Guyana Times - Wednesday, April 24, 2019

First Lady takes ICT training to Bina Hill Institute P13 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3903

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH wednesday, april 24, 2019

PPP requests suspension of all GECOM statutory meetings until CCJ ruling Page 3

…says Govt has no intentions of holding elections this year …as no mention of funds for GECOM on National Assembly’s order paper – Commissioner

Roger Khan applies for early release from US prison

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Pedestrian killed in Berbice hit and run P10

Upcoming audit at UG

Vice Chancellor denies exuberant spending, claims of tripled salaries …wants to extend contract

P11

Page 9

Abducted P8 miner escaped after Kuribrong shooting …2 suspects in custody

Over 50% of businesses P2 violate consumer laws

Fire destroys Essequibo Coast sawmill Page 2

Court clerk found dead in bathtub Page 10

CJIA expansion project

Former Minister calls for full-fledged probe

Page 7

…questions how a fixed-price contract could change in scope, intent

Essequibo River farmers fume over loss of income P15 …say diseases destroying crops

Mahdia man jailed for gun possession P2

2 news

wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mahdia man jailed for gun possession

A

miner was on Tuesday jailed for two years when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on gun and ammunition charges.

Ozario DeSantos, 27, of Lot 111 Miles, Princeville, Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), admitted to both charges.

He admitted that on April 20, 2019, at Garraway Stream, Potaro River, he had in his possession a .32 pistol along with six matching rounds of ammunition in his possession.

The prosecution’s case stated that ranks from Mahdia Police Outpost went to DeSantos’ residence in relation to a report which

law since he was convicted in 2017 for a similar offence. He further stated that the man was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in absentia.

Prosecutor Mansfield told the court that DeSantos

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lation to this present charge, DeSantos was jailed for two years and fined $50,000. He will also have to serve the three-year sentence that was pending. Sentencing will run concurrently.

Over 50% of businesses violate consumer laws – CAU

T

Jailed: Ozario DeSantos

was made against him. The ranks conducted a search on his person and the unlicensed pistol was discovered on his waist.

In a plea of mitigation,

the unrepresented man told the court that he uses the firearm for protection.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that the accused is known to the

Fire destroys Essequibo Coast sawmill

The sawmill on fire on Monday

devastating fire has left a businessman counting his losses after it ravaged his multimillion-dollar sawmill at Spring Gardens, Essequibo, on Easter Monday.

Reports are persons in the area noticed the smoke at about 17:30h and contacted the Guyana Fire Service but the firemen never ar-

was released on bail during the trial in 2017 when he had appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court but he never returned to court. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for him. In re-

rived until 19:00h.

Upon arriving at the scene, the firemen tried to save the business but encountered several difficulties.

It is believed that the dry sawdust around the compound caught fire thus making it much more difficult for the fire tenders to put out the blaze.

Guyana Times understands that a farmer in the area was burning his field when the fire rapidly changed course and spread to the sawmill.

The fire officials are presently investigating the cause of the fire. However, the owner of the business, Ramesh Ramotar, refused to offer a comment.

he Consumer Affairs Unit (CAU) branch of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) last year conducted its first countrywide inspections to businesses where it was discovered that over 50 per cent of them were breaching the Consumers Affairs Act with regard to the issuance of receipts and warranty on products, among others.

In a report compiled by the Commission, it was explained that a total of 159 businesses were inspected in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) and Four (DemeraraMahaica) where most of the inspections were done due to the proximity and the level of commercialism.

According to the Unit, officers focused their attention on clothing, footwear and accessories, electronics, appliances, household items, stationery and office supplies as well as hardware and building materials during which some 55 per cent of businesses were found to be uncompliant.

“During the initial inspection exercise, 45 per cent of the businesses were in conformance with the Consumer Affairs Act while the majority, 55 per cent of

businesses, failed to be in compliance with one or more sections of Part IV – Duties of Suppliers of the CAA,” the Commission reported.

It was keen to note that in Region Three, 100 per cent of the businesses were ignorant of their roles as vendors and as a consequence, failed to fulfil their duties.

Over in the most popular commercial area, Region Four, some 37 per cent of inspected businesses failed to meet their requirements

meeting the requirements,” CCAC revealed.

It was explained that those businesses were inspected using a compliance checklist which encompassed the duties of suppliers. Here it was found that the top three infringements were related to the return of goods, issuance of receipts and warranties.

Although all goods providers are mandated to conform to the current return policies, issue receipts and offer warranty, a whopping 57 or 36 per cent of the inspected businesses failed to adhere to the return policy while 53 or 33 per cent issued no receipts to their customers and an additional 41 or 26 per cent of businesses did not offer warranty or did not align with the criteria stated in the Consumer Act.

Re-inspection

while 63 per cent were compliant.

Meanwhile, in Regions Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 56 per cent and 60 per cent of businesses were compliant.

“On the other hand, only one-third of businesses in Region Nine were in compliance while the remaining two-thirds were non-compliant. Likewise, a substantial proportion of businesses in Region 10 failed the inspection with only one business

For the Consumer Affairs Unit, re-inspection is critical if the objective of a safe market for customers is to be achieved. With this in mind, uncompliant businesses were given one month to correct their flaws and an applaudable 65 per cent of re-inspected businesses were able to erase their mistakes.

The Commission said another phase of re-inspections will be conducted in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica) during the first quarter of this year.

news

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wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, April 24 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, April 25 – 09:00h-10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, April 24 – 07:15h-08:45h and Thursday, April 25 – 08:05h-09:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

PPP requests suspension of all GECOM statutory meetings until CCJ ruling …says Govt has no intentions of holding elections this year …as no mention of funds for GECOM on National Assembly’s order paper – Commissioner

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers are expected to give way to thundery showers in the day, followed by partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures will range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 07:24h and 19:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.51 metres and 2.31 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 13:28h reaching a minimum height of 0.73 metre.

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

Commissioner Bibi Shadick

T

he fact that the order paper for the April 26 sitting of the National Assembly has been sent out with no mention of any funds being sought for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has not gone unnoticed by the Opposition.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick expressed concern over this telling omission.

She noted that this was despite Government promising to put GECOM’s funding on the parliamentary agenda at the next sitting.

“Interestingly, and I pointed this out at our meeting today, the President had promised one of the first things on his parliamentary agenda was to get funds in the amount of $3.5 billion to GECOM. The order paper has no such thing on it. I said until we know the tasks that we have to follow, meetings should be held until after the decision.

“I am certain the Minister of Finance doesn’t have $3.5 billion to give for any election.

So, the game is being played and I won’t be a part of it.

Basically, the Government is saying we don’t have to have an election in 2019. We will have elections in 2020.”

Meanwhile, a statutory meeting set for Tuesday at GECOM ended abruptly, with People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-nominated Commissioners requesting such meetings be put on hold until the no-confidence motion-related matters were adjudicated.

On Tuesday, the statutory stalemate continued as PPP Commissioners walked out and the GECOM meeting was adjourned. Speaking to this publication afterwards, Commissioner Shadick revealed that GECOM has no plan that catered for not holding house-to-house registration.

That very house-to-house registration exercise is currently before the courts, as a United Kingdom and Guyanese citizen has filed a legal challenge against it.

In her affidavit, she had argued that the exercise would disenfranchise her and many

GECOM’s Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

President David Granger

others.

This had come after GECOM was warned to desist from house-to-house registration or face the law.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall subsequently filed legal proceedings against the Commission.

In the legal documents seen by this newspaper and filed by Nandlall on behalf of his client, Bibi Zeenatoun, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and GECOM are named as respondents.

In the fixed date application, the former AG sets out that the house-to-house registration was unconstitutional. It is noted that they are seeking a declaration of this and the fact that the exercise will exclude qualified registrants currently on the National Register and the official list of electors.

In particular, the application is seeking a declaration that Zeenatoun herself will be excluded and thus, have her constitutional right to

vote breached. But with this case before them, Shadick noted that GECOM seemed to be making no effort to steer away from house-tohouse registration.

“Because they’re not making any moves to refresh the list that is going to become invalid on the 30th of this month. So from the first of May we have no valid list of electors. So, everything has to wait to the end of houseto-house registration, whenever that is. They have no start date for this exercise.”

Nevertheless, Shadick

noted that GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson has insisted meetings would continue to be called.

The no-confidence motion-related cases, whose outcome would determine if Guyana is to have early elections or not, will not be heard by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) until May 10.

Meanwhile, the current list of voters expires this month end. GECOM has previously said house-to-house registration would not start until June.

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wednesday, april 24, 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

Where are we safe?

O

n Easter Sunday, Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, was rocked by multiple bombings on churches and hotels that resulted in, up to press time, the deaths of some 321 persons with hundreds of others injured. Many were killed as they worshipped on Christianity’s holiest of days – the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From all appearances, the bombings were carried out with precision and were well-coordinated.

The shock of this horrific incident swiftly resonated beyond that country’s borders as the world watches on in the aftermath, searching for answers. This follows just over a month ago the shootings in New Zealand, where a gunman opened fire in two mosques killing 50 worshippers during their sacred Friday prayers.

Like Sri Lanka, that was felt across the world as the lives of innocent beings were made valueless as in the case on October 27, 2018, when 11 persons from the Jewish community were killed while in worship at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

There were many such incidents over time in various parts of the world. Seventeen students killed at the Majority Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, on February 14, 2018. In that same state, 49 were killed inside a gay nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016. Fifty-eight concertgoers were killed in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017. Twenty were killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, Connecticut on December 14, 2012 and 77 killed in Norway on July 22, 2011.

In addition, there were many fatalities resulting from shootings at various work sites in some countries and vehicles deliberately crashed into crowds with the intent of maximising casualties.

Clearly, from these incidents persons were not safe whether they were at a holy place of worship, school, at work, at an entertainment spot or taking a stroll on the street. In every instance, each would have believed that their safety was not an issue.

These acts of terrorism continue to ask the question; where are people really safe? Those places are generally expected to be – not the least, at home. Sadly, there is no guarantee even in the latter.

Take for instance here in Guyana, with its share of acts of terrorism as seen in the Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek Massacres, crime continues seemingly unabated as every day the news is inundated with stories of unsuspecting persons being robbed, beaten and some killed in what is supposed to be the safety of their homes.

Last week, the Government embarked on a Cabinet outreach in Berbice. Ministers with their entourage were there, as was the requisite security for such an undertaking. From what has been reported, it appears that the presence of the increased security did not deter criminals who went about their task seemingly without bother. As a result, some residents, including the elderly, were robbed and beaten. This is not confined to Berbice, but prevalent across the country.

Sunday last, a Bartica man was shot dead and a miner who witnessed it was abducted. Just recently, a moneychanger was robbed and killed by bandits early in the morning a stone’s throw away from Parliament Building; a visiting cruise ship director was beaten and robbed on returning to where the vessel was docked and there were reports on social media of a mob allegedly robbing a few foreigners at a city car park, which has become notorious for robberies and which continues to seemingly go unchecked by the authorities.

In the past, there were even reports that some schoolchildren were robbed of their lunch money. The question of safety is one Guyanese continue to grapple with as fear grows with every passing day. Some frustrated residents are of the opinion that their safety does not matter. When the Berbice situation is taken into consideration, especially when, reportedly, criminal acts were perpetuated even as officials were present in the county, residents cannot be faulted for feeling that way.

Shortly after that outreach, it was reported that some suspects were arrested following a Police operation. More than likely, the crime situation in Berbice would have been brought to attention during the said outreach. It seems fair to ask whether the authorities were aware of the situation prior to the Government engagement.

Surely, they must have known; therefore, the question must be asked: why wasn’t it done before? With that in mind, could it be that the operation was to demonstrate a swift response from the outreach to show the Government listens and takes action?

If there is any truth in that, then there is serious cause for worry since it can suggest that prior cries, through media reports and the victims, probably went unheeded. Similar sentiments are warranted for the situation at the city car parks given the continuous rampage of criminal activities there. Many are asking, why does it continue given the Government’s boast of being able to combat crime? Where is safe in Guyana with crime unabated?

These seem fair questions from fearful Guyanese; questions for which the Government and the citizens will have different answers. The sad irony from Sri Lanka is that on the day the resurrection was celebrated, many were killed. The value of human lives is, therefore, questioned. That question of value is posed to the Government here.

Ranks from the Standard Officer Course #51 jumping from a Guyana Defence Force helicopter at Makouria, Essequibo River as part of their jungle warfare skills training (GDF photo)

Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A

night at a bar is interrupted by a power outage, going to a baseball game is prohibitively expensive, and a trip to a nearby beach requires months of savings. But many Venezuelans have not given up on finding ways to smile.

Despite an economic crisis that has led to shortages of food and medicine and has prompted more than three million to emigrate, Venezuelans are seeking ways to have fun and spend time with family in the hope of easing their discomfort.

Still, the increased frequency of blackouts and a political showdown between the socialist Government and the Opposition has cast a cloud of uncertainty, leaving many Venezuelans bereft of simple pleasures.

Venezuela fell to the 108th place in the 2019 World Happiness Report prepared by the United Nations, down from 102nd place in 2018. In the Western hemisphere, only Haiti was below the oil-rich nation, ranking 147th out of 156 countries studied by the UN. The happiness report – which in its first edition in 2012 placed Venezuela in the 19th position – is based on indicators such as Gross Domestic Product per capita, generosity, life expectancy, social freedom and absence of corruption.

Venezuela was plunged into darkness with two massive blackouts in March, generating water shortages and prompting the Government to suspend

Groups of young people come together to break-dance, which they say is a way to disconnect, and some even hula hoop. But some admitted that they had not been eating enough recently to be able to spend as much time dancing as they used to

work and school. Earlier this month, the Government launched a power rationing plan, and electricity remains intermittent in many parts of the country.

In search of distraction, Venezuelans from the country’s capital of Caracas have long taken to the nearby seaside state of Vargas to spend weekends with family and friends on the shores of the Caribbean.

“You put your mind in another place,” said Leonel Martinez, a 26-year-old soldier while relaxing on the sand with his girlfriend while her nephews played nearby. “It’s a way to think about something besides what is happening in the country.”

But in a country where the monthly minimum wage amounts to just US$6 per month, the US$15-US$20 a day trip to the beach can require months of savings and

advance planning.

Martinez, who said he used to take the 40-kilometre (25-mile) trip to the beach frequently, said it was the first time he had gone in a year.

“It’s not something you can do every day, because of the situation in the country,” said Martinez.

For Venezuelans, queuing for food is a daily ordeal.

They also are used to trying multiple pharmacies and hospitals in search of the medicines they need, and more recently have grown accustomed to collecting water from streams.

But that has not stopped Joaquin Nino, a cashstrapped 35-year-old father of two, from taking his kids to an amusement park in southern Caracas.

“We have to work miracles just to have some fun,” Nino said.

At a parade in eastern

Caracas celebrating Holy Week, revellers dressed in straw hats topped with flowers sang, banged drums and blew trumpets to tropical beats. With the sun beating down, one marcher who gave his name as Carlos remembers how in past years onlookers would douse those marching with water to cool them down.

“Now, because of the problems with the water, that probably will not happen,” he said.

In central Caracas, a group of men of all ages meet every Sunday to play softball while a handful of their relatives watch. The wire fence that once surrounded the field was long ago stolen. The lights, which once allowed the group to play at night, were also pilfered.

“I always come because my husband plays,” said Delia Jimenez, a 62-yearold industrial designer who jumps up from the stands whenever her husband comes up to bat. “We have fun and we shake off our stress.”

