Guyana Times - Thursday, April 4, 2019

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Issue No. 3884

THE BEACON OF TRUTH thursday, april 4, 2019

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Housing Minister’s husband given contracts to build Govt houses

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Rose Hall Estate workers attached to Albion on strike …say victimisation by GuySuCo P9

Page 13

Citizenship Dept caught in immigration fraud – Opposition Page 7

Cop under P10 close arrest for lying about gun discovery

…publishes fraudulent naturalisation notices

Region 1 leptospirosis outbreak

P10

Matthews Ridge Hospital resumes operations …no new cases reported

NCN official to be named new P9 AFC MP ...previously accused of financial fraud

Jagdeo says “resignation” of Govt MPs not sincere Page 3

…as Govt backpedals, now says “resignation” will not take immediate effect

Waitress caught with cocaine in storybooks P8 jailed

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news

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thurSday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Thursday, April 4 – a night retraction from 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, April 5 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, April 4 – 16:15h-17:45h and Friday, April 5 – 16:50h-18:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Jagdeo says resignation of coalition MPs not sincere …as Govt backpedals …now says resignation will not take immediate effect

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light cloudy skies are expected throughout most of the day, followed by sunny intervals in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to North North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 04:08h and 16:25h reaching maximum heights of 2.60 metres and 2.65 metres respectively.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

President David Granger

Low Tide: 10:00h and 22:16h reaching minimum heights of 0.59 metres and 0.57 metre respectively.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo does not believe the coalition Government is serious when it comes to the resignation of their Members of Parliament (MPs) who hold dual citizenship status. This statement comes on the heels of Government saying on Wednesday that the resignation of its four Ministers, which was announced on Tuesday, will take effect only after certain constitutional processes are completed.

However, speaking at his weekly press conference on Wednesday, Jagdeo said the resignation of Ministers Joseph Harmon (State), Carl Greenidge (Foreign Affairs), Dominic Gaskin (Business) and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine (Public Service) was done only because of mounting public pressure on their duplicity since they fully accepted the Court of Appeal’s decision that the Opposition’s No-confidence Motion was invalid but refused to accept both the High Court and Appeal Court’s ruling that dual citizens are not qualified to sit in the National Assembly.

“So they were caught in a dilemma and I think they’re trying to get out of that dilemma (but) there’s quite a bit of confusion in this matter because they’re not sincere about it,” he noted.

This lack of sincerity and honesty by Government, according to the Opposition Leader, are reflected in the missives sent out by the Government over the past two days, indicating firstly the President has ac-

cepted the resignation of the four Ministers and that they would not return to the National Assembly, but then backtracked on that to say that the resignations will not take immediate effect until the necessary processes are completed.

“What process apart from a resignation (letter) to the President is required for you to resign as a Minister?

As Member of Parliament,

O

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Opposition MP Adrian Anamayah

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

you have to send a letter to the Speaker and how long does it take to write a letter to the Speaker? It could be done immediately…but clearly these people think Guyanese are fools; that we will buy this garbage that they shove at us every single day and we will not recognise that they are taking us for a ride. But I have great faith in the people of this country, that they will recognise what is going on here.” Jagdeo asserted.

TURN to page 10

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thurSday, april 4, 2019

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

Government’s sudden public engagements

L

ast week, the Government staged what turned out to be a massive event at the Square of the Revolution. Its purpose was to allow citizens to meet and interact with various officials.

Members of the public were also allowed the opportunity to raise issues of concern with the expectation of them being resolved or at the least, having the process initiated.

Representatives from some State agencies were also available to provide whatever support was needed in keeping with the intended purpose of the event. From all reports, the turnout was overwhelming as evident from the long lines as people braved the scorching heat to take advantage of what was supposedly offered.

Under the modest tents were many Ministers who abandoned the comfort of their plush air-conditioned offices to engage the residents.

The event, when viewed in isolation, is well-intended, welcomed and necessary as part of the process of making the Government accessible to the populace. When a more holistic perspective is taken, the activity can be seen as knee-jerked designed to convey the impression that the Government is caring and easily accessible. The latter, when examined in the current political context, can be seen as far from the truth.

The main premise for this is that, in almost four years since in office, the Government has not been engaging the citizenry in the manner expected. Unlike the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which was known for sustained engagements with the public at various levels across the country, the current government built a reputation of being confined to offices.

The President, even prior to the official announcement of his illness, was not seen as having a preference to meet residents in their villages or through Cabinet outreaches as was a hallmark of the PPP/C. As a matter of fact, he did not avail himself for press conferences and apparently agreed only after pressure from the media and sections of society. Save and except the few Ministers who facilitated members of the public on assigned days, there was little else that could have been deemed as engaging the public in a meaningful way.

That drastically changed after the no-confidence vote on December 21, 2018. Having accepted on that historic night that it had fallen and would abide by the decision, and, even though it completely changed its mind after the injection of a controversial mathematical theory, the Government almost immediately embarked on exercises to meet citizens.

Some Ministers who never engaged in such activity hit the road and the fields with the weather appearing to be of little concern. The sudden and noticeable switch to meet with the ordinary folk was clearly precipitated from the action of one of its former Members of Parliament, Charrandas Persaud. His “yes” vote that led to the success of the no-confidence motion was what put into motion the Government’s action of rubbing shoulders with residents in the streets.

Despite him being vilified and despised by his former colleagues in the Government, it can be unambiguously stated that Charrandas’ vote literally woke up the Government. Through its unsurprising spin and fear of losing office, the Government is now advertising itself as caring, and accessible. It’s the complete opposite of what it appeared to be by its own actions prior to December 2018.

Many questions were asked as to why the Government seemingly secluded itself from the people. Some have posited that it would have been challenged to defend the draconian measures it introduced after taking office in May 2015. Those measures inflicted serious financial consequences as hundreds of jobs were lost and some businesses closed. The social impact continues to be devastating.

The bleak situation hasn’t changed and the Government has found itself in a situation where it is forced to engage the populace in an effort to show it possesses caring traits. In doing so, taxpayers’ money are spent to prepare the venue with tents, etc, to facilitate those who attended. Those familiar with such costs will know how steep it could be.

With that in mind, wouldn’t it have been more prudent for each of the Ministers to have extended engagements at the various Ministries to, at the least, spare from the blistering sun? By the same token, couldn’t the same be done for the Government agencies that were involved? These questions seem unavoidable in the context of what might have been the real purpose – a genuine engagement or a public relations activity.

The first option would demand sustained and meaningful interactions throughout the tenure; the second, an exercise in damage control. From what is evident since May 2015 to December 2018, and having been made to realise its apparent neglect of the public, the Government may have had no option but to enter a mode of damage control as it seems to be in now.

That could question the sincerity of and probably how beneficial the event was to the ordinary citizens. One would definitely want it to be beneficial for the people, but the question seems very relevant. The same for the recently-held Youth Rally reportedly at the expense of taxpayers.

Awaiting the next catch: This purple Gallinule, along with her chick, is perched on the massive Victoria amazonica regia lily leaf pad as she awaits her next catch. (Photo by Karanmbu Lodge)

Venezuela’s slums are turning on Maduro – but Guaidó faces uphill battle

…the support of barrios like Petare may be key to overcoming Maduro. But not all residents are sold on his challenger

N

icolás Maduro’s special forces set up camp on Petare’s doorstep just days after efforts to depose him began, daubing the pitch black exterior of their base with their Commander-in-Chief’s call to arms: “Always loyal, never traitors.”

Alongside, troops painted two white skulls and a second chilling mantra: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

Almost three months later, black-clad operatives stare down from the compound’s wooden rampart, assault rifles trained on slum-dwellers once considered Chavismo’s most fervent supporters.

“It’s a way of intimidating the population,” complained José Luis Castañeda, a community leader in this vast tapestry of redbrick homes in eastern Caracas. “But it won’t sway the petareños.”

Seventeen years earlier, Castañeda was one of tens of thousands of people who streamed down from their hilltop homes to defend Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez, when he was briefly deposed by a botched USbacked coup.

For millions of disenfranchised citizens, Chávez’s Bolivarian revolution represented, finally, the possibility of social, economic and racial inclusion in a profoundly lopsided society.

But now, with their lives upended by the economic and social disaster unleashed under Maduro, many of those same marchers are turning on Chávez’s successor in what could prove a fatal blow to his rule.

“Maduro is a delinquent.

Maduro is wicked. Maduro is a monster. He is evil … The people no longer want him,” fumed Magaly Arismendi, a 54-year-old manicurist from El Campito, one of dozens of working-class communities

A member of the Bolivarian national police special forces take a position during a raid against criminal groups at the Petare slum in Caracas (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images photograph)

that make up Petare.

Across Petare’s vertiginous back alleys such anger is inescapable – even if some still lionise Chávez as a champion of the poor.

“Petare was Chavista.

Not anymore,” said Héctor Lunar, a Catholic Priest who lives and works in the community and is part of the Opposition movement to overthrow Maduro. “Most here are against the Government and they are crying out for change.”

A man of the cloth, Lunar is more diplomatic than most.

Joel Rivero, another community leader, said the rage was such that Maduro would be lynched if he showed his face in Petare. “And I’ll tell you something: I’m a practising Catholic … but I think I’d take a piece of him myself … because there’s no name for what they have done to Venezuela.”

Franklin Piccone, a local teacher and activist, said many felt so desperate they hoped a missile would obliterate the presidential palace, Miraflores, and its occupants.

Orphaned child

“People don’t care anymore – they just want these people out,” Piccone said. “If you ask me, [they must go] if they don’t want to end up like Gaddafi … We really are now

facing a social explosion.”

But as Venezuela’s political mutiny enters its third month, that often untamed rejection of Maduro has yet to translate into universal support for his challenger, Juan Guaidó.

Alexis Pineda, an 18-yearold student from El Campito, said that for all his community’s hardships he felt ambivalent about both men.

“The way I see things, neither of them has done anything,” he grumbled. “All right, Guaidó declared himself President … but we haven’t heard much from him since.”

José Jaramillo, a 32-yearold construction worker, said the political crisis had left him feeling like an orphaned child: “None of them are any good. Not Maduro. Not the Opposition. None of them.”

William Pirela, a 45-yearold window fitter, said he was optimistic Guaidó could drag Venezuela out of a crisis that had forced his two daughters to flee to neighbouring Colombia in search of work.

But Pirela admitted he was too scared to take to the streets on behalf of Maduro’s challenger, having seen a friend killed during a previous round of anti-Government protests.

“They are nice and safe in their homes … They are

protected by bodyguards and Police and the rest of it,” Pirela said of the Opposition’s leaders. “What about us?”

Venezuela’s impoverished barrios have been making their voices heard in the weeks since Guaidó threw down the gauntlet to Maduro on January 23 – and have paid dearly for it, with human rights activists accusing security forces of a string of politically driven killings.

But Opposition Leaders and activists say the unequivocal backing of the barrios is essential if Guaidó is to prevail over Maduro – hence Maduro’s use of special forces and paramilitary gangs known as colectivos to snuff out even the slightest hint of rebellion.

“If the people who live in the barrios rise up and say, ‘No more!’ that will be the end of Maduro,” predicted Henrique Capriles, a prominent Opposition Leader who narrowly lost the 2013 presidential election to Maduro and is now backing Guaidó.

Capriles said he did not believe Venezuelan soldiers – many of whom themselves hail from the slums – would open fire if barrio residents mobilised en masse, meaning it was imperative for Maduro to stop things going that far.

Crossroads

“This is the crossroads at which Maduro now finds himself … and this is why he needs to … extinguish [any kind of uprising] immediately – with repression,” Capriles said. “The regime knows that if the barrios wake up … they will remove Maduro.”

In recent days, as Venezuela has grappled with a succession of devastating blackouts that have hit slum dwellers particularly hard, Guaidó has shown signs of understanding the need to do more to win over the hearts and minds of the barrios.

CONTINUED ON Page 5

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thurSday, april 4, 2019

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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

Govt’s full flipflop mode Dear Editor, First their resignation was accepted with immediate effect, then portfolios to be handled by stand-ins, now earlier position recanted and resignations not effective immediately.

In full flip-flop mode rem-

iniscent of the passage of the no-confidence motion, more chaos is being created since some portfolios were already distributed.

Oh, what a tangled web.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Coalition circus campaign continues in Region 6 Dear Editor, As the coalition ‘circus’ campaign continues, helplessly trying to distract Guyanese from their failures, entourages from the Ministry of Public Health, financed by taxpayers, moves into Region Six to continue their comical displays. I received a letter of invitation from the Regional Executive Officer, Kim WilliamsStephens which indicated

that the Ministers of Public Health would be in Region Six for two days – (3rd and 4th) April 2019 – to conduct a series of commissioning ceremonies for several projects and health centres in the Region Six. But the two notable acts that really amaze me is the re- commission of the National Ophthalmology Hospital at Port Mourant, and an appreciation cere-

Actions consistent with legal advice

Dear Editor, Permit me to respond to a letter appearing in your newspaper over the weekend and on Tuesday, April 2; and Wednesday, April 3,

2019 from Baldeo Mathura.

Mathura asks “Could the nation be kindly advised if Minister Cathy Hughes is still awaiting advice that she said she was seeking…”

Mathura seems to have missed my pronouncement reported in most newspapers months ago that I have received legal advice and I wish to state that my actions

have been consistent with the advice I have received.

Regards, Cathy Hughes

Venezuela’s slums are turning...

“You have the power to change this country,” he told crowds during a visit to El Valle, a working-class stronghold in south-west Caracas.

Lunar, who has worked in Petare since 2012, predicted that once Guaidó had the barrios on board “many things will start to change rapidly”.

But for that to happen, “a profound reconciliation” was needed between Venezuela’s Opposition – long regarded as an opulent, aloof and overwhelmingly white elite – and the poor, “and this needs to start now”. “If we want the people to speak out, the leadership must get close to the communities,” Lunar said.

Capriles said he had advised Guaidó to travel widely outside the capital in order to create an unstoppable political “snowball” that would drive Maduro out.

“Caracas is not Venezuela.

You have to visit the people in Maracaibo, in San Juan de los Morros, in Ciudad Guayana – and you have to set about getting the Venezuelans to believe in the struggle, so they can overcome fear.”

As petareños wait for Guaidó to visit, the priority for most remains day-to-day survival in a country no lon-

ger able to provide a reliable supply of water or electricity to its people.

“The situation is terrible. Our children are fleeing the country,” said Rosa Cárdenas, a 68-year-old resident of Los Algarrobos, one of Petare’s most deprived sectors, who had spent the last four days without water.

