Guyana Times - Tuesday April 16, 2019

Animal rights P15 agencies conduct first neuter campaign Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3896

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESday, april 16, 2019

PRICE

General and Regional Elections

PPP contracts powerful US public strategy firm Page 3

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Pregnant woman P10 brutally chopped by neighbour

…move to counter Govt's misrepresentation – Jagdeo

Housing Minister admits husband received 3 contracts Page 11

ExxonMobil installs first subsea tree Page 9 for Liza Phase 1

Cane cutters picket GuySuCo P10 over earning restriction

Region 1 outbreak

Chinese miners died from histoplasmosis P12 – CMO

… Leptospirosis diagnosis false

The installation of the first subsea tree by ExxonMobil at the Liza Phase 1 development. A subsea tree monitors and controls the production of a subsea well. Affixed to the wellhead of a completed well, it can also manage fluids or gas injected into a well (ExxonMobil photo)

Essequibo Coast family robbed by banditsPage dressed as Police 7

1 killed, 3 injured in Land of Canaan …Texila University employee smash-up dies in hit-and-run accident See stories on pages 7 & 8

Tax revenue declined in 2018 – End of Year report

Oil and gas sector

New regulations coming for ship owners, seafarers P13 Funding for P14 youth businesses inadequate – Youth Director

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tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

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tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

General and Regional Elections

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, April 16 – a night retraction at 03:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

Wednesday. April 17 – a night retraction at 03:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

PPP contracts powerful US public strategy firm …move to counter Govt’s misrepresentation – Jagdeo

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, April 16 – 14:00h-15:30h and Wednesday. April 17 – 14:50h-16:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy skies with light rain showers can be expected throughout the day and the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly and North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 02:13 and 14:35h reaching maximum heights of 2.48 metres and 2.58 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:08h and 20:33h reaching minimum heights of 0.73 metres and 0.59 metre respectively.

saturday, april 13, 2019

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MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019 DAILY MILLIONS

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

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PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

ith General and Regional Elections not far away, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has contracted Washington, DC lobbying firm, Mercury Public Affairs as a consultant.

Mercury Public Affairs is a high-stakes public strategy and communications firm that provides services to the world’s most successful companies, leading advocacy groups, governments, political parties, NGOs, and prominent public and political figures, including US President Donald Trump.

According to PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo in an invited comment, the contract was signed early in March 2019 with a view towards correcting the misinformation being spread by the coalition Government.

“The [A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change] APNU/AFC Administration has been bombarding the world with lies about the state of our country. ‘Business as usual’ has been their mantra, even as they pillage the Treasury and show complete and utter disregard for our Constitution and ignore democratic norms.”

“The proactive move to hire a lobbying firm shows the firm grasp and understanding of modern geopolitics by the PPP/C. This is how American policy is shaped and the most effective way to counter APNU/ AFC misrepresentation and deceit. The price is a small one to pay for the protection of our democracy,” Jagdeo

added.

Jagdeo noted that the date of signing occurred just as Guyanese were faced with the gravest threat to their hard-won democratic rights. In this instance he was referring to the looming constitutional crisis following the passage of a motion of no-confidence against the coalition Government.

According to the former President, the decision to bring the firm on board is one that will see the issues and challenges facing Guyana being brought to the attention of those who shape policy and wield influence in the realm of United States government and politics.

“It is a harbinger of how a future PPP/C Administration will influence policy decisions regarding our country in a very positive manner,” he added. In an invited comment, Jagdeo further said he would address all issues regarding the hiring of the firm at his next press conference.

Since the passage of the No-confidence Motion, delegations from international organisations including the European Union (EU) have been meeting with both the parliamentary Opposition and the Government.

This happened as recently as April 10, 2019, when a delegation of European Ambassadors along with EU Ambassador to Guyana His Excellency Jernej Videti? and UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn, met with a delegation from the parliamentary Opposition.

The Opposition’s repre-

Mercury Public Affairs

sentatives included Irfaan Ali, PPP Presidential Candidate; Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira; and parliamentarian Juan Edghill.

These meetings have been geared towards seeking clarity over Guyana’s political situation.

Since the No-confidence Motion was passed and upheld by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Government moved to the courts. The High Court also upheld the passage of the motion, which meant that as per the Constitution elections should have been held by March 21. With the Government refusing to schedule elections to meet that deadline, the constitutional crisis of which the Opposition Leader alluded to, loomed, at that point the Government appealed.

The Court of Appeal ruled in a 2:1 split decision that an “absolute” majority of 34 votes would have been needed to validly pass the No-confidence Motion brought against the Government last year.

While Justice Rishi Persaud had dismissed the appeal and concurred with the ruling of the Chief Justice in the High Court, his two col-

league Appellate Judges allowed the State’s appeal.

Both Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Dawn Gregory opined that while 33 is the majority of the 65-member National Assembly, the successful passage of a No-confidence Motion requires an “absolute majority” of 34, and not the “simple” majority of 33 that has been used to pass ordinary business in the House, even though the Constitution does not mention the word “absolute” and specifically defined the meaning of majority is specific contexts.

The cases were referred to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) by the PPP and the court set May 10 as the date for hearing the no-confidence cases. The CCJ had the three cases, Christopher Ram v the Attorney General of Guyana, The Leader of the Opposition and Joseph Harmon; Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo v the Attorney General of Guyana, Dr Barton Scotland and Joseph Harmon; and Charrandas Persaud v Compton Herbert Reid, Dr Barton Scotland, Bharrat Jagdeo and Joseph Harmon; all abridged to save time.

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tuesday, april 16, 2019

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

911 emergency a worrying situation

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n Saturday last, the local media reported that several calls by media consultant Alex Graham to the 911 emergency line went unanswered as he and his family sought help from the Police after be robbed.

This is not the first time that the media has reported that the highly touted 911 system is not working effectively as is being publicised by both the Public Security Ministry and the Guyana Police Force. There were previous instances where media reports exposed a call to 911, while an armed robbery might have been in progress, resulted in the caller being given a number for the Police station with jurisdiction and told to call there. While in that instance the positive is that the 911 call was actually answered, from all understanding, operators are expected to take pertinent information and relay same through its internal network.

Many, over the years, have lamented the poor 911 service. In desperate situations when crimes are being committed, and which could mean the difference between life and death, the citizenry would naturally expect not just professionalism, but a swift and effective response by law enforcement. There can be no alternative to this.

Sometime back an upgrade to the 911 system was reported as well as the cost for same. With such overdue and desired improvement, the reason for a 911 operator providing a number for a station and asking the person seeking assistance to make another call, as precious time ticks away, is beyond comprehension. That station number could be engaged or go unanswered, as experienced by some, further delaying a much needed response.

In addition, some repeated excuses as per the media and victims, are, “you need to call another station as this one does not have jurisdiction” and “only two ranks are at the station and as such are unable to assist”. Unfortunately this has been the harsh reality for some. It renews the nagging concern over the many ranks seen on the roadways at any given time dealing with traffic related issues but often not enough in the nights to respond to armed robberies.

Motorists have alleged of being unduly harassed by Policemen during the day and it is not unusual to hear of that disparity in presence alluded to. This does not take away from the need to curb errant road users; however taxpayers would expect nothing short of the desired response when it comes to attack from bandits.

In many past incidents of crime, often the sloth or lack of a response by the Police is noted. Again, this does not take away from the fact that there were times when the Police responded promptly and confronted the armed perpetrators.

However, none can deny the distressing reports of residents bemoaning the lack of a timely response. Sentiments would be further riled in the unfortunate circumstances when a life is lost at the hands of bandits.

Experiencing an attack by armed bandits is a most traumatising experience which can linger with time. It haunts and is relived over and over in the minds of the victims.

Indirectly, relatives are also affected having to grapple with the horror their loved ones were forced to endure. Tardiness and a perceived lack of concern by the Police would therefore only serve to exacerbate sentiments.

While such trauma would be referred to in the reports, there is uncertainty over mechanisms, if any, that is implemented for mitigation. This is clearly an area for which capacity building is urgently needed and which could help foster improved relationship between the related authorities and residents.

Obviously the Police have challenges and one is the inadequate number of ranks. That reality unfortunately does not bring respite to residents who find it difficult to accept excuses for slow or a lack of response. These scenarios have unfortunately led to an erosion of confidence in the Police by many citizens and understandably so. There is further erosion when Policemen are fingered and charged for breaking the law including, committing or assisting acts of robberies.

With crime being everybody’s business, the Police leadership and the ranks will have to be supported and they must continue to find innovative ways of meaningfully engaging residents and to be effective to build confidence in all aspects of the system, including 911. Our safety demands nothing less.

Fire engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, one of the city’s most iconic sights. In photo, people watch as firefighters douse flames of the burning Cathedral (REUTERS/Charles Platiau)

Pentagon developing military options to deter Russian, Chinese influence in Venezuela

And he also rapped Beijing, another Maduro supporter. “When China does business in places like Latin America, it often injects corrosive capital into the economic bloodstream, giving life to corruption and eroding good governance,” Pompeo said during an April 12 speech in Chile.

By Barbara Starr, Ryan Browne and Zachary Cohen, CNN

T

he Pentagon is developing new military options for Venezuela aimed at deterring Russian, Cuban and Chinese influence inside the regime of President Nicolás Maduro, but stopping short of any kinetic military actions, according to a defence official familiar with the effort.

The deterrence options are being ordered following a White House meeting last week where national security adviser John Bolton told acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan to develop ideas on the Venezuela crisis.

The official emphasised strongly that the initial work is being done by the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, which conducts planning for future military operations along with the Southern Command, which oversees any US military involvement in the southern hemisphere.

And even though Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently said that “all options” remain on the table for dealing with Venezuela, several Pentagon officials continue to say there is no appetite at the Department of Defence for using US military force against the Venezuelan regime to try to force it from power.

While President Donald Trump has called for Maduro to leave and has said the Russians have to get out of Venezuela, there is no indication he wants to commit US troops to a major military action there.

Instead, deterrence options could include US naval exercises in the immediate region to emphasize humanitarian assistance and more military interaction with neighbouring countries.

The idea would be to challenge any Russian, Cuban or Chinese notion that they could have unchallenged ac-

Pompeo and China trade barbs

cess to the region.

The preliminary planning work being done will at some point be forwarded to Shanahan, who in turn will then present ideas to the White House, the official said.

The US called for Maduro to step down in February, when National Assembly President Juan Guaidó declared himself interim President on the grounds that a 2018 election had been rigged. Since then, tensions have climbed as senior US officials have repeated their calls for the military to abandon Maduro, while Maduro has blamed the US for Venezuela’s troubles.

During a speech commemorating the 17th anniversary of the failed coup against the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez on Saturday, Maduro called on all Venezuelans who want to get in involved and defend their homeland to enlist and train with the military to reach the “new goal of three million members.”

Pompeo: ‘All options’ available.

Maduro reminded the crowd that last year he set the goal of two million military members and said “we have accomplished our mission,” calling for the additional one million members to join and “defend our territory and borders.”

Maduro said he will have a total of three million or more military troops by

December of 2019.

Pompeo, speaking in Paraguay on April 13, reiterated that all options remain on the table for Venezuela.

“We keep all options on the table because it’s very important, in that we don’t know how things will proceed,” he said.

The top US diplomat, on a three-day tour of Chile, Paraguay and Peru, did not directly answer questions about whether the US has a strategy to deal with Maduro should he retain the military power necessary to stay in office, but insisted that any decision will be up to the Venezuelan people.

“The strategy is not just an American strategy. It’s the Venezuelan people’s strategy,” he said during an interview Saturday with Voice of America Spanish.

“Sometimes people think Maduro is winning, and yet he’s handed over all of his power to the Cubans, to the Russians. This is weakness from Maduro. And so this weakness will ultimately lead to his departure, and democracy and prosperity will be restored in Venezuela. I am very confident of that,” he added.

During his trip, Pompeo said that as Venezuela’s neighbours struggle to cope with the refugees fleeing the country, “a hundred percent” of that challenge is the “direct result” of Maduro as well as Russia and Cuba, which support him.

“China’s bankrolling of the Maduro regime helped precipitate and prolong the crisis in that country. China invested over $60 billion; $60 billion with no strings attached. Well, it’s no surprise that Maduro used the money to use for tasks like paying off cronies, crushing pro-democracy activists, and funding ineffective social programmes. And you all know, better than anyone in America could know, the crushing, devastating results of that,” Pompeo said.

“I think there’s a lesson, a lesson to be learned for all of us: China and others are being hypocritical calling for non-intervention in Venezuela’s affairs. Their own financial interventions have helped destroy that country,” Pompeo added.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a press briefing Monday that Pompeo had “has wantonly slandered and deliberately provoked China-Latin America relations. It is irresponsible and utterly unjustifiable. We strongly oppose this.”

“It should be pointed out that for some time, some US politicians have been carrying the same version, the same script of slandering China all over the world, and fanning the flames and sowing discord everywhere. The words and deeds are despicable. But lies are lies, even if you say it a thousand times, they are still lies. Pompeo, you can stop,” he added. (CNN)

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TUESday, april 16, 2019

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

Youths need jobs and training to Personal and stave off mental health issues selfish gains

Dear Editor, According to media reports, the Department of Youth plans to launch a ‘job readiness training’ initiative for youths to better ease them into the workforce. While the reasons given for such an initiative have merit, The Caribbean Voice would like to point out that job readiness training can only be capitalised upon if jobs are readily available.

Our own experiences indicate that this is not so. Over the last two years or so, young people in Guyana have bombarded TCV with requests for jobs.

Unfortunately, as a fully volunteer-driven NGO, TCV cannot offer jobs. And there seems to be no mechanism in place to refer them for consideration. As well, the businesses and business entities we touch base with are not able to generate vacancies to meet the needs.

Besides, at the Department’s recent job fair, more than 600 youths were in attendance, but the Department indicated that only about 200 youths were being catered for. And the Minister for youth affairs (among other portfolios), Dr George Norton, has expressed concern that 40 per cent of youths are unemployed.

Our overriding concern is that most of those looking for jobs become overly anxious and depressed with some moving on to suicide ideation. TCV knows this because we have handled many such cases. Thus, we appeal to the Department of Youth to set up and widely publicise a mechanism that can easily and quickly offer job placements for young people across Guyana. That mechanism can include a component that facilitates placements of vacancies and matches young people seeking jobs with vacan-

cies for which they are suited. As well, it is our hope that job readiness training would be offered across Guyana, as many of those young people (in all ten regions) seeking jobs have no marketable skills, which compounds their plight.

On another youth-related matter, while lauding the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme, The Caribbean Voice, for the past few years, has been advocating for mental health to be included in the training so that those equipped with skills for advancement would also be prepared to deal with challenges and any form of abuse that comes their way without retreating to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. This necessity becomes all the more critical given that young people, 1525, still exhibit the highest suicide rate in Guyana and that both suicide and vari-

ous forms of abuse saturate hinterland communities. In fact, most of our counselling cases have been young people within this age bracket.

While we acknowledge the successes of HEYS as put out by the Government, no data has ever been publicised as to the actual failure rate. If indeed, the success rate is 100 per cent that would be fabulous but since generally that is never the case, the issues that impact failure ought to be addressed, as we are certain that mental health issues would loom large in such situations. In any case, even those who succeed can also benefit for positive mental health training, especially acquisition of coping skills, the ability to face and overcome challenges and to self-forgive, the development of high self-esteem and self-confidence.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

We are showing newcomers that everything is in order in Guyana Dear Editor, Immediately after the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) and the country being under the impression that elections would be held soon, social media started buzzing about the increase of minimum wages by supporters of the ruling coalition. I commented on one politician’s post that the statement is not entirely correct and amongst his reply, he pointed out that I am bitter. As I indicated before, if I am, I have all right to be. I am not one of those hypocrites that would see something wrong and not point it out. In and out of politics, that attitude has caused me a lot and I still persist in speaking out, not for me alone but for those who are afraid. Now this Administration and its supporters are boasting about the increase of minimum wages to sixty-five thousand dollars, which I agree with, but are workers getting that? No. A majority of them are not getting it and it’s this Government’s fault that people are not getting it because they should have ensured that the rules are enforced. Sales girls/boys are seemingly the largest set of workers throughout Guyana and approximately ninety per cent of them are not getting two thousand dollars a day to take home.

