Guyana Times - Wednesday, February 20, 2019 new

P11 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3840

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH Wednesday, February 20, 2019

PRICE

Court-ordered Article 106 March 19 elections

P14 GCAA launches probe into plane crash on WBD

Page 3

…no house-to-house registration vote taken – PPP Commissioner

Ministers campaigning on State resources in Region 9 …beg for votes during outreach

GWI disconnects Belle Vue farmers, water from several businessman face schools in Region 6 off over land dispute Page 13

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Unilateral GECOM Chair swings vote to further delay elections Page 7

GPF hosts community outreaches

Page 15

Govt, RUSAL split over recognition of Bauxite Union Page 9

…as bauxite company defends firing striking workers … Kwakwani residents block access road

300 rape kits donated to Region 4 P13

Failed P10 execution attempt suspects remanded …alleged mastermind released on station bail

Taxi driver P8 charged for raping 14-yearold girl Supply Health Centre’s construction to be readvertised – P11 REO

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news

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, February 20 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, February 21 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, February 20 – 16:45h-18:15h and Thursday, February 21 – 05:40h-07:10h.

Court-ordered Article 106 March 19 elections

Unilateral GECOM Chair swings vote to further delay elections …no house-to-house registration vote taken – PPP Commissioner

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers can be expected throughout the morning, with sunny intervals in the afternoon. Partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 05:11h and 17:29h reaching maximum heights of 2.81 metres and 2.91 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:02h and 23:26h reaching minimum heights of 0.39 metre and 0.32 metre respectively.

saturday, FEBRUARY 16, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS G

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Bonus Ball

TuesDAY, febrUARY 19, 2019

DAILY MILLIONS

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Robeson Benn, who represents the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, said the votes from Commissioners of both sides created a deadlock, the Chairman had the deciding vote.

“All the votes and motions were carried … our side voted against them, but the motions were carried based

the constitutional mandate and its duties and responsibilities,” he stated.

As it relates to the vote to return to normalcy, Benn said, “The thing is when they say is normal activity, it brings in a suggestion of house -to-house registration.”

However, he denied that that vote was to give permis-

Meanwhile, the PPP has said in a statement that it was of the view that the situation at GECOM would certainly guarantee that Guyana is pushed towards a constitutional crisis.

It said too that the action

PPP Commissioner Robeson Benn

PPP Commissioner Bibi Shadick

PPP Commissioner Sase Gunraj

on the vote of the Chairman supporting the other side,” he explained.

Benn said that he and the two other Oppositionnominated Commissioners voted against the call for funding of the elections, explaining again that monies could be transferred to GECOM. “Our position on that is that it is an abandonment of

sion to begin that process.

Meanwhile, Governmentappointed GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander said that GECOM’s position was simply to state its readiness for an election and Opposition Commissioners had agreed to take the matter to a vote.

Alexander said that the meeting helped to break the

stalemate and move onto the other issues.

Constitutional crisis

GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson

G

uyana is on the brink of a constitutional crisis after the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson used his deciding vote and sided with Government Commissioners to pass a motion that new elections could not be held in 90 days as con-

“GECOM in its refusal to hold elections demonstrated their illogical willingness to toe the Government’s line. In so doing, it has made the Constitution of Guyana subservient to the will of the Commission and as such, this should not be the case” – PPP stitutionally mandated.

This decision was made during a meeting of GECOM Commissioners on Tuesday at the Commission’s Kingston, Georgetown headquarters, where they put three issues in relation to elections preparation to a vote.

The first being elections cannot be held in 90 days; the second issue had to do with funding for elections, and the third was for GECOM to return to normalcy.

C o m m i s s i o n e r

by GECOM is intended to influence the court proceedings set to continue today in the Court of Appeal.

The Constitution makes clear that the Judiciary cannot extend the deadline by which General and Regional Elections are constitutionally due; such an act remains in the remit of the Legislature.

