Guyana Times - Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Our next publication will be on Thursday, January 3, 2019 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3792

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

PRICE

No-confidence resolution

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt wasting valuable opportunity for dialogue – Opposition Leader

P14 Vendor nabbed at car wash with gun, ammo

…says President bears ultimate responsibility for confusion created …rejects "desperate" bribery allegations Pages 3 and 7 – as AG fumbles to explain holes in 34 argument theory

Soldier killed during row over payment for Guinness

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2 children abused or violated every hour in P12 Guyana – CCPA report

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ER services not for minor illnesses P14 – GPHC’s CEO …urges persons to utilise outpatient unit

The congregation at the Freedom Life Ministries at Princes and Lyng Streets, Georgetown ushering in the new year with a thanksgiving service on Monday evening (Dexter Ceres photo)

5 legal practitioners Political leaders nowPageSenior Counsels call for national 13

unity in New Year's greetings Page 16

Asbestos, cast iron negatively impacting Georgetown’s water supply P9 – GWI ERC to address challenges facing Indigenous P16 people

Wanted bulletin issued for alleged fraudster P8

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, January 1 – a night-time retraction at 01:00h and a daytime retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, January 2 – a night-time retraction at 02:30h and a daytime retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, January 1 – 13:20h-14:50h and Wednesday, January 2 – 14:10h-15:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals will prevail throughout the day.

Clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 20 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North Northeasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 13:08h reaching a maximum height of 2.37 metres.

Low Tide: 06:37h and 19:12h reaching minimum heights of 0.94 metre and 0.84 metre.

saturDAY, december 29, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

02 03 08

09 14 25

FREE TICKET MonDAY, december 31, 2018

05 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

09 17 19 20 26 LUCKY 3

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4

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Afternoon Draw

9

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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14 19 20

PAY DAY

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SUPER PAY DAY 16

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No-confidence resolution

Govt wasting valuable opportunity for dialogue – Opposition Leader …says President bears ultimate responsibility for confusion created

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he parliamentary Opposition believes that in continuing the baseless accusations which are being thrown against the People’s Progressive Party, the Government is wasting a valuable opportunity for dialogue and exhibition of mature leadership.

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who was at the time addressing a press conference on Monday, where he criticised the Government’s back-pedalling on accepting the vote.

Both President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had previously promised to abide by the constitutional provisions a no-confidence vote mandates.

Jagdeo laid collective blame for the confusion over the no-confidence resolution at the feet of the President, noting that notwithstanding his illness he was still Head of State and bore ultimate responsibility.

“After the lofty words of the Prime Minister and the President and the commitment to engage on a way forward, we’ve seen the Government retreat into its usual tools, which is wild accusations and confrontation. These are tools that they know very well how to use.

“And, of course, fake news and propaganda to mobilise people, particularly in the APNU [A Partnership For National Unity] base, into believing that they were robbed; having failed to mobilise people to come out in defence of the Government in front the National Assembly.”

The Opposition Leader expressed his belief that Granger, who travelled to Cuba for medical treatment soon after the no-confidence vote, could not be unaware of his Government’s subsequent attempts to overturn the ruling.

“I think that the President has to bear responsibility for this. We have already expressed our concern for his illness. And he has already received our best wishes. But he is still the Head of State.” “(President Granger) issued a statement before he left, talking about moving forward, respecting the Constitution and a commitment to engagement.

His minions, and I believe with his approval, have now gone in a totally different direction. So, the President has to bear responsibility for this.”

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Intensifying

Far from backing down, Jagdeo also committed to ramping up his defence of the sanctity of the no-confidence vote taken on December 21 against efforts to overturn it. He spoke directly to supporters, who he said reached out to the Party and backed its initial extension of the olive branch to the Government.

“I want them to know that the PPP did its bit and they can now see how APNU has responded, with its usual old-style politics. So, we have no alternative but to also ramp up our efforts in this regard. We have

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

been taking a different position.

I’ve said to all our MPs and party leadership, let’s await the return of the President before we … even respond to the hostility they have been peddling. But now that has to change.

“This is a tiny desperate corrupt cabal of Ministers, advisors and friends, who have now realised the consequences of the no-confidence motion.

And they have seen the writing on the wall, because they have been neglecting the people, even APNU supporters.

That is why we see the desperation now and all these arguments that defy logic, about 34 (votes). These are not logical arguments,” Jagdeo said.

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

But in a move to reverse

this, Government has since approached Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland to ask him to invalidate the no-confidence vote, which brought them down on December 21.

According to a legal opinion which had Attorney General Basil Williams’ name attached to it, Government wants the Speaker to use his powers to reverse the vote, arguing, among other things, that 34 out of 65 constitutes a majority in Guyana’s National Assembly. This is the same opinion expressed by Attorney Nigel Hughes, the husband of Government Minister Cathy Hughes.

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

According to the opinion provided by the Government, passing a no-confidence motion is different from passing legislation.

The opinion goes on to claim that since former AFC parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud is a Canadian citizen and had allegedly travelled on his Canadian passport, he forfeited his vote.

President David Granger

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

Government also intends to challenge “Whether the Speaker can reverse the ruling that the no-confidence motion was carried? What is the effect of the sub judice rule should the Speaker’s ruling be legally challenged in the Courts” and “Whether the Speaker’s ruling on the vote can be quashed by the Courts?”

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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

Our hope for 2019 T

he advent of the new year has always been a time when people reflect on the past year, perhaps what they have achieved in terms of their personal and professional goals and what they intend to accomplish in the coming year. In Guyana, we have always treated it as a time that we cleansed our houses and got our affairs – financial, business and even familial in order -- so that for the rest of the year, we would be able to accomplish what we did not manage to accomplish in the previous year.

The New Year is also a time when we make resolutions.

Many have quipped that the New Year’s resolutions do not last for more than a week or so; but we have known examples of New Year’s resolutions being very creative and helpful, and we think that everyone could benefit from this experience. It is important that we set realistic targets/goals and work hard towards achieving them.

In our New Year’s resolutions we can do no better than to follow what the famous Roman Philosopher-Emperor Marcus Aurelius taught us. In his work, Marcus Aurelius tackled issues such as how we should live our lives, what does justice mean, and how can we live with the knowledge that someday we will no longer exist. He taught us that we must treat every day as if it is the last day of our lives.

This means that we must work to the optimum to make a positive difference in our communities and country, and maximise our time on earth. We believe that his reflections are still relevant, especially at this time of the year.

Having said that much which is traditional wisdom and approach to the advent of a new year, we would like to point out that Guyana as a nation begins the year facing new elections, which will have to be held within the next three months following the toppling of the coalition Government on December 21 via a no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition. However, based on the events unfolding, it is clear that our political leaders’ maturity and commitment to upholding the Constitution and, in general, doing what is right to ensure peace and order prevails will be tested.

As per the constitutional requirements, following the no-confidence vote, Guyana must have elections within the next three months unless otherwise decided by no less than a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly. All efforts and resources must, therefore, be concentrated on preparing for these elections to ensure that these elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner and in keeping with international best practices.

It is hoped that once a date for new elections is set, the political parties will begin work immediately to mobilise their constituents. More importantly, we hope that, unlike the most recent Local Government Elections, the public will participate fully in the process by directing the right questions to their leaders and by coming out to cast their votes on Election Day. Having overcome the hurdle of holding the elections, it is hoped that the country – meaning all stakeholders, including the new government and other parliamentary parties, the business community and ordinary citizens, will begin to focus on moving the country forward with immediate attention being given to economic development and constitutional reform. Our past experiences are enough to convince us that we cannot risk going through any period of instability.

That said, in spite of the present political uncertainties, 2019 should be seen as a year of renewed hope in our country and all that it has to offer. With first oil due in a matter of months all eyes will be on Guyana. Our leaders must use this new-found resource to help to create the right environment to allow citizens to be able to live in a free, happy and prosperous country, where everyone could be given the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

In 2019, citizens want to see more strenuous efforts being made by our leaders to work towards achieving common ground on issues that have caused much discord and rancour over the past three years. Our politicians should recommit themselves to working with each other for the benefit of the entire nation.

We hope that 2019 will bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to every Guyanese, both at home and abroad.

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the midnight display on New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour on January 1, in Sydney, Australia (msn.com)

Turkish TV shows purported transfer of Khashoggi remains V ideo footage leaked to Turkish media shows a Saudi hit team in Istanbul carrying bags reportedly containing the remains of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose murder sparked an international outcry and jeopardised the Kingdom’s relations with its Western allies.

The video shows the arrival of some of the members of the team at the Saudi Consul General’s residence in Istanbul on the day Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate, several hundred metres from the residence.

One of the hit team members is seen carrying bags, which according to the Turkish media, may contain body parts of the Journalist, who was a critic of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS. Khashoggi entered the Saudi Consulate on October 2 to obtain documents certifying he divorced his ex-wife so he could remarry. He was killed and dismembered inside the Consulate, in what Turkey called a “premeditated murder” orchestrated by the Saudi Government.

Saudi officials have countered that claim, insisting Khashoggi was killed in a “rogue operation”, after initially claiming he had left the building before vanishing.

Turkey said the killing was ordered at the highest level of Saudi leadership, implying Crown Prince Mohammed was behind the murder. The Kingdom has maintained MbS had no knowledge of the killing.

Saudi authorities last month requested the death

One of the hit team members is seen carrying bags, which according to the Turkish media, may contain body parts of the Journalist, who was a critic of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS

penalty for five unnamed suspects in Khashoggi’s murder, while 11 suspects were indicted and referred to trial.

Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul, said the video first aired on Turkish news channel A Haber, which sourced the footage through Ferhat Unlu, a journalist with the investigation unit of the Daily Sabah newspaper.

The publication is known for its close ties to Turkish intelligence and has in the past reported on a series of leaks from the Turkish investigation into the murder of Khashoggi.

The Journalist recently released a co-authored book about the killing, titled Diplomatic Atrocity: The Dark Secrets of the Khashoggi Murder.

“The reporter said there is no evidence that the luggage carried by the hit team was taken out of the Consul’s residence. Therefore, we are facing new questions,” Koseoglu reported late on Sunday.

“The Consul General’s residence was searched, but there was a well that

the Saudis did not let the Turkish investigators search properly. These new pictures have changed the course of the investigation,” Koseoglu added.

Khalil Jahshan, executive director of the Arab Centre Washington, DC, called the release of the video “very significant”.

“It adds another layer of the complexity to the continuing investigation in the murder of Khashoggi, in the sense that there is one significant remaining question: where is the body?” he told Al Jazeera.