Walk along any of these two streets, Regent or Robb; they have the most stores and workers and whilst brows-

ing, chat with one of them and hear their story. Their working conditions, hours, facilities, duties and mainly their salaries are something to shake your head about.

Most of their salaries are between two thousand dollars and two thousand five hundred dollars a day whereby for most of them, it is two thousand. I was able to verify this after I spoke to one manager of a popular store at Regent Street after I was inquiring about jobs for two Venezuelans I was accompanying. The manager was not interested in employing them and suggested that we visit the Chinese stores or stores that have items that attract the Cubans because his products are huge items and Cubans are purchasing mostly clothes and small items for shipping to their country. After a little bit of persistence, I was told that the salary is two thousand dollars per day and out of that, NIS and PAYE have to be deducted which roughly leaves you with around sixteen hundred dollars. Even with the ability to translate between English and Spanish, the salary is still the same and a requirement at some stores now. I find the salary to be insulting to the workers and with the additional knowledge to translate, they should have been given an extra stipend. For years now, this atrocious behaviour has been going on.

Anyone care to rectify it?

Editor, quite recently,

one Minister indicated that the Venezuelans entering Guyana should ensure that they register and get their documents sorted out so that they can pay their NIS and PAYE. Bravo for that but I wonder if the Minister is aware that many places of employment take out NIS, PAYE/Tax from people’s salary and don’t submit it.

Only recently, the NIS issued notices that some companies/firms should check with them. No doubt it’s about them not paying the contributions of their staff.

One security guard living near me said she has been working with a security company for three years and when she went to look after her glasses, she was informed that no contributions have been paid for the time that she has been working with the firm. Like her, there are many other places deducting money out the workers’ salaries and not paying it to the agency. Now, what could be done to remedy this situation

that has been going on for as long as I can remember?

No one knows how long the Venezuelans will be here for and some already chose to go back even though things are bad there and should the situation change, I am assuming most will return to their country. Now, given the actions by those who don’t like to pay people’s contributions, who will stop them from deducting money from the Venezuelans’ salaries and not pay when they know or assume that the Venezuelans will not be here to claim their contributions? Anyhow, it’s all fun and exciting to see that much interest being shown to foreigners/aliens and our own cannot be looked after.

In a nutshell, the wages are low, contributions are being deducted and not being paid, rates and taxes are not being paid but we show the newcomers that everything is in order.

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

Dear Editor, I have been following the news regarding the “reorganisation” of the Guyana Forestry Commission, and I am in utter shock at the current state into which this model organisation has descended under this current Government.

Now, rather than accepting that the current APNU/AFC Govt erred in taking away GFC finances from the REDD+ Fund and there is a general slump in construction and economic development, efforts are being made to facilitate corruption. This will be done through the wanton removal of technical and competent staff who are blocking the current AFC-led former GFC Commissioner from carrying out his acts of victimisation and impending corruption.

Editor, since a teenager, I have been involved in the forestry sector as a chainsaw operator, to provide for my mother and siblings; and have moved on to owning my own portable sawmill and gaining valuable contracts from construction companies; then on to owning my own sawmill and gaining export markets. It is a fact that the sector was at its lowest when this former commissioner was in charge of Forestry. It was a free-for-all for chainsaw operators, and only his closest business associates benefitted the most. Do we want to back-pedal to those days?

However, it was after his departure that the fortunes of the sector gradually changed, allowing for equal opportunities for all stakeholders operating under strict but workable regula-

tions. During this period, many chainsaw operators got opportunities -- as I did -- to develop themselves and families, particularly in riverine communities.

I am knowledgeable of how Guyana’s forests are managed in the fields, and will plead innocence to what is actually happening at the GFC Head Office as it relates to finances and staff benefits. But what I can definitively say is that this sector is well managed, and is one of the most regulated. To now learn that efforts are being made to “reorganise” this sector causes something to smell fishy.

I am sure that the Government, which approved this reorganisation, has been misled, and should pay attention to what has happened, is happening, and will happen. The consequences and repercussions of this intended “reorganisation” will have far-reaching social effects for the staff of the Commission and for forest stakeholders, and political implications for the Government.

Further, I believe that, since this Government came into power, the Commission was deliberately handicapped and sabotaged by this former commissioner and the Ministry of Natural Resources, in order for it to arrive at this stage as a means to justify “reorganisation” and seize control of an independent, semi-autonomous agency to satisfy the personal and selfish needs of this former commissioner and his subject Ministry.

Sincerely, C De Barros (Snr)

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Foundation

If you take some time and step away and keep it casual, chances are more than likely your teenage son will seek you out if you give him the opportunity to.

Don’t make him wrong

By Robert Myers, PhD

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child’s relationship with their father is an important one. When the connection is secure, the child can successfully move through the stages of development.

When a father-child relationship is insecure, it can cause behaviour issues, problems developing satisfying relationships, and hardships into adulthood.

What is a secure relationship?

A secure relationship with your son or daughter means the child knows that they can depend on you. They know that if they need you, you’ll be available. This type of relationship begins to develop in children when they’re very young. Infants learn that if they cry, mom or dad will come to them to offer assistance. A child who has a secure relationship with their parents will be more confident and independent. Dad can become the child’s secure base as they venture out into the world.

You know you’re doing it well when… * Your toddler may cry when you leave but then settle down if there’s a loving adult face to comfort them. This indicates that the child has learned that even though dad isn’t there right now, they trust that you’ll return. * For adolescents and teens, a sign that your child is secure with your relationship is the willingness to disagree with you. Now that may not be much fun for you, but it’s a good indication that they know you love and support them even when you have a different opinion. * You know you have a secure relationship with your child when they play and interact well with other children.

This applies to children of all ages, though security and attachment behaviours are usually observed in early childhood. * Your child is happy to see you. For toddlers, you might even find that children are so ecstatic to see you that they cry. Adolescents and teens greet you with a genuine smile or a hug when they’re securely connected to dad.

Developing a secure attachment

Attachment is generally developed during infancy and early childhood by being responsive as a parent. Dads, as well as moms, can play a role in caregiving and foster attachment. When dad consistently responds positively to a child’s needs, they lay the foundation for a secure attachment. That means responding to cries, feeding when hungry, and protecting them and comforting them when they’re afraid.

As you can see, while attachment may be something that begins in infancy, it lasts throughout a child’s life. When dad can be counted on, and a child knows their father is there to depend on, they can grow up to become happier and more confident adults.

Tips for reconnecting with your teenage son Any parent of a teenager knows that this phase makes the terrible twos seem pretty easy. Teenagers have their own set of issues going on, and even though we went through it ourselves, it is not easy parenting a teenager.

Even more delicate is the relationship between teenage son and father. While most teenagers seem to go through the rebellious phase in order to come out the other end finding out who they are, it may be a battle of the male sexes when it comes to dads and sons.

It does not have to be this way all the time, however. There are times when you just have to concede that this is a phase and it too shall pass, while other times you can manage and work your way through it as a parent with tips and tools.

Sometimes the simple act of reconnecting is enough to get you both back on track.

Just because your teenage son wants to do things differently does not make him wrong necessarily. For example, while most parents want their kids to go to college, maybe your son is not interested right now.

Let’s look at some of the facts. Hundreds upon thousands of kids with college degrees come out with tons of money in loans and no job in sight.

If your teenage son does not want to go to college, instead of acting horrified see if you can strike a compromise. Perhaps he can work part time and go to school part time. Or perhaps instead of a miscellaneous degree, he can attend a technical school.

When it comes to teenage sons, sometimes letting go a little allows him to grow a lot. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

Giving him responsibility

You may wonder, as a parent, how giving your teenage son responsibility is a way to reconnect with him. If done in the right manner and not as a command or an order, giving your teenage son responsibility around the house shows him that you trust him.

It may be something as simple as picking up his younger brother after school or going to the post office if he is newly licensed. Small gestures of responsibility give him a feeling that you view him as a young man now. This will instil a sense of pride and gratitude to you for trusting him more and more now.

Believe it or not, the act of standing next to your teenage son and quietly trying to hook a fish gives you the opportunity to just be with one another. Fishing offers the opportunity for no pretence, no battle of who is in charge, and no trying to be in control of each other.

In the quiet and simple act of fishing, you teach your son the art of patience and success when you reel one in, and you simply let him be who he is at the same time. There are no rules to discuss, no curfews to argue about, and no expectations at the moment other than to just be.

Give him some space

In any relationship, sometimes a little space is necessary. It is no good to be on top of someone else in an effort to make them see things your way or to gain control.

By Robert Myers, PhD

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here are many different parenting styles. There’s the parent who lets their children raise themselves.

They’re too permissive, and the child has no direction or structure. There’s also what’s commonly called an overbearing parent. Psychologists call this the “Authoritarian” parenting style, and it can have a negative long-term impact on your relationship with your child.

Characteristics of an overbearing dad

You might be an overbearing dad if… * You have overly strict rules. Your children must follow orders, no questions asked. * You aren’t nurturing. You don’t routinely hug your children or show them physical affection. * You consider yourself to be strong-willed. * You’re determined to take control of your child’s life so they don’t mess it up. * You don’t take time to give children choices or options.

Instead, you tell them what they have to do. If they don’t do it, you don’t embrace natural consequences but instead punish the child. * You have high expectations and when those expectations aren’t met your child knows that they’re in trouble. * Overbearing fathers may feel as if they’re protecting their children. However, the truth is that they’re limiting children from exploring and experiencing their world. * Overbearing fathers often make children feel afraid.

Instead of feeling secure and trusting that they have a dad to take care of them, a child feels as if dad is a threat.

The long-term ramifications

There are many unhappy long-term results from being an overbearing dad. If during early childhood development, a child is unable to explore their world and make mistakes, they don’t learn to trust themselves. They feel inadequate, and their self-esteem is negatively impacted. This can be difficult for children to recover from even if they have healthier relationships later on.

Children also learn not to trust an overbearing father.

Rather than being someone they feel they can depend on, dad becomes someone they avoid and feel fearful of when spending time together. The parent-child relationship is an important one, and when a child avoids one parent, it can be difficult to repair. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to overbearing parents, and the results can be tragic.

The teen years are a time of rebellion and adolescents with overbearing fathers may engage in even more risky behaviours than average adolescents. As dad increases the discipline in response to the child’s behaviour, the child escalates the behaviour. Conversely, some adolescents become submissive and stop trying to make decisions for themselves. Instead, they follow the crowd and can get themselves into abusive relationships.

There’s no positive side to being an overbearing parent.

If you relate to any of the signs, take a step back. You can guide and protect your child without being a dictator. (childde-

velopmentinfo.com)

news

7

tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

1 killed, 3 injured in Land of Canaan smash-up ered, Deokie and his friend were heading home after a night out at a popular club on the West Coast of Demerara when it is alleged that he lost control of the motorcar and crashed into the two other vehicles which were heading in the opposite direction.

Deokie and Morrison were reportedly pinned in the wrecked vehicle. It took

to go out but apparently, he called Nicholas and they reach up at a club in Cornelia Ida.” Guyana Times was told that Deokie boarded a taxi but then came out and collected the keys to Morrison’s car. The distressed father added that after he received the news of the accident, he asked if his son was okay but did not get a response.

In near tears, he added, “I always give him his freedom… He called me around

“When I got the telephone call, I asked if Ryan was okay but his friend did not respond to my question… at that time I knew that it was serious… When we arrived at the scene, we saw the wreckage and I burst into tears.”

She noted that the family will regroup and deal with the shock – one that will last a lifetime. The young man was a member of the Soesdyke Cricket Team.

He attended the Camille

Dead: Mahendra Ryan Deokie

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he eldest grandchild of popular Soesdyke businessman, Chandralall Deokie was in the wee hours of Monday killed following a three-vehicle collision at Land of Canaan on the East Bank of Demerara. The accident has also left three persons hospitalised with one in critical condition.

Dead is 20-year-old Mahendra Ryan Deokie of Soesdyke, EBD, while Emily Persaud and Sasha Mohanlall, also of Soesdyke, EBD, were treated at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

The third person, Nicolas Morrison, of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, is clinging to life at the Georgetown Public Hosptial.

Based on reports received, the accident occurred at about 03:00h and involved a minibus, a Honda CRV and the car Deokie was driving.

From information gath-

The mangled car that Deokie was driving at the time of the accident

Injured friend: Nicolas Morrison

family members, who rushed to the scene, and public-spirited citizens some time to pull them from the mangled car. They were then rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. While there, Deokie succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Morrison, who was in an unconscious state, was transferred to the GPHC due to the severity of his injuries. While information remains sketchy about the circumstances surrounding the accident, the drivers of the two other vehicles were

detained at the Madewini Police Outpost as the traffic ranks continue their probe.

At the home of the young man, his parents were grief-stricken. His grandparents were trying to come to grips with reality and his friends were in a state of shock and disbelief. His grandfather, Chandralall Deokie, explained that he received a telephone call at about 03:00h informing him of the accident and he rushed to the scene.

He noted that his grandson had to be pulled from the wreckage but although there were minor scratches and bruises on his body, he believed that he might have suffered head injuries.

He explained that both he and his close friend, Nicholas, were in an unconscious state. The two young lads who were with them sustained bodily injuries but

were conscious.

The grandfather told this publication that he knew his grandson was dead after looking at the body language of the doctors, who tried everything to resuscitate him.

The young man’s father, Ravin Deokie, who is also a businessman, told Guyana Times that his son only returned from their interior logging operations on Sunday morning.

“He called me and tell me that he wanted to come out…then he called back and said don’t worry… then again he call back and say he is ready to come out and that I must collect him at Linden,” the father said.

The grieving man stated that he never stopped his son from going anywhere with his friends but always warned him not to drink and drive.

“He left home in a taxi

The minibus that was involved in the fatal accident

midnight and asked me if we were heading back to the backdam and I told him yes and that he must come home and get some rest”.

“He was my backbone and strength… when I am out, he is in the interior managing things,” the father cried.

An aunt, Camille Deokie, added that her nephew was a “gem”.

Institute for Business and Science Studies (CIBSS) and after completing his secondary education, he joined the family business.

He leaves to mourn his parents, grandparents, two siblings and other relatives.

A post-mortem is expected to be performed on his body on Wednesday to determine the cause of death. (Bhisham Mohamed)

Essequibo Coast family robbed by bandits dressed as Police

Injured: Nahib Sabar

The bandits removed the DVR from the home security system

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businessman and his family were on Sunday evening terrorised and robbed of millions of dollars in cash and other valuables by gunmen who stormed their home at Vilvoorden, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Businessman Nahib Sabar, owner of the N. Sabar Cell Phone Connection, had gone with his wife and two sons to mosque for prayer on Sunday afternoon, after which they visited his mother-in-law, who lives in the same village.

They returned home at about 20:00h, and as Sabar was about to enter his yard, he was confronted by a group of armed men dressed as Police officers, reportedly carrying high powered weapons and cutlasses but with masks over their faces.

The businessman told Guyana Times that one of the men held him at gunpoint and demanded that he open the door to the house, while the others were holding his family hostage. As he opened the door, his family was forced

The businessman’s home at Vilvoorden, Essequibo Coast

into the house, but three armed bandits kept guard outside.

Those who came into the home demanded $20 million to keep his family alive.

The businessman explained that during the ordeal he was beaten as he begged the bandits not to harm his family. After the men continued with their demands and threats, he handed over $3 million and about 30 high-end mobile phones.