Turn to page 7

Government Commissioners Desmond Trotman, Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin

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

Promises

I

t is very clear that the Government is in overdrive mode in its campaign to engage residents through outreaches in various parts of the country. Just a few days ago, some nine Ministers were in hinterland areas in what was a massive fanout there. Also, others were similarly occupied in some coastal areas. During those engagements, the pattern in messaging is the same; basically, we care; we are promising and don’t listen to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

The meetings must have come as a surprise to the residents, many of whom have not seen Government officials probably since the conclusion of the 2015 election. At that time, the message would have also been the same, underscoring that nothing has really changed. Much has been said about lofty and subsequently unfulfilled promises made just to hoodwink for votes. Some are of the belief that the Government may have had no real intention of fulfilling them, gauging from its actions since 2015.

Over time and having come to the stark reality, residents probably chalked it up to the process of deceptive electioneering. This seemingly new wave in that process could be viewed similarly given it might not have happened had it not been for the Charrandas Persaud vote. There hasn’t been any other plausible explanation and despite the constitutional requirements to resign following the successful passage of a no-confidence motion, the Government operates as if that event never happened.

Suddenly, it is now infused with vigour, time and resources to reach out to residents, especially those in far-flung areas, while boasting of working in their best interest. On the point of trying to convince of being caring, it must be asked why no such sense of purpose before that historic December vote? The relevance becomes obvious from the fact that the Government would have travelled to Lethem during the 2015 campaign. If it is as caring as professed, how only now in 2019 it is boasting of constructing a state-of-the-art airport as proclaimed by the State media.

It should be noted that the 2019 budget is G$300 billion or, plus or minus, US$1.5 billion. It means that the airport in question would cost 3.3 times this year’s budget or an average of three and a half years total budgetary amounts! Exorbitant would, therefore, be an injustice to describe the scale in magnitude of that promise. While there is no argument over the need for a better airport, making such outlandish promises can only be interpreted as gross deception and probably an insult to the intelligence of Guyanese.

In its sudden haste and folly to demonstrate that it wants to improve the lives of residents, the Government has once again resorted to hoodwinking through promises that are almost impossible to realise as in the case of the new Lethem airport.

Surely, it must be aware of what can or cannot be delivered. By making promises deemed to be unrealistic, it is repeating what it did in 2015 and by its own record, or lack thereof, rendering itself untrustworthy.

It should be noted that one minister has since expressed doubts about the amount reported for that airport promise.

It would, therefore, seem fair to ask; should his doubt not be seen as a form of exposure of the appearance of another false promise being made by the Government? Should it not be seen as a direct attempt to fool citizens in a desperate effort to get their votes? Should it not be seen as ploy to generate positive but deceptive headlines and sound bites at the expense of the welfare of the people?

An integral part of these outreaches by the Government is the appearance of it pleading with residents not to listen to the PPP. It should be noted what the PPP has been saying over time and which have led to the no-confidence motion. That Party has been consistent in its messaging in accusing the Government of, among other things, being corrupt; incompetent and therefore incapable of governing; visionless; extravagant; inhumane; taking care of itself while increasingly burdening the Guyanese people; bringing economic stagnation and hardships; increasing the cost of living; dissipating confidence in investors and woefully failing to curb the ever-escalating crime situation.

The Party’s assessment of the Government can easily be compared to what the current realties are. Since 2015, a number of businesses and industries have and continue to close, putting thousands out of jobs with devastating social impact.

Commerce has slowed as a result with other factors including increased and burdensome taxes. The Government handed itself a massive increase in salary while providing excuses to significantly up those of Public Servants. Extravagance seems to abound and questionable contractual engagements have led to various accusations of corruption.

Given what the Government promised in 2015, its subsequent failure to deliver and its flagrant disregard for the Constitution, many are convinced that its current excursion to engage residents is just another cycle to hold on to power. Its actions seem to fuel that reality.

Students of Queen’s College at the Guyana Defence Force booth at the University of Guyana Open Day/Career Fair. In photo, Private Joseph Kendall of the G5 Branch chats with the students

Venezuelan Opposition plans delivery of aid

…Guaidó calls for volunteers to carry stockpiled US aid over the border on Saturday

Misleidys Castaño from Valencia, Venezuela says any effort to get aid into her country is welcome (Joe Parkin Daniels photo)

M

embers of Venezuela’s Opposition are gathering in Cúcuta, Colombia, where they are frantically planning to shift stockpiled US aid to their homeland this weekend, in defiance of their country’s embattled President Nicolás Maduro.

