Guyana Times - Tuesday, January 8, 2019

ExxonMobil begins drilling at Haimara-1

P12 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3798

THE BEACON OF TRUTH Tuesday, January 8, 2019

PRICE

No confidence resolution

33-seat Govt goes to Court for 34-seat "majority" declaration Page 7

Opposition MPs under surveillance – PPP Page 3

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GCAA orders Ogle Airport to halt protocol passes P12 …after Canadian security official escorted Charrandas Persaud to plane …OAI says no security breach occurred

GA-FDD warns of fake ‘Daflon 500mg’ tablets on market P11

PPP distances self from online poll for presidential P10 candidate

LGC controversy

...says Special Branch ranks stationed outside Freedom House

Wanted bulletin issued for suspects in Berbice brothers' murder

Chairman has no authority to debar Sooba – Commissioner

P9

APNU MP denies being US citizen

P14

Page 12

Bandits storm NA market vendor's home

Page 9

T&T swine flu cases

Safety provisions in place at Guyana’s ports of entry – CMO Page 10

CJIA expansion

Govt’s contract with Chinese company P13 expires ...project incomplete

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: January 8 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, January 9 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, January 8 – 05:30h-07:00h and Wednesday, January 9 – 06:00h-07:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Cloudy skies and sunny intervals will prevail throughout the day. Clear skies can be expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 20 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 05:45h and 17:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.47 metres and 2.59 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:31h and 23:57h reaching minimum heights of 0.74 metre and 0.64 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

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monDAY, JANUARY 7, 2019 DAILY MILLIONS

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PAY DAY

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SUPER PAY DAY 17

…says Special Branch ranks stationed outside Freedom House …condemns political interference in Charrandas bribery allegations probe

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Monday condemned the political interference by the ruling A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government as the Guyana Police Force investigates the allegations of bribery against former AFC parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud, who voted in favour of the PPP’s motion of no confidence against the Government.

The Party on Monday said that it welcomed an investigation if there was basis for one, providing that it was professionally conducted and was not driven by politics. It added that it had nothing to hide should such an investigation be conducted.

“However, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, said in an interview aired on NCN recently that the Prime Minister and every member of Cabinet is involved in the investigation. There is no doubt, therefore, that the investigations allegedly being carried out are heavily contaminated with and influenced by politicians and political influences,” the statement related.

Additionally, the PPP said it was cognisant of the fact that the taxpayers-funded Department of Public Information (DPI), along with other news agencies close to the APNU/AFC Government, continued to spread misleading and fabricated evidence of the bribery allegations.

Under surveillance

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Opposition Members of Parliament under surveillance – PPP

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

Meanwhile, the Party also said that its leadership and parliamentarians were under surveillance both at their homes and as they go about their business.

It called on the diplomatic and international community to remain vigilant and to continue to monitor what is transpiring in Guyana at this crucial time.

“This surveillance is being conducted by persons who are not uniformed and, therefore, we are not even sure whether they are being done by members of the law enforcement agencies of the State. Special Branch ranks now have a permanent station outside of the Party’s Freedom House, Robb Street headquarters. In the circumstances, we call upon the law enforcement agencies and the Joint Services not to succumb to political dictates and directions, but to discharge their functions faithfully, professionally and with due regard to their oath of office. At the same time, we continue to call upon on the diplomatic and international community to remain vigilant and to continue to mon-

Freedom House – PPP/C headquarters, Robb Street, Georgetown

itor what is transpiring in Guyana at this crucial time,” the PPP stated.

On December 21, 2018, Persaud delivered the yes vote in the National Assembly that led to the fall of the coalition Government when the Bharrat Jagdeo-tabled motion of no confidence was successfully passed. Ever since, Government supporters, along with the Government, have been manufacturing conspiracy theories as to what led to one of their own supporting their political rival.

Leading the speculation is that Persaud colluded with the Opposition and received financial compensation for his vote. The Government has since said that it has solid evidence of this collusion,

but, to date, has not produced any such evidence. Persaud, along with the Opposition, denied collusion. Persaud in-

dicated that he made a conscience vote for the first time in the three years that he has been an MP.

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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

Domestic violence impact

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ver time, numerous cases of domestic violence have been reported in the Guyanese media. Many were brutally killed in some instances. Unfortunately, it continues despite awareness efforts and the much-touted training of law enforcements officers who are expected to be the first step of recourse with regard to the lodging of complaints.

There is more than a subtle irony in the continuance of this societal scourge in spite of the relentless efforts and the plethora of available mechanisms to inform and educate. The problem is much larger than what appears in the news, including the social media outlets, as many cases go unreported. This, therefore, gives much credence to the appearance of an underestimated reality.

Many reasons have been made known for what can deter an abuse victim from seeking the intervention of the law. Among them, in no specific order of impact, are aspects of culture, shame, dependency and its redounding lack of empowerment for some, and the lack of confidence in law enforcement itself precipitated from the reported trivialising of the issue in some instances.

One may posit that education is a primary concern. On the other hand, one can argue that education has been more profound in recent times. Pertinent would be to ask the question if the other factors subvert the heeding of educational messaging. While the answer may be assumed, it would make for interesting and informative research.

As that is contemplated, the magnitude of the impact on children cannot be underestimated. Many have cruelly been made witnesses to the horrific assaults on their mothers and to a lesser extent, their fathers. These ghastly images, especially for some who watched as life was snuffed out, are not only lasting, but profoundly traumatising.

When young minds are so broadsided, the impact, if not managed, lingers for life. Not that it is erasable, but with meaningful and sustained interventions, the trauma can potentially be mitigated thereby aiding in better shaping of lives. The entire spectrum of what therefore constitutes counselling then becomes vital. This naturally raises the question of the availability of adequate intervening mechanisms.

While it is always heartening to hear that surviving victims and witnesses to such horrific incidents would be counselled, it would be very informative for the benefit of all to know the extent of what is available and offered. Realistically, expectations cannot be for obtains in the developed nations; however, there must be something tangible in keeping with available resources with upgrades foremost in planning.

This is not in any way suggesting that there isn’t an effective mechanism. However, counselling can be an extensive process for some depending upon the circumstances. Given the plethora of incidents that unfortunately continue and which would make added demands on the system, the question of adequacy of trained staff, needed facilities and support systems becomes more pertinent.

Not too long ago, the country had the unenviable tag of the highest rate of suicide per capita. Prior to that categorising, some aspects had made news internationally prompting a local organisation to call for suicide to be made a national priority given its impact on society and the trauma it imposes on surviving relatives.

It was stated that the declaration would not only bring additional focus, but would have positioned the issue to be afforded the necessary resources for its mitigation.

It wasn’t going to be a panacea to stop suicide, but effectively structured, it would increase the potential across the country, with the assistance of stakeholders, to maximise effectiveness of information gathering for targeted intervention. It would also increase confidence in the support system, to help break social inhibitors where necessary and to better edify.

It is no different for domestic violence. While there is a disadvantage in being unable to accurately quote figures, based on extensive research if available on the number of people lost, injure, disfigured and those scarred for life as a result of domestic violence, it must be extremely high in proportion to our population. Clearly, the highest number would be those who are left traumatised.

This, therefore, must be seen as a serious cause for concern and a compelling reason for consideration to be declared a national priority. This is an apolitical issue and is not confined to any one group, thereby making it less difficult to garner national support. In such small societies, the impact permeates throughout and away from just the families.

Children reading and learning about incidents through television and social media are in many ways impacted too, especially if one of their own is affected. In the context herein, the pervasiveness and impact of trauma cannot and must not be underestimated. The impact of road accidents must also be taken into account for too much is at stake for people and the nation.

A gentoo penguin is seen during a promotional event during an annual ice festival in the northern city of Harbin, China (Reuters/Tyrone Siu)

Khashoggi case: Saudi Arabia refuses to confirm Saud al-Qahtani’s whereabouts

… after 7 weeks of investigation, the former top aide to the Saudi Crown Prince is still missing, Washington Post reports

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audi authorities are refusing to confirm the whereabouts of Saud al-Qahtani, the former top aide to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), according to the Washington Post.

Qahtani was fired in October, just days after the gruesome murder of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi came to light.

In November, the Kingdom confirmed that he was under investigation and banned from leaving the country. Since then there has been no official statement in the case, the Washington Post reported.

Saudi Prosecutors allege that Qahtani played a major role in Khashoggi’s killing inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2 last year. He was among 17 Saudis sanctioned by the US Government over the murder.

Saudi officials say Crown Prince Mohammed was not aware of the plot to kill Khashoggi, the Washington Post reported.

The US and Western countries are watching the Saudi Government’s treatment of Qahtani as a measure of its seriousness in bringing to justice Khashoggi’s killers, the paper reported.

Ex-Saudi Crown Prince’s aide Saud al-Qahtani worked as a media adviser to MBS after serving in several positions within the royal court [Al Jazeera]

A number of questions remain to be answered about Qahtani’s involvement, including his role in planning the killing or whether he was framed.

Arab Centre of Washington Executive Director, Khalil Jahshan told Al Jazeera that Qahtani’s disappearance is a “natural progression of [Saudi Arabia’s] investigation” and is likely used as a strategy to keep MbS protected from accusations regarding Khashoggi’s murder.

“They have sheltered some of the key players accused of being involved [in the murder] whether by

Turkey or by the international community,” Jahshan said.

“The intention of the Saudi campaign right now is to keep the Crown Prince clear of any accusations with regards to the murder of Khashoggi.”

Not unexpected

Saudi human rights activist Abdulaziz Almoayyad told Al Jazeera from Ireland that his disappearance is simply “what is expected from Saudi ideology”.

Almoayyad said that non-violent Saudi dissidents who are asking for some reforms from the Government are punished with capital

punishment.

“They don’t even need to be a reformer. This is the way the government deals with different opinions, to deal with people who ask for people’s representation,” Almoayyad said, adding that the perpetrators of the murder won’t be brought to justice. “[MbS] isn’t willing to punish [the murderers]; he isn’t willing to punish his own and that will lead him to lose his power.

“In Saudi Arabia, this is a small minority that controls the people. .. Saudi people are fighting for their rights and they are imprisoned for it.

“But this small circle [of MbS] cannot be harmed.

They are super rich, super powerful and they really think they are above the law of Saudi Arabia, or international.”

Last November, the CIA concluded that MbS ordered the assassination of Khashoggi in Istanbul, a finding that contradicts Saudi Government assertions that Prince Mohammed was not involved.

US officials outside of the President expressed high confidence in the CIA assessment, according to the Washington Post. (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

Making a mockery of Guyana’s Constitution Dear Editor, The coalition Government’s vexatious and blatant disregard and violation of the Supreme Law of this Land, our Constitution, is incomparable in the current history of not only Guyana but in democratic countries throughout our civilised world. Guyanese had thought that the PNC was a full-fledged dictatorship, but the APNU/AFC is now adding a new and more destructive chapter in that era of our dark history. The PNC demitted office in 1992 but from then to 2015 it was in hibernation, cunningly awaiting the apocalypse by facilitating the birth of the Alliance for Change!

Fortunately, the Karmic Laws saved this nation from annihilation by twisting the Moses ‘no-confidence’ motion in 2015 to bring down the APNU/AFC coalition Government in 2018.

Moreover, it is also a boon to this nation, for it has now given the younger generation an opportunity to witness first-hand; the devious and destructive nature of the PNC. It is now crystal clear that there is no APNU or AFC, it is pure unadulterated PNC. The WPA has been consumed a long time ago and for the AFC, it has been a grad-

ual degradation process since May 2015, but which gained acceleration soon after the November Local Government Elections. This speedy descent was mainly due to the few unconscionable leaders of the AFC clinging on the feet of the APNU for self-preservation, luckily one thought differently. The AFC died but could only be resurrected as the PNC! This hybrid PNC is far worse than the old PNC Order since it epitomises lie, deceit, dishonesty, hypocrisy and illegality. Just before the no-confidence motion was debated, the coalition was adamant that a majority of 33 votes was needed to kill that motion, and just after the motion was successful they accepted defeat but soon afterwards rejected their own acceptance and attempted to ‘direct’ the Speaker to rescind his decision. Dr Barton Scotland was surprised by the behavior of the coalition since he said, ‘On the 21st December 2018, the Leaders of both sides of the House spoke of respect for one another and of the opportunity which the result of the vote offers both sides. It is my hope that talks will commence soon’. He went further to state in Parliament that, ‘…the requirement that the

Speaker must at all times act in full obedience to the Constitution which is the Supreme Law of Guyana.

It is the constitutionality of action which must at all times guide and direct the Speaker. The Speaker's very wide authority to reverse his ruling is not, however, one which he holds himself able to exercise without strong and compelling grounds… the Speaker on this occasion and without more, declines the invitation to act in reversal’.

This is in direct contrast to what is now being peddled to Guyanese using our scarce taxpayers’ dollars. It is conclusive that the Constitution has spoken in Articles 106 (6) and (7) and even though he made mention of the involvement of the High Court it was not with regards to the interpretation of the Constitution as it relates to the no-confidence motion but it was on the legality of “the conduct of the former Member of Parliament Mr Charrandas Persaud and the effect of that conduct on the outcome of the vote on the 21st of December, 2018”. As far as he was concerned, the vote is successfully carried in favor of the Motion and he will not reverse his decision.

However, not only the

Speaker but the coalition Government and the Courts ‘must at all times act in full obedience to the Constitution which is the Supreme Law of Guyana’.

To do otherwise is to now declare that the Government is above this Law. Article 163 (1) stated that the High Court has the exclusive jurisdiction to determine any question regarding any ‘person to be elected as a member of the National Assembly’.

However, that person, Mr Charrandas Persaud, has already been elected since over three years ago and is now no longer a member of the National Assembly.

The same Constitution 165 (2) also states ‘the presence and participation of any person not entitled to be present or to participate in the proceedings of the National Assembly shall not invalidate those proceedings’.

Therefore, Charrandas’s membership and his votes cannot now be recalled, and the law applied! Moreover, Article 160 (2) does not apply since Charrandas’s name did not appear on the PPP/ C‘s List of Candidates. The multitude of legal minds in the coalition are keenly aware of this yet they want to obscenely and illegally hold on the power.

An important provi-

Integrity is not linked to monetary reward Dear Editor, “I would rather eat salt and rice” is a phrase from my formative years that speaks to personal integrity; it is a core value of many Guyanese who refuse to give into the daily temptations.

Head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr Vincent Adams is attributed to calling for better salaries for his employees with the rationale “concerns from local and international transparency advocates that the poor salaries of EPA officers make them more susceptible to the influence of corrupt oil companies,” a section of the media on Jan 6, 2019, quoted him as saying. Dr Adams has made an egregious error with this call and I cannot see how he can continue to function in his present ca-

pacity with this or any other state agency.

The EPA Head may feel he is in good company with this call as this was the exact rationale advanced by Presidency Minister Joseph Harmon to justify the 50 per cent increase in salaries for APNU/AFC Ministers shortly after entering office in 2015, but Dr Adams should have made a closer examination of the national response to the ‘salary increase’ before he replicated that titanic error.

The salary increases have never led to decline in corruption and has in no small way led to the current willingness of the Granger Administration to defy the Constitution and refuse to signal acceptance of the successful No-Confidence

Motion, for them, the perks now outweigh the satisfaction of service.

Editor, I welcome any call for improved salaries and benefits for workers and I fully support expansion of the EPA and recognise the need to pay for better qualified and/or talented human resources. However, to link the need for better pay to personal integrity is dangerous and undermines staff morale. How much pay would be enough to stave off the advances of the multibillion dollar corporations?