“Now we have direct evidence showing that a van left the Consulate office building, went to the nearby Consul General’s house, and you see staff or members of the killing team unloading body bags or black bags of some sort. So, it leaves the impression that Khashoggi’s body ended up at the consular’s residence and that’s what the investigation should focus now, what happened to it there.”

On Sunday evening, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had a phone call with Adel al-

Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s former Foreign Minister and current state minister in charge of foreign affairs. It is not yet clear what was discussed during the call.

Last week, Saudi King Salman replaced al-Jubeir with Ibrahim al-Assaf, a former Finance Minister, in the first Cabinet reshuffle since the killing of Khashoggi.

“Most probably, the Saudi side would hope that this recent Cabinet reshuffle puts an end to the case and relieves Saudi Arabia from this pressure by the Turks and the international community looking for some answers – but it is clear judging from these pictures and judging from the new book that was released just a couple of days ago in Turkey ... that the case is not disappearing, shuffling the Cabinet or not shuffling the Cabinet,” Jahshan said.

“Saudi Arabia needs to come clean, needs to explain the legal process, needs to prove that the people who have been dismissed from office because of their implication in this crime have actually been arrested and are being indicted on charges of murder.”

Saudi authorities have said that all members of the hit squad were arrested after returning to the Kingdom, but the recently released book cites an unnamed source as saying that Salah al-Tubaigy, the forensic doctor who allegedly dismembered Khashoggi’s body, escaped any action.

Instead, the book says, Saudi authorities asked him to disappear from the limelight, and Tubaigy is now living in a villa in Jeddah with his family. (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

Hoping good sense prevails Dear Editor, In a section of the media on May 1, 2005, Mr Raphael Trotman was quoted as saying “I would like to be part of a movement for change and I reject the current form of politics being practiced in Guyana.” In that same article, Mr Trotman reaffirmed his commitment to an independent Parliament.

Let us reflect on this commitment to an independent Parliament. Has the Speaker Dr Barton Scotland not acknowledged that the motion had been affirmed and ruled upon to allow for the official notification of the decision to be dispatched to the mover of the motion - the Opposition Leader? Has the Opposition Leader received the notification? Yes! So proper Parliamentary procedures were followed, and the process should have been deemed as complete.

But not so in the books of these people who are on a farfetched journey to blatantly sabotage the Constitution.

Has the Speaker lost all his constitutional powers because the APNU/AFC – PNC-led de facto regime says so? Isn’t the house regulated from the Speaker’s chair? Has the Speaker not ruled? They should seek proper guidance, and there is no better source than the book called the ‘Treatise on the Law, Privileges,

Proceedings, and Usage of Parliament’ written by the father of Parliamentary procedures in the British Commonwealth, Mr Erskine May. Much of the Parliamentary procedures in practice today were developed over centuries across the British Commonwealth.

Guyana’s Constitution was derived from such a system and there is a precedent that supports the position that the Speaker acted correctly on December 21, 2018. In Mr May’s most informed authoritative book on Parliamentary procedures it clearly states that “when the measure or policy of Ministers is condemned

by Parliament, a change of administration restores agreement…” Mr May further stated that “Ministers are responsible to the Parliament and so long as they are able to retain confidence from the Parliament, the harmonious actions of the several estates of the realm are secured.” Then Mr May went on to state that the “necessity of refusing to assent is removed by the strict observance of the constitutional principle that the (head of state) has no will but that of its Ministers who only continue to serve in that capacity so long as they retain the confidence of Parliament”.

This de facto Granger regime, that has lost the confidence of the majority of the House (Article 106 of the Constitution), ought to have resigned by now and submit themselves to this 90 day period as a caretaker Government. But instead they have taken the decision to migrate from the realm of legitimacy to illegitimacy and from their now bastardised seats, are choosing to engage in mathematical fantasy.

The glorious art of mathematics guides us on this matter. By way of a paper authored by the William D Hacker Professor of Economics and Political Science, Professor Charles R Plott, he clearly put to rest what is a majority.

Professor Plott asked an important question - What is the constraint to achieving a majority? In Guyana’s case, the constitution said “all the elected members” can vote. That number is 65 and it is an odd number, these are the constraints. On that fateful night, all 65 elected members were present and voted, so one of the constraints was fulfilled. On the second one, Professor Plott instructs that in the case of an odd number, the majority must be derived from the formula as follows: MAJORITY = (m+1)/2 where m is the number of

eligible voters (in Guyana’s case 65).

MAJORITY = (65+1)/2 = 66/2 = 33.

Following Professor Plott’s guidelines, a majority in the Guyanese Parliament is 33.

But I did not need the wisdom of the esteemed and celebrated Professor from Caltech, a world-renowned educational institution that is ranked No 5 in the world to tell me this. I learned this elementary stuff in high school in Guyana from a Sri Lankan who taught me three types of Mathematics during my Bishops High and Queens College days - Pure Maths, Additional Maths, Further Maths. So why are the PNC and AFC political parties behaving in this manner and trying to sell me and the rest of the Guyanese nation an untruth?

I am hoping Mr Trotman remembers his words and reject this sort of politics as he alluded to 13 years ago. He might be the last hope as it appears that elementary common sense has now departed the minds of all the other lawyers with allegiance to the PNC and AFC. I am hoping that good sense prevails.

Sincerely, Sasenarine Singh, MSc - Finance, ACCA

Government should swallow their its pride Dear Editor, My attention was drawn to an extensive social media post by Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin in which he posited “The Constitution is silent on the impact of a no-confidence vote on the National Assembly. I would therefore expect the National Assembly to continue to function as normal, and in keeping with the will of the electorate, until such time as it is dissolved.”

I will begin by agreeing with Gaskin that he is correct in that the Constitution is silent on the matter, but since Article 106 (6) 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” and Article 106 (7) continues “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 twothirds 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”, then one can take the two articles conjunctively to arrive at a commonsense position that it cannot be business as usual as contended

by Gaskin. Instead, it must be a period of great ethical behavior; no granting of contracts; no dispersal of state assets; no actions that can be deemed favorable to one’s self, friends, cronies or business associates. While a caretaker Government provision is not explicitly stated, we cannot have a vacuum, hence it is most certainly implied.

Editor, there was no rabid call for resignation of the Government prior to their announcement of ‘exploration of options’, until then, President Granger and Opposition Bharat Jagdeo had set a respectful

tone that becalmed seas that threatened to be stormy. The behavior of Cabinet members since the departure of President Granger has caused many great alarms.

The attempts to sidestep the Constitution by way of asking the Speaker to review a decision of the National Assembly; introduction of illogical interpretations of the word ‘majority’; questions of citizenship that are clearly addressed by Article 165 (2) of the Constitution are all acts of people who are desperate to avoid facing the electorate.

Editor, until there is a

renewed public acceptance by the Government that it has fallen and there exists no constitutional crisis, civil society members will continue to be strident in the calls for the resignation of the Granger Administration. The people of the nation accepted the results of the no-confidence motion, I strongly urge the Government to swallow their pride and follow suit, failing which the medicine will indeed be bitter at the polls.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Onwards to a Police state – PNC Dear Editor, Reference is made to a press release titled, “Government to submit Brief to Speaker addressing consequences of Dec 21 vote,” posted on the coalition Government’s Department of Information (DPI) website.

In it, the public was told: “Until and unless fresh elections are held, the Government remains in full control of the governance apparatus of the state and will continue to carry out its mandate according to its constitutional requirement. Any suggestion to the contrary is intended to breed anarchy and disorder in Guyana and that too will be resisted.”

These are the most chilling statements issued thus far by the coalition Government since it fell on December 21, 2018. Unless this is bluff and desperation, there are profound implications here.

First, the coalition Government appears to be ready to assume de facto status and, if necessary, organise a state of emergency on false pretenses in order to declare martial law and dismiss the constitutional edict of fresh elections.

Secondly, the coalition Government wants to muzzle free speech and the relentless public criticism of its refusal to resign from office, and call new elections as the Constitution requires.

The coalition Government is publicly calling all critics and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, the latter having accused the coalition of a judicial coup, anarchists or enemies of the state bent on “anarchy and disorder.”

State media and state organs including the DPI are being utilised to tell citizens and

the Leader of the Opposition to be quiet, to shut up, to have no expressed opinion about matters that occurred in their National Assembly on December 21.

The Leader of the Opposition was told that he must know his place which is to say his constitutionally created office must now take instructions from junior Ministers of the coalition Government. In other words, the coalition is using intimidation to swallow Opposition politics.

Third, public notice is now given that anyone who speaks out will be “resisted” by the coalition Government which has at its disposal, the full arsenal of state apparatus. The coalition has already, or is about to swallow the State.

The State will do the biddings of the coalition.

It is time to be prepared to be arrested and booked with bogus charges for writing or speaking. It is time to anticipate the army mobilising against citizens in the street and establishing camps on their private property. It is time for “wanted” bulletins to be issued for persons for mere questioning. It is time for unlawful detention. This press release makes clear that there is no more equal protection.

Finally, the fallen coalition Government rejects the idea that it is a caretaker Government. Instead, it tells the entire electorate that it will not only exist but “continues” to govern in full capacity (“carry out its mandate”) as if December 21 dropped off the face of the calendar. There no longer is any original mandate. Onwards to a Police state.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

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By Kim Conte

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f you typically start the New Year fresh by making resolutions, consider getting your kids in on the tradition this year. Not only can it be a valuable teaching moment about setting goals and sticking to them, but the practice of choosing an achievable resolution for the new year can be a fun way for kids to develop their communication and decision-making skills.

“Parents can start by explaining what a resolution is and give examples of ones they have set in past years,” says Dr Kristen Eastman, PsyD, a paediatric clinical psychologist at Cleveland Children’s Hospital. “Asking your children for ideas and helping them evaluate the options together is really important.”

Just keep in mind that resolutions should always be discussed in a positive way with children: for example, saying “I’m going to do this...” instead of “I’m going to STOP doing this...”

“You don’t want your child to feel like something in wrong with them now,” Dr Eastman explains. “Rather, frame the conversation as ‘something that could be better if we did this.’” Also, take care to help your child pick a resolution that is both achievable and specific. If

Foundation

your child suggests well-intentioned but vague ideas like “Be a better friend” or “Be healthier,” try to help her filter those ideas into tangible actions that can be done every day, either by herself or together as a family: “Help a friend with math homework before every test” or “Spend 30 minutes outside each day.”

Here are eight suggestions for good resolutions that kids can make:

Instead of: “I’m going to eat healthier.”