Turn to page 8

8 News

tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Texila University employee dies in hit-and-run accident

The roadway where Arnold Kissoonlall was struck and killed

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he latest fatality, a hit-andrun accident on the East Bank of Demerara, claimed the life of a facility maintenance worker who was employed by Texila American University.

According to reports, Arnold Kissoonlall was traversing along the bridge between Peters Hall and Providence, in the vicinity of the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, on a bicycle when he was struck by a vehicle heading north. The driver of

the vehicle fled the scene upon impact.

When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, the man’s body was removed along with a blue bicycle belonging to Kissoonlall. Persons at the scene could not give a description of the vehicle involved in the accident. It was indicated that the man’s head was crushed.

At the scene, over a dozen employees were present but remained tightlipped about details surrounding the dead man or the accident. This publication understands that the man re-

sided at Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara.

His body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted. Meanwhile, the police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident and are also on the lookout for the vehicle which caused the tragic incident. This newspaper was also told that Police are examining surveillance footage from nearby businesses.

This is the second hit-and-run accident over the past three days. On Saturday, 27-year-old Joel Wills was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a lorry on the Number One Public Road, East Berbice Corentyne.

Wills was on his way home from the Albion Community Centre where he was a part of a group that cleaned the arena for a Jehovah’s Witnesses convention.

According to information received, following the collision the driver of the motor lorry fled the scene without rendering any assistance.

Mechanic charged for causing death by dangerous driving

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mechanic was on Monday taken before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Leroy Bagenot of Kuru-Kururu, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, denied the charge which stated that on November 7, 2018, he drove motor lorry GXX 1162 in a dangerous manner causing the death of Mohammed Kalamadeen at Friendship Public Road, East Bank

Demerara.

The 29-year-old father of one allegedly lost control of the motor lorry he was driving, which caused him to swerve into the opposite lane and collide with the truck the deceased was driving. Kalamadeen was first rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital as a result of the extent of his injuries. He, however, succumbed to his injuries in December 2018.

The defendant was represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay, who told the court that his client is not a flight risk and he is willing to adhere to any condition imposed by the court.

Police Prosecutor Mansfield did not object to bail.

Bail was granted in the sum of $350,000. As a condition for bail, Bagenot is required to report to the Grove Police Station once per week until the completion of his trial. The case will continue on April 30, 2019.

Brazilian fined for illegal entry into Guyana

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50-year-old Brazilian was fined and deported after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday to answer to a charge of illegal entry.

Jose Perriera stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and admitted to the charge which stated that on March 30, 2019, at

Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), he entered Guyana by land and did not present himself to an immigration officer at the port of entry.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court on Monday that on April 10, 2019, the defendant was detained by ranks attached to B Division (Berbice) of the

Guyana Police Force, who were at the time conducting a search at the Berbice Bridge.

Perriera was asked to present his travel documents but failed to do so. As a result, he was escorted to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters, where he admitted by means of an interpreter that he entered Guyana via Lethem by rid-

Essequibo Coast family...

The businessman recalled that one of the bandits was taking instructions over the phone, which meant that the person on the other end of the line might have been knowledgeable about his business.

As the bandits were leaving, he noted, they were about to abduct one of his sons as hostage; but after he pleaded with them not

to harm the lad, the bandits resorted to using heavy duty zip tie to bind together the hands and feet of his family members.

The bandits also removed and took away the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from the home security system.

The traumatised family was warned not to step out of the house, or they

ing a bicycle over the border.

The unrepresented Brazilian, in a plea of mitigation, told the court that he came to Guyana in search of a better job.

The Chief Magistrate fined Perriera $30,000.

Failure to pay the fine will result in him serving three weeks in prison. He was also deported.

From page 7

would be shot and killed.

However, after some time, the businessman managed to free himself and his family, and thereafter he raised an alarm.

This newspaper understands that the armed men had been monitoring the businessman’s movements.

While they were awaiting his return home, the armed men had allegedly terro-

rised and robbed another family of jewellery and cash.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times was told that although the Police were summoned to the Sabar residence, ranks were reportedly afraid to go after the armed bandits.

This businessman had, in 2018, been robbed at least five times; and on every occasion, the Police had allegedly failed to arrest anyone.

The businessman also said that when he had threatened the Police to get the media involved in their non-action to properly investigate the incidents, he was placed in the lockups and later released on $100,000 bail.

He was never charged, nor did he get back his bail money.

When contacted, the Police said they have launched an investigation into the robbery.

Codes…

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…and responsibility to society he reaction of representatives of the PNC-led Government to the scandals sprouting all over the place like jumbie umbrellas is very telling. Jumbie umbrellas, after all, are mushrooms that basically grow by being kept in the dark and being fed “sh*t”!!

And this is what the Ministers and officials been doing, haven’t they?? For four years, they kept us in the dark about when they’d get around to fulfilling all the promises they made in their slick Manifesto. And only when their feet are being held to the fire after the NCM have they launched “outreaches”, wherein they’ll feed those who turn up sh*t!!

Don’t hold your breath for them to release the numbers on how many ACTUALLY got jobs at the Ministry of Youth’s Job Fair - which they’ll now take to Berbice!! If they really wanted to help Berbicians, how come they didn’t launch job fairs right after they fired those 4000 sugar workers?? Anyhow, back to the scandals and the reactions.

Nagamootoo, who’s ACTING as President -- is he really CHAIRING Cabinet meetings at long last? -- insisted the two Ministers on the firing line acted in accordance with the Govt’s (still not released) Code of Conduct and the Integrity Act!! Well, if that’s so, no wonder their Code’s stillborn!!

Even Ghoulsarran, who worked so hard to get Nagamootoo and company into office, recently insisted they were in breach of the Integrity Act -- passed, not incidentally, by the PPP. The PNC and AFC, from the onset, refused to submit their required declarations with the body; so their actions shouldn’t have surprised Ghoulsarran.

If these Ministers were weaned by the PNC on the notion they can cherry-pick the rules of the Integrity Commission, why should they not be just as selective and close their eyes to the most blatant of conflicts of interest??

There’s a long, long established history about the impossibility of practising selective morality – the willingness to do the dirty quickly permeates the practitioner’s entire being!! It’s like selling your soul to the Devil – there’s no line that can be drawn. And this was the position from the very beginning.

Could there be a more immoral decision that honouring Hamilton Green with an OR -- whose LEAST sin was blocking Rodney’s appointment to UG -- and then bumping his pension to $1.4 million monthly? What about Roopnaraine being involved in the Durban Park scam?? And let’s not talk about giving themselves a 50 per cent salary hike, while pi55ing on Government workers who’re their most faithful followers.

The point is, the Govt can have the most impressive Code of Behaviour, but if they exempt insiders, all others will follow suit.

The fish first start stinking at the head!!

…for businesses One buzzword percolating our globalised village nowadays is “corporate governance”. While we all know about the proclivity of governments to take to corruption like duck to water, and proceed to fill their pockets, the tendency also became pronounced in the corporate world.

We know from the beginning that the word on business was “caveat emptor” – buyers beware. But in the last few decades, the Wall Street “Masters of the Universe” and the sharks in the City of London have taken corporate corruption to a whole new level. It’s now countries beware!!

In reaction to Maxwell’s Mirror conglomerate imploding ignominiously in multi-billion fraud across in England, followed by Enron in the States, Satyam in India, and so on, the powers that be thought it was time for some Codes of “corporate governance”. Problem is they couldn’t decide whether to make the rules mandatory or just leave them aspirational.

After CLICO’s collapse, discussion on a Corporate Code’s even reached our shores. But with the PNC setting the pace on corruption, the PSC better make it mandatory!!

Business see, business do!!

…for the Police The Public Security Minister evidently jumped the gun on his Guyana Police Force becoming a “kinder and gentler” organisation. The first step was changing their name to the “Guyana Police Service”.

Are they waiting until the elections are over?

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

9 Tax revenue declined in 2018 – End of Year report news

tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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he Government collected $198.5 billion in tax revenue for the year 2018, but while it amounts to a large chunk of Government revenue, the reality is that it is below the 2019 budget projections.

This is according to the 2018 End of Year outcome report, which was

recently released by the Finance Ministry. In the report, it is recorded that this tax revenue accounted for 91.6 per cent of Central Government’s revenue.

According to the report, the $198.5 billion is a decline of $1.0 billion or 0.5 per cent below the revised projection in Budget 2019.

It noted that in 2018, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) remitted $117.5 billion or 59.2 per cent of tax revenue collections.

This, the report says, reflects higher remissions for companies and businesses.

Meanwhile, non-tax revenue increased by $0.8 billion, 4.8 per cent above the $17.4

First subsea tree for Liza Phase 1 installed The Guyana Revenue Authority

billion projected in Budget 2019.

Government deficit was marginally smaller than expected, the report shows.

“The Central Government recorded a fiscal deficit of $27.3 billion in 2018, or 3.4 per cent of GDP, smaller than the projected deficit of $31.2 billion, or 3.9 per cent of GDP, projected in the 2019 Budget,” the report The installation of the first subsea tree

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xxonMobil on Monday announced that Liza Phase 1 development has reached another milestone with the installation of the first subsea tree.

According to the company, a subsea tree monitors and controls the production of a subsea well. Affixed to

Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel designed to have the capacity to process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day from four subsea drill centres consisting of 17 wells which include eight producers, six water injectors and three gas injectors.

Production start-up is scheduled for early 2020.

An underwater image of the subsea tree

the wellhead of a completed well, it can also manage fluids or gas injected into a well.

“The tree arrived in Guyanese waters on the Chouest C-Installer in February. Installation and testing began on April 11 and lasted for four days,” the company said in a release to the media.

According to ExxonMobil, it was lowered into the water from the back deck of the multipurpose installation vessel via a crane, set in 1700 meters of water onto the first completed well then latched and locked into place using a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). The valves were then pressure tested.

The next tree is expected to be installed in May. The Liza Phase 1 development includes a subsea production system and a Floating Production

US oil giant ExxonMobil has revised the estimated gross recoverable resource from the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana to approximately 5.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

states.

“The smaller than anticipated deficit was due to lower capital and current expenditures. Tax and non-tax revenue collections in 2018 were $216.7 billion, 0.1 per cent below the projection in Budget 2019.”

In September of last year, GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia had disclosed that billions of dol-

lars were collected as of the end of August through the imposition of a tax amnesty.

According to Statia at the time, the GRA had managed to collect over $5 billion so far and this figure may increase. Statia also reminded that this was the last extension that will be granted to the amnesty, while encouraging defaulters to pay.

The tax amnesty worked by allowing taxpayers who file and pay all principal taxes on or before June 30, 2018 to have all their interest and penalties waived, while those who filed and paid all principal taxes between July 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018 would have 50 per cent of interest and penalties waived.

At the end of the previous amnesty which ended in June 2018, it was announced that $3 billion was raked in, but this number had subsequently climbed.

The final amnesty ended on September 30 last year.

10 news Pregnant woman brutally Another miner dies as mining pit collapses chopped by neighbour tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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Injured: Vanessa Persaud in her hospital bed

Hague backdam, West Coast Demerara woman is nursing two chop wounds to her head and a fractured skull after she was attacked by a neighbour on Saturday night when she confronted him about a bicycle, which he stole from her.

Injured is Vanessa Persaud, who is 38 weeks pregnant and a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, Persaud said that on Saturday night at about 19:30h she saw the young man and confronted him about a bicycle, which he stole from her. She said that during the confronta-

tion she informed the young man that she would be calling the police. According to the injured woman, the suspect’s younger brother threw a cutlass to him and he attacked her.

“He started to run behind me and just start chopping me like he mad. I tried to escape but I couldn’t. I’m 38 weeks pregnant. I fall down, all the blood started gushing down [my] face. I got two big chops in my head and my skull fracture,” the distraught woman said.

She added that she was immediately rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital then transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital but due to the severity of her injuries, she

was transferred to the GPHC. Persaud further said that she has lost a lot of blood and is in severe pain but is praying for a full recovery.

She added that she was experiencing severe abdominal pains and requested that the doctor check on her baby, however, the nurses told her that she was not admitted for any issues relating to her pregnancy and they can only deal with the chop wounds.

“I am in here since Saturday night and I keep asking them all the time to check to make sure my baby is okay but they ain’t checking. The nurses just keep saying they ain’t admit me for that, they admit me for chop wound and that’s all they looking at and I could go to maternity with my clinic to deal with that after,” the woman said.

Persaud said that her assailant was taken into custody and will be placed before the court of law on Thursday. She added that the suspect is 18 while his younger brother 14.

She said the teens are known in the area as petty thieves and are very abusive to their mother.

“They never went to school. They just smoking and stealing and creating trouble in the neighbourhood,” Persaud said.

…miners operating without advice, guidance or clearance – Commander

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ince the year began, there have been four mining deaths recorded where the pits that those miners were working in, caved in. Illegal mining has been cited as the cause for most, if not all, of these fatalities for the first quarter of 2019.

Dead is Edward Daniels.

Commander of F Division (Interior locations), Kevin Adonis told Guyana Times that this latest mining incident that has claimed a life took place in Region Eight.

According to Commander Adonis, one injured miner is still hospitalised but is said to be in a stable condition at the Mahdia District Hospital while his co-workers have been treated and sent home.

It was explained that the individuals who lost their lives during the first quarter of this year at the various mining camps were “recklessly” operating those illegal mining operations.

The Commander explained that the illegal miners ventured into mining pits, which were either abandoned by large mining companies or had been left unattended for some period, and commenced working there without proper advice, guidance or clearance.

Commander of F Division (Interior locations) Kevin Adonis

While the option of mining at those locations would have been to earn an income, the Commander said that these persons are “literally putting themselves at risk”.

Just last month, 18-yearold Emanuel Narine of La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was working along with others in a mining pit at Oko Baramally, Sand Hill Backdam, Region 10, when the pit caved in, completely covering him. The impact of the rubble falling on the teen broke his neck and caused his demise.

In February last, 17-year-old Mazaruni min-

er Romeo Ruben lost his life when the walls of a mining pit in which he was working caved in at Gold Hill Backdam, Upper Mazaruni.

Then in January last, another miner, 54-yearold Timothy Hunter of Jawalla Reservation, Upper Mazaruni, lost his life.

Based on information received, Hunter along with others were working in the pit when a wall suddenly collapsed, covering him in the process.

The other workers reportedly attempted to get him from under the debris, but by the time they did, he had already succumbed.

Cane cutters picket GuySuCo over earning restriction

Some of the sugar workers at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate picketing against management’s decision to restrict them from earning more money

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ane cutters attached to the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, West Coast Demerara (WCD), are in an uproar over the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s decision to restrict them from earning what they described as a “fair weekly income”.

According to Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), a number of cane cutters staged a picketing exercise over the weekend to call on the estate’s management to correct the issue.

The union is contending that during last week (end-

ing April 13, 2019), the cane cutters said that they were only provided with three days of work.

According to the union, such reduced work in the cropping period is unusual since maximum efforts would usually be pursued to ensure the timely harvesting of canes. “The situation at Uitvlugt is even more unusual as the factory is generally operating normally and, therefore, it appears there was no reason to limit work to the cane cutters in the first place,” the union said.

However, although the

cane cutters received reduced work assignments during last week, the estate still managed to realise its weekly production target.

“The workers shared that the achievement of the target is linked to, what appears, preference given to the processing of farmers’ canes. The workers lamented that the situation, which apart from denying them work, is causing the estate canes to become older, a situation that can well lend to reduced cane productivity. Usually, the corporation would plan its harvesting programme in such

a way to ensure that there is balanced harvesting of farmers’ and estate canes,” GAWU stated.

Guyana Times was told that the affected workers are “most dismayed by the apparent actions of the estate” which has served to curtail their earnings.