A few blocks away, groups of young people come together to break-dance, which they say is a way to disconnect. But some admitted that they had not been eating enough recently to be able to spend as much time dancing as they used to.

“When we’re out here dancing, we don’t think about the state of the country,” said Yeafersonth Manrique, a 24-year-old drenched in sweat after a long practice. “In this world there is no crisis.” (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, april 24, 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

No agency devoid of LGC dragging feet on massive corruption, serious matters bribery and fraud Dear Editor, There seems to be no governmental agency in Guyana that is devoid of massive corruption, bribery and fraud, which only spells doom and disaster for our beloved country, particularly with the coming of first oil in a few months.

The most recent agency exposed in such transgressions is the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for which some of its operatives have been discovered sneaking around accessing tenders that they should not have, tampering with them, and as a consequence, making a complete mockery of the tender process of Guyana.

Of course, such lurid goings-on at NPTAB have been an open secret for a very long time now as there has been for a while, a hullabaloo by some contractors, companies and even

by the public, of the skewed manner in which only some entities and individuals are awarded contracts, many times for which they are illequipped and trained to do.

Even worse, recordings of telephone conversations with very damning information are coming to the surface, involving claims that some senior operatives are coaching their juniors into committing perjury.

So now that the cover has been blown at NPTAB and everyone is running for cover, there seems to be a sudden PR blitz coming from that office with unprecedented levels of public announcements, releases and awareness programmes in what is obviously a smokescreen intended to confuse the public about the real happenings there.

The hypocrisy of a very senior official there, who in a recent statement to the press claimed that he was

not a politician, is quite laughable as in the 2015 campaign season, he was very visible at all of the stops of the ‘Unity Train’ and at the campaign rallies of a certain political party, and who since the elections, has been rewarded with lucrative positions on several State boards. This is quite evident as on one hand, he is holding himself out to be a beacon of moral rectitude while on the other hand, is now alleged to be giving a heads up to junior staffers as it relates to covering up the current saga.

If Guyana is to improve its rankings on international indexes on corruption, it is important that agencies such as the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board be staffed by young, competent, qualified, decent and apolitical individuals.

Sincerely, Roseanne Rodgers

Dear Editor, In spite of the resolution of the imbroglio that had confronted the Local Government Commission (LGC) a few months ago with regard to the approval of its 2019 work programme and the release of funds for the payment of its expenses, including the salaries and emoluments for its staff and commissioners, which I might add are not insignificant, the LGC still seems to be paralysed, as many months are going by and yet one cannot hear anything out of them, particularly as it relates to the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the Georgetown City Council which was delivered to them almost half a year ago.

With the exception of one recommendation, and that is the dethroning of the ‘Mighty King’, which was predictable due to the mountains of evidence of skulduggery in hand, there has been little or no move-

Special audit of CJIA expansion project needed Dear Editor, The allegation of corruption at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion project is becoming worse by the minute and must not go unchallenged.

Unless greater transparency is brought to the implementation of this contract, Guyana will be worse off financially and infrastructurally than it was before this US$150 million loan was borrowed. What we are seeing at the airport is the height of human vulgarity.

In the USA, with all the post 9/11 requirements, the Westchester 6-gate airport terminal cost about US$90 million from scratch. In the case of Guyana, we shall only be receiving a 4-gate terminal and an extension of the runaway for US$150 million. That would have been acceptable if it was a new departure and arrival terminal. But now we are finding out that the old terminal has not been torn down. Rather, it has been gutted and is being reused at the departure area.

We must also remember that the PPP in 2011 signed a fixed-priced contract for US$150 million that committed the contractor to an airport as per the contract with 8 gates, new departure

and arrival terminal and a 10,800 feet runway to make it a category Code 4E runway (a jumbo jet - BOEING 747-400 aircraft can land).

The PNC varied the contract and offered four gates and a refurbished departure terminal. So, picking sense from nonsense, Guyana is getting less and is still being charged the same price.

What abject nonsense is this? How more bogus can Team Granger get?

I appeal to the Office of the Auditor General to conduct a special audit on this project to assess if this nation is securing value for money.

I appeal to the Auditor General to safeguard all evidence since any future Government would

need such evidence to prosecute those found culpable for misappropriation of public funds.

Regards, Lisa Ally

ment on the other thirty serious recommendations.

Whether politically motivated or otherwise, there seems to be a reluctance by the LGC to ‘rock the GT boat’.

In the meantime, the kakistocracy at City Hall continues to bloom, with hose senior officers who were identified by the CoI for termination due to their poor management of the affairs of the city, and for a criminal investigation and charges be laid against those who were involved in irregularities that were found, continuing to operate with business as usual. This is just unacceptable and the LGC must explain to taxpayers who are paying them, why the Commission is dragging its feet on such serious matters.

It makes one wonder,

while Georgetown is being swallowed up in garbage, while the constabulary is playing cops and robbers at the same time with the ‘Three Card Trick Men’ and the villains under the Clock, while nepotism, cronyism and favouritism continues unabated at the Council and some sections of the Council, like their Public Relations Division, continue to do little or nothing for super salaries, whether or not there is some collusion to allow the status quo of the Council to remain the same.

I ask in keeping with their constitutional duties, that the Chairman and Commissioners get on with fixing a very broken municipality.

Sincerely, Mark Roopan

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wednesday, april 24, 2019

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I

s it time for your child to start wearing deodorant?

You may want to keep your child a baby forever, but kids grow up fast. In the blink of an eye, they’re starting kindergarten, learning how to ride a bike, and before you know it, they’re going through puberty.

Kids start puberty at different ages, with some girls beginning as early as 8 years old and some boys as early as 9 years old, according to the Nemours Foundation.

Puberty causes undeniable physical changes in your child. Children grow taller, girls develop breasts, and a young man’s voice may deepen. Puberty is also when children start growing body hair.

As underarm hair develops, you may notice a distinct odor coming from your child.

Just about every parent expects their child to start wearing deodorant by their teenage years.

But some children develop body odor at a much younger age. It’s not uncommon for a girl or boy to need deodorant as early as eight, nine, or 10 years old.

You may feel your child is too young for deodorant. But the truth is, there’s no specific age for a child to start wearing deodorant. Each parent has to make a decision based on what they feel is best for their child.

Deodorant vs antiperspirant If you decide that now’s the time to address your child’s body odor, you can choose either an antiperspirant or a deodorant. Some people use these terms interchangeably, or feel that antiperspirants and deodorants are the same thing.

But there are clear differences between the two.

An antiperspirant is a product that stops perspira-

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

tion, and a deodorant is a product that eliminates odor caused by sweat. Some products function as both an antiperspirant and deodorant, but this isn’t always the case.

Since sweat is usually the underlying cause of body odor, you may look for products that only control perspiration.

Although an antiperspirant can be effective, some people are concerned about potentially harmful side effects of these products.

Side effects of antiperspirants If you check the label of antiperspirants in your bathroom or on a retail shelf, you’ll find brands containing the ingredients aluminum chloride or aluminum zirconium.

These ingredients work like a plug by constricting and stopping up sweat glands. If applied daily, your child may stop sweating completely or only sweat a small amount.

Adult antiperspirants can be used by children and teens.

This includes brands such as Certain Dri, Old Spice, Secret, and several other products on the market.

While aluminum-based deodorants are effective against sweat, it has been suggested that aluminum and other ingredients founds in antiperspirants (parabens and propylene glycol) have been linked to an increased risk of some medical problems.

However, studies have not shown that applying these substances to the skin causes an increased risk of any disease. If you are concerned about these ingredients, you can skip the antiperspirant and choose a gentle deodorant for your child or teen.

Safe, gentle deodorants for kids If you need a product to

mask your child’s body odor, and you prefer a product that doesn’t contain aluminum, parabens, or other toxic ingredients, there are many natural deodorants for kids.

Here are some options: * Primal Pit Paste * Tom’s of Maine * Junior Varsity Natural * Truly’s * Crystal Spring Salt of the Earth * Fresh Kidz Since natural deodorants don’t contain ingredients that stop perspiration, these products only control your child’s body odor, not sweating. The good news is that young children don’t usually sweat a lot.

Understand that children respond differently to natural products. If a natural deodorant doesn’t immediately produce the desired results, give it a few days and allow your child’s body to adjust to the deodorant. If this doesn’t work, your child may respond to a different type of natural deodorant.

Natural deodorants are safe, but your children may be allergic to one or more of the ingredients. In fact, your child could just as easily be sensitive to an ingredient in a deodorant as to one in an antiperspirant.

Before your children apply either of these to their underarms, you might want to test the product on a small section of their body, maybe on the back of their hand. Look for any signs of an allergic reaction like redness, bumps, or itchiness.

If a reaction doesn’t occur, it’s safe for your children to apply a larger amount under their arms.

Do-it-yourself deodorant If you don’t want to expose your child to the ingredients

in purchased antiperspirants or deodorants, you can also make your own deodorant at home using a variety of ingredients like coconut oil, baking soda, and essential oils. There are a variety of simple recipes online.

A basic concoction might include mixing: * 1/4 cup of baking soda * 1/4 cup of arrowroot powder * 4 tablespoons of coconut oil * 1/4 teaspoon of an essential oil like tea tree or lavender Combine all ingredients, and then melt and pour into a used deodorant tube or another container.

Since homemade and natural deodorants are mild, these products may not be as effective as other types of deodorants. To control body odor all day, your children may need to reapply deodorant after physical activity or on hot days.

Your children can also take additional steps to control body odor. These include bathing at least once a day, showering after activities, and changing their clothes, socks, and underwear every day.

Takeaway Body odor is common in children and teenagers, especially when they’re going through puberty. There’s no cause for alarm.

Speak with your doctor to get to the bottom of body odor issues if your child’s odor doesn’t improve or worsens despite using an antiperspirant, a deodorant, and improving hygiene habits.

Sometimes, children can have conditions that cause excess perspiration. In rare cases, your doctor may suggest running tests to confirm whether body odor is due to growing up,

or other problems like an infection, diabetes, or an overactive

thyroid. (www.healthline.com)

By Ria Saha

harmful drugs or alcohols, also suffer from bad breath ejected out of their mouth. Bad breath or halitosis triggered due to bacterial deposition in the mouth and on the tongue of the teens. * Suffering from chronic health diseases- Teens suffering from chronic health diseases like kidney or heart problems, often experience excessive sweating and bad body odor problems. The problem of excessive sweating known as hyperhidrosis is also susceptible to cause body odor in teens.

I

s your teen suffering from the problem of bad body odor? Do you want to know the effective remedies to help your teen get rid of such embarrassing situations?

Then you have come to the right place.

This post talks about the causes of body odor in teens and how to get rid of teenage body odor problem. Would you like to know more? Keep reading.

What is body odor?

Body odor, also known as bromhidrosis, is an unpleasant smell ejected from your body after sweating. When the bacteria get deposited on the outer skin of the body, the sweat produced is broken into acids, producing an unpleasant smell and odor.

Sweating initiates teenage body odor: The sweat glands present in the human body are ultimately responsible for producing excessive sweating, and it gives rise to bad and unpleasant body odor in teens.

Personal hygiene is exceptionally important for teenagers. A daily shower can help them resist the condition of perspiration and get rid of the bad body odor.

Causes of body odor in teens: At the onset of puberty, teenagers face terrible problems of bad body odor and excessive sweating. The situations become even worse in a humid climate, and the teen has to face huge embarrassment. Some of the major causes of bad body odor problems are as follows: * Hormonal changes in the body- The hormonal changes encountered by teenagers are often responsible to cause teen body odor problems. During puberty, the sweat glands become more active (apocrine gland), and the sweaty region of the body like armpits or scalp starts producing a fatty form of sweat.

This oily sweat can easily attract bacteria, which break down the sweat particles and produce an unpleasant odor from the body of teens. * Poor hygieneA teen not maintaining proper hygienic habits, like not taking a bath or not brushing his teeth regularly can often suffer from bad odor problems. * Bad breath- Some of the teens addicted to

Treatments of body odor in teens: There are many preventive measures, which can be eventually adopted by the teenagers to get rid of their unpleasant body odor problems. Some of such effective suggestions are as follows: * Keep the armpits clean and wash them with anti-bacterial soap, to prevent the hairy sweat glands from sweating and avoiding deposition of bacteria. * Use strong Deodorant or antiperspirant, to prevent the bad body odor from the sweat producing glands of the body. * Take a shower regularly and avoid deposition of odorproducing bacteria on your sweat glands. * Wear clothes made from natural fibers like cotton or silk, to help the sweat evaporate from your skin cells. * Avoid intake of spicy and oily foods, as it can initiate the process of sweating in teens. * For the treatment of smelly feet or bromodosis, wash your feet regularly with plain water and wear cotton socks.

When to seek medical advice?

If the condition of excessive sweating persists for the longer duration of time, it is recommended to seek requisite medical guidance. Teens suffering from liver disease, kidney disease, or diabetes can experience excessive sweats and need to visit the doctor, to treat the problem of bad body odor.

The treatment of body odor can help teenagers to live a stress-free life.

They would not have to face any troublesome situations because of their bad smelling feet or body odor. (www. momjunction. com)

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wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

CJIA expansion project

Former Minister calls for full-fledged probe …questions how a fixed-price contract could change in scope, intent

Former Public Works Minister Robeson Benn

F

ormer Public Works Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Robeson Benn, has supported calls for “a full-fledged public investigation” into the controversial Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, particular the fixed-price contract with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) which the coalition Government has “tremendously modified”.

“I support calls for a fullfledged public investigation into how a fixed-price contract could be subject to changes in scope and intent,” Benn said in a statement on Tuesday in response to comments made

by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson on Monday.

Minister Patterson, in a statement posted to his social media account, threw the blame for the delays of the CJIA expansion project at the feet of the former Administration, despite taking control of the project almost four years ago.

However, in a subse-

quent missive on Tuesday, Benn explained that Guyana entered into the design and build fixed-price contract with CHEC for the expansion of the CJIA to address issues such as congestion and ageing facilities. He noted that the payment was made on the usual 30 per cent mobilisation advance to the Chinese company, which was bonded.

“Initial delays in project start-up occurred as CHEC sought to extract an increase in the project sum by US$30 million. Their effort was refused based on international contracting rules for fixed-price contracts and the considered view that they sought increase was not warranted, anyway,” he stated.

air on “assertions” made

by Patterson, starting with the project supervision.

The Minister had said that CHEC worked for over 18 months without any independent supervision.

But according to Benn, before the supervising consultants – MMM Group Limited in association with Caribbean Engineering and Management Consultants (CEMCO) – came on stream

Furthermore, in addressing the allegations of allowing extra sand filling and determining the cost of the sand made by the Public Infrastructure Minister, Benn pointed out that the sand had to be provided free of royalties, which are costs that would have been charged back to the project, anyway. He added too that the sand provided was designed to allow for place-

metres to the south would have, indeed, required more fill based on elevation and deepen of the swamp sediments – pegasse and soft Demerara clay as the river was approached beyond 500 metres of extension. In fact, the soil conditions beyond 500 metres on direction of the extension were unsuitable because of volume of excavation and fill required,” Benn clarified.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

Impairing project’s integrity

According to the former Public Works Minister, by the time the coalition Government took over the project in 2015, the performance schedules of many national contracts were in difficulty because of budgetary cuts imposed by the then APNU and AFC parliamentary opposition.