This mephitic reasoning must be cut from our national psyche ‘Pay us better or we will thief’ cannot become our national ethos. Integrity is not linked to monetary reward!

Editor, the solution to the issue of corruption lies within individuals.

Leaders should not cast aspersions on integrity.

Leaders must seek to inspire by asking our young people to perform duties with integrity; to remind employees what is at stake for them personally and for our nation.

Let them know the pride we feel watching them serve and assure them that they are playing a vital role in ensuring a better future for themselves and all Guyanese. I am ashamed to say Government elements of my generation seem to have forgotten the taste of ‘salt and rice’.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

33 constitutes the majority Dear Editor, The debate about establishing a majority in the National Assembly of 65 members resulted in invoking a mathematical formula.

The formula used is: ½ (65) + 1 with rounding up (which is incorrect in this case) then add 1 to produce 34. The assumption here is that the number representing members of the National Assembly constitutes a continuous variable, which is false.

For the sake of argument, let us accept it. Half of 65 is 32.5 which is exactly half-way between the whole numbers 32 and 33. If we are rounding

to the nearest whole number among the set of whole numbers, the result is 32 and not 33 since on a continuous scale the rounding is to the even whole number.

In rounding a number that sits exactly half-way between two whole numbers rounding is to the even whole number.

This convention for rounding a number on a continuous scale is to avoid errors resulting from rounding up all the time. This methodology reduces errors inherent in rounding numbers upwards all the time. The mathematics curriculum for secondary schools in Guyana has accepted this con-

vention.

So ½ of 65 = 32.5 and to the nearest whole number is 32.

When 1 is added to 32 you have 33.

Therefore, majority is 33 out of 65.

Another approach in determining majority in the National Assembly is to recognise that data is on a nominal scale. The majority can be established in the following manner: If the composition of the National Assembly is an odd number, N, then the majority is determined by the formula below:

Majority= (N+1)/2

which is (65+1)/2=33 So, the number, 33, constitutes the majority.

On the other hand, if the composition of the National Assembly is an even number, say 64, then the following formula applies:

Majority= N/2+1 which is 64/2+1=33 Again, the number, 33, constitutes the majority.

It is worth noting that in these alternative formulae for calculation on categorical data, there is no resulting fraction.

Respectfully, Mohandatt Goolsarran

sion of our Constitution is Article 159 (2), which allows a Commonwealth citizen who is not a citizen of Guyana to vote at our General Elections once he/ she has been ‘domiciled and resident’ in Guyana for a period of more than one year before the ‘qualifying date’.

Charrandas was granted re-migrant status since 1998 so it is difficult to fathom the logic of the coalition’s argument since his dual citizenship is that of Canada, a Commonwealth country.

It must be submitted that if such a person can vote as a citizen then such a person can also become a member of the National Assembly since he is not pledging ‘allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state’. It will be more difficult to apply Article 155 (1) to a US citizen.

The continuous squan-

dering of State resources to make legal excursions and attempting to convince Guyanese that they have the Constitutional right to continue in Government after the success of the no-confidence motion must be condemned and will not result in a continuance of our hardearned democratic process.

The provisions of Article106 (7) does not give legitimacy for the Government to remain in power and carry out the normal functions of a Government but to allow the basic ‘caretaker role’ of the resigned Government to have legal effect. It is not business as usual and our Constitution must not be relegated to mockery by this illegal Government.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor Region 6

The primordial role of the sugar industry in Guyana Dear Editor, Whether or not we are inclined to admit it, we cannot deny the fact that British Guiana, now Guyana, is the progenitor of the sugar industry. In this context alone, we need to acknowledge that much respect is due to our forbearers who toiled with sweat and tears to sustain and develop the industry despite the many obstacles that arose from time to time.

Even at this stage, centuries later, it is difficult to envision a Guyana without this nodal industry and, therefore, every encourage-

ment and support should be offered to those who are charged with the responsibility of managing the industry. Talk about divestment should not be entertained unless the ‘alternative’ is patently and obviously superior. We should not risk ‘throwing away the baby with the bath-water!’

We need to re-commit ourselves to the potential of our sugar industry and to do what it takes to ensure its survival and sustainability.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

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"A

fter you finish your homework" You have probably heard your mom or dad say these words. It might seem like all the good stuff has to wait until your homework is done. There's a good reason why adults make a big deal out of homework. Homework helps you learn. And getting a good education can help you build the kind of future life that you want.

So homework is important, but how can you get it done?

First, you need a quiet place without clutter and confusion.

Writing on top of potato chip crumbs while talking on the phone is not going to help you finish your history lesson.

Turn off the TV and other distractions. You'll be better able to concentrate, which usually means you'll finish your work more quickly and it's more likely to be correct.

Set aside enough time to finish your work without rushing. You can't just squeeze your science assignment into the commercials during your favourite TV show. Really learning something takes time.

But if you find that you're struggling even after putting in the time, you'll want to ask for help.

Why do some kids need homework help?

Aside from just not understanding the lesson or assignment, kids might need homework help for other reasons. Some kids are out sick for a long time and miss a lot of

Foundation

work. Others get so busy that they don't spend enough time on homework.

Personal problems can cause trouble with your work, too. Some kids may be dealing with stuff outside of school that can make homework harder, like problems with friends or things going on at home.

Kids whose parents are going through a divorce or some other family problem often struggle with getting homework done on time.

Even students who never had a problem with homework before can start having trouble because of problems they face at home. But whatever the reason for your homework struggles, there are many ways to get help.

Who can help?

Talk to someone (parents, teachers, school counsellor, or another trusted adult) if you're having problems with schoolwork. Speak up as soon as you can, so you can get help right away before you fall behind.

Your parents are often a great place to start if you need help. They might be able to show you how to do a tough math problem or help you think of a subject to write about for English class. But they also can be helpful by finding that perfect spot in the house for you to do your homework and keeping supplies, like pencils, on hand. Parents also can cut down on distractions, like noisy younger brothers and sisters!

Teachers also are important resources for you because they can give you advice specific to the assignment you're having trouble with. They can help you set up a good system for writing down your assignments and remembering to put all the necessary books and papers in your backpack. Teachers can give you study tips and offer ideas about how to tackle homework. Helping kids learn is their job, so be sure to ask for advice!

Many schools, towns, and cities offer after-school care for kids. Often, homework help is part of the program. There, you'll be able to get some help from adults, as well as from other kids.

You also might try a local homework help line, which you would reach by phone. These services are typically staffed by teachers, older students, and other experts in school subjects.

You can also use the Internet to visit online homework help sites. These sites can direct you to good sources for research and offer tips and guidance about many academic subjects.

But be cautious about just copying information from an Internet website. This is a form of cheating, so talk with your teacher about how to use these sources properly.

Another option is a private tutor. This is a person who is paid to spend time going over schoolwork with you. If cost is a concern, this can be less expensive if a small group of kids share a tutoring session.

Do it together Some kids will hardly ever need homework help. If you're one of them, good for you! Why not use your talent to help a friend who's struggling? You might offer to study together.

Going over lessons together can actually help both of you.

Information is easy to remember when you're teaching it to someone, according to one fifth grader, who says she helps her friend, Jenny, with multiplication tables. "It helps me to learn them, too," she says.

"I practise while she's practising".

You might want to create a regular study group. You could set goals together and reward yourselves for completing your work. For example, when you finish writing your book reports, go ride your bikes together.

Looking forward to something fun can help everyone get through the work.

Still having trouble?

Sometimes even after trying all these strategies, a kid still is having trouble with homework.

It can be tough if this happens to you. But remember that everyone learns at a different pace. You might have to study for 2 hours instead of 1, or you might have to practice multiplication tables 10 times instead of 5 to really remember them.

It's important to put in as much time as you need to understand the lessons. Ask your mom or dad to help you create a schedule that allows as much time as you need.

And keep talking about

the problems you're having — tell your parents, teachers, counsellors, and others. That way, they'll see that you are

trying to get your homework done. And when it is done, make sure you find time to do something fun! (kidshealth.org)

By Nick Luxmoore

‘school’ is about getting older and wondering what’s-the-point, about a miscellany of endings and wondering whether we’ll be remembered in the future.

Of course, young people aren’t the only ones creating schools in their heads. Parents all have different ideas about what ‘school’ means, and politicians with no experience of school other than their own schooldays are forever wanting to change ‘schools’, less in response to actual research and more in response to an internalised, autobiographical ‘school’: a tyrannical, uncaring, misguided parent haunting adults since childhood and adolescence.

And it’s worth wondering why teachers choose such a difficult, poorly-paid profession in the first place? Is it, as most teachers claim, because they care about young people and enjoy interacting with them? Is it for the holidays? Or is it because ‘school’ offers an opportunity to put something right, to resolve something personal about the world, about the way things have been in the past and the way things should be in the future for anyone becoming a teacher?

It don’t mean blind loyalty to the institutions we attended with their bells and smells, concrete and glass, Latin mottos and arcane ceremonies, but loyalty to the ones in our heads. These are far more powerful, and our loyalty to them is far more problematic. Karim has to make better sense of the persecutory ‘school’ in his head if he’s ever to accept that other people won’t necessarily bend to his will, that life will always involve give-andtake, disappointment, frustration and the imperfection of love.

We start to talk about his ‘pathetic’ parents and ‘stupid’ siblings….

“At home no one ever listens,” he says, “no one ever cares! You’re not allowed to do anything! They just expect you to do what they want you to do….” (psychologytoday.com)

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ourteen-year-old Karim’s face is twisted into a scowl. “I hate school!”

“What? All schools?”

“No, just this one!”

“Because…?”

“Because no one ever listens, no one ever cares! You’re not allowed to do anything! They just expect you to do what they want you to do….”

And so he goes on. Karim’s ‘school’ sounds suspiciously like an annoying parent or a disappointing friend or a world full of frustrations.

Everyone has strong feelings about ‘school’. Everyone has stories to tell, opinions to argue, theories to propound. Yet five people talking about one particular school can sound as if they’re talking about five different schools, because the idea of ‘school’ is so personal, evoking for each one of us an experience of childhood, of parenting, of hope and disappointment, of what we’ve come to believe about ourselves and other people.

I sometimes wonder whether there’s no such thing as a school, whether ‘school’ only exists in the eye of the beholder, whether we create a school in our heads and have a relationship with that school, rather than with the one we attend every day, or walk past, or hear about on the news. Young people like Karim love school, hate school, look forward to school, worry about school, can’t wait to leave school. For them, ‘school’ is usually a metaphor for ‘mother’ or ‘father’ because the experience is so similar: the experience of being looked after, of authority and rules, of consistency and inconsistency, of rivalry and love. When young people talk about ‘school’, they’re usually referring (unconsciously) to those things. Sometimes ‘school’ means a part of themselves or it means a dilemma that they’re struggling with.

Sometimes ‘school’ can be a way of talking obliquely about death because

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tuesdAY, January 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

No-confidence resolution

33-seat Govt goes to Court for 34-seat "majority" declaration

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overnment, through Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams on Monday, filed a case in the High Court for the court to put on hold the enforcement of the no-confidence resolution, which was passed on December 21, 2018.

At the same time, Williams also applied for a conservatory order to allow for the Government to continue in office while the matter is being heard.

On the other hand, however, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has made an application in the High Court to become a party to the proceedings brought by private citizen Compton Reid.

Reid is challenging the validity of the vote of former Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandas Persaud, stating that he had falsely declared that he was a Guyanese citizen.

In the fixed-date application filed by Williams, the AG seeks relief under the Constitution by way of petitioning the court to grant several orders with House Speaker Dr Barton Scotland and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo as the named respondents.

Williams wants the court to rule on whether the Speaker’s decision on the December 21, 2018 motion was indeed carried by a majority of all elected members and whether or not the 33 to 32 breakdown means it was validly passed.

In his petition, he argued that the current total elected members of the National Assembly is 65 and the majority of members legally prescribed by Article 106 (6) of the Constitution is tantamount to an absolute majority that legally requires a vote of 34 or more.

“The ruling of the

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Speaker that the motion was purportedly carried by a majority vote of 33:32 raises concerns of serious national interest and grave and significant constitutional issues that are central to Guyana’s democracy, stability and constitutional ethos,” the petition added.

The AG said he has several grounds for the application and those include his ability to refer or state a question of law to the High Court especially in relation to this serious constitutional issue on the validity of a no-confidence vote pursuant to rule 61.03 of the Civil Procedure Rules 2016.

The Government believes there was not a

majority passage of the no-confidence motion. But the Opposition disagrees and believes that the Government is attempting to buy time in office.

Under the Constitution, on the passage of a no-confidence motion, elections must be called within three months or at a time agreed to by two-thirds of the National Assembly.

In his request for a conservatory order, Williams said it was necessary to preserve the status quo as Article 106 (7) of the Constitution requires that the President and all Ministers of the Government remain in office and hold elections within three months.

However, Williams said the period for the hearing and determination of the matter may expire before that time. As such, he believes a stay of the enforcement of the resolution is necessary in order to avoid the process being rendered insignificant. “…and in all the circumstances the applicant is satisfied that there exists an arguable case on the questions in controversy with a realistic prospect of success on the part of the Government,” the document added, noting that the

Speaker’s ruling begs for the court’s intervention.

Jagdeo’s application

Meanwhile, Jagdeo, in his application which was also filed on Monday through Attorney Anil Nandlall, said that the case put forward by Reid is aimed at nullifying the no-confidence motion and to prevent the law taking its course through the provisions outlined in the Constitution.

Further, he stated that it pointed to political issues that could have far-reaching implications for national democracy, peace, order and good governance in Guyana.

As such, he believes that filing a legal action will help to diminish the possibility of

Attorney General Basil Williams

this ever occurring.

“It is imperative that the applicant be permitted to join these proceedings not only to protect its integrity, but in order to protect and

preserve the will of a majority of the elected members who voted in favour of the said no-confidence motion,” the petition filed on behalf of Jagdeo added.

Jagdeo is expected to meet with President David Granger on Wednesday.

This meeting is coming on the heels of the governing coalition challenging the passage of the resolution of no confidence, contending that the motion needed a 34-majority vote to be approved.

This contention has been Government’s lifeline ever since Attorney Nigel Hughes, husband of Government Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, raised the argument.

8 news “Son” charged for killing soldier tuesdAY, January 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Dead: Mark Bagot

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he accused in the Philippi Village, Corentyne, Berbice murder of a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant was on Monday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Whim Magistrate’s

Court.

Kamal Matthews, also called “Son”, 26, of Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on December 23, 2018 at Philippi, Corentyne, he unlawfully killed Mark Bagot.

Matthews is being represented by Attorney Chandra Sohan. Magistrate Renita Singh adjourned the case to January 21, 2019.

In court on Monday, a large number of persons from Black Bush Polder and also from Philippi were present during the proceedings.

Bagot, a first lieutenant of the GDF, was stabbed during a confrontation over the paying for drinks. The injured man was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital, but was transferred to the

Kamal Matthews, also called “Son”

New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed to his injury. Following the stabbing, Matthews had gone into hiding. However, on Wednesday, he turned himself in accompanied by his

attorney to the Whim Police Station.

At the time of the incident, Bagot was reportedly sharing a drink with a friend at the bar when an argument ensued between the soldier and the suspect over the purchasing of Guinness.

It had been reported that the Lieutenant; his friend, popularly known as “100”; and the accused were at Chunku’s Grocery and off-licensed bar located at Philippi when an argument ensured. The incident escalated, and the suspect and the deceased reportedly began throwing bottles.

