Guyana Times - Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3826

tuesday, February 5, 2019

PRICE

No-confidence motion ruling

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

EU urges respect for Constitution, warns of delayed foreign investments Page 3

…calls on Govt to follow all requirements outlined in the Constitution of Guyana …says democratic procedures, rule of law must be respected, upheld …as Private Sector blasts Govt for not respecting, honouring Chief Justice’s decision

Contractors, Govt meet over unfair bidding P14 process

P15 Banks DIH New Amsterdam records $45M profit

Court-ordered Art 106 March 19 elections

GECOM breaches constitutional timeline …as technical staff give July 2019 timeline Page 7

...work plan being padded to extend time – PPP Commissioner

7 freed of 2013 Meten-MeerZorg robbery/ P11 murder

School bomb/shooting threats

Less than 100 of over 700 QC students attended school on Monday Page 9

Teen charged for wounding pregnant girlfriend P9 Mother of 2 who killed abusive boyfriend granted early P8 release

…as School of the Nations heightens security

1 dead after car slams into parked truck Page 2

A Policeman stands guard at the entrance of School of the Nations, on Monday, where all students, staff and visitors were searched before entering the school’s compound (Adam Baksh photo)

61-year-old charged for raping differently Page abled child 10

NA Hospital mortuary

Indefinite closure points to grave mismanagement – former Health P13 Minister

2 news

tuesday, february 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

1 dead after car slams into parked truck

Dead: Trevon Butters

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man is dead while a woman was listed in a serious condition after the vehicle in which they were travelling collided with a parked truck along Princes Street, Werken-Rust, Georgetown in the wee hours of Monday morning.

Dead is 35-yearold Trevon Butters of Caneville, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The injured

woman has been identified as 25-year-old Natasha Roberts of Wales, West Bank Demerara.

Reports are the motorcar bearing registration number PNN 8969, which was driven by Butters, was heading north along Princes Street at a fast rate but while in the vicinity of the City Police Outpost, the driver lost control and slammed into the rear of a motor lorry with registration plates GFF 9764.

As a result, the motorcar reportedly spun several times before it came to a screeching halt. Both Butters and Roberts sustained injuries as a result of the collision.

Roberts was reportedly flung out of the vehicle and was later picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she remains a patient.

Butters, on the other hand, was pinned in his seat and had to be removed from

the wreckage by members of the Guyana Fire Service. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An eyewitness told Guyana Times that Butters and Roberts were seen leaving a popular Hadfield Street, Georgetown bar in the wee hours of Monday.

The woman claimed that as the vehicle pulled off, they heard screams followed by a loud sound.

The vehicle, she added slammed into the lorry and as it spun, Roberts was flung out and landed on the roadway. At the time, she was conscious and even attempted to stand up. Soon after, she recalled, the ambulance arrived at the scene. The injured woman was picked up, placed on a stretcher and

The injured woman lying on the roadway

put into the ambulance.

“As they were trying to put her properly in the ambulance, she fell off the stretcher and onto the floor…’, she stated.

However, by the time the medical team attended to Butters, he had already died.

“Half of his body was in the driver’s seat and the other half leaning over the front passenger’s seat…his chest and neck was pressed against the badly damaged vehicle,” the woman told Guyana Times.

A relative of the dead man said that his mother was expected in Guyana on Tuesday and that he had a one-year-old daughter.

The police are continuing their investigations.

Security guard remanded on armed robbery charge

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father of five found himself facing a charge of armed robbery on Monday as he stood before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IssacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge stated that Weldon Anthony, while in the company of others and armed with a gun on November 4, 2018, robbed Robert Jackson. Jackson was relieved of his Honda motorcycle valued $425,000, a gold chain valued $100,000 and $20,000 cash.

Anthony, a security guard, denied the accusations when it was read to him on Monday.

The prosecution’s case

stated that the Virtual Complainant (VC) was held facedown and relieved of the items by the accused and two others in front of the Education Ministry’s compound in Brickdam, Georgetown.

According to Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris, who opposed bail, the defendant was arrested with the motorcycle in his possession.

The prosecutor added that Anthony was positively identified during a police identification parade.

The prosecution’s submissions were upheld, and the 27-year-old was remanded to prison. The case will continue on February 18, 2019.

news

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, February 5 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, February 6 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, February 5 – 16:45h-18:15h and Wednesday, February 6 – 05:15h-06:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

No-confidence motion ruling

EU urges respect for Constitution, warns of delayed foreign investments …calls on Govt to follow all requirements outlined in the Constitution of Guyana …says democratic procedures, rule of law must be respected, upheld …as Private Sector blasts Govt for not respecting, honouring Chief Justice’s decision Mikiko Tanaka also urged Government to respect the Constitution of Guyana.

Guyana’s PSC had also previously called for GECOM to open up about its readiness for elections.

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers followed by light cloudy skies can be expected, followed by sunny intervals in the late afternoon hours. Partly cloudy conditions can be expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

PSC

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

High Tide: 04:55h and 17:07h reaching maximum heights of 2.49 metres and 2.61 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:42h and 23:05h reaching minimum heights of 0.71 metre and 0.61 metre.

European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videtič

United Nations Resident Coordinator Mikiko Tanaka

ocal and international pressure continues to mount on Government, as President David Granger is yet to announce a date for early elections.

This time, both the European Union (EU) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) are warning of the need for constitutional compliance.

In a statement on Monday, the EU’s local mission revealed that it was keeping an eye on developments following the vote.

The EU urged that democratic procedures and the rule of law be respected and upheld.

The EU also called for free and fair elections to be held and for the Guyana Government to follow all requirements outlined in the Constitution of Guyana following the December 21, 2018 no-confidence vote.

Since acting Chief Justice Roxane George upheld the no-confidence vote on January 31, Government has said it will appeal.

According to the EU, it is best if these appeals are expedited, hinting that foreign investments into Guyana are being held up by the political uncertainty.

“The Delegation of the European Union calls on all concerned bodies and stakeholders to uphold the Constitution, respecting democratic procedures and the rule of law. Procedures should be managed efficiently, with openness and transparency.

“In this regard, the Delegation of the European Union hopes that the further legal process can be expedited, for the benefit of Guyana, its people and its development, in view of pending Foreign Direct Investments.”

The EU also lauded the High Court, which fasttracked the no-confidence cases to ensure a ruling by

January month end. The statement also expressed expectations for free and fair elections being held in line with the Constitution of Guyana.

Article 106 of the Constitution says that elections must be held within three months after a no-confidence vote is passed.

Such a vote was passed on December 21, 2018, but since then there has been uncertainty about the Guyana Elections Commission’s readiness.

Government has since said it is not resigning until its efforts to overturn the no-confidence vote are adjudicated at the level of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

It was only a few days ago that United Nations Resident Coordinator

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As uncertainty continues to swirl over when elections will actually be held, the PSC in a strongly worded statement on Monday said it was growing increasingly concerned over the Government’s insistence on business as usual while it appeals the no-confidence cases it lost.

According to the PSC, these statements being made by the Government and its representatives are a matter of concern since the High Court has already refused Government’s request for a stay of judgment.

“The statement issued by the Government’s Department of Public Information clearly and, it

Private Sector Commission Chairman Desmond Sears

appears, with deliberate intent, flies in the face of the decision of the Chief Justice.

The ‘status quo’, meaning that nothing has changed, simply does not remain and the business of Government does not continue ‘as usual’.

There have since been similar misleading statements made by senior members of the governing party, which add to the Commission’s concern,” the PSC stated.

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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

Chinese New Year:

Guyana-China relations

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

China is the second largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, which is also a major destination for outbound Chinese investment, second only to Asia. Total ChinaLatin America trade increased from US$17 billion in 2002 to almost US$262 billion in 2014 and was valued at US$257 billion in 2017. In 2015, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) President set a goal of total China-Latin America trade reaching US$500 billion in 10 years.

China’s imports from Latin America and the Caribbean amounted to about US$126 billion in 2017, accounting for seven per cent of China’s overall imports; China’s exports to the region amounted to US$131 billion, accounting for 5.7 per cent of China’s total exports.

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

China’s diplomatic efforts include being an observer at the Organisation of American States, a member of the InterAmerican Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, and an active participant in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. A 2016 PRC policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean stated that China sought to strengthen cooperation on the basis of “equality and mutual benefit” in several key areas, including exchanges and dialogues, trade and investment, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and technological innovation.

Despite this being the 47th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Guyana and China, the relationship between the two countries began as early as 1853. Chinese citizens from Guangdong province migrated to Guyana (then British Guiana), to assist with alleviating labour shortages across the country. Many of the descendants of these immigrants became influential members of Guyanese society, such that in 1970, Arthur Chung, a man of Chinese descent, was appointed as Guyana’s first President. He was the first ethnic Chinese to be Head of State of a non-Asian country.

Over the years, the relationship between the two countries has continued to grow and strengthen in the fields of transportation, infrastructure, information technology, health and security. Guyana has benefited significantly from increased Chinese investment and the trade volume between both countries has tripled within the last decade.

The recent discovery of oil serves to complement the country’s core industries, including forestry, mining, energy, agriculture, construction and manufactured goods. All of these assets continue to make Guyana a lucrative investment destination for Chinese companies. The two nations remain further committed to a series of wide-ranging initiatives through the China-CELAC Forum, the principal vehicle for China-Caribbean cooperation.

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

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

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

Students of the Three Miles Secondary School in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), performing a dance during the Children’s Mashramani and Costume Competition (Education Ministry photo)

Erdogan slams US ‘silence’ over Khashoggi, demands Saudi answers …Turkish President renews call for full investigation into killing of Journalist at Kingdom’s Consulate in Istanbul

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long said the order to kill Khashoggi came from the highest levels of the Saudi Government [File: Umit Bektas/Reuters]

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urkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at the United States for not taking a tougher position against Saudi Arabia over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, as he demanded answers from the Kingdom over the Journalist’s killing.

“I cannot understand America’s silence when such a horrific attack took place, and even after members of the CIA listened to the recordings we provided,” Erdogan said in an interview aired by State broadcaster TRT on Sunday.

“We want everything to be clarified, because there is an atrocity, there is a murder,” he added, calling the killing “not an ordinary one”.

Erdogan has long insisted that the order to kill Khashoggi at the Kingdom’s Consulate in Istanbul four months ago came from the

highest levels of the Saudi Government.

In the interview, Erdogan said the murder was planned by 22 people, 15 of whom arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the Consulate on the day of the killing.

“What they [Saudi Arabia] say is ‘22 people are arrested now’. Despite this, we have some information. They might have taken some of them out.

They might be victims of traffic accidents. Because the system there is working very weird,” he said.

Last month, a trial opened in Riyadh of 11 defendants over the killing, including five people facing the death penalty. Several rights groups and international observers, however, have said it lacked credibility.

UN probe

Erdogan’s

latest

re-

Slain Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi

marks came as Agnes Callamard, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, on Sunday concluded a week-long trip to Turkey to gather information on the events surrounding Khashoggi’s murder four months ago.

Callamard is understood to have heard the grisly audio recordings of the Saudi Journalist’s last moments, which are in Turkey’s possession and were previously shared with CIA Director Gina Haspel, as well as Germany, France, and Britain.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and critic of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was murdered on October 2 soon after he entered the Istanbul-based Consulate to collect documents for his planned wedding to a Turkish woman.

US intelligence agencies have reportedly concluded that Crown Prince

Mohammed, also known as MbS, ordered the assassination of Khashoggi, whose body is yet to be found.

In December, the US Senate passed a bill that directly pinned the blame for the murder on the Crown Prince and ordered the US military to cease all assistance to the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

US President Donald Trump, however, has repeatedly insisted there was no definitive evidence connecting MbS with the crime.

After giving contradictory statements about Khashoggi’s whereabouts, Saudi Arabia admitted he was killed inside its consulate and his body was dismembered.

The Kingdom maintains Prince Crown Mohammed – Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler – had no knowledge of the killing, calling it the result of a “rogue operation” carried out without his knowledge. (Al Jazeera)

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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 should demit office Which party will form the and set date for elections Government?

Dear Editor, The APNU/AFC coalition should demit office and the President should set a date for elections within the stipulated time frame before March 21. It is the honourable and right thing to do.