Hyperinflation was so dire that it now cost her entire pension of 18,000 bolívar?es to buy a single bottle of washing-up liquid. “If it wasn’t for my children helping me, how would I eat?” she wondered.

As she spoke, Venezuela suffered the latest in a succession of massive nationwide blackouts and the whole of Petare was plunged into a sinister gloom.

Shouts of the Opposition’s risqué rallying cry echoed across the hilltops.

“I feel afraid. I feel anger. I feel hatred,” said Cárdenas, as her neighbours placed improvised oil lamps outside their electricity deprived homes. “The truth is, it’s all just too much.”

Cárdenas did not hesitate in declaring herself part of the opposition to Maduro, but admitted she was still not completely convinced by Guaidó.

As she sat in the shad-

ows, the grandmother of six scoffed at the chirpy slogan of his campaign to top-

from page 4

ple Maduro: “Vamos bien”, or “We’re doing well”. (The Guardian)

mony for the Ministers. This hospital has not done a single cataract surgery for the past Four years, but despite this, the Ministers of Public Health have the audacity to come to Berbice to fool Berbicians that the health sector is perfect. What is the purpose of recommissioning a Hospital that is not functioning for its actual purposes? Millions would be spent on the appreciation dinner and this visit by this entourage that could have complemented the 60 cataract kits that were purchased by the Region to be used at New

Amsterdam Public Hospital.

The Ministers are yet to even respond to or rectify the numerous inefficiencies that exist in the functioning of the New Amsterdam Public Hospital or the Regional Health Services. The entire Health Services is being used to reward political activists and cronies of APNU/AFC .The fact remains that because of the incompetence in sector, health-care delivery and the lives of Berbicians are at stake.

Regards, Zamal Hussain

6

thurSday, APRIL 4, 2019

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E

verybody gets angry sometimes. Being angry doesn’t really solve much – but what people do when they feel angry is important. The goal is to calm yourself down and try to solve whatever problem is bothering you. This is hard for some kids (and adults, too). Instead of calming down, some kids might keep getting more and more upset until they explode like a volcano!

Some kids get angry more often or more easily than some other kids. Their anger might be so strong that the feeling gets out of control and causes them to act in ways that are unacceptable and hurtful. People might say kids like this have a temper, which is a term for acting all angry and out of control. When people say that someone has trouble controlling their temper, they usually mean that a kid misbehaves when feeling angry or frustrated.

Some kids might get so angry that they scream at their mom or dad, punch the wall, slam doors, break something, or – worse yet – hit a brother or sister. Kids are allowed to express their feelings, even angry ones, but it’s not OK for a kid to do any of those things.

Kids don’t want to (or mean to) act this way – but sometimes angry feelings can be hard to manage. So what do you do if you’re a volcano kind of a kid and your temper is getting you into trouble?

Arf! Try this!

Well, the good news is that kids don’t just have to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. You can train your temper the same way you might train a puppy.

Huh? That’s right, we said a puppy.

If you’ve ever played with puppies, you know they are sweet but a little out of control.

Their tails wag furiously and they might tear apart your sneakers or nip at the mailman’s behind. Oh dear, what can you do with your puppy?

Training is the answer.

In the same way, you can train your temper. Imagine your temper as a puppy inside you that needs some training.

The puppy is not bad – it will probably turn out to be a great dog. It just needs to learn some rules because, right now, that puppy is causing some prob-

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Foundation lems for you.

You don’t want to keep getting in trouble for the way you act when you’re angry. You probably even feel bad afterward if you’ve hurt someone’s feelings or broken a toy you liked. So let’s get that puppy trained.

Here are some things to try anytime, even when you’re not angry: * Get lots of physical activity. Play outside. Do sports you like. Karate or wrestling can be good for kids who are trying to get their tempers under control. But any activity that gets your heart pumping can be good because it’s a way of burning off energy and stress. It feels good to boot that soccer ball or smack that baseball! * Talk to your mom or dad. If you’re having trouble with your temper, the time to talk about it is before you have another angry outburst.

Tell your parents that you’re trying to do a better job of controlling yourself. Ask for their help and ideas for how you could do this better. Maybe if you go a whole week without a meltdown, they can take you out for a treat. Let them know that if you do get really angry, you’re going to ask for their help. * Put feelings into words. Get in the habit of saying what you’re feeling and why. Tell your parents, “I feel angry when you tell me it’s time to stop playing and take out the trash. I don’t like taking out the trash.” And your parent will probably say (kindly), “I know – no one likes doing it. But it’s your job and you need to do it anyway.” So using words won’t get you out of taking out the trash (sorry!), but it might stop you from slamming the garage door, having a fit about the trash, or doing something else that could get you in trouble. Using words helps people manage their strong feelings and behaviours. * Take control. Who’s in charge here – you or that wild little puppy? Decide that you’re going to be in charge.

Don’t let those angry feelings make you do stuff you don’t want to do.

Four important steps

The real test comes the next time you get so mad you could just explode. But don’t

explode. Put a leash on that puppy with these four steps: * Take a break from the situation. If you’re in an argument with someone, go to another part of your house. Your room or the backyard are good choices. Just say, “I want to be alone for a while so I can calm down.” * Put yourself in a timeout. If you’re feeling angry and think you need a timeout to calm down, don’t wait for a parent to tell you — go ahead and take a timeout for yourself. Let your family know that when you’re taking a timeout, they need to respect your space and leave you alone to calm yourself down. For kids old enough to do it for themselves, a timeout isn’t a punishment: It’s a cool-down.

While you’re sitting in your timeout chair, try this cooldown exercise: Put your hands under the seat of the chair and pull up while you count to 5.

Then stretch your arms over your head. Take a nice deep breath and let it out. One kid who tried these steps said he used this time to think about the consequences – like getting in trouble if he let his temper go wild. * Get the anger out. We don’t want you punching walls (or even punching pillows), but why not do a bunch of jumping jacks or dance around your room to your favourite music?

Turn it up a little. If you go outside, run around or do cartwheels across the lawn. You also could pick up your pen and write it all down. What made you so upset? Keep writing until you’ve covered everything. If you don’t like writing, just draw a picture that helps you express your feelings.

Use strong colours and strong lines to show your strong feelings. You also can try the “Be a Volcano” exercise. * Learn to shift. You’ll have to work hard to do this. This is where you get that puppy under control. The idea is to shift from a really angry mood to a more in-control mood.

After you get some of the angry feelings out, you have to start thinking about other things. Sometimes, when people are angry, they’re not really thinking clearly. They’re just mad, mad, mad. Only angry thoughts are flying around their brains. A person might even say mean things to himself or herself, like “I’m such an

idiot. I lost my temper again!”

But you can replace those thoughts with better ones. For instance, you can say, “I lost my temper, but I’m going to get myself under control now.”

Instead of thinking of the person or situation you’re angry with, think of something else.

Think of something that will put you in a better mood.

A tough question

What if it’s a problem that can’t be solved? Like being angry about your parents’ divorce, or having to go to summer school, or wanting a later bedtime? Or when you just can’t get your way about something? Some stuff kids get angry about can’t be changed.

For instance, if your mom says it’s time to stop playing your video game and go to bed, what can you do? She’s not changing her mind and you have to get some sleep. Man, that really stinks! You were almost to level four!

But even if you get really angry, she won’t budge. And even if you knock over a chair, you’ll still have to stop playing your game. But now you might have an extra penalty for knocking over the chair.

Maybe she’ll say you aren’t allowed to play your game tomorrow! That would be very bad news – you’d have to wait even longer to get to level four.

Though it’s one of the toughest things to learn, it might be best just to tell yourself, “OK, stop the game and get to bed.” Some arguments you’ll be able to win, but this probably isn’t one of them.

That doesn’t mean you’ll never get your way. You will be able to get your way sometimes. Bigger kids, like you, can learn to make their points calmly without losing it. This approach usually works better with everyone, especially parents. When you do this, you’re controlling that wild little puppy inside you. You’re in charge instead of that little rascal with the wagging tail.

Have you been wondering why we asked you to think of your temper as a puppy? A puppy is young and loveable – just like you – and wonderful to be around, especially when it keeps its temper under control! (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

H

ave you ever played the game Telephone?

You sit in a circle with a group of people and one person whispers a phrase to the person next to him or her. Then, each person keeps whispering the phrase around the circle until it reaches the last person, who repeats the whispered statement out loud. What started out as “Pizza tastes great” can end up as “Pete’s a great ape!”

It’s funny to laugh at how twisted the sentence became as it got passed around.

Gossip can work the same way, but it’s not so funny.

In fact, it can be very hurtful. Have you ever gossiped or been gossiped about? Let’s find out more about gossiping.

Talk vs gossip

Talking is how you spread your thoughts, ideas, and experiences to people around you. It’s not always wrong to talk about other people.

There’s nothing wrong with telling your friends, “I like hanging out with Jake. He tells the funniest stories!”

Those words don’t hurt anyone.

But when you say mean things, tell stories that you’re not sure are true, or reveal information you know is supposed to remain private, you’re spreading gossip.

What if you saw funny Jake go into the principal’s office and you started wondering if he was in trouble. There’s nothing wrong with wondering that, but what if you started telling other people you think Jake’s in big trouble. You really don’t know why he was in the principal’s office, right?

But before you know it, everyone is talking about how Jake is in trouble and imagining why. Maybe he put his rubber snake in the teacher’s desk, someone says. Maybe he punched a kid who didn’t laugh at one of his jokes, another person suggests. Jake doesn’t come back to class for a long time, but when he does, everyone wants to know what happened in the principal’s office.

Jake might be a little angry or confused about all the questions, especially when he explains, “I went to the principal’s office because my mom was there to take me to a doctor appointment.”

That’s how rumours work. They start small and often blow up into something different from the truth.

What if it’s true?

Even if it was true that Jake was in big trouble – and you knew it for a fact – it wouldn’t have been right to tell everyone about it. Try to avoid talking about stuff that would embarrass another person. Before you blab, try this test: Ask yourself if you

would want other people to know that kind of stuff about you.

Sometimes a friend will admit something to you and ask you not to tell anyone else. It can be hard not to share a secret, especially when it’s something you really want to talk about with other friends. Maybe you don’t even understand why the person wants you to keep the information a secret.

Sometimes, you may overhear something and your mind starts spinning. But remember that you might have heard just one piece of the story. Something like this happened a long time ago, before everyone had TVs in their homes, when people used to listen to stories on the radio.

On Halloween in 1938, a radio program broadcast a story called “The War of the Worlds.” It was about Martians landing in New Jersey and trying to take over the world. Sounds crazy, right? Well, the problem was that some people turned on the story in the middle, and it sounded like it a regular news broadcast. Some people thought it was actually happening. They didn’t hear the introduction, when the announcer explained that this was just a pretend story. They only heard one piece of the story and got all confused!

When it’s ok to tell

Of course, sometimes it’s OK to talk about another person, especially if it involves dangerous behaviour.

What if a classmate brings a pocketknife to school or your friend tells you she’s not eating until she loses 10 pounds?

In cases like that, you need to tell a parent or another trusted adult. Telling a grownup who can help is not gossiping.

Gossip busters

The best way to avoid being a part of the gossip mill in your school is to steer clear of kids who gossip. If you happen to hear a rumour, don’t repeat it – and don’t listen to it, either. And when someone trusts you with a personal secret, keep it to yourself.

If you’re the victim of gossip, know that this happens to a lot of people. Talking to a close friend, sister, brother, parent, or guidance counsellor can help you feel better.

At first, gossip might seem like fun. It can feel like a private little club with you and your friend whispering about another person. But if someone gossips with you, he or she also might gossip about you. And it doesn’t feel good to be on the receiving end. Stick with friends who would rather live their own fun lives than talk about someone else’s! (Excerpt from kidshealth. org)

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thursday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Citizenship Dept caught in immigration fraud – Opposition …publishes alleged fraudulent naturalisation notices

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has express grave concern over what he believes is an immigration racket going on at the Citizenship Department within the Ministry of the Presidency.

Jagdeo told reporters at his weekly press conference on Wednesday that there is an “enormous cesspool of corruption” at the Citizenship Department, which among other things, has seen fraudulent applications for citizenship here by foreign nationals.

He pointed to several such publications in the State’s newspaper over the past months that showed

individuals applying for citizenship on more than one publications with different names and addresses.

For instance on February 5, 2019, a notice along with photograph was published of a young man by the name of Gabriel St Juste of Lot 56 Burma Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, “applying to the Minister for naturalisation”. However, two days later on February 7, 2019 a similar notice carrying the same photograph was published but with a different name and address – Daniel Garcia Farres of Lot 1010 Norton Street, Cemetery Road, Georgetown.

The same was done last month. Another notice published on March 27, 2019 stating that Rubesh Abdus of Lot 0 Tabatinga, Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), was also applying for naturalisation.

But, again, another publication two days later on March 29, 2019 saw the same photograph published with a different name and address, Hajime Beltran Abreu, of Lot 39 Owen Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

According to Jagdeo, these are just a few of several other cases found by persons from his party who are looking into the matter including Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Opposition Leader does not believe that these were mistakes but rather a “tip of the iceberg” of what

Guyanese.

Further, the Opposition Leader also questioned the integrity of the entire system, saying the “digitisation of records” is particularly suspicious since false data can be inputted into the system, which can then be used to give false identification to the masses of foreigners coming in the country.

The parliamentary Opposition had long been saying that the coalition Government is granting thousands of Haitians and Cubans citizenship in order for them to get voting rights for the upcoming elections.

But Government had rejected this notion.

A meeting of the he describes as a “deep dark hole of corruption” at the Department of Citizenship, which is headed by Minister Winston Felix.

“So it’s just the tip of the iceberg, they found several other examples so that cannot be mistakes. This is a pattern and it’s happening right before our eyes in Chronicle. They believe that people are not (noticing it) because most of us don’t pay attention to this issue and so we are very, very concerned,” Jagdeo said at his press conference on Thursday.

He went on to state that this is part of a larger corruption racket to give out citizenship to hundreds, possibly thousands, of foreign citizens, who may be either paying for it or were deliberately brought here for other reasons.

“So it something that we will be following up on seriously,” he asserted, noting that they have already brought it up with several authorities. Jagdeo added, however, he hopes the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has taken notice of these activities, which he said, poses risks for Guyanese.

Enhance scrutiny

He mentioned the economic citizenship programme that some Caribbean countries had implemented, whereby foreigners who invest certain amounts of money in the country were given passports, which subsequently begun attracting sanctions

from the international community regarding the use of passports from those countries by ordinary people.

Jagdeo said Guyanese are likely to face the same fate and could be subjected to intense scrutiny since the integrity of Guyanese documents will be questioned.