Despite attempts by persons in the bar to temper the situation, Bagot allegedly attacked Matthews who reportedly stabbed him with a knife.

Hot water incident

Student nurse on $80,000 bail for unlawful wounding

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student nurse attached to the Charles Roza School of Nursing in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) who is accused of throwing hot water on a woman was on Monday released on $80,000 bail when she appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

Denauda Williams, 20, of Lot 129 Wismar Housing

Scheme, Linden, denied the charge of unlawful wounding when she appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune. The charge stated that on January 3, 2019, she unlawfully wounded 19-year-old Shanyce Bynoe, at Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar, Linden.

Defence Attorney Yondessa Welcome, in a bail application, told the court

that her client has no previous incidents with the law.

Reports are Williams and her boyfriend were conversing at his home at Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar, when Bynoe, who is allegedly also in a relationship with the young man, went to his home.

The young man reportedly went to speak with the Virtual Complainant and

Williams, who was said to be cooking at the time, allegedly became angered.

She then reportedly took the hot water from the stove and threw it on the VC. The teen was rushed to the Linden Hospital, where she was treated for second-degree burns to her hands and chest.

The case will continue on January 22, 2019.

Linden man jailed for narco-trafficking

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32-year-old Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) man will be spending the next two years in prison af-

ter he admitted to a trafficking in narcotics charge.

Orlando Montooth, of Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden, admitted to the

charge which stated that on January 5, 2019, he had several ziplock plastic bags containing 138 grams of cannabis sativa.

Magistrate Wanda Fortune also fined Montooth $35,000 for the offence when he appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

According to the prosecution’s case, Police swooped down on Montooth’s home and unearthed the illegal substance. The prosecution’s stated that following the discovery, the man admitted to Police that he sold the prohibited substance to take care of his family.

On Monday, in a plea of mitigation, Montooth begged Magistrate Fortune for leniency, noting that he was a “family man” who farms vegetables to support his children. He said he decided to sell the cannabis to supplement his income and expressed remorse at his decision.

He further told the Magistrate that he was hoping to receive money from the sales to send his children back to school on Monday, but this had been unsuccessful since he was arrested. Asked by the presiding Magistrate what his idea of leniency was, Montooth said he is willing to pay a fine but was informed by the Magistrate that the offence carries up to five years in prison. As such, the twoyear sentence was handed down.

Where angels fear to tread…

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…Jordan rushes in our Eyewitness wouldn’t be so het up if Finance Minister Winston Jordan wanted to play Russian Roulette…Hey! Maybe he gets off with the adrenaline rush and all that! But he does have a big problem when Jordan decided to play Russian Roulette with our upcoming Oil Revenues that’re supposed to be intermediated by a “Natural Resource Fund” (NRF).

After sitting on the draft that had been passed on to him by Trotman for two years, Jordan rushed through the Bill when the Speaker had been asked to reverse the no-confidence resolution. And most germanely, the Opposition had indicated they would not be in attendance!

The Government’s own consultants from the foreign NGO “Natural Resources Governance Institute” (NRGI) had explicitly warned them at a public lecture organised by the GRA discussing the Green Paper on the NRF, that there must be “an open discussion and consensus building between the political parties to look at these rules that will be governing your money … and agree on how Guyana as a whole will be managing its money”.

The consultants were very clear as to why they recommended this move – and it wasn’t for any airy fairy ethereal reason but a very real world one: we wouldn’t want every new administration to come in and change the rules of how the Fund ought to be managed, would we? This would wreak havoc on our returns on investment and only benefit the Fund Managers who’d charge us their usual arm and a leg in management fees every time for every dot they have to insert and every “t” they have to uncross!

The consultants had also indicated that in this world of Wall Street Gordon Gecko types, there should be explicit strictures against being a “pig” and investing in highly risky investments. Like say, future swaps. As the saying goes in the world of investment, “Bulls make money, bears make money and pigs get slaughtered!!”

But there’s an even more pressing reason why Jordan shouldn’t have rushed through the legislation: as Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said, “It’s illegal!!”

Bear in mind after the no-confidence resolution was passed (and subsequently AFFIRMED) by the Speaker at the same sitting, by Article 106 (6), the President and his Cabinet (including Jordan) were explicitly mandated to RESIGN. Conceding that the GOVERNMENT had to remain in place till the elections in 90 days according to Article 106 (7), not even ordinary business – much less the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund! – should’ve been conducted without the approval of the Opposition.

And ignoring that is exactly why folks can wash their mouths on us and label us a “sh*thole” country. …Nagamootoo rushes in Never let it never be said your Eyewitness doesn’t give Moses Nagamootoo credit: the man takes his job VERY seriously. He’s never missed his column in the Chronic!! This week, he purported to explain what the Speaker said in the National Assembly. Your Eyewitness isn’t sure why he did that – to fill column inches?! – since the Speaker was pellucid: he wasn’t reversing the no-confidence motion, which had been transmuted into a binding resolution!!

Anyhow, as usual, Nagamootoo maudlinly reminisced about his “high school days”, to offer his perspective on what his MP Charrandas’ vote meant to him. He compared CP’s action to Guy Fawkes’ 1605 “Gunpowder Plot” to blow up the House of Lords and kill James I and bring down his government. But clearly, Nagamootoo was a very poor student, since James’ Government discovered the plot and the explosion was stillborn.

Unlike, of course, Charrandas’!!

But your Eyewitness wonders if Nagamootoo read about Quisling?

The Norwegian who cooperated with the Nazis to exterminate the Jews and whose name is now synonymous with “traitor”? …Ramjattan and Nagamootoo rush in Have you noticed, Dear Reader, it’s Ramjattan and Nagamootoo who’ve been taking the lead in defending the Government’s desperate rear guard battle to remain in power??

It’s not easy contemplating Bush Rum again, after you’ve tasted Chivas!!

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

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tuesdAY, January 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bandits storm NA market vendor’s home

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New Amsterdam, Berbice market vendor was on Sunday night robbed at gunpoint by five bandits who entered her Glasgow New Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam home.

Wilma Alexander was at home with her three daughters when the bandits stuck.

Reports are about 01:45h, the vendor heard someone walking in her Lot 1312 Glasgow home, but thought it was one of her children.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the vendor said that she kept looking at the clock

Wilma Alexander’s Glasgow New Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam home

LGC controversy

Chairman has no authority to debar Sooba – Commissioner ...claims some Commissioners seeking to cover up wrongdoings

Commissioner Carol Sooba

Commissioner Clinton Collymore

LGC Chairman Mortimer Mingo

he Chairman of the Local Government Commission (LGC), Mortimer Mingo, has no authority to remove Commissioners from committee meetings since the Commission is a constitutional body.

This is according to LGC Commissioner Clinton Collymore, who spoke to Guyana Times on Monday in the wake of a fellow Commissioner, Carol Sooba being barred from attending deliberations on City Hall’s Commission of Inquiry (CoI) findings.

Collymore pointed out that based on legal advice provided, Mingo unlawfully acted outside of his capacity and they intended to address this matter at the next meeting.

“We’re going to raise the matter again when we have another meeting, because they intend to pursue this matter. We have gotten legal advice and we were told that the Chairman doesn’t have that authority and the Local Government Commission doesn’t have the authority to expel a member because it is a constitutional body,” said Collymore.

He opined that Sooba was experienced in the Mayor and City Council’s operations and the LGC was allegedly attempting a cover-up. He also hinted that

this outcome was linked to a political card, played by the Chairman to dissolve some of the recommendations in the report.

“There are other reasons for this. One of the reasons is that she was at the municipality for a very long time and she has some institutional knowledge as to what is going on and they don’t want that exposed.”

Sooba confirmed that she was asked to recuse herself from a particular meeting where those discussions would be convened. She was told afterwards that she could not sit on the meeting to discuss other matters upon the insistence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman Andrew Garnet.

In this regard, Collymore stated, “The Commission agreed to recuse her from her matter, but in the interim, it seems as though the Chairman got other advice.

He is saying that she has to recuse herself from the entire Commission.”

When contacted for an invited comment on Saturday, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall also condemned these actions, positing that the CoI would have compiled the findings and the LGC was only responsible for implementing the report. While rejecting the decision to prevent Sooba from sitting at the meet-

ings, the Attorney posited that her presence was essential to her appointment as a Commissioner.

“I reject such a notion, because the Local Government Commission is simply engaged in considering the report and possibly, to recommend or implement these recommendations.

The Commission is not making any findings. Those findings have already been made by the CoI. I cannot imagine how Sooba’s presence can influence or prejudice,” said Nandlall.

“On what basis are you excluding her? The report is already completed. What is going on now is examining the report to determine its implementation.

As a duly appointed member of the Commission, if the Commission was assigned that responsibility, then she must play a part,” he was quoted as saying.

Disciplinary measures were recommended for senior staffers of the Mayor and City Council with the Town Clerk, Royston King as the chief for gross misconduct. Some of the officers are expected to appear before the Commission next Wednesday.

Efforts by this publication to contact the Chairman proved futile, since he was not in office and his phone was unreachable.

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since she had to get up around 02:00h to get ready to go make her purchases at the market.

“The next thing I saw the door was opened… one guy came in first into the children’s room and then another one followed and then another one and when I saw the third one, I realised that they had guns. Then I realised that it was not the children walking, it is a robbery.”

She said that the men gained entry by removing five louver panes from a window. Alexander related that one of the gunmen pointed a gun at her and demanded cash and jewellery. She said another entered her room and started searching for valuables.

Meanwhile, the three others were in and out of her children’s rooms.

“I pulled out the purse and told him that this is all the money that I have. Told him that I don’t have gold and he told me to take off the ring on my finger. So I took off my wedding band and gave him and another ring I was wearing.”

She said the bandit who collected the purse from her opened it and informed the others that there was enough for each of them to get more than $10,000 each.

The shaken woman said that the man who had the

The window the bandits used to gain entry into the home

gun was about to leave her room, but suddenly turned around and demanded more money. She said that he told her to lift her mattress.

Under the mattress, the woman said, she had a $100 and he took it.

She said the men escaped with a quantity of jewellery, over $60,000, a laptop computer, an electronic tablet, cellular phones and a bastard bird valued at over $150,000.

The 36-year-old woman explained that one of the bandits who was on her veranda noticed that her neighbour was awake and alerted the others.

“My neighbour tell me afterwards that she did not know that anything was going on, but she got up because she was feeling hot and she opened the window and raised up the curtain and went back under the

net.”

However, the gunmen thought the woman saw them and one of them picked up a bottle and threw it at her window causing three louvers to break. The men then escaped on foot.

Alexander told this publication that there was need for street lights in the area, pointing out that while she has lights in her yard, it only extends to the road in front of her premises.

She also noted that heavy vegetation has taken over some lots at Glasgow New Housing Scheme and was urging the owners and regional authorities to clear the area.

The distraught woman said that a Police outpost in the area would be meaningful to residents, adding that Central Police Station and also the Sisters Police Station were far away.

10 news

tuesdAY, January 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

T&T swine flu cases

Safety provisions in place at Guyana’s ports of entry – CMO

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mid the upsurge of H1N1 cases in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, which has caused some worry to Guyanese, Chief Medical Officer of the Public Health Ministry, Dr Shamdeo Persaud has advised that the situation was under control, with provisions already in place at arrival ports to monitor passenger activities.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, Dr Persaud enunciated that ferry docks and arrival terminals at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and Eugene F Correia International Airport are equipped with a framework which is expected to be implemented for all passengers. This includes the flight declaration being appraised to indicate if such cases enter the country.

“We continue to maintain our port health require-

ment for all arriving flights and vessels. A person must do the general flight declaration which would give us a fair idea as to any sick person is coming in. Port health department would usually document those cases and follow them up, so those provisions are in place,” said the CMO. At present, there have not been any reported cases of the virus in Guyana.

However, protocols have been established since the last occurrence, to test and treat patients whose conditions are conclusive.

“So far, we haven’t had any positive cases detected here in the last two years…

We had H1N1 here before, during the outbreak from Mexico. We have the techniques for sampling and testing for all severe respiratory infection and there are provisions here for protocols for treatment,” the

Dr Shamdeo Persaud

CMO stated.

As of recent, Trinidad and Tobago reported a minimum of 10 cases of the virus, which is commonly known as swine flu.

This confirmation came from the country’s Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh according to a local news agency. He noted that out of the 75,000 H1N1 vaccines available, 14,500

people have been inoculated in the past few weeks.

With the Carnival season soon to approach, the twin-island republic has decided that tourists must acquire the H1N1 vaccine in their respective countries before entering Trinidad. As it relates to citizens, these shots are provided free of cost at health centres.

As it relates to Guyana, the virus was detected back in 2015.

At that time, Dr Persaud confirmed that the person who had the virus was being treated. Measures were also taken to vaccinate doctors and other medical personnel who were treating the sick man.

Initial reports were that the man had travelled from China to Guyana via the United States, but in-transited briefly in Trinidad.

After falling ill, he was admitted to a private city

hospital where he remained for over two weeks before being flown to the USA. During that period, blood samples were sent to neighbouring Trinidad for testing.

Those results were returned to Guyana with confirmation that the man had indeed contracted the deadly virus.

Former Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton was quoted in the media as saying that Guyana has the ability to detect and manage the virus. He had said that while Guyana could not prevent the virus from spreading to its shores, the

two main ports of entry – Cheddi Jagan and Ogle International Airports – are on the alert and staff members were mandated to report anyone who showed symptoms of the disease.

By that time, Trinidad had confirmed a total of 42 cases with four deaths as a result of the virus.

Among the symptoms for H1N1 are chills, fever, coughing, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, and diarrhoea. This flu can also lead to more serious problems, including pneumonia – a lung infection – and other breathing problems.

PPP distances self from online poll for presidential candidate

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s Guyanese gear up to head to elections before 2020, an online poll has surfaced on social media allowing users to select their choice for the presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

However, the Party’s executives have dismissed this latest development even questioning whether or not it could be mischievous in nature. This comes with the recent passage of an Opposition-filed no-confidence motion, which meant that the PPP had to fast track its selection process for a presidential candidate since elections will have to be called in 90 days as mandated by the Constitution of Guyana.

As the PPP’s Executive Committee of 35 members selects one eligible leader, the poll attributed to ‘Guyana Independent Voices’ appeared, but the PPP’s Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha told

Guyana Times on Monday that his party has not signed off on any poll.

“The Party has not put out any poll and has not sanctioned any poll ... that will not influence the Party,” Mustapha asserted.

The poll included the pictures and names of proposed front-runners such as former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Dr

PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha

Vindyha Persaud, Dr Frank Anthony and Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira.

Now that one week has passed since the selection process for a new candidate started, Mustapha advised that the poll would not affect the overall process that the Party has to follow.

“How that will influence anything in the process? We

have an established process that started in 2011 and that is what we will follow all the time and we didn’t have a poll in 2011, and I don’t know who put up that poll – if it’s anybody who wants to create mischief, or they want to fragment candidates and leaders in the Party,” he stated.

Mustapha insisted that there was no fragmentation within the PPP’s top ranks.

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tuesdAY, January 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GA-FDD warns of fake ‘Daflon 500mg’ tablets on market …urges importers, distributors to surrender all counterfeit products

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he Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) on Monday issued a warning that Daflon 500mg tablets are being counterfeited and circulated on the local market.

According to the Department, the Daflon (micronised purified flavonoid fraction) is used to treat patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) – varicose vein and venous circulation disorders such as swollen legs, pain, early morning restless legs and symptoms associated with acute haemorrhage.