“Saturday will be a day that goes down in our history,” said Omar Lares, the former Mayor of Campo Elías in western Venezuela, who has been living in exile in the border city for two years and is now helping coordinate Saturday’s planned delivery of aid.

“We’re working overtime to get the food and medicine that people so desperately need,” Lares said, speaking in the lobby of the Casino Internacional hotel, which has become one of the Opposition’s impromptu bases of operations over the last month.

Juan Guaidó, the Opposition Leader who has been recognised by the US and dozens more countries as Venezuela’s legitimate interim president, set a deadline of Saturday for the aid to move across the border, though representatives in Cúcuta, Caracas and Washington are yet to decide how the aid will cross.

Guaidó called for caravans of volunteers to carry the aid across at a speech before thousands of supporters in Caracas last week, though it would pit those civilians against the military – loyal to Maduro – which is under orders to block the aid.

For now, the shipments of aid sit in a warehouse next to the Tienditas bridge, connecting the two countries, which was finished in 2016 but never inaugurated.

Although thousands cross the nearby Simón Bolívar bridge on foot every day, the border has been closed to most vehicles since 2015 following a string of disputes between the two countries.

In advance of the first shipment of aid to the border, Maduro had the Tienditas bridge blockaded with containers and an oil tank. The bridge had long been lightly barricaded with a wire fence, aimed at keeping out contraband smugglers.

While in part a bid to get much-needed food and medicine to Venezuela’s suffering population, Saturday’s aid mission is also, Guaidó and the Trump Administration have said, intended to weaken Maduro by forcing the military to disobey their

boss and allow the aid on to Venezuelan soil, which could play into Maduro’s narrative that the US is seeking to invade.

“You will find no safe harbour, no easy exit and no way out. You will lose everything,” Donald Trump said in a speech in at Florida International University in Miami on Monday before large American and Venezuelan flags. “We seek a peaceful transition of power, but all options are open.”

Many humanitarian groups have distanced themselves from the aid operation, given its overtly political nature. “Humanitarian action needs to be independent of political, military or any other objectives,” United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York last week.

The move comes against the backdrop of a propaganda war between Guaidó and Maduro, with rival concerts set up in support of each president’s stance over the aid.

Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, threw his clout and cash behind Guaidó’s efforts earlier this month when he announced a concert in Cúcuta to raise funds to relieve Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis, and to pressure Maduro to open up his country’s borders. That concert, which will take place on Friday, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of attendees.

“Venezuela sadly has not become the utopia that the current administration of Venezuela or the past administration were hoping for, and that has resulted in a lot of people literally dying from lack of medical help,” Branson told the Associated Press in a telephone interview from Necker, his private island in the British Virgin Islands, on Monday.

“I think it will draw attention to the problem on a global basis.”

Maduro’s rival concert will take place on Saturday and Sunday, over the border from the one in Colombia organised by Branson, Venezuela’s Information Minister Jorge Rodríguez announced on Monday. In an apparent retort to the US aid project, Rodríguez announced that 20,000 boxes of food aid would be sent to Cúcuta.

Guaidó lambasted the move by Maduro’s Government to put on a rival concert, calling it “desperate”.

“They’re debating whether the aid should come in or not ... They don’t know what to do,” Guaidó said on Monday. “They’re now making up a concert. How many concerts are they going to stage?”

Since 2015, some three million Venezuelans have fled spiralling hyperinflation and widespread shortages of food and medicine, with almost 1.5 million staying in Colombia, according to Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Many refugees and migrants cross at the Simón Bolívar Bridge, the busiest of Colombia’s border crossings, just outside Cúcuta.

“Maduro says that Venezuela shouldn’t be begging for food,” said Rosa Álvarez, a Venezuelan migrant from Maracay who was queuing for a meal at a soup kitchen near the bridge. “But look at what we are having to do right now.”