Suggest: “I’m going to drink two glasses of milk each day instead of soda or juice.” Or, “I’m going to eat two pieces of fruit at lunch each day.”

These are just two examples of healthy resolutions – your child’s should be tailored to his individual needs. “Target the area you and your child need to improve upon and discuss why that is important for you,” Dr Eastman says.

So, if you want to eat less fast food, talk about what you are going to eat in-

stead. If you need to eat more veggies, agree on a specific number for the week, and so on.

Instead of: “I’m going to exercise more.”

Suggest: “I’m going to join a soccer team.” Or, “I’m going to go to yoga class with Mom on Saturdays.”

Increasing physical activity is always a good resolution, but Dr Eastman says the word “exercise” can be boring. “If you make it sound fun, it’s more likely to stick.”

Instead of: “We’re going to cut down on screen time.”

Suggest: “We’re going to read for 30 minutes before bed instead of watch-

ing TV.” It’s not enough to sim-

ply say, “We’re going to reduce screen time.” Quantify how much you and your child will reduce and what you’ll be do-

ing instead.

Instead of: “I’m going to help out around the house.”

Suggest: “I’m going to set the table for dinner every night.” Or, “I’m going to help clean my bedroom once a week.”

Committing to chores is always smart because it can make kids feel needed and useful.

Plus, you’ll get a little help around the house!

Instead of: “I’m going to be nicer to people.”

Suggest: “I’m going to do one random act of kindness a week.” Or, “I’m going to talk to one person at school I’ve never met each week.”

Similar to #1, a social resolution should also be tailored to your child and the area they would like to improve upon. So, a shy child would likely have a different resolution (like the latter above) than a child who’s working on being nicer to other kids.

Instead of: “We’re going to be more eco-friendly.”

Suggest: “We’re going to start a recycling program at home.” Or, “we’re going to shorten our showers to only five minutes to conserve water.”

“As a family, decide what being green means and how to translate that to a reasonable family goal,” Dr Eastman says.

Instead of: “I’m going to learn something new.”

Suggest: “I’m going to learn how to make chocolate chip cookies.” Or, “I will learn how to sing.”

Learning new skills is al-

ways an exciting resolution that everyone looks forward to.

Instead of: “We’re going to spend more quality time together.” Suggest: “We’re going to have game night every Friday.” Or, “we’re going to eat breakfast together on Sunday mornings after church.”

Commit to spending more family time together having fun (this might be the easiest one to keep!).

Remember that when it comes to resolutions, it’s important for parents to lead by example. In other words, your child is more likely to accomplish her resolution if she sees you sticking to your own goal (which can be tough!). And don’t be afraid to adjust your goals along the way if they’re becoming stale or – imagine! – you actually accomplish them.

There’s value in teaching kids to follow through on a goal long-term, even if they need to tweak it along the way.

Now, here’s the million dollar question: How do you help your child stick to his or her resolutions (and complete your own as well)?

Easy, Dr Eastman says, “Find a way to make it fun!”

Maybe for your family that’s tracking progress with a visual reminder, like putting marbles or cotton balls in a glass jar every time your child completes his or her goal. Or, perhaps it’s having a little family competition of who can stick to their goal the longest and rewarding the winner with a special privilege. Find out what motivates your family, and go for it! (parenting.com)

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tuesdAY, January 1, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Soldier killed during row over payment for Guinness

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lieutenant attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was on Sunday evening stabbed to death at a bar in Corentyne, Berbice.

Dead is Mark Begot, 26, of Lot 21 Philippi Village, Corentyne.

Reports are the incident stemmed from an argument over who pays for Guinness as the soldier was among two others drinking at a bar.

Begot, who has been with the GDF for almost four years, was home for the holidays.

The murder occurred at a bar, which is a stone’s throw away from the soldier's home.

According to reports, the

Dead: GDF rank Mark Begot

now dead soldier was at the bar with a friend drinking Guinness, when the alleged suspect walked in and joined them.

The owner of the bar, Ganishwar Garbaran told Guyana Times that shortly after 20:00h the suspect joined Begot and his friend.

“They get a next boy come from Black Bush [Polder], the man name “Son”, so when he come in, the soldier boy ask him to buy two Guinness. The man called for three bottles of Guinness; one for he and the two for the soldier boy and his friend,” Garbaran said.

The businessman relat-

The bar where the stabbing occurred on Sunday

ed that the men were seated at the same table and after some time, Begot left and

No-confidence resolution

PPP rejects “desperate” bribery allegations – as AG fumbles to explain holes in 34 argument theory

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has rejected allegations that former Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud was bribed to vote against the Government at the recent no-confidence motion.

According to the Party in a statement on Monday, the allegations have all been manufactured by coalition politicians intent on not stepping down, something which the Constitution of Guyana says a Government must do after losing a no-confidence motion.

“These allegations are being hatched and spewed by a desperate group of power-drunk and semi-crazed politicians, who wants to hold on to the reins of Government at all costs, so that they can continue to pillage the treasury,” the Party said.

“We urge our members, supporters and indeed, every right-thinking Guyanese to ignore these paranoid and baseless outpourings,” the Party added in its statement, which came shortly after statements from the Public Security Minister announcing that Police were investigating Persaud.

AG fumbles

At a press conference called on Monday to defend the Government’s attempts to reinterpret Guyana’s Constitution, Attorney General Basil Williams revealed that a legal memorandum containing six arguments was submitted to the National Assembly.

Government is hoping that upon House Speaker Dr Barton Scotland reviewing this document, he will reverse the no-confidence

motion which was already passed. According to the AG, a no-confidence motion is different from other motions in that an “absolute majority” of 34 out of 65 members is needed rather than 33, which Government is claiming is a “simple majority”.

When asked, Williams admitted that the Constitution of Guyana makes no distinction between when an absolute majority and when a simple majority is used to vote in the National Assembly.

Instead, the Government is using legal precedents from other jurisdictions.

There are immediate holes in this explanation, however, since it indicates that Government would then have needed 34 votes to defeat the motion. Asked about this discrepancy, a not-so-clear Williams had this to say: “If they said it (motion) was (defeated by 33), it could have been challenged that it should have been 34.

Look, I wasn’t going to tell the PPP how many people they needed to steal from the Government,” Williams said.

It was pointed out to Williams that all 32 members of the Opposition side had already voted for the motion and that going by its own arguments, Government would have needed at least one Opposition member to defect in order to defeat the motion.

Williams shied away from this question.

“You’re saying I should have gone and done that (poach a PPP MP’s vote)? Why are you encouraging me to go and do mischief? I’m saying to you that to get 34 you have to

Attorney General Basil Williams

steal from the other side, any party. It wasn’t my decision to (steal from PPP)… I’m not addressing this again. I’ve explained this already,” the AG added.

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

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

The original proponent of the 34-vote argument is Attorney Nigel Hughes, a former AFC Chairman, who is the husband of Government Minister Cathy Hughes, who told State media that half of 65 is 32.5 but when rounded to the nearest whole number this would be 33 as there is no half member.

Since then, Government

has held on to this explanation and has included it in its arguments it plans to present to Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland; in an effort to get him to reverse the no-confidence motion.

When asked about the Government ‘switching its mouth’ after promising to respect the results of the no-confidence vote, Williams claimed that President Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said what they had to say at the time to “keep the peace”.

went to a house next to the bar.

Begot reportedly returned to the bar and offered the suspect a Guinness, but he refused it.

“The boy say he don’t want anything, whatever he called for he will pay for,” the businessman related. He added that Begot then ordered a drink for the suspect, but the man insisted that he wanted nothing and was going to pay for whatever was initially requested.

“The two start getting a talking, finger pointing…

I don’t know if this Black Bush boy use a word that offend the soldier boy, but bottles start pelting… The other

boy, Sherman, he pull back the soldier boy.”

Garbaran said he too tried to make peace by shouting at them from behind the counter.

However, the argument continued between the two men.

Garbaran said the suspect had a knife, but he could not see when Begot was stabbed.

“The third time he go to come inside, he pick up a stool and when he turn around is then I see blood. He start coming inside with the stool and then he drop it and fall down,” he related.

Begot was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he died while receiving medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the suspect sought refuge with the bar owner, who refused to assist him. Begot leaves to mourn his parents and a sister.

The suspect has since gone into hiding as Police probe the matter.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff and the officers and ranks of the GDF expressed their condolences to the family and friends of the late Lieutenant Mark Begot.

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Wanted bulletin issued for alleged fraudster

T

he Guyana Police Force has issued a wanted bulletin for 43-year-old Allan Robert Gates also called Clive De Nobrega of Lot 440 Pineapple Street, East Ruimveldt.

According to the Police, he is also a resident of Lot 8 St Ann’s Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice and Sandhill, Demerara River.

He is wanted for questioning in connection to a fraudulent act, which was committed on Waheeda Ramcharran on February 2, 2018.

According to the Police, in the past was placed before the court and slapped with several fraud charges to which he served time for these offences.

Gates was one of the persons who testified at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) claiming that the Guyana Police Force had collected intelligence leading up to the period of Dr Rodney’s death in 1980.

Wanted: Robert Gates

During that time, the suspect was serving a 48-month sentence at the Georgetown Prison for the offence of false pretense.

He testified that former Guyana Defence Force member William

Gregory Smith was offered $1 million and a safe trip out of Guyana to kill the founder of the Working People’s Alliance, Dr Rodney.

Gates’ testimony did not stop there when he also told the Commission that he was an undercover cop working for Rupert Roopnarine and had planted two listening devices, on his vehicle and another at the WPA office, which he claimed provided valuable information to the police.

Police on Monday said that based on received Gates would have collected millions by falsely pretending that he was in a position to acquire motor vehicles for persons knowing same to be false.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Gates is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 226-1389, 227-2128, 911 or the nearest police station.

Farmer charged for killing Brazilian

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37-year-old farmer of Moco Moco Village, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Monday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan slapped with the capital offence of murder.

It is alleged that on December 25, 2018, at Moco Moco Village, Darrel Williams murdered Elvis Aulicio.

The prosecution is contending that Aulicio and the accused, who are known to each other, were

imbibing at a birthday celebration when Williams accused him of stealing a haversack, which he denied. Williams, the prosecution stated, became annoyed, armed himself with a knife and followed Aulicio as he made his way into Moco Moco Savannahs.

He then allegedly stabbed Aulicio to the neck and left him there to die.

The Chief Magistrate remanded Williams to prison. The case will continue on January 17 at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.

Murder accused: Darrel Williams

Hairdresser remanded on narco trafficking charge

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Regent Street, Bourda, Georgetown hairdresser was on Monday remanded to prison when she appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly slapped with a narcotics trafficking charge.