“It is now evident that the scope of this project seems to have been tremendously modified with the effect of impairing the project’s original intended validity and integrity… It is obvious that the Minister is making an attempt, utilising his Facebook page and friends, to assign blame elsewhere for failings on the project after being responsible for the project for almost four years,” Benn posited.

He went on to clear the

in July 2014, the Ministry’s Works Services Group (WSG) undertook supervisory responsibility of the project from its commencement in January 2013.

This WSG resort, he noted, was not unusual and natural and necessary in the circumstances to maintain project schedules. “Awaiting project start-up until the process of obtaining a consultancy would have imposed additional time delays on the project. I stand by the integrity of the supervision undertaken then by the Ministry’s engineers who did daily visits and had weekly project meetings in order to ensure timely initiation of the project,” the former Public Works Minister contended.

ment of an engineered fill, at levels of compaction and stability to provide for a safe, stable runway extension.

He posited that CHEC had examined the project site before entering into the design and build fixed-price contract and advised that changes be made to the initial runway extension.

“On detailed geotechnical examination of the planned northern extension

by CHEC resulted in their advice that the entire length of fill to the north would be excessive and a decision was made to share the 1000 metres extension between the north and south of the runway – 50:50.”

This was taken as the optimised solution to the issue as an extension of 1000

In 2012, the then PPP/C Administration secured a US$138 million loan from the China Exim (ExportImport) Bank to fund the expansion and modernisation project, for which Guyana was slated to inject some US$12 million.

However, even though Patterson said the airport specifications were downgraded to limit cost overruns, the coalition Government went to the National Assembly last year for $346.5 million in supplementary funds towards the purchase and installation of two additional air bridges. In 2019, taxpayers are expected to hand out even more funds as the project remains in an incomplete state.

The extension of works into 2019 comes in disparity to an earlier commitment by Government where it committed that the works associated with the expansion would have been completed by the last quarter of 2018.

Initially, the project was scheduled to be completed within 32 months of its commencement in 2013. Later on, officials were optimistic of the project being completed by 2017. But having missed that deadline, Minister Patterson had assured a December 2018 completion.

During a press conference back in January following a media tour of the facility where works were still ongoing, the Public Infrastructure Minister gave a new deadline of March 31.

But according to Benn, with this new deadline having also passed, “we are, apparently, now being asked to prepare ourselves, via Facebook, to accept less for more in the result along with experiencing excessive and prolong delays related to this project”.

8 News

wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Abducted miner escaped after Kuribrong shooting …2 suspects in custody

T

he miner of Meten-MeerZorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD), who was allegedly abducted following a shooting incident at Kuribrong trail, Potaro River, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), has escaped.

This was confirmed by Police on Tuesday.

Police have, however, stated that they are investigating the murder of 34-year-old Perion “Redman” Bobb, a driver/mechanic of Lot 23 Caribese Hill, Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

He was reportedly shot to the stomach at close range and died immediately. The miner, who was in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, was allegedly abducted by the suspects but managed to escape from his abductors.

The police have also confirmed that two men are in custody and are assisting with the investigation.

It was reported that the shooting might have stemmed from an old grievance involving stripping a truck

of its parts which were later taken and installed on another vehicle.

The dead man’s mother, Jacqueline Bobb, had stated that her son was threatened and as such, she made a report at the Bartica Police Station.

She explained that he left home on Thursday evening for the backdam, since he had to transport goods and other items for the man with whom he worked.

“They shouldn’t have killed him, they does do him all kinds of things…they does rob him. When he does do their work they don’t pay him. He does tell me, I say ‘come out the bush, must come and look yourself, don’t worry with that’. I say ‘you ain’t working with a boss man?’ He say ‘well if people owe the boss they owe he too’,” the woman said.

The aggrieved woman stated that a few months ago, her son was sick and at that time, she urged him not to return to the interior but he did not pay her heed.

“Now that he get all he strength,

Reminder…

Y

Dead: Perion “Redman” Bobb

they kill he… God in heavens knows why they killed him… he don’t trouble anyone… but I does tell he that bad things does happen in the interior,” the grieving woman said.

The now dead man was the woman’s eldest son.

…of the 1st PNC disaster our Eyewitness joins the rest of the Caribbean to mourn one of its most loyal sons – Sir Alister McIntyre. He was part of what is now a seemingly extinct species – the public servant who spent his youth becoming educated at the highest level, and then the rest of his life actually SERVING the Caribbean public. There are many reasons for us Guyanese to honour the memory of this great man.

Appointed as Caricom Secretary General in 1974, he became intimately knowledgeable of our local politics, being posted to its headquarters at the Bank of Guyana Building. This served him in good stead when in 1989 he was appointed the UN Secretary General Good Officer for the Venezuelan border controversy.

But in that same year, he was associated with an event that was to play a critical role in the return of free and fair elections in Guyana, and which saved us from a downward spiral that was just about to plunge our country into a black hole, from which there is no return or exit. He must be remembered for this over everything else! This was the October 1989 report of the Commonwealth Advisory Group – which became known as the McIntyre Report, because of the lead role he played in compiling it – on Guyana’s economic and social situation, after 25 years of PNC rule.

The PPP and the other Opposition parties had been documenting for years the disastrous results of the PNC’s political dictatorship and its economic adventurism into “co-operativism”, but it was as if they were yelling in the middle of the proverbially empty forest. But the eponymous McIntyre Report, conducted on behalf of the Commonwealth by a leading Caribbean intellectual and economist, was the shot heard across the world and which shattered local, regional and international silence over the Burnham dictatorship.

The Report concluded that Guyana had plunged from being the second most developed British colony in 1964 to being barely above Haiti by 1989!! And that this situation was “clearly unsustainable”. 10,000 Guyanese were fleeing annually and debt service payments and interest amounted to 140 per cent and 53 per cent respectively of export earnings. The foreign debt amounted to US$2.1 billion with debt service payments amounting to 105 per cent of current revenue.

Sugar, rice, bauxite and forestry had all been run into the ground as was the rest of the 80 per cent of the economy the PNC had nationalised. Rats were chewing babies’ toes at Georgetown Hospital and “white mouth” stalked the land. The US took notice and the rest is history.

RIP Sir McIntyre! The nation hopes the CCJ will follow in your illustrious footsteps! …of pressures on Judiciary The US State Department issued a very timely reminder of the “influence” the Executive Government of the PNC exerts over the Judiciary. You may think it’s not as bad as during the Burnham dictatorship when the PNC flew their party flag over our Court of Appeal – then our apex court. But from what every Guyanese has seen since 2015, Granger is a president who doesn’t even genuflect to the law as did Burnham.

Now what your Eyewitness has to remind you, Dear Reader, about is that in our dear land of Guyana, the Judiciary doesn’t just mete out justice to criminals out there. In politics, we are taught that there are three parts of the government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary – and they’re supposed to “check and balance” each other. But in our Westminster System, the Legislature (the National Assembly) is controlled by the Executive!!

And that leaves only the Judiciary to hold off the creeping dictatorship! The last 2-1 majority decision on the “33 not-greater-than 32” by the Appellate Court left many scratching their heads.

Will it be “E tu, CCJ?” …Ankoko As our case inches forward at the World Court on the Venezuelan controversy manufactured over our settled border, let’s not forget that they’re occupying our half of Ankoko Island.

Not a blade of grass!!

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

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wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Roger Khan applies for early release from US prison S

haheed Roger Khan has filed a petition for early release from prison in the United States, where he is serving a 15year sentence for drug trafficking to that country. He is scheduled for release on July 8 this year.

However, Khan, who prepared the petition himself, filed a petition in March for early release, pursuant to good-time credit acquired under the First Step Act (Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act) – which revises sentencing laws and expands re-entry and early release programmes.

He is challenging the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP’s) failure to properly calculate and award his good-conduct credit and as such, filed an emergency petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which is a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person’s release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention. The court documents, seen by Guyana Times, state “COMES NOW, Shaheed Khan, petitioner pro se, and prays this court to expedite this emergency petition for a writ of habeas corpus… because the time required for a normal briefing schedule will result in the incarceration of petitioner beyond the length of sentence he is supposed to serve”.

According to the petition, Khan wants the US court to order the BOP to recalculate his good-conduct credit under the First Step Act, which would see him being released earlier than July.

Khan explained in the

emergency petition that the First Step Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump in December 2018 and seeks to ensure that all inmates within the Federal Bureau of Prisons receive the full 54 days of good-conduct credit, since the BOP’s previous “erroneous interpretation” resulted in inmates only receiving 47 days per year in actual practice.

“Not only was this provision made retroactive, but Congress’ intent – as evidenced through its statements during floor debate – was for this provision to be applied immediately. Yet, the BOP has decided to interpret when to apply the correction of their previous error in a manner that goes against congressional intent,” the petition outlined.

It went on to say that the BOP has decided to take the absolute strictest stance in an effort to wait until the very last second to apply this legislative correction.

This means, as was highlighted in the petition, that the BOP will not apply the good-conduct credit fix until after July 19, 2019, which ensures that thousands of prisoners, like Khan, will not benefit from the passage of the First Step Act. “Here it is clear when one reads the congressional floor minutes during debate and passage of the First Step Act that Congress intended this provision to be applied both retroactively and immediately. They even conducted an analysis which calculated that almost 4000 inmates would be immediately released from custody due to this change.

Bringing the focus back to the instant matter: petitioner Khan has a projected re-

Roger Khan

lease date of July 8, 2019.

Yet, with the application of the First Step Act’s recalculation of his good credit time, Khan would have a projected release date of mid-to-late March 2019 – a benefit of approximately three months. Yet, since the BOP is not projected to apply the fix until after Khan is released, he will not receive the benefit this legislative enactment was targeted for,” the emergency petition argued.

To this end, Khan is requesting the court to “… order the BOP to recalculate his good-conduct credits now with the application of the retroactive section 102(b) of the First Step Act”.

He further cited in the court document that once his sentence is completed, he will be deported, hence it makes sense economically for him to be granted the full extent of his good-conduct credits, adding that the faster he returns to his country, the less the US taxpayers will be burdened by the cost of having to unnecessarily continue paying for him.

As a result of Khan’s

emergency petition, Magistrate Judge Lisette M Reid of the US District Court of Florida, on April 16, granted the request.

According to the court document, “… a shortened period for the response is being provided in this case.

No motions for extensions of time will be granted excepted under the most extraordinary circumstances which may require a show-cause hearing”.

Moreover, in accordance with US laws, Khan has named his warden at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Miami, Bryan Dobbs, as the respondent in his habeas petition.

To this end, the Magistrate Judge has also ordered that the respondent files a memorandum of fact

and law to show cause why this petition should not be granted and all supporting documentation necessary for the resolution of this petition.

Khan was sentenced in 2009 to 15 years’ imprisonment after he pled guilty to arms trafficking, drug trafficking, conspiracy and witness tampering.

He was nabbed in neighbouring Suriname back in June 2006 after fleeing Guyana illegally.

Khan had made claims of working to curb an outof-control crime situation during that period by using extrajudicial methods of execution.

In October 2015, former US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway had told local reporters, when asked, that there is a possibility

for the Guyana Government to access Khan’s testimony in the US courts. He had noted, however, that while there is a process to follow which has high requirements, his country would cooperate if the necessary procedures are followed.

“If the rules and regulations of the agreement are done with Guyana, or we have signed up under the UN or OAS to allow for such a thing, we would be sure to be disposed to cooperating within the framework of the rule of law,” the US Ambassador had stated.

In response, President Granger disclosed a few months later that as part of efforts to probe extrajudicial killings in Guyana, if there are connections to him, then the Guyana Government will seek to engage him.

10 news

wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Court clerk found Pedestrian killed in Berbice hit and run dead in bathtub T

he body of a Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) woman was early on Tuesday morning discovered in her bathtub in her home.

Dead is 24-year-old Olita Shondel Mendez, a clerk at the Court of Appeal. Reports

are Mendez’s body was found by a relative who went to check on her after she had been in the bath for a considerably long time.

Guyana Times was told that the relative pulled Mendez from the tub and attempted to revive her to no

Dead: Stanley Bronne

A

The car that was involved in the accident Dead: Olita Shondel Mende

avail.

The police were called but no marks of violence were found on the woman’s body. An investigation was launched.

pedestrian was on Tuesday killed as he was attempting to cross the Number 11 Public Road, East Coast Berbice.

Dead is 30-year-old Stanley Bronne of Lot 8 Number 11 Village, ECB. Based on information received, motorcar PTT 8022, which was being driven by a resident of Block X Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was heading along the roadway at about 10:45h when the now dead

man reportedly emerged from behind a parked lorry and began to cross the roadway.

Reports are the driver of the motorcar allegedly swerved to avoid a collision but the right front of the vehicle collided with Bronne.

As a result of the impact, Bronne fell onto the front windscreen then onto the road and received injuries about his body. He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the New

Amsterdam Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention.

Meanwhile, Police in a statement said that motorcar PTT 8022 was proceeding west along the southern carriageway when the pedestrian reportedly emerged from behind a parked lorry, which was on the northern side of the road, and began crossing the road from north to south. It went on to say that the driver alleged that he swerved south to avoid a collision. According to the police, in so doing, the right front of the vehicle collided with the pedestrian on the southern side of the road.

The dead man’s mother Tajkumarie Bronne said she was inside her home when she heard the impact.

According to her, when she ran out from the kitchen, she saw the car speeding away but at the time she was unaware that it was her son who was hit.

Tajkumarie related that the Police brought the driver back to the scene since he drove away after hitting her him.

Bronne leaves to mourn, a wife and two children ages 2-years and 2-months-old along with a mother, father, sister and a brother.

The driver, who passed a breathalyser test, is in custody assisting with the investigation.

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wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Upcoming audit at UG

Vice Chancellor denies exuberant spending, claims of tripled salaries …wants to extend contract

W

ith an audit into spending practices at the University of Guyana (UG) drawing closer, Vice-Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith has emerged to hit back at claims that his administration has been engaged in exuberant spending.

In fact, Griffith is alleging that with his contract at UG almost up, unions who have pushed for the audit have also ramped up their campaign to force him out.

But the Vice-Chancellor has no plans of going anywhere, as he noted on Tuesday that he is interested in extending his time overseeing UG. “Take the story entitled ‘No toilet paper and soap for staff but UG spent over $400,000 to cater dinner for eight published on April 22, 2019. Not only is it patently inaccurate to assert that there is no toilet paper and soap at UG, but the claim that $400,000 was spent on a dinner for eight individuals is patently false! I say this without fear of contradiction,” Griffith stated.

“The same concerns relate to another recent story ‘UG executives tripled their salaries in five years… why not await the results of the audit? Incidentally, the unions were told the reasons why a forensic audit being demanded was not possible; there is no evidence of fraud.

Why not wait for the results of the audit?”

Griffith claimed that increases in spending went towards a number of infra-

Finances

UG Vice Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith

structural works such as a new parking lot, the refurbishment of the Cheddi Jagan Lecture Hall at a cost of $16 million and a student social complex at a cost of $56 million.

“We also made significant improvements in the library at Turkeyen and in Berbice, built a brand new building for facilities maintenance, and will see the completion of the new math and science classroom building soon,” Griffith also said.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment, a UG student confirmed that basic items like toilet paper and soap are indeed largely absent from the University campus’ washroom facilities. This situation, he noted, is not only felt by staff but by the students also.

After months of concerns being expressed about spending and wastage, it was recently revealed that the Education Ministry had requested the Office of the Auditor General to conduct a special audit of the University of Guyana’s finances.