The GA-FDD pointed out that the “Counterfeited/

fake Daflon are unable to achieve therapeutic effect for intended use because flavonoid are poorly micronised resulting in particle size greater than 2 micrometres resulting in poor stomach absorption.”

Consumers are being implored by the Head of the Department, Marlon Cole, to return the product to wholesalers and retailers and be refunded, and to report to the GA-FDD on telephone number 222-8859, any proprietor who refuses to cooperate with this mandatory recall exercise.

While the original pills are sold in a white box with blue borders and contains sixty 500mg tablets that are

GWI Board approves “Knowledge Tools Unit” to improve efficiency

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he Guyana Water Inc (GWI) is moving away from traditional means of gathering information regarding system defects as its Board recently approved the establishment of a “Knowledge Tools Unit” that is geared at improving efficiency using technology. The disclosure comes against the corporation’s projected earnings of $5.8 billion in 2019.

G W I ’ s top management indicated that the unit will implement policies surrounding the authority’s usage of technological equipment. It was explained that the Knowledge Tools Unit will provide information on how the body can use technological tools to improve efficiency in the administrative, financial and technical departments.

One of these advancements already reported on was the GWI’s intent to the increase its fleet by 15,000

smart meters during this year. The body’s Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles, outlined that GWI will continue to utilise electronic loggers which give instantaneous data on when water pumps suffer mechanical failures.

He explained that previously, field staff were required to physically check to see when the pumps are damaged.

However, this can be done electronically. In fact, it was revealed that the directors can now access the information on their mobile phones and laptop computers.

These measures are geared to reduce the loss that GWI said it encountered in 2018. It was, however, able to secure over $4 billion in revenue last year which was a 10 per cent increase from 2017. The GWI Board is headed by former Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green.

Minibus driver to face Judge, jury over rape of 14-year-old girl

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fter being charged in October of 2018 for the rape of a 14-year-old schoolgirl, 41-year-old minibus operator Sherwayne Brant, also known as “Brave”, was on Monday committed to stand in the High Court

by Georgetown Magistrate Faith McGusty.

Magistrate McGusty, in handing down her ruling, said that a prima facie case has been made out against Brant.

The minibus driver was charged for engaging in sexual penetration with a

child under the age of 16 at Plum Park, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on October 7, 2015.

During the Preliminary Inquiry, the prosecution had contended that the teen was a regular passenger in the minibus the accused operated. According to the prosecution, on October 7, 2015, the teen was the lone traveller in the bus when Brant drove the bus to Plum Park, where he committed the act. The teen later told her parents about the incident and a report was made to Police.

The fake Daflon tablets are seen on the left side of this image, while the original product is displayed on the right side of the photo

further divided on four silver blister packs, each containing fifteen tablets, the counterfeited/fake product is sold in a white box with no border and contains sixty 500mg tablets that are further divided on six silver with blue blister packs, each containing ten tablets.

The original product has a manufacturers’ address of France while the fake product bears a Turkey/ Ukraine manufacturers’ address.

The Food and Drug Department, while stating that criminal proceedings would be instituted against the importers of the fake or

counterfeited product, said the official distributors of the original product are Massy Distributors Inc and ANSA McAL Trading Ltd. To date, the department noted that it has seized about “twenty-four boxes x 60 tablets x 500mg of the counterfeited/fake prod-

uct from several wholesaler bonds and retail pharmacies in Georgetown and in Region Three.”

The GA-FDD is now urging importers and distributors to “surrender” all of the counterfeited product immediately, or face legal proceedings.

The department is calling on importers and distributors to - with immediate effect - surrender all the fake/ counterfeited Daflon associated with the mandatory recall to be destroyed. Failure to do same will leave the department with no alternative but to initiate legal proceedings against defaulters.

Last September the GAFDD urged consumers to make complaints against unauthentic products sold to them.

The caution was issued by the Director of the Department, during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times.

12 news

tuesdAY, January 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GCAA orders Ogle Airport to halt protocol passes

…after Canadian security official escorted Charrandas Persaud to plane …OAI says no security breach occurred

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he Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has ordered that the Eugene F Correia International Airport stop issuing protocol passes after former parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud was escorted by a Canadian Embassy security officer to a Barbadosbound plane after he voted against the Government in the December 21, 2018 no-confidence motion.

Reports are Persaud, who had expressed fear for his life after having voted against the Government, had contacted the Canadian embassy for assistance. Persaud, a Canadian citizen, was subsequently granted security assistance to the Eugene F International Airport where he boarded a plane bound for Barbados and subsequently went onto Canada.

On Monday, Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) said that it has not breached any security protocols at the Eugene F Correia International Airport as was erroneously reported in the state media.

According to the entity, in the administration of the airport, it is instructed and guided by its Airport Operations Manual approved

by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

The OAI stated that Charrandas Persaud was a passenger on LIAT flight #LI 392 which departed the Eugene F Correia International Airport at 06:17h on December 22, 2018.

The airport authority stated that Persaud’s escorts were Mission Security Officer of the High Commission of Canada, Richard Beliveau and Peter Ramsaroop.

According to the OAI, Beliveau presented himself and his Ministry of Foreign Affairs ID Card to the airport duty officer and requested a pass to accompany a passenger to the aircraft. The OAI stated that Peter Ramsaroop also requested a pass saying he was part of Beliveau’s party. The Airport Duty Officer, in accor-

dance with an established courtesy practice, as is requested to be extended to diplomatic personnel by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, granted a Protocol pass to both persons. The passes were duly returned in exchange for their respective ID documents on their departure from the airport.

“Both Mr Beliveau and Mr Ramsaroop as well as Mr Charrandas Persaud, were subjected to full and complete screening before entering the departure lounge in accordance with the requirements of the Aviation Security Programme approved by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority,” OAI stated on Monday.

Meanwhile, Ramsaroop has since said that he only accompanied the former AFC member since he was fearful for his life.

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

After voting in favour of the no-confidence motion, Persaud’s life was threatened twice; he was hit by both colleagues flanking him as well as received many explicit comments within a five-minute period.

This was all done while the National Assembly broadcasted the sitting live on its website. The video which is up on the Parliament website showing clearly what transpired. Persaud received the hostile treatment from his colleagues after he voted his conscience and sided with the Opposition’s motion.

During the final part of the 03h:51m:04s video, during the second part of the debate, when Persaud delivered his first “yes”, all hell broke loose. He received the first punch on his left arm, at 03h:33m:04s in the video, by an APNU MP who insisted that Persaud “can’t vote against the Government.” This was followed by a series of expletives by the same MP and surprisingly Persaud received another punch from another APNU MP at 03h:32m:28s in the video.

Then came the issue of death threats to Persaud. If one listens to the video, you will find that at 03h: 33m:

04s and 03h: 35m: 35s in the video, he receives the threats “Charrandas you gon dead tonight” and “Charrandas you want dead tonight” respectively. It sounded as though the threats came from a female MP on the Government side of the benches.

Despite being accused of being a traitor, Persaud maintained that it was a vote of conscience since he is disappointed in the direction his party is heading. He pointed to the recent statements made by People’s National Congress (PNC) Chairperson Volda Lawrence during which she indicated that she only has friends in the PNC and jobs will be made available for them. That statement, he said, infuriated him, prompting him to write a letter to the AFC’s Executive to make a statement but the party’s leader Raphael Trotman came out in her defence after which she apologised.

Wanted bulletin issued for suspects in Berbice brothers’ murder

Wanted: Yougendra Jeenarine

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he Guyana Police Force on Monday issued wanted bulletins for 28-year-old Yougendra Jeenarine of Lot 439 Bush Lot, Corentyne, Berbice and his 32-year-old accomplice, Kelvin Shivgobin of Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice, in connection with the murder of two brothers, Harricharran and Premcharran Samaroo, both of Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, on December 31, 2018.

It was reported that the two men, 46-yearold Premcharran, and Harricharran, 45, were killed by bandits on Old Year’s night during the course of a robbery.

About 20:30h on Old Year’s night, the duo were at their mother’s home cel-

Wanted: Kelvin Shivgobin

as a squib, but the brothers thought it was too loud and too close and decided to investigate. As Premcharran walked from under the house, he was shot to the head and fell, dying seconds later.

Harricharran, who also went to investigate, was beaten by the bandits and later succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Port Mourant Hospital.

Persons with any relevant information that will lead to the arrest of Yougendra

Dead: Premcharran Samaroo

Dead: Harricharran Samaroo

ebrating with a cousin who was visiting from the United States when bandits pounced on them.

Reports are a loud explosion was heard, which some family members dismissed

Jeenarine and Kelvin Shivgobin are kindly asked to contact the Police on 6640181, 623-3012, 648-2323, 333-3876, 333-2485, 3335564, 333-2151-3, 911 or at the nearest police station.

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tuesdAY, January 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Vreed-en-Hoop businesses call for NDC to clear garbage pile-up

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or several weeks, garbage has been piling up at the Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD) junction, affecting not only commuters, customers and drivers, but businesses in the area as well.

Infuriated business owners on Monday reached out to Guyana Times to share their concerns. While calling out the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for not clearing the area of the garbage, nearby business owners decried the situation since flies and fumes are affecting their food and clothing businesses.

An employee at a clothing business in the vicinity complained that other business persons in the area would usually dump their garbage at the junction; a trend which would usually be followed by school children as well as other commuters who wait at the junction for transportation.

Another concerned businesswoman complained that minibus drivers also throw their garbage near businesses and the NDC does nothing to eradicate the littering trend.

“It’s just there and it just keeps piling up. I’ve never seen anybody clear it up unless we pay people to do it and we are all paying taxes for this,” she related.

Meanwhile a business owner noted, “Guys or people at the bus stop would usually drink their beers and their drinks and leave it at our shed and the girls who are employed here would have to clean it”.

The entrepreneur said she would like the officials at the NDC to focus on the garbage pile-up in that area and place bins to avoid the issue or even ‘litter-free zones’ to raise some form of awareness.

Another business owner said that customers usually leave the

A section of the garbage pile on the Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara junction

business and other people do not visit the store when they see the huge piles of waste. It is because of this that she is forced to use her profits to do the work of the NDC. “If they have to park there to come out of the vehicle to walk there, many people wouldn’t want to do it because to walk on the walkway we have to walk on garbage, so if it’s cleaned it gonna be a really really good idea and it’s going to benefit not just us but the country,” she added.

The stand of a vendor in the area who sells nuts was being swarmed by flies.

“We glad fuh them come and get this place cleaned up,” he said, adding that food vendors in the area are expected to have a meeting soon to discuss the worrying trend.

He too said many times businesses bear the expenses of having the area cleaned up.

CANU to tighten airport security, Govt’s contract with Chinese company expires heighten searches CJIA expansion

…project incomplete

Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson

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espite Government’s budgetary request of $346.5 million in supplementary funds towards the purchase and installation of two additional air bridges for the Cheddi

Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, Guyana secured a US$138 million loan from the China Exim (Export-Import) Bank to fund the expansion and modernisation project, for which the Guyana Government has injected some US$12 million. However, when the coalition Government came in to power in 2015, the project was put on hold, but after discussions between Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and CHEC, it was later announced that the project would be continued.

Minister Ferguson told the media that additional works are still to be carried out on the multi-billion Guyana dollar facility.

“There are additional works to be done and those works are still being conducted,” she said.

The Minister, who has re-

er, among other aspects. She had also explained that the new technology will assist pilots in tracking the weather patterns to make better landing decisions as the airport was making the transition from manual to digital. This $65 million was in addition to the $346 million which had been sought earlier in 2018.

Upon completion, the airport is expected to have four air passenger boarding bridges for arrivals and departures; a 450-seat Departure area, escalators and elevators in addition to an extended runway catering for larger categories of aircraft. However, the extension of works into 2019 comes in disparity to an earlier commitment by Government where it committed that the works associated with the expansion would have been completed

An artist’s impression of the expanded airport at Timehri

Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in April last year, taxpayers are slated to hand out even more funds as the project remains in an incomplete state.

In a recent interview, Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson said that the contract with the Chinese Company, China Harbour Engineering (CHEC), came to an end on December 31, 2018.

In 2012, under the People’s Progressive

sponsibility for the Aviation Sector, did not elaborate on what the exact aspects of the works were and neither did she give a deferred end date regarding a stipulated timeframe in which the project would finally see completion.

“I cannot say at this point in time,” Ferguson stressed.

In mid-December 2018, Minister Ferguson had revealed that $65 million was approved to be spent on the airport’s upgrade of its technology which was geared to be able to track the weath-

by the last quarter of 2018.

Initially, the project was scheduled to be completed within 32 months of its commencement in 2013.

Later on, officials were optimistic of the project being completed by 2017. The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), which when in Opposition, had cut the funds the then Government – People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – had allocated for the CJIA expansion.

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s a result of the large number of persons in 2018 who managed to sneak past local airport security with illegal drugs and were only busted upon arrival at the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport in the United States and other airports, the Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has said that plans are in the pipeline to boost detection and searches at local airports.

The head of the narcotics unit, Michael Atherly told this newspaper during an interview on Monday that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Eugene F Correia International Airport needed new technology to be able to better detect illicit drugs.

“We shouldn’t allow any (illegal drugs) to pass, but that’s not possible. Some will slip through because our methods are in need of updating and improving to better technology and so on,” Atherly noted.

He added that he was hopeful for budgetary allocations this year to tackle this ongoing issue.

The Director acknowledged that there have been at least three such breaches in the past four months, which, according to him, was not alarming.

He, however, revealed that plans were in place to have improved searches conducted at local airports.

“We do plan to improve our search methods and so on,” the official explained while noting that he does not wish to disclose the plans in detail. The Director would only say that all avenues for improvement are being explored to improve screening and searching for illegal drugs.

In October last year, <<<Guyana Times>>> reported that two Guyanese were facing drug trafficking

CANU Head Michael Atherly

charges after they were separately busted at the JFK Airport in New York, US with cocaine.

Guyanese business owner Luke Kendall was nabbed with cocaine pellets in his stomach upon his arrival on September 20, 2018, in the United States.

According to reports, Kendall arrived on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana, and was subjected to a routine search by immigration agents at the airport.

However, when the man was asked by the agents to provide names and contact numbers for the persons he was visiting, those persons indicated that they had no idea Kendall was visiting.

By this time, the ranks ordered the man to undergo an X-ray examination after which it was revealed that he had ingested cocaine pellets.

Further examinations showed that the drug mule had more than 200 pellets containing the illegal drug, which he swallowed. He later admitted to swallowing more than three pounds of the substance.

Kendall was charged and arraigned with the offence on September 24, 2018, before Magistrate Steven Tiscione.

Meanwhile, a young mother of Ituni, Upper Demerara River, faced similar drug trafficking charges

after she was apprehended at JFK with some 200 cocaine pellets in her stomach.

The woman, Odessa Edmondson, who was travelling with her baby, was intercepted by US Customs and Border agents.

Agents observed Edmondson perspiring and acting in a suspicious manner which led them to question her further. It was then that the young woman reportedly admitted to ingesting the pellets, revealing that she was going to be paid some US$6000 to smuggle the drugs into the United States.

Kurt and Maria Bruney, who are also Guyanese, were also nabbed in similar circumstances when they were both busted by US Customs and Border officers at the JFK Airport. The couple allegedly attempted to smuggle hundreds of cocaine pellets into the US, after arriving in New York on a flight from Guyana on September 23.

The East Coast Demerara couple both cumulatively had well over 200 cocaine pellets in their systems, with the contents of an excreted pellet testing positive for cocaine.

Reports indicate that a sum of US$6000 was promised for his efforts, which was a similar amount to that of the suspected Linden mule.