A friend of hers quickly joined in.

“People are dying in our country,” said Misleidy Castaño, from Valencia in northern Venezuela. “I’m not interested in going to any concert, but it if it helps get aid into Venezuela, it can only be a good thing.” (The

Guardian)

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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

Implications for the financial economy after March 21

Dear Editor, The non-acceptance of the No-confidence Motion (NCM), particularly after March 21, 2019, can cultivate economic sanctions for Guyana along with elevated risk levels of compliance, sovereign risk ratings and further de-risking. Hence, the first level of impact will be on the banking sector which is the core segment of the financial system.

The banking sector can articulate a country’s economic progress as banks

play an important role in the mobilisation and allocation of financial resources within an economy.

Further, given the current outlook for Guyana given the Government’s myopic vision, global risk management teams attached to our local banking sector corresponding relationships will critically place more emphasis on enhance due diligence to rating scenarios correlated to “country risk rating”.

Additionally, this key rating consists of an exam-

ination of political factors and socio economic conditions that prevails within the country, inclusive of adherence to the constitutional laws of the country.

It therefore means that factoring this potential high risk at hand, corresponding banks can place a “freeze or stop “strategy on commercial banks in Guyana as they seek to mitigate their exposure. We must understand that these corresponding banks have a certain degree of limit tolerance for econ-

Irfaan Ali is no unknown Dear Editor, If a tree falls in the forest and GHK Lall didn’t hear it, did it make a sound? I ask in all sincerity for it would seem not. Irfaan Ali delivered the opening address at the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s National Stakeholders Conference on Saturday, February 16; over 150 representatives of various civil society organisations were in attendance, but not Lall, as he represents no one. The video of the speech was widely viewed and distributed on social media, but Lall missed that too. Hence, we are treated to a missive about a ‘phantom candidate’. It will be on television stations soon, but no doubt this will also be missed by Lall.

Donald Rumsfeld famously stated “Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things

we do not know”. I know that Lall knows nothing about ostriches from his letter where he observed that many Guyanese still like to bury their head in the sand in true ostrich like fashion; sadly, the myth of the ostrich burying their heads in sand has been debunked decades ago, except this fact is unknown to those who do not know enough to continuously seek knowledge.

Using a long disproved ‘fact’ to insinuate that others are stupid may well be the epitome of stupidity!

Editor, Irfaan Ali is no unknown; he held three vital ministerial portfolios and delivered massive change and innovation during his six years as a Government Minister. Irfaan Ali has a body of work that can be examined; policy writings, speeches and accomplishments. Irfaan Ali is a known known. Over the coming days, there will be an election date set and an official campaign launched, no doubt Irfaan Ali will make speeches, one can only hope he does not promise US$4 billion airports to commu-

nities when he does. At that point, direct comparisons can and will be made with the incumbent, David Granger, who has had three press conferences in four years, not a phantom; more a shadow of a tin soldier.

Editor, older persons like GHK Lall mean well and like to impress with knowledge of geopolitics, but alas, seems not to know that CNOOC which owns 25 per cent of the Stabroek Block is controlled by the State of China when he ignorantly speaks of sharing our production with our neighbour to keep the peace, balderdash! In the absence of ability to keep himself current with people, places and things like ‘facts’, I would suggest that Lall take his fictional writing to the Chronicle and/ or one of the seven publications that the directorate of public information puts out weekly. Uncle Eddies Fast Times perhaps?

Respectfully, Robin Singh

omies like Guyana where we have not made sustainable improvements on the corruption index, revamping of our legislation geared towards safer financial operational mode required in modern day business activities and most importantly, weak political governance.

Worse case, if a stop approach is determined then the implications will be significant as beyond what was experienced by some our local commercial banks in December 2016. This scenario can penetrate a “systematic risk” as banks and other financial money agents within Guyana would not be able to send or receive foreign currencies. As financial cross-border transac-

tions ceases; our financial system, industries and our people will feel the negative impact such as rising foreign exchange rates, deterioration of banks assets base, food and fuel shortages, limited assistance from donor agencies, pharmaceutical shortages and nonpayment for tuition fees to foreign universities, etc.