In February, a group of employees attached to the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus had picketed the Vice-Chancellery, calling for audits into the spending of the University as it is allegedly unable to properly account for its expenditures and more so, offer a salary increase to its staffers, although tuition fees have been increasing annually.

UG’s administration was accused of wanton spending including hosting several events and standing the expenses of meals and accommodation for guest speakers as well as hiring select individuals and paying them super salaries, and sending large delegations overseas, all on the University’s bill. Professor Griffith has consistently denied those claims.

The University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) have in particular levelled these accusations.

The Unions had joined forces to question why monies were allocated in previous budgets to entities which do not exist and moreover,

The University of Guyana

what became of those funds.

They had also demanded answers from the administration on how much money was spent on non-essential events in the last two and half years, which include but are not limited to the Law and Society series, the Turkeyen-Tain talks, and the Vice-Chancellor’s installation ceremony.

They had argued that while these monies were being spent, the core units of

the University, which include faculties and schools, had been informed that no money is available for essential repairs and payment for stationery, among others.

In his 2016 report, Auditor General Deodat Sharma had found that $209 million has been unaccounted for from the University of Guyana’s Science and Technology Support Project, funded by the Government of Guyana (GoG) and the

International Development Association (IDA) under Credit Agreement No 4969GY. However, the University had insisted that the monies were used for infrastructure projects on the campus, including a fibre optic cable to provide students with Wi-Fi. It had also noted that some of the monies were used to renovate the faculty buildings.

12 news

wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Investigations into death of murder accused still ongoing – Samuels ….family pickets for justice

Dead: Shaheed Alli

M

ore than two weeks after 30-year-old Shaheed Alli suc-

cumbed to injuries he received during an altercation at the Lusignan Prison earlier this month, Director of Prison Services Gladwyn Samuels on Tuesday said that investigations surrounding the inmate’s death are still ongoing.

“Nothing is available as yet, I know the police is investigating, hopefully soon but at present there is nothing…the matter is being investigated since from the time of the incident,” the Director stated.

On Tuesday, the parents and siblings of the now dead man held a picket-

for justice for the deceased while holding placards.

Speaking with this publication, father of the deceased, Roy Alli related that the perpetrators should not be that difficult to catch since the prison is under guard.

Meanwhile, Director Samuels noted that the protest action taken by the family members will not change the pace of the ongoing in-

Director of Prison Services, Gladwyn Samuels

vestigations.

“The reality is that the investigations follows certain steps or procedure…. the protest, I can understand family members being hurt, they would want to do such thing but I don’t see it changing the current pace of the investigations because it is receiving as much attention as possible” he underscored.

Shaheed Alli was on re-

mand for a murder charge at the Lusignan Prison.

Reports are that at about 22:58h on April 2, Alli was in Bay One at the Lusignan Prison when several other prisoners began to beat him following a dispute.

Alli was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted as a patient. However, on April 12, 2019, at about 20:50h he succumbed to his injuries.

Immunisation Week launched in Region 6

ing exercise in front of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where they called

Health-care providers host an awareness walk on Tuesday in Berbice. In photo, workers walk along Main Street, New Amsterdam, to bring awareness of the importance of immunisation

G

uyana has joined the rest of the world in the fight to ensure that persons are immunised against deadly diseases. The Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Health Department on Tuesday launched its Immunisation Week of activities.

In 2017, the number of children immunised worldwide was 116.2 million; the highest ever reported. Since 2010, 113 countries have introduced new vaccines, and more than 20 million additional children have been

vaccinated.

Despite those figures, all of the targets for disease elimination including measles, rubella, and maternal and neonatal tetanus, are behind schedule, and over the last two years, the world has seen multiple outbreaks of measles, diphtheria and various other vaccine-preventable diseases.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said most of the children missing out are those living in the poorest, marginalised and conflict-affected communities.

According to the WHO, countries must intensify efforts to ensure that everyone receives the lifesaving benefits of vaccines.

This is the seventeenth year that World Immunisation Week is being observed in the Americas and the aim is to immunise 70 million persons against some of the world’s deadliest diseases.

This year, immunisation week is being observed under the theme “Protect your community, do your part”.

Turn to page 14

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news

wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fly Jamaica likely to be hauled First Lady takes ICT training before courts – CCAC to Bina Hill Institute

T

The Fly Jamaica aircraft that crash-landed

he embattled airline, Fly Jamaica, is likely to be taken to court over compensations owed to hundreds of passengers who were left stranded as a result of the crippling crash it encountered last November at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

On Monday, Consumer Affairs Officer, Feyona Austin-Paul from the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) explained that such action may be timely as months would have already elapsed.

Nevertheless, she said that the airline has been engaged by the Commission and, in fact, will be meeting next week to pave the way forward.

Initially, the airline had promised the Commission

to begin payments in March but failed to do so due to lack of funds. In fact, subsequent to this announcement, Fly Jamaica even made their staffers redundant by March month end.

In light of this, the consumer officer explained, “They will be treated just like a normal supplier and the [Consumer] Act will be enforced against them”.

She noted that it was too early to determine whether the Commission will be forced to take the airline to court or if passengers themselves would have to make that move. Already, two lawsuits have been filed against the airline, with the most recent order issued in December.

That lawsuit was filed by a Canadian law firm to represent passengers who claimed they were injured

Show you care, do your share – Miss Earth Guyana delegates

Delegates of Miss Earth Guyana 2019 along with some Peace Corps volunteers at the clean-up activity at Number 63 Beach

W

ith a focus on raising awareness on environmental protection, finalists of Miss Earth Guyana sprang into action on Number 63 Beach to undertake a clean-up exercise. This activity was launched on Saturday, just before thousands of people descended on the renowned location for Easter Monday celebrations.

Platinum sponsor for Miss Earth Guyana, Nand Persaud Group of Companies, coordinated the clean-up effort, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.

Marketing Executive within Nand Persaud Group of Companies, Cynthia Jagnandan, told the DPI that the beach clean-up exercise was undertaken due to the business’ genuine appreciation for a safe, clean environment.

“We hope that the delegates and other participants out here on the beach will, in the long term, value the

environment in which they live, rather than just take part in this particular exercise,” Jagnandan noted.

In her advice to persons that are curious about protecting the environment, the marketing executive highlighted the importance of proper disposal of waste.

“All of the information is available to us. Scientists write journals on these issues because the effects on the environment can be devastating. So, I urge people to read and play their role…

All you need to do is take action,” she said.

Managing Director for Miss Earth Guyana, Dr Omesh Balmacoon noted that the exercise is an opportunity for the young women to develop a sense of pride in their environment.

On Easter Monday, the Miss Guyana delegates returned to Number 63 Beach, Berbice, for a meet-andgreet with those that flocked to the beach to partake in the festivities.

during the crash landing at the airport.

The notice of the class action suit stated that it was seeking compensation for not only the passengers who were on board the flight OJ256 destined for Toronto, Canada, but the families who were affected as a result of the crash.

That lawsuit came days after Canadian firms Howie, Sacks and Henry and Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman filed a case against the airline for injuries and losses incurred as a result of the crash.

That lawsuit was filed on November 23, 2018.

Of the 120 passengers on board the Boeing 757 flight on November 9, 2018, along with eight crew members, at least six were injured during the crash landing.

An 86-year-old woman died one week after the incident as a result of brain swelling.

The flight left the CJIA for Toronto at about 02:10h on November 9, 2018, from the CJIA, but after reportedly encountering hydraulic issues, the pilot returned to the airport where the aircraft crash-landed about 02:53h.

First Lady Sandra Granger along with participants and organisers of the programme

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irst Lady Sandra Granger on Tuesday morning said that she was pleased to launch the nationally certified programme, the Information and Communication Technology workshop, at the Bina Hill Institute Youth Learning Centre (YLC), Region Nine(Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

The First Lady urged the 34 participants to capitalise on the opportunity to learn and use the skills that they would gain to develop their community.

“I always say I do not want to conduct a workshop where people get a piece of paper and at the end of it, to put in a drawer. The workshop must lead to the certi-

fication that leads to development and employment for the people who take part in it, and those people will be young people like yourselves or women [and] older people, who do the child care and senior care workshop,” Granger is quoted by the Ministry of the Presidency’s Public Information and Press Services Unit as saying.

Meanwhile, Principal of the Institute, Dr Laureen Pierre said that she too was pleased that the First Lady has brought the programme, first of its kind, to the Institute. She noted that although the institution has done well over the years and has produced qualified graduates, it has struggled with acquiring accreditation and

attracting accredited programmes.

“This training programme, as we are told, offers that. This is a new beginning for the YLC and I want to say thank you to the First Lady for taking the initiative of moving us along,” she said.

Dr Pierre also noted that the Institute was receiving much support from the Government, and that for 2019, it received a subvention of over $50 million.

The three-week-long workshop, which is being conducted in collaboration with the Social Protection Ministry’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT), will also include information on STEM Robotics and Microenterprise.

14 News

wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mayor reminds “littering is unlawful” Body found in interior amid garbage pile-up post-Easter Family members fume

as DNA test incomplete after 8 months …body still at mortuary

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ollowing a huge garbage pileup after the holiday weekend festivities in the city, Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine has reminded that persons can be charged for littering.

In a Facebook post in which he expressed that he was “feeling sad”, Mayor Narine said, “it is with regret that I express my displeasure with the manner in which businesses and citizens disposed of their garbage, in the Kitty Sea Wall area”.

Garbage was scattered all across the shores even though the City Council provided four skip bins, none of which were utilised, the Mayor said.

“The M&CC provided four skip bins for the area, none of which were utilised,

Garbage piles left around the city following the festivities on Monday

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine looks on in disgust at a polluted section of the seawall

resulting in a large amount of litter in the said area and its surrounding environment,” the Mayor posted.

He added: “The M&CC wishes to remind citizens and businesses that littering is unlawful as outlined in the Environmental Protection Act No 11 of 1996 and Chapter 28:01 Municipal and District Councils Act”.

As a consequence, the Mayor urged all citizens to take responsibility for the manner in which they dispose of their garbage.

“We should not allow others to bestrew our environment, while we are taking measures to keep same clean,” he stated.

Just last month, Mayor Narine had proposed that the fine for littering be raised to $50,000. The fine is currently $10,000.

Africanised bees bother Diamond residents

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Africanised bees can be seen in the ceiling

esidents of Diamond New Housing Scheme are complaining of the prevalence of Africanised bees in the area and the inaction of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and Agriculture Ministry in

offering them some relief.

According to residents, several weeks have passed since both the NDC and Ministry committed to send out an inspection team to determine what can be done to offer assistance.

Suresh Sukhwa, a resident of 12th Avenue Diamond, who spoke to Guyana Times on Tuesday said that residents have been reporting the issue since January to the authorities and no action has been taken.

“We have been having this problem of African bee infestation months now and we keep reporting over and over and nothing. They never even sent anybody to check it out as they had promised. The NDC neither the Ministry,” he said.

Sukhwa, a tailor, said that he is unable to properly carry out his work since any noise raises the bees. “I have to keep my machine inside. I frighten to even turn it on because of the noise and I frighten they raise up. And I have to work and live,” he said. The bees, he said, are in his ceiling and in a barrel in his yard.

These bees are deadly and residents are fearful of the harm they can pose for them and their children.

Another resident, Suriya Singh, said that she is fear-

Immunisation Week launched...

In Region Six, the health department is promoting vaccines for 9-16-year-olds to prevent certain types of cancer.

Director of Regional Health Services Jevaughn

Stephen said that persons are first being encouraged to ensure that all family members are immunised and then to extend that care to their neighbours. If all are

to do that, he explained, the entire community will be immunised.

The Health Services Director noted that most of those who have been visiting

ful to even allow her children to play in the yard because only recently, the bees badly attacked a weeder who was working in the area and he had to be rushed to the hospital. “I frighten to have my children outside because the slightest noise does make them fly around. These things kill and only when something bad happen then the authorities would step in. Look how long we keep reporting this thing and nobody even came to pay us a visit,” she said. She is forced to keep her children and grandchildren inside most times because she is afraid of them being attacked and killed by the bees. “These bees are deadly. We have children here and children don’t know danger. I hope that after this article that we can see somebody and get some kind of help in removing these bees,” Singh said.

The residents all reiterated calls for the relevant authorities to visit the area and carry out an inspection thereby putting measures in place to remove the bees.

From page 12

health centres in the region to be immunised are persons from out of the country.

In fact, most persons are foreigners from Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname.

ight months after his suspected partially decomposed body was found in a mining camp in Kuribrong, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), family members of Patrick Vyfhuis are still in suspense as they wait on a Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test to be conducted to know if the remains are that of the missing man.

Vyfhuis went missing on July 15, 2018, in the interior while he was being escorted out after he reportedly began behaving strangely. A partially decomposed body was found 10 days after which has left family members puzzled.

Fast forward to April and relatives of the suspected dead man are bashing the police for their slothful investigations as they are yet to determine whether the remains belong to the missing man.

Odessia Spencer, the dead man’s sister, told Guyana Times that she has almost become hopeless and has no idea why the test has not yet been conducted.

She said the police recently told the family that they have to wait but never explained why. According to her, they were only told that the man’s body was at a mortuary in Georgetown and is yet to be buried.

In the meantime, Commander of F Division (Interior locations), Kevin Adonis when contacted by this publication said the situation remains the same.

The body, suspected to be that of Vyfhuis of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, was discovered on July 25, 2018, clad in a white T-shirt and grey jeans, along with a pair of blue sneakers.

Dead: Patrick Vyfhuis

Vyfhuis’s body was reportedly found by a pork-knocker some four miles away from the campsite where he was employed, and was later identified by his employer.

The man’s employers — of the said community from which Vyfhuis originated — are owners of a mining camp in the interior. They told this newspaper that the man had been mentally ill and that they were unaware of this when they had hired him.

One of the employers explained that the man had left for the interior on July 11, 2018.

She related that after he arrived at the mining camp, he had been acting strangely, and had even told them that somebody wanted to kill him.

She further related that other workers at the camp attempted to control Vyfhuis’s absurd behaviour, but without success.

She said that as a result of this behaviour, on July 15, 2018, when they were about to escort the man to his home, he ran away.

The man’s sister is, however, claiming that her brother never suffered from any mental disorders.

news

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wednesday, april 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Essequibo River farmers fume APNU/AFC’s outreach circus, the elites’ continued neglect of people’s problems

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ven as rice farmers in Region Six continue to battle drought and irrigation problems, their fortunes and their chances for the “good life” are being eroded by a debilitating paddy bug blight, which is resulting in a greater than 30 per cent loss. Rice farmers in Regions Two, Three, Four and Five similarly are battling against paddy bugs and drought. While the farmers themselves, with Dr Leslie Ramsammy help from the Rice Producers Association (RPA) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), have valiantly begged for the Government’s attention, the Minister of Agriculture and A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) are missing in action (MIA), cruelly ignoring the rice farmers. Last week, APNU/AFC had a Region Six “outreach”, but none of them reached any rice farmer or any rice field.

For APNU/AFC, the paddy bug problem is fiction, fake news.

APNU/AFC wasted an enormous amount of taxpayers’ money in the fake Region Six “outreach” to “bring Government to the people”. After a morning of wining and dining in New Amsterdam, disguised as a Cabinet meeting, they eventually made a condescending late-afternoon appearance in Port Mourant. They were brutally greeted by hundreds of protesting Region Six residents and by empty chairs under tents in the University of Guyana Tain Campus compound. The residents of Region Six rejected and boycotted them. It was crystal clear APNU/AFC did not learn any lesson from the Square of the Revolution circus.