When the coalition APNU/AFC Government lost the no-confidence motion on December 21, there was a lot of sympathy for it.

People everywhere praised the Government when their spokespersons (the Prime Minister, President and others) announced they would respect the outcome of the no-confidence vote and invoke the steps outlined in the Constitution that speaks to such a defeat – their words suggested that democracy came before politics. The Government had not lost much of its traditional support at that time, and there were even some (sitting on the fences) who may have been thinking of giving it another chance. At the time, with their words that democracy was at work, people saw the Government as

respecting the Constitution and subscribing to democratic credentials.

But then there was a change of tone from the Government side; the political beast in it stepped in.

The Government announced it would not accept the outcome of the no-confidence vote, presenting a set of ridiculous, bare-faced nonsensical, idiotic arguments (of a half man, no-confidence vote illegal, dual citizenship, etc) – all acts undertaken by the Government show it is clutching at straws to hold on to power at any cost. At a minimum, people see these arguments as trending towards dictatorial behaviour or anathema to democratic norms. More and more, this Government is losing sympathy over its hilarious claims. It is best if the Government spokespersons just shut up, resign, and hold elections. It still has a chance of doing very well.

The coalition is not going to win any of its arguments to stay in office. The Speaker of the House ruled

against it. The Chief Justice landed another telling blow on Thursday – with three different rulings against the Government. The Chief Justice or any further court could not rule any other way – the Constitution is clear – when the Government loses a no-confidence vote, it must resign (President and Cabinet) and be a caretaker Government until elections which must be held within 90 days. The Court of Appeal and the CCJ will not render a much different verdict – as the Constitution is very straightforward on the absurd claims made by the Government.

Some forty-five days have passed since the no-confidence vote. The Government has less than forty-five days within which GECOM must hold elections. The Government should resign now and set a date for elections to show the world it subscribes to democratic parliamentary principles.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Grateful to the UN Resident Rep and EU statements Dear Editor, I am truly grateful for the statements issued by the United Nations Resident Representative Mikiko Tanaka, and the European Union regarding the importance of all stakeholders respecting the tenets of the Constitution and

the decisions of the Chief Justice.

I trust that the ABC countries, as well as the Caribbean Community, will join these respected outfits in condemning the wanton disregard of the Constitution on which our democracy and rule of law stand. Indeed, all

stakeholders should respect the stated parameters and hold elections as stipulated by the Constitution.

Yours truly, Dr Devanand Bhagwan

Dear Editor, I have a question and I would appreciate an answer from whoever wishes to educate me about this issue.

My simple question is which political party will form the Government if after the next election, the two ma-

jor parties each end up with 32 seats and another party with one seat?

Ok. This number, 32, has been featured too much recently. What if the two major parties each end up with 30 seats and the other parties with a total of five seats?

Which party will form the Government?

Editor, pity my simplicity for asking this question which might be totally irrelevant.

Regards, Wesley Kirton

Circumstances have changed Dear Editor, We all know the re-migrant jokes “Ken yew tell me the proice of those string beans?” Followed by “$3000 dallah, yuh tek me fuh ah ass or wha’ buddy?” How often have we laughed at the ‘freshwater Yankee’s’ expense, when acquired airs and graces disappear in the face of our often-harsh Guyanese realities? So it is with GHK Lall, no longer writing in the ‘esoteric inquisitive’, our man at the Gold Board has come down to earth in his latest missive concerning the search for a PPP/C Prime Ministerial candidate as elections draw ever closer.

GHK Lall, like many before him, contends that there is an active search for a ‘black’ candidate for reasons of public appeasement only. There are many like GHK Lall, who would have you believe that perception is indeed reality, that the non-indo PPP/C members are mere “political cosmetology”. Lall cites the influence of Dr Roger Luncheon and Sam Hinds as exceptions that prove the rule as if

there were no younger black members of note. The PPP/C has over 6000 black members who make up a strong caucus within the party and form part of the decision-making process within the organisation. Unlike those in the PNC, WPA et al, these are not ageing people who are well known but young, educated and vibrant Guyanese, gearing to move the country forward, physically and mentally. One day in the near future you can certainly expect to see a presidential candidate emerge from this subset.

The Civic component of the PPP/C is where the Prime Ministerial candidates have come from traditionally, and to date, they have been Afro-Guyanese, which is not policy, it is, however, tradition and an acceptance of the early difficulties the PPP/C would have had in attracting Afro-Guyanese to join the organisation. Now that circumstances have changed with the existence of various large multi-ethnic components within the PPP/C membership, the requirement is simply to find

the best civic candidate, regardless of ethnicity.

Editor, it is my hope that citizens reading this letter will be inspired to seek current information before public pontification and not repeat the errors of relying on perception like our re-migrant friend, now referred to as GHK Lol. Respectfully, Robin Singh

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Foundation

Gossip

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 versus 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

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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

Train your temper

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! (kidshealth.org)

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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 problems 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. (kidshealth.org) TO BE CONTINUED

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Court-ordered Art 106 March 19 elections

GECOM breaches constitutional timeline

…as technical staff give July 2019 timeline …work plan being padded to extend time – PPP Commissioner

GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson

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echnical staff of the Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) are claiming the entity will be unprepared to hold General and Regional Elections, which are constitutionally due in March 2019.

On Monday, the Commission’s technical staff made presentations to the seven commissioners and have advised that the earliest elections could be held is July 2019.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield has presented copies of work

The Guyana Elections Commission

plans detailing what needed to be done in preparation for General Elections, to the operations subcommittee on Monday. This timeline is a blatant breach of the Constitution of Guyana, which outlines that following the passage of a no-confidence motion, an election must be held in 90 days. The constitutional requirement was upheld by acting Chief Justice Roxane George on Thursday last when she held that the no-confidence motion was validly passed in the National Assembly.

EU urges respect...

“We must underline the fact that when the Attorney General sought a conservatory order from the Chief Justice to preserve the ‘status quo ante’, his application was rejected … Clearly, therefore, in the view of the Commission, her ruling remains in place unless successfully appealed in a superior court. The Commission, as a consequence, expects the President and his Government to respect and honour the decision of the Chief Justice.”

In this vein, the PSC made it clear that Government must ensure elections are held no later than March 21, 2019 as required by Article 106 (7) of the Constitution of Guyana.

It also reminded that the Chief Justice in her decision upheld Article 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution, which state that the Government, while remaining in office with the President in place, does so without a functioning Cabinet.

“The Private Sector Commission speaks not only for the business community with hundreds of billions invested in the development of our economy and the employment of some 60 per cent of our workforce. In this case, we believe that we speak for the majority of the nation when we express our concern over public statements which deny the ex-

press ruling of the Chief Justice, statements which could lead our country into a situation of grave instability and an illegal government resulting,” the PSC said.

In addition, the Commission threw its support behind both the EU and the UN for throwing their weight behind calls for the Constitution of Guyana to be respected, the rule of law upheld and for free and fair elections.

Government fell to the no-confidence vote on December 21 last year.

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

Meanwhile, 106 (7) goes on to state that, “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

Both the National

Extend time

However, according to People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C)-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj, the position taken by the technical staff was all a ruse. Gunraj expressed his belief that elections could be held sooner and that the work plan was being padded.

“They have not justified to us all the timelines that they have included in their document. As a consequence, I would not rely on that timeline until I have had enough time to go

through the document and scrutinise it.

“They have padded up the timelines with a whole set of things. As a consequence, it is not a realistic timeline that gives a true reflection of what is needed.

For example, they’ve now moved training which they previously said would take 90 days; they’ve arbitrarily put 105 days now. They’ve given no reason for the increase.”

Gunraj said the number of days allotted for training could be reduced. In fact, he believes that several ac-

From page 3

Assembly and the High Court have refused Government’s attempts and arguments to overturn the no-confidence vote. Despite this, however, President Granger is yet to indicate a date for elections.

GECOM successfully ran the Local Government Elections (LGE) in November 2018,

less than three months ago.

It is the President of Guyana, who has to give a date for elections and not GECOM as being touted.

The President of Guyana, according to the Constitution, has to dissolve Parliament and issue a date for elections.

tivities could be compressed to achieve an earlier date for elections. But he made it clear that if the constitutional timelines were not followed by the Secretariat, that was tantamount to dereliction of duty.

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

Even this was initially not done, with a PPP/Cnominated commissioner complaining that despite promises of receiving the work plans by Friday, they were yet to receive them as of Saturday. It had been the Commissioners’ hope that they could be given the weekend to properly analyse the timelines before a meeting scheduled for today.

The parliamentary Opposition, sections of the diplomatic community, Private Sector, civil society and other observers have called the Government out on its attempt to delay the holding of the constitutionally-mandated elections following the no-confidence resolution of December 21, 2018. The three-month time frame in which the polls should be held was validated in last Thursday’s interpretation by acting Chief Justice George, who declared that the motion was

GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield

validly passed by 33 votes to 32.

The complaint has been that GECOM was not forthcoming about its preparedness for the mandatory elections.

In fact, during a previous meeting with the Opposition and Government Chief Whips, the GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson abruptly ended a meeting on the Commission’s preparedness after he was pressed for answers.

On Sunday, PPP/C GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick called out CEO Lowenfield for his part in the entire dilemma.

Shadick explained that Lowenfield must bear some responsibility for the status of GECOM, since he knew since last year that elections were due in three months after the passage of the no-confidence motion.

8 news

tuesdAY, february 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mother of 2 who killed abusive boyfriend granted early release

S

ection D, South Sophia, Greater Georgetown mother of two, Tramangra Williams, known as “Queenie” has been granted early release from prison following her 18-year prison sentence over the unlawful killing of her Bajan boyfriend over 10 years ago. She was sentenced in January 2014 by Justice Navindra Singh for her criminal actions but after consideration of her behaviour and circumstances surrounding the case, she was paroled and released several years ahead of schedule.

She had mounted a challenge in the Appeal Court which came up on Monday.

Chancellor of the Judiciary

(ag) Yonette CummingsEdwards and fellow Appellate Justices Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory were set to hear the case.

However, the unrepresented woman, in a soft tone, informed the senior judges of her desire to withdraw her appeal.

Chancellor Edwards, after a brief consideration, announced that such leave was granted which meant the appeal was discontinued. Appearing on behalf Tramangra Williams, known as “Queenie”

of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was State Counsel, Teshanna Lake.

On December 27, 2008,

“Queenie” stabbed Tyrone McDonald Best of Barbados at South Sophia. He died on January 3, 2009, while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

It was previously reported that after considering the evidence during the High Court trial, a 12-member mixed jury found her not guilty of murder but guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter.

Justice Singh’s sentence was initially 30 years, but he had deducted 12 years for provocation and remorse shown as the offender had told the jury via an unsworn statement that she was sorry for what happened.

Williams told the jury

that she loved the Bajan man and never intended to stab him.

It was revealed during the trial that the Bajan accused his Guyanese partner of having an affair with her cousin’s father on the afternoon “Queenie” asked the older man for money and marijuana.

Her story was that while on the way to the home of her friend, he slapped her across the head and beat her across the body. After they got home, Tyrone had reportedly aimed one of his boots at her head, but she suddenly turned around with a knife and he supposedly charged into it and received injuries to his abdomen.

Prosecution closes case, “Smallie” says “doesn’t know” about “Mango Man” murder

A

verdict will soon be handed down for Mark Royden “Smallie” Williams and Sherwin Nero called “Catty” in the August 30, 2007, Kumar Singh “Mango Man” murder case after the prosecution and defence closed their cases on Monday.

“Smallie” took the stand and recounted a story in which

Mark Royden “Smallie” Williams and Sherwin Nero called “Catty” denied committing the murder

Deceased: Kumar Singh called “Mango Man”

he implicated Inspector Suraj Singh and other ranks of torturing him. He told the jury that upon his 2008 arrest, he was handcuffed, beaten and shocked into signing the police caution statement which he claimed was not freely given.

“They shock me up; handcuff meh hand; they start beating me up and I keep telling them: ‘I don’t know about these things’,” he claimed.

He said on the second day of interrogation the ranks took him to the Brickdam Police Station in Georgetown where he said he continued to deny having knowledge of the robbery/ murder.

He said Inspector Singh told him that if he signed the paper, the things being done to him would stop.

