fined $7500 for the same offence, and Isaaiah Brummel, who was fined $20,000 for being an unlicensed driver, $25,000

for breach of insurance and $7500 for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Meanwhile, Lamaizon Wilson was fined $20,000 for failure to conform to a traffic sign with a default sentence of one month in prison while Glaudston Dey was fined

$20,000 with a default sentence of one month in prison for breach of insurance.

Additionally, Julius Alexander was fined $7500 with a default sentence of 10 days in prison for failure to wear a seatbelt.

Kenrick Glasgow was fined $7500 with a default sentence of a month in prison for driving an uninsured motor vehicle while Hakeem Aaron was fined a total of $27,500 with a default sentence of three weeks in prison for the offences of failure to wear a seatbelt and obscured vehicular identification.

…in sugar industry

he “snake oil salesman” is an American trope describing those conmen who prey on the afflicted gullible by insisting their snake oil will cure everything. President Granger typifies the species in the political realm with his unctuous and ingratiating style, in which he never fails to have a plaster for every sore. Problem is, some desperate citizens, faced with the mountain of problems they face daily, listen to him and sometimes forget it was he who created the problems in the first place.

Remember that promise to fix blackouts, which had been reduced to just an irritant by the PPP? That’s snake oil; since he created the Stygian darkness we’re in when he absolutely refused to have his PNC sign off on the 165MW Amaila Hydro -- which would have had enough power to satisfy our TOTAL electricity needs -causing the developer, Sithe, to walk away.

Remember his promise to reduce Presidential power and transfer some to his PM, Nagamootoo??

That’s snake oil WITH Larwah!! Stop corruption?

Constitutional change? There’s been so much snake oil flowing from Granger’s mouth that Guyana is probably bereft of labarias by now!!

Anyhow, let’s take his foray into Berbice – Albion Sugar Factory, to be precise – to sell his snake oil on the sugar industry. He chose his audience well, the management of the estate and factory, who’re ultimately employed by him!! Were they going to point out he was emanating more hot air than the nearby chimney – and even more polluted?!

Donning a hard hat as his prop, he promised his captive audience, “I have come to fix things”!! Yes, he, David Granger, whose only experience with the sugar industry was when he provided scab labour to break GAWU’s strike for recognition in 1976, had come to “fix” sugar! Well, he’d already “fixed” it, hadn’t he??

Put it in a fix, that is!! He then went on to declare: “GuySuCo will not merely survive, it will thrive”!!

Rivers of snake oil. It’s a good thing his audience had on “long boots”!!

How exactly is he going to save sugar?? He’d rejected his expert CoI’s recommendation to stabilise all seven estates and bring them to a point of sale. But he now says that, after the $30 billion bond funds are invested, sugar production costs will be reduced to US.30 cents/kg! How is that a “fix” when the present world price for sugar is US .26 cents/kg and falling?!?

But then, he’s never worked to produce anything to sell, and had his salary paid for by the state, plus his education at UG!!

But even snake oil salesmen can’t fool all the people all the time, can they? Hence Granger’s desperate efforts to delay elections!

…calling it quits

Well, Granger may just be looking at his future when he read that his old YSM pal Ivelaw Griffith has decided to withdraw his application to be re-appointed VC at UG!!

Good riddance to a bad administrator!! Folks across the world were amazed when Papa Doc, and later his son Baby Doc, lived in a style that Marie Antoinette would’ve envied while millions of their citizens were forced to live like beasts in the forest.

Well, in a nutshell, that’s what Griffith tried to emulate at UG. Imagine, our only tertiary institution – with the lowest paid academic staff in the region – couldn’t even provide toilet paper for students!! But yet he had a salary with benefits that rivalled the President of the country, and created his own “Cabinet” to bring home the point!! He and his Cabinet’s salaries, on a per capita basis, were DOUBLE those of the academic staff.

But your Eyewitness is surprised the VC was reported as having “walked away”.

Wasn’t that “flew away” – first class??

…on Linden-Lethem Highway

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Raphael Trotman is Minister of Natural Resources. So how come he’s announcing, “International firms express interest to build Linden-Lethem road”?? Where’s MPI Patterson? Adding up foreign deposits into his account?

And what happened to the China BRI?? Snake oil!!

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

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SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

10 news 4 homeless after house Mother of 3 shot during armed robbery allegedly set on fire SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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The aftermath of the fire

fire suspected to be an act of arson has completely razed a two-storey wooden building at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown in the wee hours of Saturday. The fire reportedly started about 03:00h in the lower flat of the house, but quickly engulfed the home.

At the time of the fire, Guyana Times understands, three adults and one child were in the house. When this publication visited the scene later that morning, only the charred shell of the two-bedroom house was standing.

A motor car was also seen among the rubble. A neighbour explained that she heard a banging sound

and as she looked through her bedroom window, she saw flames emanating from under the house.

Without hesitation, she raised an alarm. The occupants of the house managed to escape unhurt. The family is reportedly staying at relatives in Sophia.

While the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, this newspaper understands that the fire may have started after the owner of the house failed to pay over a sum of money owed to one of his associates.

The fire tenders arrived at the scene about 10 minutes after the blaze started and quickly began working on dousing the flames.

Within a few minutes, the fire was contained to one location. When contacted on Saturday afternoon, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle explained that after the report came in to the Guyana Fire Service, a tender from the Central Fire Station was deployed to the area.

He noted that the firemen managed to contain the blaze. He stated that the fire officials were continuing their investigations to determine the cause and origin of the fire. This is the second fire of the week.

A fire on Thursday at New Housing Scheme, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) has left millions of dollars in losses. The fire reportedly started at the top floor of the G3 Building, which houses a gym, about 11:30h.

In this case, the fire tender did arrive at the scene, but had difficulties tapping into a water source.

As the firemen scrambled to get into fire-fighting mode, the entire upper flat of the building was destroyed as well as certain sections of the second and first flats. A few businesses that are also housed at the location suffered water damage and scorching.

It is unclear if the building was insured.

Investigations are ongoing with respect to both fires.

The home belonging to the Fernandez family

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Menawattie and Arthur Fernandez

mother of three was admitted to the Suddie Public Hospital after she was shot to the left leg during a robbery at her home at Onderneeming Hill Top, Essequibo Coast on Friday evening.

The woman, 44-year-old Menawattie Fernandez was listed in stable condition after the doctors successfully removed the bullet that was lodged in her leg.

Based on reports received, the woman, along with her husband, 56-yearold Arthur Fernandez and their three children

were returning home from church when an armed man pounced on them as they were about to open the main door to their home.

The armed man held them at gunpoint and ordered them into the house, where he started to demand cash and gold. Speaking with Guyana Times at the Suddie Hospital, the still shaken man explained that after the men asked for cash and gold, he related that he did not have any, since the money that he came out of the interior with was used up.

The bandit, he stated, then removed the gun from

his head, pointed it into the air and discharged a round.

Fernandez, however, managed to jump through a window and as he made his way into the bushes, he saw a second gunman keeping guard in front of his house.

His main aim was to reach his relatives to get help. As he ran, he recalled hearing three gunshots followed by loud screams coming from his wife and children.

He, nevertheless, informed his relatives and they went back to his house.

“When we reached back, the men were gone … I see my wife bleeding and the house was ransacked,” he told Guyana Times. The Police were contacted and he proceeded to take his injured wife to seek medical attention.

However, residents slammed the Police for slothfulness, since it took them more than one hour to arrive at the scene. By this time, the armed bandits had already made good their escape.

“The Police just come and drive off… they said that they will return but this never happen,” one man stated.

A neighbour has called on the Police to provide some sort of protection, since they are living in fear that the armed men would return to the area.

About two weeks ago, Vickram Boodram was shot and robbed of his gold band in the area. Residents believe that the bandits are living and operating in the area with the assistance of relatives and friends.

NEWS

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SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

SPU’s Heath-London appointed Chairman of Skeldon Energy Inc – former Chairman retained as Board Member

National and Regional Cultural Policy

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inisters of Culture from across CARICOM have just finished “deliberating” on a Draft Cultural Strategy, during the 36th meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) at the CariCom Secretariat in Liliendaal.

Their focus was “culture is our business”, and the meeting was geared towards “developing cultural and creative industries”, which would include music, audio visuals, visual arts, publishing, festivals, fashion, performing arts and craft.

But what is troubling is that there was only talk of “culture” – implying a single monolithic entity.

Whither, then, our claim to “multi-culturalism”, which all political parties insist they are committed to facilitating, even though they have retained Art 35, which speaks “to develop (out of our various cultural Ravi Dev strains) a socialist national culture for Guyana”? While the “socialist” qualification might have been discretely dropped in the last few decades, the goal of creating some sort of unitary ‘national culture’ as part of a “West Indian Culture” still appears to be the overarching goal of our state, which did not raise the issue with CariCom. The National Motto: One people; One nation; One destiny, emphasises the assimilationist imperative of the old British imperialist model. We are all now expected to jettison our respective distinctive cultural identities/practices and hark to a putatively ‘higher’ West Indian ideal.

And we can begin to discern the problems most IndianGuyanese have with Mashramani as the ‘national’ celebration of Republic Day, and now the putatively “private” Carnival associated with our Independence celebrations.

While Independence and Republican status promised equal participation as citizens, the commemorative events demand they fit into a ‘cultural’ festival defined by the Carnival ethos of T&T. Earl Lovelace, among others, has delineated how that ethos was transmuted from the African cultures the ex-slaves had brought from their homeland into the Carnival tradition of the French planters fleeing the Haitian Revolution.

Thus while the official rhetoric of the Guyanese state after independence suggested it was interested in ‘multiculturalism’, at the very best, the form it took was that some cultures were more equal than others; and the less equal ones - notably Indian and Indigenous - should go along with the ‘standard’ to get along.

Calls for Indian-Guyanese, for instance, to participate with their festivals in Mash and Carnival arrogantly take for granted that the premises of the former are in consonance with the latter.

And this appears to be the premise of the CariCom initiative.

The irony of course is that, notwithstanding their protestations to the contrary, the PNC has vigorously promoted Mash, and now Carnival, but with no discernible accommodation for Indian and Indigenous Guyanese cultural participation.

With the PNC once again having control of the state and the influence to encourage norms – and, by definition, a reordering of social hierarchies -- it has also not seen it fit to initiate a national discourse on the contours of our multiculturalism. The official ‘Guyanese’ culture is still, to a large extent, disdainful of the Indian and Indigenous components of the ‘multicultural’ reality.

Just examine the content of the introduction of “culture” into our educational curriculum: steel pan, masquerade, etc; Mash and Carnival therefore become simply tropes for displaying the monocultural foundations of our so-called ‘multiculturalism’.

The danger, of course, is that, in multicultural polities such as Guyana, excluded groups will inevitably resent and challenge their silencing on the national stage, or their token representation in the name of the universal standard of equality. Because such silencing is always a consequence of a lack of power, the challenges are ultimately political, in that they call for a more equitable distribution of power, even though the PPP takes great pains to avoid contesting the cultural premises.

Ironically, such open contestation should not be seen as threatening, once it is accepted as necessary and it is dealt with through national dialogue and discussion. It is also positive, because it not only addresses dissatisfactions with the status quo, but reduces the potential for demagogic manipulations that have become standard in Guyana. And this occurs not only at Mash and Carnival.

One point we have emphasised in arguing for an equitable National Policy on Multiculturalism over the last three decades is that it will make available such a wider array of knowledge and practical wisdom to our nation. Such wisdom can then be shared with our brothers and sisters of CariCom, and then the world.

S

pecial Purpose Unit (SPU) Head Colvin Heath-London has now been appointed Chairman of the Skeldon Energy Incorporated (SEI), replacing former Chairman Dr Lloyd Rose, who has now been bumped down to an ordinary Board Member.

This is according to a notice published in the Guyana gazette. According to the notice, the appointment was made after a memorandum was submitted by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

The appointment retroactively takes effect from January 1, 2019 until December 31, 2019. It would not be the first time HeathLondon has been announced as Chairman of a sugar-related board.

Last year, a Cabinet sub-committee decided to appoint him as Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Chairman and a full-page advertisement to this ef-

The Co-gen Plant at Skeldon

fect was published, only for Government to later backtrack and appoint someone else, agriculturist John Dow. Besides Heath-London and Rose, a representative from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL); the trade union movement and the Regional Executive Officer for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) will also be appointed to

serve on the board.

SEI is a special purpose company owned by the Government’s holding company, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), and the GPL. Its Co-generation Plant was purchased from GuySuCo for approximately US$30 million.

In June 2017, the Co-gen Plant was described as a ‘ticking time bomb’ that required US$2.5 million to restart the 30MW bagasse-fuelled component of the facility, and an additional US$17 million in order to fix other deficiencies.

Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma had taken members of the media on a tour of the facility in June 2017. Minister Sharma had said he would be recommending to the Cabinet Council of Ministers a full forensic investigation into the facility.

During a guided tour of the boilers, it was observed that the piping used to circulate the pressurised steam has eroded to a point where it had become a safety hazard and risked an explosion.

Speaking to the design of the facility, it was pointed out, too, that the boilers were not even protected from the elements, including the salt air. turn to page 17

12 news

SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Residents of Black Bush Polder continue to battle floodwaters – Agriculture Minister promises relief soon

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or just over two weeks, the Johanna and Yakusari communities in Black Bush Polder, Berbice have been under water and residents continue to struggle without any proper relief from the Government.

During a visit to the areas on Friday, it was evident that there was a drop in the water level in some areas, but a significant increase in others thus leaving residents and scores of cash crop farmers severely affected.

Agriculture Minister Holder visited the affected areas on Friday and assured residents that mechanisms would be put in place to bring some form of relief to them, adding that he was informed that the water had receded.

The water remains on the land two weeks after the initial flooding

However, he noted that arrangements were being made to have the sluice doors opened so that the water could drain at a faster rate. In addition, the pump at Number 43 Village/Joppa will be in operation for at least 10 hours a day to drain the excess water from the land.

Holder told residents and officials that it was not a time to cast blame while confirming that the primary drainage and irrigation system falls under the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) while the secondary drainage system was the responsibility of the regional administration.

He explained that funds were given to the Region for the clearing of the drains in

Minister Noel Holder in discussion with NDIA and RDC officials

the area, but from all indications, that was not done.

Nonetheless, a task force was set up to address the present situation and it was realised that the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

Administration did not hand over the funds to the NDIA. The Minister noted that the Government could not give two agencies monies to do the same work.

Meanwhile, Dharmendra Bebisarran, a cash crop and poultry farmer, told Guyana Times that prior to the flooding, he cultivated over 1000 pepper plants, but they have all been destroyed. As such,

he is waiting to see if any assistance will be given to him by the Government.

According to him, many other farmers in North Yakusari faced similar dilemmas.

Sherry Balkarran, a mother of three of North Yakusari, claimed that ever since the flood occurred, she has been fishing in her back yard.

In South Yakusari, the in-

ternal drainage is very poor with residents claiming that it was the first time they saw floodwaters after every downpour. Some rice farmers in the area had to replant rice after the floodwaters killed the ‘ceiling paddy’ while the situation for cash crop farmers was beyond comprehension.

On Thursday, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) met and discussed the issue, and it was agreed that there were several internal issues that needed to be remedied so as to prevent a recurrence.

Councillor Zamal Hussain wasted no time in casting the blame on Agriculture Minister Holder, claiming that he was a political appointee and more so, the one who has access to funds to assist residents.

Since the flood started, both the RDC and the NDIA have been blaming each other. ]

13 Hundreds bid farewell to women’s activist Andaiye NEWS

SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

A few of the late activist’s mourners stood near the hearse as they wept at her passing

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A packed auditorium of persons showed up to remember Andaiye

s rain drops sprinkled over the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Saturday, scores gathered to pay their last respects to the late Andaiye, a founder of women’s group Red Thread and Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

Andaiye breathed her last on May 31 aged 77. She had spent the last 15 days of her life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital.

Her inconsolable niece, Alissa Trotz shared a piece composed by the writer on her deathbed: “On International Women’s Day 1989, I was diagnosed with cancer. Later, I learnt it was stage four B Lymphoma, an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Treated with Chemotherapy by the early 1990s, I was in remission, but towards the end of 2011, I was told by one of the doctors that the protocol they used had been found to pro-

Andaiye

duce late effects, chief among which were three illnesses I was now suspected of having.

A secondary cancer, congested heart failure and severe fix obstructive lung disease.

I also had peripheral neuropathy. To quote the main character in a play called “Wit” by Margret Edson, my treatment had imperilled my health”.

Meanwhile, over 10 other speakers reflected on the gem the late activist

was. Her former colleague, Tacuma Ogunseye from the WPA told the almost-filled auditorium that the party would continue to carry on her legacy.

“Sister Andaiye, you have made tremendous sacrifices; you have fought a good fight for over 30 years against cancer; we know you are tired, so rest in peace… the women of Guyana and children of Guyana and the women of the Caribbean and the world have the greatest ownership of the legacy of Andaiye. … but we (the WPA) want to say that we do believe that we are entitled to part of that legacy … and we will fight to support what we understood our sister wants to achieve in the country,” he said.