Odessa Dublin denied

that on December 29, 2018, at her Lot 123 Regent Street, Bourda home she had in her possession 520 grams of cannabis.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh informed the court that on Saturday, Police ranks swooped down on Dublin’s home where

they conducted a search.

According to the prosecutor, the law enforcement officers unearthed a concealed parcel which contained several ziplock bags with leaves and stems suspected to be cannabis. The drug was found in Dublin’s bedroom. The prosecution

is also contending that the woman confessed to ownership of the drugs.

Magistrate Daly remanded the mother of five to prison. The case will continue on January 21, 2019.

Queenstown man on narcotrafficking charge

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4 0 - y e a r - o l d Q u e e n s t o w n , Georgetown resident on Monday found himself before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge of narcotics trafficking.

David McGregor stood before Magistrate Leron Daly and denied that on December 29, 2018, at Robb Street, Georgetown, he had in his possession 41 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh informed the court that the Lot 33 Anira Street, Queenstown, Georgetown resident was convicted two years ago of similar charges.

Magistrate Daly released McGregor on $50,000 bail.

The case will continue on January 21.

Exposing…

T

…AG’s ad fibbing he depths to which the PNC hardliners will sink in their desperate attempts to hold on to power were illustrated in an interview of Attorney General Basil Williams by Enrico Woolford on State TV, NCN. Asked to explain why he was only now insisting 34 votes were needed to pass the no-confidence motion when he stood mute in the National Assembly as the Speaker took minutes to announce his decision in favour of the motion with 33 votes, Williams incredulously claimed he knew all along about the 34 votes “required”!!

Said he with a straight face: “I certainly acted in accordance with the intelligence that I had and with all the experience [and] instincts acquired over the years, working with three presidents, I believe that we did very well to be in this position, rather than if I had interjected and the count restarted, and the other moles were then activated, we would not have had a position, the vote would have been legally carried.” Ha!!

So he didn’t speak THEN…but what about right after when the APNU and AFC leaders huddled to assess the situation? Or when the said leaders – with him prominently present – addressed the press and PM Nagamootoo admitted they’d lost the vote and would be resigning immediately? Or the next day when the President also accepted the verdict and promised to do the right thing? Isn’t he supposed to be the President’s legal advisor??

But this isn’t just Basil Williams’ idiosyncratic ad fibbing – it’s the way of the paramount PNC, which has to impress into its followers that it is omniscient, not to mention all powerful!! The PNC under Burnham maintained the omniscient image because of the network of spies it cultivated – both from the intelligence units of the GDF and the Police and the citizens they encouraged to “snitch” on their neighbours in exchange for banned items at the Knowledge Sharing Institutes (KSIs). The irony of ‘sharing knowledge’ wasn’t lost on the populace!!

Williams, of course, was clueless about any precedent for 34 being the “majority” in the 65-member House – for the simple reason that there’s simply no such precedent!

It was only when Nigel Hughes threw out his red herring, that it dawned on Williams and the rest of the motley collection of lawyers in the PNC and AFC that they had a straw which they could now clutch in a vain attempt to not drown in the cesspool of greed and venality they’ve been swimming in for the last three years.

But at best, they are only delaying their moment of ejection.

It is surely said that “time longer than twine!!” …Chronic’s gutter journalism Another obstacle the PNC sees in its way of holding onto power is the party former Toshao Lenox Shuman has promised to launch later this month – the Liberal and Justice Party (LJP). With the AFC now absolutely “dead meat” as evidenced by the stench emanating from their quarters, the PNC is hoping they can fill the gap with the votes of Indigenous peoples that Shuman is hoping to attract.

They ran a nasty little hatchet JOB in their Old Year’s edition, regurgitating allegations about his performance as Toshao in St Cuthbert’s Mission that were originally made in March 2017!! These allegations had been investigatED and Shuman was cleared AS REPORTED IN THE CHRONICLE!! Knowing in this age of Google, this could be easily retrieved, the Chronic cut the link –evidently unaware that the original citation is still there in hyperspace!

“TOSHAO SHUMAN CLEARED OF WRONGDOING – Guyana Chronicle Mar 20, 2017 – “TOSHAO of St Cuthbert's Mission, Lenox Shuman has been cleared by the authorities of several allegations which were levelled against him” How low can the PNC get? …AFC’s desperation Ramjattan was also interviewed by Woolford who asked him if he had any evidence of the bribe he alleged PPP had to have paid Charrandas Persaud. “We are having it because he has spoken to people.”

Since when hearsay is evidence??

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

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2 children abused or violated every GWI to add 15,000 m hour in Guyana – CCPA report …business persons involved

By Davina Ramdass

T

he shocking and saddening news that two children are abused every hour in Guyana was revealed by the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) in its annual year-in-review report.

The information, which is currently available on the Agency’s Facebook page states, “From the data analysed for the period January to October 2018 every hour… 2 children are abused or violated in Guyana”.

According to CCPA, by the end of October 2018, the Agency had already responded to 4352 child abuse reports, which happens to be the highest number of reported cases ever for the period.

In fact, a 25.4 per cent increase was recorded when compared with figures for the same period for last year.

“This increase is being attributed to the National Multimedia Awareness Child Abuse Campaign and the work done at the community level,” CCPA said.

On the other hand, when it

comes to teenage pregnancy, the document said the Agency’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Empowerment Programme was a success.

According to the Agency, “To date it has reached teens in Regions: I,3,4,5,6,7 &10. It is a programme, in collaboration with key stakeholders and NGO partners, to give teens/adolescents adequate information and support for them to make informed decisions about getting involved in sexual activity that will result in unwanted pregnancies and STDs. It is

structurally talking with teens for them to make good choices”.

So far, CCPA disclosed that it has worked with 308 vulnerable teens which include boys.

As of June 2018, Guyana recorded an increase in reported cases of sexual abuse against children. The eye-widening figure of 481 was revealed by the Director of the Agency, Ann Greene during an interview with Guyana Times.

Greene went on to explain that she believes the high number exposed itself only due to intensive work by the

Department.

According to her, “it’s not an increase to say it is more now than what it was before because we got more awareness, we got more channels to report. We encourage persons to report more so when we do all these programmes and all these awareness and so on, put in a hotline and all of that, the reports would increase, but it does not signal that there is more child abuse this year than last year”.

She sought to point out that she believes the figure exposed is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ since abuse, especially sexual abuse, is often hidden and goes unreported.

Greene said she believes a holistic approach is definitely needed, as the Department continues to raise awareness in the heart-wrenching area of child sexual abuse.

It was further related by the child enthusiast that most of the children from the 481 figure are under the age of 16. Moreover, Greene said most of the matters reported are still being investigated.

A

s US$14 billion of potable water is wasted worldwide, Managing Director of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr Richard Van West-Charles has said that the authority will be working to curb Guyana’s addition to this figure by increasing the amount of metered customers and reducing illegal connections.

Speaking at his end-ofyear press conference at GWI’s Headquarters in Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, Van WestCharles revealed on Monday that certain business owners and affluent persons are also involved in illegal water connections.

“This we have found straddled the socio-economic strata of this country and many people who really can afford were also sometimes found having illegal connections and going forward in 2019, we’re not going to waste any time in taking the necessary steps to address it,” he noted.

Van West-Charles would not identify the defaulters or their

locations by name when p by the media but rather, cused on the authority’s for reducing water wastag revenue losses from this He noted that some 15,00 ditional meters will be pro through an Islamic Develop Bank loan to ensure mor tomers are monitored. T in addition to 15,000 meter were already obtained un

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,000 more water meters in 2019 5 legal practitioners now Senior Counsels

nvolved in illegal connections – GWI Head

by name when probed edia but rather, he fothe authority’s plans ng water wastage and losses from this year. that some 15,000 admeters will be procured n Islamic Development n to ensure more cusre monitored. This is n to 15,000 meters that ady obtained under a

loan with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

He revealed that Georgetown in its entirety will be covered as a matter of priority, which will increase the number of metered consumers across the country.

Metered connections across the country stands at 52 per cent.

It was explained that this is the first time that metered customers outnumber the unmetered section of society.

Smart meters

According to officials, the increase in the contingent of meters comes as many unmetered consumers are using water indiscriminately by not turning off taps and leaving water tanks to overflow at nights.

The body will be using more smart meters to improve its data recording. These are Automated Meter Reading (AMR) systems which will be installed in 2019.

Van West-Charles observed that meter readers will soon be going around with tablets to input the readings which are geared at re-

ducing errors on the billing system.

These errors have proved to be quite challenging for GWI. In fact, it was disclosed that there was an ‘inflexible and inefficient customer information and billing system. More than that, access to customers’ premises to read meters was an issue. Other problems included untimely payment of bills where in some cases; it was found that 40 per cent of customers waited 90 days to pay their bills which affected efficiency.

Vandalism, geographic access to potable water, unreliable power supply, poor quality of materials available and procurement constraints were some of the issues observed last year.

Despite losses in 2018, GWI was able to secure over $4 billion in revenue for 2018 which was a 10 per cent increase from 2017.

Van West-Charles encouraged the public to continue reporting leakages as GWI seeks to improve its efficiency.

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack

P

Stephen Fraser

resident David Granger conferred five legal practitioners with the honour of Senior Counsel.

With effect from January 1, 2019, the the long-serving legal practitioners, Guyana’s Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, Stephen Fraser, Carole JamesBoston, Robert Ramcharran and Rajendra Poonai will all be Senior Counsels.

The Ministry of the Presidency in a statement on Monday said, “Five legal practitioners will be presented with their instruments of commission, elevating them to Senior Counsel at a ceremony to be announced later”.

Robert Ramcharran

Rajendra Poonai

On January 18, 2018 President David Granger presented four long-serving legal practitioners with their instruments of commission, elevating them to

Carole James-Boston

Senior Counsel. The new Senior Counsels who were appointed are Kalam Azad Juman Yassin, Fitz Le Roy Peters, Andrew Mark Fitzgerald Pollard and Josephine Whitehead.

They were all officially appointed at a ceremony held in the Baridi Benab at State House.

Noting that the award of the honour of Senior Counsel recognises those whose service in the legal profession has evinced values and standards, the President said that the simple but significant ceremony constitutes, as President of Guyana, an important personal obligation.

Back in 2017, nine Senior Counsels were appointed.