“So they will put at risk our passport. When we go abroad now, we will now be faced with enhanced scrutiny across the Region because if the people in the Region and the US and other places feel that our passports are porous and anyone can get a passport – a person coming from Bangladesh or Brazil or Haiti or DR (The Dominican Republic) or wherever else, can easily get a (Guyanese) passport and then use that to travel on then they will start paying more attention to those of us who travel using Guyanese passports,” he stressed.

On the other hand, the Opposition Leader went on to highlight that they also have concerns when it comes to the increasing number of foreign nationals entering the country. He said figures from COPA Airlines show that from October last year to March this year, some 3800 Haitians came through Guyana and most are still likely here.

Jagdeo pointed out that Guyanese have been complaining that these foreigners are here looking for jobs and are making it difficult for locals because they (foreigners) work for less pay and so they get hired over

Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs back in June 2018 had revealed alarming statistics which thousands of Haitians and Cubans are not only overstaying their time in Guyana but cannot be accounted for.

As of April 30, 2018, a total of 1238 Haitians arrived in Guyana but only 85 left the country. In 2017, 3515 Haitian nationals entered Guyana and 291 left, while the year before out of 722 Haitians who came here, only 451 were on record as leaving. There were 770 Haitian nations who arrived in 2015, 227 in 2014 and 188 in 2013 but only 136, 113 and 99 left the country respectively.

8 News

thurSday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Waitress caught with cocaine in storybooks jailed CJIA after she was observed by plain clothes Police narcotics ranks acting suspiciously.

According to the prosecution’s case, Jagernauth was an outgoing passenger on a COPA flight destined for Panama. After observing her behaviour, Police ranks identified themselves to the waitress and directed a search of her luggage, where they discovered the cocaine

A

Jailed: Rena Jagernauth

woman who attempted to traffic cocaine in children’s story books, but was caught at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) was on Wednesday jailed.

Rena Davi Jagernauth appeared before Chief

Magistrate Ann McLennan and admitted that on April 1, 2019, she had in her possession 4.853 kilograms of cocaine.

The 24-year-old Guyanese woman, who resides at Lot 309 Paramaribo, Suriname, was caught at the

hidden inside four children’s storybooks.

She was taken into custody and a further search conducted revealed cocaine stashed in deodorant and perfume bottles, a makeup kit, haircutting machine and other personal items inside the suitcase. Jagernauth was subsequently arrested.

The defendant was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $13.1 million.

Sophia man, technicians slapped with rape charges

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Sophia, Greater Georgetown man was on Wednesday remanded to prison after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a rape charge.

It is alleged that 34-yearold Aduke Josiah of Plum Street, Sophia, raped a 15-year-old girl on August 18, 2018. The prosecution is contended that the teen was in his care at the time of the incident. Following the incident, the teen informed her mother what had occurred and a report was made to the Police. In court on Wednesday, the prosecution did not say why the charges were instituted eight months later. However, Josiah was

remanded to prison and the case will continue on April 12.

Meanwhile, a technician, who is accused of raping a woman who rejected his advances, was released on $100,000 bail when he too appeared before the Chief Magistrate.

It is alleged that on August 24, 2018, he made sexual advances towards the Virtual Complainant, but she rejected him. This alleged made the 57-yearold angry and he reportedly forced himself onto her.

The alleged rape reportedly occurred at Alberttown, Georgetown.

The case will continue on April 10.

Woman remanded for unlawful wounding

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n unemployed woman was on Wednesday taken before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan

at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of unlawful wounding.

Stacy Ann Chandra, of Lot 12 Queen Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, denied the charge which stated that on November 20, 2018, she wounded Tomika Adams.

The prosecution is contending that the 24-yearold woman and the Virtual Compliant (VC) are known to each other; however, on the day of the incident, the defendant’s brother and Adams had a misunderstanding and she allegedly armed herself with a knife and dealt the woman several stabs about her body.

The matter was reported to the Brickdam Police Station.

Chandra was recently arrested and the charge instituted.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail on the grounds that the charge was serious in nature. The prosecution’s submissions were upheld, and Chandra was remanded to prison.

The case will continue on April 24, 2019.

Moving on…

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…with politics? hhh…for the good old days of politics when all you had to do was to show up at rallies and meetings where politicians would promise you the moon and the stars and you lapped it because you knew it was all a pappy show and you’d already figured who you’d be voting for!! But times have certainly changed. Your Eyewitness is getting so groggy with all the constitutional challenges by the politicians and decisions by the Judiciary that he just can’t keep up. It’s like swivelling your brain back and forth like you’re at some intellectual tennis match!! Is this going to be the new foreplay before Guyanese elections??

But come to think about it, maybe this is progress – speaking totally from the perspective that the PNC is in power? After all, during their last turn at the helm, with their rigging and killings, they didn’t give you the incentive to even think that your vote mattered!! All folks, wondered about then was what was going to be the PNC’s margin over the PPP they were going to award themselves!! Two-thirds like in ’73 or 80 per cent in 1985?

So to the question posed? Your Eyewitness thinks, that yes…this playing fast and loose with the Constitution is going to be the new foreplay. Why? Cause the PNC wants to have its cake (pretend that it’s different from the Burnham days) and eat it too (ensure that they’ll “win” the elections).

So while they can’t have the GDF seize ballot boxes any more (not because they REALLY CAN’T – but because they want to present a “kinder, gentler face” to the international community), they gotta make sure those stipulations in the Constitution that were inserted after 2000 to create a more level playing field are degutted! The field has to be tilted in their favour!

Take that unilateral appointment of the GECOM Chair Patterson by Granger. The INTENT of the framers of Article 161 (2) was to encourage both sides to compromise to select a candidate acceptable to both sides. But that was ignored

by Granger and supported by the local courts in a decision that was clearly aberrant. Your Eyewitness thinks it’ll be overturned at the CCJ tomorrow, but in the meantime, the PNC has bought time with the assistance and connivance of Patterson.

The no-confidence vote was a bolt from the blue that the PNC never saw coming. Heavens know why – unless it was their reputation for playing hardball against those who didn’t toe the line. Remember their “sharper steel”??

Their 33 is not greater than 32 gambit, will definitely also be thrown out by the CCJ – unless it’s a Caribbean fix!

Some foreplay can be rough!! …but 2 steps backwards Yesterday supporters of the PNC twisted their arms patting themselves on their backs for the announcement that their four dual-citizen MPs handed in their resignation to the President. Your Eyewitness expressed grave doubts that the PNC could ever “do the right thing”. He wasn’t sure what legal limb they’d jump on to keep their wuk but suggested maybe the “Technocratic Minister” route.

But it’s clear that your Eyewitness’s mind can never match the barefacedness of the PNC. As the Opposition Leader pointed out, before the day was out, they announced that other Ministers who filled in for them previously when they were out of the jurisdiction would hold the posts. Bright and early this morning however, there was another message from the President (who’s supposed to be in Cuba!) This one said that the resignations won’t take effect UNTIL ALL THE PROCESSES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED!! And what exactly are those “processes”??

Just more foreplay, dear reader…more foreplay!! …with genealogy of lists We’ve just been informed that this rejecting of lists didn’t begin with Granger. Seems that back in 2015, while on the way to Georgetown, a funny thing happened to the AFC Region Six list of candidates from which their MPs would be extracts.

It was “interfered” with by some big ones!! Ouch!!

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

News

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thursday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

NCN official to be named new AFC MP ...previously accused of financial fraud

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he National Communications Network (NCN) Berbice Manager, Donna Mathoo, is being considered as a possible replacement for Business Minister Dominic Gaskin as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Alliance For Change (AFC).

Chairman of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, on Wednesday told the media that there has been deliberations within the party on a replacement for the post of the Business Minister, who resigned as a Member of Parliament because of his dual citizenship status.

Minister Gaskin was born in the United Kingdom.

However, according to Article

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

156 (1) (a) of the Constitution states: “A member of the National Assembly shall vacate his or her seat therein if

he or she resigns it by writing under his or her own hand addressed to the Speaker or, if the Office of the Speaker if vacant or the Speaker is absent from Guyana, to the Deputy Speaker”; while Article 156 (4) (a) says: “The Speaker shall declare the seat of a Member of the National Assembly vacant where – (a) the Speaker receives a written declaration of the Member of the National Assembly… or (b) the Representative of the List issues a notice of recall…”

As such, Trotman reiterated that this situation is somewhat different from other parliamentarians, who attained citizenship in

NCN Berbice Manager Donna Mathoo

another country after birth.

Nonetheless, he said the AFC will comply with the requirement and Donna

Rose Hall Estate workers attached to Albion on strike …say victimisation by GuySuCo

Some of the striking sugar workers on Wednesday at the Rose Hall Estate compound

F

ield workers, who previously worked with the Rose Hall Estate and who have been transferred to the Albion Sugar Estate, are demanding their severance pay, saying efforts are being made to frustrate

them and management of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) seem to be in a direct ploy to force them to leave the job.

The workers staged a picketing exercise outside the old Rose Hall Estate compound, chanting “Severance!

Severance. No wuk.”

Workers are upset over the working conditions at the Albion Estate. Speaking with the media, the workers said the persons who were transferred from the Rose Hall Estate are being discriminated against by the management of GuySuCo. According to the workers, they are not told where they have to work until they arrive each morning at the estate. The workers also alleged that even if the work is not worth their labour, they are forced to work since the lorry driver refuses to take them back home.

“We are not able with what Albion going on with,” one worker told Guyana Times, adding, “They force we and carry we deh. They tell we a set ah lies.”

Some of the workers told this publication that the crop commenced five weeks ago and to date they are still

to receive tools.

“Without tools you can’t work,” he said.

The workers also claimed they have to travel long distances to get to work. In fact, some of them claim that on occasions, it is almost four hours after leaving home that they arrive at their work site.

They say they are being asked to fetch cane from further distances while the machine works the close cane to load punts.

Turn to page 11

Mathoo is one of the persons being considered. Once confirmed, they will announce the individual selected for the ministerial post.

“We are in the process of identifying a replacement who is suitable and we are examining the various lists and we will be making that announcement in due course. There are a number of persons who are eligible, Ms Mathoo being one of them, and so there is active consideration of appointing her,” the AFC Chairman stated.

The AFC executive mentioned that they are seeking to fill Gaskin’s position with someone who embodies competency, loyalty and delivers their time during parliamentary sessions. However, Mathoo was accused of being involved in fraudulent practices which reportedly saw over $3 million disappearing from the NCN’s coffers.

“We’re looking at competency, a person’s ability to represent us, their degree of loyalty if I’m to be upright…

We look at their ability to attend sittings of the National Assembly… Looking at the near and longer-term, we need to take several matters into consideration,” Trotman related.

Mathoo was sent on administrative leave in 2017, and in March 2018, she was back on the job. The Stateowned NCN has been silent on the outcome of an internal probe into the allegations.

Meanwhile, Trotman said Gaskin will continue to hold the post as Treasurer of the AFC and will serve

in other capacities in the future. It was indicated that the Business Minister requested some weeks ago that he intended on resigning from his post and affirmation was given recently for this to take place.

Advocating for amendment

However, going forward, he said the party will lobby for an amendment of Article 155 of the Constitution, so that persons with dual citizenship can serve as parliamentarians. He is of the view that the oil sector will demand human resources, which can be achieved through the recruitment of persons in the Diaspora.

Apart from Gaskin, three other Government MPs namely Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge; and Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine have all resigned from their respective posts because of the dual citizenship rule.

In February, Chief Justice Roxane George had ruled on the case filed by Compton Reid over the dual citizenship of former AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandas Persaud. In the case brought to the Chief Justice, Government had argued that Persaud’s dual citizenship status invalidated his vote in support of the No-confidence Motion that brought the Government down.

The Court of Appeal later upheld the January High Court ruling that it is illegal for persons holding dual citizenship status to be sitting in the National Assembly.

10 news

thurSday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cop under close arrest for Matthews Ridge Hospital lying about gun discovery resumes operations

Region 1 leptospirosis outbreak

…no new cases reported

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Some of the sick workers being transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital

here have been no new reported cases of leptospirosis in Matthews Ridge, Region One (Barima-Waini), following the initial cases last week.

Guyana Times was informed that the Matthews Ridge Hospital was sanitised and operations resumed, even as the medical team that was discharged to the area, continues to assess other miners who were working in the mining tunnel where several workers fell ill.

This publication was reliably informed that the team comprising of about 15 persons is operating out of the compound of Manganese Company Inc (GMI) and are carrying out health checks on the other miners even as the operations of the company remain at a halt.

Meanwhile, the patients that were air-dashed to the city over the weekend are receiving treatment at the

Georgetown Public Hospital, where they remain in an isolated area.

Health Minister Volda Lawrence had confirmed on Tuesday that 200 mining employees are being assessed for leptospirosis after several workers of GMI fell ill and one died.

The Minister noted that several tests were done on the miners and samples will be sent to the Caribbean Reference Laboratory, in St Vincent and the Grenadines, for further evaluation.

On Saturday last, a medical team from the Mabaruma Hospital was deployed to Matthews Ridge.

Eight persons were airdashed to the city after one died.

The symptoms the men exhibited were pain, fever, headache and respiratory distress.

Meanwhile on Monday, six more miners from Matthews Ridge were flown out to the city with similar

symptoms.

During the interview on Tuesday, Lawrence noted that there were no reports of any new cases at health centres in any neighbouring villages. As such, she said there was no suspected connection to the Venezuela border situation, since only the miners who were working at a particular tunnel have been affected thus far.

The manganese mining company has been instructed to halt further exploration until the Public Health Ministry and a team from the Occupational Health and Safety Department of the Social Protection Ministry advise further on the matter.

While the specialists continue to work on the patients admitted on Saturday, results have shown that two patients tested positive for leptospirosis, which is known to be spread through direct contact with rat urine or faeces.

The gun and ammunition that were discovered

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olice in E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) on Tuesday discovered an illegal firearm and ammunition outside the yard of a partly constructed house at Amelia’s Ward, Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

However, following the discovery, ranks placed one of their own under close arrest.

According to Police, about 13:45h, ranks went to a house located at Park Lane, Amelia’s Ward

Jagdeo says resignation of...

Immediate effect

One day after announcing the resignation of the four Government parliamentarians, President David Granger in a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday said that while he accepted the resignation of the MPs, their resignations will not take effect immediately as there are several processes which have to be applied.

These, he noted, include submitting their letters of resignation to the Speaker of the National Assembly, as well as a letter to the Representative of the List from which they were elected.