The fact is that this will be “hard times” as our people will say. More so, the international community and global regulators will look at us without any regard and empathy. Do we want this for ourselves, our country and an after effect which will require significant resources to turnaround? Can we afford this set back to our

economy given that we have a seismic emerging oil industry too at hand?

It is time! Yes, a time to act responsibly and respectfully by abiding with the Constitution coupled with taking a step back to fully understand the long-term detrimental effects this current action will have on international financial relationships, our economic activities and our people at most. To further highlight, compliance and international regulators has no infinite boundaries or alliances, thus no government of the day in any country in a modern financial world is their boss.

Yours sincerely, Concerned banker

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wednesday, february 20, 2019

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F

amily is the most important and valuable gift that god has given us. It is the first lesson in relationships with others. Family is really an important word. It means to feel secure, to have someone who you can count on, whom you can share your problems with. But it also means to have respect for each other and responsibility.

What family means to me is love and someone that will always be there for you through the good times and the bad. It is about encouragement, understanding, hope, comfort, advice, values, morals, ideals, and faith. These things are all important to me because it makes me feel secure and happy inside regardless of what is going on in my life.

This is one of the main reasons why the family is important in our life. Here in this article it is important to emphasise on the importance of family in our everyday life.

Utmost protection and security Family is important because it provides love, support and a framework of values to each of its members. Family members teach each other, serve one another and share life’s joys and sorrows. Families provide a setting for personal growth. Family is the single most important influence in a child’s life. From their first moments of life, children depend on parents and family to protect them and provide for their needs. Parents and family form a child’s first relationships.

Family provides all members with security, identity and values, regardless of age. When a member of the family feels insecure or unsafe, he turns to his family for help. He learns about his sense of self and gains a foundation for the rest of his life. This foundation includes the family’s values which provide the basis for his own moral code. Spending time with family shows individuals the value of love, appreciation and open communication.

Following family traditions showcases the importance of family, as well. Family traditions are experiences that families create together on a regular basis, whether these involve holidays, vacations or even attending religious services together. Not only do these experiences create memories for years to

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Foundation

come, they also give family members a stronger sense of belonging. Families bond together and make each member feel important.

First step of receiving basic values of life A family is the first school in which a child receives the basic values of life. He learns good manners in the family. The morals and values learnt in family become our guiding force. They make our character. They lay the foundation of our thinking. I feel fortunate to be born in a family where values are inculcated in early childhood. Family is an important and strongest unit of society. It holds great importance in social life. A society is made up of families. Our family has been known for discipline and values. We give great importance to values and morals in life.

Since our early childhood we are taught to respect the elders and love the children. We learnt the lesson of punctuality and honesty from our grandfather. It is due to the good education of our grandparents that we could excel both in sports and education. Since our childhood we have been put into the habit of rising early in the morning. This has a natural effect on our health and physical fitness.

Making a right choice in choosing the right life partner family values influences each walk of our life. It is high time that family values be protected and be treated as a tool to eliminate corruption, hunger, inequality, and crime and hatred in our society.

To shape a child’s future The family is your blood and they are the people who accept you for who you are, who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what. The family is one and only place where your life begins and love never end. You may have lots of people in your life, but you won’t find a single person who cares the most exactly same as your parents. Some of you may not agree with me, but this is the truth that one day you will realise this by your own. A family is the only place where children study a lot after school.

In school, teachers teach children about the subjects which will help them to find a good

job in future. But in the home, Family teaches children about habits, discipline which not only help them to find a job but also help them to live a perfect life in future.

So the family is very important for kids.

When babies come out from mother’s womb, they see their parents first and thereafter they spent most of the time with their family until go to school. During that three or four years is really important for babies to get to know some basic habits from parents, sisters or brothers. So on that period, they get to know many things from family. None of you going to teach bad habits for your baby, I believe. Parents have to be careful in actions in front of their babies because your baby learns habits and discipline from you only.