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ER services not for minor Vendor nabbed at car wash with gun, ammo illnesses – GPHC’s CEO …urges persons to utilise outpatient unit

F

ollowing numerous complaints surfacing of persons being left untreated or unattended for hours at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Emergency Room, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hospital, Brigadier (Ret’d) George Lewis has reminded that the Emergency Room (ER) was specifically for emergency cases, and persons with minor illnesses should visit the outpatient unit.

Lewis gave the reminder at a recent press engagement at the Hospital.

According to him, persons turn up at the facility with a mere cold or flu, whereas the Emergency Room was designed for the purpose of treating emergency cases, such as accidents.

“The whole thing about

GPHC CEO Brigadier (Ret’d) George Lewis

emergency services is it is emergency services. The Accident and Emergency Department is meant to attend to certain types of injuries, trauma type of injuries, accidents and so on.

For the person who has a common cold, that is not the

place to go,” he said.

For persons with minor ailments, the CEO pointed out that they could be treated and sent away at the outpatient unit, which is open daily until 20:00h except on Sundays.

The CEO sought to clarify some of the cases which could be treated at the various departments in the Hospital. “If a person has a common cold, a cut on the leg, then I advise them not to go to the Accident and Emergency Department, because if you go to the Accident and Emergency Department, you may be there before other persons, but if there is a person that goes to the Accident and Emergency Department with a pain in the chest or multiple accidents with broken limbs and bleeding profusely, obviously the person

who goes there with a headache will not be attended to, priority will go to the person whose life is threatened,” he explained.

Lewis was keen to note that persons might be there for a long period of time and would usually see persons coming in the hospital and being treated before them; however, this is the Hospital carrying out its mandate to serve those who are urgently in need of healthcare. Although it may annoy some patients, the Head of the health institution made it clear that the medical professionals will attend to those whose lives are at risk first.

In the past, scores of persons have complained of not being treated in a timely manner at the GPHC’s Emergency Department.

The gun and ammunition that were found

A

21-year-old vendor of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Sunday evening arrested after he was found with an unlicensed handgun and six live rounds of ammunition.

Based on reports received, Police acting on in-

formation received went to a car wash at West Road, Sparendaam, where they conducted a search on the young man during which the items were unearthed.

The illegal gun and ammunition have been confiscated and the young man is being processed for court.

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175 children placed in foster care, 80 adopted T

he Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) has recorded an increase in the number of children placed in both permanent and temporary homes, as was related by the Director of the Agency, Ann Greene during an interview.

The CCPA’s Year-inReview notes that a total of 175 children were placed in foster homes with 117 foster parents, while 80 children were able to spend the holidays in the warmth of their new adopted families’ homes.

According to the childcare arm of the Social

Protection Ministry, 51 domestic or local persons, 18 Guyanese living abroad and 11 international or non-Guyanese adopted the children.

These numbers, Director Greene said, were higher when compared to last year’s figures. Although she did not provide <<<Guyana Times>>> with the figures for the previous year, Greene noted that the significant increases were achieved because the adoption process flowed more swiftly this year with the aid of the Child Court and additional laws.

Important to note also is

that this year, more children were placed in institutional care.

The Agency also outlined in its year-in-review that it managed to increase partnerships at the community level with key stakeholders, including the Guyana Police Force, teachers, public health workers, Non-Governmental Organisations and community groups such as faithbased organisations for social network support for vulnerable families.

The CCPA said the work of child protection was not done in isolation, and com-

CCPA Director Ann Greene

munities must take responsibility for keeping children safe. Community-based initiatives and parenting programmes are known to be effective in strengthening the functioning of parents and

enhancing the growth and development of children.

The Agency’s report stated that it “formally met with the religious groups in February to establish partnership, since the religious

community has more access to the family and the leaders can serve as an important channel of communication for social change and transformation. As a result, a number has registered to be part of our Prevent Child Abuse Action Groups at the community level providing after-school support and empowerment for children and assisting with education and training for parents”.

Another important achievement was the intensification of the National Multimedia Awareness Child Abuse Campaign, which was made possible through new communication methods and channels for reporting. As part of its achievement, persons can now make child abuse complaints via social media.

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Political leaders call for national ERC to address challenges facing unity in New Year’s greetings

T

he beginning of a new year is an auspicious time. It is time to sit back and reflect on how much happened over the past year and set out goals for the pending one.

In keeping with this spirit, political leaders have once again issued the call for national unity in keeping with Guyana’s motto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), in its message, said that the advent of a new year is generally met with excitement by some who, among other reasons, may seek a new beginning or to continue to build upon the success achieved. For others, it is met with a sense of trepidation as uncertainty over what it may bring prevails. The Party noted that 2018 was a challenging year while urging that Guyanese take time out to introspect and assess their strengths and weaknesses in the pur-

suit of success.

“This is a time that hope must not be lost and spirits not allowed to be broken as together we endeavour to work in the best interest of our country to unlock its potential for its advancement and that of all of its people.

Let us in the new year work assiduously to strengthen bonds of togetherness and brotherhood to aid in the realisation of the fundamental value of our national motto and to engage in renewal of ideas for the attainment of success,” the PPP said.

Meanwhile, the People’s National Congress (PNC) noted that 2018 was a year of challenges for it and its coalition partners in Government, but assured that they would continue to work in harmony for the development of Guyana and the Guyanese people.

Former President Donald Ramotar in his message said 2019 should be the year for all Guyanese

to work towards a strengthened united Guyana firmly based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

Recommitment

In his message to the nation, President David Granger said the recent developments in the National Assembly have created opportunities for enhanced political cooperation, noting that meetings between the Government and political Opposition would take precedence in the new year as they seek to determine a way forward.

“The National Assembly and the Judiciary are the bedrock of our democracy.

Your Government remains committed to upholding the Constitution, preserving the rule of law and guaranteeing a safe, stable, orderly and peaceful country. We respect the courts, which protect our institutions and

system of democracy,” he said.

The Head of State said that Government was prepared to work with all parties in order to achieve the 2019 objectives set out in the National Budget to promote more secure borders, communities that are safer, an economy that is more resilient, a society that is more cohesive and public services that are more easily accessible.

Looking back on 2018, Granger reiterated Guyana’s commitment to defending its territorial integrity, commending the decision by the United Nations’ Secretary General to have the border controversy with Venezuela referred to the International Court of Justice. He said that both the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force are expected to be strengthened to guarantee safety and public order.

Indigenous people

Representatives of the ERC and IPC after the meeting

T

he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has committed to addressing and finding solutions for challenges affecting the indigenous people.

Officials of the commission recently convened a meeting with representatives of the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC) at the ERC headquarters in Georgetown, with firm commitments from both parties to further collaborate in 2019.

The two-hour long consultation focused on challenges which were brought forth by the IPC members.

These were primarily related to language barriers and social ills which have been prevalent for some years and continue to remain in society.

Being the last meeting of its kind for 2018, new stakeholders of the ERC were given firsthand experience on such issues and the way it can be addressed.

Ever since the resuscitation of the Commission last February, several consultations were facilitated with other governing ethnic bodies.

In July, the re-constituted ERC met with representatives of the Indigenous,

East Indian and African Guyanese constituents to get an account of issues confronting members of the various groups.

During those engagements, important concerns were raised; suggestions were offered, and commitments were made to work together to promote harmony and good relations across the country.

The ERC is in the process of spreading and fostering awareness of its functions listed in Article 212(D) of the Constitution, and seeking possible input from stakeholders in support of the execution of its mandate.

To date, the ERC has met with President David Granger; Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; the Private Sector Commission, the Ambassador and team from the European Union (EU), Ambassador and representatives of the ABC diplomatic community, and representatives of the three major religions.

Other meetings were also recorded with the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) and representatives of Women and Youth Constituents.

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CDC boosts disaster response W

ith continued efforts to boost disaster response management across the country, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Monday handed over a quantity of gear to the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Leading the distribution was the Director General of the CDC, Major Kester Craig, who emphasised on the work that was done over the past year, which included training of several persons from both regions in the area of Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA).

Taking that into consideration, it is expected that the provision of the gear and tools will prepare the individuals who were taught.

“The whole aim is to have them respond to any incident

Hazard Preparedness and Response Plan for Region Four.

“This is in an effort to build resilience at the regional level so as to reduce disaster risk through enhanced preparedness and response capabil-

CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig with the Region Four officials during the handing-over of gear and tools

and gather information, which helps the Commission to make informed decisions. So today, we want to hand over the tools and equipment that are necessary to carry out these functions. Once this equipment has been handed over, we expect that if anything happens, your team can go out and do the damage assessments,”

Asbestos, cast iron...

Dr Richard Van WestCharles said as a result of the water quality tests, more water treatment plants would be established across the various regions of the country as was established in Sheet Anchor in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Speaking specifically about Georgetown, he said that much of the iron was seen in the water when the mains were being cleaned. Owing to the age of the pipes, there is also high iron content being

released as many of them are over 100 years old.

GWI said that to avoid iron in ground water, it may have to reach a depth of some 2000 feet.

It was further explained that over $600 million was spent on chemicals to make the water potable using imported materials from countries like Canada and China, but GWI went on to say that it will also would to reduce the amount spent on acquiring chemicals in 2019.

Craig underscored.

The Director General explained that the Commission remained committed to building Guyana’s disaster risk management capabilities through stakeholder engagements. Plans for 2019 include working to complete the Regional Risk Assessment Report and Regional Multi-

From page 9

Also, during this year, the utility will work to acquire and install an Automatic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) to test for heavy metals in water, and upgrade treatment plant operators.

The removal of asbestos must be done with great care owing to its toxic properties.

Asbestos removal is a very dangerous and expensive undertaking. Locally, very few companies have the capacity for proper removal of this hazardous substance.

ities. The completion of the plan will give the Region the independence to manage its own disaster planning and resilience, and will help to guide how every unit, every agency that falls within the Region would be able to respond to

any disaster or emergency,” he said.

Regional Vice Chairman Earle Lambert pointed out that the country is below sea-level, and preparedness was important in response to disasters.

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ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t let stress weigh you down. If you are unhappy with a situation, talk to someone with experience and insight into your affairs. A solution will present itself.

Consider your goals for the upcoming year and devise a strategy that will help make your journey manageable. A little romance will ease your stress and encourage a better relationship with someone special.

Refuse to let anyone meddle in your affairs. Stick to a moderate and healthy lifestyle. Make a to-do list or begin a New Year’s resolution.

Avoid wasting time. If you let others do as they please, you’ll be allowed to follow your own path. A personal goal can be reached.

Romance should be a priority.

Take better care of yourself and your loved ones.

Plan an inexpensive, funfilled day. Exercise will do you good. An interesting idea will spark your imagination.