Help and Shelter member Denise Dias reminded that the late activist played a vital role in establishing the group.

“Andaiye was a founder-member of the WPA, Red Thread and the Cancer Society, but few knew or remembered that she was also

the founder-member of Help and Shelter…. Andaiye’s passion and knowledge on justice for women and children was never more needed during our early days at setting up Help and Shelter.

Her commitment, advice, and simple straightforward manner of relating her views is part of the reason that after 25 years, Help and Shelter has become a leader in the fight against violence in Guyana,” Dias remarked.

Karen de Souza, a close friend of Andaiye, was last to share her tribute: “The first time I met Andaiye, she was 36 years old and I eventually discovered that along with Walter Rodney and Rupert Roopnaraine – these three were close in age…. I start with her age to say that young people working together with

elders like Moses Bhagwan were leading a movement that rocked the established order and many assumptions of the day. What a contrast of today! Young people being largely absent from the decision-making spaces.”

In a more personal tribute, Andaiye’s goddaughter, Vikki Jackson, recalled that as a child, she was always kind and loving towards her. She explained how distraught she was to hear of the passing of the late activist, who had been the one supporting her when her mother died some time ago.

An organisation will be set up in memory of Andaiye.

She was also a founder of the Cancer Survivors Action Group, and worked with the Women and Development Unit of the University of

the West Indies (WAND) from 1987 to 1992, and with Caricom from 1987 to 1996. In 1997, she was awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement, the fourth highest national award.

The activist will long be remembered as a black power proponent, who saw the movement towards black pride and dignity as a necessary step in our independence journey. She changed her name from Sandra Williams to Andaiye, which meant “daughter who has returned” and wore her hair in an Afro, a style she would never change.

She often spoke of how she was never able to visit her ancestors’ homeland, Africa. As such, her ashes will be taken to Africa.

14 news

SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

CJIA records over 31,000 arrivals for May

GENDER AND OCEANS- WORLD OCEANS DAY 2019

…linked to Guyana Carnival 2019

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport was flocked with passengers for May

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he Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has released flight statistics for this year thus far, which show a whopping 6000 increase in arrivals for May when compared to last year’s figures. This increase primarily points to the recent Carnival events.

According to these numbers, 31,653 persons arrived in the country in May, when compared to 25,447 for the same period last year. An overall analysis showed 130,784 arrivals for 2019 thus far, significantly more than the 123,447 recorded in 2018.

For 2019, the figures have shown 256,178 departures and arrivals for the first five months, an increase of 10,000 from last year.

The spike in travel activities during the month of May is linked to the dayslong Carnival event which recently concluded.

The 10-day celebrations commenced on May 17 and culminated on May 27, with concerts and other events to attract tourists and persons from the Diaspora.

Some persons travelled from as far as Australia and Europe to partake in the activities. The hospitality sector and partnering companies would have also benefited from the Private Sector event.

Speaking with Guyana Time one week ago, Hits and Jams Director Kerwin Bollers, who is also part of the Guyana Carnival

Committee, stated that the event this year topped the previous year and it would only get better in the years to come.

He explained that the events were planned to observe Guyana’s 53rd Independence anniversary in grand style and he was convinced the aim of the event, which is to enhance Guyana’s tourism sector, has been realised.

The HJ Director was only too happy to reveal that the service industry has benefited tremendously as a result of the hosting of Guyana Carnival.

“We have undoubtedly done our part to boost the economy … we have taken a month that is economically dead and revitalised it …

The hotels were filled, the airline had a boost in ticket sales, the food vendors got a piece of the pie, the taxi services and we can go on and on,” he declared.

They are of the belief that “Kes – Stinging Nettle” was one of the best shows to be held over the 10-day period, while some were in favour of the J’Ouvert at the National Park Tarmac.

“Wet Wednesday” featuring Machel Montano was another concert that had good reviews but the icing on the cake was definitely the “I Am Legend” concert featuring Jamaican Reggae artiste Buju Banton, who is currently on a world tour titled “Long Walk To Freedom”.

F

or centuries, women have been the gatekeepers and guardians of the environment. However, time and time again, in key policy decisions, the voices of women have been neglected or ignored. Recognising the role that women play in managing natural resources, this year’s World Oceans Day is being celebrated under the theme “Gender and the Ocean.” The voices of women are essential as we begin to think of critical solutions to solve the current realities of the ocean. Women are a resource in offering profound traditional and contemporary knowledge. This year, World Oceans Day provides an opportunity to explore the gender dimension of humankind’s relationship with the ocean. On June 8th, we celebrate the importance of our oceans, and the role they play in sustaining a healthy planet.

Sustainable Goal 5: Achieve gender equity and empower all women and girls The importance of gender equality, in particular for the effective conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources, is increasingly being recognised. Bringing it closer to home, at the Environmental Protection Agency, the water quality unit is operated by a group of female officers.

Senior Environmental Officer Michel Swanston noted that “women have an important role in managing our water resources. For instance, with fresh water, women are the ones in the home who are in charge of ensuring the household has sufficient and clean water.”

The Environmental Protection Agency has been instrumental in involving women in protecting the environment through training workshops, seminars, and other forms of outreach. The topics include: climate change, waste management, energy and water wise practices, and biodiversity management.

Approximately three-quarters of our planet is covered in water, to the point where is it called “The Blue Planet”.

The oceans provide food, generate oxygen, and regulate our climate. Healthy oceans are critical to our survival as a planet, and particularly those who live along coastlines.

World Oceans Day allows us to: • Change perspective – Encourage individuals to think about what the oceans mean to them and what they have to offer all of us, with hopes of conserving the oceans for present and future generations.

• Learn – Discover the wealth of diverse and beautiful ocean creatures and habitats; how our daily actions affect them, and how we are all interconnected.

• Change our ways – We are all linked to, and through, the ocean! By taking care of your backyard and helping in your community, you are acting as a caretaker of our oceans.

Making small modifications to your everyday habits will make a difference; and involving your family, friends, and community will benefit our blue planet even more!

• Celebrate – Whether you live inland or on the coast, we are all connected to the ocean. Take the time to think about how the ocean affects you, and how you affect the ocean; and then organise, or participate in, activities that celebrate our oceans.

TOGETHER, WE CAN PROTECT AND RESTORE OUR OCEANS. 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, JUNE 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teenage pregnancy fuelled by lack of access to comprehensive sexual education

‒ Govt, local and international partners geared to address challenges

A review of Guyana’s Draft Local Content Policy

T

he most important objective of having a Local Content Policy (LCP) in place is to develop and support local manufacturing and the provision of service through forward, backward, and sideways linkages along the value chain (Ovadia, 2015).

In order for the LCP to work effectively, it has to be designed to encourage and/or require both exploration and production firms to utilise local companies for the procurement of goods and services, and multinational oil service companies to the domiciled economic activities. Central to LCP is also the development of physical and human capital, as it is stressed that it does not trade but the accumulation of physical and human capital that is fundamental for economic growth (Ovadia, 2015).

Best Practices in Local Content Development Malaysia: The objectives of Malaysia’s LCPs are: to (1) provide affordable petroleum resources to the local market; (2) build the foundation for forward links; and (3) secure local involvement and control of both upstream and downstream segments (Nordas et.al,2003). (N.B. space precludes a more detailed examination of other countries’ LCPs).

Policy Tools: A mix of regulations and incentives-based and capability-building programmes is used to achieve the abovementioned objectives. The main ‘vehicle’ for the Malaysian LCP was the Petronas (Oil & Gas Company), inter alia its participation in PSAs and its policies focusing on developing the local work force’s technical skills and efficiency of their supply industry. Under the PSA terms, contractors are required to: * Minimise the employment of foreign workforce. To this end, the recruitment of foreign personnel requires the approval of Petronas. * Train internal Malay personnel. This includes the provision of capability-development programmes that enable Malay personnel to replace the expatriate workforce * Commit a minimum monetary amount to be allocated to the training of Petronas personnel; the amount being contract specific * Offer on-the-job training to personnel of the NOC upon the request of Petronas.

Also, every PS contractor is subject to an annual research contribution that is equivalent to 0.5 percent of the sum of cost oil and contractor’s share of profit oil, and the research contribution is tax- deductible. With availability and accessibility of sufficient literature on lessons learned in hindsight -- on poorly implemented and less effective LCPs in some African oil producing countries, such as Nigeria and Angola, for example -- it is now imperative that local content strategies be adjusted to address important questions about definition and measurement of local content, and seek balance between strong regulation and encouraging investment that secures the best possible outcome. It is the responsibility of host governments to link local content to governance, anti-corruption strategies, and substantive transparency by all parties (Ovadia, 2015).

Development strategies that rely solely on productive investment of petroleum revenues have failed Africa in every case. Yet local content offers new potential to make oil and gas work for African development in the 21st century. To this end, Ovadia (2015) argued that, with the right policies and involvement of all stakeholders, natural resources can be developmental.

Going forward/Recommendations Having thus benchmarked Guyana’s Draft LCP to the LCPs of other established petroleum producing countries around the world, a number of inherent weaknesses have been identified. While the draft policy recognises in generic terms the objective of local content strategies, it does not speak to specificities with respect to how it intends to execute local content activities and/or strategies.

For example, it highlighted that there will be a regulatory mechanism, but it did not address the workings and functionalities of that mechanism. And it does not speak to a strategy of removing barriers (if any) to local firms’ participation, and what strategies would be undertaken for enhancing the contestability of local firms’ and Guyanese nationals’ participation, as against international firms’ and foreign nationals’.

Overall, the draft document mirrors an academic paper – albeit inadequate - rather than a pragmatic policy paper.

In regard to proposed recommendations, first and foremost, the local content strategies and policies need to be incorporated in the legislative framework. It is noted also that the Draft Petroleum Commission Bill merely speaks to the promotion of local content and local participation in petroleum activities; which is unarguably inadequate, unless there would be a separate legislation to address local content. As was evidenced in local content policies from around the world, without having it incorporated in the legislative framework, it is largely ineffective, and much to the disadvantage of the host countries.

Therefore, the first recommendation for emphasis is the incorporation into the petroleum legislation of clear LCP targets, procurement rules, and strict measurement procedures which need to be identified and established. Policy tools and/or instruments were not addressed as well, hence this need to be worked out. For example, what fiscal incentives would be put in place etc.

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

By Kristen Macklingam

T

he scourge of teenage pregnancy continues to plague Guyana, and in order to combat this growing issue, more focus is being placed on allowing adolescents easy access to comprehensive sexuality education, among other initiatives.

However, efforts to curb the growing trend of adolescents engaging in sexual activities do not necessarily mean that unwanted or unplanned pregnancies will not occur.

Sadly, while birth control can reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies, most teens who use birth control, such as tablets or condoms, do so inconsistently and sporadically, hence there is no guarantee that birth control would prevent pregnancy.

Startling statistics reveal that Guyana has the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy in the Caribbean, and according to Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, a recently conducted Situation Analysis Report on Adolescents in Guyana revealed that the fertility rate is above average, especially among Indigenous girls, where there are 74 of every 1,000 between the ages 15 and 19 living in Regions One, Seven and Nine becoming pregnant.

The Minister pointed out that Regions One, Seven and Nine are the burdened areas, where the rate of adolescent pregnancies remains consistently high due to a number of contributing factors, but she maintained that plans are underway to target those factors.

“Some of the contributory factors being lack of access to contraceptives and comprehensive (sexuality) education; risky sexual behaviour and early sex; and there is also another overriding factor that many times we overlook, and that is the cultural differences.

And that is something that, in everything that we do, we must take into account.

Whether it is in Region One, Region Seven or Region Nine, we will find that as we move from one tribe to the other, their cultural differences stand out,” she explained.

The overarching goal is, by 2022, to reduce annual adolescent pregnancy by 10 percent in Regions One and Nine.

She also explained that the issue of teenage/adolescent pregnancy is one which continues to affect the development of the country, and that the Public Health Ministry recognises that it cannot singlehandedly address this problem.

“We have also prioritised this issue on our health agenda…and thereby sought the support of other local and international partners to address the challenges of providing services to adolescent target groups. Against that backdrop, the Ministry of

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

UNFPA Sub-Regional Officer Director, Alison Drayton

Pregnant adolescents participating in an educational workshop in Guyana

Public Health made the commitment to align the Adolescent Health Unit with the strategic action outlined in the Global Strategy for Women, Children and Adolescents’ Health 20162030,” she explained.

Meanwhile, according to the Director of the United Nations Population Fund’s

(UNFPA’s) Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, Alison Drayton, much more has to be done to help teenagers become more educated and have easier access to comprehensive sexuality education as early as possible, since persons aged 10 to 24 years account for the largest proportion, 31 percent, of the

country’s population.

“Guyana has the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy in the English-speaking Caribbean. We can change that, and we must; the second highest in Latin America and the Caribbean -- and the Caribbean is second only to Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of adolescent rates of pregnancy. This is something that we can and must change,” she declared. She noted that the UNFPA, along with the Government of Guyana, will be employing targeted interventions in Regions One and Nine - the two Regions in Guyana where women reported the lowest use of contraceptives.

“Adolescents and youths must be provided with age appropriate comprehensive sexuality education to develop the knowledge and skills they need to protect their health throughout their lives.

However, education and information are not enough; good quality reproductive health services must also be readily available to help adolescents make informed choices and be healthy. At the local level, communities should be provided with infrastructure to deliver reproductive healthcare in a youth-friendly and sensitive way,” she declared.

Drayton added that although new programmes and initiatives are soon to be implemented as part of reducing adolescent pregnancies in Guyana, there are already a number of projects and interventions ongoing, and these will continue. turn to page 16

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SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tech firm donates new computers to Kwakwani Secondary School

…As school commissions computer lab

S

tudents of the Kwakwani Secondary School in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are expected to have a wider knowledge of the technology field because that educational institution was recently gifted with 15 new computers and new air conditioners for the commissioning of its computer lab.

The generous donation was made by Rahaman Razac of R. Razac Business Enterprise as part of his corporate social responsibility to the community’s development.

Head teacher of the Secondary School, Pamela Adrian, in her brief remarks at the opening of the facility, expressed gratitude to the businessman, the Guyana Forestry Commission, and

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman for making the event possible.

Adrian noted that the event is a “memorable moment” for the school, and she pointed out that the donation is evidence of Razac’s understanding of making technology an embraceable tool to use in classrooms. She said the hardware now allows students to experience the era of digital explosion and develop their minds.

Minister Trotman, who graced the opening ceremony with his presence, expressed his satisfaction and happiness for the contributions made. He urged students present to properly care for and utilise the equipment received in ways which would aid in their educational development.

“We are in the age of technology; computers are the new slate. I challenge you all to make use of this technology and take care of it.

Leave the computers in good standing for those coming after you, and focus on your schoolwork and studies.”

Trotman admonished Residents of the community also commended the businessman for the donation, and noted that it would now assist the secondary school and the entire community, since most of the students would benefit.

The Minister and the GFC expressed their continuous commitment to the educational development of youths of the community, and to Kwakwani’s overall development through the natural resources sector.

Culture will be changed by Venezuelan migrants – Norton

G

Venezuelan migrants entering Guyana for better living conditions

uyana has seen thousands of migrants entering therein through the border to escape the economic crisis in Venezuela, and this will ultimately have some effect on Guyana’s culture and practices.

This was posited by Social Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton during the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) meeting, as he noted that these refugees will bring their own traditions and changes, evolving the cultural composition of the country.

The most recent statistics have indicated that 5123 documented Venezuelan migrants have been recorded in Guyana, having fled their country in light of the growing social, political and economic crisis under the Nicolas Maduro Government.

Many of them have been coming into neighbouring Guyana while others have dispersed to other countries in the region.

“Our communal culture has been, and continues to be, shaped by the meaningful inclusion of a variety of forces. As we face the challenges of humanitarian crisis on

our borders: migrants coming with their own culture, their dances, language and values, and those in the diaspora who exercise their right to return, our culture in the Caribbean will change and evolve,” the Minister stated.

The situation has attracted international attention, and only recently the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced that it would work with the Guyana Government to expand the infrastructure of hinterland schools to cater for migrant children.

Public officers have also been trained on international best practices in assisting migrants and protecting them from abuse and/or exploitation of any kind.

Additionally, the Region Two Administration – which also has a huge migrant population – has identified a two-storey building that will serve as a support centre for migrants.

Although the Government has managed to put certain mechanisms in place to deal with Venezuelans seeking refuge in Guyana, it faces a major challenge of monitoring these individuals, due to

the length of the border between the two countries.

As Norton expounded on these social factors, he also mentioned the importance of policies being crafted to assist the creative sector in increasing capacity-building and lending financial support.

The Minister said, “As we force uneconomic development and industry in many aspects, the culture and creative industry can become one of the key vehicles, driving development. It is up to us, the policy makers, to foster an environment which lends support to the artistic community, through development-friendly policies which address capacity building, technical assistance and assistance to source funding.”

He added, “Culture is the tapestry that binds us and allows us to identify with each other. It inculcates the love of the diverse art forms. It preserves and transmits our common history and customs. It contributes to the aesthetics of our environment and remains at the core of our continued quest for sustained unity.”