The newest edition of the “bringing the Government to the people” circus was another elitist show for people to again bow down to the Ministers.

It was humiliating to watch the Ministers amid empty chairs scrambling to get their staff and their few remaining supporters in Region Six pretending to be residents bringing their problems to their Ministers. It is not that the people of Region Six do not have problems; they have overwhelming problems they struggle with every day. But they did not want to be a part of the circus. They do not believe that APNU/ AFC care about their struggles and they have no confidence that APNU/AFC is willing to find remedies for the problems the people of Region Six and Guyana face daily. Even as the Ministers shuffled into their chairs under the coolness of the tents, their body language told a story. They were watching the clock so that they could end the circus of that day and get back to their plush offices and homes in Georgetown, away from the agony of the people.

Not one of them ventured to meet the struggling rice farmers in the middle of their plight fighting paddy bugs and drought. The Minister of Agriculture was totally invisible in a region which almost entirely depends on agriculture. Not one of them visited the sugar workers and their families in Rose Hall, Canje and in Skeldon. Not one of them went to visit the striking sugar workers at Albion. Not one of them visited the health centres that everyday must tell people there are no medicines to give them. Not one of them visited the New Amsterdam Hospital with its non-functioning mortuary or the non-functioning Port Mourant Ophthalmology Hospital or the Skeldon Hospital, which after two years still cannot get proper GPL electricity. None of them bothered to find out why potable water has become a major problem. Not one of them visited the families and the organisations trying to combat the growing problem of domestic violence. It is true the week before, Minister Lawrence did re-commission the eye hospital, but the hospital still cannot perform eye surgery. It is true, too, that Minister Ramjattan’s remedy for domestic violence is a good cuss-out for Region Six men – they drink too much and then beat their wives.

Humiliated by the stinging public rebuke it got for its “bringing Government to the people” circus at the Square of the Revolution, APNU/AFC has now embarked on “outreaches” into the different regions of Guyana. The parties are desperate to put behind them people’s total loss of confidence in their Government, the national consensus that APNU/AFC has brazenly neglected people, even the people who voted for them, and the national conviction they have become aloof, out of touch with the ordinary people’s daily struggles for a decent livelihood, corrupt and uncaring.

Last week, they were in Region Six and this week, APNU/ AFC will be in Regions Five and Three, thinking they are reconnecting with people. But for the people, they know the circus continues.

over loss of income …say diseases destroying crops

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armers along the Essequibo River are expressing dissatisfaction over the loss of crops as a result of a disease killing their produce. This is resulting in a major loss of income for them which prevents them from being able to provide for their families.

Famers are calling on the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to implement new technology to give much-needed assistance and guidance to farmers.

Generally, there is a major shortage of plantain materials and as a result, the farmers have to settle for second class materials which is a main contributing factor to the diseases infesting their crops since there is no mechanism in place for properly detecting which of these materials are good and which are not.

Agriculturalist Brijesh Singh, who carried out inspections on some of the farms in the Essequibo River, on Tuesday confirmed that there are three main common diseases affecting the farmers in those areas.

These include the leaf, which is affected by Black Sigatoka, the root, which has to battle Moca Disease and an issue with nematodes since farmers have difficulty identifying whether there are nematodes or just cockles eating the plants.

Singh said that the shortage of plantain materials is the main contributor

to the issue since the farmers are forced to accept materials that may not be of an appropriate standard. Singh explained that enhanced technology by NAREI would assist in tackling such problems and made calls for them to reestablish a bio-diversity laboratory to conduct tissue culturing which would assist the farmers in determining which materials are viable and less susceptible to diseases.

“They are unable to gain advice on appropriate identification and control and as

a result, they can’t identify these problems,” Singh said.

He added that there are no mechanisms in place

by NAREI for inspection, quality control or certification, therefore, farmers are at risk of purchasing poor quality materials which are destroying their crops and source of income at large. He added that a biotechnologist laboratory at NAREI would offer much-needed guidance in dealing with such issues which are plaguing farmers countrywide. “NAREI doesn’t even have a biotech-

nologist. This is unacceptable. In a technologically advanced period, Guyana is behind. There is a need for specialised people in dealing with this and that is not being done. Enough is not being done by NAREI to improve on these things,” he said.

Over the weekend, farmers in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) made calls for the intervention of NAREI in trapping and bating the palm weevil, which is killing coconut trees in the region.

Singh, who carried out the inspection and discovered the palm weevil, said that it is associated with a nematode which causes the red ring virus of coconuts.

Singh said that the farmers cultivate coconuts on a large-scale basis and supply businesses with thousands of coconuts per week and this plague is killing coconut trees.

Singh explained that after the trees started to die, the farmers solicited his help and he carried out a general inspection on a large farm at Waipotosi Island, Essequibo River, where he discovered a few dead coconut trees and dissected one of them and this is where he discovered the palm weevil.

More than ten farmers from Hubu backdam, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), are also experiencing the same issue with the plague killing their coconut trees.

Exciting Mother and Daughter Pageant 2019 planned

The organisers, Dr Sulan Fung-Browne and founder Ingrid Fung along with representatives from MovieTowne Guyana and Nigel’s Supermarket

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he 28th Annual Mother and Daughter Pageant, which is slated for May 11, is expected to be much bigger and better this year with the introduction of a red carpet show.

The red carpet affair, which is being made possible through a partnership between the organisers of the Mother and Daughter Pageant and MovieTowne Guyana, will be a pre-show to the actual pageant.

The 2019 theme of the event is “The superpower of love” and as such, the event will be celebrating and tailored around “love”.

Twenty-two pairs of

mothers and daughters will be competing in three categories: The Always Senior, the Middle category and the Igloo Junior category.

According to Dr Sulan Fung-Browne, who organised the pageant with her mother and founder of the event, Ingrid Fung, the aim this year is to incorporate public interest in pulling off a successful event.

“We always like to orient our show around the theme of love. This year, I see through MovieTowne, a lot of adults are into the superheroes, Avengers and all these other things, so I have decided to talk to the people

in the language they know because even though these superheroes, everybody has their own strengths, if you demonstrate love, it will be the best strength ever demonstrated. So the superpower of love is definitely the thing that we want to celebrate” Fung-Browne explained.

Fung-Browne noted that Guyanese will finally have that Oscar/Grammy’s type of experience with the event that the Mother and Daughter Pageant is hoping to pull off.

The new red carpet event and show will be hosted by popular radio and tele-

vision personalities Feliz Robertson and Gordon Moseley.

“It’s something that you definitely want to be a part of. We have noticed that the patrons dress to death for this show and so we want to put the spotlight on them for a change so before the show will be the red carpet from 6 to 8 where you can come, have your interviews, take your pictures, you hang out a little bit in the lobby and you have a fun time… don’t let us just look at the TV and see the Grammy’s and Oscars and wish that we could’ve been a part of it, you can be a part of it this year” Fung-Browne noted.

Meanwhile, The New Nigel’s Supermarket, another partner, will be handing out massive prizes not only to the contestants, but also to the attendees.

Additionally, Nigel’s Mommy and Me promotion is allowing the Guyanese public to win prizes for their mothers on Mother’s Day. In that promotion, persons are asked to write about what makes their mother special and to drop those letters in boxes located at their various branches countrywide.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, april 24, 2019

Regional

Bolivia crash: Bus plunges Venezuelan Opposition into ravine killing 25 envoy addresses OAS

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The bus came to rest at the bottom of the ravine

wenty-five people were killed in western Bolivia when the bus they were travelling in fell more than 200 metres (656 feet) down a ravine.

The bus was trying to overtake a lorry when it collided head-on with another vehicle and went over the cliff. High speed could have contributed to the crash on Sunday night local time.

Accidents on Bolivia's poorly maintained roads result in hundreds of deaths every year.

The bus, which was operated by a company called Totai, was travelling from the

country's administrative capital, La Paz, to the Amazon town of Rurrenabaque.

The accident happened near the municipality of Coroico in a mountainous region.

There are at least two children among the victims, highway patrol chief Fernando Rojas said. Some of the 24 injured are reportedly in critical condition in hospital.

Rojas told El Diario newspaper (in Spanish), that the driver, who was injured in the crash, had been reckless and ignored the signs along the narrow road.

Rescuers used a rope

to climb down the cliff and brought up the victims and survivors one by one, AFP news agency reported.

Writing on Twitter, President Evo Morales urged bus drivers to take more care, saying he was "very sad about the terrible accident".

Some 1000 people die and 40,000 are injured in accidents on Bolivia's roads every year, according to official data quoted by Efe news agency.

In January, 22 people died when two buses collided near the western city of Oruro. In February, a bus and a lorry crashed, also near Oruro, killing 24 people. (BBC News)

Bloody Easter weekend in Trinidad

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rinidad and Tobago's murder toll for the year so far climbed to 158 after nine people were killed during the long Easter weekend, the Police have confirmed. The death toll stood at 150 for the corresponding period last year.

The murders there forced Jamaica's Reggae superstar Buju Banton to ask Trinidadians “what is going” in the oil-rich twin-island republic.

“All this murder. Not just regular murder but butcher shop murder,” he commented at his “I am Legend” show at the Queen's Park Savannah on Sunday night.

Police said that they were still trying to identi-

fy the bodies of two people, who were shot following Buju Banton's concert.

They said the two were found in a vehicle in Laventille, and may have been killed after dropping home someone in that volatile area and may not have been recognised as being regular residents in the area.

Police said five people were killed on Sunday night.

The Police are also probing the death of 27-yearold Israel Cox, who was one of three people shot dead during a drive-by shooting in the capital on Saturday evening.

The fourth victim,

26-year-old Akeem Grant is hospitalised in critical condition. The authorities said that Mariba Superville, 27, was shot dead on Saturday night in Carenage.

The murders come even as the Police had announced that they had moved the country's alert state from amber to red.

“What we have seen over the last few days, with the increase from amber to red, is that there have been over 160 persons arrested, there have been hundreds of warrants executed, and hundreds of roadblocks and patrols with high visibility,” Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said in a radio interview. (Excerpt from CMC)

V e n e z u e l a n Opposition envoy has addressed the Organisation of the American States (OAS) from the South American country's seat, the first time it has happened in two decades.

Gustavo Tarre delivered a speech during a session held by the OAS's Permanent Council on Tuesday, three months after Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó declared himself interim leader on the basis that Maduro's 2018 re-election was illegitimate.

Maduro accuses the USbacked Opposition of staging a coup.

Ambassadors from at least four Caribbean countries left the room before Tarre spoke, showing their opposition to his recognition as Venezuela's representative to the OAS. The OAS voted to recognise Tarre as Venezuela's official delegate earlier this month, with 18 votes in favour, nine against, six abstentions and one absence. The US and most of the OAS's 34 Member States recognise Guaidó as Venezuela's interim leader.

At the time, Maduro called the OAS decision a "criminal and rampant violation of international law of the OAS charter".

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Government on Monday announced two marches to counter the ones Guaidó has called for on May 1.

Last week, Guaidó called for his supporters to take to the streets on International Workers' Day for "the largest march in history".

The duelling protests will be the latest in a series of protests to rock the country this year.

Millions of Venezuelans have left the country in recent years, fleeing hyperinflation, unemployment, violence, and food and medicine shortages. (Al Jazeera)

CARPHA urges regional population to get vaccinated

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he Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is urging the Region to ensure that its vaccination coverage remains at 95 per cent or more, noting that immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions.

“Vaccines protect not only individuals but entire communities. If you are vaccinated, you are less likely to become infected or infect others and your loved ones.

That is why it is important that our region maintains its vaccination coverage of 95 per cent or more, to ensure that children and other at-risk persons remain healthy,” said CARPHA's Director of Surveillance Disease Prevention and Control, Dr Virginia AsinOostburg.

CARPHA said that safe and effective vaccines have been available for many years, and can prevent deaths from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and measles.

Immunisation protects future generations

It said the most effective way to prevent these life-threatening diseases or severe outcomes from the illnesses is through vaccination.

“The Caribbean has long been a leader among regions of the world, as our countries have applied high standards in the delivery of vaccination programmes. While successfully maintaining a measles-free status since 1991, the Caribbean has

also been eradicated of endemic smallpox in 1971, polio in 1994, and rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in 2015,” CARPHA said, adding that the health of the general public improved drastically with the vaccinations that allowed children to survive because they no longer developed severe measles infections.

Dr Asin-Oostburg said immunisation protects future generations. (Excerpt from CMC)

Trinidad steps up surveillance of criminals from Venezuela Central American

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he Trinidad and Tobago law enforcement authorities have strengthened their relationship with the International Police (INTERPOL) in a bid to identify criminal gang members from Venezuela fleeing the South American country and entering the country either legally or otherwise.

Acting National Security Minister, retired Major General Edmund Dillon told

Parliament Tuesday that the cooperation with INTERPOL was part of a coordinated effort to ensure that criminals and other undesirables did not enter Trinidad and Tobago while fleeing the economic and political situation in Venezuela.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has in fact put a number of measures in place to deal with the illegal entrance of Venezuelans and others coming into Trinidad

and Tobago.

“We have strengthened liaison with INTERPOL to identify criminals who are on the INTERPOL database coming into Trinidad and Tobago. We have also strengthened the liaison the local intelligence units… to monitor the movement of Venezuelans illegally and legally into Trinidad and Tobago,” Dillon said as he responded to an Opposition question seeking to deter-

mine what the law enforcement agencies were doing with regard to criminals, especially those from the Delta Amacuro region in Venezuela arriving in Trinidad.

“We are also monitoring the connection between Venezuelan criminals who have been identified in Trinidad and Tobago and the local gangs. So a number of monitoring and intelligence gatherings taking place right now,” Dillon told legislators.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Colombia landslide: 11 more bodies found in Rosas

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escue workers have found 11 bodies buried in the mud after a landslide hit the Colombian town of Rosas on Sunday.

The number of people killed in the town in

south-western Cauca province has risen to 28.

At least two people are still missing but emergency workers say hopes of finding anyone alive are slim.

Landslides are common in

Colombia and houses built on steep hillsides are at particular risk during the country's rainy season.

In April 2017, more than 250 people were killed when a landslide hit the town of

Mocoa, in Putumayo province. Rosas Mayor Jesús Eduardo Díaz said he feared other homes in the area could also be in danger after prolonged heavy rains. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

migrant numbers are not Mexico's fault – Minister

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exico is not to blame for a recent increase in the number of Central American migrants entering the country, Interior Minister Olga Sanchez said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference with other Government officials, Sanchez also said migrants enterMexico's Interior Minister Olga Sanchez ing the country must Mexican Cordero delivers a speech during a respect news conference in Mexico City, Mexico, laws and register with authorities.

December 19, 2018 (Reuters/Edgard Garrido) (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, april 24, 2019

Around the World

Sri Lanka attacks: IS “may be linked” ‒ Govt

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he Islamic State (IS) group may be linked to bomb blasts which killed 321 people and wounded 500 in Sri Lanka, the country’s Prime Minister has said.

The first mass funeral was held on Tuesday as Sri Lanka marked an official day of mourning for the victims.

A state of emergency remains in effect to prevent further attacks.

Police have now detained 40 suspects in connection with the attack, all of whom were Sri Lankan nationals.

The IS group claimed the attack on Tuesday via its Amaq news outlet. Sri Lanka’s Government had previously blamed the blasts

17

The death toll has risen to 321 with around 500 injured

on local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ).

Eight blasts were reported, including at three churches during Easter services.

Three hotels in the capital, Colombo, were also targeted.