Take a close look at yourself, your life and where you see yourself heading this year. Lay out a plan, discuss it with someone you respect and get ready to forge ahead.

Get together with people LIBRA (Sept. 23- who lift you up, and avoid Oct. 23) people who tend to bring you down. Having a positive attitude will help you accomplish your goals this year.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

If you want change, do something about it. Don’t fear stepping out of your comfort zone. Make personal changes that will help build confidence. Make love a priority.

Put your energy to good SAGITTARIUS use. Doing something con(Nov. 23- structive will give you a Dec. 21) sense of pride and encourage you to expand your awareness and circle of friends.

Let your feelings and CAPRICORN emotions dictate your ac(Dec. 22- tions. Trust your intuition Jan. 19) to help you recognise what’s important and what can be discarded.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle Get organized, discuss AQUARIUS money matters and work out (Jan. 20- a plan that will help you sort Feb. 19) out any debts you incurred last year. Emotional matters should be handled with patience and understanding.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Less talk and more action PISCES (Feb. 20- will get you where you want March 20) to be. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if it will make your life easier. Romance is highlighted.

tuesdAY, January 1, 2019

19

Mandhana, Alyssa Healy named ICC ODI, T20I Players of 2018 I

ndia opener Smriti Mandhana has become the second winner of the Rachael HeyhoeFlint Award after being adjudged the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year for 2018. Mandhana, the leading run-getter in women's ODIs with 669 runs at an average of 66.90 and the third-highest scorer in T20Is with 622 runs at a strikerate of 130.67, has also been named the ICC Women's ODI Player of the Year.

The T20I honours went to Alyssa Healy, who was Player of the Tournament during Australia's run to their fourth Women's World T20 title in the West Indies, where she made 225 runs at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 144.23.

Mandhana, 22, is only the second Indian woman to win an ICC award. The fast bowler Jhulan Goswami was named the ICC Women's Player of the Year in 2007.

Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry was the inaugural recipient of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award last year.

"The awards are pretty special because as a player when you score runs, you want the team to win, and then when you get acknowledged for your performances through these awards, it motivates you to work harder and do well for your team," Mandhana told icc-cricket. com.

Healy, meanwhile, enjoyed a memorable year in T20s even outside her World T20 heroics. Having begun her year with a maiden WBBL hundred and a maiden international century within the space of three months, the wicketkeeper-batsman finished fourth on the T20I run-getters list in 2018 behind New Zealand allrounder Suzie Bates, India T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and

Mandhana.

"It's obviously a huge honour," the 28-yearo l d Healy said.

"I enjoyed s o m e form over the last couple of months, thoroughly enjoyed playing for the Aussie team in the T20I format.

Winning the ICC Women's World T20 final against England is something pretty special, especially after a disappointing couple of years in World Cups. That win against them, a dominant performance, was pretty special and one I will never forget.

The 19-year-old England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone has been named the Emerging Player of the Year. She took 18 wickets in nine ODIs and 17 in 14 T20Is during the calen-

dar year. She was part of the squad that finished runners-up at the World T20.

The ICC also named Bates and Harmanpreet the captains of the women's ODI and T20I teams of the year.

Harmanpreet, 29, led India to their first semi-final appearance in the World T20 since the 2010 edition, but w a s involved in a public fallout with the ODI captain Mithali Raj after the team's exit.

Harmanpreet said the award would help build her confidence in the role.

Bates, meanwhile, stepped down from the captaincy ahead of the World T20, handing over the reins

to Amy Satterthwaite. Bates had led New Zealand to second place in the second cycle of the ICC Women's Championship after three rounds.

"Thank you very much to everyone who voted for the ICC team of the year," Bates said. "To be named captain is just an absolute honour. Obviously, I have been playing for a long time and stepped down from captaincy, but to be named captain of a World XI is pretty special and something I will always remember.

"It would be

group and to captain some of the superstars, but once again such a huge honour and congratulations to all the award winners for this year." (BBC Sport)

Smriti Mandhana

nice one day if we got together to play as a

Mayweather blitzes Tenshin in Hopman Cup: Serena faces Japanese boxing exhibition Federer for the 1st time

T

Floyd Mayweather was smiling as he floored Nasukawa three times in the opening round

F

loyd Mayweather came out of retirement briefly to score a lucrative victory in an exhibition boxing match in Japan over kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa that will do more for his bank balance than it did for the reputation of combat sports.

The 20-year-old, who is unbeaten in professional kickboxing and mixed martial arts, was sent crashing to the canvas three times in the first round by Mayweather, leading the Japanese fighter’s corner to throw in the towel.

The fight topped the bill for the prestigious New Year’s Eve event promoted by Rizin, one of Asia’s fast-growing mixed martial arts organizations, at the Saitama Super Arena, and though it has drawn international attention, it was little more than a shrewd brand-

ing move for all concerned.

But for Mayweather, it was about more than just entertainment - the 41-yearold American intimated on Instagram that he would be paid nine million dollars for the fight, which was scheduled for three rounds.

Fought at a weight limit of 147 pounds, there were no judges in attendance and the fight does not count toward the professional record of either fighter.

Mayweather’s August 2017 knockout victory in a boxing match against brash Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor ignited speculation that he would cross over into the world of MMA, but the Rizin bout was strictly limited to punches.

There was less than an hour left in 2018 as first Tenshin and then Mayweather made their way down the long ramp to the

ring just after 11 pm local time, accompanied by their entourages and with loud music booming around the arena.

Prowling the ring and smiling for the cameras as the American national anthem was sung, Mayweather continued grinning after the bout began.

Although Tenshin connected with one early shot, he offered no real resistance as Mayweather used all his guile and enormous power to rip shots to the body and head at will.

“It was all about entertainment - we had fun,” Mayweather said in the ring following his win.

“The fans in Japan, they wanted this to happen, so I said why not. Once again, I’m still retired, I’m still 500, Tenshin is a great champion,” he added. (Reuters)

ennis greats Roger Federer and Serena Williams will meet on court for the first time when Switzerland face the USA in the Hopman Cup on Tuesday.

They will play in men's and women's singles rubbers before meeting in the mixed doubles alongside partners Belinda Bencic and Frances Tiafoe.

Federer and Williams, both 37, have won a combined 43 Grand Slam titles.

"It is very exciting for both of us and I hope a lot of tennis fans tune in and watch it," said Federer.

Williams said it was "like a dream come true". She added: "I have been looking forward to it. This is so cool."

The match has been described as the most anticipated contest involving a male and female player since the 'Battle of the Sexes' in 1973, when 39-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King beat former men's world number one Bobby Riggs in straight sets.

Despite their concurrent careers, Federer said it would be an "exaggeration" to say he knew Williams well.

"I admire everything she's done on and off the court, we are both fierce competitors and we always want to win," he said.

"It is going to be one time, probably never again. She is one of the biggest champions in our sport ever - men

Serena Williams and Roger Federer won the Wimbledon singles titles in 2012

and women combined - so it is great to be playing against her."

The Hopman Cup comprises two singles and a mixed doubles match between nations in a round-robin format with two groups of four. The winners of each group will contest Saturday's final.

Federer and Bencic beat Britain's Cameron Norrie and Katie Boulter in their opening round-robin tie, while the USA lost to Greece on Monday despite Williams winning her singles tie.

Switzerland are the defending champions, Federer and Bencic having won the event in Perth in January 2018.

Meanwhile, organisers have announced that prize

money at next month's Australian Open will rise by 14% to AUS$62.5m (£34.5m).

There will be a 25% increase for those who lose in the first round: players who reach the main draw are now guaranteed at least AUS$75,000 (£41,400).

The singles' champions will each take home $4.1m (£2.26m).

The total prize fund has increased by 89% over the past five years.

"We have a responsibility to improve the conditions for all the players, and ensure tennis offers a viable career path, and this means increasing prize money as well as easing the costs associated with playing the Australian Open," said Australian Open chief Craig Tiley. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, January 1, 2019

GCB hails Kallicharran for making Queen’s honours list

U

pon being awarded with the prestigious British Empire Medal in the Queen’s 2019 honours list, Alvin Kallicharran is being praised for his efforts and contributions in the cricketing fraternity.

As such, the executive committee and membership of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) have extended heartfelt congratulations to the Guyanese cricket stalwart.

The Medal of the Order of the British Empire was first established in 1917, along with the Order of the British Empire. The medal was part of the Order and could be awarded for either meritorious service or for gallantry. It was awarded to 2015 people, 800 of whom were from foreign countries. In 1922, the original medal was discontinued and split into two separate honours, which still formed part of the Order of the British Empire. These two honours are known as the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service (usually referred to as British Empire Medal, BEM) and the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (usually referred to as Empire Gallantry Medal, EGM).

Alvin Kallicharran was born

on March 21, 1949. Hailing from the small village of Port Mourant in Berbice, he debuted for Guyana at the tender age of 17 against the Windwards in Grenada and in 1972 against New Zealand at Bourda for the West Indies. Kallicharran has had a very long and distinguished career that produced close to 50,000 runs in Test, ODI, First Class and List A cricket during his career.

He has represented Guyana, West Indies, Warwickshire, Transvaal, Orange Free State and Queensland during his career. His Test career spanned the period 1972 to 1981 and he represented the West Indies during the transformational period in the late 1970s when they indisputably became the best team in the world. He was part of the Windies team that won the very first two World Cups played in London. He played in 66 Test matches and scored 4399 Test runs with 12 centuries and 21 fifties. For eight of those fifties, he got out in the 90s and could easily have made 20 centuries in that space of time. Kallicharran is well remembered for his onslaught against the great Dennis Lillee in the 11th match of the inaugural World Cup in England 1975 where

he literally decimated him for 35 runs off just 10 deliveries. This stat compares very favourably with top T20 strike rates. He was equally at home against spin and pace and was described by Clive Lloyd as one of the most complete batsmen of his time and possibly of all time.

Kallicharran captained the West Indies team for two series against Australia and in India, where he scored his highest Test innings of 187.

He joined Warwickshire in 1971 playing for their second XI, but quickly advanced to the first XI the following year; his playing career lasted well into the late 80s.

He possibly had his best year in 1983 when he was the only cricketer on the county circuit to score over 2000 runs in the season with eight centuries, three of which were double hundreds. Quite justifiably, Kallicharran was named one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year in 1983.

This legend has also contributed immensely to charities, having taken part and organised matches in various parts of the world.

Along with Sunil Gavaskar, he organised a charity match in which India played the Rest of World XI

Trophy Stall Port Mourant/UCCA U-19 50-Over…

Scottsburg United lead points table after 4 rounds

Akhtar Nahar scored 50

T

he Trophy Stallsponsored Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Under-19 50-over round-robin tournament continued last Saturday with round four of the competition.