This is one of the main reasons why the family is important in our life. This is one of the great advantages of family and none of us ever realize this at any time. You may have lots of friends or relations or office mates.

They will definitely be with you in your happy times or any successful achievements. But, your parents or sisters or brothers are the only ones will stay with you in your hard and difficult times. Your parents are the only one who understands you much more than any other people do in the world. Because they are your creators and they are the only ones traveling with you from the beginning. So they understand your feelings and always there for you whenever you need someone abundantly. This is the power of family. There are many people can help you, but the family will help you whenever you are alone.

Helps building an ideal society A perfect family is a great example of the whole society. Father, mother, children all of them have to work in order to build a perfect family. If any one of them failed then the whole family collapsed. This happens very much nowadays. The good name of the whole family ruined by a single member of the family. That is really sad but nothing to do for that. But if every family member works hard and builds an optimal family, then they are a good example of that whole society.

Family impacts very much in society and

society impacts very much in the country. So an ideal country not only builds by the government but also each and every family member. So each family is the principal key to the society. This is why the family is important in our life.

Family values are a set of unwritten rules and codes that creates and helps build our perception, vision towards society and many things that we face in our day to day life. Strong family values can instil greater clarity in decision making regarding our life and leads to a relatively easier and more balanced life. Giving strong values as a parent not only protects a child but also create a civilised conscious citizen and help move society towards a more harmless tomorrow. Strong family values can help check all the moral and ethical corruption in various walks of life which otherwise ultimately contributes to inequality poverty crime and what not.

In today’s hard and fast world the most successful person are those who can take quick decisions about what they want from life. Family value that helps you distinguish what is morally correct and what suits your value system. Today the single largest task in hands of parents is protecting their children from outside influence which are majorly negative in nature. Injecting strong family values in child since childhood is one such measure that can ensure their safety in a time when direct supervision of child has become near impossible. (www.usapho.org.za)

By Julie Christensen

“The family is profoundly important to the developmental, emotional and cognitive growth of a child,” says Tamara Gold, a New York psychotherapist and parenting coach. “A child will learn about relationships, manners, self-esteem, worth and loyalty, all by watching and participating in family.”

Whew – this puts a lot of pressure on families to get it right, but don’t worry. You don’t have to be a super parent to raise emotionally healthy kids. Every parent makes mistakes, and so does every child.

Effective families learn from mistakes, work together and keep trying.

Values A child first learns about right and wrong in the family. Modern parents face many challenges in teaching values, says Dr Michael Osit, author Generation Text: Raising Well-Adjusted Kids in an Age of Instant Everything and a clinical psychologist in Warren, New Jersey.

“With children as young as three years old using the Internet, the access to the world is unprecedented in this generation. Children are bombarded with messages that are often inconsistent with the parents’ values and behavioural standards for their kids.” Committed and involved parents can strengthen a child’s desire to make good choices. Parents teach about values first by living those values.

Children learn much more from what you do than what you say.

Parents can also teach about values by sharing family stories, setting boundaries and serving others.

Consistency and security “Family life is where the child spends most of his or her learning time,” says Jennifer Little, an Oregon-based psychologist and teacher who works with learning-challenged students. “School counts, but home is more lasting over the years. It is where the closest relationships build and allow us to express ourselves (for good or ill).

This does not mean that ‘peace and harmony’ need to be constant.

Children need to learn about disagreements and how to handle conflict. The most important support parents can give their children is consistent structure to the daily routines of life. That structure and consistency gives the child security.”

Coping skills “Parents model how to handle emotions when they react to their own feelings,” says Heidi Smith Luedtke, a psychologist in northern Virginia and the author of Detachment Parenting: 33 Ways to Keep Your Cool When Kids Melt Down. She advises that “parents can teach kids about emotions by giving them specific emotion words to describe their feelings. Studies show that labelling feelings with words helps to decrease distress and makes it less likely that an angry person will act on his or her anger. Words help us make the shift from reacting to responding.”