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tuesdAY, January 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

ExxonMobil begins drilling at Haimara-1

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xxonMobil Monday announced that it has begun drilling one of the two wells planned for January, known as the Haimara-1.

In a release on Business Wire, the oil giant confirmed it has begun drilling the offshore well.

The well is being drilled by the Stena Carron Drillship and is located 19 miles (31 kilometres) east of the Pluma-1 discovery in the southeast Stabroek Block.

In the online release, ExxonMobil President Steve Greenlee said of the company, “We continue to prioritise high-potential prospects in close proximity to previous discoveries in order to establish opportunities for material and efficient development.”

He added, like the Liza and Payara areas, “the

1 development, which has moved into its peak execution phase ahead of an expected startup in early 2020.

It was noted that the Noble Bob Douglas Drillship is continuing the drilling of development wells in the Liza field. Subsea equipment is also being prepared for installation while topside facilities modules are being installed on the Liza Destiny floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) ves-

Ltd (EEPGL) commenced drilling at the Liza Field on January 5, 2019, and will continue until June 30, 2019.

“The drill site is approximately 104 nautical miles from the coast of Guyana and covers an area of 16 square kilometres,” the notice stated.

Mariners were requested to “steer clear” and to “navigate with caution when in the vicinity.”

Govt MP denies being US citizen

The Stena Carron Drillship

Turbot area is on its way to offering significant development options that will maximise value for Guyana and our partners.”

Meanwhile, the Noble Tom Madden Drillship is also expected to drill the

sel in Singapore.

The Liza Destiny FPSO is expected to sail from Singapore to arrive offshore Guyana in the third quarter of 2019.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) issued a notice to all mariners, informing them that Esso Exploration and Production Guyana

second well, Tilapia-1, located about three miles west of the Longtail-1 discovery.

The Tilapia-1 well is located in the growing Turbot area.

The oil giant has also been making significant progress in the Liza Phase

Migrant support centre to be established in Region 2

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he National MultiSectoral Coordinating Committee on Monday convened its first meeting for 2019 during which it was announced that a two-storey building has been identified by the Regional Administration in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) which will serve as a support centre for Venezuelan migrants in that area.

According to the Public Information Press Services Unit of the Presidency Ministry, once set up, migrants will have access to a wide range of support services, inclusive of documentation and immunisation assistance at one convenient location. Some minor rehabilitation works are slated to be carried out on the building with funding from the

International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Meanwhile, Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix informed that his Department and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be conducting a joint operation at Eteringbang and surrounding communities in the Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) to address a number of issues that have been brought to his attention, including the immunisation and documentation of migrants.

The Minister has since tasked the GPF with the responsibility of ensuring that all boats ferrying passengers to Region Two from Venezuela report to immigration authorities, who will be located at a central point along the Pomeroon River

so that the migrants can be properly screened and processed before they disembark at various landings.

The number of documented Venezuelan migrants in Guyana stands at about 3,868.

Following calls by Region One Chairman Brentnol Ashley for Government and donor agencies to provide more assistance to Venezuelan refugees, the Administration signaled its intention to construct several facilities to respond to the Venezuelan influx.

A number of local businesses and Guyanese have provided food and clothing to the refugees.

Venezuelan refugees have been fleeing the economic and political turmoil in the Spanish-speaking country.

MP Barbara Pilgrim as she took her oath of office

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arbara Patricia Pilgrim, the new Member of Parliament who replaced Charrandas Persaud after his expulsion from his Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentary seat due to his December 21, 2018, conscience vote, has denied being a citizen of the United States.

Pilgrim, in a letter to Guyana Times, drafted by former PNCR leader, Robert Corbin, said “I am a born Guyanese citizen and the holder of a Guyana passport.

I have never been a citizen of any other country and have never held a passport of any other country.”

Her denial comes one day after well-placed sources within the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) told this publication that the Parliamentarian’s residency ties to the US. Pilgrim took the oath as a MP during the 112th sitting of the 11th Parliament on Thursday last.

When contracted, Government Chief Whip Amna Ally said she is unaware of Pilgrim’s citizenship status. “I wouldn’t know, I am not working for the US Embassy,” Ally told this newspaper.

The MP is a former teacher, co-op officer and a community development officer.

In the National Assembly,

she represents Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on the basis of geographical representation.

On December 21, the No-confidence Motion brought by the parliamentary Opposition People’s Progressive Party against the Government succeeded when Persaud, who has since left the jurisdiction, broke ranks and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.

With the Government’s defeat, the next steps are spelt out in the Constitution of Guyana. Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

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

Since the passage of the motion, however, persons

aligned with the coalition party have sought to question the motion’s validity even as the vote has already been certified. Attorney General Basil Williams has also argued that Persaud, as a dual citizen of Canada, was disqualified from voting.

This argument formed part of the opinions presented to Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland in the hopes that he would reverse the ruling. On Thursday last, the Speaker refused to do so.

With the Speaker refusing to reverse his ruling, a court case was filed on Friday, in which an order is being sought to, among other things, delay the elections until the court rules on the matter.

In a section of the affidavit, submitted to the High Court, it is stated that an application is being made for a declaration from the court that Persaud is not qualified as a member of the National Assembly.

According to the document filed, Persaud “…by virtue of his own act and acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience and adherence to a foreign power to wit, the Sovereign State of Canada, in contravention of Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Guyana”.

Compton Herbert Reid, the private citizen who filed the legal challenge is arguing that the former MP’s vote was null and void.

Attorney Rex McKay filed the challenge on behalf of Reid while the respondents are listed as Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, Charrandas Persaud and Attorney General Basil Williams.

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tuesdAY, January 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Venezuela’s PDVSA in oil deal with firm North Korea’s Kim Jong-un visits China part-owned by Florida Republican

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enezuelan state oil firm PDVSA [PDVSA. UL] has signed a deal with little-known US energy firm Erepla, partly owned by a prominent Florida Republican, to help increase the socialist-run country’s plummeting crude oil output, the company said.

Erepla Services LLC, with an undisclosed stake held by Republican Harry Sargeant III and which Delaware state records show was only registered in November, said it plans to invest up to $500 million to increase production at three Venezuelan oil fields in exchange for a portion of the crude produced.

Sargeant and Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., known as PDVSA have clashed in the past. Between 2006 and 2008, PDVSA was awarded $52 million after a company partly owned by Sargeant was accused of not paying for several crude shipments in 2002 and 2003, court records show.

The new arrangement faces significant hurdles, including obtaining an exemption from Trump administration sanctions that block U.S. companies from providing financing to the govern-

ment of President Nicolas Maduro or Venezuelan state firms.

It is a further sign that Venezuela is tapping inexperienced firms to stem massive declines in crude output as more established oil companies steer clear of the troubled country due to concerns about USsanctions and overall dysfunction.

Erepla said the agreement will “revitalize oil production” at the Tia Juana Lago and Rosa Mediano fields in the western Lake Maracaibo region and in the Ayacucho 5 bloc, in the eastern heavy-oil Orinoco Belt.

The company added that the deal gives it “enhanced managerial participation” in the projects and will be responsible for procurement, a key difference from long-established joint ventures between PDVSA and oil majors like Chevron Corp (CVX.N), where PDVSA has full operational control.

Erepla said it would be “responsible for the entirety of the investment.” A spokesman declined to elaborate on how it would raise the funds.

Neither PDVSA nor the Oil Ministry responded to

requests for comment.

The Erepla spokesman said Sargeant, who has served as finance chairman of the Florida Republican Party and runs asphalt trading and shipping firm Global Oil Management Group, owns a stake in Erepla, but declined to reveal the percentage.

The deal is the first new partnership between PDVSA and a private company since Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo in August announced a set of “joint service agreements” with 14 little-known companies that did not appear to have experience operating oilfields and PDVSA. Those contracts were similar to ones rolled back under late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, who expanded the state’s role in the OPEC country’s energy industry.

Output has continued to stagnate since the deals were signed, dropping to 1.46 million barrels per day in November from more than 2 million at the end of last year, according to OPEC figures, in a sign of the company’s struggles under military rule. (Reuters)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is visiting China with his wife Ri Sol-ju, State media report

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orth Korean leader Kim Jong-un is visiting China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korea’s state media has confirmed.

The news follows speculation earlier on Monday that Mr Kim was possibly on his way to China by train.

Kim will be in the country 7-10 January with his wife Ri Sol-ju, North Korean news agency KCNA said.

It comes amid reports of negotiations for a second

Firefighter fatally falls from bridge trying to save car crash victims

Kamla challenges PM to national debate

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar addresses members of the media during the press conference at the Couva South Constituency Office yesterday. Listening, from left, MP’s Chief Whip David Lee, Rodney Charles and Dr Tim Goopsseingh

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fter describing Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s message to the nation as the plot from the book How to Lie with Statistics, Opposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar challenged her political nemesis to a public debate.

It was at a media conference at the Couva South Constituency Office with her fellow Opposition MPs that Persad-Bissessar threw down the gauntlet, saying that it was disturbing that after three years in government, Rowley was still blaming the UNC for the state of the economy.

Furthermore, she said Rowley, during his address on Sunday night, did not tell facts to the nation in what she described as a “political comedy central” and that each point of his PowerPoint presentation could be disputed. She said she was expecting part two of last night address to be a continuation of the same.

“I call upon the Prime

Minister, if you name man, I am willing to take you on mano y mano on every one of those issues you raised...

One on one, I will engage you. Be a man, come forward and I will take you on, on all of those lies, every distortion. I will show you what we did, how we delivered in every sphere of life,” PersadBissessar.

In analysing his message, she said that Rowley offered no solution to the depressed economy and no hope for citizens cowering under the reign of criminals. She said her government was blamed for leaving the treasury empty, but checks would show that after the People’s Partnership (PP) was ousted from office in 2015, there was $13 billion of foreign exchange reserves, which fell to $10.6 billion under the government.

She said that Rowley told the nation that the PP wasted $29 billion in five years, but the truth was that they proudly spent $290 billion on schools, police stations, hos-

pitals, laptops for students, lighting initiatives and other infrastructural projects that benefited citizens.

In contrast, she said the People’s National Movement government has spent $190 billion in three years on paintings, Soca on the Sea, new cars, golf courses and a new ferry that is continuously out of service due to rough seas. Since taking office, she said the government has been regurgitating projects it promised, such as the dry-docking facility in La Brea, the Sandals Resort for Tobago while work on the highway constructions to Toco and Point Fortin have stalled. She added that when the PP left the government in 2015, public sector debt was 45 per cent of T&T’s Gross Domestic Product but has now risen to 61 per cent while Foreign Direct Investment has declined.

“I think the most appropriate response to Dr Rowley is to repeat his own words and these words he said on April 10, 2013. It is this, ‘Any time a government resorts to blaming the opposition for its failure to deliver on their mandate and their responsibilities to the people, it is a clear sign that they have outlived their usefulness.”

Persad-Bissessar also described a media release, announcing the names of UNC candidates for the next general elections as false and mischievous. She said that the party’s caucus has not yet discussed the selection of candidates. She said there will be new faces to the teams that will contest the 2020 general elections. (T&T Guardian)

summit between Mr Kim and US President Donald Trump.

The two met last June in what was the first such meeting for a sitting US president.

Kim’s trip to China this week, on board his armoured train and accompanied by several other leading North Korean officials, will be his fourth visit to the country in less than a year.

China is a key diplomatic ally of North Korea and one of the country’s main sourc-

es of trade and aid.

Last year, Kim visited the country three times, paying his respects to Mr Xi after not meeting him for more than six years following his rise to power.

The BBC’s Laura Bicker in Seoul says two of the trips, which took place ahead of the historic summits with the South Korean leader Moon Jae-in and Mr Trump, were seen by some as a chance to co-ordinate strategy.

The latest three-day visit, our correspondent says, is likely to fuel speculation that a second US-North Korean summit will take place soon.

Earlier this week, Trump said a location for another meeting between the two would be announced in the not-too-distant-future.

Trump told reporters in Washington DC that “a good dialogue” was taking place with North Korea, but that sanctions on Pyongyang would remain in place. (BBC)

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Firefighter Steven Pollard

n Fire Department New York (FDNY) firefighter died Sunday after falling from the Belt Parkway’s Mill Basin drawbridge in Brooklyn — where he was trying to save two injured motorists who flipped their car and got trapped.

Steven Pollard, 30, a probationary firefighter with Ladder Company 170, was attempting to reach the victims on foot — and was crossing over from the eastbound lanes to the westbound lanes, where their vehicle was — when he fell to the ground below.

Fire officials said Pollard plunged 52 feet as he tried to traverse a gap in the road. It’s unclear, though, if he knew the gap was there when he tried to go across.

The Mill Basin bridge was recently rebuilt, and now features a 2½- to 3-foot-wide space between each side of the highway.

“It’s a very sad night here in our city,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio at an early Monday press briefing. “[Pollard] was trying to do such a good and important thing and it’s just really

painful to see him as we did in the hospital room.”

De Blasio noted how Pollard had less than two years on the job and came from an FDNY family — his brother, Ray Jr., works as a firefighter in Brooklyn and sources said his dad, Ray, is a retired firefighter.

“What makes this even more painful is this is a family that’s served our city for decades,” said de Blasio. “[Pollard] devoted his life to the people of our city, like his brother, like his dad.” (NY Post)

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guyanatimesgy.com

TuesdAY, January 8, 2019

Regional

Gonsalves reiterates call for Barbados recalls hypertensive drugs united Caricom position on H EU new tax measures ealth authorities in Barbados have announced the withdrawal of the Citron branded Valsartan after tests conducted by the Trinidadbased Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

The Health and Wellness Ministry said that the recall of the Citron branded Valsartan, along with Indapamide, was due to the “failure of both tablets to dissolve”.

“This decision was made after testing was carried out by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and is not related to the

P

rime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves on Monday reiterated a call for the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to adopt a united position regarding the European Union’s request that regional countries pass legislation to deal with what Europe has termed ‘economic substance’.

Gonsalves told a news conference that St Vincent and the Grenadines has no intention of “rolling over’ to appease Europe.

“We have looked carefully as how we have crafted these laws and we believe they will pass muster. If they don’t we will see, but I assure you St Vincent and the Grenadines will not roll over and play dead. We will not surrender. As I said we will compromise, we will accommodate, but we will resist creatively those politicians in Europe who are allowing persons to do things in their name,” Gonsalves told reporters.

The Bahamas, Grenada and St Vincent and the

Dr Ralph Gonsalves

Grenadines have already passed legislation while other Caribbean countries are contemplating doing so as Europe moves to force countries to adopt measures regarding the establishment of international businesses in the region.

Grenada’s Legal Affairs Minister Kindra MaturineStewart noted last month that in 2017 the island was among a group of 90 countries that the EU selected to be screened against tax transparency, harmful tax

practices and base erosion profit shifting.

Maturine-Stewart said the new EU guidelines prohibit new measures that will provide for international companies to benefit but not domiciled in the state.

Last week, The Bahamas said it was developing a new framework aimed at strengthening industry regulations and protecting revenues to the public treasury as it relates to enhancing the financial services sector.

(CMC)

COP political leader tells T&T PM: Say sorry to Tobago

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he Prime Minister must apologise to the people of Tobago for mockingly saying “Ferry, ferry, ferry!” in his national address on Sunday night as these remarks were insensitive to the plight of Tobagonians over the seabridge disruption, said Congress of the People (COP) leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan.