An attack on a fourth hotel on Sunday was foiled, Wickremesinghe said. He did not name the hotel. He also warned that further militants and explosives could still be “out there” following the attack.

IS said it had “targeted nationals of the crusader al-

liance [anti-IS US-led coalition] and Christians in Sri Lanka”.

The country’s Defence Minister, Ruwan Wijewardene said “preliminary investigations” indicated that the bombings were in retaliation for deadly attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March, but gave no further information.

Sunday’s attacks have highlighted rifts in Sri Lanka’s leadership, after it emerged that authorities were warned about an imminent threat from the NTJ jihadist group.

But Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Cabinet were not informed, Ministers said. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

South Africa floods, mudslides kill at least 23

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he number of people killed in floods and mudslides that crushed homes in the South African port of Durban early on Tuesday has risen to 23, authorities have said.

Among those killed were a six-month-old baby and a child aged around 10, they added.

"Last night the weather conditions worsened significantly ... in various parts of the province, claiming at least 23 lives," Nomusa DubeNcube, a KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Minister said during a televised news conference.

At least 32 people have been hospitalised.

The victims were either crushed to death by mudslides or drowned in flood waters, Rescue Care spokesman Garrith Jamieson told AFP.

It was not known how many people were missing, but search and rescue operations combed the debris for those who might be trapped underneath.

In addition to collapsed buildings and flooded roads, sewer lines were blocked and electricity pylons had toppled over.

Torrential downpours have flooded southern and eastern parts of the country since the start of the Easter weekend.

South African military personnel have been dispatched to help rescue and evacuation efforts.

The South African Weather Service warned that more heavy rain and gale-force winds, which could threaten low-lying bridges and roads, were expected until today. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

I will name a Golan Iran’s Parliament approves bill labelling town after Trump, US Army as ‘terrorist’ I says Israel’s Netanyahu ranian legislators on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill that labels all US military forces as "terrorist", a day after Washington ratcheted up pressure on Tehran by announcing that no country would any longer be exempt from US sanctions if it continues to buy Iranian oil.

The bill is a step further from one last week that saw legislators approve labelling just US troops in the Middle East as "terrorist", which was a response to the US designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist group" earlier this month.

On Monday, the Trump Administration announced it would not be extending sanctions exemptions

Last month, Trump officially recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights territory [File: Leah Millis/Reuters]

I

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he intends to name a new settlement in the Golan Heights after US President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu said the move would honour Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan in March.

Israel seized the Golan from Syria in 1967 and annexed the territory in 1981.

The move has not been recognised internationally.

Syria said Trump’s decision was “a blatant attack on its sovereignty”.

Netanyahu, who has secured a fifth term in office in the recent Israeli elections, has been on a trip to the region with his family for the week-long Passover holiday.

“I intend to bring to the Government a resolution calling for a new community on the Golan Heights named after President Donald J Trump”, he said in a video

message.

For decades, Washington did not recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan, but Trump announced his plan to overturn US policy in a tweet on March 21.

Syria has always insisted that it will not agree to a peace deal with Israel unless it withdraws from the whole of the Golan. The last USbrokered direct peace talks broke down in 2000, while Turkey mediated in indirect talks in 2008.

There are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan, which are home to an estimated 20,000 people.

The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. The settlers live alongside some 20,000 Syrians, most of them Druze Arabs, who did not flee when the Golan was captured.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

The bill requires final approval by Iran’s constitutional watchdog to become law [File: Mindaugas Kulbis/AP Photo]

for countries that import Iranian oil as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign that aims to eliminate Iran's oil export revenue, which the US says funds destabilising activity

throughout the region and beyond.

The bill confirms Iran's earlier label of the US Central Command, also known as CENTCOM, and all its forces as "terrorist".

Any military and non-military assistance, including logistics support, to CENTCOM that can be detrimental to the IRGC will be considered a "terrorist" action, the semi-official ISNA news agency said.

The bill also demands the Iranian Government take unspecified action against other Governments that formally back the US designation.

In addition, the legislators requested Iran's intelligence agency provide a list of all CENTCOM commanders within three months so that Iran's Judiciary can prosecute them in absentia as "terrorists".

Other than underscoring Iran's defiance, it is unclear what impact the bill could actually have, either in the Gulf or beyond. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un to meet Putin in Russia on Thursday – Kremlin

N

orth Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet on Thursday in the Russian Pacific port of Vladivostok to discuss the international standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme, a Kremlin official said.

The visit is part of Kim’s effort to build foreign support after the breakdown of a second US-North Korea summit in Vietnam in February meant no relief on sanctions for North Korea, analysts said.

The summit will be the first between Putin and the North Korean leader and the nuclear row, and how to resolve it, would be the main item on the agenda, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

The North’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Tuesday the visit would happen soon, but did not elaborate on a time or location.

Russia has for years been involved in efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear programme. It was involved in so-called six party talks -

A combination of file photos shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin

along with the two Koreas, Japan, the United States and China - that were last held in 2009.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it understood the agenda would include Russia-North Korea relations, denuclearisation, and regional cooperation.

“Russia shares our viewpoints such

as the achievement of complete denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula and the settlement of permanent peace,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kim Inchul said in Seoul.

“I hope that the summit will be an opportunity that contributes to positive progress.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, APRIL 24, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Before you offer to do something, find out what’s entailed. Someone is likely to expect or ask for too much if you aren’t specific about what you are willing to do.

CANCER

Your intuition won’t let you down. What someone is telling you won’t jibe with your own impressions.

Follow your heart, ask direct questions and remain calm.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Go over your options and make changes based on what’s good for you, not on what someone else wants.

Secrets will be revealed if you trust someone you shouldn’t.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Control your emotions.

You may not like what you see or hear, but you need to rise above it and do your own thing. The changes you make will lead to opportunity -- arguments will lead nowhere.

Personal goals can be made, and friendships formed. Delve into something that will encourage you to hone your skills and make changes that will alleviate emotional stress.

Don’t let uncertainty take charge and ruin your plans.

Participate in events that will lead to information, experience and opportunity.

Put your energy where you will get the most in return.

Be careful how you handle domestic situations or partnerships with people who can influence your status or reputation. If you feel pressured by someone, don’t argue -- just ask them to back away.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Spend more time searching for answers and looking for something that excites you. Expanding your knowledge, skills and talents will encourage you to try something you’ve never done before.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Focus on home, family and important relationships. Observe different cultures and lifestyles, and make changes that free up time for you to do things you enjoy with people you love.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Consider what makes you happy, and make changes to suit your needs. Fixing up your space or making adjustments to your living arrangements will encourage you to spend more time at home.

Make changes that will help you put the past behind you and forge into the future with optimism and solid plans. Romance will have an effect on your personal life.

Proceed with caution and listen carefully. Someone will present a false impression or exaggerate a situation to sway your opinion.

Go directly to the source and get the facts.

WEDNEsday, april 24, 2019

19

Watson’s 96 helps CSK maintain their spotless home record display and a resurgent Watson ensured the effort with the bat wasn’t quite enough.

Watson’s masterclass

Jonny Bairstow watches Shane Watson in action

R

ocking up to the IPL after being the most prolific run-scorer in the Pakistan Super League just prior, it had been a mild surprise to see Shane Watson slump so sharply in the yellow of Chennai Super Kings. He had gone without a fifty in his first ten innings of the season, but the sight of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowlers, whom he had brutalised in last year’s final with 117 off 57 balls, was enough to reawaken the instinct that has made him a prized T20 asset all over the world.

He didn’t quite get three figures this time, falling just four short, but 96 off 53 balls was enough to ensure Super Kings recovered from a slow start - they only got off the mark off the 11th ball of the innings - to chase down Sunrisers’ 175 with six wickets and one ball to spare.

Super Kings won the toss for the ninth time in eleven matches, and they put Sunrisers in. The early wicket of Johnny Bairstow came amid a slow start, and even though David Warner continued his form with another half-century, a strike rate of 126 meant he wasn’t able to do enough damage for Sunrisers to post a total closer to 200.

Manish Pandey picked up the slack, and finished unbeaten with 83 off 49, but Sunrisers struggled to find a weak link in the Super Kings bowling attack. Even though Sunrisers had seven wickets in the bank, the late acceleration that has become so vital in the IPL was largely absent from the later stages of their innings. An inconsistent bowling

Watson’s struggles had caused debate over his place in the Super Kings starting eleven, but they kept faith in the veteran Australian. When he batted out a maiden over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar - Sunrisers’ captain in the absence of Kane Williamson - to start the chase, it looked like today would be more of the same from the 37-year old. But Watson was just getting warmed up, and a six and four off Khaleel Ahmed in the fifth over were harbingers of a sleeping giant finally beginning to stir. Shakib went for a six soon after before Watson took a shine to Sandeep Sharma. Nineteen off the 12th over saw the asking rate slide dramatically, and an off-colour Rashid Khan was shown no mercy by Watson. In full flow all of a sudden, he smashed the 20-year old Afghan legspinner for two sixes and two fours in his last two overs. Soon after, the required rate was below six, and by the time Watson nicked off to the keeper, Chennai’s job was all but done.

Chennai’s bowling consistency

3

SCOREBOARD

Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings (20 overs maximum) DA Warner st †Dhoni b Harbhajan Singh 57 JM Bairstow † c †Dhoni b Harbhajan Singh 0 MK Pandey not out 83 V Shankar c Jadeja b Chahar 26 YK Pathan not out 5 Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 8.75) 175-3 Did not bat: Shakib Al Hasan, DJ Hooda, Rashid Khan, B Kumar (c), KK Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-5 (JM Bairstow, 1.3 ov), 2-120 (DA Warner, 13.3 ov), 3-167 (V Shankar, 18.6 ov) BOWLING DL Chahar (4-0-30-1) H Singh (4-0-39-2) RA Jadeja (4-0-33-0) DJ Bravo (4-0-35-0) I Tahir (4-0-38-0)

Harbhajan Singh and Deepak Chahar may have been the only ones to take wickets for Chennai, but other than that, all five bowlers posted strikingly similar figures. Each conceded between 30 and 39 runs, and the absence of one bowler Sunrisers could pick on showed in the later stages of their innings. Despite having several wickets in hand, there appeared no coherent plan with regards to approaching the final onslaught, with Super Kings’ discipline shaving several runs off their target. Following Warner’s dismissal, Vijay Shankar never could get going, leaving Pandey to fight a lone hand against a well-drilled bowling attack. It was, as we were to see soon, in stark contrast to Sunrisers’ bowling effort…

Sunrisers’ bowling struggles

In the past two games, Rashi Khan conceded a total of 40 runs in his allocated eight overs. Not once had he allowed more than 27 in

Chennai Super Kings Innings (target: 176 runs from 20 overs) SR Watson c †Bairstow b Kumar 96 F du Plessis run out (Hooda) 1 SK Raina st †Bairstow b Khan 38 AT Rayudu c Shankar b Sharma 21 KM Jadhav not out 11 DJ Bravo not out 0 Extras (b 4, lb 3, w 2) 9 TOTAL (19.5 Overs, RR: 8.87) 176-4 Yet to bat: MS Dhoni (c) †, RA Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, DL Chahar, Imran Tahir Fall of wickets: 1-3 (F du Plessis, 2.3 ov), 2-80 (SK Raina, 9.6 ov), 3-160 (SR Watson, 17.1 ov), 4-175 (AT Rayudu, 19.4 ov) BOWLING B Kumar (4-1-18-1) KK Ahmed (4-0-26-0) S Al Hasan (4-0-27-0) S Sharma (3.5-0-54-1) R Khan (4-0-44-1)

an innings this season, but today would reduce all those numbers to rubble. With Watson rampant, Rashid went for - by his standards - a colossal 44 in his four as Sunrisers’ saw their trump card neutralised comprehensively in the middle overs. To make matters worse, he wasn’t their most expensive bowler, with Sandeep Sharma conceding 54 in 3.5. Despite a valiant effort by Bhuvneshwar, who conceded just 18 in his four overs, the profligacy from the rest of the attack meant defending a medium-sized total became a near-insurmountable task. (ESPNcricinfo)

Hendricks replaces injured Alzarri Long scores quickest goal in Premier League history Joseph at Mumbai Indians

S

outh African fast bowler Beuran Hendricks has replaced Alzarri Joseph, the injured West Indies quick, in the Mumbai Indians squad for the remainder of the IPL. Joseph, who was picked as a replacement for Adam Milne, was ruled out of the tournament after he dislocated his right arm and suffered a tear while fielding in a match against Rajasthan Royals earlier this month. Joseph’s maiden IPL stint had lasted a week - he returned an IPL record 6 for 12 on debut against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but went wicketless in the next two matches, even conceding 53 off four overs against Royals.

Hendricks, who was part of the South Africa side for the limited-overs home series against Pakistan recently, will join Mumbai for a second IPL stint. He had been a part of the Kings XI Punjab squad in the 2014 and 2015 editions.

Mumbai, who are third on the points table, will play their next match against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Friday.

Teams have their own methods of dealing with pressure and hard losses. In the case of Kolkata Knight Riders, who find their season unravelling with a series of defeats, a handful of players have been given time off to regroup.

Five of them, including captain Dinesh Karthik and senior batsman Robin Uthappa, decided to train in Mumbai under the watch of Abhishek Nayar, mentor of the Knight Riders’ academy.

The other three players in the group were batsman Nikhil Naik and pacers Shrikant Mundhe and Prithvi Raj.

for the hosts, who move into seventh in the table, as the game finished as frantically as it began.

Southampton’s point means they are two places and six points above the relegation zone with three games remaining.

Saints also struck the post twice before half-time as Watford struggled, although the hosts were much improved after the break and created several chances in the second half.

Southampton keeper Angus Gunn had just saved a Roberto Pereyra header from close range when a rebound in the area fell kindly for Gray, who shot powerfully past Gunn at the near post.

Watford moved above Everton into seventh place to maintain their prospects of qualifying for the Europa League via their league position, although they also have the chance to play in Europe through their FA Cup final against Manchester City. (BBC Sport)

Beuran Hendricks played 7 matches for KXIP between 2014 and 2015

Knight Riders, who have suffered five consecutive defeats, are languishing in the bottom half of the IPL 2019 table and the lack of runs from Karthik and Uthappa have added to their problems. Uthappa has scored 220 runs from nine matches, including a fifty, at 31.42 and a strike rate of 119.56. Karthik, meanwhile, has a tally of 117 runs after ten matches with only one fifty. Naik and Raj have played one match each this season, while Mundhe has been on the bench all along.

The players will join the team on Wednesday in Kolkata, a day before the home match against Rajasthan Royals. (cricinfo)

Shane Long

A

ndre Gray equalised in the 90th minute to earn a dramatic draw for Watford after Southampton’s Shane Long scored the fastest goal in Premier League history.

Long struck after just 7.69 seconds when he blocked a Craig Cathcart pass, before lifting the ball over Watford keeper Ben Foster.

But Gray levelled from from close range

Fastest Premier League goals Time Player Match Season 07.69 Shane Long Watford v SOUTHAMPTON 2018-19 09.82 Ledley King Bradford City v SPURS 2000-01 10.52 Alan Shearer NEWCASTLE v Man City 2002-03 10.54 Christian Eriksen SPURS v Man Utd 2017-18 11.90 Mark Viduka Charlton v LEEDS 2000-01 12.16 Dwight Yorke Coventry v ASTON VILLA 1995-96 12.94 Chris Sutton Everton v BLACKBURN 1994-95 13.48 Kevin Nolan Blackburn v BOLTON 2003-04 13.52 James Beattie Chelsea v SOUTHAMPTON 2004-05 13.64 Asmir Begovic STOKE v Southampton 2012-14

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

WEDNesday, APRIL 24, 2019

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

A

Eriksen grabs the points for Spurs as Brighton wilt at the last

mid all of the excitement at Tottenham’s upcoming Champions League semi-final against Ajax, it has been possible to forget that their target for the season remains a top-four finish in the Premier League.