A student of the Kwakwani Secondary School cutting the ribbon to officially open the Computer Lab

Indigenous communities request CPGs – Ramjattan C

ommunity Policing Groups (CPGs) are established across the country to tackle small crimes and other issues within the villages; and now there have been requests for such groups to be established in Indigenous communities.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan made this disclosure earlier this week when he stated that there is need for CPGs to be established in hinterland regions.

“Indeed, Community Policing Groups are growing all across the country, and we’re having some more (established), especially (in) the entire heartland of Guyana; because we’ve seen the need for (them) in those areas. As a matter of fact, our Indigenous brothers and sisters have asked that we go in there to set up these groups,” Ramjattan stated.

Along with that, he believes the older generation should get involved to guide youths who are willing to join the groups.

“We would like those Indigenous communities’ young people, juniors and seniors, to also participate… We have to expand the horizons of Community Policing Groups to ensure that we have elders within these groups,” he declared.

To date, there are 16 divisions: 210 policing groups, consisting of 4255 members in total. There has been an increase in the number of patrols, from 5765 in 2017 to 9182 in 2018. These were carried out by foot, vehicles and vessels.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the presence of Community Policing Groups has been increased in border villages in order to amplify security in remote locations, where access to a law enforcement agency is absent.

Mechanisms have been put in place to establish more community Policing Groups as well as Police Stations in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

“Community policing is premised on that philosophy whereby the communi-

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

ty has that definite interest and therefore must perform that defined obligation… The efforts of Community Policing groups have been, in a way, helping to reduce the negatives of crimes,” Ramjattan was quoted as saying.

Community Policing in Guyana commenced in the year 1976 with the aim of harnessing the energy of willing members of communities across Guyana in support of the work of the Police.

Criminal activities have escalated in Guyana during the past months, capturing the attention of other countries. Although there have been more shoot-outs between the Police and bandits in recent days, and seemingly more robberies occurring, Police Commissioner Leslie James on Monday assured that there was no increase in crime.

One week ago, the US State Department issued a stringent warning to all its citizens, urging them to exercise caution when visiting Guyana, owing to the evident spike in the country’s crime rate.

Teenage pregnancy fuelled...

Data has revealed that one in every five, or 20 percent of pregnancies, involves a teenager; with most of the adolescent mothers not understanding the implication, importance and responsibility of becoming parents at a young age.

According to the United Nations Children Fund

(UNICEF), almost 60 percent of teenage mothers were impoverished at the time they gave birth, and less than one-third of them would receive any form of child support, which increases the likelihood of seeking assistance from the Government.

As such, the Government,

from page 15

along with international partners, continues to lobby for a multilateral approach in order to address the issue of teenage pregnancy in Guyana, so as to change the behaviour of teenagers and simultaneously deal with the underlying issues, such as poverty, gender-inequality and education.

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SUnDAY, JUNE 9, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

SEI might use grass to produce fuel for generators S keldon Energy Inc (SEI) is exploring the possibility of using grass to produce steam for its turbine generators as the main source of fuel.

Following successful tests of its power steam generation using firewood, SEI is now saying that the giant king grass can produce more steam. The giant king grass grows up to 10 feet in height.

SEI is currently using wood as fuel for the plant.

While producing sugar at the Skeldon Factory may no longer be an option, SEI is still hoping to ensure the continued use of the Co-gen Plant, and job creation.

The giant king grass was introduced to Guyana a few years ago for the same purpose. The grass is

Operations Manager of SEI, John Lonckee

to be used to feed the boilers that generate steam return to steam turbines.

SEI has two 15-megawatt turbines. The turbines would require 300-

400 tons of grass for a 24-hour period.

Farmers who are interested in cultivating the grass will be given seedlings.

SEI Operations Manager John Lonckee told Guyana Times that a five-acre nursery of the giant king grass has already been established.

“From that plot we would send to the farmers who are willing to grow the grass and within grass at about eight feet in height,” Lonckee explained.

The project aims at benefiting cane farmers who were left jobless owing to the closure of the estate.

Former SEI Board Member Gobin Harbhajan explained that apart from cane farmers, persons with large quantities of land

were also being invited to be part of the project.

Recently, the SEI met with them to introduce the project.

“This cycle of grass has two crops…. The SEI management will work out arrangements for transpor-

tation and advise on how they can plant it.”

The giant king grass project is being touted as one way to reduce the unemployment rate on the Corentyne.

Harbhajan says there will be a guaranteed mar-

ket for the grass.

“The Co-gen Plant which utilises biomass fuel is here to stay. No matter what happens.

It is a business opportunity, get to supply the grass despite who takes over the Co-gen because they will need wood, grass, etc, and this grass is feasible. Pest would not affect it and it grows up to 10 feet and you can harvest it for 10 years,” Harbhajan said.

The Co-generation Plant was purchased from GuySuCo for an announced price of US$30 million by SEI – a special purpose company owned by the Government’s holding company, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

Murder convict appeals Missing woman dragged from house found alive 75-year sentence

Incarcerated: Kenkossie Lynch

A

lmost one week after being sentenced to 75 years in prison for the offence of murder, Kenkossie Lynch, 24, formerly of Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), has now filed an appeal through his lawyer, Adrian Thompson.

The appeal was filed in the Appellate Court and Lynch’s lawyer was optimistic of an early hearing into the matter.

Lynch was sentenced on May 30, 2019 for the capital offence committed on June 1, 2015, at Nelson Street, Mocha Arcadia, EBD, on Terrence Lanferman. At the commencement of the trial, Lynch denied the

charge.

However, Lynch was unanimously found guilty by a 12-member jury and on the day of his sentencing, a probation report revealed that the convicted man had admitted to the offence. As such, Trial Judge, Justice Navindra Singh handed down a 75-year sentence, which included an additional 15 years for not showing remorse, and the use of a gun in committing the act, among other aggravating factors.

Attorney Thompson, in his argument, contended that his client did not admit to the offence, after which Lynch also maintained his innocence before being sentenced.

Meanwhile, at present, a date is yet to be set for hearing the appeal which was filed on the legal grounds that the trial Judge admitted the prisoner’s caution statement as evidence which shouldn’t be the case, as well as failed to acceptably deliver the defence to the jury.

Reports indicate that the victim and the accused’s cousin, Sedley Liverpool, called “Birdman”, had a previous dispute.

The court heard that on June 1, 2015, Lynch and Liverpool met and conspired about the attack on Lanferman, after which both men visited the now deceased man’s home on a motorcycle.

During the trial, it was revealed that Lynch had armed himself with a gun given to him by Liverpool, who waited for the accused some distance away from the home.

The accused entered the premises of the now dead man, knocked on the door and confronted Lanferman, who had opened the door, shooting him before making good his escape.

Liverpool was later incriminated by the accused, and is currently awaiting trial.

SPU’s Heath-London appointed...

There is no roof in place.

Other visible deficiencies on the boiler were evident at the furnace doors, where the insulation was almost completely burnt out as a result of the heat.

Last year, then Chairman of SEI, Lloyd Rose, had said efforts are being made to have the Co-gen Plant operate year-round, and not seasonally. As such, fuel will be needed for the plant all year round. This means that bagasse alone cannot be used.

In April of 2018, SEI completed a test utilising firewood chips sourced from

within the community. The test revealed a smooth boiler operation.

Rose had said that the test revealed a much more stable and smoother boiler operation than that achieved using bagasse fuel, which often contains much higher moisture content.

The successful utilisation of other biomass fuel — firewood processed into wood chips — with its significantly less moisture content (40 per cent), would likely have provided much greater ease of operation for the fuel feed system.

from page 11

There was the absence of frequent blocking of pin-hole grate air-ports normally associated with mud-content embedded in the sugar cane delivered to the factory and the bagasse delivered to boilers.

At present, Skeldon is one of three estates Government is seeking private buyers for; the other two being Rose Hall and Enmore. However, it is Rose Hall that has attracted the most interest, with NICIL announcing during a recent press conference that a deal for Rose Hall could be on the table by next month.

Dhanmattie Sumara

A

West Coast Berbice woman who was on Wednesday morning reportedly dragged from the home of a friend and beaten by her husband was found alive.

The woman, Dhanmattie Sumara, called “Jenny”, was reported as missing along with her husband, Martin Baker, 50. On Friday, the couple were found alive and well in Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to the Police, at approximately 17:30h, ranks, acting on information, went to the home of a man identified as Anil Gosai of Lot 179 Enmore North, ECD, where the duo were found.

Sumara reportedly told investigators Baker “pulled her out of the house”, because she refused to give him their child. Further, she stated to Police she was never held against her will.

However, Barker was taken into custody as Police continue with the investigation. Sumara had reportedly gone to the home of a friend on Sunday seeking refuge, complaining of being physically abused by her husband. The woman reportedly displayed marks of violence.

On Tuesday morning,

Martin Baker

Barker went to the friend’s home at Warren Village, East Coast Berbice and after not being allowed into the house, broke open the front door. The woman was

reportedly dragged from the house against her will.

She was also reportedly lashed several times with a cutlass as she was being dragged through the streets.

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SUnDAY, june 9, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Venezuela crisis: Border with US envoy says Israel has Colombia reopens after four months ‘right’ to annex West Bank land

T

housands of Venezuelans have crossed into Colombia to buy food, medicine and other essentials after the border between the two countries was reopened.

The crossing was closed in February at President Nicolás Maduro’s request as Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó prepared to bring in US-backed humanitarian aid.

The country has faced shortages of basic supplies as a result of a severe yearslong economic crisis.

More than four million people have fled Venezuela since 2015, UN agencies say.

The borders with Colombia, Brazil and Dutch Antilles islands were closed as the Opposition organised the delivery of foreign aid, which was denounced by Maduro as part of an effort

T

Many Venezuelans crossed the border to buy basic goods

to remove him.

Last month, he announced the reopening of the border with Brazil and the island of Aruba, but the Aruba authorities said the border would remain closed.

The closures caused problems for towns along the border that have come to rely on Colombian cities for essential products and services, and many people have

crossed illegally, at times having to pay tolls to criminals controlling passage.

Announcing the reopening of the border on Twitter, Maduro – who has blamed the country’s crisis on a Washington-led economic war – said (in Spanish): “We’re a people of peace that strongly defends our independence and self-determination.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

US-Mexico talks: Trump hails deal on migrants to avoid tariffs

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resident Donald Trump has hailed a deal reached with Mexico to help stem the flow of migrants to the United States after he threatened to impose trade tariffs.

Under the deal, in which Mexico agreed to take “unprecedented steps”, the duties that were due to come into effect on Monday have been suspended.

“Mexico will try very hard, and if they do that, this will be a very successful agreement,” said Trump.

There were fears that the

tariffs could hurt US businesses and consumers.

Under Trump’s proposal, duties would have risen by five per cent every month on goods including cars, beer, tequila, fruit and vegetables until they hit 25 per cent in October.

The deal was reached at the end of three days of negotiations which saw Washington demand a crackdown on Central American migrants.

In a joint declaration released by the US State

Department, the two countries said Mexico would take “unprecedented steps” to curb irregular migration and human trafficking.

But it seems the US did not get one of its reported key demands, which would have required Mexico to take in asylum seekers heading for the US and process their claims on its own soil.

Both countries pledged to “strengthen bilateral cooperation” over border security, including “co-ordinated actions” and information sharing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

India’s Modi calls for global conference on terrorism

I

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a global conference to tackle the threat of terrorism in the region and around the world.

During a speech on his first foreign visit since winning re-election, he told the Maldivian Parliament in Male that “terrorism is not just a threat for a country, but to the entire civilisation”.

“The international community has actively arranged for global convention and many conferences on the threat of climate change.

Why not on the issue of terrorism?” Modi said.

He called for a global conference “so that there can be meaningful and result-ori-

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi

ented discussions for plugging the loopholes that terrorists and their supporters exploit”.

India is pursuing what it calls a “neighbourhood first” foreign policy centred on

its allies in South Asia, although there is little sign of a warming in relations with archrival Pakistan.

His trip to the Maldives is being viewed as a statement of intent to counter the rise of China, which has been making strategic inroads in the Indian Ocean in recent years and seeking closer military ties, to the alarm of New Delhi.

“In the neighbourhood, Maldives is priority,” Modi said in his speech.

During the visit, Modi has signed a slew of agreements with the island nation encompassing ferry services, port terminals and a new national cricket stadium. His next stop is Sri Lanka. (Excerpt from Reuters)

he US Ambassador has said Israel has the right to annex at least “some” of the occupied West Bank, in comments likely to deepen Palestinian opposition to a long-awaited US peace plan.

The Palestinians have rejected the peace plan before it has even been unveiled, citing a string of moves by US President Donald Trump that they say show his Administration is irredeemably biased.

The Palestinians are likely to see the recent comments by the US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, as a new nail in the coffin of a peace process

of the West Bank would be legitimate.

“Under certain circumstances, I think Israel has the right to retain some, but unlikely all, of the West Bank,” he said.

US ambassador to Israel David Friedman

that is already on life support.

In an interview published by the New York Times on Saturday, Friedman said some degree of annexation

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said any such policy would be tantamount to “US complicity with Israeli colonial plans”.

Responding to the US envoy’s remarks, Palestine Liberation Organisation’s executive member Hanan Ashrawi said the US was justifying land theft, Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim reported from Ramallah. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

Huge Hong Kong protest expected in last push to scrap extradition bill

A

t least half a million people in Hong Kong are expected to brave sweltering heat today to press the Government to scrap a proposed extradition law that would allow suspects to be sent to China to face trial, organisers of the march said.

A committee of pro-democratic groups has raised turnout estimates and are now eyeing the biggest single-day rally since 2003, when a similar number of protesters forced the Government to shelve tighter national security laws.

The march will end at the city’s Legislative Council, where debates start on Wednesday into sweeping amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. The extradition bill is due to be passed by the end of the month.

After weeks of growing

Students chain up themselves as they protest to demand authorities to scrap a proposed extradition bill with China, in Hong Kong, China, June 8, 2019

local and international pressure, the protest is expected to reflect the broad range of opposition to the bill, with many saying they simply cannot trust China’s court system or its security apparatus.

The city’s independent legal system was guaran-

teed under laws governing Hong Kong’s return from British to Chinese rule 22 years ago, and is seen by the financial hub’s business and diplomatic communities as its strong remaining asset amid encroachments from Beijing. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T to consider amnesty for Caricom nationals in detention

N

ational Security Minister Stuart Young says the Trinidad Government will be looking at ways to deal with Caribbean Community (Caricom) nationals and others who are currently being held at the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) there.

Young, who was speaking in Parliament on Friday, said they could be granted amnesty similarly to what has been done for Venezuelan nationals.

The National Security Minister was replying to

a question from a member of the main Opposition United National Congress (UNC), Fuad Khan, on whether Venezuelans now at the IDC can access the amnesty also.

Under the plan, Venezuelans registered with Government are being allowed to work for a year in the twin-island republic.

Young confirmed that Venezuelans at the IDC who don’t have criminal charges can register and said that those who are at the IDC for overstaying their time or

who entered the country illegally will be allowed to register for amnesty.

“We also had a conversation at Cabinet on looking at Caricom nationals, Africans, Chinese, Cubans and other nationals who are currently at the IDC and I’ll be taking a note to the National Security Council on how we deal with some of these people who are at the IDC and maybe, extending the amnesty to allow them a similar provision,” the National Security Minister said. (Excerpt from CMC)

US gives Turkey ultimatum on Russian missiles

T

urkey has been given a deadline of the end of July to choose between buying US fighter jets and Russian anti-air-

craft missile systems.

Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan set out the ultimatum in a letter to

his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar.

Turkey, he said, could not have both America’s F-35 advanced fighter jets

and Russia’s S-400 systems.

The two Nato allies have been locked in a row over the S-400 for months.

America argues that the Russian systems are both incompatible with Nato defence systems and pose a security threat, and

wants Turkey to buy its Patriot anti-aircraft systems instead. (Excerpt from BBC News)

sunDAY, june 9, 2019

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Jason Roy’s 153 sets up clinical England win – despite Shakib Al-Hasan’s resistance E

ngland’s batting engine room purred into life in Cardiff, setting up a total that their fast bowlers ensured was well out of Bangladesh’s reach. Jason Roy top-scored with 153, and England reached a record seventh consecutive total of 300 or more hitting twice as many sixes as they had in any World Cup match previously.

Unchallenged, they soared to 386 for 6, their highest total in World Cup history.

Jofra Archer then bowled the fastest ball of the tournament, a 153kph stinger, only for Mark Wood to inch past him with a delivery clocked at 154kph soon afterwards, as pace and a bullying length stalled Bangladesh’s flow with the bat.

England simply scored too many and bowled too hot; and despite Shakib Al Hasan’s century, there was not a single session of play that England did not control.

Archer and Ben Stokes both picked up three apiece, while every bowler contributed bar Chris Woakes, who endured a rare off-day.

Roy kicked things off authoritatively, playing the sort of innings that he has been threatening to do in the midst of a red-hot run of form into

the World Cup. He and Jonny Bairstow further cemented their position as one-day cricket’s most potent pairing when they put together their eighth century stand in just 29 innings -- twice as many as any other opening pair has made since they started opening for England in this format.