Accusing Dr Rowley of a lack of compassion, she said, “To say, ‘Ferry, ferry, ferry’ suggests he has no understanding of its impact on Tobagonians, and on Trinidadians needing to go to Tobago.” She scoffed that Rowley address had been “big on graphics, but small on details”.

Seepersad-Bachan said the address seemed to be a public relations exercise to tout the billions of dollars to be spent on mega-projects, but which money she feared could be wasted if the projects are rushed in time for the upcoming 2020 general

FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) recall,” the Health and Wellness Ministry said.

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kenneth George said the authorities “will continue to monitor the FDA drug recalls for all categories of drugs and will make all necessary decisions to protect the health of the Barbadian public”.

Earlier, the Health and Wellness Ministry said it wanted to assure the public that none of the drugs identified in the December 31 recall of the hypertensive drug, Valsartan, by the FDA

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(CMC)

Brazil gang attacks challenge Bolsonaro’s security strategy

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riminal gangs on a rampage in northeast Brazil are posing an early security test for new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, highlighting the challenge he faces in quelling drug-related violence and halting a record wave of murders in the country.

The state of Ceará has been rocked by five nights of attacks including a bomb that exploded under a highway, torched buses and assaults against banks and Police barracks.

Security officials believe the attacks were triggered by the new state government’s plan to undercut the power of gangs by sending prisoners to whatever jails have space to take them in, ending a longstanding practice of separating them according to gang affiliation.

The attacks, which on Friday prompted Brazil’s new Justice Minister Sergio Moro to dispatch 330 federal

A person removes a piece from a burned-out truck which was transporting chickens in Fortaleza, Brazil, January 7, 2019

security agents to Ceará, followed the January 1 inauguration of Bolsonaro, who has made no secret of his admiration for the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964-1985.

The former army captain – who ran on a law-and-order platform – won support from Brazilians tired of the warring drug gangs that

have come to terrorise large swaths of the country.

His task now is to make good on promises to design a coherent federal security strategy and end the wave of violence that saddled Latin America’s largest nation with a record 63,880 murders in 2017. The murder tally last year is still unknown. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Prime Minister threatens compulsory acquisition of Scotiabank Antigua

C COP political leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan during a Congress of the People Energy Solutions Forum, which took place at Naparima College in San Fernando

election.

She supported the idea of developing the San Fernando Waterfront, saying that as former San Fernando West MP she had held many consultations on it and then passed on her report for whoever succeeded her (Faris Al-Rawi, Attorney

General.) However she marvelled at Dr Rowley’s suggestion of an allocation of an initial TT$1 billion for the waterfront upgrade, saying the project, when finished, should be a revenue-generator and so be able to attract private investors. (Excerpt from

Trinidad Newsday)

ompulsory acquisition is one of the measures being considered by the Antigua Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, as he continues to demand that the owners of Scotiabank revisit the sale of the Antigua branch to Republic Financial Holdings Limited of Trinidad and Tobago.

His latest threat, made on Saturday on his radio station, Pointe FM, comes days before a planned meeting between him and officials from the two banking institutions.

And, it comes about a month after he threatened not to sign a vesting order, which he maintains is required to concretise the sale.

“We are using that vesting order to literally negotiate a position in which the local entities should be given a first preference. And, as I said earlier, we also have the option of compulsory acquisition if they choose to fight us,” the PM said.

He said he hopes that it does not come down to that, and that the institutions accept the proposals he plans

Mexican President says fuel theft plan working despite shortages exican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday that the country’s offensive against fuel theft was yielding good results and would continue, though it has provoked fuel shortages and long lines of angry motorists.

As part of the campaign

is approved by the Barbados Drug Service for sale in Barbados.

It said that the FDA recall is related to the discovery of an impurity believed to increase cancer risk. The branded products recalled are from a specific company and have been identified as Valsartan, AmlodipineValsartan and Valsartan hydrochlorothiazide tablets.

“The Ministry has made it clear that all brands approved for dispensing in Barbados are FDA-approved and also meet local standards,” the statement said..

to combat chronic theft of gasoline, state oil firm Pemex is changing its distribution, triggering shortages in at least six states.

Lopez Obrador said at a news conference that the Government had not established a date for when operations would return to normal, but stressed that

supply was not in danger.

“We are changing the whole distribution system, that’s the reason for the shortage. We have enough gasoline,” said Lopez Obrador.

Mexican television showed long lines of drivers waiting to fill up in central states as well as Jalisco in

the west and Tamaulipas in the north.

Years of massive theft of fuel by criminal groups and others, mostly by tapping pipelines, has led to steep losses for the Government and Pemex.

The Government led by Lopez Obrador has already ordered the armed forces to

intervene in Pemex’s facilities, including one refinery.

“The supply will normalise, and at the same time we are going to guarantee that fuel is not stolen,” said Lopez Obrador, who took office in December. “We have seen a reduction in theft like never before...but we still have work to do.” (Reuters)

to put forward during the meeting, likely to take place on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister had written to the banks’ officials on December 13, 2018, asking for a meeting on January 7 this year and he requested to include representatives “of a consortium, comprising the Government and local banks and institutions”.

While the banks have reportedly agreed to meet with the Prime Minister on January 9 instead, a statement from his office on Friday indicated that Scotiabank said that “based on the contractual agreement between Scotiabank and Republic Financial Holdings, it may not be appropriate to hold a meeting with other potential buyers/ financial institutions.”

The Prime Minister said if Scotiabank Antigua is sold to a local entity, there will be more benefits for the country. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

17

tuesdAY, January 8, 2019

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Around the World

Rahaf al-Qunun: Saudi woman Take teen girls off ends airport hotel standoff night shift, Indian

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, pictured at Bangkok airport, says she “wants to be free” away from Saudi Arabia

A

n 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family at the weekend has left Bangkok airport “under the care” of the UN refugee agency, the head of Thailand’s immigration police says.

Thai immigration officials had tried

to return Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, to Kuwait, where her family is.

But she refused to board a flight on Monday and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room.

She said she feared her family would kill her as she had renounced

Islam.

“My brothers and family and the Saudi embassy will be waiting for me in Kuwait,” Mohammed al-Qunun told Reuters.

“My life is in danger. My family threatens to kill me for the most trivial things.”

Her relatives have not commented on her claims.

Rights groups including Human Rights Watch have expressed grave concerns for Mohammed al-Qunun, who had travelled to Thailand for a connecting flight to Australia, where she hoped to seek asylum.

The Thai authorities said her status would be assessed by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

On Monday evening local time, Thailand’s chief of immigration police Surachate Hakparn confirmed that Mohammed al-Qunun was “allowed to stay”, and that she “left the airport with the UNHCR”.

He earlier said the country would “take care of her as best we can”, adding: “She is now under the sovereignty of Thailand; no-one and no embassy can force her to go anywhere.

“Thailand is a land of smiles. We will not send anyone to die.” (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Gabon thwarts military coup attempt in President’s absence

G

abon foiled an attempted military coup on Monday, killing two suspected plotters and capturing seven others just hours after they took over state radio in a bid to end 50 years of rule by President Ali Bongo’s family.

Government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou announced the deaths and arrests after soldiers briefly seized the radio station and broadcast a message saying Bongo was no longer fit for office after suffering a stroke in Saudi Arabia in October.

The quick failure of Monday’s coup and the lack of widespread support suggest further efforts to overthrow Bongo are unlikely,

File photo: Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba addresses a meeting on climate change at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and the Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

analysts said. But the attempt alone shows a growing frustration with a Government weakened by the President’s secretive

medical leave.

On Dec 31, in one of his first television appearances since the stroke, Bongo, 59, slurred his speech and he

appeared unable to move his right arm. It is unclear if he is able to walk. He has been in Morocco since November to continue treatment.

Outside the radio station, loyalist soldiers fired teargas to disperse about 300 people who had come out into the streets to support the coup attempt, a Reuters witness said.

Helicopters circled overhead and there was a strong military and police presence on the streets.

Most of the beachside capital was quiet, however, and a government spokesman said the situation was under control after the arrests. Residents said Internet access was cut.

factories told

An estimated 45 million workers, mostly women, are employed in India’s thriving garment industry

C

lothing factories in southern India will have to stop putting teenage girls on night shifts under a new code of conduct that was created after complaints of abuse of the largely female workforce.

Female workers aged 16 to 19 will also be allowed to take time off during their periods and no one will be made to work more than nine hours under the new guidelines from the Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) which came into effect this month.

An estimated 45 million workers, mostly women, are employed in India’s thriving garment industry, with major hubs in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

They have limited or no legal protection and few formal grievance mechanisms.

Numerous studies have

Jim Yong Kim steps down as President of World Bank

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Myanmar army to launch US-China officials begin ‘crackdown’ on Rakhine rebels trade war talks in Beijing

M

yanmar has called on its military to “launch operations” against ethnic Rakhine rebels behind a deadly attack on four police stations last week as a surge of violence forced thousands more from their homes.

The country’s troubled western Rakhine state has seen a series of clashes in recent weeks between security forces and the Arakan Army (AA), a Buddhist armed group fighting for more autonomy.

The area is one of the poorest in Myanmar and is scarred by deep ethnic and religious hatred.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have been driven out of Rakhine state

in a brutal military campaign that began in August 2017. The military has justified the operation, which forced the mostly Muslim minority to seek refuge in Bangladesh, as a way to stamp out Rohingya fighters.

The latest violence by ethnic Rakhine rebels culminated on Friday - Myanmar’s Independence Day - in brazen pre-dawn raids on four police posts in Buthidaung Township near the Bangladesh border.

Authorities said the attack by hundreds of fighters left 13 police officers dead and nine wounded before the army, known locally as the Tatmadaw, was able to provide back-up. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

U

S and Chinese officials have been holding a first day of talks in Beijing aimed at resolving their damaging trade dispute.

Last year, both countries imposed billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs on each other’s goods.

The meeting comes amid rising concern about the impact of trade tensions on the global economy.

The US delegation is led by Deputy US Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish.

So far, neither side has given any indication of how the talks are going.

However, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters that his country had “the good faith, on the basis of mutual respect and

equality, to resolve the bilateral trade frictions”.

While the temporary truce has provided some relief, there is scepticism over the possibility of a breakthrough at the meeting in Beijing.

“There are concerns about how far apart the two sides still are,” Julian EvansPritchard, economist at Capital Economics said.

“The main sticking point is going to be on industrial policy and intellectual property rights.”

The White House said in December the two sides would negotiate “structural changes with respect to forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, cyber intrusions and cyber theft”. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

shown that low pay, intimidation, sexual harassment and other abusive working conditions are common, with the standard working week often exceeding 60 hours.

The new code of conduct, which is voluntary, says factories should not employ anyone under 16 and limits the workday. Employers must also allow workers freedom of association and create effective grievance mechanisms.

It also addresses the issues of sexual harassment, maternity benefits, migrant workers and minimum wage, and stipulates that women cannot be fired when they are pregnant.

Much of this is already required under Indian law.

The code is intended to help factories meet international labour standards as well as complying with legal requirements. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim is to step down next month

W

orld Bank President, Jim Yong Kim has made the surprise announcement that he is stepping down after six years in the post.

His resignation will take effect from 1 February.

Kim, 59, was not due to leave until 2022, after he was re-elected for a second five-year term in 2017.

He will “join a firm and focus on increasing infrastructure investments in developing countries”, the

World Bank said.

In a statement, Kim said: “It has been a great honour to serve as President of this remarkable institution, full of passionate individuals dedicated to the mission of ending extreme poverty in our lifetime”.

No reason was given for his unexpected resignation.

Kristalina Georgieva, the World Bank’s chief executive officer, will assume the role of interim president.

Kim, who was born in Seoul, South Korea, trained as a medical doctor before rising through the ranks at the Bank.

He was nominated by former president Barack Obama for both his first and second term at the head of the World Bank.

The World Bank said it would “immediately start the process” of appointing a replacement.

Positioned at 41 in Forbes’ Power People 2018 list, Kim has presided over the dispersal of billions of dollars of World Bank funding. In 2018, the multilateral institution made financial commitments worth US$67 billion. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

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tuesdAY, January 8, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

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Temptation will lead you in the wrong direction. Stick to your budget and don’t indulge in activities that could lead to trouble. Focus on romance and fitness.

CANCER

Take an interest in what others do, but don’t feel compelled to participate in something that makes you uncomfortable. If you stick to your principles, you’ll gain respect and friendship.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

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WORD GAME

Your dedication and determination will give you the edge you need in a competitive situation. Keep your cool when dealing with institutions and government agencies. Don’t let someone else’s decision fluster you.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

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Take care of your personal finances, medical issues or pending legal matters.

Staying on top of things will help you ward off criticism from someone close to you.

Get moving and take charge. Your outgoing personality and ability to pivot and compromise will put you in a leadership position.

A personal relationship will take a positive turn.

Get out with a friend or an older confidant who has offered you sound advice in the past. Don’t let an emotional issue at home stand in the way of your professional responsibilities.

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If someone is looking for a fight, sit the situation out.

You’ll do better if you focus on what you can contribute or on personal gains. Refuse to get annoyed. Choose peace and love.

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Listen well to pick up valuable information that will help you determine if someone is being straight with you. A change you make will pay off.

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A certain memory will SAGITTARIUS help you make an unexpect(Nov. 23- ed change. Embrace new Dec. 21) beginnings and a healthier lifestyle. Romance is on the rise.

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Participate in someCAPRICORN thing that will benefit you (Dec. 22- as well as others. Working Jan. 19) with someone who has similar goals will spark an interest in forming a partnership.

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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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Make your own opportunities. Check out the online job market or network with associates who can help you advance. Share your thoughts, but not your feelings or emotions.

Keep your life simple, moderate and peaceful.

Walk away from drama or people looking for a fight.

Find individuals who are a help, not a hindrance.

tuesdAY, January 8, 2019

19

Kohli and Shastri rate Australia win higher than World Cup victory I

ndia’s captain and coach are both World Cup winners but they rate this series win in Australia higher than those triumphs, albeit for different reasons. Ravi Shastri, the coach, was part of the India squad that won the 1983 World Cup although he didn’t play in the final. Virat Kohli played through the 2011 World Cup that India won.

“I was part of 2011 World Cup team,” Kohli said, “but I didn’t have the emotion of not having been able to win a World Cup before. Playing at home and winning it eventually... a lot of the senior players had that emotion. Yes, it was a great moment for me but if you ask me which moment is more emotional, I would say this one because this is my third tour here and I have seen how difficult it is to win here. And all the struggles that we have gone through in the past 12 months as well as the team.

“So, from that point of view this one is more emotional for me. It will definitely be more special, purely because of the fact that we really wanted to win a series away from home. We didn’t want to be a one-matchwonder kind of team. So, having stuck to our task and executed what we wanted and got the result, we, as a team, feel absolutely complete now that we have done what we set out to do...not to show to anyone else but to prove ourselves that yes, we could do it and we have done it. From that point of view this one is more special for me.”

For Shastri, this is a win achieved in a purer format. “I will tell you how satisfying it is for me,” Shastri said. “World Cup ‘83, World Championship ‘85. This is as big, or even bigger, because it is in the truest format of the game. It’s Test cricket, which is meant to be the toughest.”

There was the usual combative reaction to criticism - Shastri took another potshot at Sunil Gavaskar’s criticism, calling his shots “blanks” that are “blown away like a tracer bullet” by the time they reach the southern hemisphere - but there was a genuine feeling of relief and pride in Kohli. All the psyching up he had to do, all the effort put in to not let the mind wander ahead of himself, could now be laid to rest. He was asked about his comments before the Test that history doesn’t mean much to him.

Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri share a light moment before team photos Mark Kolbe/ Getty Images “We all play mind-games, don’t we,” Kohli said with a smile. “Look, it’s obviously a very

proud moment, more so because we understand what we have gone through as a team for the last 12 months. We understand the kind of cricket that we have been able to play, and I was just mentioning the fact that after losing tosses, we have been in competition throughout in the games that we have lost. We understood as a team we were on the right track. What has come in the most historic series for Indian cricket is the cherry on the cake and something that, as I said, in the 10 years that I have played, is the proudest moment that I have experienced.

“I am so happy for the whole team because a young bunch of guys, to have that belief and to keep striving for excellence on a daily basis and to get a reward like this, we definitely have to be happy. Although changing history or creating history is still not what I am thinking of, it is pure satisfaction of the hard work of 12 months to understand that what we believed in has been proven right and regardless of the whole world being against you, if you are striving in the right direction with good intent, God’s going to reward you.

So that’s what I am more happy about.”

“So history does matter?”

“Of course it does.”

Shastri, though, continued to be caustic. He was asked if he would like to share this success with captains who - from Lala

Amarnath to MS Dhoni - tried their best to win in Australia but couldn’t. “Past is history, future is a mystery,” Shastri said. “Okay?

We have won today after 71 years, I’d like to live in the present. And salute my captain for being the captain of the team that beat Australia for the first time in Australia in a series.”

When talking about the satisfaction of winning this series, Shastri again referenced teams from the past, and also said Kohli shows more passion for Test cricket than any other captain in the world.

“I don’t think anyone plays Test cricket with more passion than he [Kohli] does,” Shastri said. “At least I don’t see any other international captain coming close to him on the field when it comes to showing that passion needed to play the game. He is very expressive, which is different to others. Other captains could have different personalities but Virat is someone who is in your face and it rubs off on all the youngsters who are watching the game in India. His team-mates watch him, they want to emulate him. And to believe that they can be someone like him who can go out there and strive for excellence.

“So when an individual puts his neck on the line as captain then the others follow.

And you have seen that transition happening over the last two-three years where guys

in the team have become more and more confident, about their own ability and the ability of the team as well and it’s made all the difference. I said in Melbourne - I think I mentioned people taking pot shots and firing blanks. I wasn’t joking there, because I knew how hard this team had worked. When you fire from there, by the time it crosses the southern hemisphere, it’s blown away by the wind like a tracer bullet. But lead with something in it can be pretty serious. And that’s what we have fired right through the series against Australia. We were committed, and it jolly well made a bloody difference at the end of it all.

“This is not a team of gods or demigods, seniors or juniors. This is an Indian cricket team that will jump over a cliff to win a match for the country. And that’s the determination, that’s the ruthlessness, that’s the mindset with which this team went to play in this series. And hats off to them to show that courage. Today I can say I am proud of my boys and I can also tell them one thing which Virat touched in the presentation - that this team now has an identity to look at any other Indian team from the past in the eye and say, ‘We play proper Test match cricket. You did, we did too,’ without being intimidated.”

(ESPNcricinfo)

WADA to gain access to Russian laboratory 9 days after deadline

A

World Anti-Doping Agency team will access the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s laboratory in Moscow on Wednesday, nine days after an initial deadline.

Wada’s inspection team were denied full access to data after Rusada was set a 31 December deadline to comply.

A three-year Wada suspension of Russian athletes was ended in September.

Wada president Sir Craig Reedie says access “will break a long impasse and will potentially lead to many cases being actioned”.

Russia’s failure to provide full access to the laboratory and data led to 16 national anti-doping bodies (Nados) and Wada’s athlete committee to call for the country to be suspended.

The issue will be debated when Wada’s compliance review committee (CRC), an independent body, meets on 14 January, after which it will make a recommendation to Wada’s executive committee (ExCo).

Reedie added: “We are continuing to act on the basis of the 31 December deadline having been missed, with all the consequences that failure could bring.”

A report from Professor Richard McLaren in July 2016 found Russia operated a state-sponsored doping programme for four years across the “vast majority” of Olympic sports.

A subsequent report stated more than 1,000 Russian athletes benefited from doping and Russia was later banned from competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Wada had insisted Russia meet two criteria before Rusada could be reinstated to competition; accept the findings of the McLaren report, and grant access to Moscow’s anti-doping laboratory.

Monday’s Wada statement said: “Access to, and subsequent authentication and analysis of, the data remains crucial in order to build strong cases against cheats and exonerate other athletes suspected of having participated in widespread doping on the basis of previous Wada-backed in-

Leading athletes have opposed the lifting of Russia’s suspension

vestigations.”

Wada says its five-person team in Moscow could not access the necessary data between 17 and 21 December because of an issue raised by Russian authorities “in relation to the certification of the equipment under Russian law”.

Wada says the issue has since been resolved by the Russian authorities.

Reedie had previously said he was “bitterly disappointed” after it was confirmed Rusada had missed the deadline and that “the process agreed by Wada’s ExCo in September will now be initiated”. (BBC Sport)

20

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tuesdAY, January 8, 2019

UFC’s Viana says mugging ended Pybus appointment breached protocol, claims LICB in predictable and bloody fashion boss Lewis

T

he populaViana posted tion of Rio photos, which later de Janeiro is appeared on UFC just over 6 million. president Dana On Saturday night, White’s Instagram an alleged mugger feed, of her bloodmanaged to pick ied and bruised out a UFC fighter alleged attacker. among those multiShe kept him in a tudes. hold until Police UFC strawarrived. She says weight Polyana the man’s wounds Viana says she was were treated before waiting for an Uber he was taken to when she was apthe station, where proached by a man Viana filed a Police claiming to have a report. gun. The results “I was fine,” UFC president Dana White posted an image on Instagram on Monday, saying it was weren’t pretty.

Viana said. “I was “When he saw the man who attempted to rob Polyana Viana fine because he I saw him, he sat didn’t even react afnext to me,” Viana told MMAJunkie. “He asked me the ter. Since he took the punches very quickly, I think he was time, I said it, and I saw he wasn’t going to leave. So I already moved to put my cell phone in my waist. And then scared. So he didn’t react anymore. He told me to let him go, he said, ‘Give me the phone. Don’t try to react, because I’m like ‘I just asked for the time.’ I said, ‘Asked for the time my armed.’ Then he put his hand over [a gun], but I realized it ass,’ because he saw I was very angry. I said I wouldn’t let go and that I was going to call the Police. He said, ‘Call the Police, was too soft.

“He was really close to me. So I thought, ‘If it’s a gun, then’ because he was scared I was going to beat him up more.”

Viana has won 10 of her 12 professional fights, and is he won’t have time to draw it.’ So I stood up. I threw two punches and a kick. He fell, then I caught him in a rear-na- known for finishing off opponents quickly. Until a loss on ked choke. Then I sat him down in the same place we were points in August she had won five fights in succession in the first round. (The Guardian) before and said, ‘Now we’ll wait for the Police.’”

P

resident of the Leeward Island Cricket Board (LICB) Enoch Lewis has admonished regional governing body Cricket West Indies (CWI) for not following procedure in the appointment of Richard CWI boss Dave Cameron Pybus.

Pybus, the former director of cricket who returned as high-performance director in February, was appointed interim coach by the body last week. The official is expected to hold the post for the upcoming England series through to this year’s ICC World Cup in England.

Although the CWI has stressed that the appointment is expected to be a temporary one, the move has drawn criticism in several quarters.

“We feel that due process was not followed and so we have written to Cricket West Indies (CWI) to ask them to take a look at it and we have made certain requests which we are hoping they will come back to us,” Lewis said in a recent interview with the Antigua Observer.

“It is far from the norm and Cricket West Indies is supposed to be a transparent body. We’re supposed to operate according to protocol, policies, procedures, due process and so that we are saying from LICB standpoint,” he added.

Lewis claimed Pybus’ name had not been mentioned in original meetings regarding the issue and was only appointed after a conversation was had with CWI boss Dave Cameron.

The official also took exception with not being consulted as chairman of the CWI’s Cricket Committee. (Sportsmax)

Binotto replaces Arrivabene Real Madrid as Ferrari F1 boss President backs signing from Man City

Maurizio Arrivabene

F

errari replaced Formula One team boss Maurizio Arrivabene with technical head Mattia Binotto on Monday after failing to win any titles last year.

The news had been flagged up before the official announcement by the Gazzeta dello Sport newspaper.

“After four years of untiring commitment and dedication, Maurizio Arrivabene is leaving the team,” Ferrari said in a statement.

“The decision was taken together with the company’s top management after lengthy discussions related to Maurizio’s long term personal interests as well as those of the team itself.”

Binotto, a Ferrari stalwart, takes over with immediate effect with all of the team’s technical areas continuing to report directly to him.

Ferrari won six of the 21 races last season but their title challenge evaporated in the second half of the year and Mercedes won both the drivers’ and constructors’ crowns for the fifth year in a row.

Arrivabene’s tenure had looked uncertain for some time, with reports as far back as October, 2017 suggesting Binotto could replace the former Philip Morris marketing executive.

Strategic blunders by the team last year only increased the pressure.

The death in July last year of chairman Sergio Marchionne triggered a change at the top, with Louis Camilleri taking over as chief executive and John Elkann, a scion of Italy’s Agnelli family, as chairman.

Binotto, who has risen through the ranks to technical director and overseen a big step up in engine performance, had reportedly been a target for rival constructors and Ferrari were determined to retain his services.

The team’s drivers for the 2019 season are four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel, runner-up to Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton last year, and Monaco’s Charles Leclerc who has replaced Kimi Raikkonen.

Finland’s Raikkonen, world champion in 2007, remains the most recent title winner for the sport’s oldest, most successful and glamorous team. (Reuters)

R

Brahim Diaz claims Real Madrid have always been his “dream” club

eal Madrid President Florentino Perez says the club has signed a “special talent” after concluding a deal with Manchester City for Brahim Diaz.

The Spanish club acquired the 19-year-old midfielder for around £15 million, though the deal also includes around £6.5 million in add-ons and a 15 per cent fee if he is sold on.

“This is the most important day in my life,” Diaz told reporters on Monday.

“I have joined the club which I have dreamed of playing at since I was a child,” he added.

“When I decided it was time to leave Manchester City I only considered three options: the first was joining Real Madrid, the second was playing at Real Madrid and the third and last was playing at Real Madrid. I didn’t want to go anywhere else.”

Diaz, who joined Manchester City

from Malaga in 2013 aged 14, has signed a six-and-a-half-year contract that runs to the summer of 2025.

He only made 15 first-team appearances during his time at City and played just four times this season.

Madrid President Perez said: “This player has a special talent.

He has quality, magic and dreams of succeeding at this club. He chose it above others and that energy will help.”

Diaz is the latest young player to leave Manchester City in recent seasons, with departures including winger Jadon Sancho, who has starred for England since moving to German side Borussia Dortmund for £8 million in 2017.

Following his move, the club have backed their youth policy and concluded Diaz would not displace the likes of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez in the City team. (BBC Sport)

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Linden Austin continues to reap success

...Promises to work harder for 2019

A

s the cricketing season for 2019 draws closer, Linden Austin, who juggles playing for Georgetown and Berbice clubs, is grateful for his successful 2018 season representing both the University of Guyana Trojans and the Young Warriors Club.

Austin recently graduated from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Management, passing with distinction; through it all his love for cricket has remained steadfast.

Speaking with << Guyana Times Sport>> Austin said, “2018 was a good year for me and our UG Trojans team ...we played well in the two-day First-Division competition of which we made it to the semi-finals to be knocked out by DCC … I played three games. First game I played only one innings where I batted against GNIC and made 40 and took four wickets.

Against Transport, I made 74 in the first innings and 26 in the second.

Against DCC in the semi-finals, I scored 35 in the first [innings] and 6 not out in the second. In the 40 over NBS [competition], I didn’t play much

games, but I had one significant score of 67 against Diplomats. In the ongoing NBS competition, I played one game against GYO which I made 74.”

Austin further elaborated on his season playing in Berbice for this publication: “Well, in Berbice, I’ve been getting starts but I haven’t scored a half-century ... In the Busta 40 inner semi-finals against Albion, I scored 31 not out and took one wicket and against the same opposition in the 100Ball First-Division tournament, I also scored 31. In the recently-concluded 100 Balls Tournament I scored 16 in the finals and took 1-12 from three overs. My club Young Warriors has been in three successive First-Division finals against Rose Hall Town, of which they won two Austin plays a lofted shot down the ground and we won one.” a lot of work ahead of him in 2019.

According to Austin while his 2018 was successful, he still has He further stated that his goal was

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to play an integral role in leading the UG Trojans to a First-Division title since they only have a SecondDivision title to their name. He also noted that at his home club in Berbice, which is currently in a rebuilding phase, since it was dormant for almost a year, he will be pushing to win more First-Division titles as he continues to work on his batting and bowling.

In closing, he went on to thank his coaches Kwasi Maltay, Huburn Evans and Kenroy Joseph as well as Anil Beharry for all their support and his team-mates from both clubs.

Rose Hall Town Metro crowned Nand Male and female teams Persaud Female Cricket Champions selected...

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n January 6, 2019, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) completed its 25th tournament in the last six months as Rose Hall Town Metro (RHTM) faced off against West Berbice in an exhilarating match-up in the Ancient County.

The RHTM were crowned champions of female cricket in Berbice as they defeated West Berbice by 110 runs in the final of the Nand Persaud BCB Female Cricket Tournament.

Batting first, Rose Hall posted 170-7 in their allotted 20 overs. Leading the innings were Shabika Gajnabi, who led from the front with a scintillating 68 and Marian Samaroo, who added support with 44.

Needing 171 runs to win off 120 balls, West Berbice were faced with a task where the ladies had to attack the ball and needed to score at 8.55 runs per over. Things did not go as planned as the West Berbice side was given the shock of a lifetime when they were restricted to 60-7 in their allotment of 20 overs. Spearheading the bowling attack for RHTM were Erva Giddings and Samaroo, who was adjudged the player of the match.

They bagged two wickets a piece to dent the hopes of West Berbice. Both teams and the players of the match received financial prizes.

Coming out of the tournament, female cricketers were selected to commence train-

ing for the Senior Inter-County Tournament and reported to the Area H Ground Monday.

Members of the squad are: Meliane Henry, Plaffina Millington, Sherica Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Dian Prahalad, Marian Samaroo, Lafona Gilegous, Uma Devi Matadin, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Abigail Kishun, Aleema Arokium, Roshana Lynch, Kimmone Thomas, Kassie Munroe, Sabrina Munroe and Ashley Ramnauth.

Slyvina Autar will serve as Team Manager and Winston Smith as Coach.

Will represent Guyana at Beach Olympics in Argentina V

olleyball season kicked off in 2019 in emphatic fashion as the Marriott Beachfront saw the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) hosting a male and female competition.

The competition included over 20 teams from different corners of Guyana such as Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo. The tournament saw 13 exciting rounds of battle as three teams Guyana Volleyball Federation were deemed champi- President Levi Nedd ons and they will now represent Guyana at the Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifiers this March in Argentina which will be covered by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), as all was under the watchful eyes of GVF President Levi Nedd.

In the competition, each team consisted of two players.

Juan Velazquez and Vance Harding will be making their first appearance in the Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifiers, while Quacy Marthson and Ian Bagot claimed their spot after an injury picked up in the semi-final forced their opponents to forfeit the game.

For the females, Candace Mentore and Philana Sampson of Port Mourant Volleyball Club will be representing Guyana. They were not required to play as they won via walkover as the competition saw many players lending their time in various capacities such as umpiring and scoring as they aided in making the tournament a success.