“The next day, they handcuff me to a post, beat me again [while] shocking me and Inspector Singh told me: ‘If you sign this paper, these things will stop’,” Williams added.

“They throw a substance in me mouth, I didn’t know what it was – I keep spitting it out…then they carry me to Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where they remand me to prison,” the accused killer further detailed.

Turn to page 10

Jooking…

W

…the Constitution hatever doubts your Eyewitness expressed yesterday about the PNC-led coalition Government’s intentions after the Chief Justice’s rulings on their challenges to the NCM – that President and Cabinet should’ve resigned immediately after Dec 21 – were swept away by PNC party leader Granger’s inelegant but emphatic announcement, “I ain’t goin’ no way!” Granger was in full campaign mode in front of a large throng of green-clad party faithful at the opening of a “Reg 3 Congress Place” and spoke in the vernacular to energise his bused-in supporters.

He announced he was taking his delaying tactics all the way to the CCJ. Now that’s his right – everyone’s entitled to his day in court and all that – save when the case is an “abuse of process”, as this clearly is. But Guyana isn’t an island – figuratively and literally – and in behaving in such a cold, callous and opportunistic fashion, Granger’s burning up a lot of our hard-earned international social capital.

The UN Resident Representative, for instance, spoke directly to Granger when she announced: “The delivery of the decisions by the Chief Justice demonstrates the independence and integrity of the Judiciary in protecting the Constitution and upholding the rule of law. The Honourable Speaker’s earlier validation of the process of the controversial voting at the National Assembly was testimony of the integrity of the legislative arm of the State.

“It is hoped that the third arm of the State, the Executive, will demonstrate its integrity and respect for Guyana’s Constitution and the Judiciary that constitute the foundation for the rule of law.” But it’s clear Granger and his team have no regard for our Constitution and the Judiciary. Didn’t he already refer to a judgement of the Chief Justice as her “perception” and that he’s also entitled to his?? More than any other outburst, this illustrates his contempt for that co-equal branch of government.

But just as insidiously, Granger and company are undermining in our people, the very basis of democratic legitimacy in parliamentary governance – the principle of majority rule. He’s never questioned his winning Reg 8 by a SINGLE vote – 1837 to 1836 of the PPP’s. With that single vote, his coalition was awarded the SINGLE seat over the PPP – 33-32 – that made him President and in control of the Government.

Yet now that he was voted out on a no-confidence motion sanctioned by the Constitution, he ridicules the MP voting his conscience and his government falling by one vote: “There’s got to be something undemocratic about that; there got to be something cruel and callous about that... Yuh just jook, stab yuh in de back!”

What’s “undemocratic” about a procedure where his Chief Whip taunted: “Bring it on!!”?? …his AFC pal??

Your Eyewitness had broached the touchy subject of “every man for himself; and the Devil take the hindmost” attitude that enveloped the AFC after its “dead meat” status was confirmed following the LGE. This behaviour is also induced in rats in sinking ships!! The phenomenon’s most starkly illustrated with the intra-AFC manoeuvrings to snag the PM slot in the upcoming elections.

Now, we’ve got to remind ourselves that this “PM position” has been transformed – after 2015 – into one where the incumbent – at this point Moses Nagamootoo – is always poised to be overlooked!! Even though he’d earlier demurred from running again, Nagamootoo now coyly allows that he wouldn’t “mind it”. Interestingly, he’s now backed by AFC Leader Raphael Trotman – who’d pipped him for the Speakership back in 2011 – which alone should’ve made him question his decision.

But now, his rescuer from political oblivion – after he was cast out from the PPP – Ramjattan, has now said HE’S willing to be PM candidate!!

So, will Nagamootoo “do the right thing” and move aside?? Yeah, right!! …Guyanese in the eye Do GECOM Chair James Patterson and his CEO Lowenfield believe they have any shred of credibility left – with even PNC supporters – after deliberately dragging their feet on preparing for elections on March 19?

Yeah, right!!

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

news

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tuesdAY, february 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

School bomb/shooting threats

Less than 100 of over 700 QC students attended school on Monday …as School of the Nations heightens security

By Rupadai Seenarine

F

earful for their children’s lives, many parents on Monday refrained from sending their children to Queen’s College and to the Bishops’ High School on Monday after threats of shooting and bombing were made against the school on Friday last.

Guyana Times understands that both schools saw a reduced attendance on Monday.

Students who were pres-

that of an average 700 population at the school, less than 100 students turned up for classes.

The position not to send their children to school was taken by parents even though security was beefed up at the schools.

At Queen’s College, additional security was provided by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at both entrances, the head teacher’s quarters, in front of the school and in the vicinity of the drive-thru.

Both gates remained closed

manned by security guards who checked persons as they entered.

When this publication contacted the administration of Queen’s College about the poor attendance, the teachers were adamant that the attendance was normal.

However, this is a far cry from what the several students at the school told this publication. The school’s administration confirmed that increased security measures were requested and implemented over the weekend.

A Police officer stands outside of the School of the Nations security checkpoint

Ephraim Haley stated that a visit was made to the schools and while there were Police officers at the gates, he did not inquire about the decrease in population and further disclosed that no reports were made in that regard.

School of Nations

Vehicles waiting for security checks before entering Queen’s College compound

ent throughout the day at Queen’s College indicated

during the instructional period and the gates were

Public Relations Officer of the Education Ministry

Meanwhile, over at School of Nations, a new security hut was constructed. There, students were scanned and bags are to

Teen charged for wounding pregnant girlfriend

A

teenager was released on his own recognisance after he was charged for wounding his pregnant girlfriend.

The teen stood before Magistrate Annette Singh on Monday in the Children’s Court, located in the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts compound.

The 17-year-old is accused of stabbing his 16-year-old girlfriend several times about her head after they were involved in a heated argument on January 30, 2019, at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The prosecution is con-

tending that an argument ensued between the two and the accused took a sharp, pointed object and began to stab her.

However, in court on Monday, the teenager denied committing the act.

The case was held in camera, but it was revealed that the teenager, who is

six months pregnant, is still hospitalised. The case will continue on February 22, 2019.

be searched for any illegal items upon entry.

Last Friday, Queens College and the Bishops’ High School were on lockdown after social media accounts created on Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram, which were reportedly sending threats to Nations, gave a bomb scare to Queens College while threatening to shoot the Bishops’ High School.

Parents were not allowed to enter the premises but forced to wait outside until classes were dismissed. As customary, they would utilise the Thomas Road entrance to collect their kids.

This was blocked, and vehicles were not allowed to enter.

At the Bishops’ High

School, there was a similar scenario as students waited inside the premises until their parents arrived.

Meanwhile, at Nations, parents met with security officials and the school’s administration for another meeting on security measures that were implemented ever since it’s Director, Dr Brian O’Toole was shot at his home on Sunday evening.

The Professional Guard Services was engaged to provide baton services at the institution and it was disclosed that a lockdown situation was more likely to be adopted.

On Monday, officers carried out basic security searches on students before they entered the compound.

10 news

tuesdAY, february 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Businesses warned of $1M fine for 61-year-old charged for raping differently abled child deceptive information on products

A

61-year-old man was on Monday remanded to prison after he was charged for engaging in sexual activity with a differently abled child without her consent in January.

Octavius Williams stood before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

The prosecution’s case stated that the man engaged in sexual activity with the 13-year-old girl on January 31, 2019, at the child’s East Ruimveldt, Georgetown residence.

According to the prosecution’s case, the 61-year-old man was seen entering the child’s bedroom by a neighbour. After hearing a strange sound, the neighbour told the girl’s father, who upon entering the child’s bedroom, saw the elderly man pulling up his trousers.

As such, a report was made to the East Ruimveldt Police Station and the child was taken for a medical examination. Williams was subsequently charged.

The case will continue on February 6, 2019.

Prosecution closes case...

Prosecutor Tamika Clarke and Attorney for the co-defendants Nigel Hughes will both try to convince the jury to return a verdict in favour of either the State or the defence on Tuesday when closing addresses are presented before Justice James Bovell-Drakes.

Last week, the jury heard that an ex-Police rank transported the duo from Kumar Singh’s Cove and John, East Coast Demerara home via horse cart which the defence views as implausible. Singh was killed after gunmen stormed his premises and allegedly made off with cash and jewellery while his relatives were visiting from Suriname.

During the testimonies of Singh’s wife and daughter, it was explained that the bandits fired several shots when the family home was invaded.

Indroutie Singh, the wife, told the jury that her Surinamese relatives were drinking a few shots of rum on the night of the attack when she suddenly heard a gunshot, and some-

fom page 8

one said: “Pass what y’all get.” She had recalled being in the lower flat of their two-storied home when she reportedly saw two men standing in front of her sister-in-law’s husband and her own husband whom she claimed was wearing several gold rings at the time. When the gunmen left, they made off with those very rings, the woman had observed last week.

Their daughter, Deoranie Singh, who had testified to hearing “terrible gunshots” detailed that the bandits asked for jewellery and the $7 million the family was keeping. “We keep telling them ‘no, we don’t have money’ and they keep insisting that ‘yes we have it’.”

She said their wardrobe upstairs was shot at and a male had lashed her causing her nose to bleed. It was after the men fled that she ran to her father, held him and screamed. The testimonies of these witnesses did not face cross-examination.

L

CCAC Director, Dawn Holder-Cush

ocal businesses can be fined $1 million for making false or misleading claims about goods, the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) recently warned.

The warning was signalled

by Director of the Commission, Dawn Holder-Cush during a recent presentation during which she outlined some of the offences that are committed by businesses.

This announcement comes at a time when consumers locally have been decrying false products on the markets, which was confirmed by the Commission.

“Under the Consumer Affairs Act it is an offence to make a false or misleading claim about a goods, service or prices, sell products with a misleading description, to provide misleading or deceptive information about a product or service, inclusive of misleading advertisements, to influence consumers through coer-

cion or undue influence,” HolderCush informed.

According to her, such infringements are committed more often than one might think. She alluded to the fact that making a customer sign to a document that is not properly filled out is also an offence, as this too opens an avenue for business owners to take advantage of their customers, by applying their own terms and conditions.

She said that this is an offence which can result in the businesses paying up to $1 million and even face jail time.

“A supplier who contravenes this Act is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $20,000 but not more than $1,000,000 and to imprisonment for one year,” she said while explaining, “I should point out here because it says ‘is liable on summary co...nviction’ even though it says ‘and to imprisonment for one

year’…so it’s not automatic that you will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment it depends on how you breach the Act”.

On another note, Holder-Cush, in an effort to sensitise businesses, issued a few tips they can take into consideration to be on the safe side of the Competition laws.

A few of the tips include not agreeing to not compete with your competitor, not discussing or allocating customers or territories and not discussing or agreeing on prices of your products or services.

Price fixing, she explained, poses a major disadvantage to customers who are forced to pay a specific price at all supermarkets in an area, as a price would have been agreed to by the business owners.

The Director further noted, “Do not discuss or agree to reduce or control distribution, do not agree to coordinate your behaviour attendance, do not exchange or disclose information pertaining to current or future prices, cost, customer, capacity or output, terms of sale or business plans (and) do not discuss or agree on discounts”.

Guyana’s Consumer Affairs Act came into effect on September 27, 2011, to provide protection to consumers. It also outlines the legal requirements that apply to all transactions between a consumer and seller.

The provision of the Act drastically affects the way in which consumer protection is approached locally, as was pointed out by the Commission.

11 7 freed of 2013 Meten-Meer-Zorg robbery/murder News

tuesdAY, february 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Allan Dorsett called “Baird”

Delwayne Croft

Deceased: Zulfikar Namdar

By Shemuel Fanfair

T

he seven persons who were accused of killing 20-year-old Zulfikar Namdar received a unanimous acquittal by a 12-member jury at the High Court on

Esan Lawrence, called “Muscle”

Monday which was met with bouts of emotions before Justice Navindra Singh.

The deceased young man was left in a pool of blood during the course or furtherance of a robbery in September 2013 at his parents’ Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) shop that was adjoined to their home. However, after a few weeks of trial and several hours of deliberations, the jury was not convinced that the defendants implicated in the attack were at fault by way of finding all seven not guilty of the capital offence.