Article 156 (1) (a) of the Constitution states: “A member of the National Assembly shall vacate his or her seat therein – if he or she resigns it by writing under his or her own hand addressed to the Speaker or, if the Office of the Speaker if vacant or the Speaker is absent from Guyana, to the Deputy Speaker”; while Article 156 (4) (a) says: “The Speaker shall declare the seat of a Member of the National Assembly vacant where – (a) the Speaker receives a written declaration of the Member of the National Assembly… or (b) the Representative of the List issues a notice of recall…”

On this note, the President reminded that the nomination of new members can be done only after the extraction of names from the National Top-Up list is approved by the Guyana Elections Commission. This means the four MPs will remain Ministers until those processes are completed.

Furthermore, the Head of State indicated in the missive that he has not approved their replacements in the National Assembly at this time.

However, in a statement from the coalition Cabinet on Tuesday, it was noted that these four Ministers when resigned will remain in the Government service

From page 3

and this will be finalised when President Granger returns from Cuba, where he’s receiving treatment for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

But according to Jagdeo, this now means that taxpayers will have to carry the expenses of not only these four resigned Ministers, who will probably preserve their current benefits and perks, but also that of their replacements as well.

Backpedals

Squatting Area, where they conducted a search for firearm, ammunition and narcotics. Upon the Police’s arrival, three men were at the house.

A search was conducted on the premises, but no illegal items were found in the house. Guyana Times was told that the ranks left the yard and were heading to their vehicle when one of them picked up a concrete block outside the yard, about two feet away from the main road. It was then

that they saw the firearm in a multi-coloured plastic. This newspaper was told that one of the ranks, a Police Corporal allegedly instructed a Police Constable, who was among the search party, to report to their superior that the items were found in a room of the house.

The rank then reportedly told the fabricated story to their seniors, as several persons were arrested and taken into custody over the discovery.

The arrested persons were all interviewed by a senior Police Officer and all maintained that the gun and ammunition were found under the block of concrete.

The senior cop then interviewed the ranks who made the discovery separately and two of them allegedly confessed that the story was fabricated.

As a result, the rank who allegedly initiated the misinformation was placed under close arrest at Mackenzie Police Station.

The firearm was examined and it was observed to be a .32 semi-automatic pistol # 684464 and seven matching rounds were reportedly found within the magazine.

The persons who were taken into custody have since been released from Police custody.

An investigation has been launched.

On the other hand, the coalition Government also announced on Wednesday that the three A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Ministers of Government who have resigned from the

National Assembly have indicated that they will renounce their foreign citizenship. These are Harmon, Greenidge and Roopnaraine.

Gaskin, an Alliance For Change (AFC) member, is a born Briton.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo also announced that the three Opposition MPs – Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, Odinga Lumumba and Adrian Anamayah – who are also dual citizens, will also resigned. He noted that they have already written to the Representative of the List, Donald Ramotar, and by next week, will all submit letters to the Speaker of the House.

However, the Opposition

Leader explained that only Teixeira and Lumumba will be renouncing their foreign citizenship.

“Adrian Anamayah will not renounced. He has explained to me that there are family obligations and other issues so he will not renounce because of those commitments he has…,” Jagdeo noted.

Nevertheless, he revealed that Teixeira has already commenced the process and is awaiting a response from the Canadian authorities on her application for an expedited renunciation, while Lumumba is expected to start his process soon.

NEWS

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thursday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police to use body cameras West Watooka residents during traffic stops, arrests complain of smoke nuisance from hospital

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s part of the reformation process for a more modernised and efficient Guyana Police Force, 40 ranks from within D Division (West Bank DemeraraEast Bank Essequibo) were trained to use Portable Video Recording kits or ‘body cameras’.

The purpose of the training was to allow ranks to be able to operate the equipment to capture digital audio and video evidence for criminal, civil and traffic related offences, which will also assist ranks with recalling facts and other details captured by the equipment that would accurately relate a chain of events when

R

writing reports, Police headquarters said in a state-

Rose Hall Estate workers...

From page 9

The hardship, the workers said, had resulted in their earnings being reduced by more than 60 per cent.

Only last week workers who were transferred from the said Rose Hall Estate to the Blairmont Estate downed tools in protest, sighting discrimination and unfair treatment.

However, these workers say they are convinced that there is a deliberate attempt to make it difficult for them.

They are now rebelling.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) will meet with the workers today.

GuySuCo’s concern

Meanwhile, following the strike on Wednesday, GuySuCo in a statement said

it is becoming increasingly concerned with the developments relative to employees on strike at the Albion Estate, who were transferred from Rose Hall Estate as a result of the transitioning process in the Corporation.

According to the Sugar Corporation, some of the cane harvesters have been on strike for the past two days and their stated reason being that they are entitled to severance payment.

“The Corporation wishes to state that the strike action is illegal and is in breach of the ‘Extant Collective Labour Agreement’ existing between GuySuCo and representative Union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union,” GuySuCo said.

ment.

The ranks will be required to wear the body cameras during their shift at all times and should activate it when it is absolutely necessary in situations such as traffic stops, priority responses, vehicle pursuits, arrest situations, vehicle searches, physical confrontations and crimes in progress

etc.

The training was conducted at the Leonora Police Station Recreational Hall on March 27, 2019, by Constable 24148 Callace Isaacs and Constable 24606 Leon Joseph of the Information Technology Department of the Guyana Police Force.

esidents of West Watooka, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have complained about intense smoke, allegedly eliminating from the confines of the Linden Hospital Complex.

According to the residents, they are adversely affected whenever items are being burnt at the hospital’s mortuary given the fact that the smoke blows into the direction of the community.

One resident, in expressing disgust over the situation, noted that over the past few days residents have been affected day and night by the heavy smoke.

“This is what we the residents have to face up with every morning and every night. Burning of stuff from the mortuary at Mackenzie.

I don’t know if they don’t have an incinerator or not but this is what we have to face with. We wake up to smoke every morning for the

last few mornings and we’re going to bed with smoke,” the resident explained.

The woman also joined with other residents in calling on the relevant authorities to examine the situation to come up with a solution to rectify it.

“The relevant authority needs to step in and deal with this because this is causing much illness and problems within persons’ health,” another resident said.

Residents also told Guyana Times that they have made contact with the Mayor of Linden and further contact will be made to the Public Health Ministry regarding the situation.

This publication contacted a representative from the Linden Hospital Complex regarding the issue; however, it was noted that the Occupational Safety and Health Officer was out for the day.

12 NEWS

thursday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

AFC’s Sherod Duncan fired from Guyana Chronicle …as audit revealed breaches of financial regulations

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he Guyana National N e w s p a p e r Limited (GNNL) on Wednesday said it terminated the services of its General Manager, Sherod Duncan, following recommendations from an audit which found that there were several breaches of financial regulations.

Duncan, who was the Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor for the city of Georgetown and Deputy Mayor, served as General Manager of the company from June 1, 2018 to April 1, 2019.

The Board of Directors of GNNL in a statement said the decision to dismiss Duncan came after a five-hour long meeting at the company’s office where Duncan and his legal representative, Attorney James Bond were given the opportunity to provide an explanation in response to the findings of the audit report, which was dated March 18, 2019, and answer questions posed by the Directors as to why he should not be disciplined in accordance with

Fired: Sherod Duncan

the recommendations of the report, which was presented by the Office of the Auditor General.

“All Directors agreed that numerous breaches identified in the report in all of the areas under review were of a serious nature and disciplinary action against the General Manager was necessary especially since he was on probation,” the statement said.

According to the statement, one Director recommended one month suspension and an extension of probation for Duncan while two other Directors recom-

mended an extension in the probation period while three other Directors held the view that Duncan’s services be terminated with immediate effect for gross misconduct.

The GNNL Board comprises of a Chairman and six Directors; one of whom was absent at the time of voting and a workers’ representative without voting rights.

A vote on the matter of termination of services was called and three Directors voted against, while three voted in favour. There was a tie and the Chairman Geeta Chandan-Edmond supported the termination of Duncan in accordance with Article 94 of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation.

There are over 20 transactions conducted under Duncan’s watch or by Duncan himself, which were in blatant violation of financial regulations.

A special audit ordered by the Office of the Auditor General found numerous violations during the short three-month period under Duncan’s stewardship of the

company.

Auditing firm Chateram Ramdihal Chartered Accountants conducted an audit of the State newspaper’s operations from June 1, 2018, to September 10, 2018.

The audit found that tender rules were violated, services were procured without contracts and approvals were given for payments without the regular procedure of company stamp or signature.

Further, cash advanc-

es were given to Duncan to travel overseas but he did not clear the amounts. It was also found that the company’s personnel policy and procedures manual were ignored during the recruitment, termination and dismissal of employees.

Guyana Chronicle has a Management Tender Committee, which approves transactions ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 before payments are made. But during the stipulated time examined, no approval was

given for nine such transactions valued at $1.6 million.

Duncan took an overseas trip with the marketing coordinator for the resuscitation of the publication’s New York edition. This trip cost an excess of $736,028, but there was no approval for such an event and to date, no relevant documents were brought forward to support these expenditures, the audit found.

Efforts to contact Duncan for a comment on the issue proved futile.

Police unearth 27.2kg ganja in NA house

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olice have unearthed some 27.2kg of marijuana in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Reports are a team of Police ranks stationed in Berbice, acting on information received, swooped down on the suspect’s two-story East Bank Berbice residence about 11:15h and conducted a search of his presence.

According to Police, 16 taped parcels of compressed cannabis were found. The Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice resident who was arrested has been on the Police’s radar for “quite a while” Police said.

Guyana Times was told that the house is owned by someone who was wanted for the gunning down of a man in Queenstown, Georgetown.

The ganja which was found in the New Amsterdam, Berbice house on Wednesday

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thursday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Housing Minister’s husband given contracts to build Govt houses

Minister Valerie Patterson-Yearwood

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he husband of Junior Minister of Communities with responsibility for housing, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, has been awarded contracts to construct homes for a Government-spearheaded housing project.

Guyana Times understands that the project falls under the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). However, efforts by this newspaper to contact the Minister with responsibility for the housing sector proved futile.

This issue of the award of the contract to the Minister’s husband was revealed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who told reporters at his weekly press conference on Wednesday that the matter came to the fore after a construction worker, who was sub-contracted by the Minister’s husband, complained of not being paid as yet.

The construction worker from Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara, has since written President David Granger as his last hope, seeking the Head of State’s

President’s Secretary. “(Godfrey) Yearwood sub-contracted these guys from the villages to do the work and then refused to pay them for the work done.

So he came here and he showed me… Four times

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(ITU).

The camps held at the St Cuthbert’s Mission along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and at the Charity Secondary School, Essequibo Coast, saw some 64 female students being educated on the use of technology, specifically cellphone technologies and the Internet.

Next Tuesday, a team is expected to visit the Charity Secondary School to hold a full-scale tech camp for

been given. He can’t pay his workers from the village of Victoria; they’re harassing him, because the Minister’s husband refusing to pay for contracts he got from the Ministry his wife runs,” Jagdeo said.

4 tax returns sites launched

T Godfrey Yearwood

intervention in the matter since he too owes his workers.

According to Jagdeo, the desperate man came to his office, showing him all the correspondence he had sent out, but only got letters of acknowledgement from the

64 girls benefit from Tech Camps across Guyana emale students from the West Demerara, East and West Berbice, Essequibo and Georgetown this year benefited from Tech Camps hosted by the National Frequency Management Unit in observance of Girls in ICT Day (GICT).

GICT Day is observed each year on April 26 in all member countries and organisations of the United Nations’ International Telecommunications Union

he addressed the matter (to the President) and four acknowledgment of his complaints and until now, he can’t get (any recourse).

“Over a year of trying, he sought help from the President and no help has

teenage female students.

The students, who are already computer literate, will be engaged in discussions and demonstrations to encourage them to learn programming, graphics design and website development.

The team is then expected to examine the computers installed at the school, most of which are out of order, and will specify what items are needed for a functional computer laboratory.

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has operationalised four tax site locations; City Mall on Camp and Regent Streets, the Guyana Post Office Headquarters on North Road and the GRA Headquarters – under the tent in the compound.

These three locations, according to the Department of Public Information, will be opened from April 3, 2019 and will be operational until April 30. The fourth site is located at the University of Guyana’s Centre for Information Technology, from April 15 to 18.

GRA’s Communications Officer Fabian Clowes said these ‘tax sites’ will only be facilitating the submission of tax returns. Taxpayers should ensure that their returns are filled before filing for their claim. Clowes explained that persons should ensure that the information on their tax returns, and in any documents attached, are true, correct and complete in every respect. He

emphasised that returns must reflect all sources of income and underscored that the tax sites will not be taking any cash payments.

Clowes also reminded taxpayers that returns should be submitted at the earliest possible time since late submissions attract penalties. This is often a percentage of the tax assessed and where a demand notice is issued and the time specified for submitting the return has expired, interest is added on.

Taxpayers can also use

the GRA’s e-Services. This IT platform was created in 2017 to allow taxpayers to submit their returns without leaving their homes or offices. With e-Services, an individual can file his/her Income Tax and Property Tax returns while an employer or business can file yearly and monthly PAYE and VAT Returns.

The GRA official reminded that April 30 is the due date for submission of Income, Property, Corporation and Capital gains taxes.

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thursday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

MACORP introduces Couple died from multiple crush injuries new line of tractors Linden motorcycle/Jeep collision

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ost-mortem examinations (PMEs) conducted on the bodies of Linden couple Sheshyka Ettienne, 21; and O’neil DeYounge, 24, who both died in an accident on Monday evening have given their causes of death as multiple crush injuries. The PMEs were conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) mortuary on Wednesday by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh.

The couple was killed on Monday evening at about 20:30h in a collision along the Amelia’s Ward Public Road and Toucan Drive in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Reports are that a Jeep bearing registration number PSS 8812 collided with the couple’s motorcycle, CJ 6542 which was being driven by DeYounge of lot 78 Cinderella City, Amelia’s Ward at the time. Ettienne, a registered nurse of Lot 764 South Amelia’s Ward who was attached to the Linden

Sheshyka Ettienne and O’neil DeYounge

Hospital Complex (LHC), was the pillion rider at the time of the accident.

The Jeep was reportedly proceeding West along the

southern side of the road when the driver suddenly made a right turn North into the path of the motorcycle which was proceeding in

the opposite direction.

DeYounge upon seeing this reportedly applied the brakes and lost control of the motorcycle as both he and Ettienne were reportedly flung onto the roadway and slid under the Jeep.

They both received injuries about their bodies.

The couple was picked up in an unconscious state and transported to the LHC where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the Jeep remains in Police custody as Police await legal advice on the way forward.

As the families of the couple continue to mourn their deaths, E Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord and team on Tuesday conducted visits at their homes to offer condolences.