Scottsburg United,

Rudy Jamalodeen bagged 7-36 in 7.2 overs

Number 66 Cricket Club and Radha Krishna Foundation Academy secured wins.

At Scottsburg Ground, Scottsburg United defeated Number 73 Young Warriors by 100 runs. Batting first, Scottsburg United scored 186 all out in 47.5 overs as Akhar Nahar led with a superb 50, Rudy Jamalodeen made 20, D Persaud 22 and Stephen Norah 15.

Bowling for Number 73 Young Warriors, T Sukhu took 3 for 27, A Hussain 3 for 44 and K Persaud, 2 for 32. In reply, Number 73 Young Warriors were bowled out for a meagre 86 in 18.2 overs, as Brian Stewart added a resistant 19 and N Singh, 16.

The bowling for Scottsburg United was spearheaded by the in-form Jamalodeen, who bagged 7 for 36 off 7.2 overs.

At Number 66 Ground, Number 66 Cricket Club defeated Number 72 Cut and Load by 56 runs. Batting first, Number 66 scored 152 all out in their allotment of 50 overs as T Jones scored 50. Bowling for No 72 Cut and Load, B Chattergoon took 2 for 49, while S Chatterpaul claimed 2 for 14 and L Singh 3 for 19. In reply, Number 72 Cut and Load were bowled out for 96 in 23 overs as S Chatterpaul showed some fight with his 33.

Bowling for Number 66, N Tahal took 2 for 10, A

Tahal 2 for 17, J Boodhan 2 for 19, and N Satram 2 for 27.

At Number 73 Ground, Radha Krishna Foundation Academy defeated Number 48 Challengers by 94 runs.

Batting first, Radha Krishna Foundation Academy scored an attacking 245 all out in 38 overs. M Headley (77); C Singh (15) and D Boodwa (15) were the top scorers.

Bowling for Number 48 Challengers, K Singh took 4 for 53 and K Hooper 3 for 46. In reply, Number 48 Challengers were bowled out for 151 in 22 overs despite K Hooper scoring 39 and S Sookram, 25. Bowling for Number 66, I Singh took 3 for 11.

After four rounds of competition, Number 72 Cut and Load and Scottsburg United are leading the points table with six points each followed by Number 73 Young Warriors and Radha Krishna Foundation Academy on four points each and Number 48 Challengers on zero. Two points are allotted for a win. The top two teams will advance to the final. If points are tied for any place, the winner of the head-to-head clash will advance.

This tournament is organised by the UCCA and is sponsored by Ramesh Sunich, Managing Director of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market, Georgetown, whose new location at Market Road, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice will be opening soon.

in 1997 for the Sri Satya Sai Baba entity and Sachin Tendulkar participated. Kallicharran has supported numerous other charity events such as the Indian Ocean Disaster Relief, the Oracle Head and Neck Cancer Research Trust and has participated in other charitable matches when he worked for the Lashings World XI during the period 20012009. In 2006, he was a part of ‘The Sports Relief’, which raised over £16 million. He was also a part of the group that rendered assistance in 2004 to the tsunami victims and has participated in the annual PM John Major charity match, which raises funds for cancer awareness.

It is without a shadow of a doubt that this esteemed son of our soil has fully displayed the everlasting qualities of humility and service to humankind. His love and dedication for the game of cricket had translated into immense pleasure

Alvin Isaac Kallicharran

and happiness for millions around the world during his professional career, and he has more than adequately contributed to his sterling reputation and service beyond the boundary in other charitable causes.

As the GCB in a statement said, “The entire country is united in its pride and joy for this richly justifiable recognition of the British Empire Medal Award onto Alvin Isaac Kallicharran in the Queen’s honours list for 2019. Do continue to make us proud!”

Yolander Persaud reflects on 2018 – focuses on what 2019 holds

By Timothy Jaikarran

A

lready creating history in the nation of Guyana, Attorneyat-Law and Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Vice President Yolander Persaud has been reflecting on her successful 2018 season as well as focusing upon 2019 and what it holds for her.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Persaud stated that her year has been rather eventful, since she has now become one of the first Guyanese women to be elected to serve on a

Fédération Internationale des Échecs

Yolander Persaud

(FIDE) Commission.

At the 89th Chess Congress in Batumi, Georgia, the General Assembly elected her as one of five members to serve on the Ethics Commission for the period 2018 to 2022.

Persaud said, “I got fifth in the first Women’s Championship Guyana ever held. Then I went on to win the May Women’s Championship with a perfect score. My performance secured my place on the National Female Team for the 2018 C h e s s Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.

Upon being awarded a Chevening Scholarship from the British H i g h Commission to pursue my

LLM in Oil and Gas Law at the University of Aberdeen in June, I withdrew from the team. However, I attended the 89th FIDE Congress in Batumi, Georgia where I was elected by the General Assembly to serve on the FIDE Ethics Commission – the ethics, constitutional and verification commissions, which need elected member by the General Assembly, is one of the only two commissions in FIDE where the members must be elected by the General Assembly with at least a 50 per cent vote. I was at that time one of two women on the Commission, but, unfortunately, the other woman recently passed away, I was confirmed out of 14 other nominees.”

According to Persaud, her work with the Commission has begun and they have been deliberating on a few cases already through correspondence and are set to meet early in 2019, in Europe.

She went on to state that her goals for 2019 are to execute her duties with fairness and in line with the FIDE Code of Ethics and laws of chess, and work to build chess in Guyana, particularly women’s chess.

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Carlos Peterson Grifith grateful for achievements in 2018 …aiming for highest honours in 2019

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By Timothy Jaikarran

C

arlos Llwenlyn Peterson Grifith was born on February 18, 1994 at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He is the eldest of three sons born to Alicia Marietta Peterson Grifith, who currently resides in Real Madrid, Spain.

Grifith had numerous homes in his childhood ranging from at his mother’s grandparents in Venezuela to his older brother and his uncle, Percival Fowler with whom he lived from the age of 13.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Grifith informed that: “On returning home (Guyana) after so many years, I was enrolled at the Dolphin Secondary School within a month of our arrival and there I spent three years, seven months until I wrote the Caribbean Examinations Council exams (CXC). During my academic years, I’ve experienced my fair share of ups and downs, but came through successfully with the aid of Marilyn Searles and her daughter, Nicona Searles along with few others who helped me to stand firm and continue my life’s journey.”

It was truly a traumatic event that led Grifith to the gym as he sustained a life-threatening injury on August 29, 2013 while at work. After which he was almost crippled from the waist down as he had a fractured scapula and a dislocated pelvis. He recalled that when he resumed work four months later, he had only recovered 80 per cent and so he decided to join Body MaXX Gym on January 12, 2014 where he underwent strength train-

ing to strengthen his damaged muscle tissue.

Grifith said, “After training approximately two weeks, my body and physique began to change and it was then I decided to become a bodybuilder although I had it in mind before I was injured. In late January, I saw a poster advertising the Novices and Bodybuilding, Men and Women Physique and Bikini Championship. The following day I spoke with the gym trainer “Brother Shawn” who then offered to help me, but stated that I will not be able to be in full shape for the Championship, I then told him it was OK, I will try my best. We began vigorous training increasing on the weights and doing more reps. I trained as hard as possible, day in and day out (morning and evening), because I was feeling great and looking even better for the Championship, since one day I’m hoping to reach the top. Within the first week of HIT (High Intensity Training), training “Brother Shawn” introduced me to Mr Trumel King, a bodybuilder who had just returned to the arena from an injury. I began to be noticed by others who started to ask if I had any intentions of taking part in the upcoming Championship and what kind of supplements I was using to boost my body so quickly, I told everyone I wanted to take part, but wasn’t sure as yet and was not using any supplements, but no one believed me even though it was the truth. By the end of February, I took part in the Championship where I fell under the 176lbs weight class and Junior Open category plac-

ing fifth in the open overall or as they say fourth runner-up and third within my weight class”.

Despite his disappointment, Grifith did not give up – through his many ups and downs, he continued to press on as he knew that he was destined for greatness.

He focused on training owing to the fact that he wanted to be the best. It was February 28, 2016 when he participated in the Junior/ Novices Powerlifting Championship, which was held at the Rosignol Primary School where he shockingly set a new record in his weight class of 93kg as an unequipped or raw lifter. Having claimed the junior national title, Grifith successfully defended his title on September 18, 2016, in the Sammy Bakker Raw/Classic Powerlifting Championship, as he ended with an overall total of 675kg/1485lbs internationally rated, improving his set records and previous totals. Following his superb performances, he went on to compete on November 27, 2016, in the Senior Nationals Powerlifting Championship where he dominated the unequipped/ raw category, setting a new 93kg class record by squatting 250kg, benching 140kg and dead lifting 300kg, bringing him a total of 690kg/1518lbs internationally rated.

A few weeks later, Grifith took part in the Junior/Novices Powerlifting Championship once again, at Thirst Park Banks DIH Sports Club, not as a novice lifter but to defend his junior title where he improved his previous records by squatting 260kg, benching 140kg and dead lifting 310kg for an overall of

710kg/1562lbs internationally rated.

These are just a few of his records.

In 2018, Grifith continued to train as he prepared for the NAPF/ Regional Powerlifting Championship, which was set for August 1-5 in Mexico City. To prepare for this stage, Grifith took part in the Seniors Bodybuilding Championship and secured first in the heavyweight class at a body weight of 199.6lbs.

He explained, “In Mexico, for me wasn't a big challenge competing at an altitude of 9000ft above sea level. Yes, my fellow countrymen felt it different such as a lot of dry nose due to thin air. After completing the lifts, I placed first in the open raw/classic category 93kg weight class, [and got] Overall Raw Best Lifter and the new NAPF South American, Pan American Squat Record; 1st place In the open equipped category 93kg weight class, third place overall and South American deadlift record.

“Team Guyana departed with a nine-member [squad], including a physiotherapist for Mexico City on July 29, 2018. With little or so of funds, we were

able to return home with a success of six gold medals, two silver, three bronze and Overalls. Few weeks later, I competed at the Raw/ Classic Nationals where I placed first and overall, setting new national and unofficial NAPF South American, Pan American and Commonwealth squat, deadlift and total records.”

In closing, Grifith said, “For the year 2018, it was a very good year: a lot of competition, time, dedication, and, most of all, sacrifice.

Besides all the above, I was able to accomplish sponsorship from SBD Apparel, which is a leading lifting apparel both in and out of IPF (International Powerlifting Federation), a spot and a chance to compete in both: the World's Raw/ Classics Championship and the World's Equipped Championship.