Those released were Allan Dorsett called “Baird”; Delwayne Croft; Esan Lawrence, called “Muscle”; Jermaine Williams, called “Yankee”; Andrew Chandler, called “Sonic”; Samuel Bacchus,

Jermaine Williams, called “Yankee”

called “Kirk”; and Cassandra Singh-Dorsett who all denied murdering Namdar last month.

When the verdict was read by the jury’s foreperson, the packed courtroom which encountered deafening silence was suddenly met with an outburst of tears from Singh-Dorsett when she heard she was a free woman.

After they were released, they ran to their loved ones who welcomed them with open arms thanking the heavens that they were free persons. SinghDorsett had to be assisted down the court steps following her acquittal and in tears, she told the media that “it was hard to be in jail for something you know you did not do.”

“I’m happy and sad at the same time,” the lone female ex-defendant told the press.

Their acquittal follows the

Human skull found in Linden suspected to be African male – pathologist

T

he human skull which was discovered in the vicinity of the MackenzieWismar Bridge in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) has been examined

by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh.

According to E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) Commander Linden Lord, the pathologist, in his findings related that the skull is suspected to be that of an African male who might have been over 25 years old. He further related that the findings suggest that the head would have been separated from the spine at some point, but not cut off, owing to its composition. The cause of death is undetermined given the state of decomposition. However, Commander Lord noted that

The human skull which was found in Linden

the pathologist’s findings suggest that the skeletal remain might have been exposed to elements of the weather for several years.

It was also noted that what had appeared to be a crack in the skull was due to a normal impression caused

by the brain. The Divisional Commander indicated that Police are currently in the process of combing through missing persons records from all the stations in Linden over the past five years.

The Commander opined that the skull might have been the remnant of someone who had gone missing and might have drowned. The skull was on Thursday discovered at the Wismar side of the bridge, however, no other skeletal remains were found along with it. Lord noted that Police ranks received an anonymous call at about 13:00h indicating that there was what was suspected to be the skeletal remain at the location. Ranks upon responding went to the location where it was discovered.

Andrew Chandler, called “Sonic”

testimonies of star witnesses for the prosecution, Chris Jagdeo and self-coined drug pusher Nick Skeete, who said that he is the cousin of number one accused, Allan Dorsett.

During the evidence provided by Skeete, he claimed that his cousin would buy marijuana from him. The 2012 deportee had also said that another accused, Jermaine Williams also bought narcotics from him.

He had told the jury that he grew up with another accused, Andrew Chandler, who was the dead man’s childhood friend.

Throughout the trial, Chandler bore an unsettled disposition and when the matter first began, he almost broke down in tears when the Namdars identified him in court.

Samuel Bacchus, called “Kirk”

Skeete had also outlined that he knew Samuel Bacchus through his cousin while Williams was his wife’s cousin.

Skeete also lived 182 metres from the Namdars and claimed that days before the attack, the men bought “some weed” from him and smoked at a tree in his backyard when he supposedly heard them discussing their robbery plan. He had also detailed that on September 10, 2013, the night of the attack, he had heard the men brandishing weapons, having stated that Croft had a long gun while the other had smaller weapons.

Allan Dorsett’s lawyer, Nigel Hughes had, however, argued that Skeete, the drug dealer, planned the attack and crafted a story to have the

Cassandra Singh-Dorsett

charge against him dropped because the two getaway cars were seen outside of his home.

Attorneys Ashley Henry and Jed Vasconcellos had also appeared for the number one accused.

Dorsett’s wife, Cassandra had been identified as the one who had given the men head ties to cover their faces when they allegedly committed the crime. This was the evidence of Police Detective, Sergeant Rodwell Sarrabo who told the jury that he conducted confrontations with Delwayne Croft, Samuel Bacchus and Allan Dorset.

Attorneys Tuanna Hardy, Abigail Gibbs and Teriq Mohammed were the prosecutors in the case.

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NEWS

tuesdAY, february 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

NA Hospital mortuary

Indefinite closure points to grave mismanagement – former Health Minister

Former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

By Samuel Sukhnandan

I

n light of the announcement that the mortuary at the New Amsterdam Hospital has been closed indefinitely, former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said that the facility’s administration and the Health Ministry have an obligation to immediately outline a plan for the beginning of mortuary services at the Hospital as soon as possible.

Director of Regional Health Services, Jevaughn Stephen has said that the decision to close the mortuary was taken on January 23, 2018. According to Stephens, the Hospital’s administration had been experiencing issues with the mortuary during the latter part of 2018 owing to a fluctuation in the electricity supply provided by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

The Health Services

Director added that other equipment at the Hospital was also being affected by the fluctuation in electricity.

However, Dr Ramsammy described the situation as “unfortunate”, since he believes that it was allowed to deteriorate to the extent that the mortuary service has to be discontinued. According to him, the Hospital and the Ministry are obligated to put in place contingency arrangements at their cost, arguing that the discontinuation of service ought not to add any further burden and trauma on families.

“I am particularly peeved that such a dire situation has arisen with bodies that were in the mortuary significantly deteriorated and now no service and the Ministers of Health have not found it necessary to address the matter. It cannot be that they have no time,” he added.

The former Health Minister pointed out that both Ministers Volda Lawrence and Dr Karen Cummings have been out in full election campaign mode but have neglected serious issues in the sector.

He said, “As I have consistently bemoaned, these Ministers are missing in action (MIA). This matter and other matters, like the death of three children at the Georgetown Hospital, are matters that must be addressed by the Ministers.

Their absence and invisibility in these matters represent an egregious derelic-

Body of man found on Corentyne beach

T

he body of a man was on Monday afternoon discovered on the Number 78 Village, Berbice, foreshore. According to reports, the man, who ap-

peared to be in his early 50’s, did not have any marks of violence. The body has been taken to the Skeldon Hospital Mortuary. Police are investigating.

tion of duty, misconduct in office, and political malfeasance.”

Political malfeasance

Dr Ramsammy says he also believes that the mortuary situation at the New Amsterdam Hospital is another example of the long list of wrongs resulting from lack of leadership by the Ministers and mismanagement.

“I do believe the mismanagement results largely from the political policy of sending home proven and skilful managers and replacing them with handpicked managers who are party activists,” he added.

The New Amsterdam Hospital mortuary, he stated, is the result of political malfeasance and is only one of the many serious conse-

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

quences of the total mismanagement of the health sector. “Whether it is in Region Six or anywhere else in the country, people have lost confidence and hope that this Government can improve lives of ordinary

citizens. Minister Lawrence must resign.”

Over two weeks ago, several bodies decomposed while being stored at the mortuary, prompting at least one family to call for an investigation. It was reported that at least four bodies decomposed while being stored in the mortuary.

The upset relatives of the deceased have called on the Ministry to launch an immediate investigation.

The bodies include that of Rabindranauth Ramnarace, 47, who passed away on December 31, 2018.

His brother, Seepaul Ramlochan said he was unsure of the cause of his brother’s death, since a post-mortem examination was eventually not done to the body’s state of decompo-

sition while being stored at the hospital.

Residents of New Amsterdam and surrounding areas have also been calling on the Government to address the rapidly deteriorating conditions at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

A protest was prompted after an elderly patient died last week after she was reportedly given nine injections. Further, the residents are alleging that several critical pieces of equipment are out of order in addition to a shortage of basic medicines leaving them to come to the conclusion that the institution’s affairs were not being properly managed.

As a consequence, they have called for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Samantha Kennedy’s immediate resignation.

14 NEWS

tuesdAY, february 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Contractors, Govt meet over unfair bidding process, other concerns

F

inance Minister Winston Jordan on Monday hosted a meeting with a group of contractors, where a number of concerns were raised about unfair procurement policies for newcomers and other matters.

Jordan met with members of the General Contractors Association led by Neil Cort-Rogers in the Ministry’s boardroom.

There, Cort-Rogers laid out the Association’s concerns, which include a lack of opportunities for small contractors when certain documents cannot be provided.

“Better provisions should be placed for newcomers.

As contractors now entering the system, we do not have financial and complete statements. For example, we cannot provide statements of financial insurance like bid bonds and in some cases, there are cases where one-members will put up a transport so that three others can participate in a project.”

Cort-Rogers explained that this in itself is a risk. He also noted that not many contractors have the capacity to keep up a business account.

Therefore, he explained that it is difficult at times to present a financial statement in bid documents.

It was further explained that contractors are sometimes unable to acquire the performance bond needed for the contract. A suggestion was made that a non-banking institution be set up

Finance Minister Winston Jordan (head of the table), during the meeting with members of the General Contractors Association. To his immediate left is National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) Chairman Berkley Wickham

where contractors could get the finances needed to secure contracts.

“We need equipment… construction equipment. We need your help to get some of these so that members can benefit from this arsenal. Too many of our small contractors depend on others when we win tenders to supply equipment. And that money goes somewhere else instead of our pockets.”

“I do rent equipment, but very small equipment, so that our contractors can be able to sustain themselves much better. But (we need) the heavy-duty equipment such as backhoe, excavators, bobcat and asphalt pavers.

We also need printers. These things run a hefty sum.”

National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) Chairman Berkley Wickham noted that they are bound by the Procurement Act. He explained that mechanisms are already being put in place to ensure small businesses get

20 per cent of all public procurement.

Jordan told the group that Government has been making efforts to make things easier for them. However, he committed to having NPTAB look into further ways in which help can be provided.

A slew of contracts costing $3.8 billion combined was awarded by Cabinet for the 2019 fiscal year. Of note is the fact that several of them feature increased costs from the original price tags.

In the case of the contract for phase one the Public Health Ministry head office, this was awarded to Chung global enterprises.

Other contracts which were awarded include a contract for the Sophia Drop-in Centre, which was almost gutted by a fire in 2016. The contract is worth some $219 million, which turns out to be a revised sum.

In addition, there are contracts for constructing living quarters and a storage bond for the Guyana

Revenue Authority. In fact, the storage bond, to be con-

structed at Corriverton, Berbice by Andre Vincente Construction Service, is slated to cost $124.8 million.

On the issue of roads, one such contract was for the construction of a new exit road from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Terminal Building at Timehri. According to Harmon, this contract will cost $56.5 million and was awarded to Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. Also included in these contracts is one worth $558 million to construct a roundabout in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

This amount is an increase of $170 million from the previously budgeted sum. This contract was awarded to JR Ranch Incorporated.

There was also a contract for road works in Pomeroon awarded to R&B investment Incorporated that cost $41.1 million; a contract for road works in three lots in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) that has been split into three lots.

Under the Small Business Act, 20 per cent of all Government contracts should be set aside for small contractors.

ISG launches SKF seal jet machine

I

ndustrial Supply of Guyana Incorporated (ISG), a subsidiary company of Machinery Corporation of Guyana Limited (MACORP) has launched the SKF Jet Seal Machine, in keeping with its agenda of developing the industrial sector in Guyana.

The machine, which is the first of its kind in Guyana, can manufacture seals using “SKF technologies” for hydraulic and pneumatic applications. Some of its advantages include that it can produce sealing solutions for most industries, it is efficient in manufacturing components up to 600 millimetres in diameter, and it has a variety of seal designs and features a short delivery time.

Along with optimised sealing materials, the Seal Jet can solve almost any sealing problem. Over the years, numerous materials for the manufacturing of these seals were developed which includes polyurethanes, elastomers and thermoplastics.

Contuned on page 15

A demonstration of how a seal can be made using the new machine

news

15

tuesdAY, february 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Banks DIH New Amsterdam Carry out proper needs assessment for Venezuelan migrants – former records $45M profit Foreign Minister recommends

Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey

A section of the shareholders at Sunday’s AGM

B

anks DIH New Amsterdam outlet recorded $2.9 billion in sales last year, surpassing its 2017 sales by $214 million. The company also announced a $45 million profit in Berbice.

The announcement was made on Sunday during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Berbice, Region Six. Shareholders were told that for the period of October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018, the branch sold 1,865,000 units of products, representing an increase of 88,000 units over the previous year.

Branch Manager Ronald Mathews told the gathering that the Berbice Branch surpassed last year’s performance as a result of premium quality products by employing an efficient distribution service to customers and consumers.

Mathews noted that the Demico Qik Serv in New Amsterdam also created a record despite the competition it faced.

“The New Amsterdam Qik Serv Restaurant sold $115 million as compared to $108 million the previous year, representing a revenue growth $7 million thus attaining the Chairman’s Trophy for honourable mention.”