The only way Bangladesh were ever going to rein in a fearsome England batting lineup was by taking early wickets, and that’s what Mashrafe Mortaza was hoping for when he decided to bowl first on a pitch that looked like it would help the seamers. The track looked as green and tufty as a martian’s chest-hair, but Bangladesh bowlers - seam or spin - found no sign of life upon it.

Shakib, opening the bowling, was seen off with minimal fuss, and England were chugging along happily at a run a ball by the time the Powerplay was up.

Mashrafe overcame the frailties of his creaking body and a flat performance in the field to inspire a breakthrough, nipping Bairstow out shortly after he had raised a maiden World Cup fifty, but an assured response from England’s middle order meant Bangladesh were unable to

find any further advantage.

Roy cruised to a 92-ball hundred in the 27th over his ninth ton in his 77th ODI innings - and when he sent the first three balls of Mehidy Hasan’s sixth over careening over the boundary to bring up his 150, it appeared a World Cup double-hundred was within reach.

He fell attempting a fourth hit, having raised England’s tempo, and Jos Buttler was promoted up to No. 4 to force the issue. He swatted and slogged his way to 64 from 44, while Liam Plunkett later capped the effort by slamming four fours and a six in the nine balls he faced.

Buttler, however, tweaked a hip hitting one of his four sixes, with news filtering in midway through the game that he would not take the field to keep wicket for England, Bairstow filling in in his absence.

Not that the mid-innings switch seemed to affect England’s bowling plans one iota. Archer cruised through what may well have been the fastest-ever opening burst by an England bowler in ODIs, topping more than 150kph three times in an over, during which he also clean bowled Soumya Sarkar, the ball

SCOREBOARD England Innings (50 overs maximum) JJ Roy c Mashrafe Mortaza b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 153 JM Bairstow c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Mashrafe Mortaza 51 JE Root b Mohammad Saifuddin 21 JC Buttler † c Soumya Sarkar b Mohammad Saifuddin 64 EJG Morgan (c) c Soumya Sarkar b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 35 BA Stokes c Mashrafe Mortaza b Mustafizur Rahman 6 18 CR Woakes not out LE Plunkett not out 27 Extras 11 (lb 3, nb 1, w 7) TOTAL 386/6 (50 Overs, RR: 7.72) Did not bat: JC Archer, AU Rashid, MA Wood Fall of wickets: 1-128 (JM Bairstow, 19.1 ov), 2-205 (JE Root, 31.3 ov), 3-235 (JJ Roy, 34.4 ov), 4-330 (JC Buttler, 45.2 ov), 5-340 (EJG Morgan, 46.5 ov), 6-341 (BA Stokes, 47.1 ov) BOWLING O M R W Shakib Al Hasan 10 0 71 0 Mashrafe Mortaza 10 0 68 1 Mohammad Saifuddin 9 0 78 2 Mustafizur Rahman 9 0 75 1 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 10 0 67 2 Mosaddek Hossain 2 0 24 0 Bangladesh Innings (target: 387 runs from 50 overs) Tamim Iqbal c Morgan b Wood

19

thudding off the stumps and carrying all the way over the 54-metre boundary behind the wicketkeeper, such was its velocity.

An uncomfortable Tamim Iqbal was put out of his misery

Soumya Sarkar b Archer 2 Shakib Al Hasan b Stokes 121 Mushfiqur Rahim † c Roy b Plunkett 44 Mohammad Mithun c Bairstow b Ras hid 0 Mahmudullah c Bairstow b Wood 28 Mosaddek Hossain c Archer b Stok es 26 Mohammad Saifuddin b Stokes 5 Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Bairstow b Archer 12 Mashrafe Mortaza (c) not out 4 Mustafizur Rahman c Bairstow b Archer 0 Extras 19 (lb 9, w 10) TOTAL 280 all out (48.5 Overs, RR: 5.73) Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Soumya Sarkar, 3.2 ov), 2-63 (Tamim Iqbal, 11.6 ov), 3-169 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 28.6 ov), 4-170 (Mohammad Mithun, 29.3 ov), 5-219 (Shakib Al Hasan, 39.3 ov), 6-254 (Mosaddek Hossain, 43.1 ov), 7-261 (Mahmudullah, 44.6 ov), 8-264 (Mohammad Saifuddin, 45.4 ov), 9-280 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 48.2 ov), 10-280 (Mustafizur Rahman, 48.5 ov) BOWLING O M R W CR Woakes 8 0 67 0 JC Archer 8.5 2 29 3 LE Plunkett 8 0 36 1 MA Wood 8 0 52 2 AU Rashid 10 0 64 1 BA Stokes 6 1 23 3

by Wood in the 12th over, but Shakib then shared in yet another significant stand with Mushfiqur Rahim, the pair adding 106 for the third wicket as Bangladesh briefly steadied themselves. But he was made

Jofra Archer bowled a hostile spell, bagging 3-29

to huff and puff along the way, and by the time his tired arms had failed to get his bat down fast enough on a Stokes toe-crusher to be bowled for 121, Bangladesh’s chase was already long over.

Unable to get on top of a clinical English bowling outfit, the required rate ballooned steadily to double figures and well beyond. There was nary a whimper from the lower order as Bangladesh folded, Archer returning to mop up the tail.

Buttler’s hip was really their only worry throughout, and England appeared in a different league as they rebounded from defeat to Pakistan earlier in the week.

What’s more, they made it look easy. On a recordbreaking day -- their total was also the highest in List A cricket at Cardiff -- the abiding sense was of a team who are only getting started. (ESPN cricinfo)

Windies Women seeking redemption after largest defeat in opener T

he Stafanie Taylor-led West Indies Women’s team will meet England today, Sunday June 9, at New Road, Worcester, England from 6:00h local time.

After a 208-run defeat, the Caribbean Women’s team will have to play positive cricket to conquer world number two, England Women, in the second One Day International (ODI).

Henderson Springer, West Indies Women’s Coach, speaking to Cricket West Indies (CWI) media, was disappointed in the team’s performance, and called for them to show a better attitude heading into today’s clash. Springer said the team showed a poor level of discipline and lacked execution of plans discussed.

“The bowling was poor, and with 300+ runs given away, the team was under pressure straight away in the big chase”, Springer explained.

The England team, defending World Cup champions in the 50-over format, do not intimidate the West Indies Women, Springer detailed. He said his team had worked hard, but performance in the opening match did not reflect the level of work completed by the team.

Springer added that West Indies Women’s will have to bring a positive attitude to the remaining matches in the threematch series. He added that the batting department was completely outfoxed, with only

Chedean Nation offering resistance with an unb e a t en 42 from 75 balls, as they w e r e rolled over for 110 in 36 overs.

The former Barbadian off-spinner opined that the team lacked seriousness sometimes when they play these big encounters. “We are here to win! To compete, and not just participate!” Springer noted.

England squad for first two West Indies ODIs: Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Alex Hartley, Jenny Gunn, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt.

West Indies tour squad: Stafanie Taylor (capt), Shemaine Campbelle, Britney Cooper, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Stacy-Ann King, Kycia Knight (wk), Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman.

West Indies Women

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guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, june 9, 2019

James Neesham fashions New Zealand’s 3rd straight win

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hile some of his team-mates were having the time of their lives in the middle in the 2015 World Cup, James Neesham had watched that semi-final against South Africa from the Eden Park grass banks.

He later fell out of love with cricket, and was talked out of retirement. Back then, he himself conceded that he hadn’t started his maiden World Cup well.

But after leaking 45 in five overs against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Neesham led New Zealand’s pace assault in Taunton, returning 5 for 31 - his best figures in professional cricket - to bask in the company of Richard Hadlee, Shane Bond, Tim Southee and Trent Boult. No other New Zealand seamer has claimed five wickets in a World Cup. Lockie Ferguson fell one short of joining that elite list, but was equally central to New Zealand dismissing Afghanistan for 172 and securing their third successive victory in the tournament. Ferguson’s Flash-like pace netted him 4 for 37, including the wicket of Rashid Khan, who was bowled off the helmet. The blow was so nasty that Rashid failed two concussion tests and did not bowl in the chase. There was no Mujeeb Ur Rahman either - he was dropped - and Afghanistan were forced into using part-time leg-spinner Rahmat Shah.

In stark contrast, New Zealand didn’t need Mitchell Santner at all.

Despite the unavailability of their premier spinners, Afghanistan made New Zealand’s batsmen work hard for their runs in the chase. Aftab Alam, who had replaced the rested Dawlat Zadran, hit a hard length with his very first ball, and had Martin Guptill lobbing a bat-pad catch to point for a golden duck. Colin Munro, who had kept his place in the side ahead of a fit-again Henry Nicholls, had a promising start, but he wound up slicing a catch to third man for 22 off 24 balls.

This brought Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, and familiar nervy running into focus. Williamson survived a runout chance on 22, after responding slowly to a single. That Hashmatullah Shahidi couldn’t effect a direct hit or fling a more accurate throw to the keeper saved Williamson.

Mohammad Nabi then teased the New Zealand captain with his donkey drops and drift, making him overhit the ball and lose his shape in the process.

Rahmat, meanwhile, scratched Taylor’s outside edge with his first ball, and continued to trouble the batsman with his

turn and dip. Afghanistan had deployed a square gully and point for Williamson, blocking his favourite dab to third man.

They steadily built pressure on New Zealand, but Williamson and Taylor absorbed it and bed in to put their side on top.

Taylor played all around a dipping full-toss from Alam and was bowled for 48, snapping a vital 89-run stand, but Williamson had progressed to a 77-ball half-century.

Williamson ushered New Zealand home in the company of Tom Latham, who had earlier snapped up five catches behind the stumps - just one short of tying the all-time ODI record.

It was Afghanistan opener Hazratullah Zazai who had set the early pace with almighty leg-side hoicks and baseball swings. He was reprieved twice - on 16 and 18 - and went after anything that was remotely close to his body.

Noor Ali Zadran, who had replaced the injured Mohammad Shahzad at the top, rolled out some exquisite front-foot drives at the other end to push Afghanistan to 61 for 0 in the Jimmy Powerplay.

Neesham Then it was time Williamson bagged #UnleashtheNeesh.

Neesham 5/31 to take his team to dangled a wide ball - possibly widthe top of er than a set of stumps outside off the table and Zazai took the bait, carving a catch to sweeper cover.

Just like that, Afghanistan lost 4 for 4, with Neesham collecting three in three overs. He fooled Rahmat Shah with one that held up in the pitch, while splice-jarring bounce got the better of captain Gulbadin Naib.

Mohammad Nabi and Naijibullah Zadran, too, were bounced out by Neesham as Afghanistan were teetering at 109 for 6. After finishing a career-best spell, Neesham drew warm pats on his shoulder from his seniors, Williamson and Taylor. Job well done.

No. 4 Shahidi, however, found a way against seam and bounce, and held on limpet-like either side of a rain delay.

Ferguson had blasted out Noor Ali and welcomed Shahidi with a 147kph ball that rocketed past the outside edge. Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme gave him no swinging room either, but Shahidi ground his way to an 84-ball half-century.

However, with his partners appearing and disappearing, Shahidi, too, swung for the hills and added 20-plus stands with wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil and No.11 Hamid Hassan.

Aftab Alam contributed 14 off 10 balls, helping to take h i s side past 150. Shahidi, though, was the last man dismissed as Afghanistan left nearly nine overs unused in their innings.

SCOREBOARD Afghanistan Innings (50 overs maximum) Hazratullah Zazai c Munro b Neesham 34 Noor Ali Zadran c †Latham b Ferguson 31 Rahmat Shah c Guptill b Neesham 0 Hashmatullah Shahidi c Henry b Ferguson 59 Gulbadin Naib (c) c †Latham b Neesham 4 Mohammad Nabi c †Latham b Neesham 9 Najibullah Zadran c †Latham b Neesham 4 Ikram Alikhil † c Guptill b de Grandhomme 2 Rashid Khan b Ferguson 0 Aftab Alam c †Latham b Ferguson 14 Hamid Hassan not out 7 Extras 8 (lb 6, w 2) TOTAL 172 all out (41.1 Overs, RR: 4.17) Fall of wickets: 1-66 (Hazratullah Zazai, 10.5 ov), 2-66 (Noor Ali Zadran, 11.1 ov), 3-66 (Rahmat Shah, 12.3 ov), 4-70 (Gulbadin Naib, 14.1 ov), 5-105 (Mohammad Nabi, 23.3 ov), 6-109 (Najibullah Zadran, 23.6 ov), 7-130 (Ikram Alikhil, 32.4 ov), 8-131 (Rashid Khan, 33.4 ov), 9-147 (Aftab Alam, 35.4 ov), 10-172

(Hashmatullah Shahidi, 41.1 ov) BOWLING O M R W MJ Henry 8 0 50 0 TA Boult 10 0 34 0 LH Ferguson 9.1 3 37 4 JDS Neesham 10 1 31 5 C de Grandhomme 4 1 14 1 New Zealand Innings (target: 173 runs from 50 overs) MJ Guptill c Najibullah Zadran b Aftab Alam 0 C Munro c Hamid Hassan b Aftab Alam 22 KS Williamson (c) not out 79 LRPL Taylor b Aftab Alam 48 TWM Latham † not out 13 Extras 11 (lb 4, nb 1, w 6) TOTAL 173/3 (32.1 Overs, RR: 5.37) Yet to bat: JDS Neesham, C de Grandhomme, MJ Santner, MJ Henry, LH Ferguson, TA Boult Fall of wickets: 1-0 (MJ Guptill, 0.1 ov), 2-41 (C Munro, 7.5 ov), 3-130 (LRPL Taylor, 25.4 ov) BOWLING O M R W Aftab Alam 8.1 0 45 3 Hamid Hassan 7 0 30 0 Gulbadin Naib 9 1 55 0 Mohammad Nabi 3 0 18 0 Rahmat Shah 5 0 21 0

New Zealand ultimately closed out the game with 17.5 overs to spare, handing Afghanistan their third straight defeat. (ESPN cricinfo)

Buttler a doubt for Windies clash Over 1100 players registered Jos – after injuring hip hitting six for Global T20 Canada 2019 E

gets big scores. They can range from 140 to 180, and the rate he gets them at is so difficult to defend. He scores all the way around the ground; he takes really good bowlers down and hits good balls for boundaries. He’s great to have in the side.

“One of his biggest strengths at the moment is his temperament. I’ve said this before, but I do think he could play Test cricket at some stage. He has every attribute to be a Test cricketer; whether that’s now or in a couple of years’ time is

o i n Morgan h a s moved to downplay fears about Jos Buttler’s fitness, but has admitted that h i s

Chris Gayle and his champion team, Vancouver Knights

T

he second edition of the Global T20 Canada tourney, scheduled for play on July 25, has received expressions of interest from more than 1100 players hailing from around the globe; and numerous Guyanese have already registered to participate in the event.

This year’s draft is set to commence today, June 9, 2019, after a delay. It was initially announced to be held on June 1, but was postponed less than 24 hours before it was due to begin because the organisers decided to host the event in “a more central location”, according to a release sent to the press earlier this week.

The inaugural edition of the tournament, played in JuneJuly last year, had been held at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in

King City, located 50km north of downtown Toronto. The city of Brampton is approximately 45km west of downtown Toronto.

The league will add a sixth franchise team to replace the West Indies ‘B’ side that had participated in last year’s competition and finished runners-up. On May 3, Global T20 Canada had announced over Twitter that the sixth team would be called the “New York Legends”; but that has since changed, and the identity of the city and nickname of the replacement team is yet to be decided.

Declaring that the city has the “biggest cricket fans in Canada”, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the City of Brampton had committed to more cricket infrastructure.

“Currently, two existing venues are getting lights, and we are in discussions on the feasibility of a multi-purpose complex that includes a cricket stadium,” he said.

The grounds for the matches which will be played between July 25 and August 11 have, however, not yet been finalised.

The Global T20 Canada League is owned by Bombay Sports Company Limited, formerly known as Mercuri Canada. Its inaugural season, played between six teams, had featured international players like Steven Smith, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Sherfane Rutherford, David Warner, Chris Gayle, Lasith Malinga, and Sunil Narine. The tournament’s first edition was won by Vancouver Knights, who were captained by cricketing great Chris Gayle.

vice-captain will not be risked against the West Indies on Friday if his fitness poses any doubt.

Buttler suffered a hip injury when striking an almighty six into the River Taff off Mossadek Hossain during England’s first innings of 386 for six against Bangladesh. While he batted on, making 64 from 44 balls, the 28-year-old was in obvious discomfort when running between the wickets, and did not emerge for the second innings, Jonny Bairstow having to take over the glove work.

Speaking after England’s 106-run victory, Morgan said: “There’s no serious concern this moment. He’s going to be monitored over the next 48 hours; but at the moment it’s more precautionary, rather than not being able to do his job. I’m quite confident that it’s not a serious injury.

“We’ll use every day as much as we can to try to get him back on the park. If he is a risk going into the next game [in Southampton], it might not be worth it.”