It's also a great year thanks to God Almighty, sponsors (Jamie McDonaldFitness Express, GYSBI, Charles Ramson, Space Gym, and many more. For 2019, I’m willing to take part in the mentioned upcoming event, where I see myself setting new records and, most of all, capturing the highest honours.”

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, JANUARY 1, 2019

Galaticos crowned inaugural Nasri signs ExxonMobil Futsal champions for Hammers T on day doping ban ends

he final night of action in the International Futsal Festival had patrons on the edge of their seats as the deciding matches unfolded before their eyes. When the dust settled, the Brazilian team, Galacticos, were the ones to take the crown on Sunday after a night of riveting futsal action.

The Kashif and Shangai organised Guyana Football Federation (GFF) ExxonMobil International Futsal Festival began on December 27 with eight teams vying for the $1.2 million grand prize.

In the semi-finals, the Brazilian squad edged out a determined Georgetown AllStars team 4-2. In the second semi, T&T barely got past Guyana All-Stars in a 6-5 encounter.

In the GalacticosGeorgetown All-Stars match-up, Romailson De Jesus of the Brazilian team was the first to score in the fifth minute while his teammate, Raphael Copes followed suit 10 minutes later. The half expired with the score on 2-0. National player Jeremy Garrett then attempted a mountainous feat as the youngster placed one past the goalposts.

However, his effort was negated by Brazil’s Arckson Andreazza, who pushed the score to 3-1 in the 33rd minute. Garrett then netted a second goal, but it went in vain as Raphael Copes also

W

A glimpse of last weekend’s futsal action between Guyana All-Stars and Brazil’s Galacticos

collected another goal for the Brazilian win.

On the other hand, it was an intense battle between Guyana All-Stars and Trinidad and Tobago. Colin Nelson opened the scoring for Guyana in the 12th minute and by the half, Eusi Phillips and Daniel Wilson had both contributed one to the 3-1 tally. However, the tables were turned in the second half as Trinidad fought hard to advance.

Jerwyn Ballhazar and Kerry Joseph both netted doubles while Rondell Elcock found the back of the net once to push Trinidad to six goals and a win.

This meant the final contest would boil down to Brazil taking on Trinidad and Tobago while

Georgetown All-Stars battled Guyana All-Stars for third place.

The final was just another day in the office for Galacticos as they remained undefeated to take the championship. The first half was dull, but Lucas Martins returned in the second to score his team’s first goal in the 25th minute. Andreazza and Maxivon Carvalho netted back-to-back goals in the 30th and 31st minutes to push the score to 3-0. Jamal Williams was the lone voice for Trinidad with a goal in the 35th. Raphael Lopes ended on a high note for Galacticos contributing one for the 4-1 win.

The third-place playoff was undeniably the best game of the night as specta-

tors were treated to 20 goals within the 40-minute period.

Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson opened the onslaught for Georgetown in the first minute, Hubert Pedro had a double by the 13th and Pernel Shultz connected with the goal thrice.

Jeremey Garrett contributed one to push their halftime tally to seven.

Guyana on the other hand, had five compliments of Andrew Murray, Darren Benjamin, Rudy Allvin and Daniel Wilson.

The game intensified in the second half, but Georgetown proved to be the more resilient side as they connected another five goals to seal a 13-7 win and the third-place trophy.

GFF Stag Super 16 Year-End Tournament…

est Ham have signed former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri - on the day he completes a doping ban.

The 31-year-old Frenchman has been without a club since 31 January, after leaving Turkish club Antalyaspor.

Nasri, who has signed a deal until the end of the season, served an 18-month doping ban for using an intravenous drip treatment but is available to play again from 1 January.

He won two Premier League titles and the League Cup in six years with City.

"Coming back to the most competitive league in the world, with a team full of ambition with a manager that I know.... it's the best job in the world, and I'm really excited about it," said Nasri.

Nasri has made 215 appearances in the Premier League, playing for Arsenal from 2008 to 2011 before moving to City for £25m.

There he played under Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini but fell out of favour following the arrival of Pep Guardiola and spent a loan spell with Sevilla.

Pellegrini told the Hammers' website: "I am happy to be working with him again.

"He has been working very hard in recent weeks to build up his fitness and condition after a long period without playing, and he is now very determined to return to his best."

Nasri was initially banned for six months for taking an intravenous drip that contravened World Anti-Doping Agency rules.

It was alleged that in 2016, while on loan to Sevilla, he received 500 millilitres of hydration in the form of sterile water containing micronutrient components, which exceeds the permissible limit.

In February 2017, a request

by Sevilla for a retroac-

The Final Showdown A

fter seven days of intense action in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ Stag Super 16 Year- End Tournament, a new champion will be crowned when finalists Buxton United and Den Amstel square off for top honours at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground on the first night of 2019.

Den Amstel will be the ones to watch for in the finale as they defeated the 2018 Elite League champions, the Fruta Conquerors in the semi-finals. On the other hand, the Buxtonians have proven their worth as they defeated defending champions GDF 3-2 earlier in the Tournament.

Den Amstel are known for their early success, which has been displayed throughout the tournament.

They will be depending on the big guns, namely Jamal Harvey and Kester Jacobs, to lead them over the line.

With a solid defence, the Den Amstel side are practi-

Part of the ongoing action

cally impenetrable.

The Buxtonians rarely score early, but have produced where it matters. The squad is usually more defensive, but as the match intensifies, so do their level of play. They will turn to the likes of Dillon Wright, Ronaldo Fredericks and

Shemar Fraser up front to get the score sheet lively.

In the match which precedes, Western Tigers will battle Fruta Conquerors in the third-place showdown.

The winning team will receive $2,000,000 plus a trophy and equipment while the second-place team will

receive $1,000,000 plus a trophy and equipment, and the third-place team will receive $500,000 plus a trophy and equipment. The fourthplace team will receive no cash prize but a trophy and equipment.

tive therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for Nasri was refused by Uefa.

I n A u g u s t 2018, Uefa extended the ban from six to 18 months, backdated to 1 July 2017.

West Ham have the option to extend Nasri's contract by a year. (BBC Sport)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESdAY, JANUaRY 1, 2019

23

IPL a dream come true, Test cricket is still in sights – Rutherford reflects on his dreamy 2018 globe, Rutherford finished as the third highest run scorer. The 20-year-old in his nine innings accumulated 230 runs at a healthy average of 32.85, including a breath-taking 134*.

Rutherford’s development continued in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) representing the ever-consist e n t

Sherfane Rutherford played for Bengal Tigers in the T10 League

By Brandon Corlette

T

he man of the moment, the Delhi Capitals selectee, Guyana’s very own Sherfane Rutherford described his 2018 as a great year.

In his exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, Rutherford thanked God for a successful 2018, and said he was looking ahead for a brighter 2019.

“Being selected for the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a dream come true, but playing Test cricket has always been my dream,” Rutherford related. If the opportunity is presented in the near future to the talented left-handed batsman, he will play Test cricket for the West Indies.

Born on August 15, 1998, Sherfane E v i s t o n Rutherford has

continuously received support from his inspirational parents.

The Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) player, in his blooming career, is thankful for his coaches— Guyana Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon a n d Assistant C o a c h / Manager R a y o n

Griffith. “My club coach, Garvin Nedd has also played a role in my successful journey,” Rutherford told this reporter.

Rutherford made his international debut for the West Indies T20 international team on December 22, 2018 against Bangladesh, where his Guyanese teammate, Keemo Paul produced a record-breaking bowling spell.

The year 2018 has been a memorable year; Rutherford was presented with the opportunity

to represent West Indies B team in the inaugural Global T20 tournament played June-July 2018 in Canada. In the much-anticipated tournament that featured the biggest superstars around the

porter that he was grateful for returning to the Guyana Jaguars 4-Day team. He will depart for Barbados on January 2, 2019 where he will be called upon to represent his team in the red-ball format against a dominant Barbados unit.

Many may define Rutherford as a white-ball specialist but his blooming First-Class career highlights his huge potential to represent West Indies in all three formats of the game. In his 10 Firstclass matches, Rutherford has a high

Rutherford represented Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2018

Guyana Amazon Warriors team. With adequate opportunity given in the CPL – Rutherford played eight matches and batted seven innings – scoring 171 runs at an average of 34.20. He recalled his match-defining knock of 45 from 13 balls against arch rivals Trinbago Knight Riders that included six humongous sixes against the Dwayne Bravo-led team.

The dynamic Rutherford made the headlines in that career-changing moment – “the Guyanese local hero”.

In addition to Rutherford’s explosive batting, he is more than a useful right-arm seam bowler, and he is recognised as a complete cricketer.

Rutherford told this re-

score of 93 at an average of 35.40, scoring 354 runs.

Meanwhile, his bowling record is inspirational, with 23 wickets in a short span, including a bowling average of 24.39. Rutherford, who made his First-Class debut in April 2015 against the Windward Islands, has one five-wicket haul beneath his belt and a best match haul in First-Class cricket being 8-82.

Rutherford, who is poised with power in his wrist-work batting, was at his usual best in the 2018 T10 League, representing Bengal Tigers. The tournament was the first of its kind and Rutherford

highlighted that it was a great experience for him, to play his natural game. The powerful left-handed batsman played some exquisite short arm jabs, hitting the likes of Rashid Khan with ease and grace. In his eight matches played in the T10 league that was played in Sharjah, he accumulated 195 runs at an average of 24.4 at an excessive batting strike rate of 200.

He may not have played for West Indies under 19, but having represented Guyana at the Under-19 level with Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul, the trio are on their way to achieve greatness and establish themselves as the future of West Indies cricket. Rutherford, who emphasised on the importance of playing Test cricket during the in-

terview, may be a batsman like David Warner, who began as a T20 specialist and is currently a top-ranked Test batsman.

Test cricket is the most important asset of the gentleman’s game; it tests a player’s fitness and ability to concentrate over a long period of time, playing the Regional 4-Day tournament for the Guyana Jaguars will develop Rutherford into a complete player. The year 2019 “I am looking forward for to be better than 2018”, Rutherford concluded.

Rutherford being flocked by Windies B teammates after his masterful 134* T20 century in Canada

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2019

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

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IPL a dream come true, Test cricket is still in sights – Rutherford reflects on his dreamy 2018 Page 23

GCB hails Kallicharran for making Queen’s honours list Page 20

Galaticos crowned inaugural ExxonMobil Futsal champions

Page 22 Alvin Isaac Kallicharran

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