Mathews praised the staff of that branch for the achievement. He referred

to them as the company’s greatest asset.

In 2017, the New Amsterdam Branch sold 1,600,011 items and recorded a profit of $13.7 million which was an increase of $8.5 million over 2016.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Clifford Reis, acknowledged the efforts of the New Amsterdam Branch.

Commending of the Berbice Branch’s performance, the Chairman noted that the profits recorded represent in excess of a fifty per cent increase from the previous year.

Overall, Banks DIH recorded a profit of $4 billion. The group’s third-party revenue was $30.923 billion when compared with $30.006 billion in 2017, representing an increase of $9 million or 3 per cent. The trading profit from operations for the Group was $6.8 billion when compared with $6.196 billion achieved in 2017, representing an increase of $641.0 million or 10 per cent.

Profit after tax attributable to the shareholders of the parent was $4.286 billion compared to $3.888 billion in 2017, an increase of $398 million.

The value of shares increased from $34.33 to $40.15 which is an increase of 16 per cent over the year.

Shareholders were giv-

en a dividend proposal of $1.10 per share representing $934.8 million. Revenue generated by the company was $27.863 billion compared to $26.548 billion in 2017, an increase of $1.315 billion or 5 per cent.

Citizens Bank, which is a subsidiary of the company, recorded a before-tax profit of $1 billion. The after-tax profit was $602 million.

According to Reis, within the year, the company examined and evaluated new business models which are compatible with its existing business model to create wealth and value for shareholders.

“These new business models will bring into our existing business portfolio, a new generation of products and services which will foster job creation and added value.”

“We continue to evaluate our traditional business model to create wealth for shareholders through the creation of new synergies, the implementation of finance and marketing initiatives and, continuing emphasis on cost reduction strategies.” He added.

The company continued its tradition of presenting monetary donations to two schools – this time Winifred Gaskin Secondary and Number Five Primary School.

ISG launches SKF seal...

With this new technology, job opportunities are created for the training of recruits to function in this capacity.

Chief Executive Officer of MACORP, Guillermo Escarraga noted that there is a window of opportunity in the manufacturing sector and it is one which the company has been committed to improving.

To eradicate the need for imported products, he noted that they eliminated all the challenging factors and made the investment, which is worth over $80 million.

“We are telling everyone that the opportunity to become a manufacturing company exists and we want to take that opportunity. We wanted to offer solutions…

We decided to make that investment and we’re talking about an investment that goes above $80 million,” said Escarraga.

He explained that the introduction of the machine was accompanied by other apparatus, which will make the operation easier.

“We complimented the introduction of this machine with a hydraulic test

G

iven the recent influx of Venezuelans into Guyana, a recommendation is being made to have Government provide more human and financial support to these individuals.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey believes that the situation regarding the migration of these foreign nationals could be better managed.

However, he said that a proper needs assessment should be carried out to determine the priority, so as to ensure that a proper response to the situation is implemented.

“From my understanding, they are setting up some sort of camps for these people. But from the little that I saw, they are asking for more resources. And Central (Government) should provide human and financial (resources) . I don’t think there is an immediate need to move them out,” he added.

Dr Jeffrey was referring to Government’s move to build a humanitarian centre for these migrants in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

However, the Regional Chairman of Region One (Barima-Waini), Bretnol Ashley said if a centre was built in his region, it would give both the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Central Government a better opportunity to monitor what these persons were actually doing.

A recent statement from the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) has out-

From page 14

bench that will help us remove, assemble and disassemble the large cylinders.

Those large cylinders really high torque to be able to be put together.”

One of their customers, Dayanand Ramdass of Everlasting Forest Products, was also present during the unveiling ceremony as he lauded the numerous benefits which are associated with the sealing equipment.

“Before they brought this machine in, I had to depend on substandard seals that were available locally.

I could not get proper seals no matter where I went.

They were really expensive for the type of durability and the amount of time it lasted,” he recollected.

Ever since the purchase of the machine, Ramdass noted, “There is minimum downtime and it doesn’t cost as much. That’s the biggest advantage. The second thing is that I can develop and manufacture any seal design that I want so I can make a seal that is much better than what came with the original machine.”

lined that instead of donating directly to the migrants, all donations should be sent to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). While Ashley does not have an issue with this, he said representation from the region was imperative, so that the needs of those migrants could be properly met.

The Chairman had also stressed the lack of resources, adding that shortages of drugs and other medical supplies continued to plague the region as a result of the large number of Venezuelans.

Security concerns

While security remains a major concern for residents in those regions, Dr Jeffrey believes that the joint forces should respond to those concerns and Government must play a larger role in ensuring that any illegal practice being perpetrated by the foreigners was halted.

Asked whether he thinks this influx of Venezuelans will help to increase the number of people from the notorious Sindicato gang in Guyana, the former Foreign Minister said it was most likely to happen given the current circumstances in neighbouring Venezuela.

“As more people come, you will have more of that and the fact that we have been talking about opening up the Essequibo means that you need a better security arrangement, one that is stable. That was always going to be a problem, since talks started on building road from Lethem. Where you have people go, you have criminals go too. And with the number of Venezuelans coming here, you’ll have more of them coming too,” he pointed out.

The Region One Chairman has already called on Government to heighten security patrols at the country’s borders since a number of threats were recently made.

He warned that the threats should be taken seriously by the country’s security forces, declaring that his RDC (was very concerned

Region One Chairman Bretnol Ashley

with these threats, expressing the view that he believes that the Venezuelans would act on those threats and as such, all stops should be pulled out to ensure that Guyana could effectively defend itself.

“Government and residents must recognise that because of Venezuela’s grave economic challenges, they are evidently desperate. We have heard that there is a plan to hijack the ferry and this resulted in the ferry having to be escorted into here a few weeks ago, because there were reports that the Sindicatos were planning an attack,” the Regional Chairman stressed.

He stressed that the number of migrants continues to increase while pointing out the need for a holistic response by the Government to alleviate a number of fears and concerns.

Government had stated last week that the number of documented Venezuelan migrants in Guyana stands at 3868. But Ashley thinks that the number is much higher, and is, therefore, calling for there to be a greater presence of immigration officials to improve documentation.

This newspaper was told that while there are small numbers in the highly populated villages within Region One, other locations have also seen a steady rise in the number of migrants. Last year, statistics showed pockets of 40-100, with White Water having probably the largest number.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, february 5, 2019

Regional

Venezuela crisis: Guaidó Over 2 dozen Haitians drown in ridicules ‘civil war’ threat attempt to enter The Bahamas

A

V

enezuela’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó has dismissed warnings from President Nicolás Maduro the country’s political crisis could spark civil war.

Guaidó has declared himself interim president and won support from major powers, including the US. Maduro said that whether there was war would depend on the “madness” of the US and its allies.

But Guaidó rubbished the suggestion as an “invention” of his presidential rival.

Pressure grew on Maduro on Monday when more than half of the countries which make up the European Union said they recognised Guaidó as interim leader. It follows the rejection of a deadline set by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and others for President Maduro to call new elections.

He was sworn in last

Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, who has declared himself interim president, and President Nicolás Maduro

month for a second term after disputed elections which many opposition leaders did not contest because they were in jail or boycotting them.

In response, Guaidó, who is head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, said the Constitution allowed him to assume power temporarily when the President was deemed illegitimate. Guaidó was commenting on an interview Maduro gave on Sunday.

Asked on Spanish television if the crisis in Venezuela could lead to civil war, Maduro said “no-one could answer that question with certainty”.

“Everything depends on the level of madness and aggressiveness of the northern empire [the US] and its Western allies.

“We ask that nobody intervenes in our internal affairs ... and we prepare ourselves to defend our country.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaican Opposition MP murdered

J

amaican Police are investigating the murder of an Opposition Member of Parliament, who was found dead in his home.

The body of People’s National Party (PNP) MP for Portland Eastern, Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, was found with multiple stab wounds on Saturday morning. It was the 59-year-old’s housekeeper who made the discovery.

According to reports, Police believe the medical practitioner was tortured by his attacker, but they are yet to determine a motive or the circumstances surrounding the killing.

Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips said in a statement that the PNP was shaken by the death of the politician who was first elected MP in 2011 and then

Dr Lynvale Bloomfield was found with multiple stab wounds

re-elected in 2016. He said Dr Bloomfield had devoted many years of his life in service to the Jamaican people as a medical practitioner and as an elected official.

“No Jamaican should ever have to suffer at the hands of criminals in their own country. The death of

Dr Bloomfield must not be allowed to go unpunished.

The Police must employ whatever resources that are necessary to conduct a full and complete investigation, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice,” Dr Phillips said.

“This is indeed a very sad day in the history of our country as we are now dealing with the stabbing death of a sitting Member of Parliament in his home by unknown assailants.”

Prime Minister Andrew Holness also paid tribute to Dr Bloomfield, describing him as an MP who looked out for his people.

In a statement, he described Dr Bloomfield as “a very gentle and humble man and one of the nicest human beings I have encountered in politics”. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Caricom delegation heading to Uruguay for international conference on solving Venezuela crisis

C

aribbean Community (Caricom) Chairman, Dr Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, will lead a regional delegation to Uruguay, where an international conference focusing on the ongoing political upheaval in Venezuela is set to convene on Thursday.

A joint statement from Mexico and Uruguay – which have agreed, along with Caricom, to pursue peace talks to deal with the crisis – stated that the purpose of this week’s conference will be to establish the basis for a new dialogue mechanism that includes all the forces in Venezuela, in order to help

restore peace in that country.”

The Caricom delegation’s trip to Uruguay follows on the heels of its shuttle diplomacy at the United Nations, to advance dialogue and negotiations for the benefit of the Venezuelan people. Last Monday, Prime Minister Harris, as well as the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley, and the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, met with UN Secretary General António Guterres, before holding a number of discussions with other global stakeholders, including representatives of the African Union and the European Union. At

that meeting, Guterres accepted the leaders’ invitation for his good offices to be made available to the people of Venezuela. Then last Friday, Caricom Heads of Government continued to demonstrate their resolve in advancing a solution to the political crisis in Venezuela during a meeting held via videoconference, which lasted several hours. It was their second special meeting on Venezuela, the first was held on January 24, a day after Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó declared himself interim leader and was immediately recognised by the United States among other countries. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

t least 28 Haitian migrants drowned in the waters off the northern Bahamian island of Abaco when the vessel they were travelling in capsized and sank over the weekend.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) said 17 survivors were rescued.

The discovery of the first set of bodies was made by tourists on a chartered catamaran, in waters near Man O War Cay at the entrance of Marsh Harbour, central Abaco, on Saturday morning. An operation

by RBDF divers aboard HMBS Durward Knowles, along with a local diver, found more bodies in the

shipwreck on the seabed in reef-filled waters near Fowl Cay. The vessel had reportedly struck a reef.

It’s uncertain how many Haitians were on the boat. The Department of Immigration had said 87 people were on the vessel, but the Tribune newspaper reported that volunteers said multiple survivors told them there were 45 people on board. A total of 28 bodies were recovered between Saturday and yesterday.

Hope Town’s fire chief, Troy Pritchard, who was among the first to respond to the scene with a team of six from the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue,

told the Nassau Guardian the scene was “simply heart-breaking”. He said the survivors were hesitant to come to the rescue boat.

“They were very dehydrated, cut up, naked, disoriented. They were in rough shape.”

The rescued Haitians were transported to the clinic in Marsh Harbour for evaluation, and handed over to Immigration and police officials for further investigation. So far this year, approximately 300 Haitians have been apprehended by the RBDF for illegal entry during four separate incidents. (Excerpted from

Caribbean360)

El Salvador election: Nayib Bukele claims presidency

A

nti-corruption candidate Nayib Bukele has claimed victory in El Salvador’s presidential election.

With most votes counted, the former mayor of San Salvador had nearly 53 per cent of the vote with his closest rival, the conservative Carlos Calleja on 32 per cent.

Bukele, 37, needed more than 50 per cent of the vote to avoid a run-off.

The businessman has vowed to tackle corruption and combat the criminal gangs responsible for one of the world’s highest murder rates.

Politics in El Salvador has been dominated over the past three decades by two main parties – the incumbent left-wing FMLN and the conservative Arena.