“The cane cutters shared that they had to contend with a longer than usual out-of-crop period which was extended by an additional week and, at this time, they are eager to work recognising they have many of life’s obligations to meet. They shared that

though the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has pointed to workers’ earnings being enhanced by incentives, the denial of work to them precludes the opportunity from earning the very incentives the corporation has touted,” the union stated.

GAWU said that on April 12 a letter was dispatched to GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Harold Davis, about the prevailing situation and urged that the workers be offered suitable, adequate work.

According to GAWU, it has opined that such a sit-

uation is in the interest of both the workers and GuySuCo. “Indeed, the circumstances of last week have left a most bitter taste in the mouths of the workers who, while have demonstrated their willingness to work, have had their best of intentions sapped for unknown reason/s. The union, at this time, looks forward to a normal situation being restored at Uitvlugt.”

Guyana Times efforts to contract the management of GuySuCo for a comment on the matter proved futile.

11 Housing Minister admits husband received 3 contracts NEWS

tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…GTUC calls for conflict of interest to be investigated

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n a bid to address concerns regarding her husband receiving contracts from the Housing Ministry, subject Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood has confirmed that her husband had in fact received three contracts.

According to the minister in her statement on the issue, the contracts were all awarded in 2017. She admitted that one of these contracts is still outstanding, but is expected to be concluded in two weeks’ time.

“He was contracted by the Central Housing and Planning Authority to construct one duplex unit, two single elevated units, and two units for the differently-abled. This represents three contracts, all signed in 2017, and with the final one signed in December 2017.

Prior to that, he was contracted (in) early 2017 along

Minister within the Housing Ministry, Valerie Adams-Yearwood

Godfrey Yearwood, husband of Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis

with another contractor to do rehabilitation works at the Linden office”, the minister’s statement has said.

The minister insists that her husband, Godfrey Yearwood, was subjected to the same rules and regulations as other bidders; there was no exemption.

She also took care to note that the contracts had been awarded by the CH&PA Board of Directors, of which she is not a member.

She, moreover, denied presiding over any contracts, though she did admit to being present during contract signings.

“I was present at the symbolic signing ceremony for contractors that had been pre-qualified to build houses for the Housing Expo. Two of the contractors signed their documents that day”, she disclosed.

The minister also claimed that Desmond Murphy, the sub-contractor whose complaints about non-payment from Yearwood had sparked the revelations in the first place, was not paid because of substandard work.

According to the minister, her husband fixed the defects with his own money.

No violations Meanwhile, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes has also issued a release hitting back at suggestions that she was violating the Integrity Act. Her company, Videomega Productions, was recently the recipient of a contract from the Department of Energy.

After that story broke, the minister insisted she was not involved in the day-

to-day operations of the company.

“I have no relationship with the decision-making processes of the DoE. The decision was entirely that of the Department of Energy. I have never utilised any influence, official or otherwise, to influence the furtherance of any contract with VideoMega Productions Ltd,” Hughes has insisted.

She noted that these are the conflicts of interest to which the Integrity Act speaks, and insisted that she has not breached any of them.

Integrity Commission But with reports circulating of potential conflicts of interest involving the business dealings and even marital affairs of ministers of Government, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is not about to take the ministers at their word.

In a statement sent out by the body on Monday, there has been a call for allegations of conflict of interest to be investigated thorough-

Police at borders to be trained to register births

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itizenship Minister Winston Felix on Monday announced that Government has taken a decision to train ranks of the Guyana Police Force who are working in border locations such as Eteringbang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) in the registration of births.

At Monday’s meeting of the National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee, Minister Felix said that since its assumption to office, Government has been working with a mandate of 100 per cent registration of births.

“There should be no

child in Guyana, irrespective of their geographical location, who is not registered,” he said.

Felix noted that he has already dispatched a letter to the Office of the Commissioner of Police, requesting that a meeting take place with the General Register Office (GRO) to ensure that all systems are put in place for the training to begin.

The minister has said it is important that issues such as the storage of application forms, training schedule and sustainability be worked out between the two entities. He noted

that he expects the administrative and other issues to be finalised within one month’s time.

“What we are looking at is the fact that there should be sustainability. We would not want to train ranks and when they are moved from that location there are issues. The absence of a rank trained in this area should not affect the system, so that is what must be looked at,” he said.

Eteringbang, Minister Felix informed, would be used as a pilot before registration is rolled out in other border locations.

ly. And the GTUC wants the Integrity Commission to do so.

However, the GTUC has expressed concern about the capacity of that Commission to do investigations.

According to the GTUC, the commission has, for a while, been calling for the resources and investigators it needs to carry out its mandate.

GTUC has noted that, having committed to fully staff the Commission last year, Government must make good on its promise.

Noting that institutions cannot be put in place with no teeth to function, GTUC has called for a drive to fully staff not only the Integrity Commission, but other investigative arms of the state.

“This Coalition rode into office not only on its professed intolerance for corruption, but amidst society’s concern. Society does not expect corruption to be removed overnight, but expects the beginning of corrective measures to bring the society to a state of accountability. To do otherwise will cause disillusionment in the political process, deterring citizens from participating, thereby undermining an important element in democracy… allegations of conflict of interest should be checked, and where exist, reined in forthwith…

“We need a society where rules, laws and conventions hold sway and subject all,” GTUC has said.

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tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 1 outbreak

Chinese miners died from histoplasmosis – CMO …Leptospirosis diagnosis false

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

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hief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud confirmed on Monday that the Chinese miners died of histoplasmosis, a fungal infection.

The infection is a type of lung infection caused by inhaling histoplasma capsulatum fungal spores. These spores are found in soil and in the droppings of bats and birds in humid areas.

Dr Persaud made this disclosure during a press conference on Monday at the Public Health Ministry’s Mental Health Unit where he said the disease is not serious if confined to the lungs but can be fatal if spread throughout the body as a result of a weakened immune system.

He told the media that on April 10, 2019, the Ministry received results from Caribbean Public Health

Agency (CARPHA) that showed five samples were tested for histoplasmosis, four of which were positive.

Also one person tested showing a weak positive hantavirus but this may have been because of past exposure to the germ. The Ministry had previously announced that the miners were infected with leptospirosis; however, further testing at CARPHA laboratory confirmed this diagnosis was false.

Further, the Ministry currently has two workers who developed fever and they were admitted to Pakera District Hospital and are under close observation and treatment for hantavirus which is a fungal infection. Samples were also taken from them and are presently being processed for shipment to CARPHA. He said the two miners are being kept in hospital as an extreme precautionary measure but they are recovering well.

The CMO recently returned from a visit to Matthews Ridge, Region One (Barima-Waini) where he along with workers from PAHO, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Health and Safety Department and nine officers from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), China were part of the visiting team. During the visit, the team met with the hospital staff, reviewed their pro-

cedures for infectious disease control and prevention and interviews were conducted with the persons who were working in the mine.

Meetings were also carried out and inspections at the Pakera District Hospital and the Guyana Manganese Inc (GMI).

They carried out an evaluation of the work site and looked at some of the risk factors relating to the environment. A community meeting was also held with residents. It was discovered that the miners working in the tunnel were not properly geared in protective wear and only one of a total of 25 that were clearing the tunnel was wearing a protective mask.

Gweneth King from the Social Protection Ministry’s Occupational Health and Safety Department, said the GMI was questioned about its failure to adhere to the safety regulations, and they responded by saying that

Filed photo: The sick Guyana Manganese Inc employees making their way from the plane to an ambulance at the Eugene F Correia International Airport

their gear was in the country but awaiting clearance

by Customs; however, this has not yet been confirmed.

She added that they are still in the process of compiling

a report on the matter after which a full disclosure will be made on whether the company will be sanctioned.

Questions were raised about the legality of the op-

erations by GMI however, Senior Environmental Officer at the EPA Camille Adams said while they were not aware that that specific mine was open, the GMI had permission to begin clearing the tunnel in preparation for mining. However, they hadn’t permission to commence mining and there is no evidence that any mining was done.

One of the major challenges the department faces is getting to these areas which are remote. However, all efforts are being made to garner the necessary resources in getting into these mines.

Meanwhile, the CMO added that all the miners that were hospitalised at GPHC were flown to China on April 8, 2019, and the bodies of the two deceased have been release to the Chinese Embassy for final resting arrangements to be made.

Police ranks are authorised to stop, search, detain individuals – Crime Chief

Crime Chief and Deputy Police Commissioner responsible for law enforcement, Lyndon Alves

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embers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have the authority and are permitted by law to stop, search and detain an individual once there is ‘reasonable suspicion’.

This is according to Crime Chief and Deputy Police Commissioner with responsibility for law enforcement, Lyndon Alves, who in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times stated that if the Police have reasonable suspicion that someone would have committed or was about to commit a violation of the law then the rank(s) are allowed to do as such.

“The Police are authorised by law to stop, search and detain. You don’t have to be a narcotics rank.

The Police are authorised to stop, search and detain any person, vessel or vehicle.

So in the cases of persons who are deployed specifically at the ports of entries to do narcotics work, they are within the law to stop, search and detain.”

He explained that the

“The Police are authorised by law to stop, search and detain. You don’t have to be a narcotics rank. The Police are authorised to stop, search and detain any person, vessel or vehicle.” profiling of certain individuals also plays a role in when some persons are subjected to such searches.

“You would also be looking at profiling of persons; some persons might have been under the radar for some reason or the other.

But for a traffic offence, I cannot understand if someone strip searches another due to a traffic violation.

It would have to be for more than simply committing a traffic misdemeanour,” the Deputy Police Commissioner noted.

According to Alves, in some cases where persons may allege that they had been stopped and searched by ranks of the GPF due to a traffic violation, they were subjected to such searches due to other reasons outside of a traffic offence.

“That (the search of a person) cannot be for a traffic violation. If a traffic rank stops a vehicle and that person is searched…we don’t know what information that rank will be acting on when they search the person. So the reason for such searches would definitely have to be outside of committing a traffic offence,” he added. continued on page 13

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tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Oil and gas sector

New regulations coming for ship owners, seafarers

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he Maritime Administration Department has said that a new set of guidelines for seafarers will be introduced soon in light of the nascent oil and gas sector.

An official with the Department told this pub-

lication that shipowners will be lectured on the current regulations as well as new ones with regard to the Shipping Act. These discussions will be fostered at a seminar on Thursday at Regency Suites. All shipowners and

Police ranks are...

Over the past week, much has been publicised as to the boundaries that ranks of the GPF’s Narcotics Branch and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) may have overstepped in executing their duties.

However, Attorney Sanjeev Datadin, recently stated that the two agencies have the right to search someone if they had, what the laws of Guyana recognises as “reasonable suspicion” that the person was committing, about to commit or had just committed an offence.

He stated that these rules are intended to rely on the integrity of law enforcement officials which means that they must exercise proper judgement as to what is reasonable suspicion.

“So, reasonable suspicion can’t be that you’re

acting on you know, very nebulous facts, it has to be that you are acting on specific facts. Now as it relates to the search, as it relates to the very intrusive cavity search that was apparently required (recently), that is in itself an area of law for which there is much controversy because the suspicion would then have to relate that the person is concealing the narcotics in their body…Could she have refused the search? Not really, in most cases that arise, if the Police have reasonable suspicion and they ask you to search, you could say no but you really don’t have a right to stop it.”

In a press release last week, CANU contended that it will continue to conduct searches of passengers, luggage, vehicles etc, at all ports of entry and exits in Guyana.

The release stated that

seafarers have been invited to attend the one-day event from 10:00h.

“The purpose of this seminar is to explain several new guidelines regarding the manning of vessels, the introduction of a new seaman’s card of compe-

FROM page 12

those searches will be done in accordance with local and international standards with due cordiality and professionalism.

“In keeping with CANU’s mandate to stem the trafficking of narcotics, the Unit has been successful in thwarting a number of passengers from using their bodies, luggage, cargo and other objects to traffic narcotics (cocaine in particular) through Guyana’s ports”, the drug enforcement unit stated on Wednesday.

Further CANU stated that it will continue to aid in maintaining the perceived credible image of the majority of Guyanese travellers and will continue to abide by the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act Chapter 10:10 of the laws of Guyana.

tency and to clarify other pertinent regulations,” the Department stated.

According to the source, the Maritime Department recently held a stakeholder conference on the emerging oil sector but the Director of the agency, who is responsible for safety, decided to host yet another event which will address regulations along that line.

The discovery of oil offshore Guyana has already triggered changes in almost every sector of Guyana, as various activities are even being introduced to cater for the production of the massive natural resource sector.

Back in February, ExxonMobil made its 11th and 12th discoveries offshore Guyana at the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells in the southwest section of the Stabroek Block.

The Tilapia-1 is the

fourth discovery in the Turbot area that includes Turbot, Longtail and Pluma discoveries. Tilapia-1 encountered approximately 305 feet (93 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled to a depth of 18,786 feet (5726 metres) in 5850 feet (1783 metres) of water. The well is located approximately 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometres) west of the Longtail-1 well.

US oil giant ExxonMobil has revised the estimated gross recoverable resource from the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana to approximately 5.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

In the meantime, exploration activity in the Stabroek Block is continuing. The Noble Tom Madden drillship will next drill the Yellowtail-1 well, approximately six miles (10 kilometres) west of

Tilapia-1 in the Turbot area while the Stena Carron drillship will return to the Longtail discovery to complete a well test.

Additionally, baseline 4-D seismic data acquisition is also underway.

The Liza Phase 1 development is progressing on schedule and is expected to begin producing up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day in early 2020, utilising the Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit.

Furthermore, the Liza Phase 2 is awaiting Government and regulatory approval to use a second FPSO vessel designed to produce up to 220,000 barrels per day. Start-up is expected by mid-2022.

Meanwhile, a third development, Payara, is being planned, with start-up expected as early as 2023.

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tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Funding for youth businesses inadequate – Youth Director

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he Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael, said the Youth Department has taken note of the current unavailability of funds to develop youth businesses and will be looking to implement an entrepreneurial framework to better help them kick-start their businesses.

Carmichael made this statement during a recent press conference where she said, “The Department of Youth recognises again that issue. Coming out of a conference I attended sometime in 2018, I would have come back and spoke to a couple of recommendations and one of them is to look at the implementation of an entrepreneurial framework which will speak to all the regulatory framework regarding financing and young people”.

Young people in the past have complained about the Government’s unbothered attitude towards adequately financing their businesses, as other lending agencies such as banks require a

large number of paperwork before they issue funding.

In fact, the recent disclosure that just about 40 per cent of Guyanese youths are unemployed has raised even more concerns as to what the Government has done or is doing to remedy the disturbing situation.

According to the Department of Youth, the agency has been trying hard to finance some business ideas and projects through the Youth Innovation Programme Of Guyana (YIPOG).

According to her, “The Department of Youth has on board a Youth Innovation Programme which has been given $70 million this year, $70 (million) last year and $50 million in the year before to look at development for young people, their proposals and so on and the reason this was brought on board is because we recognise that there aren’t the necessary frameworks with regards to the financing (or) easy access to the banks and

Director of Youth Melissa Carmichael

so on”.

“We will continue to advocate where we can at our Minister’s level and at other levels for a framework to be put in place to have young people be able to access those lending agencies as well as the registering companies and so on easily,” she added.

Although seeking to implement a need “framework” at the behest of youths, the Youth Department

is yet to fully implement the National Youth Policy which was approved in the National Assembly since 2016, to outline the vision of the Government for the youths of the country.

The National Youth Policy is premised on improving the social, emotional and cultural skills of young people, producing a productive and enterprising youth workforce, developing quali-

ty education and market-oriented skills, encouraging leadership, participation and representation and promoting good health, security and safety.

The policy caters for development of a National Youth Empowerment Action Plan which will include comprehensive and strategic programmes and projects being implemented.

It also identifies the vision and the five key objectives that are further sub-divided into several priority areas for youth development.

It further suggests policy imperatives that should be implemented in each of these identified priority areas.

Last July, former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, called for better provisions to be put in place for persons wishing to expand or develop local businesses.