Relationships “Families play an enormously important role in kids’ social and emotional development,” says Smith Luedtke. “In addition to being your child’s first teacher, as a parent, you are also his personal coping consultant.” Nurturing family relationships lay the foundation for all other relationships. Through these experiences, children learn to trust others and seek out friendship and comfort. These early lessons pave the way for satisfying personal relationships later. (www.smartbeginningsmhc.org)

7 Ministers campaigning on State resources in Region 9 news

wednESday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…beg for votes during outreach

T

he A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition is campaigning heavily on State resources; a blatant abuse of taxpayers’ money and a possible violation of the law.

What was labelled as ‘Government business’ turned out to be a massive elections campaign, when a large ministerial convoy ventured to Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) at the weekend.

Nineteen Ministers spent three days visiting various communities, making grand promises in exchange for votes.

At the community of Tiger Pond, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix made it clear that he was there simply to garner votes.

“You understand why it is important for us to come and convince you that you should vote for this coalition,” Minister Felix remarked.

He added: “If I wanted to go to church, I’d go to church in Georgetown. I wouldn’t come here for Sunday school.

While I wouldn’t mind worshipping with you, but I come here to ask for your vote, let’s understand that clearly. Vote coalition!”

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan recalled that only 39 residents voted for the APNU/AFC coali-

tion at the last General and Regional Election in 2015.

He urged that, this time around, more residents vote for the coalition.

“To the approximately 96 persons who did not support us on that occasion but rather cast their votes for the then Government, I’d like to ask you… to do the same this time, which is to give their support to the Government because this time around, we are the Government,” Minister Bulkan said.

The coalition Government has been accused by many, including Opposition members and independent political commentators, of using taxpayers’ money to fund its elections campaign.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon recently denied that these outreaches are part of the coalition’s elections campaign strategy. He insisted that it was strictly Government business.

But the outreach in Region Nine, which was branded ‘Government business’, shows that APNU/AFC is campaigning on State resources.

Both APNU and AFC, when they were in Opposition, strongly criticised the use of State resources for campaigning – a practice they are openly engaging in today.

The coalition has also been accused of forcing State

“…I come here to ask for your vote, let’s understand that clearly, vote coalition!”

– Minister Felix agencies, such as the Guyana Revenue Authority, to attend party sponsored events.

Only recently, outspoken Attorney Christopher Ram blasted the Government for misusing public money and reiterated the need for modern campaign financing laws which will prevent this kind of abuse from happening.

However, he noted that there are existing laws which can be enforced to penalise defaulters.

In Chapter 1:03 Part XIII of the Representation of the Peoples Act titled “Election Expenses”, a limit is placed on personal campaign expenses to GY$25,000 per candidate and a maximum sum of GY$50,000 multiplied by a maximum number of 53 from a total number of 65 candidates for each contesting political party. The Guyana exchange rate in 1990 was GY$45:US$1. It is presently GY$200: US$1.

And according to Section 120 (1) of the amended Act, following elections, political

parties’ election agents have 35 days in which to submit financial returns to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission, disclosing on behalf of candidates and their parties, all payments made by the party’s election agent, amounts of personal expenses paid by each candidate, all disputed and unpaid claims, all monies, securities, and those received for the conduct of the elections, the names of donors and contributors, among others.

However, since the enactment of these regulations

(Act 24 of 1990) they have neither been observed by contesting political parties nor enforced by the CEO.

Campaign financing

The Carter Center had recommended the implementation of campaign financing laws and even prior to that, the AFC was pushing for the implementation of the laws; however, after years in Government, the party and its coalition partner are yet to make a step in that direction.

In its final report on the 2011 General Election, the Carter Center said the need

to create legislation to cater for campaign financing was important and even reiterated that in its 2015 report.

Additionally, the report stated that Guyana’s legal framework for elections was silent in the area of registration and operation of political parties.

The passage of the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, triggered the holding of General and Regional Elections constitutionally due within 90 days, cutting short the coalition’s five-year term in office.

Unilateral GECOM Chair...

According to the Party, GECOM in its refusal to hold elections demonstrated its illogical willingness to toe the Government’s line.

In so doing, it has made the Constitution of Guyana subservient to the will of the Commission and this should not be the case.