The team has since assured the families that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the accident.

WiPay launches new online service in Guyana

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opular payment system, WiPay, and its partners will now give scores of Guyanese businesses an opportunity to benefit significantly from its newest online payment solution, which now enables businesses to accept cash payments online without the use of a credit card. This new online service was announced on Wednesday during a press conference at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, East Bank Demerara.

Through its partnership with WiPay, Caribbean Airlines now has its new option to purchase airline tickets; this process includes purchasing a Caribbean Airlines ticket over the phone by use of a WiPay Top Up Voucher at any time without having to physically visit the Airline’s office.

Meanwhile, businesses can make and receive payments online by simply downloading the WiPay plugin for free and integrating it onto their website or Mobile App. Chief Operations Officer (COO) of WiPay, Sacha Thompson, underscored

Chief Operations Officer (COO) of WiPay, Sacha Thompson

that the introduction of this new online service is game-changing and is financial inclusive as it gives every person the opportunity to benefit from the service.

“This is game-changing, this is new, this is financial inclusion because everyone can now access the opportunity… so for 95 per cent of the Guyanese population that do not have a credit card and do not wish to travel, can now in four simple steps purchase a WiPay Top Up voucher….WiPay online merchants can now accept

payments with WiPay Top Up vouchers online,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Airlines Sales Executive, Deon Inniss expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the new online service in Guyana, while noting that the new project undertaken will benefit the airline significantly since it is more convenient to its customers.

“Now that we are going live, we can tell you that we are extremely excited for this project of ensuring continued customer conve-

nience… I myself have tried it and I can tell you it’s very convenient in particular for Guyanese customers who we know have very much difficulties in terms of access.

You no longer need to come to our office, we are particularly happy that this particular facility has been launched and we look forward in finding ways to bring relief to our customers,” Inniss stated.

The ‘cash’ payments online is similar to the mobile ‘Top Up’ culture that exists in the Caribbean. A customer can simply go to any authorised WiPay partner location (eg Bill Express), purchase a ‘WiPay Top Up’ for the required amount.

The customer can then use the Top Up’s unique 12-digit code to make a ‘cash’ payment online to any business that uses WiPay’s payment gateway.

Wipay is a next-generation provider of payment solutions, using innovative technology enabling the ‘banked’, ‘unbanked’ and ‘un-carded’ to partake in the online and e-commerce space.

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Persons inspecting one of the new tractors on site

armers across the sugar industry were on Wednesday given a firsthand experience with a new line of Case tractors, introduced by Machinery Corporation of Guyana Limited (MACORP) to cater for a number of industries.

Partnering with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), a practical session was conducted at the Uitvlugt Estate lands and persons from various sections of the industry capitalised on the opportunity to learn the specifics of some the best agricultural machineries.

Chief Executive Officer of MACORP, Guillermo Escarraga, stated that the brand of tractors – Case – has been known for reinventing its machinery over the years to keep up with what is trending.

“These are by far the best machines that you can get. There is no other company that has such a long history as Case that demonstrates that they are in the forefront of producing the best quality products. The other reason why Case has been in the marketplace for such a long time is because they reinvent themselves,” Escarraga stated.

Case tractors are also cost effective and customers are subjected to warranty of its durability. The prices vary from $7.5 million to $17 million. The tractors are available in three models, depending on the type of terrain and work to be done.

The CEO further mentioned, “We are bringing to the country, a brand that is well-known here in Guyana.

Everywhere we go, people remember the quality and

the reliability of the Case products and this is something that makes us confident that with the introduction of this new product line, we will all benefit.”

Stakeholders at the site were interested in the introduction of the new tractors, and pledged their support towards purchasing them in the near future. Apart from the sugar industry, the machines are also capable of working in the rice sector and aiding in the construction of drains and other structures. Attachments are also available when purchasing and can be assembled if needed.

MACORP has also formed a new partnership with Goodyear to provide durable tyres for these and other machines. Goodyear is an internationally recognised brand which is sold after meeting rigorous testing and standards.

news

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thursday, april 4, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Strategic parenting programme to Social Cohesion Ministry be implemented – Youth Director hosts diversity training

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M&CC Councillors at the sensitisation programme on Wednesday

irector of Youth Melissa Carmichael on Wednesday revealed that the Department of Youth will soon launch a strategic parenting programme geared at assisting parents to better handle young delinquents.

Speaking at a sensitisation programme hosted by the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport at the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Carmichael made the disclosure when questioned by a Councillor regarding her department’s works for parents.

“We have to cause some amount of paradigm shift in the families themselves so we have decided to have a strategic parenting programme for the communities that we will be interacting with,” the Director revealed.

According to Carmichael, strong families lead to stronger communities and nations; and as such, programmes are expected to be rolled out to reach young people and target social ills.

“We will work first through the [Parent Teacher

Associations] PTAs and then we will work through the communities as well… we are already working in that regard, we will be rolling out with our programme to reach young people and social ills a programme for our parents…

We believe that strong families leads to strong youths with leads to strong communities and in turn leads to strong and productive nations, so I can tell you that recommendations have been heard,” she stated.

Further, following the revelation of over 400 children in Guyana being abused and the woes in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) of the high rate of alcoholism among youths there, Carmichael revealed that several discussions were had in that regard and recommendations were made for the launching of programmes to rectify those issues.

“We are very much aware of these issues and I can tell you that only yesterday my staff and I met and while we are in schools and we are in communities, we believe that because there is an increase and because drugs

seem to be very popular, we believe that a more strategic plan needs to be put in place, so I can tell you that we will be launching a programme that focuses specifically on a couple of issues affecting our young people,” she explained.

Present at the sensitisation programme hosted for Councillors, Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine in his brief remarks applauded same and called for the initiative to continue.

“We are grateful to have this kind of department, so on behalf of the Mayor and City Council, I want to express my sincere gratitude for this being on the agenda of the Department of Youth Sport and Culture” Narine said.

The objective of the event was to provide stakeholders with information on the work of the Social Cohesion Department, to assist participations to better understand social cohesion as an approach to communities and national development and to enable participants to examine their own roles in promoting a harmonious Guyana.

Paige PR, Tagman Media unite in strategic partnership

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aige PR, a leading public relations firm to the oil and gas industry, and Tagman Media Guyana have teamed up to support the energy industry as it turns its attention toward new discoveries found off the coast of Guyana.

This partnership will enhance both firms’ public relations and communications capabilities concerning international oil and gas clients moving into the country.

“With nearly 15 years’ experience serving the energy industry, we’re familiar with the international oil and gas landscape and the major players,” said Paige PR founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paige Donnell. “With our presence in Houston (Texas) and beyond, we’re equipped to serve companies, both locally and abroad, as they establish a presence in Georgetown, Guyana. We feel privileged and excited to partner with an agency like

Tagman Media CEO Alex Graham, and Paige PR CEO Paige Donnell at the Paige PR offices in Houston, Texas

Tagman Media to bring quality communication efforts to companies worldwide. The benefits to this partnership are endless.”

“Our partnership with Paige PR comes at a very exciting time in Guyana, given the acceleration in the development of the energy sector,” said Tagman

Media CEO Alex Graham.

“The team at Paige PR has a wealth of experience in the sector and, combined with Tagman’s 25 years of experience in Guyana, creates the synergy that will facilitate the provision of services to Houston-based companies that are rapidly building out in Georgetown.”

Members of the Rastafari Core Group along with Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton

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he Ministry of the Presidency’s Social Cohesion Department on Wednesday hosted a diversity education and inclusion training workshop with the Rastafari Core Group.

This is aimed at increasing awareness and sensitivity about behaviours that contribute to building better relations among individuals within communities.

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton during his remarks at the opening session of the training said the events were introduced after it was recognised that there is a need for more introspection in an effort to promote the Rastafarians’ notion of “love, fairness and acceptance” regardless of differences. This, he said, is important in improving the Rastafarian movement locally and the world over.

He emphasised the need for members to accept others’

cultures despite of differences.

The Rastafari Core Group consists of other smaller groups and the Minister added that the training is a welcomed initiative which will aid in the department achieving its objective in community relations building.

Norton highlighted that the Ministry sees that the group has been making progress as it has an increased membership and progress has been made in eliminating gender differences.

He added that despite the transgressions that affected the movement, Rastafarians have made stride in embarking on a journey of equality rather than superiority.

Minister Norton stressed that his Ministry is committed to capacity building and is enthusiastic about continuing these training sessions.

The two-day workshop which is being held at the National Racquet Centre, aims to allow participants to explore the negative internalised attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes that impact the ways in which they perceive themselves and others.

Further, it serves to give participants a better understanding and appreciation of diversity, particularly beyond race and ethnicity and to create opportunities for cross community understanding.

The workshop is as a result of outreaches in various communities as the Ministry sees the need for continued work in this area. The training sessions will be conducted by Kala Seegopaul and Rolanda Kirton and will focus on areas which include understanding biases, values, understanding diversity, trust building and nurturing communities.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thurSday, APRIL 4, 2019

Regional

US Senators propose more aid, international sanctions for Venezuela

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Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, who many nations have recognised as the country's rightful interim ruler, talks to the media during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela, April 2, 2019

eeping up pressure for political change in Venezuela, 15 US Senators introduced bipartisan legislation on Wednesday to provide US$400 million in new aid, internationalise sanctions and ease penalties on officials who recognise a new government.

The Republicans and Democrats introduced the Venezuelan Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance and

Development (VERDAD) Act more than two months after President Donald Trump’s Administration recognised Opposition Leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, seeking the departure of President Nicolás Maduro.

Senator Bob Menendez, ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, led the bill. He said the act would “put teeth behind” support for the Venezuelan people and pro-

vide tools for a peaceful solution to the crisis in the nation.

“This legislation will offer needed humanitarian assistance and support for Venezuela’s long path to democratic order,” said Republican Senator Marco Rubio, another sponsor, who has worked closely with Trump on Venezuela.

The bill would provide US$200 million in new aid for Venezuela and US$200 million for neighbouring

countries taking in refugees.

It would also revoke US visas for relatives of sanctioned Venezuelans, remove sanctions on officials not involved in human rights abuses if they recognise Guaidó, and require work with Latin American and European Governments to implement their own sanctions.

It also requires US agencies to lead efforts to recover “corrupt financial holdings” of Venezuelan officials and

accelerate planning with international financial institutions on Venezuela’s economic restructuring.

The bill would not provide temporary protected immigration status, or TPS, which would allow 70,000 Venezuelans already in the United States to remain. TPS proposals have faced some opposition in the Trump Administration, which takes a hard line on immigration. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UK to pay hundreds of millions of dollars British environmental activist found dead in Peru in compensation to Windrush victims

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ritish Home Secretary Sajid Javid Wednesday opened an estimated £200 million (US$263 million) scheme to compensate members of the so-called Windrush generation, including immigrants from the Caribbean, who were unable to prove their right to live in the United Kingdom.

The Windrush Compensation Scheme, which was designed in consultation with those affected and will have independent oversight, is the latest step in the Government’s commitment to right the wrongs experienced by the

Windrush generation.

It will provide payments to eligible individuals who did not have the right documentation to prove their status in the UK and suffered adverse effects on their life as a result. These could range from a loss of employment or access to housing, education or healthcare to emotional distress or deterioration in mental and physical health.

Responding to questions after how much the scheme would cost, after making the announcement in the House of Commons, Javid said: “There is no cap on the scheme, so no

one knows what the eventual cost will be. It will be based on people’s needs and the claims that are made by eligible people, but the baseline estimate from my Department is that it will be approximately £200 million.”

Last April, Javid established the Windrush Taskforce that has helped over 3600 people secure British citizenship. An independent review, led by Wendy Williams, has also been set up to establish what went wrong and how to prevent it happening again. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

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British environmental activist and Catholic missionary has been found dead at a hostel in Peru.

The body of Paul McAuley, 71, was discovered by students on Tuesday in the Amazon city of Iquitos.

Local media reported that his body had been burnt.

The activist, who was

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avert such a shutdown by changing laws to fix what he called immigration “loopholes”.

Business leaders on both sides of the border have lashed out against the threat, saying a shutdown would hurt supply chains and US$1.7 billion in daily trade at some of the world’s busiest land crossings.

Already, Washington’s decision to move some 750

agents from commercial to immigration duties has triggered long delays for legitimate cross-border traffic.

However, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday there were no “serious problems” at the border, and that the Government was in constant communication with US authorities to keep it open.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Displaced indigenous Guatemala war survivors demand reparations

Hundreds of Achi Mayan people displaced by Chixoy dam demand Government comply with agreement to pay reparations

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undreds of indigenous Achi Mayan survivors, forced to leave their homes by the construction of Chixoy hydroelectric dam in the 1980s, mobilised outside the Guatemalan presidential palace on Wednesday to demand that the Government comply with a 2014 agreement to pay reparations for their displacement.

After spending Tuesday night on the street in front of the presidential palace,

the survivors blocked the main roads in the historic centre of Guatemala City demanding a meeting with President Jimmy Morales.

"The Guatemalan State has not complied with the promises made," Bernarda Lajuj told Al Jazeera.

"If the Government does not respond to us, then we are not going to leave until they give us a response," Lajuj, 40, said. "We are fighting for our rights."

The construction of

the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed hydroelectric project displaced more than 3000 families in 33 communities between 1977 and 1983 in the Guatemalan departments of Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz and Quiche. The families were left without land and in poverty.

"We were left without the means to give our children a better life because of the construction of the Chixoy dam," said Antonio Vasquez, the 52-year-old coordinator of the 33 communities affected by the construction of the dam.

"They took our lands," he told Al Jazeera. "They left without a place to plant our maize. They took all our resources." (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

national attention in 2010 when the Peruvian government ordered his expulsion.

He was accused of inciting unrest among indigenous people for protesting against environmental destruction.

It led hundreds of people to demonstrate in support of him, and he eventually won the right to stay after a lengthy court battle. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Cayman Islands Government appealing same-sex marriage ruling

Truckers, stores on US-Mexico border struggle as Trump closure threat looms rucks inched through traffic and some stores reported fewer customers in US-Mexico border towns on Wednesday, as staffing shortages tied to a surge in asylum seekers slowed checkpoints and threats of closing the border completely scared shoppers.

US President Donald Trump reiterated his threat to close the border, or parts of it, saying Congress could

born in Portsmouth, had lived in the country for more than 20 years, working with indigenous people and campaigning on environmental issues.

An investigation has been launched and officials are questioning six people who lived at the youth hostel which was run by r McAuley.