According to Indar, in most cases, persons wishing to develop a business are left with no other option but “to

borrow: we (may) have some savings, some family member lends us some money, or pool the money into it, or we go to the bank for a loan.”

He stressed that when persons go to the bank for a loan, there is a collateral requirement which, in many instances, serves as an impediment.

“When we go to the bank for a loan, regardless of which institution in Guyana, there is some form of collateral requirement which is the impediment. It is a grave impediment that makes small business (unable to) grow, and we have to address that. We have to approach the appraisal system of banks (to determine) if it needs modification so that small businesses can get money,” Indar noted.

He expressed dissatisfaction that when businesses, especially small businesses, are allotted money, they are often pressured to repay those loans instantly, thereby stifling their chance at economic growth.

Murder trial commences for 2013 Sparendaam shooting

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Dead: Michael Hamilton

he High Court trial into the shooting to death of 22-yearold Michael Hamilton of Lot 128 Sparendaam Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), commenced on Monday before Justice James BovellDrakes and a 12-member jury.

The accused, 27-year-old Junior Anthony Henry also called “Oswald”, pleaded not guilty to the charge which detailed that on October 7, 2013, he murdered Hamilton at Sparendaam Squatting

Area, ECD. The accused is represented by Attorney-at-Law Lyndon Amsterdam, while the State’s case is being led

by Prosecutor Tiffany Lyken along with Sarah Martin.

A number of witnesses took the stand on Monday to give evidence into the matter including the mother of the deceased, Karen Hamilton; aunt of the deceased, Donna Gillis and Linton Monroe, the taxi driver who transported the now dead man to the hospital.

During her testimony, Karen Hamilton explained that on October 7, 2013, she was present at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary to identify the body of her son to the doctors and the police. Meanwhile, under cross-examination by Defence Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam, the woman denied that before her son’s death, the young man did not “move out” from Sparendaam to Goedverwagting because he had a problem with the accused. Attorney Amsterdam

Accused: Junior Henry

suggested to the witness that several persons had complained to her about her son’s behaviour, since he was in the habit of threatening persons with weapons and was quick to become enraged. This Hamilton (mother) also denied.

Meanwhile, the aunt of the deceased, Donna Gillis, told the court that on the day of the incident she had accompanied her sister (Karen Hamilton) to the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary to identify her nephew’s body.

Linton Monroe, a taxi

driver, informed the court on Monday that around 06:00h on October 7, 2013, he was transporting his niece from Plaisance to Goedverwagting when he saw a group of persons running from Goedverwagting over to the neighbouring village, Sparendaam, but nevertheless, he kept on driving.

The court heard that after Monroe had dropped off his niece and was making his way out of the community, he was stopped by the

said group of people he noticed earlier. After being asked to transport an injured Hamilton to the hospital, who was covered in blood at the time, Monroe refused to do same. However, after being convinced, the man admitted that he agreed and transported the now dead man to the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC).

Media reports at the time of the incident were that the deceased’s sister

was at home when she was disturbed by a loud sound, and upon peering through her window she observed her brother (Hamilton) chasing the accused with blood streaming down his left leg. But as the deceased got closer, Henry reportedly turned around, shot him to his chest and made good his escape.

Hamilton was taken to the GPHC, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The trial continues today.

Lindener jailed for narco-possession

A

resident of Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden was on Monday jailed for six months by Magistrate Wanda Fortune after he was found guilty of having narcotics in his possession.

The sentence was handed down to 30-year-old Adam McDonald when he made his final appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court. McDonald, a father of two, was additionally fined $30,000.

The court heard that he had 14 grams of cannabis sativa in his possession on Friday, April 19, 2019 while at the Mackenzie Police Station.

Jailed: Adam McDonald

news

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tuesday, april 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Alberttown man slapped with Seafood processing plant to be commissioned next month cocaine trafficking charge

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revor Ford on Monday was taken before Principle Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The 53-year-old man of Lot 53 Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, pled not guilty to the charge which stated that on April 11, 2019, at his Kitty, Georgetown, residence, police ranks conducted a

Trevor Ford

search and six and a half grams of cocaine was discovered in his backyard.

The prosecution is contending that Ford was home alone when the narcotics was discovered. He lives at the address with his 21-year-old nephew.

In court on Monday, Ford said that on April 11, he went to bail a friend who left a motorcycle in his care but when he returned home police ranks stormed his residence and conducted a search. He said that the

ranks then indicated to him that three motorcycles, a cellular phone and narcotics were found in his backyard.

He further stated that the police seized his cellular phone and returned his SIM card to his family. “I do not deal with narcotics, Your Honour,” Ford told the magistrate in his plea for bail.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris did not object to bail.

He was released on $20,000 bail and the case will continue on April 29, 2019.

Animal rights agencies conduct 1st neuter campaign

T

he Rosewood Foundation Guyana in collaboration with the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) and Paws for a Cause on Sunday carried out the first ever neuter campaign for the year, which saw many animals being treated and spayed.

Organised at Eccles, East Bank of Demerara (EBD), over 40 animals were vaccinated and given free post op medications.

Persons were instructed to bring their pets to get them checked for any infections and to conduct a general check-up.

Guyana Times was told that while volunteers would have led the operation, Veterinarian Dr Nardeo Bassoodeo was onsite to share his expertise. Many pet owners visited the location in the early morning hours to capitalise on the event.

One woman explained that this activity provid-

A volunteer with one of the animals that were treated

ed accessible treatment for pets and should be continued in other communities.

“It’s great. I got my two dogs checked out. They weren’t up for it at first but

the guys there were really professional and knew what to do so if this can continue, it would be a good thing to have,” she stated.

It was indicated that while this is the first venture of the year, Paws for a Cause is hoping to schedule such operations in other communities.

This publication would have spoken to the founders of the organisation just a week ago, where it was posited that there is a great need for animal care and the eradication of abuse to pets and domesticated animals.

One of the founders of Paws for a Cause, Marcia Tucker, had said that there are many cases of animal neglect across the coastland, to which the organisation was established to provide safer homes and better living conditions. Persons are advised to report cases of animal abuse to their foundation and intervention will be taken to assist these animals.

T

he fish processing plant at Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini), will be completed and commissioned in May to deliver seafood to nearby communities and the coastland.

This is according to the Junior Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister, Valerie Garrido-Lowe who told Guyana Times on Monday that works are progressing at the facility.

While the construction is nearing completion, the relevant equipment is yet to be procured.

“We’re trying to get that completed early, at least by the first week in May. We want to finish the construction and furnish so commissioning would be done in early May. We already have our quotations for the equipment,” she stated.

Garrido-Lowe had stated last year that fisherfolks were finding it difficult to sell fresh seafood in the communities so provisions were made through this project to allow persons to process their goods.

Budgeted at $10 million, the initiative is one of three community development projects that were established throughout the region. The coffee and cassava processing projects in Moruca are the two others.

For now, 15 farmers are preparing to transplant some 12,000 coffee plantlets onto

one acre of land. But the reaping time for this produce is 30 months and the residents have just completed two months of that time.

“The plants will be transplanted in the ground soon.

It’s close to 12,000 trees on one-acre land. The coffee is a two and a half year project.

It’s only two months old now.

It’s looking good and healthy,” Garrido-Lowe explained.

Earlier last year, it was mentioned that the plants were sourced from Brazil and these farmers will intercrop until they can reap the coffee beans.

“With the coffee, the seeds are being brought from Brazil.

NAREI will germinate it and the farmers already cleared their lands to plant. They would have to do intercropping because, with coffee farming, you can reap until next year and a half or two. So they would do intercropping with peas, melon and cassava.”

The aim of this project is to become a coffee producing nation. As such, there have been partnerships with the Social Protection Ministry, the Business Ministry and the Agricultural Ministry through the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).

The Business Ministry will be responsible for packaging and production.

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESday, april 16, 2019

Regional

China says US treats Latin Grenada’s new citizenship regulations America like its "backyard" insist developers commit equity to projects

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

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eijing fired back at the US on Monday after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticised China's role in Venezuela as prolonging the crisis there.

Pompeo's accusations were "unfounded" and "deliberately drove a wedge" between China and Latin America, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular

briefing.

"For a long time, the United States has regarded Latin America as its own backyard to pressure, threaten and even subvert political power in other countries at every turn," Lu said, adding that "some American politicians have been harping on one string" in order to "smear China across the world."

Pompeo said last Friday that China's financing of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's Government helped "precipitate and prolong" the country's crisis. He accused China of investing more than US$60 billion of "no strings attached" funds that were used for actions such as crushing pro-democracy activists and bankrolling ineffective social programmes.

"I think there's a lesson, a lesson to be learned

for all of us: China and others are being hypocritical calling for non-intervention in Venezuela's affairs," Pompeo said. "Their own financial interventions have helped destroy that country."

Hyperinflation, shortages of food and medicine and other hardships have caused more than three million Venezuelans – about one-tenth of the population – to flee the country in the last few years.

President Donald Trump's Administration, which recognises Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's interim President, has been trying to remove Maduro from power. China, meanwhile, is a close ally of Maduro and has urged other countries to not intervene in Venezuela's affairs. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

T

he Government of Grenada has introduced new regulations to ensure developers commit equity to projects in the country and experts say the move is positive for the industry and will ensure completion of projects.

According to an amendment to the Grenada Citizenship by Investment (CBI) regulations, signed

by Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell: “For the purposes of approval of a project under section 11 (1) of the Act, a minimum equity of 20 percent of the total cost of construction as proposed shall be invested into the project prior to ap-

proval.”

This has been greeted with widespread approval by many in the industry, especially in the Caribbean, which has suffered in the past from promoters promising to build a myriad of luxury hotels and projects that never materialise. White elephants litter the beaches of the region, some half built and others never to be completed. This new legislation will provide much required protection to potential citizenship by investment applicants.

This view was echoed elsewhere in the financial services industry. Even

Venezuelan pirates attack T&T yacht

Barbados to get a dedicated Family Court this year

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arbados’ Judiciary has taken the first step to establishing a dedicated Family Court with the appointment of a consultant to oversee the process.

Chief Justice, Sir Marston Gibson announced the appointment of Master Christie-Ann MorrisAlleyne as a consultant to Barbados’ Family Court Project during a recent meeting with representatives from the Family Law Council and the UNICEF Regional Office.

UNICEF is funding the consultancy, together with the training of judges and ancillary court staff. Sir Marston said that mature

countries were dispensing justice by specialization, which meant that they were now moving towards solution oriented courts which were dedicated to resolving a particular set of issues.

The Chief Justice added that the journey to establishing a Family Court for Barbados was “not easy”, but was made possible through assistance and funding from UNICEF. Chairman of the Family Law Council, Justice Jacqueline Cornelius, welcomed the consultant and stated that “we intend to get this Family Court up and running”.

She explained that the

source of a lot of poverty, dysfunction and alienation in society could be dealt with at the level of the family, through providing support for children, identifying those in need, and reducing the level of violence against women.

The Family Law Council is tasked with spearheading the creation of the court, after almost two decades of advocacy and lobbying. The Barbados Family Court is expected to come on stream in November to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the island is a signatory. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Bullet holes on the sailing boat that came under fire from Venezuelan pirates

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resident of the Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago (YSATT), Tommy Johnson, has called on yacht owners to travel in “a convoy if possible” after a 55-foot sailboat came under attack from Venezuelan pirates over the last weekend.

In a statement posted on the YSATT's Facebook page, Johnson said on Sunday, the Sylph, a 55foot Beneteau sailboat, which was positioned about 15 nautical miles Northeast of the Hibiscus oil platform, was approached by a group of eight Venezuelans in an attempted piracy at-

H

to avoid extradition to Sweden in a sexual assault investigation. Real did not attribute the hacking attempts to any group in particular, and said it would be difficult to identify the hackers. But he said the hacking group Anonymous, which has taken credit for cyberattacks on government institutions in the United States and Britain, had made a threat.

“During the afternoon of April 11 we jumped from 51st place to 31st place worldwide in terms of the volume of cyberattacks,” Real said. After his arrest, US prosecutors announced charges against Assange for allegedly conspiring

with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to gain access to a government computer as part of one of the largest compromises of classified information in US history.

Real said the hacking attempts had not led to the theft of any government data, but had made it difficult for employees and citizens to access accounts on the sites.

On Saturday, an Ecuadorean Judge ordered a Swedish citizen close to Assange jailed pending trial for alleged involvement in hacking government computer systems. (Excerpt from Reuters)

tack.

“The yacht refused to stop and in heavy seas and high wind took an evasive zig zag course preventing them from boarding. Due to the fact that they were unable to board they abandoned their plans and left but fired several shots at the sailboat.”

John said that while no one on board was injured, the boat suffered several bullet holes.

In recent months, a number of Trinidad and Tobago nationals have been held while at sea. In February, five fishermen, returned home after more than a week after being abducted at sea. Their families reportedly sold their boats, engines and a van to raise the ransom money.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Death toll in Brazil buildings disaster rises to 10

Ecuador says hacking attempts doubled after it ended Assange asylum

acking attempts on Ecuadorean Government institutions have doubled since the country revoked WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s asylum at its London embassy last week, an official said on Monday.

Telecommunications Vice Minister Patricio Real told reporters the websites for the country’s presidency, Central Bank and Foreign Ministry, among others, has received 40 million hacking attempts per day since Assange was dragged out of the embassy on Thursday by London Police.

Assange took refuge in the embassy in 2012

Grenada has historically suffered its share of disappointing projects, with the government announcing in March that it was investigating a CBI company that had been expected to construct and establish a shrimp farm in St Mark.

In February 2017, a CBI registered company called Grenada Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA) launched the Zero-Water Exchange Sustainable Organic Shrimp Farm. The company allegedly took funds for investment but failed to construct the facility. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Rescue workers at the site where two buildings collapsed in Muzema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 12, 2019

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he death toll from the collapse of two apartment buildings in Rio de Janeiro has risen to 10, Brazilian officials said Monday, as rescuers search the rubble for 14 people still missing.

Another 10 people were wounded when the adjacent structures in the poor neighbourhood of Muzema buckled on Friday morning when many of the oc-

cupants would have been asleep or eating breakfast.

Rescuers are working around the clock with the help of sniffer dogs in the hope of finding more survivors. The buildings collapsed three days after torrential rain wreaked havoc in the city.

Sections of road leading up to the hillside favela, which is at the foot of a sheer cliff face, had been

washed away, complicating rescue efforts. Many of the cheaply made apartment towers in Muzema were erected without permission from city planning authorities.

Like many poor neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro, Muzema is run by shadowy militias that use violence to enforce their rule. They sell land rights and control access to city services such as water and electricity.

Authorities have pledged to demolish some of the surrounding buildings in Muzema to prevent further collapses. But residents complained that Muzema and surrounding neighbourhoods had long been neglected by the Rio de Janeiro government. As soon as illegal buildings were demolished, new ones were built in their place, they said. (MSN)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESday, april 16, 2019

17

Around the World

Fire devastates Notre-Dame Cathedral, Fukushima: Japan begins removal centuries-old Parisian landmark of nuclear fuel from reactor site

Smoke billows from Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire broke out, in Paris, France April 15, 2019

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otre-Dame Cathedral went up in flames on Monday in a roaring blaze that devastated the Parisian landmark, a searing loss for the city and for France.

Flames that began in the early evening burst through the roof of the centuries-old cathedral and engulfed the spire, which collapsed, quickly followed by the entire roof.

“Like all our compatri-

ots, I am sad this evening to see this part of all of us burn,” President Emmanuel Macron tweeted.

Firefighters tried to contain the blaze with water hoses and cleared the area around Notre-Dame, which sits on an island in the River Seine and marks the very centre of Paris.

Buildings around were evacuated.

Nobody was injured, Junior Interior Minister

Laurent Nunez said at the scene, adding: “It’s too early to determine the causes of the fire.” France 2 television reported that police were treating it as an accident.

The cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, is featured in Victor Hugo’s classic novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts millions of tourists every year.

The Gothic cathedral is famed for its many carved stone gargoyles, stunning stained glass windows and the flying buttresses that hold up its walls.

The cathedral was in the midst of renovations, with some sections under scaffolding and bronze statues were removed last week for works.

The wood and lead spire was built during a restoration in the mid-19th century, according to the cathedral’s website. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Fuel will be lifted from the crippled reactor and taken away for storage elsewhere

T

he operator of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant has begun removing nuclear fuel from a building housing one of the reactors that melted down after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The delicate work at the contaminated site is expected to take two years.

The next phase of the huge clean-up at reactor three will be to remove molten nuclear fuel that re-

mains deep inside.

Reactor buildings at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant were damaged by hydrogen explosions caused by the earthquake and tsunami. Three reactors melted down.

In the latest operation, more than 500 radioactive cylinders in the storage pool have to be placed in container casks which are then lifted from the compartment and transported by lorry to

another pool of water for storage.

Radioactive gases could be released if the cylinders break or are exposed to air.

The latest stage of the massive clean-up comes weeks after an evacuation order for one of two towns near the plant was lifted, allowing residents back for the first time since the disaster.

However, correspondents say radiation remains a major concern for residents and the vast majority of the town’s original inhabitants are unlikely to go back.

More than 40 patients had to be evacuated from a hospital in the area and later died, while other deaths have been linked to the trauma suffered by those who lost their homes and loved ones.

Nearly 18,500 people were killed or went missing after the 2011 earthquake triggered a massive tsunami. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Egypt’s Parliament to vote Yogi Adityanath banned from election on extending Sisi’s rule campaign after anti-Muslim comment

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gypt’s Parliament is set to vote on constitutional amendments including an extension to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s current four-year term in office.

If approved by Parliament today, the amendments will be put to a public referendum, widely expected later this month, before they go into effect, the Parliament Speaker, Ali Abdelaal, said on Sunday.

Proposed constitutional amendments had previously suggested that Sisi would be allowed to seek two new six-year terms after his current one expires in 2022.

But according to a recent draft seen by Reuters news

agency, the latest amendments could allow Sisi to stay in power until 2030 by extending his current term by two more years and allowing him to run again in 2024.

State television reported Parliament’s legislative committee approved the amendments and they were ready to go to the full house for a vote, scheduled for today.

The proposals also call for setting up a second parliamentary chamber, the Senate, composed of 180 members and giving the President new powers over appointing judges and the public prosecutor.

They also include

amending Article 200 of the Constitution to add the military’s duty is to protect “the constitution and democracy and the fundamental makeup of the country and its civil nature”.

Sisi led the 2013 military overthrow of elected President and Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi and was elected Egypt’s leader the following year.

He has presided over an unprecedented crackdown on dissent and was re-elected last year after all potentially serious challengers were jailed or pressured to exit the presidential race.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Sudan crisis: Protest leaders demand end of ‘deep state’

Protesters show no signs of quitting their sit-in outside the Army complex

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rganisers of mass protests in Sudan have told the BBC they want the full dismantling of the “deep state” left behind by ousted leader Omar al-Bashir.

A spokesman said leaders of the past regime should be put on trial.

Bashir was toppled by the army last week after 30 years in power and a military council has pledged elections in two years’ time.

But protesters remain camped outside army HQ in

the capital, Khartoum, demanding a civilian administration.

Reports on Monday said there had been efforts to disperse the sit-in but protesters joined hands and troops stepped back from a confrontation.

The crowd chanted “Freedom” and “Revolution”, and appealed to soldiers to protect them, witnesses said.

The Sudanese Professionals’ Association (SPA) which has spearhead-

ed the protests, urged supporters to foil any attempt to disperse the sit-in.

Amjad Farid, a SPA spokesman, told the BBC that they “completely rejected” the military council currently leading Sudan.

He said demands included the “full dissolution of the deep state” and the dismantling of state intelligence agencies.

Opposition politician Mubarak al Fadil told the BBC that the role of the military should decrease over time.

In a news conference on Sunday, spokesman Major General Shams Ad-din Shanto said the military council was “ready to implement” whatever civilian Government the opposition parties agreed.

He also said the army would not remove protesters from their sit-in by force, but called on the crowds “to let normal life resume” and stop unauthorised roadblocks. (Excerpt from BBC News)

File Photo: Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, addresses the audience after inaugurating power projects in Allahabad, June 4, 2017

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ndia’s Election Commission on Monday banned Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from campaigning for three days after anti-Muslim comments in an election that will end next month.

The saffron-clad Yogi Adityanath, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party, had been warned this month about his campaign speeches, the Election Commission

said.

The Commission said Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, had spoken about a “green virus” in a speech last week in reference to Muslim voters whom he said were being wooed by opposition parties.

The Election Commission also imposed a ban on the leader of the Dalits, people at the bottom of the Hindu caste structure, saying she had violated a code of conduct by asking Muslims to

vote en bloc for opposition candidates.

The ban on Dalit leader Mayawati would run for two days, it said.

The Commission on Monday also banned Azam Khan, a leader from the Samajwadi Party (SP), an ally of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Minister Maneka Gandhi from campaigning for violating the code of conduct. Khan was banned for three days, while Gandhi was banned for two days.

Staggered voting in the general election began last Thursday and will end on May 19.

Although jobs, nationalism and conditions for farmers are the main issues, religion is an important and sensitive topic.

Last week, BJP President Amit Shah referred to illegal Muslim immigrants as “termites” and vowed to throw them into the sea. (Excerpt from Reuters)

WHO raises alarm over 300% rise in measles cases

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he World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised alarm over a 300 per cent increase in the case of measles globally in the first quarter of 2019 compared with last year.

The statement by the United Nations’ health agency comes as health experts in various parts of the world blame a growing anti-vaccination movement for the rise in outbreaks of the highly contagious but preventable disease.

The WHO said on Monday that the early trends for 2019 likely underestimated the severity of the

outbreaks since only about one in 10 actual measles cases was reported.

So far this year, 170 countries have reported 112,163 measles cases to WHO. At this time in 2018, 163 countries had reported 28,124 cases.

“The disease has spread fast among clusters of unvaccinated people,” it added.

The WHO said that the most dramatic rise in cases – a 700 per cent increase compared with last year – has been reported on the African continent, which has weaker vaccination coverage than other regions.

Measles – an airborne infection causing fever, coughing and rashes that can be deadly in rare cases – had been officially eliminated in many countries with advanced healthcare systems.

But the so-called anti-vax movement - driven by fraudulent claims linking the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, and risk of autism in children – has gained traction.

Repeated studies – the most recent involving more than 650,000 children monitored for more than a decade - have shown that there is no such link. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Watch what others are doing. If you are aware of what’s going on around you, it will be easier to deter others from manipulating or taking advantage of you.

CANCER

Home and family should be your priorities. How you use your time will affect the way someone treats you.

Don’t take on responsibilities that don’t belong to you.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Lessons from the past will help you recognize the possibilities heading your way. Spend time with the people you love and care about most. Romance is highlighted.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Pick your battles carefully. You have plenty to gain if you are steadfast, industrious and to the point.

Keep idle chatter to a minimum and focus on your objective.

Channel your energy into something constructive to improve your chances to advance. Consider your options and choose the one that is most reliable and affordable.

Your intuition won’t let you down. Follow your heart when dealing with loved ones. Use discipline to offset excessive behavior. Romance will improve your life.

Make choices and stick to your plans. You are best off being secretive until you feel satisfied with what you have accomplished. Don’t let criticism discourage you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You don’t have to spend money or overdo it to have a good time. Hang out with people who stimulate you intellectually and those who encourage you to be and do your best.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Consider how to best use your skills and experience to combat someone interfering in your affairs. Stay in control, and don’t share personal information.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Get ready to make your move. Take advantage of an opportunity that will increase your earning power.

Don’t rely on someone else to do things for you. Take charge and finish what you start.

Take the initiative to improve your surroundings. Get involved in activities or joint ventures that can offer equality and high returns for everyone involved. Be wary of anyone making unrealistic promises.

When in doubt, ask questions and be honest. If you let a situation escalate, someone will goad you into an emotional argument.

Stick to the truth, gather facts and be patient.

tuesday, APRIL 16, 2019

19

Malinga, Hardik overshadow Ali’s all-round performance

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umbai Indians are back to winning ways after beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 5 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday (April 15). Lasith Malinga’s 4-fer and Hardik Pandya’s late-order cameo pipped Moeen Ali’s allround show (50 off 32; 2 for 18) and AB de Villiers’s crafty 51-ball 75.

How did Mumbai Indians plan for Kohli?

It is common knowledge by now that RCB’s batting lineup relies on Kohli and AB de Villiers. So, get them early and it would lead to chaos. Rohit had specific fields set for his opposite number - a wide slip, gully and deep point in place.

Jason Behrendorff started with a gift on the pads but soon corrected his line and length and also used the movement on offer well. The left-arm pacer swung it both ways and kept it tight.

With the field set to curb Kohli’s run-scoring, he had to work out other areas to get his runs but the Australian seamer was one step ahead.

In his second over, Behrendorff dragged his length back and got the ball to deck in. Kohli was caught on the forward shuffle and could only manage an inside edge to de Kock behind the stumps. He was out for 8 off 9 balls.

Did the surface ease out?

No. Kohli said at the toss there would be some help for the bowlers in the first six and he was spot on with that analysis. Bumrah and Malinga followed up with few tight overs and the assistance on offer for the pacers allowed

Rohit to bring on Hardik Pandya straight after the powerplay, the all-rounder striking in his first over.

But come the second innings, the old ball spun.

Moeen Ali found appreciable spin to castle Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock in the same over - a moment in the game that gave RCB a fair shot at making a match out of the game. And they did, until Hardik Pandya found his groove, hitting Pawan Negi for 22 runs in the 19th over of the game and sealing it right there.

What start did MI get?

RCB have picked only three wickets this entire season in the first six overs - lowest for any team. So having lost the momentum in the final over with the bat, they needed early wickets to defend the below par total but the pace trio (Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj) were all over the place. Mumbai’s openers took full advantage to race away to 67 at the end of the powerplay - second best for the season.

Against the turning ball...

Negi, introduced in the 7th over, spun his first ball square to beat Rohit neck and crop.

That was what clued Kohli into bringing Moeen from the other end. When MI were struggling against the turning ball, Ishan Kishan showed the way when he took on Negi. Playing only his third ball, after being beaten by a ripper on the previous one, the left-hander used his feet and sent it into the crowd, only to back it up with another.

Suryakumar Yadav took a cue from that playbook and lofted Moeen Ali into the stands.

Ali and t h a t left the burden on

The counterattack was on and Mumbai were running away with the game at that point of time.

Another trick up Kohli’s sleeve was his forever trump card - Yuzvendra Chahal.

Bangalore’s highest wicket taker returned to the attack and sent Kishan packing, after being hit for a six. He then controlled the game with Moeen and the duo only conceded 23 runs from overs 12 to 16.

Can RCB’s death bowling bail them out? NO Bangalore had 42 runs to defend in the final four overs and they were up against the Pandya brothers and Pollard. Hardik took charge of the chase after watching his brother struggle to time the ball. 10 runs in the 17th over with two boundaries brought the equation to 31 off three overs.

But Mumbai needed both to go after the bowling and Krunal failed. However, an on-song Hardik made up for Krunal’s strike rate as well.

RCB took a gamble, following instructions from Nehra, to bowl Negi in the 19th with 22 required and though he beat Hardik with the first ball, the allrounder closed the game off with a couple of sixes and a couple of fours, lighting the 19th over of the game that also happened to be the last.

Hardik remained unbeaten on a 16-ball 37.

In contrast, how was RCB’s finish with the bat?

After battling through the tough initial few overs, AB de Villiers started to get into his elements and found an able

short ball and finishing off with another in the blockhole.

Bumrah might have gone

3

SCOREBOARD

Hardik Pandya played a matchwinning innings of 37 to take Mumbai Indians over the line

ally in Moeen Ali. From overs 13-16, AB and Moeen managed to speed up proceedings and scored 50 runs. Both batsmen got to their respective fifties in the 17th over and were ready to launch.

But they got only 18 runs in the 18th and 19th over, and Bangalore needed a big 20th over to push that 180mark. De Villiers even started the over with a six. However, Akshdeep Nath didn’t go for a second run, meaning de Villiers was run out by Pollard.

Had Nath sacrificed his wicket, Bangalore might have got 1015 more, but they had to settle with 171.

The highlight: AB vs Bumrah Going into the death overs, it was always going to be a mouthwatering contest - a set de Villiers versus Bumrah and Malinga. The Sri Lankan veteran started the final three overs by sending back Moeen

RCB Innings (20 overs maximum) PA Patel † c Yadav b HH Pandya 28 V Kohli (c) c †de Kock b Behrendorff 8 AB de Villiers run out (Pollard) 75 MM Ali c HH Pandya b Malinga 50 MP Stoinis c Sharma b Malinga 0 AD Nath c †de Kock b Malinga 2 P Negi c †de Kock b Malinga 0 UT Yadav not out 0 M Siraj not out 0 Extras (b 2, lb 5, w 1) 8 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 8.55) 171-7 Did not bat: YS Chahal, NA Saini Fall of wickets: 1-12 (V Kohli, 2.1 ov), 2-49 (PA Patel, 6.6 ov), 3-144 (MM Ali, 17.1 ov), 4-151 (MP Stoinis, 17.5 ov), 5-169 (AB de Villiers, 19.2 ov), 6-169 (AD Nath, 19.3 ov), 7-169 (P Negi, 19.5 ov) BOWLING JP Behrendorff (4-0-49-1) SL Malinga (4-0-31-4) JJ Bumrah (4-1-22-0) de Villiers’ shoulder to take Bangalore to a competitive total.

The South African had the wood against Malinga but it was his battle with Bumrah in the 18th over that caught everyone’s attention. The Indian pacer was carted for back to back boundaries off deliveries that were near yorkers. He then responded by nailing a yorker right through de Villiers’ legs, then hitting him on the helmet with a

HH Pandya (3-0-21-1) RD Chahar (4-0-31-0) KH Pandya (1-0-10-0) Mumbai Indians Innings (target: 172 runs from 20 overs) Q de Kock † lbw b Ali 40 RG Sharma (c) b Ali 28 SA Yadav c Saini b Chahal 29 Ishan Kishan st †Patel b Chahal 21 KH Pandya c sub (Milind Kumar) b Siraj 11 HH Pandya not out 37 KA Pollard not out 0 Extras (w 6) 6 TOTAL (19 Overs, RR: 9.05) 172-5 Yet to bat: JP Behrendorff, RD Chahar, JJ Bumrah, SL Malinga Fall of wickets: 1-70 (RG Sharma, 7.1 ov), 2-71 (Q de Kock, 7.4 ov), 3-104 (Ishan Kishan, 10.3 ov), 4-129 (SA Yadav, 15.3 ov), 5-148 (KH Pandya, 17.5 ov) BOWLING UT Yadav (2-0-25-0) NA Saini (3-0-34-0) M Siraj (2-0-21-1) YS Chahal (4-0-27-2) P Negi (4-0-47-0) MM Ali (4-0-18-2) wicketless, but his figures of 0 for 21 in four overs at the Wankhede was worth their weight in gold.

The win against Kings XI Punjab seems like a blip for Bangalore as they went back to losing ways. They now travel to Kolkata to take on the Knight Riders. Mumbai recorded their fifth win and jumped to third spot on the table. They will next face a high-flying Delhi Capitals team at Kotla.

Pant left out of India World Cup squad CWC 2019: Smith, Warner back in Australia squad

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ndia have chosen wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik instead of Rishabh Pant in their squad for the World Cup. Pant, 21, is one of India’s emerging talents but the selectors have opted for 33-year-old Karthik’s experience.