Sponsoring the tournament for the first time is the Demerara Distillers Limited under the Diamond Mineral Water brand. Top teams and outstanding individuals will be rewarded.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, January 8, 2019

GFF’s Me Too

Lancaster dismissed amid sexual assault findings

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n late 2017, women across the world, mainly in the entertainment and sport industries, came forward telling their stories of sexual assault and harassment which powered a Me Too movement across the globe. The Me Too trend gave women a voice and not many months later, the first instance of repercussions for actions that went on silently for years was witnessed by the world.

Over 200 US gymnasts, in late January of 2018, testified against Larry Nassar, a doctor who continually abused the young women year after year. Nassar was eventually sentenced to spend the remainder of his life in prison. Although the punishment handed down in our little nation was not quite as severe, it is a step in the right direction.

“Let me be very clear to our entire fraternity: Sexual harassment, abuse, inappropriate behaviour and discrimination of any kind have no place in football whatsoever.

While football cannot fix society’s problems, under my leadership, the GFF will do everything it can to improve the football environment and protect the integrity of the women and girls in the sport” were the words of Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde, as the head of the GFF was finally ready to deliver the verdict on sexual harassment allegations that were brought to light some 10 months ago.

In March of 2018, a Board of Inquiry (BoI) featuring five women was set up to handle the allegations of sexual assault that were peddled against the Head of the Referees, Stanley Lancaster and Referee Assessor Roy McArthur by female referees.

At the head of the BoI was Dr Karen

Pilgrim, Vice to handle issues of this nature,” he President of the said.

Guyana Olympic As such, the GFF Head went Association, who on to express his gratitude to the acted as chairman. members of the BoI and disclosed The remainder of that the implementation of the the board includBoard’s recommendations will beed Dr Melissa Ifill gin in a timely manner. of the University “The Executive Committee has of Guyana; accepted the findings and recomKaren Joseph, mendations of the Board of Inquiry.

Human Resources GFF Third Vice President Thandi Consultant; Karen McAllister will oversee the impleDe Souza, Red mentation of these recommendaThread and Joy tions. We will take steps necessary Nichola Marcusto support the healing of those afReid, also of Red fected, and to do what we can to urThread. gently rebuild trust in our fraterThough off to a nity.” rocky start in March, In light of the Board’s findings, the Board was finalthe perpetrators of the alleged acly able to present tions have been disciplined. “Head the GFF’s Executive of Referees, Stanley Lancaster has Committee with been dismissed from his position a final report on GFF President Wayne Forde as he delivers the Executive Committee’s decision with immediate effect. Referees November 19, 2018.

Assessor Roy McArthur has been priate behaviour or discrimination within As protocol would provisionally suspended, pendhave it, the report was then reviewed by the the football fraternity, past or present. We ing the outcome of disciplinary proceedings Executive Committee at their next meeting know that this problem has plagued football by the GFF Disciplinary Committee, under on December 1, after which sanctions were for many years – but, we are taking a formi- the newly-approved Disciplinary Code,” the dable stand against it,” Forde stated. to be made.

GFF President announced.

Describing the process as a ‘difficult’ one, After more than a month in the posses“This GFF leadership is determined to sion of the Executive Committee, the GFF according to Forde the GFF is now in a bet- bring the culture of football into the 21st Head was finally ready to pronounce on ter position to handle future allegations of Century so that women and girls always the troubling issue on Monday afternoon. this nature. feel safe, welcome, respected and equal in “There has been a significant amount of all aspects of the sport – from administraTaking a strong stance on the Federation’s behalf, Forde condemned the ordeal en- institutional learning during this difficult tion to the field of play,” Forde boldly stated process. I can assure our football fraterni- after promising that the Federation would dured by the women.

“The Federation will not condone any ty and the general public that the Guyana be quick to investigate instances of harassform of sexual harassment, abuse, inappro- Football Federation is now better equipped ment or discrimination.

Supernova stun in Trinidad and Tobago T

heir first stint on an artificial inwith back-to-back door surface has gone well for goals in the 16th and the Guyanese developmental 25th minutes. Four hockey team, who looked promising minutes later, Shane in the Ventures International Indoor Samuels converted Tournament. a penalty corner for The Guyanese side asserted their Queen’s Park’s first dominance in Trinidad and Tobago over goal. the weekend with wins which propelled However, any hope the Pan Am 2020 hopefuls into the of a QP comeback was semi-final of the competition. quickly extinguished The local boys found themselves pitby Shakeem Fausette ted against Queen’s Park II in their and Nandalall group match. The first ten minutes of Persaud in the 29th the encounter were indeed tense until and 30th minutes reMeshach Sargeant the ice was broken by Omar Hopkinson Kareem McKenzie spectively for a 5-1 in the 11th minute.

Supernova win.

Guyanese led to a pressured Queen’s Park An aggressive front put up by the team. Warren Williams capitalised twice The Guyanese were up against much stronger opponents in their other game against Fatima. Nevertheless, a display of skill by Fausette and Jamarj Assanah led to a 2-0 lead by the fourth minute. Fatima replied minutes later, but it was not enough to match Guyana’s dominance, as Kareem McKenzie and Assanah struck again to put Guyana up 4-1 by the half. Goalkeeper Paul D’Andrade was made to work in the second half, which led to Supernova’s 5-2 win.

After their 5-1 win over Queen’s Park II and the 5-2 thumping of Fatima, the Guyanese boys stormed into the semi-finals of the Ventures International Indoor Tournament with their confidence at an alltime high.

However, the Supernova team were not prepared for the last-minute stunner that would deny them entry into the final of the Trinidadian competition.

An even first half saw Shomere Garnett putting Supernova into the lead in the seventh minute against the TT Defence Force before Marcus James equalised in the 14th.

Williams opened the second half with a goal for Supernova. An important goal by Garnett was disallowed minutes later, leaving Supernova with just a narrow lead. In the final two minutes, TTDF pulled their goalkeeper and added an extra outfield play-

er. This t a c t i c worked to perfection when Shane Leggerton scored in the final minute and Nicholas Wren converted a penalty corner with no time left on the clock to give the defence men the 3-2 win.

The third-place playoff against the Paragon team saw Guyana lagging behind at the half 3-1. Guyana were up first, but Trinidadian national player Akim Toussaint responded one minute later by converting a penalty corner. Toussaint converted twice after to push the score to 3-1. The local boys found the motivation to fight back when Meshach Sargeant capitalised on a penalty for their second goal. However, Toussaint was there again to silence Supernova’s hopes with a goal. Left- back Kareem McKenzie continued fighting with a phenomenal overlapping run to finish with a reverse flick from the narrowest of angles for a goal. However, Supernova’s chances were crushed when Kelon Skerrit netted a fifth goal for the victorious Trinidadian side.

Despite missing out on the podium by a narrow margin, the Guyanese developmental hockey team’s first stint on an artificial indoor surface has ended well. In reflecting on the Under-19 team’s performance, Coach Robert Fernandes stated: “Although it was disappointing to lose in the fashion that we did in the semi-final, it’s important to keep things in perspective, 11 of these players are 19 or under playing against Trinidad’s best senior club sides. The TTDF team is loaded with current and former national players and for these boys to be that competitive against such a strong team is way beyond our pre-tour expectations. I’m really proud of their performance to date; we’re learning with every match and we get to do it all over again in four days’ time when the UWI tournament starts.”

The University of the West Indies (UWI) Indoor championship will run from January 10-13, 2019.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, January 8, 2019

23

CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Jaguars romp to 3rd consecutive win after outplaying Pride ...Permaul grabs 4-fer

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huge

Raymon Reifer six over long on off the bowling of Jomel Warrican was the defining moment when Guyana Jaguars cruised to a six-wicket win over the regional giant, Barbados Pride.

Jaguars were tasked to chase 46, after they ended on 48-4, outplaying the Shamarh Brooks-led Pride team. It was one of those instances when a visiting team entered the home team’s back yard and outplayed them in every aspect of the game.

Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul was again the best bowler in the second innings, grabbing 4-73 while Reifer picked up 3-53 to ensure the chase was successful when Pride lost six wickets for 28 runs, in the second innings.

The Guyana Jaguars played as champions when they defeated the Test player-studded Barbados Pride team at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Resuming the final day, Guyana Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson enforced the follow-on after Pride were behind by 188 runs. Pride openers made their way to the middle to bat out the day and attempt to save the match.

Kraigg Brathwaite was the first dismissed in the second over of the day, scoring only four runs. The Barbados-born Reifer opened the bowling with the new ball for the Jaguars and the Windies opener, Brathwaite edged one behind and was caught by Anthony Bramble.

The tone was set for the Guyana Jaguars, removing the threatening Brathwaite with the score on five. Elegant left-hander Shayne Mosely was partnered by his captain, Shamarh Brooks and the pair consolidated from there on. Playing strokes with limited risk, Moseley, who played a good hand of 32, was dismissed by the lively Berbician, Clinton Pestano.

Running in with his long hair flowing at the windy regional cricket mecca, Pestano shattered the stumps of Moseley after he faced 64 balls, which included three fours.

After the 64-run partnership was broken for the second wicket , Carter who scored fif-

ties in each round of the Regional Four-Day tournament thus far, followed seven runs after. Carter (06) was dismissed by Romario Shepherd after he was caught behind by the impressive Bramble, who continued to have a dream match.

Pride slumped to 97-4 in 27.3 overs, after Brooks wasted a start, scoring 26 from 62 balls, being Shepherd’s second victim when he was adjudged leg before.

Test duo Shane Dowrich and Roston Chase joined forces to frustrate the Jaguars bowlers with Dowrich looking in good touch. The dynamic duo scored 107 runs together giving the Barbadian supporters hope of saving the match. However, the wicket of Dowrich sparked a collapse with Pride losing their final six wickets cheaply.

In a short while, fortune switched in the Jaguars’ favour; Dowrich was removed for 65 off 86 balls hitting 12 timely fours. He became one of Permaul’s victims caught behind by his counterpart, Bramble.

Windies Captain Jason Holder came and went, facing 11 balls for one run as the Albion combination of Permaul and Bramble continued to prosper. Holder was out caught

by Bramble off Permaul with the score on 212-6 in 61.5 overs.

Five runs later, Ashley Nurse departed

3

when Reifer bowled him all over the place, showing his value as an all-rounder. Kemar Roach followed soon after as Reifer continued to dominate his countrymen, trapping Roach in front for two.

The score 225 was the magical number 9 - 225(Roston Chase, 71.3 Ov), for the Jaguars, 10 - 232(Jomel Warrican, 73.6 Ov) as anothBowling: C Pestano (12-2-37-1) er Pride wickR Reifer (23-5-53-3) et bit the dust R Shepherd (11-3-35-2) in the form of V Permaul (25-1-73-4) well-set Roston C Barnwell (3-0-20-0) Chase. Chase had played a Guyana Jaguars 2nd Innings (45 Target) marathon inT Chanderpaul c Dowrich b Roach 6 nings facing C Hemraj b Roach 9 151 balls and C Barnwell c Nurse b Cummings 6 scoring 68 runs S Rutherford c Dowrich b Cummings 0 when Permaul L Johnson not out 11 shattered his R Reifer not out 15 stumps.

The Extras 1 Jaguars were Total 48-4 8.3 overs one wickFOW: et away, clos1 - 8(Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 2.3 Ov), ing in on the 2 - 21(Christopher Barnwell, 3.5 Ov), Pride line-up.

3 - 21(Sherfane Rutherford, 3.6 Ov), Warrican was 4 - 21(Chandrapaul Hemraj, 4.1 Ov) the final wicket Bowling to fall with the K Roach (4-0-18-2) score on 232, afM Cummins (4-1-24-2) ter Pride accuJ Warrican (0.3-0-6-0) mulated a lead

SCOREBOARD

Guyana Jaguars 1st Innings 548 all out Barbados Pride 1st Innings 360 all out Barbados Pride 2nd Innings K Brathwaite c Bramble b Reifer 4 S Moseley b Pestano 32 S Brooks lbw Shepherd 26 J Carter c Bramble b Shepherd 6 R Chase b Permaul 68 S Dowrich c Bramble b Permaul 65 J Holder c Bramble b Permaul 1 A Nurse b Reifer 1 K Roach lbw Reifer 2 J Warrican c Shepherd b Permaul 0 M Cummings not out 6 Extras 21 Total 232 all out FOW: 1 - 5(Kraigg Brathwaite, 1.5 Ov), 2 - 69(Shayne Moseley, 20.2 Ov), 3 - 76(Jonathan Carter, 23.4 Ov), 4 - 97(Shamarh Brooks, 27.3 Ov), 5 - 204(Shane Dowrich, 57.2 Ov), 6 - 212(Jason Holder, 61.5 Ov), 7 - 217(Ashley Nurse, 64.4 Ov), 8 - 225(Kemar Roach, 70.3 Ov),

of 44, with the Jaguars requiring a slim target of 45 to complete one of their memorable victories. Permaul followed up his four-wicket haul in the first innings with another: 4-73 in 25 overs. Permaul continued to stake a claim for Windies selection as he ended the match with eight wickets for 197 runs in 60 overs.

Reifer grabbed 3-53 in his 23 overs while Shepherd had 2-35 in 11 overs. Pestano ended with 1-37 in his 12 overs of express bowling.

Time was not of the essence for the Jaguars, but chasing 45 runs for victory was an easy task. However, Guyana ran into a Miguel Cummins-Roach roadblock that sent four batsmen back to the hut.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul continued to struggle against quality bowling when he was out for six runs with the score on 8-1 in 2.3 overs. Hemraj smoked one over the ropes, but the Test quick Roach shattered his stumps for nine.

The jaded Christopher Barnwell was out for six attempting to score quick runs, caught

by Nurse off the bowling of Cummins.

Sherfane Rutherford, who gained promotion, was out for a golden duck as Cummins had two-in-two. The Jaguars slipped and slid to 21-4 in pursuit of 45, but Reifer (15*) and Johnson (11*) ensured no further damage as the left-handed pair hit flourishing boundaries to seal a victory. Cummins and Roach had two wickets each in a losing effort.

Conor McGregor wants to fight Tenshin Nasukawa ...after defeat by Floyd Mayweather

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FC fighter Conor McGregor says he wants to fight Tenshin Nasukawa in a mixed martial arts bout following the Japanese kickboxer’s defeat by Floyd Mayweather.

Nasukawa, 20, was beaten by former five-weight world champion Mayweather, 41, in only 140 seconds in an exhibition boxing match on 31 December.

Mayweather beat McGregor last year in the Irishman’s first boxing match.

McGregor, 30, said he wants to take on Nasukara “before this summer”.

“I wish to go to Tokyo to face Tenshin Nasukawa in a Mixed Martial Arts exhibition bout,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Please arrange this, this instant. Yours sincerely, the champ champ,” he added in a tweet directed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship and his management company Paradigm Sports.

In a subsequent tweet he said: “I’m the real Django no holds barred.”

McGregor’s last UFC bout ended in defeat by Russia’s Khabib Nurmagomedov in October. (BBC Sport)

Floyd Mayweather floored Tenshin Nasukawa three times in the opening round

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Page 23

Romario Shepherd

Jaguars romp to 3rd consecutive win after outplaying Pride ...Permaul grabs 4-fer

Supernova stun in Trinidad and Tobago

GFF’s Me Too

Page 22

Lancaster dismissed amid sexual assault findings Page 22 Stanley Lancaster

Kareem McKenzie in action

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