Beyond concerns over Buttler, Morgan was effusive in praise of Jason Roy, whose 121ball 153 h e l p e d England pass the 338 for eight made in the 2011 tie against India in Bangalore

Jos Buttler made 64, but hurt his hip in the process

f o r their highest World Cup total in history.

The right-hander’s ninth one-day century will again give rise to speculation that he would participate in this summer’s Ashes Series, with his oneday captain confident his skills can indeed transfer over.

Morgan said: “He’s a luxury. He just goes on and

not for me to decide. He certainly has all the attributes.”

Morgan confirmed Moeen Ali was left out of the XI solely for tactical reasons, chiefly being the ground’s short boundaries; but his return later in the week could depend on matters at home, with the all-rounder’s wife due to have their second child in the coming days.

sunday, june 9, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

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B

Executives have held a highly satisfactory meeting under the chairmanship of their President, Hilbert Foster, at the board’s offices in Charlotte Street, New Amsterdam last Friday.

Among other things, details of a packed 2019 season and some major plans for the future of cricket in Berbice were unveiled.

Executives also received a draft audited report of the BCB finances for 2018, which stated that the auditors were pleased with the financial probity of the BCB. This organisation is scheduled to hold its AGM in July, and all its members would have opportunity to likewise be informed.

The BCB Awards Ceremony will be held on June 23 at the Port Mourant Community Centre, and a three-man committee comprising of Ameer Rahaman, Kellon Henry and Neil Rudder will select nominees whom the full body of executives would either approve or reject as awardees.

The BCB is currently seeking to

tion to each of its affiliate clubs by mid-July.

Meanwhile, a five-man committee headed by BCB President Hilbert Foster would meet with the umpires to discuss matters of mutual concern.

Board Executives would, in the next two months, be visiting BCB member clubs and sub-associations to discuss developmental plans, listen to suggestions, and unveil plans for the development of cricket in Berbice. The visits are to begin with clubs at Canje, Upper Corentyne, Port Mourant, Mental Hospital and Mt Sinai.

Coaching programmes would also continue, with the Dr Tulsi Coaching Project being taken across the ancient county.

Foster also updated executives on the progress been made in obtaining sponsorship for the two-day First Division Tournament for the top eight teams in Berbice; and the BCB has agreed to sponsor some memorial T-shirts in tribute to the late former Berbice junior player

Team Albion will be among the eight top teams to play in the two-day First Division tournament

Winston Rose.

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) would assist the BCB to publish 1000 Youth Information Booklets for free disbursement to all clubs. The endeavour would cost half a million dollars.

Cricket balls and white T-shirts would also be shared to all clubs by the end of August.

And on July 27, the BCB will honour Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh with its highest award during a special luncheon ceremony.

10th GBTI Open serves off

C

onsidered the marquee event of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association’s calendar of events, the GBTI Open tournament served off on Friday afternoon at that bank’s Courts in Bel Air Park, Georgetown after a simple ceremony.

Now in its tenth year, signalling the longstanding relationship between the GBTI and the GLTA, competition in this year’s tournament is in every aspect expected to surpass what had obtained in previous years.

Speaking at the simple opening ceremony on Friday afternoon, GLTA President Samuel Barakat was oozing with gratitude towards the company.

“First, I must express our heartfelt gratitude to GBTI for not only sponsoring this tournament, but they recognise that tennis is their sport; and we are so proud to be associated with them,” Barakat said.

This year’s tournament is expected to run until June 23, and will see players of all ages competing in twelve categories, namely: ladies and men’s open singles, junior boys and girls’ open singles, ladies, men’s and mixed open doubles, men’s over 35 singles and doubles, men’s over 45 singles, novice medley singles and novice medley doubles.

Under overcast conditions, Executive Director of GBTI, Trinidadian Richard

GBTI Executive Director Richard Isava and GLTA President Samuel Barakat take a photo op with players and other officials

Isava, made the first serve of the tournament. Prior to this, he revealed that the company is always elated to be a part of tennis, and sport in general.

“It’s our pleasure to be a part of this for the past ten years, and we will continue to be a proud sponsor of tennis and all other sports in Guyana,” Isava said.

The tournament will continue on weekdays from 5:00pm, while weekend action will serve off from 9:00am.

“Chess is growing, but not rapidly” – says GCF boss James Bond 223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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By Timothy Jaikarran

W

hile chess is a popular sport in many countries, such as Russia, China, India, Azerbaijan and the United States of America to name a few, the popularity of the sport is slowly being rooted in Guyana.

Over a decade, and there has been vast improvement; with players such as Fide Master Anthony Drayton being the first Guyanese to have a FIDE rating of over 2000; Wendell Meusa being ranked 2nd best player in the country; Yolander Persaud being one of the first Guyanese women to be elected to serve on a Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Commission; and Maria Varona Thomas being Guyana’s first ever Woman FIDE Master.

There are also young, upcoming players such as Andre Jagnandan, Davion

Mars, Sheriffa Ali, Sasha Shariff, and Chelsea Juma, among others, who have all risen to the occasion and are destined for greatness. Each player will be looking to be the next Vladimir Kramnik, Ding Liren, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov or Hikaru Nakamura.

With the Chess Olympiad scheduled to be held in Russia in 2020, many players are currently preparing to make the cut for the team that would be representing Guyana.

In 2018, the 43rd Chess Olympiad was held in Batumi, Georgia, USA. The team that represented Guyana consisted of a five-member open group and five-member women’s group.

The open team consisted of Wendell Meusa (team captain), Glenford Corlette, Taffin Khan, Loris Nathoo and Anthony Drayton.

The female team included Sheriffa Ali, Nellisha

Johnson, Shazeeda Rahim, Sasha Shariff and Maria Varona-Thomas.

The team experienced mixed fortunes, as both the male and female teams struggled to hold on to some form of consistency.

Nevertheless, there were notable performances from Anthony Drayton, Taffin Khan, Shariffa Alli and more.

President of the Guyana Chess Federation, James Bond, in a statement, said, “Chess is growing, but not rapidly. I’m seeing more chess clubs, more schools playing chess, more communities involved in chess.

“The GCF has a programme that was approved and applauded by FIDE. We have been hosting more tournaments, exposing more women and young people to chess, and providing the enabling environment for chess to be taught and developed.”

The Guyanese contingent that represented Guyana in the 43rd Chess Olympiad

Also commenting, FM Anthony Drayton said selection for the 2019 team would be based on players’ performances for the year, and how well they have done at nationals. However, he noted that their performance must be consistent in order

to be selected.

Whatever the outcome, there are bound to be new faces representing Guyana in 2020 at the Olympiads, as the rise of young, budding, fiery talent will put the game of chess on an international platform for Guyana.

22

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, june 9, 2019

Debutants Gorden and Ondaan relishing the Golden Jaguars experience T

he way they have blended into the Golden Jaguars’ set up suggests that they have been around before but they have not. The duo of 25-year old Torell Ondaan and 20-year old Liam Gorden, the former based in Holland and the latter who plays in England, donned national colours for the first time against Bermuda on Thursday night last.

They both joined the Guyana National Senior team at an historic juncture as the nation, for the first time in its 117plus year history, has qualified for the premier tournament in the Concacaf Confederation, the Gold Cup. Speaking with GFF Media, both young men have said that they are excited and gratified at being given the opportunity to represent Guyana and will strike to represent with pride.

Torell Ondan, who plys his trade at SC Telstar in Holland, described his feelings on making his debut as amazing and something that one cannot really describe: “The feeling is so amazing to be a Guyana player. It is one of the biggest dreams for me because I come from Holland, I’m born there but I always like to go to Guyana to see everybody, to feel everything about Guyana.”

He noted that whenever he travels to Guyana he feels all the love, “That’s why this is the biggest dream of my life.”

Born to Guyanese parents in Holland, Yonette and Lionel, and playing at the Second Division Level, Ondaan describes himself as the easy guy; he sees himself as a team player and has already felt the warmth of his teammates even though he has been with the team just a matter of days.

“Everybody is so lovely and nice to me and I am still grooving into the team. I will see what I can do for the team, not for myself but more for the team. It’s amazing really, everybody is so nice, I didn’t expect that.”

Stating that this is home for him, Ondaan said his knowledge of Guyanese is that they are strong in will and is en-

couraging everyone, players and all, to work together as a family not as individuals.

He is calling on fans and supporters to be persistent with the team: “Stay patient, watch the games with all the love and don’t be aggressive if we miss chances or something, we are here now for the team, for the country and it’s amazing already that we have made it this far.”

Meanwhile, Liam Gorden, who celebrated his 20th birthday last week and plays as a defender with English club side Dagenham & Redbridge FC, described his debut as a massive opportunity: “It’s the first time for me playing international football and it’s the best thing you can ask for, it’s better than club football, it’s a different experience. It’s a big thing for me and my family as well, just to recognize the Gorden name, it makes me proud that I am Guyanese. It’s a dream come true for me.”

Gorden’s grandparents are from the Ancient County of Berbice, his grandfather hailing from Belladrum.

He notes that for the team to push on further there must be a collective effort fueled by a deep sense of togetherness: “The only way we’re going to push on far is for all of us, management and players, to be together and want it, we know what the goal is and we know what to do on the pitch and we’ll do that. I just want the team to do well, doesn’t matter if I play or not, I’m part of the programme and it’s a massive opportunity for me as a young player to be involved in this.

So I just want the country to do well and for everyone to recognize how good we can be.”

Young Gorden is calling on the fans and supporters to get behind the team and support: “It’s the first time that Guyana has ever been in this competition and it’s a massive competition. As long as everyone is behind us we’ll do whatever we can to prove to you that we can do it and let everyone know what Guyana is about.”

Peterson views suspension as learning process

– aims to use experience as guide for other athletes

By Timothy Jaikarran

C

arlos

PetersonGriffith was recently suspended for a period of twelve months by the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) and the International P o w e r l i f t i n g Federation (IPF).

His transgression has been his violating the GAPFL Constitution by competing at a StrongFit competition in Barbados on May 4-5. Peterson’s suspension occurred because he violated both the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Constitution and the GAPLF Constitution.

In Article 14.9 of the IPF Constitution, it is stated, “Participating in nonIPF competition: any lifter, coach, referee or official who competes or participates in an international powerlifting or bench press competition not organised, sanctioned or approved by the IPF shall not be permitted to take part in any IPF international or regional competition for a period of 12 months from the date of that non-approved competition.”

The GAPLF’s Constitution states, in Section 12, Article 1, point 4: “The stated reasons for suspension are not a closed list, and the executive members shall collectively exercise their discretion when opting to suspend a mem-

Carlos PetersonGriffith

b e r o f the GAPLF. The following may be subject to suspension: Any lifter who participates in a contest with other countries without the permission of the GAPLF.” In a sit-down with <<Guyana Times Sport>>, Peterson said, “I was recently informed by the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) that due to my participation in the Strong fit event that was held in Barbados on May 4th-5th 2019, where I neglected to inform the Federation of my plans to participate, it has caused me to be suspended for a period of 12 months.

“The GAPLF has stated that I had breached the Federation’s constitution-

al rules by not informing them first, and for this I am very sorry, because I would have disappointed everyone who believes in me. I made an appeal to the Federation (GAPLF) to reconsider this course of action, or at least allow me to participate in Sweden then reinstate the suspension, because as athletes we need some form of discipline for our actions and because I was unaware that an approval was needed by the Federation for me to take part in such an event.”

Peterson went on to state that even though he made an appeal it was denied; and though he is disappointed, he knows that it will make him a better, stronger person, who can share his experience with other athletes to ensure that they don’t make the same mistake that he had made.

Peterson has said, “I would like to say thank you to my sponsors: Jamie McDonald (Fitness Express), Lucas Matos (Space Gym), Charles Ramson Jr, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI), etc. for believing in me. I want to apologise to my sponsors, fans, friends, family and the entire country for disappointing everyone, since I will not be able to represent at this year’s World Classics Powerlifting Championship.”

The brand new Jags Liam Gorden and Torell Ondaan

NABBA World’s 2019…

Ross places 3rd in Masters Over-50 category

Hugh Ross, posing after securing bronze in the Masters Over 50 category

A

fter months of intense training and gruelling hours spent among barbells in the gym, Guyana’s most decorated bodybuilder, Hugh Ross, representing the USA, contested against 11 of the world’s top bodybuilders and was able to capture bronze in the Masters Over 50 category of the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA) World’s 2019, held at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The 60-year-old Ross fell short of grasping gold, as he lost to Brendan Surgenor of Balleymena, Northern Ireland.

The last time Ross officially competed was almost three years ago –in the 2015 National Amateur Bodybuilding Association’s

60th Mr. Universe Competition, when he won the coveted title of Mr Universe.

He is the first Mr. Universe contender from Guyana as well as from the Caribbean, and the first athlete from the USA to have won that competition since 1994. The win therefore places him in the same league with the illustrious Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve Reeves, Frank Zane, Reg Park and Bill Pearl.

At the age of 60, Ross continues to defy the odds by breaking barriers. This is his fourth outing. His journey began in 2005, when he placed 9th in that competition. In 2007 he came in 5th; in 2010 he won the Mr Universe title for the Masters Over 40 Category in England; and in the 2015 World Championships in

Malta, he again won the Mr Universe title.

Having stood impressively against elite level contenders anywhere in the banding world, Ross’s mantra of always keeping himself fit and not relaxing during off-season has made him able to bring himself into peak condition within a matter of weeks; thus he was able to make the podium in his illustrious career.

The bodybuilding icon, who resides in the United States, is also the recipient of Guyana’s fifth highest national award, the Medal of Service (MS).

The Irish people were amazed and fascinated to see so many bodybuilders from all over the world enjoying the great city of Belfast.

23 Record turnout at MACORP Invitational Tournament guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, june 9, 2019

…Persaud, Subhan bag top prizes

By Jemima Holmes

J

ust over a year ago, playing gold at the Lusignan Golf Course (LGC) during the rainy weather was an unthinkable act. However, through Machinery Corporation’s (MACORP) help, the standard of the Lusignan course is significantly better. As such, even after heavy downpour during in the wet hours of Saturday morning which continued well into the day, the LGC was still able to pull off MACORP’s first golf tournament of the year.

To make matters even better, the tournament saw increased participation with over 70 golfers on the course, this number is second only to the Guyana Open Golf Tournament which is hosted later in the year.

“Years back this was impossible because during the rainy season we had a lot of challenges, the course was flooded but today it is just fantastic. I was a little bit concerned this morning cause the rain was pouring down, but when I came to the course and I saw the condition of the course I said we can do great stuff here,” MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga said about the great state of the LGC. Without the sun piercing into their skins, Saturday’s golfers, who were made up of the usual crowd and several MACORP staff members enjoyed their time on the Lusignan greens, teeing off at about 10:30hrs.

At the end of the day’s proceedings, no one was surprised to see Guyana Open Champion Avinash Persaud amongst the top performers. Persaud who remains one of Guyana’s most consistent golfers walked away with second place in the 0-9 flight with a gross of 74 and net 72. Persaud was second only to LGC President who won the flight with gross 78 and net 69. Patrick Prashad was second with gross 81 and net 72.

Robin Tewari was the best golfer in the 10-18 flight with

Avinash Persaud receives one of his many prizes from former MACORP CEO Jorge Medina

a gross 82 and net 66. Lakeram Ramsundar gross 82 and net 68 and David Harry with gross 85 and net 72 finished second and third respectively.

Philbert London (G 95, N 71) and Haresh Tewari (G 86, N 67) finshed third and second respectively in the 19-28 flight. The flight was won by Imtaz Subhan with a gross of 87 and net 64. Subhan also walked away with the best net prize.

Shaunell Webster won the women’s category with a gross of 85 and net 70 whilst Dr. Joaan Deo was second place with a gross of 87 and net 73.

Avinash persaud had to return to the podium after he picked up two more prizes. Persaud copped the best gross (74) and the longest drive accolade for his 319 yard drive.

The event was also graced by USA Ambassador to

MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga makes a try at the hole

Guyana Sarah Ann Lynch who was very elated about her experience at the LGC and MACORP’s hospitality.

“It was just a great day for me to be out here enjoying myself, as well as seeing some familiar faces. Thank you LGC again and thank you MACORP,” Lynch said.

MACORP is expected to host a second tournament for the year and the company is looking to attract younger golfers the next time around.

ICC Cricket World Cup…

Windies seek to dent South Africa’s World Cup dream – teams’ first meet since June 2016

By Brandon Corlette

O

fficially reputed to be “the dark horses” of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) 2019 World Cup tourney currently being played in England, the West Indies will be aiming to register their second win of this important tourney when they clash with the winless South Africa tomorrow, Monday June 10, 2019, at the Rose Bowl in Southampton from 5:30 hours local time.

Infamously reputed to be “chokers in important tournaments” like the ICC World Cup, South Africa will be aiming to register a first win of the tourney when the two teams clash.

West Indies will be playing their third match of the tournament, while South Africa will be playing their fourth. Ranked world number three, South Africa have looked a pathetic outfit, although in bilateral series they have shown their dominance.