“Today we won in the first round and we made history,” Bukele, who represents the Gana (National Alliance) party, told cheering supporters, turning to include them in a selfie.

“We have turned the page on power.”

His victory was ac-

Nayib Bukele and his wife, Gabriele de Bukele were cheered by supporters in San Salvador

knowledged by Calleja and

by FMLN candidate Hugo Martinez.

“We recognise the results of these elections. We are going to call the president-elect to wish him luck in facing the challenges in this country,” Calleja said.

Martinez was in third place with just over 14 per cent.

Electoral officials said official results would be declared within two days.

Earlier, the electoral court opened an investigation into whether Bukele had broken the law by violating a news embargo.

He was accused of ask-

ing for votes during an interview broadcast live on Facebook earlier on Sunday.

Correspondents say Bukele faces challenges in office including a sluggish economy and rampant poverty. He has said he aims to increase investment in education and to set up an anti-corruption commission with the support of the United Nations.

To get his policies through he will need to form an alliance with rightwing parties, which dominate Congress.

(BBC News)

1 slain, 5 wounded in T&T drive-by attack

A

drive-by shooting in Sea Lots has left one man dead and five others wounded.

Police said Rawl Williams, 40, was reportedly killed when occupants of a car who were targeting community leader Cedric “Burkie” Burke opened fire on a group of people at Pioneer Drive shortly after 20:00h.

Trey Beard, 23; Rahim Bruce, 23; Patrick Lauric;

Trevor Isaac and Shenelle Johnson, 24, were identified as the other persons wounded in the attack.

Initial reports of the incident on social media had suggested that Burke had been killed in the attack, before these reports changed to suggest he had been shot.

However, Police later confirmed that this was false.

Investigators in fact said that Burke reportedly survived the attack by lying flat

and practically playing dead until the attackers left the scene.

A voice message circulating on WhatsApp claims that men loyal to Burke were able to “take him away” after the attack, but did not say in what condition.

The shooting takes the murder count to 49.

Police are still in Sea Lots investigating the incident. (Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, february 5, 2019

Iraqi President says Trump did not ask permission to “watch Iran”

I

raqi President Barham Salih said on Monday that President Donald Trump did not ask Iraq’s permission for US troops stationed there to “watch Iran.”

Speaking at a forum in Baghdad, Salih was responding to a question about Trump’s comments to CBS about how he would ask troops stationed in Iraq to “watch” Iran.

US troops in Iraq are there as part of an agreement between the two countries with a specific mission of combating terrorism, Salih said, and that they should stick to that.

Trump said it was important to keep a US military presence in Iraq so that Washington can keep a close eye on Iran “because Iran is a real problem,” according to a CBS interview broadcast on Sunday.

“Don’t overburden Iraq with your own issues,” Salih said. “The US is a major power...but do not pursue your own policy priorities, we live here.”

Iraq is in a difficult position as tensions between its two biggest allies, the United States and Iran, increase.

During a recent visit to

Iraq, Trump said he had no plans to withdraw US troops from Iraq.

In a report released on Monday, the Pentagon Inspector General said Islamic State remained an active insurgent group and was regenerating functions and capabilities more quickly in Iraq than Syria.

The report, citing information from US Central Command, said Islamic State would portray the withdrawal as a “victory” and conduct attacks on US personnel during it. (Excerpt from Reuters) Iraqi President says Trump did not ask permission to “watch Iran” Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Monday that President Donald Trump did not ask Iraq’s permission for US troops stationed there to “watch Iran.”

Speaking at a forum in Baghdad, Salih was responding to a question about Trump’s comments to CBS about how he would ask troops stationed in Iraq to “watch” Iran.

US troops in Iraq are there as part of an agreement between the two countries with a specific mission of combating terrorism, Salih

said, and that they should stick to that.

Trump said it was important to keep a US military presence in Iraq so that Washington can keep a close eye on Iran “because Iran is a real problem,” according to a CBS interview broadcast on Sunday.

“Don’t overburden Iraq with your own issues,” Salih said. “The US is a major power...but do not pursue your own policy priorities, we live here.”

Iraq is in a difficult position as tensions between its two biggest allies, the United States and Iran, increase.

During a recent visit to Iraq, Trump said he had no plans to withdraw US troops from Iraq.

In a report released on Monday, the Pentagon Inspector General said Islamic State remained an active insurgent group and was regenerating functions and capabilities more quickly in Iraq than Syria.

The report, citing information from US Central Command, said Islamic State would portray the withdrawal as a “victory” and conduct attacks on US personnel during it. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UK approves Vijay Mallya extradition to India

U

K Home Secretary Sajid Javid has approved the extradition of Indian business tycoon Vijay Mallya, who faces fraud charges back home.

The move comes two months after a London court ruled that he should be sent back for trial.

Mr Mallya, whose business empire once included Kingfisher beer, left India in March 2016 after defaulting on debts of more than $1 billion (£785 million).

He now has 14 days to appeal against the decision. He denies “fleeing” from India and says he made an “unconditional” offer to pay back the sum in full in July last year.

Mr Mallya built his fortune from Kingfisher beer before branching out into Indian cricket and Formula One racing. He set up the

Indian business tycoon Vijay Mallya

now defunct Kingfisher Airlines in 2005.

In 2012, Mr Mallya sold a majority stake in his United Spirits group to UK drinks giant Diageo. The deal was supposed to help Mr Mallya reduce United Spirits’ debts and free up funds for Kingfisher Airlines.

But the airline, which was grounded in 2012, lost

its flying permit the following year. It made annual losses for five years in a row and finally collapsed after lenders refused to give it fresh loans.

He is a high-profile figure who has in the past been called “India’s Richard Branson” and the “King of Good Times” for his lavish lifestyle. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Egyptian legislators propose presidential term extension

E

gypt will consider extending the presidential term to six years from four, a senior legislator has said, which could allow President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to stay in power beyond 2022 when his second term ends.

The speaker of Egypt’s Parliament, Ali Abdelaal, said on Sunday he received a motion from MPs proposing constitutional amendments that will be considered by Parliament after it is discussed in committee.

He gave no details on the recommended changes.

But, Head of the Support Egypt parliamentary bloc

that is sponsoring the amendments, Abdel-Hadi al-Qassabi said they included extending the presidential term.

It was not immediately clear if the proposed amendments would scrap the twoterm limit stipulated in the current constitution, or if that limit would be retained to apply to the longer new six-year presidency.

The Egyptian Constitution states “in all cases, texts pertaining to the re-election of the President of the Republic or the principles of freedom and equality stipulated in this Constitution may not be

amended, unless the amendment brings more guarantees”.

Constitutional changes could take months because they require approval by two-thirds of Parliament’s 596 members followed by a referendum.

The current Constitution allows the President and a fifth of Parliament members to propose an amendment to any of the Constitution’s articles, said Qassabi.

Under the Egyptian Constitution, Sisi is not allowed to run for a third term. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

17

Around the World

Kristoff St John, star of “Young & the Restless,” dead at 52

K

ristoff St John, who played Neil Winters on the CBS daytime soap opera “The Young & the Restless,” has died, according to his attorney, Mark Geragos. He was 52.

A cause of death has not yet been released.

Born in New York City, St John -- the son of actor Christopher St John -entered the industry at a young age.

According to his show’s cast bio, Kristoff St John made his television debut at age seven in the series, “That’s My Mama.”

St John also had a recurring role on “Hangin’ with Mr Cooper” and made appearances on other TV

Kristoff St John

shows, including “Diagnosis Murder,” “Arli$$,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Martin,” and “Living Single”.

St John joined the cast of “The Young & the Restless” in 1991.

His character’s love story with Drucilla Winters (played by Victoria Rowell) became a favourite among

fans of the show.

In 2014, St John’s 24-year-old son, Julian, died while a patient La Casa Psychiatric Health Facility in Long Beach, California.

He was open about his battles with depression following the death of his son and in 2017. Entertainment Weekly reported that the star had taken a leave of absence from his show to deal with mental health issues.

He was set to marry his model girlfriend, Kseniya Mikhaleva.

In September, he shared a photo of the engagement ring on his Instagram account with the photo caption, “She said yes.” (Excerpt from CNN)

Car bomb attack in Somalia’s Mogadishu kills at least 11 people

A

powerful car bomb has exploded at a shopping mall in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killing at least eleven people, security officials said.

Police officer Mohamed Hussein said ten people were also injured in Monday’s blast in an explosives-laden car parked near a mall close to Mogadishu’s local Government offices.

“Several dead people were removed from a wrecked building at the blast scene. So far (the) death toll is eleven civilians and ten others injured,” Hussein told Reuters news agency.

Another security official, Ahmed Moalin Ali said some of the victims died in a building that collapsed as a result of the blast in Hamarweyne market.

“The blast occurred close to Mogadishu mall and it has caused death and destruction...” Police officer Ali

Somali security forces at the scene of the explosion in Mogadishu

said. “The terrorists parked a vehicle loaded with explosives in the vicinity of the mall to kill the innocent civilians.”

“I saw the dead bodies of four people recovered from the debris of a collapsed building and three others were strewn dead outside after the blast had blown them,” said shopper Munira Abdukadir.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the al-Shabab armed

group has regularly carried out such attacks in the past.

The group’s stated aim is to remove the Westernbacked central Government and establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

In a separate incident, local security officials said the armed group killed the Maltese manager of Bossasso port in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland state on Monday. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

Nepal woman suffocates in banned ‘menstruation hut’

A

21-year-old Nepali woman died of suffocation in a windowless “menstruation hut” after she lit a fire to keep warm, the police said.

Parwati Bogati was found when her mother-inlaw went to check on her.

“She was excited about the next day as her menstruation would end. Poor child closed her eyes forever,” Laxmi Bogati told the Kathmandu Post.

Local Police officer Lal Bahadur Dhami told AFP of the latest case: “We suspect she died due to smoke inhalation and suffocation because she closed the door of the windowless hut and lit a fire on the floor for warmth during the night.”

Under the ancient practice known as Chhaupadi, women who have their periods or who have just given

Women in Nepal are traditionally sent to sleep in outdoor huts during their periods - though the practice was banned in recent years

birth are seen as impure or as bringers of bad luck.

They can be forced to sleep outside in huts or cattle sheds, and are banned from touching some foods, religious icons, and men.

The huts can be bitterly cold, and those inside can also be exposed to criminal attacks. There have been

several cases of suffocation, and at least one teenage girl has died after being bitten by a snake.

Nepal banned the traditional practice of exiling menstruating women and girls from the family home in 2005, and criminalised it in 2017 - but it remains widespread in rural areas.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, february 5, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

dilbert

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Confusion or uncertainty will set in if you are too analytical. Take action and learn as you go to accomplish the most. Love and romance will enhance your life.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Your ideas will capture someone’s attention. A joint venture or partnership will broaden possibilities and bring you closer to achieving something that will improve your life.

CANCER

Keep plugging away until you reach your goal. The journey you take will be gratifying and will help you hone your skills. A physical change will boost your confidence.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

You’ve got the moves, so stop thinking someone else can do a better job. A suggestion you make will encourage others to pitch in and help. Expand your interests and make new friends.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Stay on track and think matters through before you make a move. Opportunities are within reach, but making the best choice will not be easy. Take your time.

You’ll come up with a unique plan. A little discipline, careful thought and judicious personal changes will help you bring your idea to life. Love is in the stars.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Don’t just think about making a personal change, do something about it. Take the initiative and start the ball rolling. What you accomplish will give you hope and improve your personal

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Spend time with someone who understands your personal situation. Good advice will come in handy and help you defuse a problem before it explodes.

SUDOKU

Take advantage of any SAGITTARIUS opportunity you get to make (Nov. 23- positive changes at home, or Dec. 21) get involved in events or activities that make you feel alive.

solution for YESTERDAY’s puzzle

Love will come at a price.

CAPRICORN Look ahead with optimism (Dec. 22Jan. 19) and decide what you need to do to achieve the happiness you desire. Take responsibility for your actions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Look for a chance to make a professional move or change the way you handle your personal finances.

A contract or joint venture looks promising. An emotional situation can be resolved.