McAuley came to inter-

Premier Alden McLaughlin

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ive days after the Chief Justice rewrote legislation to make same-sex marriage legal in

the Cayman Islands, the Government has announced it will appeal the ruling.

Premier Alden McLaughlin told Parliament Wednesday that the Government has instructed Attorney General Samuel Bulgin to file an appeal with the Court of Appeal and seek a stay of execution of the judgment pending the outcome of that appeal.

Last Friday, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie amended the Marriage Law in his judgment on a case

brought by Caymanian Chantelle Day and her partner Vickie Bodden Bush, whose application to get married was refused last April. He said that preventing those persons from accessing marriage and the suite of rights that come with it was a clear violation of freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution, including the right to a private and family life, the right to freedom of conscience, and the right to freedom from discrimination. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Angostura CEO to quit as probe ends

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he probe against embattled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Angostura, Genevieve Jodhan, who is accused of flouting the company’s procurement policy in the award of several security contracts, is nearing completion and she is likely to quit as part of a settlement deal.

Details of the final

agreement are still being approved by Attorneys involved in the matter and Jodhan is expected to receive an undisclosed sum as part of the agreement, reliable sources told Guardian Media.

Jodhan, 53, who has been on administrative leave since last October, was the subject of two separate audits which exam-

ined the award of contracts amounting to over one million dollars to MH Tactical Response Group, New Order Security Services and Corporate Asset Protection — all aligned to Sergeant Mark Hernandez, a key member of the Special Operations Response Team, an elite unit of the T&T Police Service. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Brazilian identical twins both ordered to pay child support

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judge in Brazil has ordered identical twin brothers to pay maintenance to a child whose paternity could not be established.

The men refused to say which one of them had fathered the child, assuming they would then be able to escape having to pay.

A DNA test proved in-

conclusive because of their identical twin status.

The judge said the two men were taking away from the young girl the right to know who her biological father was.

Each man will have to pay 230 reais; (US$60) a month, or 30 per cent of the minimum salary in Brazil, as maintenance.

This means the girl will get twice as much as other children from the same economic background in Brazil.

Judge Filipe Luís Peruca, in the central state of Goiás, also ruled that the names of both men would be on the girl's birth certificate. (Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

thurSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019

17

Around the World

Labour’s Corbyn says Theresa May Nato chief Stoltenberg reaffirms has not moved enough on Brexit bond in US Congress address

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Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May

pposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Theresa May had not moved far enough in crisis talks aimed at breaking the deadlock over Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The United Kingdom was supposed to leave the EU last Friday, but, nearly three years after Britons narrowly voted for Brexit in a referendum, it is still unclear how, when or even

whether it will quit the bloc it joined in 1973.

After her EU withdrawal deal was rejected three times by lawmakers, May invited Corbyn, a veteran socialist, to talks in Parliament to try to plot a way out of the crisis.

“There hasn’t been as much change as I expected,” Corbyn, 69, said. “The meeting was useful but inconclusive.”

Asked if May had accepted his preference for a post-Brexit customs union

with the EU, he said: “We did have a discussion about all of that.”

Corbyn is under pressure from some in his party not to agree to a Brexit deal without ensuring that it can be confirmed or rejected in a new referendum that also offers the option to stay in the EU. “I said: ‘Look, this is a policy of our party that we would want to pursue the option of a public vote to prevent crashing out or prevent leaving on a bad deal,’” he said. “There was no agreement reached on that. We just put it there as one of the issues.”

A Downing Street spokesman said the meeting, which lasted an hour and 40 minutes, had been “constructive, with both sides showing flexibility and a commitment to bring the current Brexit uncertainty to a close”. (Excerpt from

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Various

illegal

groups

from Somali Islamists to Congolese-based rebels sometimes operate in Uganda, but the kidnappers’ identity was not known.

An elderly couple also at the scene were not taken and raised the alarm.

“I suspect the kidnappers left them because they were elderly. They took all their possessions,” said Ugandan Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo.

California-based Endecott and the couple, whose relationship was unclear, entered Uganda on

March 29 and flew the next day to the park in the country’s southwest, the spokesman added.

The US Embassy in Kampala had no extra information to offer. “We take seriously any threats against US citizens abroad. Security forces are responding to the incident,” it said in a statement.

Police said the kidnapping appeared financially motivated, since the group quickly made a demand using Endecott’s mobile. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was set up to defend against the USSR. Questions have been raised about its continuing purpose since the communist superpower collapsed nearly three decades ago, with Russia its successor state.

US President Donald Trump has frequently accused Nato’s European members of not paying their fair share of the defence burden.

Stoltenberg told

Congress: “This has been the clear message from President Trump and this message is having a real impact.”

He urged Russia to return to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty which it is abandoning after Trump said he would take America out, accusing Russia of violations.

“We do not want a new arms race,” said Stoltenberg.

“We do not want a new Cold War. But we must not be naive.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

board to “do its job” and confirm his election win, as authorities began a partial recount in more than a dozen of the city’s 39 districts.

Preliminary results from Sunday’s mayoral elections showed a narrow win for the Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Istanbul and the Turkish capital, Ankara, in a shock upset for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party.

However, the ruling party submitted objections to election results in all districts of Istanbul and Ankara, saying the results had been impacted by invalid votes and voting irregularities.

State-run Anadolu news agency said on Wednesday officials were recounting votes in 18 Istanbul districts, including in three where every vote was being verified. In the other districts, officials were checking only nullified ballots.

Istanbul was a tight race and preliminary results showed CHP’s Ekrem Imamoglu narrowly beating his AK Party rival, Binali Yildirim, by some 28,000 votes.

Anadolu said Imamoglu won 48.79 per cent of the votes to Yildrim’s 48.51 per cent, while close to 300,000 votes were annulled on voting day in the city of five million. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

the sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. Najib pleaded not guilty to all the charges on Wednesday.

The 1MDB fund was designed to boost Malaysia’s economy through strategic investments.

But instead it alleged-

ly funded lavish lifestyles, a Hollywood film and a super-yacht.

A group of supporters met Najib as he arrived at the court in Kuala Lumpur. They stood and prayed with him before he entered the building to chants of “Long live Najib”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

and its potential impact on existing space installations such as the International Space Station (ISS), according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

On March 27, India announced it had successfully undertaken an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test, destroying one of its own satellites in low-orbit around Earth using a modified ballistic missile.

“This [anti-satellite weapon] test should be a

matter of grave concern for the international community, not only in terms of generation of space debris, but also because of its ramifications for long-term sustainability of peaceful space activities,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement released on Tuesday said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who heads into a general election later this month, hailed the test as a sign of India’s arrival as a “space power”. (Excerpt from

Turkey’s Opposition demands mandate as Istanbul recount continues

Reuters)

American kidnapped on Ugandan safari, US$500,000 ransom demanded n American woman and her driver have been kidnapped at Uganda’s most popular wildlife park by gunmen demanding a ransom of US$500,000, Police said on Wednesday.

Kimberley Sue Endecott, 35, and Ugandan driver Jean Paul were on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park when four gunmen ambushed their vehicle on Tuesday evening, a Police statement said.

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he Nato Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, has marked the alliance’s 70th anniversary with a rare address to the US Congress.

“Nato has been good for Europe, but Nato has also been good for the United States,” the former Norwegian Prime Minister said to applause.

He said that Nato did not want a new Cold War, but it “must not be naive” about relations with Russia.

Initial results show Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu leading the Istanbul mayoral race with 48.79 per cent of the vote [Ozan Kose/AFP]

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he Opposition candidate running to be the next mayor of Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, has urged the country’s electoral

Malaysia ex-PM faces court in global financial scandal

M

alaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak has gone on trial for his role in a financial scandal that has sent shockwaves around the world.

He faces seven charges in the first of several criminal cases accusing him of pocketing US$681 million from

Embattled Trudeau buoyed by party, could still face wrath of Canadian voters Pakistan expresses ‘grave concern’ over Indian space weapons test

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives for a Liberal Party caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 2, 2019

C

anadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party rallied behind him on Wednesday over his expulsion of two former Cabinet Ministers who had questioned his leadership, but he is still in a battle to regain dwindling support before a general election in October.

Trudeau told an emergency meeting of legislators on Tuesday that former Justice Minister Jody

Wilson-Raybould and former Treasury Board chief Jane Philpott had undermined the party and betrayed its trust.

The almost two-monthold scandal centred on Wilson-Raybould, who in February said officials had inappropriately pressured her while she was Justice Minister to ensure construction company SNCLavalin Group Inc would escape a corruption trial.

In recent weeks, senior

party figures and lawmakers had grown frustrated with Trudeau’s handling of the crisis, especially since both former Ministers remained in the caucus despite their open hostility.

A long list of Ministers and Liberal parliamentarians echoed Trudeau’s emphasis on party unity on Wednesday, but the Opposition reiterated that the expulsions were proof of a cover-up.

It is too soon to say whether Trudeau’s problems are over, political analysts said.

“This scandal has blotted out the sun. Now the question is, did he kill it?” said Ipsos pollster Darrell Bricker. Last week Ipsos put the Conservative Party 10 points ahead of the Liberals, thanks to the SNC-Lavalin affair.

But another pollster, Frank Graves at Ekos, said there were signs the damage had been limited and that there was fatigue over the issue among the general public. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Indian Prime Minister Modi, who heads into a general election later this month, hailed the test as a sign of India’s arrival as a “space power” [File:

P

Ravikumar/Reuters]

akistan has expressed “grave concern” over India’s test last week of an anti-satellite weapon

Al Jazeera)

Joe Biden pledges to respect women’s ‘personal space’

J

oe Biden has pledged to be “more mindful” about physical contact with women, hoping draw a line under a controversy that has cast a cloud over his expected White House bid.

The former US Vice President posted a video on Twitter saying he will in fu-

ture respect personal space.

Biden stressed he has only ever intended to build a “human connection”, rather than make anyone uncomfortable.

He has not yet announced whether he will join the 2020 Democratic field.

“Social norms are chang-

ing, I understand that, and I’ve heard what these women are saying,” the 76-yearold Biden said in a video that looked like it had been recorded in a mobile phone.

His statement follows accusations against him of unwelcome touching from four women in recent days.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

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thurSday, APRIL 4, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

dilbert

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Look over financial matters or check into a pending legal or medical issue you’ve been dealing with. Don’t let someone else speak on your behalf.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Offer encouragement, but don’t feel you must take part in someone else’s plans.

You are best off putting your energy into something that will benefit you, not someone else.

CANCER

Follow your creative dreams. Put time aside to contemplate the best way to use your skills and talents to advance. Someone influential will take interest in what you are trying to do.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU TODAY’S WORD — THALAMUS (THALAMUS: THAL-uh-mus: A mass of gray matter in the forebrain relaying sensory information.)

pace page pail pale peal pica pile

place plaice plea plie epic epical lace

laic leap lice agile gale gape glace

cage cape clap clip

Don’t trust what someone else tells you. Go directly to the source and verify facts before you get involved in a financial or legal deal.

Partnerships should be considered carefully.

Observe what’s going on around you and watch how others are reacting before you share your opinion.

Sometimes, it’s best to take a neutral position and proceed to do your own thing.

Dream big, but only take on what’s feasible. A relationship will benefit if you are honest about your feelings and intentions. A promise or commitment can be made.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Get physical and make home improvements that will add to your comfort and convenience. Find a space in which you can develop an idea, plan or small business.

Time limit 40 minutes

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — PELAGIC

Don’t make changes that aren’t necessary. Save your energy for things that really matter. Take better care of your health and finances.

Moderation is encouraged.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Average mark 25 words

Can you find 34 or more words in THALAMUS? The list will be published tomorrow.

Be open to suggestions and look for the positive in everything you see, hear and do. Make adjustments that suit your needs to be one step closer to your dreams.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

If you or someone else overreacts, problems will develop. Listen carefully and don’t make assumptions. If you don’t fully understand what’s expected of you or what someone is suggesting, ask questions.

If you get together with an old friend or colleague, you’ll be offered an interesting point of view about something you are considering. A positive change can be made.

Stay calm, even if someone is trying your patience.

Focus on keeping the peace, living within your means and doing what brings you the greatest satisfaction.

Romance is in the stars.

thursday, APRIL 4, 2019

19

Hardik’s all-round effort ends Super Kings’ unbeaten run

S

ometimes six overs is all it takes in T20 cricket. For 14 overs, Chennai Super Kings’ bowlers were all over the Mumbai Indians batting order, restraining them in supreme fashion. At 82 for 3, Mumbai were going at less than six an over, and seemed incapable of breaking out of the straitjacket the likes of Deepak Chahar, Ravindra Jadeja and Imran Tahir had put them in.

Vitally, though, although Mumbai were being tied down, they did not collapse.

Krunal P a n d y a a n d S u r ya ku m a r Ya d a v put on 62 o f f 49 together through

t h e middle overs, laying a platform.

With clean hitters like Hardik

Hardik Pandya was the star for Mumbai Indians

S Dhoni and Kedhar Jadhav did what they could to hold CSK together

Pandya and Kieron Pollard to come, perhaps laying a quiet platform was all Mumbai’s top order needed to do.

Hardik and Pollard were unstoppable in the last two overs of the innings, propelling the team from 125 for 5 at the end of the 18th over, to 170 for 5 after 20 – their partnership worth an invaluable 45 off 12 deliveries. Hardik was the more brutal of the two, walloping two sixes over midwicket and another over third man, as well as crashing a four through the covers, to reap 25 not out off eight deliveries. Pollard reminded the IPL of his own devastating potential, making 17 not out off seven. It was one of the IPL’s most efficient

– Dwayne Bravo – that the pair took to pieces in the final over of the innings, plundering 29, after Bravo had conceded only 20 from his first three overs.

Hardik’s match-defining all-round magic Having been Mumbai’s most impactful batsman, Hardik also returned the best figures in the match, dismissing MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, before later removing Deepak Chahar to claim outstanding figures of 3 for 20.

Earlier, he had waltzed in during the 17th over of Mumbai’s innings, made one run off his first two balls, then exploded.

The first of his three sixes was off a Shardul Thakur short ball,

which he deposited high into the stands beyond midwicket.

The best strokes came against Bravo, next over. The helicopter shot to put the near-yorker into the stands beyond long-on was sublime – Dhoni watching on from a few metres away. Hardik then crashed Bravo to the extracover boundary, before last ball scything him over backward point for six. From looking like they were headed for a seriously sub-par score, some dauntless death-overs hitting had hoisted Mumbai to a thoroughly competitive one.

Mumbai’s bowling support acts Jason Behrendorff and Lasith Malinga also played important roles, the former finishing with 2

for 22 from his four overs, having dismissed Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina with the new ball.