In their last five series since 2018, South Africa have defeated Sri Lanka (3-2), Zimbabwe (30), Australia (2-1), Pakistan (3-2), and Sri Lanka (5-0).

Their performance in the ICC World Cup have thus far belied their capability.

Kagiso Rabada has been bowling quickly in the tournament

With both teams fresh from defeat, South Africa will be wary of the West Indies, who showed spirit and effort in both their fixtures -- the win against Pakistan and the narrow defeat

by Australia. The West Indies have played 15 ODI series since 2016/17, but have not played South Africa since their home tri-series in 2016.

The two teams were set to face off in a warm-up match prior to the World Cup, but rain intervened and the match was abandoned. South Africa are a fairly unfamiliar unit to the new generation West Indies.

South Africa opened their World Cup campaign with a 10-run defeat by England, a 21-run defeat by Bangladesh, and a six-wicket loss to India. They are clearly low on confidence, and will be eager to bounce back and get their World Cup campaign on a roll.

Based on performances thus far shown, the Windies will start as favourites despite South Africa being ranked higher.

Playing an aggressive brand of cricket, especially with the ball, the Jason Holder-led West Indies team will rely on their pacemen to rock t h e South

Nicholas Pooran has shown great promise with the bat

African batting order, which includes world class players Hashim Amla, Quinton De Kock and Captain Faf du Plessis.

South Africa’s bowling attack has been weakened with the absence of Lungi Ngidi and Dale Steyn, who are suffering injuries of their own.

Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris are stuck with the responsibility of leading the pace attack, while Imran Tahir will be the lead spinner.

West Indies and South Africa have been in some riveting encounters in past ODIs, but have last played an ODI against each other in 2016; a Tri-Nation Series with Australia in the Caribbean. That encounter, played at Bridgetown, Barbados, saw Darren Bravo, currently out of the team, smashing a century to lead West Indies to 285 all out. Then Shannon Gabriel and Sunil Narine snared three wickets each to re-

strict South Africa to 185 all out; causing the Windies to triumph by 100 runs.

With a batting line-up that includes Chris Gayle, Shai Hope, Andre Russell, and young duo N i c h o l a s Pooran and

Shimron Hetmyer, the West Indies are likely able to successfully confront the South African bowlers.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir

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

SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

Record turnout at MACORP Invitational Tournament …Persaud, Subhan bag top prizes

ICC Cricket World Cup…

Pg 22 Pg 23

Windies seek to dent South Africa’s World Cup Ross Places 3rd In Masters dream Over-50’s Category – Teams’ first meet since June 2016

NABBA World’s 2019

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June 9, 2019

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

2 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 9, 2019

Feature

H

umans are both creatures and moulders of their environment, which gives them physical sustenance and affords them the opportunity for intellectual, moral, social and spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet, a stage has been reached where, through the rapid acceleration of science and technology, humans have acquired the power to transform their environment in countless ways and on an unprecedented scale.

The United Nations, aware that the protection and improvement of the human environment is a major issue, which affects the well-being of peoples and economic development throughout the world, designated June 5 as World Environment Day. The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises, and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in more than 100 countries.

“Beat Air Pollution”

Each World Environment Day is organised around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for 2019, “Beat Air Pollution”, is a call to action to combat this global crisis. Chosen by this year’s host, China, this year’s topic invites us all to consider how we can change our everyday lives to reduce the amount of air pollution we produce, and thwart its contribution to global warming and its effects on our own health.

What causes air pollution?

Understanding the different types of pollution, and how it affects our health and environment will help us take steps towards improving the air around us. Often you can’t even see it, but air pollution is everywhere. We can't stop breathing, but we can do something about the quality of our

air. Nine out of 10 people worldwide are exposed to levels of air pollutants that exceed safe levels set by the World Health Organisation. There is little doubt – we are faced with an urgent task.

A platform for action, World Environment Day is the UN day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.

Above all, World Environment Day is the "people's day" for doing something to take care of the Earth. That "something" can be local, national, or global. It can be a solo action or involve a crowd. Everyone is free to choose.

Each World Environment Day is organised around a theme that draws attention to a particularly pressing environmental concern. Each World Environment Day has a different host country, where the official celebrations take place. The focus on the host country helps highlight the environmental challenges it faces and supports worldwide efforts to address them.

Nine out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air and air pollution causes some seven million premature deaths annually.

This high rate of exposure to air pollutants is “lowering life expectancy and damaging economies across the planet,” says the UN Secretary General in his message for World Environment Day (June 5). Many air pollutants (for example: black carbon, ozone and methane) are not only harmful when inhaled but also contribute to global warming.

Tackling air pollution, therefore, presents a double opportunity to clean the air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by phasing out coal-fired power plants and promoting less polluting indus-

try, transport and domestic fuels. World Environment Day this year focuses on action to #BeatAirPollution.

United Nations Secretary General’s Message

The theme for this year’s World Environment Day is Beat Air Pollution.

All around the world – from megacities to small villages – people are breathing dirty air.

An estimated nine out of 10 people worldwide are exposed to air pollutants that exceed World Health Organisation air quality guidelines. This is lowering life expectancy and damaging economies across the planet.

To improve air quality, we must know our enemy. Deaths and illnesses from air pollution are caused by tiny particles that penetrate our defences every time we fill our lungs. These particles come from many sources: the burning of fossil fuels for power and transport; the chemicals and mining industries; the open burning of waste; the burning of forests and fields; and the use of dirty indoor cooking and heating fuels, which are major problems in the developing world.

This polluted air kills some seven million people each year, causes long-term health problems, such as asthma, and reduces children’s cog-

nitive development. According to the World Bank, air pollution costs societies more than US$5 trillion every year.

Many air pollutants also cause global warming. Black carbon is one such example. Produced by diesel engines, burning trash and dirty cookstoves, it is extremely harmful when inhaled. Reducing emissions of such pollutants will not only improve public health, it could alleviate global warming by up to 0.5 degrees Celsius over the next few decades.

Tackling air pollution, therefore, presents a double opportunity, as there are many successful initiatives that both clear the air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as phasing out coal-fired power plants and promoting less polluting industry, transport, and domestic fuels. With investments in renewable energy sources outstripping those in fossil fuels every year, the rise of clean energy is helping globally.

Cleaner transport is also growing around the world.

It is in such initiatives, designed to improve air quality and fight climate change, that hope lies. I urge everyone attending the Climate Action Summit that I am convening in September to draw motivation from such examples. There is no reason why the international community cannot act. Precedent exists in the Montreal Protocol.

Scientists identified a grave threat to public and planetary health, and Governments and businesses acted to successfully protect the ozone layer.

Today, we face an equally urgent crisis. It is time to act decisively. My message to Governments is clear: tax pollution; end fossil fuel subsidies; and stop building new coal plants. We need a green economy not a grey economy.

On World Environment Day, I ask each of us to act so we can breathe more easily. From pressuring politicians and businesses to changing our own habits, we can reduce pollution and beat climate change.

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 9, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

Feature

Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project

H

ydropower has the ability to transform a country’s electricity spectrum with cleaner energy thus contributing to the reduction of global warming as well as saving the environment. Guyana, a country with vast rainforests and hundreds of waterfalls, took up the mantle and included the Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project (AFHP) as part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) under the stewardship of then President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Touted as the keystone of the LCDS, the AFHP was launched in 2009 but has been on hold since 2013 when the developer Sithe Global pulled out. The reason for

The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), in 2016, commissioned a review of the Amaila Falls dam which was carried out by Norconsult.

“The only realistic path for Guyana towards an emission-free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential. The fastest way forward is to maintain AFHP [Amaila Falls Hydropower Project] as the first major step for substituting its current oil-fired generation,” Norconsult concluded in its report.

The AFHP was prioritised as the first hydropower plant because it was the only project with a full feasibility study completed, it has a

eration of power.

Sithe Global’s withdrawal was due to the lack of consensus in Parliament.

The then Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) both expressed concerns about the project and voted down a key piece of legislation which consequently shelved the project.

Despite the uncertainty about the project, in 2014, Norway transferred US$80 million to the Inter-American Development Bank as part of the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative’s US$250 million REDD deal with Guyana.

The money is intended as part-funding of the dam, the cost of which has grown over the years from US$325 million to almost US$1 billion.

Under the Norwegian Government’s budget regulations, grants must be used within one year. An exception was made for the Amaila Falls Project, allowing the money to remain with the IDB for 18 months.

By mid-2016, Guyana had a new government, which opposed the construction of the Amaila Falls dam.

higher plant load factor than the alternatives, a smaller reservoir and a revised unit cost in the same range as the most attractive alternatives.

The report also indicated that Amaila Falls alone cannot provide 100 per cent emission-free power generation in Guyana. Other generating sources will have to be added in parallels like sun, wind and thermal production based on emission neutral fuel (bagasse) for back-up in the dry periods when the water flow to the AFHP may be insufficient for full capacity operation.

The environmental and social impacts of the AFHP are well established in the performed studies. No resettlement is required and there is limited human activity in the area directly affected by the project.

The US$858.1 million project was touted as the largest foreign direct investment at that time.

Had the AFHP went ahead then, it would have meant reliable electricity supply as well as lower harmful gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels for the gen-

Montgomery Watson Harza (MWH), on behalf of Synergy/ Harza, completed a feasibility study of the project with installed capacity downscaled to 100 MW. In 2006, Sithe Global entered as a potential investor to the Project. The Government of Guyana and Sithe Global thereafter established a Special Purpose Company (SPC), Amaila Falls Hydro Inc (AFHI) for developing the AFHP. Partners in the AFHI are Sithe Global (60 per cent) and the Government of Guyana represented by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) (40 per cent). GPL is supposed to be the sole direct off-taker of the power from the Project.

The AFHP comprises a power plant with 165 MW installed capacity and a 270 to 280-kilometre long 230-kilovolt double-circuit transmission line via a substation at Linden to the capital, Georgetown. The intention has been to develop the AFHP in a BOOT (Build, Own, Operate & Transfer) model with the transfer of the facilities for free to the Government of Guyana after

History of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project In 1974-76, the Government of Guyana carried out a pre-feasibility study of the hydropower potential at Amaila Falls assuming an installed capacity of 200 megawatts (MW).

In 1997, a brief review of this study was done by others. It concluded by suggesting a 165 MW development.

In 1998, the Government of Guyana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Synergy/Harza for developing Amaila Falls in the Private Sector. In December 2001,

3

20 years.

On October 8, 2009, the original holder (an association of Synergy Holdings (Guyana) and Harza International) of an Interim Development Licence, transferred all rights and interests, obligations and liabilities under its licence to the

AFHI. In 2010, the IDB assumed the role of adviser to the Government of Guyana and the AFHI for developing the project and for establishing a structure for the financing of AFHP involving support from IDB, potential development agencies and other sources.

A draft Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) (on "take or pay" basis) between the AFHI and GPL was negotiated in 2011.

Norway's Ministry of Climate and Environment and its International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) have supported Guyana's rainforest conservation efforts since 2009, including Guyana's commitment to the transfer of its oil-fired energy generation to renewable sources, as outlined in Guyana's LCDS document issued first in 2009 and confirmed in a revised version in March 2013.

Just last year, Government, after pushing the green agenda, said that it was open to reconsidering the hydroelectric dam, citing renewed interest for investors.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 9, 2019

Feature

W

trickle-down effect on pollination as a whole.

Air pollution is also thought to be affecting bees. Preliminary research shows that air pollutants interact with scent molecules re-

hen ani-

mals and insects pick up the pollen of flowers and spread it, they allow plants, including many food crops, to reproduce.

Birds, rodents, monkeys and even people pollinate, but the most common pollinators are insects, and among them, bees.

Pollinators contribute directly to food security. Nearly three quarters of the plants that produce 90 per cent of the world’s food require this external help. And according to bee experts at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, a third of the world’s food production depends on bees.

Bees are renowned for their role in providing high-quality food –honey, royal jelly and pollen – and other products such as beeswax, propolis, and honey bee venom.

They are also part of the biodiversity on which we all depend for our survival.

“Sacred passages about bees in all the world’s major religions highlight their significance to human societies over millennia,” says a May 2019 report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Beekeeping provides an important source of income for many rural households.

“The western honey bee is the

lead.”

It is precisely to encourage Governments, organisations, civil society and concerned citizens to protect pollinators and their habitats that the United Nations has declared May 20 World Bee Day. In its second edition, World Bee

of their trade and use, the report continues.

Bees at risk from air pollution and pesticides

Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hum-

most widespread managed pollinator in the world, and globally there are about 81 million hives producing an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of honey annually,” says the report.

However, while the vast majority of pollinator species are wild, including more than 20,000 species of bees, the mass breeding and large-scale transport of pollinators can pose risks for the transmission of pathogens and parasites.

The risk of unintended harm could be decreased by better regulation

mingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.

The IPBES report lists “land use change, intensive agricultural management and pesticide use, environmental pollution, invasive alien species, pathogens and climate change”, as major threats to the abundance, diversity, and health of pollinators. .

In May 2018, the European Union upheld a partial ban on three insecticides known as neonicotinoids to mitigate the lethal threat they pose to bees and their

leased by plants which bees need to locate food. The mixed signals interfere with the bees’ ability to forage, making them slower and less effective at pollination.

“Increasing crop and regional farm diversity as well as targeted habitat conservation, management or restoration, is one way of combating climate change and promoting biodiversity,” says UN Environment biodiversity specialist Marieta Sakalian.

“Governments need to take the

Day raises awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy. The date coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard while needing so little attention.

Here are some actions you can take to help preserve bees and other pollinators: * Plant nectar-bearing flowers such as marigolds or sunflowers for decorative purposes on balconies, terraces, and gardens * Buy honey and other hive products from your nearest local beekeeper * Raise awareness among children and adolescents on the importance of bees and express your support for beekeepers * Set up a pollinator farm on your balcony, terrace, or garden * Preserve old meadows, which feature a more diverse array of flowers, and sow nectar-bearing plants * Cut grass on meadows only after the nectar-bearing plants have finished blooming * Use pesticides that do not harm bees, and spray them in windless weather, either early in the morning or late at night, when bees withdraw from blossoms

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 9, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

10 facts about air pollution on World Environment Day N

obody is safe from air pollution, the United Nations warned on World Environment Day, with nine out of 10 people on the planet now breathing polluted air.

This has led to a growing, global health crisis, which already causes about 7 million deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Burning fossil fuels for power, transport and industry is a major contributor to air pollution as well as the main source of planet-warming carbon emissions - and tackling both problems together could bring substantial benefits for public health.

Here are some facts on the human impacts of air pollution and its links with climate change: 1. Air pollution kills 800 people every hour or 13 every minute, accounting for more than three times the amount of people who die from malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS combined each year.

2. Some of the same pollutants contribute to both climate change and local air pollution, including black carbon or soot - produced by inefficient combustion in sources like cookstoves and diesel engines and methane.

3. The five main sources of air pollution are indoor burning of fossil fuels, wood and other biomass

to cook, heat and light homes; industry, including power generation such as coal-fired plants and diesel generators; transport, especially vehicles with diesel engines; agriculture, including livestock, which produces methane and ammonia, rice paddies, which produce meth-

ane, and the burning of agricultural waste; and open waste burning and organic waste in landfills.

4. Household air pollution causes about 3.8 million premature deaths each year, the vast majority of them in the developing world, and about 60% of those deaths are among

women and children.

5. 93% of children worldwide live in areas where air pollution exceeds WHO guidelines, with 600,000 children under 15 dying from respiratory tract infections in 2016.

6. Air pollution is responsible for 26% of deaths from ischemic heart

disease, 24% of deaths from strokes, 43% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 29% from lung cancer. In children, it is associated with low birth weight, asthma, childhood cancers, obesity, poor lung development and autism, among other health defects.

7. 97% of cities in low- and middle-income countries with more than 100,000 inhabitants do not meet the WHO minimum air quality levels, and in high-income countries, 29% of cities fall short of guidelines.

8. About 25% of urban ambient air pollution from fine particulate matter is contributed by traffic, 20% by domestic fuel burning and 15% by industrial activities including electricity generation.

9. Keeping global warming "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6F), as governments have pledged to do under the 2015 Paris Agreement, could save about a million lives a year by 2050 through reducing air pollution alone.

10. In the 15 countries that emit the most planet-warming gases, the cost of air pollution for public health is estimated at more than 4% of GDP. In comparison, keeping warming to the Paris Agreement temperature limits would require investing about 1% of global GDP. (Sources: UN Environment, World Health Organization, World Bank, Every Breath Matters campaign, World Economic Forum)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 9, 2019

Preserving our literary heritage

matured, still melt’.

PP: You have turned to nature to illustrate your thoughts on issues, why?

LM: Nature teaches us a lot of things and we can learn if we look closely at nature. For instance, there is a poem on page 22, titled ‘Togetherness’, where

two clouds merge, and after such a fusion, they did not emerge as how there were before. I used this to typify a good marriage.

There is another poem ‘Oh Passionate Love’ that takes in a whole lot of nature….

PP: ‘Two young birds’, now I will pop the question: where did it all start?