Virak Kohli will captain the side, and the 15man squad also includes ex-skipper MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul.

“We’ve seen Karthik finishing matches under pressure,” said chief selector MSK Prasad.

“Pant is full of talent. He has time on his hands.”

Pant played the last two one-day internationals of a recent 3-2 series defeat at home by Australia, both of which India lost.

All-rounder Vijay Shankar has also been picked, with Ambati Rayudu being left out.

“What Vijay Shankar offers is three dimensional,” Prasad said. “Apart from his batting, he can bowl and he’s a fantastic fielder.

We are looking at him as number four.”

The tournament, in England and Wales, will run from 30 May to 14 July.

India’s campaign begins against South Africa on 5 June at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

Full World Cup squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shikhar

Dhawan, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav. (BBC Sport)

Rishabh Pant

S

teve Smith and David Warner have been named in Australia’s World Cup squad after serving year-long bans for ball-tampering.

Former captain Smith and vice-captain Warner were fined and banned for their roles in the incident during the third Test in South Africa in March 2018.

Fellow batsman Cameron Bancroft, banned for nine months, returned in December.

Australia chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said Smith and Warner’s return to cricket had been “pleasing”.

They have played in this season’s Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively.

“We have been extremely pleased with how the ODI squad has been building over the past six months, including the recent series wins in India and against Pakistan in the UAE,” said Hohns.

“Steve Smith and David Warner come back into the squad. Both are world-class players and it has been pleasing to see them produce some good form in the IPL.” Spinners Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon have been named in the Australia squad alongside Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson and Nathan Coulter-Nile.

But Josh Hazlewood and Peter Handscomb - who scored his maiden one-day hundred in India last month - have not been included.

The tournament, in England and Wales, will run from 30 May to 14 July.

Australia start their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan in Bristol on 1 June.

Full squad: Aaron Finch (capt), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan CoulterNile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa. (BBC Sport)

David Warner (left) and Steve Smith (centre) made their club cricket returns in Australia in September

20 Foster’s howler and Deeney’s red card send Arsenal into top 4

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesday, APRIL 16, 2019

I

t was a frantic and full-bloodied affair and for Troy Deeney, the night when his fondness for speaking his mind well and truly came back to haunt him. It was after this fixture in October 2017, that the Watford captain accused claimed he liked to “whack”Arsenal’s players in order to see which one of them “wants it.” Well, 18 months on Deeney did give them one of them a whack and he was sent off for his troubles.

The flashpoint arrived on 11 minutes and as the striker delivered a forearm smash to Lucas Torreira’s head. The referee, Craig Pawson, immediately pulled out his red card, which caused shock among the home supporters and great glee among those in the away end. For Deeney it was also some comedown after his part in Watford’s incredible FA Cup semi-final victory eight days ago.

For Javi Gracia’s men there was also the setback of a defeat that harms their chances of finishing seventh while for Arsenal came three points that moves them up to fourth. Victory was secured moments before Deeney was dismissed thanks to a moment of expert opportunism by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and represents Arsenal’s only third away from home in their last 13 games in all competitions.

With such a short turnaround between last week’s Europa League victory over Napoli and the return in Italy this Thursday, Emery was always going to make changes for this contest, and there were six in total, with the most eye-catching being the deployment of Konstantinos Mavropanos in a defence lacking his fellow Greek, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, through suspension.

The 21-year-old has made just one previous appearance this campaign having been dogged by a groin injury, and that as a 79thminute substitute at Manchester City in February. Mavropanos has become Arsenal’s forgotten man but here he suddenly was.

The defender’s first contribution was a less than convincing

one as he attempted to head the ball back to Bernd Leno only to miss the ball completely. That was the cue for the hosts, buoyed by their Wembley win and having not lost here since Boxing Day, to put their squeeze on their opponents. The pressing was high and aggressive and Arsenal appeared rattled. Cue surprise then when it was they who took the lead on 10 minutes.

It was a moment Ben Foster will not look back on fondly as his attempt to clear the ball following Daryl Janmaat’s backpass was charged down by Aubameyang from practically on the goalline.

The ball smashed the side of the striker’s left boot and went in for his first away goal of 2019.

And things got worse for Watford less than a minute later as Deeney was shown a red card for the second time in his Premier League career. The call was made by Richard West, the assistant on the far side, who clearly saw the striker thrust his forearm into the side of Torreira’s head as he ran past the Arsenal midfielder.

It was not the most violent of collisions but it was reckless and ultimately the decision of referee, Craig Pawson, was the right one.

Down to 10 men Watford could have caved. Instead they appeared even more determined to wound their opponents.

First Craig Cathcart forced Leno into a smart save and then, on 32 minutes, Étienne Capoue made the German work even harder to keep out his fizzing free-kick. Arsenal were being pegged back and forced to play on the counter-attack, their numerical advantage not obvious to the naked eye. Meanwhile Deeney, continued to watch proceedings from inside the players’ tunnel.

For the visitors there was a need to get a grip on proceedings.

As such, it was no great surprise to see Mesut Özil, in full away kit, being put through his paces during the interval. The German came on for Torreira and was stationed in an advanced midfield role, with Aaron Ramsey moved deeper.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring the winning goal

Slightly altered, Arsenal controlled the early stages of the second half and would have scored again on 53 mintues had Aubameyang connected better with Iwobi’s low cross. Four minutes later, Henrikh Mkhitaryan did get on the end of an Iwobi delivery only to see his side-footed shot brilliantly blocked by Foster.

Watford were now hanging on and just before the hour Gracia decided to make a change, bringing Isaac Success on for Kiko Femenía and changing to a 4-3-1-1 formation.

With Success playing just off Andre Gray, Watford found themselves exerting fresh pressure on their opponents and, on 62 minutes, they came close to equalising after Adam Masina hit a swerving long-range drive that appeared to be going in only for the ball to clip the top of the bar.

The hosts kept coming and went even closer to scoring 10 minutes before the end when Gray went around Leno and appeared set to put the ball into an empty net only for Ainsle Maitland-Niles, on as a substitute, to make a crucial sliding block.

For Watford, there was no way through. (The Guardian)

Australia ends player’s contract Cherono wins Boston over anti-gay tweet Marathon by 2 seconds

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he 123rd Boston Marathon ended with a sprint to the tape Monday, as Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono edged Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa by two seconds in one of the closest finishes in the event’s history.

Cherono outkicked Desisa in the final steps of the 26.2-mile race, winning in his Boston Marathon debut in 2:07:57. Desisa was denied his third Boston title.

“It was something amazing,” Cherono said. “It was not easy.”

The women’s race had far less drama thanks to Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa, who led the last 22 miles and finished 44 seconds ahead of 2017 Boston winner Edna Kiplagat of Kenya. Degefa finished in 2:23:31.

“(My husband) said you have good speed, when you have comfortable, just go,” Degefa said through a translator.

The top American finishers in the men’s race were Scott Fauble and Jared Ward in seventh and eighth, respectively. For the women, Americans Jordan Hasay and 2018 Boston champion Des Linden were third and fifth.

Daniel Romanchuk became the first American to win the men’s wheelchair title since 1993. Just 20 years old, he also became the youngest Boston winner ever with a time of 1:21:36.

Manuela Schar of Switzerland won the women’s wheelchair race for the second time in three years, finishing in 1:34:19. (Reuters)

Israel Folau has won 73 caps and was expected to play at this year’s World Cup in Japan

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he Australian rugby union authorities have ended Israel Folau’s contract over a social media post in which he said “hell awaits” gay people.

He has 48 hours to accept his sacking, or face a code of conduct hearing.

Rugby Australia said the 30-year-old “had committed a high-level breach of the Professional Players’ Code of Conduct warranting termination of his employment contract”.

He has won 73 caps and was expected to play at this year’s World Cup in Japan.

Full-back Folau, who signed a fouryear deal with Sydney-based Super Rugby side the Waratahs in March and had a contract with Rugby Australia until 2022, escaped punishment for similar comments last year.

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said: “Israel was warned formally and repeatedly about the expectations of him as [a] player for the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs with regards to social media use and he has failed to meet those obligations.

“It was made clear to him that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.”

’I live for God now’

The committed Christian last week posted a banner on his Instagram account that read: “Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators - Hell awaits you.”

The post remains online and on Sunday the player said he was standing by “what the Bible says”.

Following a service at the Truth Of Jesus Christ Church, he told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper: “I share it with love. I can see the other side of the coin where people’s reactions are the total opposite to how I’m sharing it.

“First and foremost, I live for God now.

Whatever He wants me to do, I believe His plans for me are better than whatever I can think. If that’s not to continue on playing, so be it,” he added.

“In saying that, obviously I love playing footy and if it goes down that path I’ll definitely miss it. But my faith in Jesus Christ is what comes first.”

In addition to his rugby union career, Folau has also played professional rugby league and Australian rules football.

Last week Australian rugby league’s governing body ruled out Folau returning to the National Rugby League. (BBC Sport)

Lawrence Cherono edged Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa by two seconds to mark the closest finish in the event’s history

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, APRIL 16, 2019

21

Sergeant commands Regal to 3rd consecutive Florida Cup

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n ultra-aggressive 85 from Rickey Sergeant gave Regal All Stars a commanding 131-run victory over Softball Cricket Canada (SCC) All Stars in the Open final of the 15th edition of the Florida Cup, which ended last Sunday in Fort Lauderdale.

The stocky right-hander walked in at number 4 with the now three-time champions being at 33-2 in the third over after winning the toss, and powered them to 233 for 7 from their 20 overs.

However, at the start of his innings, he was just a spectator at the other end, playing the supporting role to Patrick Rooplall, who seemed a man possessed.

Rooplall hit two sixes and two fours off the first six balls he faced, to get the ball rolling in the resulting carnage at the Central Broward Regional Stadium -- the only international cricket venue in North America. In the next over, Sergeant got into his stride, and started to match Rooplall shot for shot.

The attacking right handers took the score to 89-3 before Rooplall holed out at midwicket for 46 (3x4; 5x6) in the eighth over.

After Rooplall’s departure, Sergeant received support from Sewchand Budu, who made 16 (1x4; 1x6); and Eon Ellis, who made 22 not out (1x4;

Patrick Rooplall admiring his shot

1x6), before he was 5th man out at 196-5 in the 17th over, 15 runs short of what would have been a well-deserved century.

Ellis, Rabindra Ramnauth with 03, Martin Dutchin’s 06, and Delroy Pereira’s 10 not out (1x4; 1x6) then saw the champions past the 200-run

mark.

Earlier, in-form opener Sachin Singh on 08 (2x4) and Captain Fazal Rafiek on 01 had fallen to Ramkissoon, who was the pick of the SCC bowlers with 3/33 from his four overs.

SCC’s reply was immediately off to a bad start

when fast bowler Martin Dutchin (2/13) sent back opener A. Rukhram without scoring and K. Parbhudin on 06 in quick time. Dutchin was supported by opener Shilenda Ramnauth (1/13) to leave SCC on 28 for 3 after 8 overs -- and they never recovered.

R. Ramsuchit, who top-scored with 47 (4x4, 2x6), and A. Sookdeo who made 22 were the only two batsmen in double figures when the innings ended at 101 in 19.4 overs. Kishore Smith was the most destructive Regal bowler, having snared 4/22, while Pereira picked up 2/23 (3.4). For his destructive innings of 85 (7x4; 6x6), Sergeant was later named Man of the Match. Sewchand Budhu was named Man of the Series.

Regal All Stars have now won three Florida Cups in a row, having copped the 2016 and 2017 titles.

In the other categories, Orlando Legends won the Over-50 title after beating South Florida Legends in the final, and SVC Corriverton took the Masters Over-40 title when they beat SCC Masters.

The 15th edition of the Florida Cup was organised by the South Florida Softball Cricket League.

Across the three formats, there were 28 teams in all, with 10 each in the Open and Masters Over40 categories, while there were 8 teams in the Legends Over-50 category.

PFK Barcellos, Narine & Co Tape-ball competition…

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ver the weekend, the Durban Park played witness to the PFK Barcellos, Narine & Company’s annual Inter-Secondary School Tape-ball Cricket competition, which saw La Bonne Intention (LBI) being crowned champions.

LBI defeated Business School in the first semifinal fixture, while Patentia Secondary defeated Hope Secondary in the second semifinal fixture to set-up the highly anticipated clash between LBI and Patentia Secondary.

In the boys’ competition, Ryan Wong won the MVP award.

Meanwhile, Hope Secondary School girls won the James ‘Kool’ Lewis Trophy in the schoolgirls’ softball cricket competition when they defeated Queenstown Secondary via walkover.

A representative from the office of PKF Barcellos, Narine & Co handed over the prizes following conclusion of the event.

Company officials have pledged their support for a bigger and better tournament in 2020.

How ‘humble’ Sterling changed De Bruyne’s mind

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Raheem Sterling and Kevin DeBruyne share a light moment

K

evin De Bruyne has admitted to thinking Raheem Sterling would be a “d***head” before getting to know his “humble” Manchester City team-mate.

Midfielder De Bruyne and England star Sterling signed for City within just over a month of each other in 2015 and have been at the forefront of the club’s successful spell under Pep Guardiola.

But as the Belgium international revealed in a column for The Players’ Tribune website, he feared the portrayal of Sterling as “flashy” in some sections of the media would put their personalities at odds.

“Before I came to Manchester City, I didn’t really know what to make of this Raheem Sterling guy,” De Bruyne said.

“I had never met him, and from what I’d read about him in the English press, I thought he was going to be a very different character.

“I didn’t think he’d be a bad guy, really. But the tabloids were always claiming that he was arrogant. So, I guess I thought he’d be... what do the English call it? A bit of a d***head, maybe?”

Sterling, who moved to the Etihad Stadium from Liverpool for a fee

reportedly nearing £50million, has often spoken out against his unfavourable depiction in certain news publications.

More recent attention has centred on his campaigning against racial abuse and his star performances in City’s push for a second successive Premier League title.

De Bruyne assisted the first of the attacker’s two goals in Sunday’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace and revealed their “strong connection” extends beyond the pitch.

“Truthfully, I don’t have many close friends - inside or outside of football.

It takes me a really long time to open up to people,” the former Chelsea and Wolfsburg man said.

“But over time I got closer to Raheem, because our sons were born around the same time, so they would always play together.

“I really got to know Raheem, and I recognised what a smart and genuine person he is. He couldn’t be more different from what the tabloids were saying.

“This is the real truth: Raheem is one of the nicest, most humble guys I’ve met in football.” (Sportsmax)

The victorious LBI team

Real Madrid held by Leganes L

eganes picked up a first ever La Liga point against neighbours Real Madrid in a deserved draw.

The mid-table Cucumbers led through Jonathan Silva’s calm 18-yard finish from Martin Braithwaite’s pass.

But Karim Benzema levelled at the second attempt, scoring the rebound after Ivan Cuellar had palmed his shot.

Real were playing in their first

Monday night La Liga game, a slot not usually reserved for the league’s big names, in more than four years.

Zinedine Zidane’s team have little to play for as they are out of the title race and the cups, and are in no real danger of missing out on a Champions League place.

Wales international Gareth Bale was a late substitute, only had four touches in 12 minutes, and walked straight down the tunnel at the final whistle. (BBC Sport)

Karim Benzema has now scored Real Madrid’s last five La Liga goals

22

tuesday, APRIL 16, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Bartica Easter Regatta Sports

Grass track racing hits Mongrippa Hill track on Saturday ─ BMX cyclists slated to compete

I

n what is being touted as one of the biggest showdowns in the sports programme of Bartica Easter Regatta 2019, grass track racers are slated to compete against each other at the Mongrippa Hill track this Easter Saturday to determine who among them are ‘the best of the best’ in their respective categories.