There was no room for a slip-up against Brighton, no scope for their focus to drop and, on a night of high tension, they got the result that they wanted. Yet how late they left it.

There were 88 minutes on the clock when Christian Eriksen got on the ball, in the area in front of the Brighton area, as he had done all evening, probing for the solution.

It had previously eluded him with a grinding regularity but on this occasion he arrowed a low drive that ripped past his defensive shackles and found the bottom corner.

Cue delirium. Spurs remain on course and their record at their new stadium remains unblemished; four wins from four matches and no goals conceded.

It was so cruel on Chris Hughton and his Brighton battlers, particularly the centre-halves Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy. The former sank to his knees when Eriksen’s goal went in; finally beaten. Brighton must go back to 9 March – and 660 minutes of football – for their last goal in the Premier League but this looked like being a night when what they did at the back would fire their survival hopes. But for Eriksen, it would have done.

Brighton had started the day in 17th place, three points clear of Cardiff – who had played one game more – and under no illusions about the size of the task that confronted them. Their home match against Newcastle on Saturday already felt like a massive one because after that, they finish the season with a visit to Arsenal and a home fixture against Manchester City. The fear for them is that Cardiff might get something from their upcoming games against Fulham (away) and Crystal Palace (home).

Chris Hughton’s 4-3-3 was configured to become 4-51 when required – which was regularly – and it was noticeable that the Spurs fans booed Mat Ryan, the visiting goalkeeper, as early as the 10th minute for taking his time over a goal-kick. The onus was on Spurs to make the game, to find a way through Brighton’s tightly mar-

Christian Eriksen lets fly from outside the area

shalled lines and Pochettino took no chances with his lineup, which he built around a back four and was pretty much as strong as he could have picked.

It was plain at the outset that Spurs had to be quick with their passing and sharp with their movement because Brighton’s determination was ferocious. When Dele Alli burst away from Martín Montoya and Alireza Jahanbakhsh midway through the first half, he ushered in Son Heung-min on the edge of the area. But Brighton quickly flooded the space in front of him and the opening came to nothing. The incident was emblematic.

Brighton put their bodies on the line as they sought to protect the clean sheet, none more so than Dunk, who made some colossal interventions, and it was rough and ready, at times – witness Jan Vertonghen’s elbow on Florin Andone in the 25th minute. Vertonghen did not throw it; rather, he levered it into his opponent. The referee, Christopher Kavanagh, took no action.

Andone diced with disaster. Booked a little harshly

for a trip on Danny Rose, as Kavanagh tried to assert his authority, the Brighton striker stamped into a tackle on Kieran Trippier in the 36th minute, missing the ball and catching the Spurs full-back. It looked like more of a yellow card than the one he had just received but Kavanagh disagreed.

Where was Spurs’s invention in the first half? Alli took a marvellous touch on a high ball and prodded goalwards on 45 minutes, beating Ryan but watching Duffy clear off the line but, that apart, the pickings were slim.

Vertonghen also saw Dunk block a shot from him at close quarters.

Hughton could be happy at the interval because Brighton had flickered on the counter. Andone powered forward on a one-man break only to be halted by a superb slide challenge from Rose, while he stretched but could not reach a low Jahanbakhsh cross.

Zac Efron brought a touch of glamour from up in the stands – the actor was picked out by the TV cameras; he put on a Spurs shirt in the second-half – yet it was attritional fare on the pitch, with the whistles for Ryan’s delaying tactics increasing in volume in the second-half. Toni Jiménez, the Spurs goalkeeper coach, who would never have done that sort of thing during his playing days, tapped his watch and yelled at the officials.

Duffy headed at Hugo Lloris from a tight angle following a free-kick but the pattern became entrenched: Spurs pushing, Brighton resisting. There were lengthy periods in the second half when Lloris was the only player outside of Brighton’s defensive third. With so much on the line, it was gripping stuff and the home crowd alternated between shouting their encouragement and howling in frustration.

The margins were agonisingly fine. Toby Alderweireld spun and got off a shot that hit the inside of the post and rolled across goal but Spurs could not force it home and there were other chances. Rose had a dipping shot tipped over by Ryan while Alli, Son and Trippier went close.

Eriksen would find a way through. (The Guardian)

Mertens, Ostapenko bow out of Stuttgart Open in 1st round

B

Open champion Ostapenko went down 6-2 4-6 6-0 to compatriot Anastasija Sevastova. Ostapenko was broken seven times in a match where neither player served part i c ularly well.

Former Stuttgart champion Laura Siegemund saw off the challenge of Lesia Tsurenko with a straightwhile forward 6-2 6-2 two-times victory, while Grand Slam Andrea Petkovic champion Garbine beat qualMuguruza also ifier Sara withdrew due to Sorribes illness.

Tormo 6-3 Mertens, 6-4 to move w h o into the stunned next round.

Halep to W o r l d win the number one Q a t a r Naomi Osaka Open title starts her clay in February, court season went out in straight with a bye in sets to Russia’s DariaNaomi Osaka the first round Kasatkina.

The 21-year-old beat her high- in Stuttgart, and the reigner-ranked opponent 7-6(8) ing U.S. and Australian 7-5 in a little under two Open champion said her main objective was to avoid hours.

Although Kasatkina injury in the run up to the had nine double faults to French Open next month.

“Every other court or Mertens’ four, she won more points on her first and sec- (surface), I have more exond serve. She also defend- perience than I have on ed set points in both sets to clay because honestly, evclinch her first top 10 victo- ery time I come here I get ry since beating Angelique injured,” Osaka told reportKerber at Wimbledon last ers. “I’m hoping that won’t happen this year. year.

“Every clay season I Meanwhile, 2017 French

elgium’s Elise Mertens and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko were among Tuesday’s first round exits at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart on a day where other high-profile players withdrew without playing a single match.

The tournament draw had to be restructured after world number two Simona Halep pulled out with a hip injury,

missed out on at least one tournament. So honestly, my main goal is to not get injured and just ride it up until French Open.”

With Halep out of the picture, Osaka only needs to win her opening match

to retain her number one ranking. However, if she were to lose her first game and Petra Kvitova were to win the title, the Czech player would be crowned the new world number one.

(Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNEsday, april 24, 2019

21

Romel & Robin 9-hole Easter Sunday Golf Tourney…

Shaw, Persaud put forth top performances

O

n Sunday, the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) hosted the second keenlycontested and exciting event of the weekend, the Romel & Robin 9-hole tournament, which was played in 2 Flights, handicaps 0- 7, and 814, with prizes awarded for the best first three net scores in each category.

In the 0-7 category winners were: Avinash Persaud – ninetime Guyana Open Male Champion – (30/1) – 1st; Vishal Dhanai (31/6) – 2nd; and “Skinny” Deosarran (33/4) – 3rd.

In hot pursuit of the winners’ row were “Naro” Jetendra Ganpat (34/5) and Mike Gayadin (34/7).

In the 8-14 category, winners were: Aasrodeen Shaw (33/8) – 1st; Kurt of ExxonMobil (33/14) – 2nd; and Mahindranauth Tewari (34/9) – 3rd. Close competition in this category was offered from

The sponsors pose with the top performers

Some youngsters try their skills at putting

Daniel Bates (35/14); Imtiaz Subhan (35/11); Rabindranauth Persaud (36/9); Videsh Persaud (36/14), and Roberto Mohan (36/14). A special prize went to the Best Female Golfer of the day – Kerry of ExxonMobil, while Avinash won the prize for the Longest Drive.

And the grand weekend concluded with a bang on Easter Monday as several thousand

Auto, new member Adityanand Persaud, and club supporter Dr Jhagru of the GPHC emergency department.

Many of the first-time visitors to the course –spellbound by the beauty, serenity and great lawns of the golf course with lots of trees, and ponds for fishing (in rainy season) –vowed to return and even bring their kids and spouses to play the

game of golf.

Nine-time Guyana Open Women’s Champion, Christine Sukhram, was on hand to teach newcomers how to putt in a prize-winning raffle giveaway.

Club President Aleem Hussain reiterated that the Club would teach the game free of cost to anyone willing to learn. Interested persons can contact the Club (220-5660/645-0944) or visit their

on it. When somebody like that who’s played a hundred One-day Internationals has something to say, that does help lift the mood in the camp as well.”

Estwick has been alongside new interim head coach Floyd Reifer, fast bowling coach Corey Collymore and fielding coach Rayon Griffith, as the squad has been put through their paces.

Estwick said there were several areas which had needed attention, and players had gone about addressing them with intensity.

“Floyd has obviously identified some areas we need to really improve on, and we’ve been really working on them,” said the former Barbados pacer.

“We want to improve the death bowling and also the fielding – the standard must improve so every morning we’re doing a lot of fielding.

[We’re also working on] rotating the strike against spin bowling in the middle overs, so those are areas he has set and those are areas we’ve been really trying to work on.

“Obviously, Ireland is going to be a different challenge because the pitches are going to be a lot slower and greener, but we’re ready for that and preparing towards that as well.”

West Indies take on Ireland and Bangladesh from May 3 to 17 in what will be their final series before they open their World Cup campaign.

persons descended on the course to picnic, play games, fly kites and generally relax and enjoy themselves for what turned out to be the largest crowd ever at the LGC. Dozens of kids hunted for Easter eggs in an activity wellcoordinated by Nadia Kalika and Michelle Codrington of Nexgen, and sponsored by club member Rudy Ramalingum of New Trend

Facebook page Lusignangolfclub for more details.

Hussain expressed his gratitude to the team of Romel & Robin with all the staff who worked tirelessly to make this weekend enjoyable for so many families. He added, “We expect that several new members will come out [of] this Easter weekend’s activity and based on the reaction of the guests, we feel that the LGC has a great future, both in the game of golf and as a fun family destination.”

Meanwhile, on Saturday, April 27, Assuria Insurance Group of Companies will host its inaugural tournament as the LGC kicks off the second half of its season, with Banks DIH; Torginol Paints; El Dorado (DDL); Kissoons; Macorp and AMCHAM all scheduled to host major events between now and June 15.

Work ethic “tremendous”, says Coach Estwick

A

ssistant coach Roddy Estwick has hailed the work ethic of the

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Assistant coach Roddy Estwick

West Indies squad during the ongoing training camp here.

The Caribbean side

are preparing for the TriNations Series in Ireland involving Bangladesh starting next week and are also intensifying their planning for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 England & Wales which begins on May 30.

“They’ve been tremendous – we can’t fault them – and they’ve really worked hard and the senior players are stepping up,” said Estwick.

“This morning (Monday), Darren Bravo was saying we’re pushing, but we can push a little bit more, we can do a lot more, we can get better and if you have a fault, find a coach and work

And even though they have been identified as one of the outsiders to win the World Cup, Estwick urged caution in the side’s approach.

“This is the World Cup,” he said. “I think that what you’ve got to do is you’ve got to take one game at a time.

You can’t get ahead of yourself and say you’re going to win the World Cup. “If you’re in the tournament in July, then I know we’ve got a good chance, so that’s going to be our target – take one game at a time, plan properly, make sure that whatever we’re saying to players is clear and precise so the players can go out and execute, stick together as a unit and enjoy whatever we’re doing.” (CMC)

Briana Williams cops back-to-back Austin Jamaica to host CONCACAF Sealy Awards

Club Championships May 12-19

F

or the second year running, Jamaica’s Briana Williams won the coveted Austin Sealy Award at the Carifta Games that concluded at the Truman Bodden Stadium in the Cayman Islands on Sunday.

Like she did in 2018 in the Cayman Islands, Williams won the 100m and 200m in season-best times of 11.25and 22.89 respectively and was a member of Jamaica’s gold medal-winning 4x100m u20 relay team.

She becomes the sixth athlete in the 48-year history of the CARIFTA Games to win back-toback Austin Sealy honours as the Games’ Most Outstanding Athlete.

She is also the first back-to-back winner since Bahamian Anthonique Strachan in 2011 and 2012, and just the second female to win back to back Austin Sealy awards. She is just the second Jamaican to win the honour in back to back years following in the footsteps of Usain Bolt, who won in 2003 and 2004.

This was supposed to be Briana’s swansong from the Carifta Games as she pursues other loftier goals

Briana Williams

but according to her coach, Ato Boldon, winning the award for the second year running will make his job a lot harder for 2020 to convince her not to go for another one.

“Well, last year I told her she wouldn’t win this year because I didn’t want her to double again. But then this year I wanted her to run more 200s and then the scheduling debacle got solved so it’s ironic that the performance that sealed it was probably the 22.89 which is fifth on the world list,” he said.

“I’m very happy for her but it will make it difficult to convince her next year to not try for three, which nobody has ever done. I have a year to work on that though.” (Sportsmax)

Representatives of Jamaica’s two top clubs stand with CONCACAF’s Chief Football Officer Manolo Zubiria (centre) and JFF President Michael Ricketts

J

amaica is to host the 2019 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championships from May 12-19, 2019 at the Stadium East in Kingston.

Reigning Red Stripe Premier League champions Portmore United Football Club and Waterhouse will do battle against Haitian football clubs AS Capoise and Real Hope FA. The winner of the competition will qualify directly to the Scotiabank

CONCACAF Champions League with the runner-up and third place teams qualifying for the CONCACAF League. The fourth-place finisher will face S.V. Robinhood from Suriname, the winner of the 2019 Caribbean Club Shield competition played in Curacao.

This play-off will qualify a third club for the Scotiabank CONCACAF League.

In making the announce-

ment, CONCACAF’s Chief Football Officer Manolo Zubiria explained that the championship is another event being hosted by Jamaica that will help to transform the sport in the country and the wider region.

“Through these events, we can inspire future generations to love and play the game of football,” he said.

“This competition represents the best of professional Caribbean club football and it’s an integral part of our expanded club competitions platform.

It provides an extraordinary opportunity to continue supporting and developing club football in the Caribbean, to grow talent and to encourage our youth to play the sport.”

Manolo said also that the competition provides fully professional leagues with a clear pathway to the top level of CONCACAF’s club competitions. (Sportsmax)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Bravo says WI focused ahead of tour of Ireland, World Cup

Windies batsman Darren Bravo during England’s tour of the West Indies

M

arquee batsman Darren Bravo said on Wednesday, West Indies would be focussing on executing their unique style of play at the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 England & Wales.

Bravo said West Indies, two-time World Cup champions, would not be overawed by any opposition at the tournament which runs from May 30 to July 14, though they are not among the favourites.

“To be honest, most other teams are quality teams, but having said that, when we played against England no one gave us a chance, so I think that once we concentrate on what we have to do as a team, I think that is the most important thing,” said Bravo during the Windies training camp at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies here.

“We are not going to focus very much on the opposition. We have certain plans and certain roles we want to execute, and I believe that the results will take care of itself.

As I said before, no one gave us a chance against England, and we went out there and proved that we can beat the best team in the world, so we just have to go out there and continue believing in ourselves as much as possible.”

Bravo was referring to the recent fivematch, Colonial Medical Insurance Oneday International home series against Eoin Morgan’s England which the hosts drew 2-2, with one match rained off.