‘Two young birds’ LM: was conceptualized on the tragedy of love that I see all around me – young people falling into and out of love/ relationships without knowing lots of things because love is like an institution; there are so many things to learn about love – you need to learn about yourself, you need to learn about your partner, you need to learn about relationships. So in order to provide some insights, some teachings on the topic of love, I decided to pen these poems.

It is a fact, in our society today, there is too much domestic violence and something has to be done to curb this - rather than writing a book of instructions, I decided to put it in poetic form so it would be easy to digest and easy to remember. You could remember some specific lines to help guide you [young birds] through the whole gamut of relationship.

to continue to change over this century and beyond.

The magnitude of climate change beyond the next few decades depends primarily on the amount of heattrapping gases emitted globally, and how sensitive the Earth’s climate is to those emissions.

• Temperatures Will Continue to Rise - Because human-induced warming is superimposed on a naturally varying climate, the temperature rise has not been, and will not be, uniform or smooth across the country or over time.

• Hurricanes Will Become Stronger and More Intense - The intensity, frequency and duration of North Atlantic hurricanes, as well as the frequency of the strongest (Category

4 and 5) hurricanes, have all increased since the early 1980s. The relative contributions of human and natural causes to these increases are still uncertain.

Hurricane-associated storm intensity and rainfall rates are projected to increase as the climate continues to warm.

• Sea Level Will Rise 1-4 feet by 2100 - Global sea level has risen by about 8 inches since reliable record keeping began in 1880. It is projected to rise another 1 to 4 feet by 2100. This is the result of added water from melting land ice and the expansion of seawater as it warms.

In the next several decades, storm surges and high tides could combine with sea level rise and land subsidence to further increase flooding in many regions. Sea level rise will continue past 2100 because the oceans take a very long time to respond to warmer conditions at the Earth’s surface. Ocean waters will therefore continue to warm and sea level will continue to rise for many centuries at rates equal to or higher than those of the current century.

• Arctic Likely to Become Ice-Free • Changes in Precipitation Patterns • More Droughts and Heat Waves

By Petamber Persaud

(Extract of interview with Leonard C. Marks, Georgetown, Guyana, 2019. ‘Two young birds’ is Marks’ second published book. His first unfortunately was withdrawn from the public due to printing errors. This collection of poems focuses on love and is divided in six parts namely ‘Courtship’, ‘Wedding’, ‘Honeymoon’, ‘Marriage’, ‘Setbacks’, ‘Reunion’ and ‘Reminiscence’.)

P

P: A norm in such an interview is to ask where did it start but I would like to go right into the book by inviting you to select a poem that will take us through this journey of ‘Two Young Birds’.

LM: On page 111, there is the title poem, ‘Two Young Birds’, which is a complete poem capturing the experiences of two young birds from as early as when they were emerging from the nest until old age – whistling to each other, sauntering in the air; there is a verse that opens like this ‘as two young birds/secured on the highest branches/where love is blind/we saw no dark clouds approaching/no darting of the enemy/we saw only

green trees/and the abundance of flowers’ and closes like this ‘today, feeling like two young birds/with feathers molt, still groom/with voices strained, still sing/ with wings tired, still soar/ with bodies aching, still touch/with beaks flaked, still greet/and hearts, well

G

lobal climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.

Effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from global climate change are now occurring: loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves.

Scientists have high confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise for decades to come, largely due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which includes more than 1,300 scientists from the United States and other countries, forecasts a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century.

According to the IPCC, the extent of climate change effects on individual regions will vary over time and with the ability of different societal and environmental systems to mitigate or adapt to change.

The IPCC predicts that increases in global mean temperature of less than 1.8 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 3 degrees Celsius) above

1990 levels will produce beneficial impacts in some regions and harmful ones in others. Net annual costs will increase over time as global temperatures increase.

"Taken as a whole," the IPCC states, "the range of published evidence indicates that the net damage costs of climate change are likely to be significant and to increase over time."

Future Effects

Some of the longterm effects of global climate change in the United States are as follows, according to the Third and Fourth National Climate Assessment Reports: • Change Will Continue Through This Century and Beyond Global climate is projected

PP: You are an experienced educator. You also dabble in science…

LM: Mathematics and Physics….

PP: A man with that background and writing poetry, bring them together for us.

LM: A scientific person is an inquisitive person, you are trained to pay attention to details, be a good observer, ask questions and find solutions – this is what I do with every aspect of life

so it wasn’t difficult for me to extract from life and nature all the gems you find in the book. And of course, as a science person, I like to come to the point very quickly and this is one of the things poetry does. Poetry can give you a life in a few lines.

PP: So the transition wasn’t difficult…

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com

Siesta Warned The sands of time have rendered fear Blue skies on high no longer clear Stars were bright whence they came Now dimmed, obscured, pollution’s haze.

Crystal clear our waters gleamed Fish abundant, rivers streamed Ocean floors sandy white Now littered, brown, pollution’s plight.

Trees towered high above Trunks baring professed love Birds chirping from sites unseen Gone, paper joined pollution’s team.

One can’t blame pollution alone As they say, you reap what you’ve sown So let us plant a better seed Tear out old roots, cultivate, weed.

Protect what has been given for free Our waters, skies, wildlife and trees For once they’re gone, don’t you say Consider yourself warned of that fatal day.

By Sylvia Stults

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JUNE 9, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

– dreams of one day making it big on international export market

By Utamu Belle

W

hat started off as just a curious business venture between two women has led Linden entrepreneur 49-yearold Pamela Bradford down the path of creating her own line of natural coconut oil products. The businesswoman, who is the creative mind behind Pam’s Coconut Oil Products, has recently ventured from simply making, bottling and selling plain coconut oil to residents in the community, to establishing her own line of scented coconut oil hair products. Residents in the community, more so 'naturalistas' are intrigued by the latest development as Bradford offers a diverse line of appealing fragrances which means, no more plain coconut oil scent! The exciting new fragrances include cherry, jasmine, vanilla and lavender infusing the all-natural benefits of coconut oil. Her other coconut oil products include virgin coconut oil and the special ‘Pam’s Herbal Hair Oil’.

Coconut oil has been used for centuries and with its countless nutrients, is noted to have amazing health benefits for the hair and skin. Bradford has been in the business of local coconut oil pro-

duction for approximately three years with the idea coming from a friend. She recalled how she first started during an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine.

“I was friends with this lady and she said, ‘Pam, we could do this coconut oil business together.

We started it together, but then...

I branched off...She’s not doing it much now, but I continued it,” Bradford reminisced.

The multi-talented businesswoman, who is now producing on a medium scale, is a vendor at the Wismar Market in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice), where she also operates a floral design business. She explained that she started off with producing virgin coconut oil as her first product.

She then went on to create coconut hair oils, and more recently, added the scented coconut oils. With no harsh chemicals added, Bradford’s products include natural herbal oils such as castor and carrot oils and water. Apart from use in the hair, the coconut oil products can be used in the treatment and prevention of diaper rash and stretch marks and during massages. The herbal hair oil has benefits such as repairing damaged hair, fighting frizz and deep conditioning. With the enchanting fragrances and su-

perb labels, the oils are set to take the local market by storm.

“It’s herbal oils made from the virgin coconut oil and other herbal ingredients like the cherry fragrance,” Bradford explained.

There is a ready supply of coconuts in the community, given the fact that almost every yard has a tree. Bradford explained that this makes it a lot easier to pursue the coconut oil business.

“We got a lot of coconuts in

Linden,” she noted.

With her latest invention, she noted, however, that the fragrances are brought in from overseas, as she pointed out that she would like to see the fragrances being developed and made available on the local market. Highlighting another challenge, Bradford related that her plastic bottles are bought from a bottle factory on the East Bank of Demerara, but apart from this, she would have to ship her bottles into the country.

“Getting the bottles is a big challenge ... because you don’t normally get them. But I went online and I saw it at them, so that is how I end up purchasing from them...,” she explained.

Bradford said she envisioned her business one day making it on the international market and hopes to develop other lines of products using the cheap and readily available coconut oil. She noted, however, that it would take assistance and collaboration with the relevant authorities.

“I think if I get the kind of help that is needed, then the business would grow further, even out of Linden. I would like to see more opportunities for expansion,” she said.

Bradford said she was happy with the progress made thus far, regardless of the challenges, but shared her beliefs that there is room for much more improvement.

“I need more help because I don’t have my own grater. I have to pay to grate the coconuts. I have to pay workers also. If I get the help to have my own grater I wouldn’t have to pay to grate it and then I can afford to sell the oils more reasonable than how I am selling it now,” she posited.

Presently, her virgin coconut oils are sold at $1000 for 10 ounces, $1800 for 500ml and $3000 for 1 litre.

“I teach a lot of young people to do what I’m doing here, but you would always hear them saying things like they can’t do it off of their own, they got to get financial help,” she noted.

But the businesswoman has advice for other entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs.

“I would always advise persons to be independent... I would encourage anybody, once you put your mind to something, go ahead, run with it and just focus on what you want to do. Be independent, be progressive and everything else will fall into place,” she counselled.

8 Sunday Times Magazine Feature

T

he Miss Earth Guyana 2019 delegates recently displayed their Recycled Fashion Pieces as part of the preliminary stage of the competition. Here are some looks that were presented.

JUNE 9, 2019

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JUNE 9, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

9

Health

K

idney stones (renal lithiasis, nephrolithiasis) are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys.

Kidney stones have many causes and can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder.

Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.

Passing kidney stones can be quite painful, but the stones usually cause no permanent damage if they're recognized in a timely fashion. Depending on your situation, you may need nothing more than to take pain medication and drink lots of water to pass a kidney stone. In other instances — for example, if stones become lodged in the urinary tract, are associated with a urinary infection or cause complications — surgery may be needed.

Symptoms

A kidney stone may not cause symptoms until it moves around within your kidney or passes into your ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder.

At that point, you may experience these signs and symptoms: • Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs • Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin • Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity • Pain on urination • Pink, red or brown urine • Cloudy or foul-smelling urine • Nausea and vomiting • Persistent need to urinate • Urinating more often than usual • Fever and chills if an infection is present • Urinating small amounts Pain caused by a kidney stone may change — for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract.

Causes

Kidney stones often have no definite, single cause, although several factors may increase your risk.

Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances — such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid — than the fluid in your urine can dilute. At the same time, your urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking togeth-

er, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.

Types of kidney stones

Knowing the type of kidney stone helps determine the cause and may give clues on how to reduce your risk of getting more kidney stones. If possible, try to save your kidney stone if you pass one so that you can bring it to your doctor for analysis.

Types of kidney stones include:

Calcium stones. Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in food and is also made daily by your liver. Some fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate content.

Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine.

Calcium stones may also occur in the form of calcium phosphate. This type of stone is more common in metabolic conditions, such as renal tubular acidosis. It may also be associated with certain migraine headaches or with taking certain seizure medications, such as topiramate (Topamax).

Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.

Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones can form in people who don't drink enough fluids or who lose too much fluid, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those who have gout. Certain genetic factors also may increase your risk of uric acid stones.

Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria).

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of developing kidney stones include: Family or personal history. If someone in your family has kidney stones, you're more likely to develop stones, too. And if you've already had one or more kidney stones, you're at increased risk of developing another.

Dehydration. Not drinking enough water each day can increase your risk of kid-

ney stones. People who live in warm climates and those who sweat a lot may be at higher risk than others.

Certain diets. Eating a diet that's high in protein, sodium (salt) and sugar may increase your risk of some types of kidney stones. This is especially true with a high-sodium diet. Too much salt in your diet increases the amount of calcium your kidneys must filter and significantly increases your risk of kidney stones.

Being obese. High body mass index (BMI), large waist

size and weight gain have been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones.

Treatment Treatment for kidney stones varies, depending on the type of stone and the cause. Most small kidney stones won't require invasive treatment. You may be able to pass a small stone by drinking water, pain relievers and medical therapy.

Kidney stones that can't be treated with conservative measures — either because they're too large to pass

on their own or because they cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections — may require more-extensive treatment.

Procedures may include using sound waves to break up stones, surgery, among other procedures. (Mayo Clinic)

10 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 9, 2019

Feature

Berbice Race Course, New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana n.d.

East Street, Georgetown, British Guiana n.d.

Estate Manager's House, British Guiana n.d.

European quarters, Demerara Bauxite Co., British Guiana n.d.

Main St Georgetown looking north 1886

New Amsterdam, British Guiana n.d.

Private residence in New Amsterdam Berbice, circa early 1900s

Stabroek Market 1923

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 9, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Recipe

Home & Cooking

Home Décor

D

ecorating your home may not be the easiest thing to do without a professional interior designer, but if you utilize a few simple décor pieces, you can change the look of your space. If you've got your eye on a piece of furniture you absolutely love but it's a bit of a statement-maker, don't be afraid to buy it. There's always a way to make even the most eye-catching pieces work in your home.

Ingredients • 1 medium peach, peeled and

chopped • 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and

cubed • 1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper • 3 tablespoons finely chopped red

onion • 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil • 1 tablespoon lime juice • 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce • 1/2 teaspoon grated lime peel • 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided • 1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided

Ingredients • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar • 1-1/2 cups chopped and

seeded plum tomatoes • 2 tablespoons finely

chopped shallot • 1 tablespoon

minced fresh

basil • 2 teaspoons

olive oil plus

3 tablespoons

olive oil, divided • 1 garlic clove,

minced • 16 slices French

bread baguette or

any sturdy bread • Sea salt and grated

Parmesan cheese

Ingredients •

• • • • •

•

• •

•

1 package (11.30 ounces) pecan shortbread cookies, crushed (about 2 cups) 1/3 cup butter, melted 4 cups heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar 1 teaspoon coconut extract 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 1/2 cup Key lime juice 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted Optional: Maraschino cherries with stems and sliced Key limes

Directions

1.

In a small bowl, mix crushed cookies and butter. Press onto bottom and up sides of a greased 9-in deep-dish pie plate. In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until stiff peaks form. In another large bowl, beat cream cheese, condensed milk and lime

•

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

Directions 1. For salsa, in a small bowl, combine peaches, avocado, red pepper, onion, basil, lime juice, hot sauce, lime peel, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

2. Sprinkle chicken with remaining salt and pepper. On a lightly greased grill rack, grill chicken, covered, over medium heat 5 minutes. Turn; grill until a thermometer reads 165°, about 7-9 minutes longer. Serve with salsa.

Directions 1. In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to 3 tablespoons, 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes, shallot, basil, 2 teaspoons olive oil and garlic.

Cover and refrigerate until serving.

2. Brush remaining oil over both sides of baguette slices. Grill, uncovered, over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.

3.

Top toasts with tomato mixture.

Drizzle with balsamic syrup; sprinkle with sea salt and Parmesan.

Serve immediately.

A

Accent Walls n accent wall can really spice up a space with a few coats of paint. They work perfectly in any room like the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, and even work in a more unusual place like an entryway. If you don’t want to make the wall bright and bold, consider something neutral that will give the space a bit more depth.

But if you are feeling bold, choose a dramatic wallpaper.

P

Pillows atterned pillows are interior design pieces that can be used in any room in your home. You can match them to any room or mismatch them to make them stand out a bit more. They can make a simple chair look less plain or make a bed look luxurious. Since pillows are so easy to switch up, you can change them out depending on the season.

juice until blended. Fold in 2 cups whipped cream.

Spoon into prepared crust.

2.

Top with remaining whipped cream; sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate until serving, at least 4 hours.

If desired, garnish with cherries and limes.

A

Area Rugs n area rug will not only warm up a space and reduce the echo, but it can act as a statement. If you don’t want to invest in colorful furniture, an area rug is an option. Look at an area rug as artwork for your floor, especially if it is a rental space. There are so many designs and colors to choose from; the options are endless.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 9, 2019

Puzzles

ACROSS

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Scrooge’s nephew Well-behaved Large fleet Zip Clothier -- Strauss Fine violins Frightened a gnat Imitated Home of Iowa State Scold Gherkin Ducks’ haunt Offhand Perfect scores Slips by Gray-green shrubs Osso -- (veal dish) Video game pioneer EMT technique Parcel of land Not together Vexation Legislate Mount Hood site Pile of papers It starts in Apr. Ms. Lansbury Fashions Actress Verdon et al.

Singer -- Etheridge Skip stones -- dixit Just washed 2-deck card game Hoarfrost Fair grade Loaf Appoints, officially Heroic quality Captured insect (2 wds.)

Corn crib Billboards Mulled quaffs Sea eagles Buddy Unser and Gore Mr. Moto’s reply (2 wds.)