Malinga, who took 3 for 34, removing Shane Watson, Kedhar Jadhav and Bravo, is expected to be unavailable for Mumbai’s next two matches, as he returns to Sri Lanka to play in the provincial one-day tournament.

Thanks to these two, Super Kings’ chase also began poorly – Rayudu nicking Behrendorrf behind in the first over, before Malinga had Watson caught at point soon after. Raina and Jadhav seemed to be getting the innings on track when they struck 27 off the first 21 balls they faced, but Raina was soon caught brilliantly at the deeppoint boundary by Pollard, who stuck out a hand high above his head to intercept what would have been a six. Behrendorff was the bowler. This was a blow

from which Super Kings would never really recover.

The Jadhav-Dhoni go-slow A scoreline of 33 for 3 after five overs is never promising, but perhaps even that is little excuse for the partnership that followed.

Jadhav and Dhoni made only 54 off 55 balls together, allowing the required rate to balloon above 14 by the time they were parted. Dhoni struck no boundaries in his 21-ball 12.

Jadhav struck five fours through the course of the partnership, but himself only made 36 off the 35 balls he faced in its duration.

Then Hardik dismissed them both in the space of four balls in the 15th over, leaving two new batsmen with a near-impossible requirement. Mumbai Indians won by 33 runs. (ESPNcricinfo.com)

World Cup 2019: New Zealand Olympics: Men’s final reduced call up uncapped Tom Blundell to 3 sets for Tokyo 2020

N

ew Zealand became the first country to name their squad for this summer’s World Cup in England and Wales.

Kane Williamson, 28, will captain a 15-man squad for the Black Caps, who were beaten by Australia in the 2015 final.

Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, 28, is a surprise selection, having not played a One-Day International and made only two Test and three Twenty20 appearances.

The World Cup starts with England facing South Africa on May 30.

New Zealand begin their campaign against Sri Lanka on June 1 in Cardiff.

Batsman Ross Taylor, 35, is set to become the seventh New Zealander to play at four World Cups, with Williamson, fast bowler Tim Southee and opener Martin Guptill all due to appear in their third.

Ish Sodhi has been preferred to Todd Astle as leg-spinner, while Blundell will be reserve keeper behind Tom Latham.

New Zealand World Cup squad: Kane Williamson, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, M a r t i n Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, C o l i n Munro, Jimmy

Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, I s h Sodhi, T i m

Southee, and Ross Taylor. (BBC Sport)

Andy Murray beat Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro to win gold at Rio 2016 – the final Olympics match to be played over five sets

T

Tom Blundell has not played for New Zealand since a Twenty20 against Australia in February 2018

he Olympic men’s singles final has been reduced to best of three sets, meaning only Grand Slam matches will be played over five sets in the future.

The change will come into effect for the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

Another change sees men’s and women’s doubles matches decided by a match tiebreak to 10 points in the third set.

“These amendments reduce concerns of overplay for players who reach the latter

stages of all three events,” the International Tennis Federation said.

The men’s final being played over three sets brings it in line with the other singles matches at the Games, while the men’s and women’s doubles will follow the same format as the mixed.

Britain’s Andy Murray won what proved to be the last best of five sets Olympics final by beating Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro at Rio 2016. (BBC Sport)

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Tottenham wins 1st game in new stadium

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ottenham celebrated the official opening of their magnificent new £1 billion stadium with a crucial victory over Crystal Palace to cement their place in the Premier League’s top four.

After two dress-rehearsal games, Spurs staged the opening ceremony before kick-off, 689 days after their last league fixture on this site against Manchester United.

And, after a series of celebrations to mark the occasion, Spurs overcame a nervous first 45 minutes in their new home to record their first Premier League win since February 10 when they beat Leicester City at Wembley.

South Korean Son Heung-min will take his place in history as the first player to score a Premier League goal there when his shot from the edge of the area deflected in off Luka Milivojevic after 55 minutes.

And the win was sealed 10 minutes from time when Christian Eriksen scrambled home from close range as Harry Kane looked for a penalty after tangling with James McArthur.

It rounded off the perfect night for Spurs, in front of a crowd of 59,215, as they leapfrogged arch-rivals Arsenal to go third, a point ahead of the Gunners, who have a game in hand, and Chelsea.

The performance may not have been one of their best, but the scoreline and the occasion was exactly what Spurs and their supporters, who revelled in finally being able to take their seats, would have wanted.

What next for Crystal Palace?

Spurs’ perfect homecoming

This magnificent sweeping stadium is a spectacular arena that proved well worth that 689-day wait. It ranks alongside any in the world.

Spurs fans gathered around their new home hours before kickoff, the space-age structure dominating the skyline and the local area.

And the pre-match ceremonials matched the occasion, with the stadium’s place in the community highlighted alongside the obvious sporting and financial benefits to Spurs.

The motto for the occasion was ‘Welcome Home’ and one English tradition, the weather, obliged as

the stadium was hit by a dramatic hail and snow storm an hour before kick-off.

And the vast South Stand, rising in one tier and home to 17,500 fans, was already providing a wall of sound when the pomp and ceremony got under way.

A giant golden cockerel, illuminated in the night sky, looked down from that stand as Gladesmore Community School choir performed “Everybody Dreams”, which was written as an anthem of hope for the area’s young people after the Tottenham riots in 2011.

As the teams lined up, award-winning tenor and Spurs’ fan Wynne Evans and former Gladesmore student Lanya Matthews delivered a rousing ren-

dition of “Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur” before a spectacular firework display whipped around the roof of the stadium.

The first-half mediocrity rather poured cold water on the mood of celebration, but when the action did materialise, and the opening goal was scored, the roars and atmosphere confirmed Spurs’ new home combines all the mod cons with good old-fashioned atmosphere.

Having not won in the League for nearly two months, these new surroundings can provide renewed impetus as they fight for a top-four place and prepare for a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Manchester City next Tuesday.

Crystal Palace are where you would expect them to be under Roy Hodgson – relatively safe, unthreatening, now living comfortably around mid-table.

There was genuine, and understandable, disappointment among Palace fans and criticism of Hodgson when they lost in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Watford, a sense of a big opportunity missed.

Here they were stubborn, kept Spurs at bay for almost an hour, but then did not really threaten until it was too late. They came and went without contributing much.

Will this be enough to keep the big, ambitious talents such as Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka happy and at Selhurst Park next season? Will it be enough to keep their passionate support happy?

It is debatable.

Palace are in no danger of going down, but there remains the suspicion they could and should be doing much better, producing much more, with the talent at Hodgson’s disposal, especially at home in one of the Premier League’s most atmospheric and supportive stadiums.

They are functional and methodical in a typical Hodgson way, but there is enough quality in this side to be better than that and this has been little more than a holding operation this season. (BBC Sport)

Hillsborough trial: No verdict over David Duckenfield

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he jury in the trial of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been unable to reach a verdict.

Former Ch Supt Duckenfield, now 74, had denied the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans in the 1989 disaster.

Lawyers for Duckenfield have said they will oppose an application from prosecutors for a retrial. Ex-Sheffield Wednesday Club Secretary Graham Mackrell was found guilty of a health and safety charge. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said it will seek a retrial for Duckenfield, of Ferndown, Dorset. But lawyers for the former South Yorkshire Police Officer said they would apply for a “stay of proceedings” to prevent another trial. During the 10-week trial at Preston Crown Court, jurors heard that 96 men, women and children died as a result of a fatal crush on the Leppings Lane terrace on April 15, 1989. Under the law at the time, there can be no prosecution for the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died more than a year and a day after the disaster.

The jury deliberated for more than 29 hours, but was unable to agree whether Duckenfield was guilty or not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. CPS legal director Sue Hemming said the trial had been “incredibly complex”, and she recognised “that these developments will be difficult for the families affected by the Hillsborough disaster”.

Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, thanked the jury

The jury heard 96 men, women and children died as a result of a fatal crush on the Leppings Lane terrace

for “the weeks they’ve taken for their deliberations”. She added: “We were all hoping we would have some sort of closure today and we haven’t.”

Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher died in the disaster, said he was “exceedingly disappointed” the jury had failed to reach a verdict on the charge against Duckenfield.

Speaking after the jury was discharged, Devonside said: “Most of the families wanted a verdict of one kind or another.

“I, like many people, want a

conclusion and Hillsborough to come to an end so we can return, as a family, to some sort of normality. We hope for a retrial.”

However, Steve Kelly, whose brother Michael died at Hillsborough, said: “I can only speak personally [and] I don’t want to see another trial.

“We’ve been here for nearly 11 weeks and I don’t think I could go through that again. And a lot of the elderly family members shouldn’t either.”

In a statement, Liverpool Football Club said it wanted to “re-

iterate our support and admiration for the Hillsborough families, survivors and campaigners”. The trial heard Duckenfield ordered the opening of exit gates at the Leppings Lane end of the ground at 14:52 BST, eight minutes before kick-off, after the area outside the turnstiles became dangerously overcrowded.

More than 2000 fans entered through exit gate C once it was opened and many headed for the tunnel ahead of them, which led to the central pens where the crush happened. Prosecutors alleged

Duckenfield had “ultimate responsibility” at the ground and should have made “key lifesaving decisions” on the day. Duckenfield’s defence case lasted just 74 minutes and consisted of read evidence from his deputy on the day – ground commander Bernard Murray. His defence argued the case against Duckenfield was “breathtakingly unfair” and said he had “tried to do the right thing”.

Mackrell, 69, was convicted of failing to discharge his duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act, by a majority of 10 to two.

He was accused of failing to take reasonable care to ensure there were enough turnstiles to prevent large crowds building up.

The court heard there were seven turnstiles for the 10,100 Liverpool fans with standing tickets for the match against Nottingham Forest.

Mackrell did not give evidence, but Jason Beer, QC, defending, argued the build-up of fans outside was caused by other factors, including a lack of Police cordons and the unusual arrival pattern of supporters.

Mackrell is due to be sentenced on May 13. (BBC News)

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Britton grateful for results…

Currently preparing for Pan American Games, hopes to qualify for Olympics

By Timothy Jaikarran

After competing in the 61st Seniors Caribbean Table Tennis Championship, Guyana walked away with three silver and seven bronze medals and ended the tournament in second place.

For Shemar Britton, he was able to snag one silver medal in U-21 category and two bronzes in the men’s singles and teams respectively.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, Britton, when asked about his performance, said, “I’m a bit disappointed not to secure a gold for Guyana, but contented with the fact that I played hard right throughout the tournament. I just wasn’t competition ready

Shemar Britton about to serve in his match-up with Martinique’s Fabrio Cosaque- Dit-Elie (Tennis)

enough; these other guys are pros – I’m in school, so when the crucial games came around and the scores were tight, that’s when the rustiness tends to show up . I’m studying law, finding the

time to balance is hard, it requires a lot of discipline and missing out on other activities like parties, etc, but my love for table tennis drives me to continue.”

Britton relayed to this

publication that playing table tennis has been a journey for him, as to make it to where he was required a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.

He noted that if it wasn’t for his coach Idi Lewis taking

him under his wing at a tender age, he would not be the player he is today. Britton recalled that at the age of 12, in his first year of Queen’s College he was overlooked as a young table tennis player, having just barely made the U-13 national team as the third man. After losing and not making the cut , he was introduced to Coach Lewis and began training under his guidance. Within a matter of two months he became the U-13 national champion; in a year and a half, Britton was able to achieve a bronze medal in the U-15 Caribbean championship and two years later he became the youngest and only player to ever win the U-15, U-18, U-21 and men’s title at

one tournament. Britton is currently preparing for the Pan American Games singles qualifier next month in Lima, Peru, he will also be focusing on 2020 which he deemed as an Olympic year during which he would be locked in on trying to qualify.

In closing, Britton said, “I’d like to thank my parents Dawn and Basil Britton; president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) , Godfrey Munroe; the (Guyana Olympic Association) GOA , my club Queens Park in Trinidad, my Trinidad Coach Aaron Edwards, Idi Lewis, my teammates, Sydney Christophe and everyone who came out to support.”

ECCC/Neville Ramotar Memorial T/20 & SPR Ent 40 Overs…

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ingh, Chatterpaul highlight day of action The action continued last Sunday in the SPR Enterprise/ECCC 40 Overs and the inaugural Neville Ramotar T/20 cricket competition as several teams on the East Coast of Demerara competed for top honours.

Navin Persaud topscored with 108 against Beehive SC in the SPR/ECCC 40over competition

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In the SPR Enterprise/ ECCC 40 Overs competition Lusignan East defeated LBI SC by 28 runs at Ogle.

Batting first, Lusignan East posted 183 all out in 36 overs as S Sahadeo top-scored with 34. N Khan bagged 3-41 from 8 overs. In response, LBI SC were dismissed for 155 in 34 overs, with N Khan and S Jaikarran scoring 45 and 34 runs respectively. P Appana took 4-24 for Lusignan East in a losing effort.

While in the other fixture, Ogle CC defeated Better Hope A at the Better Hope Ground.

Better Hope A were only able to score 92 in 24 overs as A y o d h a Joseph’s 4-16 ripped through their batting line-up,

while Rudranauth Kissoon and Dmauka Ngondo chipped in with 3-8 and 3-31. Ogle CC reached their target for the loss of six wickets in 18 overs, with K Dindyal leading the way with 23.

Buxton SC got the better of Better Hope Sixers by five wickets at Fairfield Ground.

Better Hope Sixers were dismissed for a mere 125 in 30 overs. The main wicket-takers were R Merrell (4-22) and Clive Andries (3-7). Buxton SC made light work of the total as they responded with 131-5 in 21 overs with Andries leading the way with an unbeaten 29.

Lusignan B made light work of Beehive SC at the Lusignan Ground as Lusignan B rattled up 336 from 37 overs, with Navin Persaud stoking 108, K Franklin, 52 not out and R Daterdeen, 32. N Ragnauth was the only bowler from Beehive to bag 2-50.

Folding to pressure, Beehive responded with 58 as Navin Persaud returned with 4-11 and K Persaud 3-15.

Meanwhile, two match-

es were played in the ECCC/ Neville Ramotar Memorial T/20 knockout competition at Enmore. In game one, Fairfield SC defeated Golden Achievers SC by five wickets.

Batting first Golden Achievers SC scored 147-6 off their allotted 20 overs, with D Wilson scoring 47. R Chatura took three wickets for Fairfield SC. Fairfield reached their target for the loss of five wickets with R Lindo unbeaten on 36 despite Quacy Cummings bagging 3-29 for Golden Achievers.