If you draw on your imagination, you’ll come up with good ideas for yourself and others. Simple solutions will outweigh someone’s pie-in-the-sky ideas.

tuesdAY, february 5, 2019

19

Ramdhani finishes 2nd Kennard’s Memorial Phagwah Horse Race Meet in Canadian rescheduled to March 17 tournament G T

he horse-racing season for 2019 has already kicked off in emphatic fashion, and the much-anticipated Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Phagwah Day Horse Race Meet will now be rescheduled from Sunday, March 24 to Sunday, March 17 at the Club’s facility at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

The race was further moved since it clashed with the Triple Crown Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Committee horse meet scheduled for the same date. In its bid to avoid confusion, the Memorial Turf Club has moved up the date.

The three-year-old Guyana-bred horses race will see the winner taking home $250,000 and a trophy in the seven-furlong race. The J&K Class will carry a race, which is over seven furlongs, and will see the first-place winner bagging $200,000 and a trophy. Over five furlongs, the race classified for L Class open animals will carry a winning purse of $180,000 while the race for the L Class non-winners will see the winner claiming $150,000 and a trophy; this race will be over five furlongs. There is also a race for L Class non-earners, which is over five furlongs as well, and will see animals racing for a top purse of $130,000 and a trophy.

The champion jockey and runner-up jockeys, trainer and stables will all receive accolades, compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall and the organisers.

All entries will be closed on Sunday, March 10, 2019. No late entry will be accepted.

These races will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority, and interested owners/trainers and handlers can call the following persons for more information: Niketa Ross 662-4668, Justice Kennard 623-7609 or 225-4814, Ivan Dipnarine 331-0316, Fazal Habibulla 657-7010, Dennis Deroop 640-6396 and Campton Sancho 691-1174.

GCB Senior Female 50-over tournament…

Captains upbeat about BerbiceDemerara clash at Bourda today – Essequibo, Select Under-19 to meet at Everest

Action in the second-round clash (Brandon Corlette photo)

uyana’s badminton sensation, Narayan Ramdhani stormed his way into yet another tournament final as the 20-year-old Guyanese continues to show his worth in Canada.

During the course of the past few months, the Guyanese top player has been representing King’s University on the courts for the 2018-19 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Inter College/ University Badminton Tournament.

Over the weekend, Ramdhani visited Olds College, Alberta, where he participated in the third instalment Narayan Ramdhani takes a photo op after the competition of the ongoing tournament. The first with King’s Eagles Head Coach Naeem Haque of the said tournament was hosted in opted for a new partner in the form of November 2018, while the second was held Aakash Panchal, but suffered a crushing in January 2019. defeat in the quarter-finals which preventCompeting against players from the ed the newly-formed pair from advancing.

King’s University (Eagles); Olds College The quarterfinal loss came at the hands (Broncos); Concordia University of of Concordia’s Braxton Wong and Raphael Edmonton (Thunder) and Northern Alberta Wong, 21-18 and 21- 17. However, the pair Institute of Technology (NAIT) Ooks, sought to redeem themselves with wins over Ramdhani was seeded number one in the Olds’ players Alex Boulie and Rylan Head singles division after attaining the position 21-16 and 21- 13. The result of their next last year. match against Colton Grier and Luther Gaining a bye into the quarter-finals, Jurke of Olds was a 21-15, 21- 16 win. The there he met with Nait’s Jeffery Ko for bat- two wins propelled Ramdhani and Panchal tle. The Guyanese made light work of his to fifth in the competition. opponent in two straight sets, 21-10 and 21The circuit will continue and conclude 17. The semi-final match was no different as with the ACAC Championships on February he faced off with another Nait player, this 17 at the Concordia University, Alberta. time Ronuelle Mendina. Ramdhani took the The ACAC is the governing body for colgame in straight sets 21-15 and 21-10. legiate sports in Alberta, Canada. Founded However, the unexpected occurred in in 1964, as the Western Inter-College the final when Ramdhani met his old rival, Conference, the ACAC comprises 17 schools, Ronuelle Mendina again. Mendina entered including one in Saskatchewan that comthe contest with sweet revenge on his mind petes in 10 sports. and executed just that in the two-set encounThe ACAC is a member of the Canadian ter, 21-11 and 21-10. As such, Ramdhani Colleges Athletic Association, and provinwas made to settle for second place. cial champions compete for national colleIn the doubles competition, Ramdhani giate titles.

T

he exciting Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior female inter-county 50-over tournament will continue today, February 5 with two matches across the capital city, Georgetown.

Fresh from victories in the second round, Berbice and Demerara will settle their dispute at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda in a match scheduled to start from 10:00h. Meanwhile, the GCB Select Under-19 and Essequibo will be eying their first victory when they face off at the Everest Cricket Club.

With rain washing out the first-round clash of the 50-over leg, the third-round clashes will be important for each team, especially Berbice and Demerara. The four captains of the respective teams took the time off to speak to this reporter on the eve of their matches. Demerara Captain Akaze Thompson told Guyana Times Sport that each individual was focused on playing their respective roles. “As long as we play and work together as a team, the task will be easy,” Thompson told this reporter.

Furthermore, she disclosed that

Berbice have the strongest bowling attack and the Demerara batters are focused on getting runs. “If we bowl first, our bowlers are capable of restricting Berbice to a low total,” Thompson related. “As the captain, I’m just looking for the girls to go out, give 100 per cent and enjoy the game while having fun.”

The Essequibo Captain, Lisa Charles told this reporter that her team would eying victory. “We as a group will be looking to work harder,” Charles stated.

The Essequibo team will be aiming to improve in all departments and will be looking to upset the Select Under-19 team.

The Lisa Charles-led team that consists of Under-17 players are prepared to showcase an improved performance.

West Indies selectee and the GCB Under-19 Select Captain, Shabika Gajnabi told Guyana Times Sport that her team would be seeking to improve much on their batting come today at Everest against a jaded Essequibo team.

(Brandon Corlette)

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tuesdAY, february 5, 2019

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Jaguars remain table leaders despite 2 losses – Devon Smith, Permaul top respective charts

T

he Guyana Jaguars remain at the top of the table despite suffering defeats in the fifth and sixth-round matches of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional 4-Day Tournament.

On the verge of their fifth consecutive title at this level, Jaguars are leading the points table with 92 points. Jaguars will be eying a rebound in the seventh round as they are ahead by 23 points from second-place Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Jaguars have 18 bowling points and 11 batting points after playing six matches; registering four wins and suffering two defeats.

Volcanoes are in second position with 69 points with three wins and three losses. The

Leeward Islands Hurricanes are in third position after playing five matches – recording three wins and two losses – with 64.4 points.

Barbados Pride are in fourth position with 54.2 points while Jaguars’ next opponent, Jamaica Scorpions are in fifth position with 51.2 points. Trinidad and Tobago Red Force are in sixth position with 50.2 points, recording two wins in the five matches they played.

After the sixth-round clash, Devon Smith is the top batsman with 555 runs in five matches at a formidable average of 61.66, with a high score of 199. Montcin Hodge is in second position in the batting charts with 473 runs averaging 52.55 in the five matches he played.

Kirk Edwards (418) and Chadwick Walton

GFF-Pele Alumni Frank Watson Tournament

FC Eagles join final 4 line-up

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF)Pele Alumni ‘Frank Watson’ tournament had another day of exhilarating football at the Under-15 level on Sunday, as three teams battled for a spot in the final four.

Cluster two of the National Under-15 tournament featured Milerock FC, Timehri Panthers FC, and FC Eagles contesting for a spot in the final four play-offs at the GFF’s National Training Centre.

The first game of the day saw Timehri Panthers and FC Eagles facing off. Telbert Baptiste needed only 11 minutes to get acquainted with his opponents’ style of play, capitalising with a goal. With the team on a high, Jomaley Kellman followed his teammate’s lead nine minutes later to give FC Eagles the edge. Timehri Panthers’ lone reply came from Tyrone Burnette in the 54th minute, resulting in their loss.

FC Eagles returned to the astroturf a little later for their second game – this time against Milerock FC. This time around, the young Baptiste had a one-man show with two goals in the 11th and 30th minutes. Travis James and George Stephen netted one goal each for

Milerock FC, in an effort that plunged the game into penalties. At the penalty line, FC Eagles prevailed with a 3-1 score.

The final game of the day between Timehri Panthers and Milerock FC was left just a formality, given that FC Eagles had already sealed their place in the final four.

Nevertheless, Timehri Panthers registered a win after a lone goal from Ishmael Palsuram.

FC Eagles will now join Santos FC and Tabatinga FC in the final four. Tabatinga FC gained automatic qualification to the final in consideration of monetary expenses that would be needed to transport the team to Georgetown twice. The last team will be decided this Saturday, February 9 when Dartmouth Dominators FC, Rising Stars FC and Atkinson Brothers battle at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

(403) are the other batsmen with over 400 runs in the season thus far.

In the bowling department, left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament after six rounds with 29 wickets. Giant off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall is second on the charts with 27 wickets, Imran Khan has 25 and Nikita Miller has 24 wickets in the spin-dominant bowling chart. Romario

Shepherd and Keemo Paul are the leading fast bowlers after six rounds with 21 wickets and 20 respectively. (Brandon Corlette)

Drayton emerges champion

of James Bond Birthday Blitz Tournament

Guyana Chess Federation President James Bond (centre) flanked by the winners of his Birthday Blitz event

A

fter 12 trying rounds of entertaining chess, Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation (FIDE) Master Anthony Drayton emerged victorious last Saturday at the National Resource Centre.

Drayton finished the event on 11 out of a possible 12 points to win the first-ever James Bond Birthday Blitz tournament, scoring victories against the likes of Veteran and Olympiad player Loris Nathoo, Davion Mars, Roberto Neto, Joshua Gopaul and Saeed Ali among others.

Despite his dominant performance, Drayton did not escape the event unscathed as he suffered a loss to Chino Chung in the fifth round.

Finishing second with 10 points in the open category was the winner of last week’s event, Mars. Mars’ only losses in this event were to Drayton and Neto. Having amassed 9.5 points, Neto went on to claim third place.

In the junior category, Andre Jagnandan

stormed past his peers to win. He even scored an upset victory against Chung while also managing to hold veteran Nathoo to a draw, allowing him to finish the event on 6.5 points.

The second-place position in the junior category was claimed by National Junior Champion Joshua Gopaul, who finished on five points and third was claimed by Aravinda Singh, who finished on 4.5 points.

The close of this event brings the curtains down on the Guyana Chess Federation’s backto-back weekend of activities; however, the President of the Federation, Attorney-at-Law James Anthony Bond assured members and participants that this was only the beginning of a dynamic sequence of progressive activities under the GCF executive body.

Bond went on to express that the 2020 Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansysk, Russia was only a year away and he was pleased with the efforts and improvements of the country’s local chess talents.

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sports

Dottin could surpass Taylor as top T20 all-rounder – 32 points behind skipper on ICC list

By Clifton Ross

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21

indies Women’s star Deandra Dottin lived up to her rank as one of the better T20 all-rounders in the world as her heroics in the T20I series against Pakistan helped the tourists snatch their first series win of 2019.

With a series ending 2-1, Windies will be gunning when the final OneDay International Series bowls off on February 7. One player in particular could surge to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 rankings and possibly dethrone her skipper and current leader – Stafanie Taylor.

The Caribbean ladies winged out to Pakistan a few days ago as they sought to rebuild the once-popular cricket brand. The visitors immediately made their mark at Karachi a few days ago when they hammered a hapless-looking Pakistan team in the first T20I played at the Southend Club Ground.

Windies’ chances of winning the series were always in good hands, especially with the star-studded team they took to Asia. However, it was Dottin’s outrageous knock of 90 not out off half the number of balls which broke the back of the Pakistani ladies from the inception.

With a mixture of sixes and fours, Dottin ham-

mered her side to a 78-run win before returning in the second match to play her role as the key utility player. The Bajan aced the start of the chase with a crisp knock of 22 with five fours, the most by any player in the team during the innings.

The fast-bowler earlier stunted the home team’s pursuit of a big total when she snagged the best bowling figures amongst her teammates with 2-26 from her four overs.

The combined strength of Dottin and company, namely Guyanese Shemaine Campbell who won Most Valuable Player (MVP) for leading the

chase with a top-score of 41, helped Windies seize the series 2-0. The final match saw Pakistan outdo the visitors, but Dottin remained resolute in her gameplay.