Kind of benefit Opposite of ruddy MD assistants Education Wears well Shackles Circle the Earth

88 SSW or NE

89 Nigerian people (var.)

90 Spats

91 Abbot’s underling

92 “Bhagavad- --”

93 Subside 94 Dawdles

95 Consumer advocate Ralph - 96 Full-size

97 Lariats

99 Store info

100 Antler prongs

101 Roaches and mice 102 Thong Matter, in law

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104 Pie pro

105 Big clock

106 Dirty place

107 Yielded territory 109 Dice Obama daughter

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112 Cockpit figure

115 Where tigers pace

116 Superman had it (2 wds.)

121 Jeer 122 Tedious account

124 Darwin’s ship 125 Specify

126 Organic compound

127 Popsicle flavor

128 Walking (2 wds.)

129 Major Hoople’s word

130 Suspicious

131 Go over again

132 Croc relatives

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DOWN

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Custard dessert San -(Riviera resort) Fifty-fifty Deejay’s platters Model Brunch favorite Volcanic outputs Take -- -- stride Pinball no-no Language suffix Mien Horned animal Soft shoes Hunky-dory (hyph.)

Erase Ms. Rogers St. Johns Shocking

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- ENCUMBERS (ENCUMBERS: en-KUM-bers: Weighs down; burdens.)

Average mark 40 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 57 or more words in ENCUMBERS? TODAY'S WORD -- ENCUMBERS ecru ember embrue ensue ensure enure erne numb number nurse cense censer censure crumb cruse

cube cumber curb cure curse umber user menu mere muse been beer bemuse berm brume

burn busmen rebus recuse rescue resume reuse rumen rune ruse scene scree screen scrub scum

sebum secern secure seem seen seer sere serum sneer snub suer sure

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

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In the lead Quaker colonist Cays Roman magistrate Din Narrows down Slangy thousand Blood, -- and tears Refusals White -- -- ghost Secluded valleys Premier -- Zedong Ave. crossers Load lifter

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Anderson Cooper’s channel Toxic gas Ice floes Call in sick Short stay Air ducts Jokes around Place to sit Sounds like rain Ques. response Trellis Circulars -- ears (antenna) Weather map line Tipped the scales Amtrak et al.

Takes a bite, maybe Common phrases Blockhead A favorite relative Season-ticket holder Hesitant sounds Command KP workers Square of glass

92 Terrier threat

94 Jacket part

95 Goddess of joggers?

96 Wish granters

98 Without words

100 Boxtop pieces

101 Plush fabrics

103 Stop working

104 Kept afloat

105 Waco university 108 Grief

109 Latin American dance

110 Nearsighted Mr.

111 “Lou Grant” lead 112 Nibble

113 Actress -- Chaplin 114 Inferior

115 Grey of Westerns

116 Lucy Lawless role

117 Huck Finn’s craft

118 Shakespeare villain

119 Qatar neighbor 120 Jarrett and Sparks

123 Mammoth entrapper

124 Quagmire See Solution on page 14

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 9, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

T

he gloom surrounding Huawei ever since its blacklisting by the US has been pierced by a ray of Russian sunshine, as the Chinese company announced it’s signed a 5G development deal with MTS, Russia’s biggest mobile operator.

Timed to coincide with a three-day visit by Chinese president Xi Jinping to Moscow, the deal signals a desire for a closer relationship between the two Asian powers, and it unites the fates of two of their respective leading companies.

A

mazon is a behemoth of online retailing, but there’s one sector it has yet to crack: fashion. To help dig into this lucrative market, the company is introducing a new AI-powered tool named StyleSnap which will help customers find clothes to buy.

StyleSnap is basically Shazam for clothes, built into the Amazon mobile app.

Users can take a picture or upload an image and StyleSnap will use machine learning to “match the look in the photo” and find similar items for sale on Amazon.com.

Amazon’s consumer worldwide CEO Jeff Wilke unveiled the feature at the company’s Re:MARS conference in Las Vegas today, saying: “The simplicity of the customer experience belies the complexity of the technology behind it.”

But lots of startups offer similar services, includ-

T

Russian leader Vladimir Putin, quoted by his national news service TASS, has said that cooperation between Russia and China is now “at an unprecedently high level,” and the sentiment has been echoed by president Xi. Both countries appear to be finding comfort from American aggressions in each other’s arms.

For Huawei, securing this deal is a welcome reprieve from the torrent of bad business news that was triggered by US president Trump’s harsh rebuke and

ing online fashion giant Asos.

And it remains to be seen if StyleSnap can live up to Amazon’s claims. It might be easy for AI to identify basic items of clothing, like pencil skirts or flannel shirts, but that doesn’t really help consumers who can usually identify these items themselves.

Whether or not the feature can match niche items and styles will be the real challenge.

Amazon hasn’t exactly proved it’s a fashion guru, either. Back in 2017 it introduced the Echo Look, an AIpowered camera that gave users fashion recommendations. In our review, we found the software regularly made mistakes, failing to identify different outfits in images and churning out the same tips over and over (it particularly liked our reviewers’ jacket). (The Verge)

wo years after their original introduction, Google is updating its SOS Alerts with more real-time information about areas affected by natural disasters, and new navigation warnings in Google Maps to help route you around danger. The changes will also show you more detailed visual information about earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods, with a visual overlay to show the impacted areas.

For hurricanes, Google will attempt to forecast their route, and will display a crisis notification card in Google Maps if you’re near an affected area. Flood forecasts will show an overlay on a map of affected areas, along with information about severity. Finally, earthquakes will also get a crisis card, which will show you its epicenter, magnitude, and areas affected.

Google’s SOS Alerts are a way to provide essential information quickly in the event of a natural disaster.

If you search for a relevant term, then Google will surface a summary of relevant news,

prohibition. Monday, it was revealed that Huawei is selling off its undersea cable business, which analysts interpreted as being at least partially motivated by the increasing toxicity of the Huawei brand. At the same time, Huawei is also reducing smartphone production orders with Foxconn, owing to its loss of the Android license from Google that allows it to ship devices with preloaded Google apps and services.

On the 5G front, Japan’s SoftBank opted for Nokia and Ericsson equipment in-

G

oogle released the fourth beta for Android Q, which was made available via OTA updates for Pixels and might have hinted at improved face unlock for future devices.

Unfortunately, some number of Pixel users who downloaded and installed the Over-The-Air update have run into problems: their phones “bootlooped,” going into a constant reset state.

As Android Central notes, Google has updated a post on Reddit to say that it is pausing the rollout of the latest Beta while it looks into these issues. Google writes: “We’re aware of an issue with Android Q Beta 4 related to installing updates. We’ve temporarily paused Beta 4 OTA updates to all Pixel devices as we investigate the issue. We apologize for any inconvenience, and will provide an update once the issue is resolved.”

Pretty boilerplate, but it’s weird that this note is appearing just as an update on a Reddit post — the Android twitter account hasn’t even noted it yet.

It’s also a black eye for what has otherwise been a fairly reliable pro-

emergency phone numbers, safety tips, and Twitter updates. In the most serious cases, Google will send out a push alert to users in the affected area.

The new visual SOS Alerts will be rolling out to users in the coming weeks, but supported platforms and regions vary between the different natural disasters.

The Google Maps navigation warnings and earthquake indicators will both be available globally. Earthquakes will be visible on Android, iOS, desktop, and the mobile web, while the navigation warnings will be on iOS and Android only.

Meanwhile, flood visualizations will be supported on Android, desktop, and the mobile web, but they’ll only be available in India where the risk of drowning in a flood is particularly high. Finally, hurricane visual forecasts will be available across all platforms in the US, Mexico, Caribbean, Western Europe, Japan, Taiwan, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea. (the Verge)

stead of Huawei, which had been a provider of 4G equipment for the carrier. The tumult in Huawei’s plans and business-to-business relations looks set to continue for a while, but for today at least, the company has a significant new agreement to celebrate.

As its founder Ren Zhengfei said in an interview in February, “If the lights go out in the West, the East will still shine ...

America doesn’t represent the world. America only represents a portion of the world.” (The Verge)

gram for Google over the years. It’s especially ironic because Google has been working to change the way Android installs updates work. There is a method called “A/B (Seamless) System Updates” which is supposed to a little like how Chrome OS does it: when a new OS update comes in, it’s installed in a separate partition.

When the phone resets, it checks out the new update and if it’s fine, it switches over. If it’s not, Android should be able to just revert back to the known good version of the OS. For whatever reason, that safety net failed for this beta update.

If you’re on the beta and haven’t installed the update yet, you should definitely hold off if it appears on your phone. If you’re one of the unlucky ones, Android Central has a few steps you can try to recover your phone (but it might involve a factory reset, sorry).

For everybody else: this is why you shouldn’t install beta builds of software on your primary phone. No matter how normalized it’s become in recent years with both Google and Apple offering public betas, they’re called “Beta” for a reason. (The Verge)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

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Bollywood/Hollywood

A

ctors Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan’s latest film, Bharat has leaked online. A report in The Indian Express says the film was leaked on notorious website Tamil Rockers after its release on Wednesday.

This year itself, films like Kalank, Gully Boy, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, Uri: The Surgical Strike, The Accidental Prime Minister, Thackeray, Maharshi, Aladdin, Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame were also leaked on the torrent site.

However, the film’s makers still have a lot to celebrate.

Bharat emerged as Salman’s biggest opener ever, and Katrina’s second biggest, with first day collection of Rs 42.3 crore. It ranks second on the list of Bollywood movies with

the biggest opening day collection, second only to Thugs of Hindostan.

Salman on Thursday took to social media to thank his fans for giving “me my career’s biggest opening ever”.

He tweeted: “Big thank you to all for giving me my career’s biggest opening ever.”

K

offee’s resume just keeps on growing. This week the 19-year-old singer/deejay was listed on Apple Music as one of the next breakthrough artists this year.

The reggae/ dancehall community already see her as a shining star, and it appears Rihanna also saw greatness in her. California rapper Haiti Babii recently spilled the beans during an interview with BET where he revealed that the “Toast” singer is writing for RiRi. “She [Rihanna] FaceTimed yesterday morning when the song dropped,”

“What made me the happiest and proudest is when during a scene in my film, national anthem is recited and every one stood up as a mark of respect. There could be no bigger respect for our country than this... Jai Hind,” Salman added.

Bharat, directed by Ali

Babii said. “It was night time wherever she was. She was in a club partying. She was like, ‘I like this song, yo. It’s dope, yo.’ I was like, ‘Alright, yeah. She’s messing with it.'”

Haiti Babii says he then asked Rihanna about Koffee and she already knew everything about the Jamaican sensation and even encouraged the rapper to link up with her. He also revealed that RiRi confirmed that Koffee is writing for her.

“I asked her, Ri, what’s up with Koffee? Do you know who that is? “the rapper said.

“And I spelled the name wrong at first, but she was like ‘Koffee? Yeah, that’s one of my writers. You guys definitely have to link. I need something now. I was like, I’m on it, Ri. I’m on it.”

Rihanna is nearing the end of re-

Abbas Zafar, is an official remake of the Korean film An Ode To My Father. The Bollywood film depicts the history of India along with the life of an ordinary man.

After receiving a positive response from the audience, Zafar said in a statement: “It is humbling to be showered this kind of love by audiences. I have tried to present Salman Khan in a totally new light and as a totally new hero with Bharat. “I’m ecstatic that audiences have liked our attempt to make Bharat a thoroughly entertaining joyride that also has its soul in the right place,” he said.

The film also features Sunil Grover, Jackie Shroff, Tabu, Satish Kaushik and Disha (Hindustan Patani.

Times)

cording her highly an- ticipated dancehall album. She enlisted the services of several Jamaican producers and songwriters for the project, but so far there is no release date or title, except that it’s tentatively called R9.

As for Koffee, she has a new music video out now with Spanish Town native Govana who she taps for Rapture (Remix). The track is featured on her debut EP which has been doing very well since it was released in March.

“Rapture” is the title track on the project and one of the most popular track. A few weeks back we saw Lil Uzi Vert posted a video of himself vibing the song which is a major endorsement for the 19-year-old singer. (Urban Islandz)

A

ctor Taapsee Pannu has several films in hand, one of them with her Baby co-star Akshay Kumar.

Like Taapsee, Akshay, too, features in multiple films each year and will be seen with Taapsee in Mission Mangal.

Talking about Akshay, Taapsee told Deccan Chronicle in an interview, “I have these kind of conversations with Akshay, that even I have four releases this year. But if I reach even half the place where he has, I think I will retire after that. He has done so many things that it’s commendable.”

Taapsee has already delivered her first hit of the year, Badla with Amitabh Bachchan. Apart from Mission Mangal, Taapsee will also be seen in psychological thriller (Tamil-Telugu bilingual) Game Over and Saand Ki Aankh with Bhumi Pednekar.

While Akshay’s Kesari has already emerged as a hit this year, he has two more films lined up for release in 2019 besides Mission Mangal. He will also be seen in multi-starrer comedy Housefull 4 and with Kareena Kapoor, Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani in Good News. He is currently working on the Rohit Shetty film, Sooryavanshi

C

arrie Underwood extended her run as the most decorated act in the history of the CMT Music Awards with her 20th win Wednesday night.

Underwood won two prizes at the fan-voted show, including video of the year for “Cry Pretty” and female video of the year for “Love Wins.”

“Fans, thank you so much. I saw you guys doing the Twitter parties and getting together and doing your thing and voting,” she said.

“None of us would be able to do any of what we do if not for you guys. You guys put us here. You guys keep us going. You guys let us live out our dreams.”

When she won the first televised award of the night, Underwood acknowledged her husband’s birthday (she is married to former hockey player Mike Fisher, who sat in the audience).

“It is my husband’s birthday today — look what they got you,” she said.

The Grammy-winning country star also performed at the show honoring the year’s best country music videos, which took place at the Bridgestone Arena in

A

lec Baldwin will prove yet again he can take a punch, this time around at least the verbal kind, when he sits for a Comedy Central roast this summer. “The Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin” will be taped in New York; the taping date and airdate will be announced later.

“Getting roasted will be the greatest honor of my lifetime besides being a father, a husband, hosting ‘SNL’ seventeen times, receiving Golden Globes, Emmys, and working with Martin Scorsese,” said Baldwin in a statement.

Said Jonas Larsen, EVP Talent and Development, Comedy Central: “Alec Baldwin has done so many

Nashville, Tennessee.

Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town and Trombone Shorty kicked off the event with a performance of “Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time.” More collaborative performances followed: Brett Young sang “Here Tonight” with Boyz II Men, even blending in some of the R&B group’s “Water Runs Dry” for the performance. Sheryl Crow and Maren Morris teamed up onstage, while Tanya Tucker — whose new album will be produced by Brandi Carlile — sang “Delta Dawn” with the Grammy-winning Americana singer, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Alaina and more acts. (Page Six)

great things it will be a unique treat to spend a night focusing on everything he’d rather forget.”

“The Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin” will be executive produced by Joel Gallen from Tenth Planet Productions, who also served as Executive Producer and Director of the Comedy Central Roasts of Bruce Willis, Rob Lowe, Justin Bieber, James Franco, Charlie Sheen and Donald Trump, as well as the Emmynominated Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner.

Christian McLaughlin is the Executive in Charge of Production and Jordan Ellner is the Talent Producer for Comedy Central. (Page Six)

Crossword Solution

which will release next year. Apart from that, he also has Laxmmi Bomb, the Hindi remake of 2011 Tamil film Muni 2: Kanchana scheduled to release in 2020.

Taapsee and Akshay are part of the multi-starrer Mission Mangal that also stars Sonakshi Sinha, Vidya Balan, Kirti Kulhari, Sharman Joshi and

Nithya Menon.

The film will revolve around the scientists who were involved in India’s first Mars Orbiter Mission. According to latest reports, Mission Mangal was earlier scheduled to release on Independence Day, August 15 but may now have been preponed to August 9.

(Hindustan Times)

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Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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JUNE 9, 2019

Fun Times

Archie

Check out what is going on behind the scenes. Looks can be (March 21deceiving, so unless you have April 19) done your research carefully, you should be reluctant to make an unnecessary change.

ARIES

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

You are a trusting individual, but being too generous with your personal information will have negative repercussions. Avoid sharing details regarding your valuables, assets or financial status.

Be a careful shopper.

Don’t be enticed by a fast sales pitch, no matter how mesmerizing. Lending and borrowing are best avoided today.

In order to gain favorable attention at work or home, you should put in extra hours ensuring that you have taken care of your responsibilities adequately. Your dedication will be appreciated.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Attend industry venues if possible. The knowledge you gain from participating in workshops, seminars and business meetings will be informative and put to good use in all aspects of your life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Money matters look promising. This is a favorable day to check out real estate or property deals.

Conservative long-term investments will pay off. A change will do you good.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Calvin and Hobbes

You need to back off if you have been too demanding or overbearing. Let others have their say. Matters will move along much more smoothly if you are willing to give as well as take.

You are outgoing and craving companionship, so get out and socialize. First, however, you should take care of business before an unhappy family member criticizes you for not honoring a promise.

Stay on good terms with your co-workers and peers.

As part of a team, you can work toward improvements or changes in the workplace that will benefit everyone.

A unique project can turn into a profitable venture.

Use your creativity to put together something that is totally yours from start to finish. Romance is on the rise.

If you have done everyAQUARIUS thing to the best of your (Jan. 20- ability, don’t get upset if Feb. 19) someone makes uncalled-for comments. Jealousy is best left to dissipate on its own.

Make sure your friends, PISCES (Feb. 20- family or loved ones know Mar. 20) what you are up to. You will be caught off guard if you are blamed for something that you didn’t do.