In the final match of the day, Enterprise B SC defeated Lusignan A by 10 runs. Batting first, Enterprise B SC were restricted to 98-8 from their allotted 20 overs, with Vivian Albert scoring 29. Rajpaul Basdeo snagged 4-18. In response, Enterprise B SC were led from the front as leg-spin-

ner veteran Chatterpaul Singh bagged 5-16 as Lusignan A fell short of their target by 10 runs.

Both competitions continue this weekend with matches at Fairfield, Enmore, Ogle, Lusignan, Buxton, Cane Grove a n d Enterprise Grounds.

Chatterpaul Singh bagged 5-16 against Lusignan A

Deaf Inter-School Sport 2019...

David Rose are 2019 champions

By Timothy Jaikarran

I

t was a day filled with lots of events as more than 30 deaf students competed in a track and field event on Wednesday at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Ground, Eve Leary as part of Deaf Inter-School Sport 2019.

The competition saw the participation four of the five schools scheduled to compete, namely David Rose Special School (DRSS); New Amsterdam Special Needs (NASS); Tuschen Deaf Academy (TDA) and Diamond Special Needs (DSN). Apart from medals, trophies were awarded to the champion girl and champion boy in the following categories – Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, 16 and over – best school and best march past/cheerleading team.

The day of events kicked off with the march past as the four schools participated in their different uniforms representing their respective school.

Participants pose with their prizes after the event

However, it was the students of DRSS, who were the best attired, finishing on 46 points. Settling for second position was TDA on 36, DSN on 26 and NASS on 20 points. In the track and field events, DRSS took the majority

in a clean sweep as they finished on 146 points while the runners-up were NASS on 68 points. Settling for third and fourth were TDA and DSN on 59 and 16 points respectively. Taking up the mantle of champion boy was Ryan

Chesney of NASS, while Champion Girl was Cleopatra Burk of DRSS. Speaking at the event was Managing Director of the Deaf Association of Guyana, Sabine McIntosh, who stated that she was very proud of how the event was run off as she was particularly grateful to Director of Sport, Christopher Jones for everything he has done. McIntosh further relayed that for the future, she would like to see countries such as Suriname participating in these events as it can be taken to an international platform, since it is her belief that present in the participating bunch lies the future of tomorrow.

This event was facilitated by the Deaf Association of Guyana Inc (DAG) in collaboration with the Education Ministry. DAG proudly acknowledges the support coming from the National Sports Commission, the Guyana Defence Force, and Bourda Trophy Stall.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

CONCACAF’s McIntosh pleased with progress of Guyanese football …anticipates completion of D’Urban Park facility

I

By Jemima Holmes

n a matter of years, a state-of-the-art football facility will sit in the heart of Georgetown at D’Urban Park, making international or even Elite League games more accessible to a larger portion of the Guyanese population.

One CONCACAF and Caribbean Project Senior Manager Howard McIntosh, who is visiting Guyana for a few days, was all smiles as he arrived at the 7.3 acre plot of land at D’Urban Park for his official tour on Wednesday morning.

The ‘prime location’ land, which was acquired by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on a 25-year lease, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Guyana (GoG) back in February, will not only hold a state-of-the-art full sized football pitch, along with stands, but also two mini pitches, an admin building and a convenient parking lot.

At the walk around on Wednesday, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones stated that the GFF’s acquisition of land is only the first of

many. He explained that he was committed to repeating the gesture for other sports associations, given that land was available and the Association was ready to utilise it.

“We will continue to lend support and make land available to the various associations or federations, once those lands are available for them. But, of course, it speaks to the capacity of the federations and associations to build on those lands,” Jones said.

McIntosh, in turn, welcomed the idea of this as he joked lightly about the abundance of land in Guyana as compared to other Caribbean nations.

GFF President Wayne Forde took the time to disclose the nature of McIntosh’s visit, stating “The purpose of Mr McIntosh’s visit here is to convey to all of Guyana President (Victor) Montagliani’s warm wishes and congratulations for our success at the CONCACAF Nations League and our qualification for the Gold Cup.” The GFF boss went on to

CONCACAF’s Howard McIntosh

explain the value of McIntosh’s input, given the nature of his relationship with the Federation.

“Howard has remained very integral in providing guidance to the GFF in terms of how we prioritise some of our activities, the projects that we’ve been applying for. He’s been behind the scenes giving us as much support as we need from time to time,” Forde noted.

McIntosh, who is expected to complete his visit today after other official CONCACAF duties, proudly stated that he

The proposed plan for the football complex

was satisfied with Guyana’s football development.

“It pleases me tremendously to come here to see and discuss more infrastructure development in Guyana. This type of development must lead to more returns in terms of football and sport generally,” he said.

Furthermore, McIntosh indicated that such ventures would directly impact the quality of Guyanese football, noting that the country was already seeing the benefits.

“I think the Director of

Sport and the GFF President have already indicated the possibilities.

And there’s nothing like seeing the manifestations of the possibilities becoming a reality, such as the performance at the Nations League, such as the performance of your girls as well and the qualification to the Gold Cup,” McIntosh explained.

While commending the President and the Federation on the remarkable performance at the CONCACAF level, the Caribbean Project

Senior Manager emphasised the importance of having such a facility or two. He touched on the possibilities having the leisure of structured training times and continued grassroots programmes.

“What this can do to change football in Guyana is grassroots development, youth football development. And of course the elite football development in terms of training pitches,” he said.

The facility at D’Urban Park is expected to be completed by 2021.

CWI Women’s T20 Blaze…

Matthews, Dottin are heavyweights!

Best fielder Shemaine Campbelle Best all-rounder and leading wicket-taker Hayley Matthews (Brandon Corlette photos)

I

t was fitting for the Barbadians to capture the major awards in the T20 Blaze tournament. After the fifth and final round match at the National Stadium Providence, the award ceremony took place. Barbados Captain Hayley Matthews finished as the leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets and 166 runs with the bat

earned her the best all-rounder.

Matthews’s batting average was 40.75 with a strike rate of 130.4, hitting one half-century while her 11 wickets came at a bowling average of 10.55 and an economy rate of 5.8.

Deandra Dottin reigned supreme with the bat, finishing as the highest run-getter with 222 runs in her dominant performance.

Dottin finished with an average of 222, striking at 180.49 in her fruitful T20 Blaze season, where she scored two half-centuries.

In contention for most runs was Stacy Ann King, who scored 183 runs for Trinidad and Tobago,

Most runs, Deandra Dottin

and Guyana’s Shemaine Campbelle, who accumulated 165 runs.

In the bowling department, after Matthew’s 11 wickets, Erva Giddings had 10 wickets, after she finished with 10 wickets in the Super50 format. For the Guyanese, Sheneta Grimmond finished with seven wickets while Akaze Thomson had six wickets.

Jamaican off-spinner, Vanessa Watts had seven wickets rounding off the top three bowlers in the T20 Blaze tournaments.

After finishing with the most dismissals in the Super50, Kycia Knight was in the run for most dismissals, but Leeward Island’s Terez

Parker finished with the most. In the field, Campbelle among three others were awarded for best fielders. The second-place team were yet to be determined with Guyana and Jamaica vying for the position with nine points each, but Guyana have won headto-head.

The tournament was hailed a success especially for the Barbadians who won all ten matches in both Super50 and T20 Blaze. (Brandon Corlette)

Best wicket-keeper Terez Parker

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thursday, APRIL 4, 2019

CWI Women’s T20 Blaze…

23

Barbados complete double with 8-wicket win over Guyana – Dottin shines with sparkling 43* Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette

S

ealed with a Deandra Dottin six into the red stands, Barbados won the T20 Blaze championships by eight wickets against hosts Guyana, at the National Stadium Providence. Batting first, Guyana struggled to 85-7 in 20 overs while Barbados replied with 86-2 in 16.1 overs with Player of the Match, Dottin smashing an unbeaten 43 from 28 balls.

Guyana Captain Shemaine Campbelle won the toss and elected to bat first on the slow Providence pitch.

Melanie Henry and Tremayne Smartt opened the batting in the unsettled batting lineup; but Barbados tasted success early removing Smartt with the score on 5-1.

It was Smartt’s first failure with the bat in this T20 Blaze tournament when she fell for two.

Two balls l a t e r , Sheneta

Grimmond was bowled all ends up for a golden duck

by Shanika Bruce. Henry was partnered by her Captain as the pair found it difficult to score.

At the power-play the Guyanese w e r e

of Hayley Matthews.

She ended the T20 B l a z e season

Deandra Dottin on the charge Akaze Thompson is bowled for a golden duck

Sheneta Grimmond is out bowled for a duck

34-2, with some disciplined bowling from the Barbadians, Melanie Henry was out caught off the bowling of Shakera Selman as wickets came at regular intervals.

Guyana’s leading run scorer, Campbelle skied one and was caught in the ring for 18 off the bowling

with 165 runs; the next ball, Matthews found herself on a hat-trick when she bowled Akaze Thompson for a duck at 48-5 in 11.4 overs.

The struggle continued as Shabika Gajnabi faced 27 balls for her 12 runs hitting a lone boundary; after she was caught and bowled by Selman.

Barbados dried up the runs as Fraser, who had the best strike rate by a Guyanese prior to this match, hit two fours in her 15 from 23 balls.

The Guyanese batters once more put on a poor show ending on 85-7 in 20 overs.

Bowling for the Barbadians, Hayley Matthews took

when she her tournament tally removed to 11 wickets with an Barbadian impressive haul of opener, Danielle 2-13 from four overs, Small for one, including 17 dot balls. after facing 12 balls.

Windies fast The fluent Matthews bowler Shakera Selman had 2-16 had to dig deep as the nature of the slow while Shamilia pitch and Guyanese Connell, arguably the fastest bowlers stopped her in her tracks. bowler in the After scoring 15 from tournament, 30 balls, she played a had 1-16 and false sweep shot and Shanika Bruce was caught on the had 1-18. juggle by Smartt at In Barbados’ backward squarechase, they leg. That meant had to work the dangerous for every Dottin took run; Erva c e n t r e Giddings took her Hayley Matthews bowls T20 Blaze tally to 10 wickets

stage, w h e re s h e d o m i n ate d from the get go.

Dottin ended unbeaten on 43 from 28 balls hitting six fours and smashing two sixes, included the biggest shot into the red stands. Kycia Knight finished unbeaten on 24 from 27 balls. Dottin and Knight featured in an unbroken 58run partnership that dented the Guyanese hopes.

Barbados finished unbeaten on 86-2 in 16.1 overs; bowling for the Guyanese, Giddings had 1-11 in three overs while Grimmond had 1-18 in her three overs.

CWI Women’s T20 Blaze…

Nation, Henry guide Jamaica to victory over T&T

─ Windwards register consolation win over Leeward

By Brandon Corlette

elected to field first.

The Trinidadian openers fter an ordinary in Stacy Ann King and Lee showing in the T20 Blaze Ann Kirby added 23 runs for tournament, defending 19 balls before Kirby fell for champions Jamaica finished five. King, Trinidad’s leading on a high with a seven-wicket run-getter in the T20 Blaze win over Trinidad and Tobago tournament, played her shots, in the fifth and final round. but she added only 17 runs The first of the three together with Britney Cooper. matches at the National King, who fell for Stadium began when Jamaica 26, including four Captain Stafanie Taylor boundaries, from won the toss 17 balls, ended a n d the tournament with 183 runs averaging 45.75.

She was out caught by Chedean Nation off the bowling of fast bowler Chinelle Henry.

The innovative Cooper lost her Vice Captain, Renice Boyce, who was run Chinelle Henry and Chedean Nation out for only one run. added an unbroken 90-run partnership The 32-year-old (John Ramsingh photo) Nation, who bowls gentle medium pace, then removed the established Cooper for 30 from

A

27 balls after she hit four boundaries, breaking the 42run stand between Cooper and her captain, Merissa Aguilleira.

Two runs later, Aguilleira departed for 10 from 16 balls when she was run out with the score on 87-5 in 12.3 overs.

The Trinidadians needed a decent score to defend; hence, it was Rachel Vincent and Anisa Mohammed, who added 54 runs taking the score to 141- 6, before Vincent was dismissed for 26, including three fours, off 24 balls.

The innings ended when Mohammed hit a boundary off the final ball giving Trinidad a score of 145-6 in 20 overs.

Jamaica’s bowlers shared the wickets among themselves with Nation, Henry, Karla Cohen, and Vanessa Watts grabbing one wicket each.

In Jamaica’s run chase, they encountered two major hiccups in the powerplay, losing both openers in Natasha McLean (08) and Jodian Morgan (13). At 23-2 in 4.2 overs, Taylor and Chedean Nation were at the crease, as the two most senior players looked to stabilise the chase.

West Indies and Jamaica Captain Taylor fell for 14 off 17 balls at the half-way stage Trinidad were in

front, as Jamaica w e r e reduced to 56-3.

But Nation Player of the Match Pearl Etienne bowls during her 3-14

found a reliable partner in Henry, and the duo showed their batting prowess in a matchwinning unbeaten 90-run partnership.

Nation, who has 17 T20 Internationals alongside her name, cracked seven boundaries and one six in her Player-ofthe-Match performance while Henry played a gem of an innings with 44 from 21 balls, including four boundaries and one maximum.

The Jamaicans finished victorious on 146-3 in 18.4 overs taking the game by seven wickets as T&T failed to defend their T20 Blaze title. Karishma Ramharack, Felicia Walters, and Leandra Ramdenn had one wicket each for Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, in the second match of the final day of the T20 Blaze, Windward Islands registered an 11-run win over the winless Leeward Islands team. Batting first, Windward Islands scored 115-8 in 20 overs, with Afy Fletcher and Swayline Williams hitting contrasting top scores of 24.

Bowling for Leeward Islands, Amanda Edwards and Malissa Howard had two wickets each.

In reply, Leeward Islands fell short by 11 runs ending on

1049

Afy Fletcher took a screaming catch off her own bowling (Brandon Corlette photo)

when their 20 overs expired. Saneldo Willett top scored with a runa-ball 25 as Leeward Islands were toppled by Player of the Match Pearl Etienne, who grabbed 3-14 in four overs while Stacy Ann Adams had 2-13. Windward Islands Captain Fletcher had 2-23 in her quota of overs.

thursday, APRIL 4, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI Women’s T20 Blaze…

Page 23

Barbados complete double with 8-wicket win over Guyana – Dottin shines with sparkling 43*

CONCACAF’s McIntosh pleased with progress of Guyanese football

VIVO IPL Edition 12…

Match #16 Time: 10:30h

…anticipates completion of D’Urban Park facility Page 22

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones; One CONCACAF and Caribbean Project Senior Manager Howard McIntosh, and GFF President Wayne Forde share a light moment at the D’Urban Park site

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