Dottin ended the three matches with 176 runs and a similar average to match, from just the three innings played.

The all-rounder also bagged three wickets in the series.

In terms of her international rank, Dottin comes in second at the top of the list with 321 points, 32 behind Taylor, who heads the lot with 353. One mega bonus for Dottin is the absence of Taylor, who opted out of the tour to Pakistan owing to the country’s history of security issues regarding cricket being staged there.

Taylor was not the first player to opt out of a trip to Pakistan and her absence, as well as that of Hayley Matthews, meant that Dottin was forced to step up and be the leader of the team in both departments.

Footballer Australian trainer will not contest charges carrying possible collapses, dies 4-year ban during Barbados match

T

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

he Caribbean United The match was abanMasters football team has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of player Miguel Nurse.

The 38-year-old Guyanese national complained of feeling ill during his side’s match against Weymouth Wales at the Barbados Lumber Company’s Waterford, St Michael ground on Saturday night, in the Claytons Barbados Masters League before collapsing in the fifth minute Miguel Nurse of play.

According to reports, doned as well as all games there were a number of at- scheduled for last night. tempts by emergency perWhen contacted yestersonnel to perform cardiopul- day, manager of the team, monary resuscitation (CPR) Rafeek Jhalu, recounted the by the time ambulance offi- untimely passing. cials arrived, but they were “It was so tragic, espeunsuccessful. cially because we were acIt is understood that tually playing a game at the Nurse passed away en route time. He told the player that to the Queen Elizabeth was marking him that he Hospital (QEH) and was was feeling bad and he fell,” pronounced dead on arrival. he told the Nation. (St Lucia Times)

Australian Darren Weir has won more than 30 races at the elite Grade One level

A

ustralian trainer Darren Weir faces a ban of four years after deciding not to contest charges brought against him for the possession of equipment used to deliver electric shocks to horses.

Police seized four of the illegal Taser-type devices at the Melbourne Cup winner’s stables on 30 January.

At a hearing with Racing Victoria, Mr Weir, 48, said he would not contest three charges brought against him.

Assistant trainer Jarrod McLean will contest some of the charges he faces.

Charges against a third man, Tyson Kermond, of failing to assist the stewards will not be pursued.

Weir is one of Australia’s top trainers and claimed a landmark victory in the 2015 Melbourne Cup when jockey Michelle Payne won aboard Prince Of Penzance, “Darren Weir is facing serious charges of possessing three electrical apparatus and conduct prejudicial to the interests or image

of racing,” said Jamie Stier, Racing Victoria’s executive general manager - integrity.

“He has advised the stewards that he will not contest those charges which have drawn considerable negative publicity to the sport.”

Last week police seized a firearm, a substance believed to be cocaine and the electronic devices at the Melbourne Cup winner’s stables.

The devices are known as ‘jiggers’ and can cause horses to run faster in conjunction with a jockey using their whip.

“Given the severity of the charges, stewards will be seeking disqualification for a period of four years,” said a Racing Victoria statement.

“Mr Weir was informed that this was the stewards’ position before he determined not to contest the charges.”

He is effectively banned from running horses until a hearing on the charges takes place. (BBC Sport)

22

tuesdAY, february 5, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Windies set sights on Women’s Championship after T20I series win T

he WINDIES Women are back in Dubai after a 2-1 T20 International series win over Pakistan Women in Karachi over the weekend.

In Dubai they will play three One Day Internationals against the same team, as part of the ICC Women’s Championship which counts toward qualification for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2021 in Australia and New Zealand.

The WINDIES Women will play a 50-overs practice match on February 5, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium against a local team, ahead of the first One Day International on February 7 at the Dubai Stadium, the two more on February 9 and 11 at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai.

Joining the team in Dubai is Captain Stafanie Taylor who did not participate in the T20 Internationals in Karachi Pakistan.

The WINDIES Women will have a full strength squad with the exception of all-rounder Hayley Matthews who has not fully recovered from an injury sustained last year during the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia.

Head Coach of the WINDIES Women, Henderson Springer said, “I thought the T20 series was a tremendous opportunity to give some of the ladies on the WINDIES team who don’t always play consistently, an opportunity to play and perform, and having won it, I think we’ve built momentum to help us deal with the ODI series. I think it can go for both teams, because I think that credit must go to the Pakistan team because they’ve worked hard and both teams have done a lot for women’s cricket. I think both teams will

Shemaine Campbelle throwing to Stafanie Taylor in the nets during training at the ICC Academy in Dubai (CWI)

be focused and know that they are capable of winning the series.”

Springer welcomed the return of captain Stafanie Taylor saying “ Stafanie Taylor is al-

ways a welcomed addition, both as captain and as one of our leading batters. It means that we will get more runs on the board to put the bowlers in a position to comfortably defend whatever we score… It is always a welcomed addition to have Stafanie on the team.” (CWI)

Emiliano Sala: Body seen in plane wreckage

A

body has been seen in the underwater wreckage of the plane that was carrying footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson.

A search on Sunday found the Piper Malibu plane on the seabed off Guernsey, almost two weeks after it went missing.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch confirmed the sighting on Monday.

Rescue teams are now developing a recovery plan for the plane, which is 67m (207ft) below water.

The man who found it said it was “imperative” it was raised from the seabed soon.

“There’s a much greater chance they (the Sala family) will get answers if (the plane

is) recovered,” said shipwreck hunter David Mearns.

He added their “worst fears are confirmed”, saying: “It’s going to take a long time for them to come to terms with the loss.”

The flight had been carrying Argentine striker Sala, 28, and Ibbotson, 59, from Nantes, north west France, to Cardiff after Sala completed his £15m move to Cardiff City.

The “substantial amount of wreckage” of the plane, was found on Sunday morning after Mr Mearns’ privately-funded search began.

He said lifting the plane was now the most important task.

Mearns added: “(The AAIB) will be able to rule things out or rule things in, that’s the normal investigative process for any crash, so I think it’s imperative that the plane is recovered, and now even more so now we know someone is down there.”

The recovery operation would need to take place in “slack water” - the point at which the tide is turning, he added.

It would be conducted by a Ministry of Defence salvage marine operations vessel and Mr Mearns said one equipped for working in the North Sea with a dive support vessel would be able to lift the plane “within a matter of days”. (BBC Sport)

tuesDAY, february 5, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

23

City Sports purchases St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

T

he St Kitts & Nevis Patriots growth of its economy,” Kumar franchise, who play in the added.

Hero Caribbean Premier The former owner of the League, has been purchased by Patriots, Dr Uday Nayak, said: “As City Sports, Hong Kong - part of a firm believer in St. Kitts & Nevis the City Group of companies.

I will be continuing my investment City Sports are not new to in Kayanjet, We feel we have takcricket franchise ownership. They en the Patriots as far as we can, own City Kaitak in the Hong and it is time for us to hand it over Kong T20 Blitz as well as being to more experienced hands. We the former owners of the Bloem are delighted to have found new City Blazers, a team who were owners like City Sports who have scheduled to step out in Cricket a history of investing in cricket South Africa’s now defunct Global and want to take the franchise forT20 League. ward. We wish them all the best The company is headed by for the future.”

Sushil Kumar and Naren Kunder Pete Russell, Chief Operating who are based in Hong Kong.

Officer (COO) of Hero CPL, said: Kumar has investments in event “We have been delighted with the management, information techway that the St Kitts & Nevis nology, food and beverage and Patriots franchise has grown since sports management. Kunder has they first joined the league in 2015 business interests in the garand we are certain that the City ments industry, stationary and Group can take the team forward electronics. to even greater success. This inThe Patriots team has been Dr Uday Nayak and Kumar flanked by deputy St Kitts & Nevis Prime Minister Shawn Richards and Narnen Kunder at a ceremony vestment shows the high regard part of the CPL since 2015, fin- to hand over the franchise in which the CPL is held around ishing as runners-up in 2017 and the world and how the tournament in third place in 2018. The current team is led by Chris Gayle mote the spirit of true sportsmanship and fair play, while at continues to go from strength to strength. who has been at the forefront of the team’s success during his the same time creating a unique identity through our focus on “St Kitts & Nevis has always been a big part of CPL since performance and development.” two years as captain. we first had games there in 2014 and we look forward to that “With a total economic impact for the Hero CPL 2018 being continuing for years to come. We would like to express our Chairman of City Sports, Kumar, said: “We at City Sports in excess of US$127million, we are looking to bring a greater thanks to Dr Uday Nayak, Mohammad Ansari and their team are elated to be a part of the Hero CPL and having acquired economic impact to St Kitts & Nevis in 2019 and beyond. We for the amazing job they have done with the Patriots over the the St Kitts & Nevis franchise we want to become part of the are also hoping our investment into the St Kitts & Nevis fran- years.” local community through the game of cricket. We want to prochise is a catalyst to further investment into the country and

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

What went wrong for Guyana Jaguars in 6th round clash?

Chanderpaul, Permaul remain leading players this season

By Brandon Corlette

T

he defending champions, Guyana Jaguars are at a stage where they have never been before in many seasons. Suffering two defeats in as many matches; many may say the Jaguars are suffering from Coach Crandon after-effect. However, in their 93-run defeat by Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, a few umpiring decisions went the other way.

Recalling Chandrapaul Hemraj’s dismissal, in the second innings, he was given out caught behind to a ball that was missing his bat, passing between bat and thigh pad off the bowling of fast-bowler Odean Smith. Apart from that poor decision made by Jamaican umpire Jacqueline Williams, numerous leg before dismissals were missing the stumps.

The Guyana Jaguars batsmen, however, failed to score heavy runs, being bowled out for 150 and 182 in the match played at Queen’s Park Oval. In the first innings, Jaguars’ top six batsmen scored 58 runs combined, with the top five batters being left-handers. With the Jaguars batting order being left-handed, it makes the bowlers stick to a consistent line and length and the Captain finds it simple to make field placements.

In the second innings at the Queen’s Park Oval, the top six batsmen repeated their horrific performances with the bat, scoring 78 runs combined, 20 more runs from the second innings.

Despite being the leading Jaguars run scorer, with 393 runs, Tagenarine Chanderpaul is not a threat to the Caribbean bowlers. The young tiger is a brilliant batsman, but he scores his runs in a slow manner and he never dominates the bowling. The Jaguars leading run-scorer thus far this season, Chanderpaul has an average of 43.66, including one century and one half-century, but his strike rate is 24.90.

Anthony Bramble began the 2018-2019 season with a bang, but has faded in the late rounds with the bat. Bramble is the best keeper-batsman this season, scoring 360 runs, including two centuries and one half-century at an average of 51.42. With the gloves, Bramble has 23 catches and one stumping, the most by any keeper.

Other than Bramble and Chanderpaul, only Romario Shepherd (248); Leon Johnson (209); Christopher Barnwell (206) and Hemraj (205) are the batsmen with 200-plus runs this season.

The batsmen will be aiming to make amends in the seventh round at the National Stadium, Providence, Guyana from Thursday, against Jamaica Scorpions.

In the bowling department, three bowlers have over 20 wickets for the Jaguars. Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul remains the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 29 wickets at a bowling average of 21.68 with one five-wicket haul. Shepherd remains the best fast bowler this season with 21 wickets at a superb bowling average of 21.42.

Keemo Paul, who will be joining the West Indies Test team, has 20 wickets in the three matches this season at an impressive bowling average of 17.40 and a stellar bowling strike rate of 30.6, taking a wicket every five overs he bowls. Paul, who contributed 142 runs with the bat, has been among the top performers and he has a 10-wicket match haul of 10-129.

Clinton Pestano has 17 wickets while Raymon Reifer has 11 and Gudakesh Motie, nine. The bowling department has been consistent, but with Paul missing the next round at Providence, the bowlers will be required to do more. Jaguars’ batsmen will need to step-up their game especially the top six batsmen, with Paul missing, Christopher Barnwell may be added to the team, come Thursday, February 7, at Providence when Jaguars clash with Scorpions.

tuesdAY, february 5, 2019

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

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Page 23

City Sports purchases St Kitts & Nevis Patriots GCB Senior Female 50-over tournament…

Kennard’s Memorial Phagwah Horse Race Meet Captains upbeat about Berbicerescheduled to March 17 Demerara clash at Bourda today Page 19

Essequibo, Select under-19 to meet at Everest

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