Organised by the Red Earth Riders Sports Club in conjunction with the Mayor and Town Council of Bartica, the likes of home boys Andrew ‘Dare Devil’ Wong, Dave Young, Bobby Rasul, Dale Hareen and Steven Vieira will all be on show as they seek to outperform each other.

Last year’s event was exciting, but the organisers are promising an even bigger and more competitive event this time around, with riders from

Essequibo, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown and Linden already confirmed to throw down the gauntlet against the home boys.

Lucrative cash prizes and trophies would be on offer for

for the Regatta, Michael Dos Santos, and the Mayor and Town Council -- which now has the franchise for the Regatta.

They are encouraging fans to come out in their numbers and

Events listed for ‘dirt bike riders are:

Three ‘professional’ races in the 125CC category, each having a cash prize of $65,000.

Three ‘novices’ races in the 125CC category, each having a cash prize of $45,000.

Two ‘quads’ races, each with a cash prize of $50,000.

Two ‘bush bike’ races (four wheels) each with a cash prize of $30,000.

Two races for ‘four-stroke’ 125CC vehi-

the 14 races carded for the day.

According to Haydock Parris and Dave Young, two representatives of Red Earth Riders Sports Club, the club is more than happy to be working along with the Sports Organiser

building on the momentum of the recently held Bartica Cycling Challenge -which had been a

cles, each with a cash prize of $30,000.

One race for ‘side by side’ vehicles, which would have a cash prize of $65,000 One ‘Open’ race for two- wheel bikes, which would have a cash prize of $65,000

BMX cycle races

Girls’ under-12: 1st prize one BMX cycle Boys’ under-10: 1st prize one BMX cycle Boys’ under-13: 1st prize one BMX cycle Boys’ under-15: 1st prize one BMX cycle

enjoy what would be a fantastic day of riding, and they have also pulled out the stops to ensure the BMX riders in Bartica would enjoy what is going to be served up.

The men disclosed that

collaborative effort between the Mayor and Town Council and the Guyana Cycling Federation -- the club will be running off a total of four (4) BMX races, each of which would have a BMX cycle as the first prize, apart

From left: Racer Dave Young, Regatta Sports Organiser Michael Dos Santos, and Haydock Parris of the organising club display two brand new motor cycles and two of four BMX cycles to be given away on Saturday

from other incentives.

There would be races for girls under 12, and boys under 10, 13 and 15; and there would be other incentives for BMX cyclists placing in the other podium positions.

Among the sponsors on board to date are Guyoil, Elegance Jewellery, Sir Gas Station, KGM Security, Nicholas Kadir, Mohamed’s Enterprise, W. Golden, Dino’s Investments, and Pandit Service Station.

GFF Elite League Season IV…

Police restrain Victoria to record maiden win

F

ootball fanatics were given a tasty treat on Sunday evening when four of the best clubs in the country duked it out for valuable points in the ongoing Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Season 4.

Match 18 highlighted the round of play, with the Guyana Police Force defeating Victoria Kings at the Police ground. Making their debut, the GPF restrained the Kings from scoring any goals with a display of GPF ‘A’ game.

In the 11th minute, Darren Benjamin scored the first goal of the match from a free kick, to give the GPF the lead. Having to concede a goal scored this early in the match mentally affected the Kings, but GPF captain Winston Tanner’s 42nd minute goal which took the score to 2-0 decidedly piled on the misery for the Kings.

In the second half, both teams having made the necessary substitutions, the Kings’ playing failed to make a difference, and

debutants Police further ruffled their feathers to leave the royals dumbfounded.

The GPF have now gone on to record their first win of the season.

Meanwhile, in the preceding match, Ann’s Grove United battled Buxton United to a nil-all stalemate. Ann’s Grove recorded their first point of the season, while Buxton advanced in the league.

The competing clubs will do battle for a chance to win 2 million dollars; while 2nd place finisher will pocket $1.2m, 3rd place finisher $800,000, and 4th place finisher $500,000 respectively.

The GFF Elite League is the highest form of competitive football played in Guyana, and according to the Rules and Regulations of Season 4, the 10 clubs “will play one (1) round of football, resulting in the club acquiring the most points being declared the winner”.

Trojans select final 12 ─ captain confident in young talent

By Timothy Jaikarran

B

idding to defend their title at the University Games in Colombia in May 2019, the University of Guyana’s (UG’s) basketball team Trojans started their 2019 season with three victories and one loss.

The team eventually won fourth place in the recently concluded GABA/Let’s Bet Knockout competition; but with that in the past, they will now be focused on hitting the court in Colombia with the squad now selected.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport and being asked about the readiness of the team, newly selected captain Selvaughn Moseley responded, “We have never stopped training.

During both competition season and off-season, we continue to train consistently and have pickup games, so we are always ready. And now that we have addition of new blood to the team, like Jude Corlette, we are a force to be reckoned with.”

Responding on how his game has changed as captain, Moseley said, “Basketball is a team sport. Individual talent can never beat a team.

We are not focusing on perfecting individual players, but perfecting our team chemistry.

Once any combination of players can produce results on the team at the same high-intensity level, our victory is inevitable. My main focus is keeping the morale and motivation of the team as high as possible.”

Moseley has said that since the team won the GABA Under-23 title in 2018, their confidence

has been greatly boosted, and players have been encouraged to maintain a high level of productivity on the court.

He also said that, since Curacao, the team has had an influx of new blood, who have proven to be great players under pressure, and have thus improved the squad’s chances of reclaiming the title.

The full squad reads, point guards: Shaquille Eversley and Jonathan Browne; shooting guards: Jonathan Mangra and Kadeem Peterkin; small forwards: Dwight McKinnon, Kwesi Roberts and Damani Thomas; power forwards: Cubator Stephen, Selvaughn Moseley and Jahleel Young; and centres: Jude Corlette and Jabari Joseph.

UG Trojans captain, Selvaughn Moseley

Part of Sunday’s action in the GFF Elite League

Linden Town Week Mayor’s Cup…

Winners Connection, Net Rockers eliminate the opposition

T

he semifinal lineup for this year’s inaugural Linden Town Week Mayor’s Cup Football tournament was decided on Sunday night when number two-ranked Net Rockers and the Haynes & Lewis Winners Connection defeated Blueberry Hill United and Silver Shattas respectively at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground.

Shaquille Frank recorded a brace for the Winners Connection, who turned back the challenge of the Shattas by a 3-1 margin in the first game of the night, while Net Rockers eliminated Blueberry Hill United 2-1 to advance.

Winners Connection gained the lead through a 10th minute Rennard Caesar header from a squared ball coming from Cedric Hunt.

Goal number two came after a feed to Frank allowed him to score his first goal, in the 39th minute, for a 2-0 lead which Connection held until the first half ended.

Captain Marley Davidson facilitated the Connection’s third goal by sending Frank away in the 54th minute; but Rehu Regis pulled one back after a defensive lapse by the Winners Connection occurred in the 62nd minute. But by then the game was beyond the Shattas, and ended with victory for the Winners Connection.

Game two began with Net Rockers gaining a 4th minute lead against Blueberry Hill United through Royston Fraser. Before the first half

Rennard Caesar and Shaquille Frank

had ended, the Rockers had doubled that score through Joel Isaacs completing a fine play to score in the 27th minute and give the Rockers a 2-0 lead.

However, Blueberry Hill United cut that lead in the 46th minute when, off a defensive error by the Rockers goalkeeper, Karon Noble was allowed to capitalise and score soon after play resumed in the second half.

The scores, however, remained unchanged, and Rockers came away winners.

The semifinals are set for Wednesday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. In game one, which commences at 19:00 hrs, Haynes & Lewis Winners Connection and Net Rockers collide; after which Christianburg’s Eagles United go up against new kids on the block, Capital FC, from 21:00 hrs.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, APRIL 16, 2019

23

Christianburg-Wismar Annandale Secondary consistently found a way to penetrate President’s College defense

By Jemima Holmes

O

ne goal was all it took for ChristianburgWismar Secondary to silence their longtime rivals Lodge Secondary, as the Linden-based team romped to their first ever Milo Schools Football tournament victory.

The best of the best in terms of secondary school football teams went head-to-head on Sunday night in contention for the seventh annual Milo title, and when the dust was finally settled, Christianburg-Wismar were the last team standing.

The highly anticipated final had an entertaining prelude, as President’s College took on Annandale Secondary in the third place playoff.

Annandale broadcasted their dominance

Milo championship title

against PC with a 5-0 win in the encounter, which could have seen much more goals if it were not for Annandale’s laid back attitude.

Omari Glasgow and Collin Henriques started the scoring early with goals in the 4th and 9th minutes respectively to give their team an early lead. Annandale’s easy-does-it approach saw them missing the mark for the rest of the half with several tries.

President’s College maintained their composure, and even looked like they might be able to challenge Annandale in the second half, but could not accomplish the feat with just two forwards coming up against a solid defense.

The pair of Glasgow and Henriques returned in the second half to light up the encounter, with Henriques netting in the 57th and again in the 79th to complete his hat trick, while Glasgow had a second goal in the 76th.

The Annandale goalkeeper remained undisturbed throughout the game, which had a 5-0 finish.

Fans from as far as the mining town of Linden made their way to Georgetown for

A&R Jiwanram Printery 2nd Golf Classic…

Mangra returns strong to take title

From left: Clifford Reis, Maxim Mangra, Mike Mangal, Ayube Subhan, Robert Hanoman (A&R Printery representative), Joaan Deo, Bholawram Deo, and Club President Aleem Hussain

G

olf action continued on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Course with the second annual A&R Jiwanram Printery Golf Classic being hosted.

Maxim Mangra, with a net of 65, emerged as champion in this event, despite having a bad start in the front nine.

Battling it out in the 21-30 handicap flight, he emerged with a net score of 65 off a handicap of 26, by which he defeated the competition, among whom were many formidable opponents.

Coming in at second place was Clifford Reis (69/25), while Dr Philbert London (69/25) and Guillermo Escarraga (76/21) were close contenders.

In the 11-20 handicap flight, Ayube Subhan was able to maintain a good net 73 off a handicap 15 to edge out Bholawram Deo (73/18) in the back nine play. Gavin Todd (75/17) Mahindranauth Tewari (78/15) and Shanella Webster (79/15) likewise registered commendable performances.

Also mounting the winner’s podium was Mike Mangal, with a net 79 off a 9 handicap in the 0-10 handicap flight, which earned him first place. He was chased, but not overtaken,

by Club President Aleem Hussain (80/10), who outdid the other players in this group.

Special prizes were won by Mahindranauth Tewari for the Longest Drive, Ayube Subhan for the Best Gross, and Maxim Mangra for the Nearest to The Pin. Maxim won a third prize – The Tournament’s Champion prize – for returning the Best Net score of 65.

A&R Jiwanram Printery is a modern, professional, hi-tech printing & graphic

designing company that does a wide range of print jobs; including banners, clothing, calendars, books, wrappers and business cards, in small or large quantities as requested, with a general maximum turnaround time of 24 hours. It is located at 31 Back St, Bel Air Village, Georgetown, and can be contacted on telephone numbers 592-226-5588; 592-6031250; or 592-603-1255.

Maxim Mangra receiving his prize

the finale, which featured the two top guns in under-18 football. With both teams maintaining a clean streak throughout the three-month competition, the task of winning became even harder, and it was obvious in the aggressive matchup.

Putting behind them their 2018 loss to Christianburg-Wismar, Lodge Secondary avidly hunted the goal, but had one too many missed attempts. Tight defenses made for a goalless scorecard by the half; and the second was following the same path before ChristianburgWismar were awarded a penalty in the 67th minute.

Captain Andre Mayers took the opportunity, and for the first and only time that night, the Lodge goalkeeper squandered the collection.

The lone goal was enough for Christianburg-Wismar to lock in on the $500,000 grand prize.

The distribution of prizes saw Vergenoegen Secondary being named as the most disciplined team, while Leon Bishop of Lodge Secondary copped the award for best coach.

Lodge Secondary’s Beverly Spencer was hailed as the most

supportive teacher, while Kim Stephens was recognised as the most supportive parent.

The best goalkeeper award went to Christianburg’s Jonathon Copeland, who conceded only three goals in the tournament.

Lodge’s Dorwin George and Christianburg’s Andre Mayers shared the highest goal scorer award for ten goals allocated, but Mayers had the spotlight to himself after being named as the tournament’s MVP. Fourth-placed President’s College copped $75,000 whilst Annandale took home the $125,000 third place prize.

Runners-up, Lodge, were rewarded with $250,000.

The monies will be used to complete a project of the school’s choosing.

A picture tells a thousand words.

The battle between ChristianburgWismar and Lodge was truly intense

Griffith added to Windies coaching team

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) on Monday confirmed the coaching staff and management team to accompany the West Indies Senior Men’s Team to the TriSeries in Ireland and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Following last week’s appointment of interim Head Coach, Floyd Reifer, the full complement of Coaching Staff and Team Management to assist Reifer is now confirmed.

The squad for the TriSeries in Ireland will meet up with the coaching team at a training camp in Barbados, starting today, Monday 15th April 2019.

Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams said, “CWI have, in consultation with interim Head Coach Floyd Reifer, assembled a strong support group of coaches to work with the squad for the Tri-Series against Ireland and Bangladesh as we prepare for the World Cup. This support group will continue throughout the ICC Cricket World Cup in England.”

Adams added, “The training camp is now taking place in Barbados, as the CCG in Antigua is currently being used as a venue for the West Indies U15 Super50 Cup, where there will be heavy usage of the ground and training facilities.”

The four assistants headed

by Roddy Estwick includes Guyanese Rayon Griffith the fielding coach, Corey Collymore – the Fast bowling coach and Mushtaq Ahmed – the Spin Bowling coach.

Rawl Lewis has been tasked as Team Manager. The full complement contains Dr Oba Gulston (Physiotherapist), Corey Bocking (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Dexter Augustus (Video and Data

Roddy Estwick gives a few pointers

Analyst), Steven Sylvester (Sports Psychologist) and Zephyrinus Nicholas (Massage Therapist).

CWI appoints new Independent Director CWI has announced the appointment of Imran McSood- Amjad, Chairman and First CEO of NAGICO as a new Independent Director.

McSood-Amjad’s appointment was ratified by the CWI Board of Directors in a Board Meeting held on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.

McSood-Amjad joins CWI with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the insurance and motor industries. A selfmade entrepreneur and philanthropist, McSoodAmjad and his Nagico Insurances organization have long had an active involvement in West Indies cricket, including NAGICO being a recent past sponsor of the West Indies Super50 Cup. He is also Chairman of Motorworld, Caribbean Auto and International Motors Ltd in St Maarten. His passion for cricket in the West Indies runs deep and he is the founder and current Chairman of the St. Maarten Cricket Association.

McSood-Amjad has also been recognized for his longstanding and outstanding services to St Maarten’s society

with the Order of OrangeNassau, a Royal Decoration and recognition from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

President Ricky Skerritt said, “We are delighted to welcome Mr McSood-Amjad’s deep region-wide business experience and his undoubted passion for cricket to the CWI Board, where we know he will make valuable contributions to the growth and success of the West Indies to make cricket the heartbeat of the Caribbean.”

McSood-Amjad joins the Board and he expressed the honour he felt in receiving his new appointment, “It’s a privilege to be appointed to serve cricket across the whole of the region as we aim to strengthen West Indies cricket. Cricket makes such a difference to every community, country, player and fan and there is a genuine opportunity to make cricket stronger and continue to be the pride of the Caribbean.”

He added, “CWI must focus on all levels of cricket and work towards ensuring that the best and most disciplined players represent us at each level so as to become world leaders of the game once again. This would require a unified and astute approach to cricket coupled with financial vision for which I hope to bring added value.”

tuesday, APRIL 16, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Page 23

Christianburg-Wismar silence Lodge to claim Milo championship title

Griffith added to Windies coaching team

Page 23

Page 21

Sergeant commands Regal to 3rd consecutive Florida Cup

The victorious Regal Masters

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