Written off before the start, West Indies played outstandingly after losing the opening match by 26 runs at Kensington Oval, rebounding to win the second match of the double-header by 26 runs.

Rain forced the abandonment of the third ODI in Grenada before England clinched the fourth contest at the same venue, despite West Indies’ record 389 in pursuit of 419.

West Indies crushed England by seven wickets in the final match in St. Lucia, with Chris Gayle slamming an astonishing 77 off 27 balls to end the series with 424 runs.

“I think it was a fantastic series for us as a team led brilliantly by (West Indies captain) Jason Holder and Chris Gayle,” said Bravo.

“I think Chris set the tone at the top of the order in the ODIs that gave the motivation to go out there and perform against the best team in the world. It was a very good series and I am happy that it was very competitive, and it should give us confidence moving forward.”

Bravo is part of the 14-member Windies squad preparing for the Tour of Ireland which runs from May 3 to 17. They will clash with the hosts and Bangladesh in a triangular ODI series.

The camp is being overseen by new interim head coach Floyd Reifer, who was appointed last week, and the experienced Bravo said he was making the most of the preparation, especially with former Windies batting star Ramnaresh Sarwan playing a key role with the batting group.

“The coach outlines what he wants from us and we try to come up with the brand of cricket we want to play,” said the 30-yearold Bravo, who averages 32 from 102 OneDay Internationals.

“Moving forward the guys have been working on their technical areas as much as possible. Now we have Sarwan, who came in for a couple of days to help us with our batting. He has been working tremendously well with us. I had a couple sessions, so far so good.

Bravo said: “Hopefully, he will be with us moving forward to Ireland because I believe with a young batting team like this, someone of Sarwan’s stature will mean a lot to us as a batting unit. We will see how it goes, but so far the camp has been going well.

“It has been a lot of hard work, fitness-wise and otherwise, and we are enjoying it.” (CMC)

Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" Registration continues for Round 2 of GMR&SC Endurance Meet Greatness takes over

The loaded Endurance grid

R

egistration for the upcoming second round of endurance racing under the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) is ongoing.

According to the Club, only five competitors have registered for the competition thus far.

The Club sought to re-

mind competitors that early registration ensures that there is no hassle on race day.

During round one, Team Wreckers’ Adrian Fernandes inched past Sean Bacchus for the overall title.

2018 overall champion Fernandes narrowly defeated Bacchus who finished

77 laps, both in 1600cc and overall brackets in the twohour drive.

During round one action, the unlimited class was won

by Romeo Singh (72 laps), but Motilall Deodass (59 laps) surprisingly finished second ahead of Seejatan.

Deodass’ Motor Trendsponsored Starlet encountered problems from the start of the race so he had to race at a decelerated pace throughout the race.

Mohamed Ali (33 laps) was the best driver in the 2000cc class while Roshan Ali (20 laps) finished second followed by Rafeek Khan in third with 19 laps.

In the 1500cc class, Narendra Mangar (73 laps) won, followed by Richard Hamid (70) in second place and Mark Wong (69) in third.

Linden tonight!

CWI President on the passing of Sir Alister McIntyre S

A snippet of last year’s Linden final, where Silver Bullets dethroned Dave and Celina’s

Sir Alister McIntyre

R

ecently elected President of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Ricky Skerritt expressed sympathy on the passing of Sir AlisterMcIntyre.

We were deeply grieved to learn of the death of former secretary general of CARICOM and Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies, Sir Alister McIntyre, over the weekend.

Sir Alister matched his extraordinary record of accomplishment in the field of academia and economics with grace and honour

off it.

The Caribbean has truly lost one of its leading academics and statesmen, whose sharp mind and deep analysis of the challenges facing the region will be truly missed.

Sir Alister was one of three leading Caribbean personalities that formed the committee, set up 12 years ago by the West Indies Cricket Board, now CWI, to review the governance of West Indies cricket.

The committee was chaired by former Jamaica prime minister P.J. Patterson and also included Guyanese business executive and author Ian McDonald. They presented a seminal work which still reverberates to this day and has helped to shape some of the governance and operational policies of the organization.

Only last week, we announced that Jamaica senator Don Wehby will lead a task force to continue that work of reviewing the corporate governance of CWI and will use the report produced by that committee as the basis to understand how far the organization has progressed and how much further it needs to go.

On behalf of the Directors, Management and Staff of Cricket West Indies, we join with the rest of the Caribbean community in expressing our sincere condolences to Sir Alister’s family and friends, and may they all find comfort and peace at this difficult time. (CWI)

treet football action will make its next stop in Guyana’s mining town as sixteen of the top teams in Linden will square off in this year’s edition of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition, scheduled to kick off tonight, at the Mackenzie Market Bus Park, starting at 19:30hrs.

The Guinnesss ‘Greatest of the Streets’ competition was organized to coincide with the ongoing Linden Town Week celebrations that began on Sunday last and will culminate on May 1.

Six matches will be played and with Town Week in full swing, it is expected that the venue will be teeming with fans eager to see the street phenomenon played in the community.

The Linden subdivision is expected to run for six days.

The teams have been placed in four groups of four with defending champion Silver Bullets positioned in

Group C. Speaking on the impending fireworks in tonight’s opening fixtures, Guinness Brand manager Lee Baptisite is eager to see what Linden has in store, given the impressive displays during the recently concluded playoff.

“As per normal, fans can expect exciting football. We know Linden always brings out the best in terms of players and so forth. I know they’ve been practicing a while now. We had the playoffs on Sunday and from the playoffs alone, we know that the competition is going to be stiff in Linden,” Baptiste stated.

The first fixture on tonight’s roster will see Barsenal coming up against Retrieve at 19.30hrs. At 20.00hrs Amazing will take on Capital Storm, whilst Commacka and Haynes Hitters will battle at 20.30hrs. Dave and Celine will face off with presidential at 21.00hrs and NK Ballers

will test their skills against Ashasa Ballers at 21.30hrs.

The final fixture on opening night will see Quiet Storm battling Amelia’s Ward at 22.00hrs.

The respective groups are: Groups A Ashasa Ballers NK Ballers Capital Storm Amazing Group B Russians Quiet Storm Commacka Haynes Hitters Group C Silver Bullets High Rollers Retrieve Unknowns Barsenal Group D Swag Entertainment Dave and Celina Presidential Wisroc

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WEDNEsday, april 24, 2019

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets”

Melanie B survive sudden death to cop East Coast championship A

truly fitting final in the wee hours of Tuesday saw Melanie B walking away from the Haslington Market Tarmac with $400,000 and a trophy, as they romped to the East Coast Demerara Divisional championship of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” tournament.

The 2017 champions held nerves of steel on Tuesday morning, as they stuck to a rigid game plan when coming up against apparent favourites Paradise A. After taking the championship home in 2017 and missing out last year, Melanie B were determined to change their fortunes.

Part of the plan was the need to restrict Paradise’s Quincy Adams, who at times became unsure of his role in the crucial final. However, Melanie did well to keep space between Adams and the goal, all the while hunting a goal of their own.

Defensive tactics employed by Paradise saw

Melanie B are champs! The victorious team receive their championship trophy in the presence of Banks DIH’s Lee Baptiste

A glimpse of the final action

both sides being unable to score at the half. Melanie B seemed more likely to score as regulation time expired, but at that point could not find the back of the goal.

The encounter headed straight into a penalty shootout and on this platform, Melanie B were truly able to show that they were the better team sinking two kicks as opposed to

they met with Haslington Hypers in a 1-0 encounter.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Melanie B made their championship intentions clear early on as they thumped Victoria Church Yard 4-0. An impressive defence and goals from Odell Gulliver and Ryan Seales ensured that Melanie B would have another shot at the title.

Paradise A’s one.

The third-place playoff followed a similar pattern as the final, with neither side being able to trouble the goal during regulation time. At the penalty mark, however, Victoria Church Yard were able to out-perform Liliendaal Hustlers 2-1.

The plate final was won

by Belfield Warriors after

On the other hand, Paradise A and Liliendaal Hustlers were locked in a one-all draw at regulation time. Teon Stewart scored for Paradise A in the seventh minute while Stephon Reynolds equalised in the 25th. When the game went down to penalties, Paradise prevailed, 2 goals to 1.

Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste

spoke to the quality of the 2019 East Coast sub-meet.

“Well, it’s definitely an increase compared to last year. We had a few national players in some of the teams and that alone would have led to the increased competition amongst the teams,” Baptiste said.

Melanie B walked away with $400,000 while Paradise A had to settle for $150,000. Victoria Church Yard took the $100,000 third-place prize and Liliendaal Hustlers bagged $75,000. Plate final winners Belfield copped the $60,000 prize.

Melanie B have now joined East Bank/West Coast sub-division winners Brothers United and Berbice winners Trafalgar as the teams who have made it into the national competition.

The Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” 2019 competition will now head to Linden this week, with 16 teams ready to battle.

Gayle passes 400-run mark CARIFTA 2019: Track and for the season in IPL field team tally 9

T

alismanic West Indies opener Chris Gayle struck his third halfcentury in his last four outings to pass 400 runs for yet another Indian Premier League season but the effort went in vain as Kings XI Punjab slipped to a fivewicket defeat to Sherfane Rutherford’s Delhi Capitals on Saturday.

Sent in at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Kings XI rallied to 163 for seven off their 20 overs, with the lefthanded Gayle blasting 69 off 37 balls to notch his fourth half-century of the campaign and the 80th of an illustrious career.

Mandeep Singh managed 30 but the remainder of the Kings XI batting failed, as 18-year-old Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane (3-40) and South Africa speedster, Kagiso Rabada (2-23) scythed through the innings.

Gayle, who punched six fours and five sixes, put on 45 for the fourth wicket with Mandeep before departing in

the 13th over, caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary off Lamichhane

Chris Gayle

courtesy of a relay catch between Colin Ingram and Axar Patel.

In reply, captain Shreyas Iyer (58 not out) and opener Shikhar Dhawan (56) laid the perfect platform for a successful run chase when they put on 92 for the second wicket.

Rutherford, in his first match for Capitals, was unbeaten on two at the end after earlier sending down one over which cost five runs.

In the other match played in Jaipur, Barbadian fast bowler Jofra Archer produced another stingy spell as his Rajasthan Royals beat Kieron Pollard’s Mumbai Indians by five wickets.

In-form South Africa opener Quinton de Kock topscored with 65 in Mumbai’s 161 for five off their 20 overs, with Pollard failing with 10 and Archer conceding a mere 21 runs from four overs which yielded one wicket. (CMC)

Vast improvement for Junior CARIFTA Chess team

– regional tournament to be hosted in Guyana in 2020

the Guyanese Chess team during pre-game preparations

I

n spite of a weaker closing round than they hoped for, the junior chess team that represented Guyana at the eighth CARIFTA Junior Chess Championships are said to have gained valuable experience, in what was the first regional or international outing for the majority of the team.

Hoping for a late surge after an impressive fifth round of play, the chess team were unable to finish strongly,

thus missing out on the team medals.

In round five, the team accumulated a whopping 8.5 points. However, in the following round, Joshua Khan, Arysh Ragunauth and Mahes Boodhoo were the only players to bag wins while Savir Gookul, Jaden Taylor and Chelsea Juma clinched draws for the team’s 4.5 points.

The 14-member team bettered their performance in the final round, but were

still unable to accumulate more than 10 points. Jacob McDonald, Jarrell Troyer, Mahesa Boodhoo and Mahir Rajkumar won their matches, whilst Ghansham Allijohn, Arysh Ragunauth and Angel Rahim salvaged draws for their 5.5 points in the seventh round.

Despite not being able to cop a team medal, the Guyanese contingent, with their overall 36.5 points bettered their 2018 performance by 250 per cent. This improvement was reward enough for World Chess Federation (FIDE) -certified chess instructor Wendell Meusa, who spoke exclusively with <<<Guyana Times Sport>>>.

“I think Team Guyana did fairly okay. As I said, we only had three experienced persons on our team. Every other player never played at a regional or international tournament before, but our aims were achieved,” Meusa explained.

- Persaud strikes again

Claudrice McKoy crosses the finish line

The Guyanese track and field team have ended their Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) weekend on a high, capturing a record nine medals while 12-year-old Aleka Persaud continues to rack up medals in the pool.

The third and final day of track and field competition in the Cayman Islands saw Guyana adding two more medals to the seven accumulated over the weekend. While the haul has not surpassed the highest medal count for Guyana at the CARIFTA Games, for the first time, the 21-member team are returning home with four Disclosing several challenges faced like moving from hotel to hotel and food poisoning which took a toll on the team at one point, Meusa noted that the players kept their focus in order to finish off the competition.

“These kids are highly motivated and they battled throughout the time here to do well for the country. It was very tough, for some of them they never saw some openings, positions, gambits and I had a lot of explaining to do,” he said.

One rewarding factor is for the Junior Championships, which were hosted in Curaçao, is that the members

gold medals.

On Easter Monday, Claudrice McKoy added a bronze medal to her gold after she finished third in the Women’s Open 3000m race.

Clocking 10.37.43s, the Munroe College athlete made the podium behind Bermuda’s Isabell Dutranoit (10:21.63s) and Jamaica’s Kelly-Ann Beckford (10:28 13s).

Berbice’s Matthew Gordon ensured that he would finish his CARIFTA outing with a gold of his own after missing out on the podium in the boys’ U-17 1500m event.

In the ultimate distance race, 3000m, Gordon focused and pushed his abilities to cross the finish line ahead of the pack. He finished in 9.12.43s, one second before Bermuda’s Nathan Armstrong (9:13.13) and The Bahamas’ Mitchell Curtis (9:16.86).

As such, the largest Guyanese contingent to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the regional event finished with four gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Chantoba Bright (1 gold, 1 bronze); McKoy (1 gold, 1 bronze); Anisha Gibbons (1 gold); Joanna Archer (1 silver); Shauqa Tyrell (1 bronze); Adriel Austin (1 bronze) and the lone male, Matthew Gordon (1 gold) were the athletes who medalled for Guyana.

Over at the Barbados Aquatic Centre in Wildey, Persaud added to her CARIFTA collection with another gold of the team will now receive a FIDE ID and rating that will contribute positively to their regional and international participation in future tournaments.

Arysh Ragunauth, Jaden Taylor and Jarrell Troyer were the outstanding players in the tournament finishing with 3.5 out of 7 points.

Looking to the future, Meusa disclosed that the ninth edition of the Junior CARIFTA Chess Championships next year would be hosted here in Guyana. While further plans will need to be implemented in order to host the tournament locally, Meusa is confi-

Aleka Persaud

medal.

The swimming sensation completed the 100m freestyle in a time of 1.02.39s to take gold. She was closely followed

by Harper Barrowman of the Cayman Islands, who had to settle for silver (1:03.04).

Despite missing out on the podium in the 200m individual medley where she clocked 2:42.42s and placed fourth, Persaud will still go on to represent Guyana at the Caribbean and Central American Championships in the latter half of this year.

There, she will compete in the 100m and 50m butterfly and the 100m freestyle. The 12-year-old has two gold and two bronze medals so far.

Jarrell battle

Troyer

preparing

to

dent that it will be a boost for the Guyanese team. (Jemima Holmes)

WEDNEsday, april 24, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets”

Melanie B survive sudden death to cop East Coast championship

Page 23

Page 21

Work ethic “tremendous”, says Coach Estwick

CARIFTA 2019: Track and field team tally 9

Page 23

– Persaud strikes again

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