GECOM’s mandate, as stipulated by the Constitution, clearly states in Article 162 (1) of the Constitution that: “The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament.”

Opposition Leader

Bharrat Jagdeo recently stated that President David Granger should announce a date for the hosting of elections.

“The Legislature has spoken. The Judiciary has spoken. The President, over the weekend, seems to believe that none of this matters.

And so we have to show him that we are serious about having him respect our Constitution,” Jagdeo stated.

Jagdeo had stated too, “GECOM has a moral and ethical responsibility to get elections done before March 19. What is before the Commission now is to come up with actions to ensure this. So, I don’t know where this thing about July is coming in. There is only

From page 3

one way that date can be extended. And Opposition and Government have to agree by a two-thirds majority.”

GECOM had given July as a timeline for the hosting of elections, but at the same time, it stated that the present voters’ list would expire on April 30.

Although the Opposition has been calling for elections within the constitutional time frame, the Government claimed that it was up to GECOM’s readiness to host same.

Since the passage of the no-confidence resolution, GECOM has been dragging its feet with respect to elections preparation. It has also been calling for houseto-house registration which could take months.

8 news

wednesday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Friends charged with Grove man’s murder

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wo men were on Tuesday charged with the murder of a Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man after an alleged triangular love affair turned deadly last Wednesday.

Heeman Gocool and Khemraj Persaud appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The prosecution is contending that both of the men murdered 53-year-old Rohan “Khanhai” Persaud, of Samantha Point, Grove, EBD. It is alleged that on

February 13, 2019, the duo stabbed Persaud to death.

They were remanded to prison and the case will continue on March 12.

Guyana Times had previously reported that the handyman was killed after an argument over one of them having an alleged affair with his reputed wife.

This publication was told that the man’s body was discovered at about 06:30h by residents who found him lying at the corner of the road.

According to Police reports, he was found with a gash on his abdomen. This newspaper understands

that at the time of the discovery, the man’s intestines were protruding through the wound.

His T-shirt was also rolled up around his neck while his back bore apparent marks of violence.

Reports reaching this publication also stated that one of the suspects of Grove Housing Scheme moved into the now dead man’s home after he had misunderstandings with his brothers.

However, while there, he reportedly started a relationship with Persaud’s reputed wife. According to a source close to the family,

this led to numerous arguments between Persaud and his reputed wife who subsequently moved out of the home. However, Persaud and the suspect along with other friends were in Grove at about 01:00h on February 13 when another argument ensued between the duo.

Persaud reportedly again accused the suspect of having sexual relations with his reputed wife and a scuffle ensued. It was reported that one of the suspects reportedly used a stingray (fish) bone and dealt Persaud one stab wound to his abdomen.

Taxi driver charged for raping 14-year-old girl

A

32-year-old taxi driver appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, charged for having sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.

It is alleged that Jowell Williams, of Eccles, East

Bank Demerara (EBD), between January 1, and February 15, 2019, while in the vicinity of Farm, EBD, engaged in sexual penetration of a child who is under the age of consent.

It is alleged that the 14-year-old was left in Williams’ care when the al-

leged rape occurred. Reports are the teen informed her parents of the incident and was taken to the Police station where a report was made. Williams was arrested and charged after a medical examination revealed the child was penetrated.

The taxi driver was re-

manded to prison and the case will continue on March 11.

Bartica resident remanded on attempted murder charge

A

29-year-old man of Lot 3079 Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) was slapped with an attempted murder charge and appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

John Wray is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Devon Sheppard on October 9, 2017 at Hollie Camp, Madewini, Essequibo, with intent to commit murder.

The prosecution’s case stated the men are known to each other and had a misunderstanding which escalated into a scuffle. The Police are contending that later in the evening, October 9, 2017, the accused who weeds yards for a living, reportedly saw Shepard and allegedly armed himself with a cutlass and attacked the Virtual Complainant.

Shepard was dealt several chops to his head and other parts of his body. He was picked up by public spirited persons and rushed for medical assistance. The prosecution’s case contended that Wray fled the scene and went into hiding.

He was spotted by the VC on February 16, 2019, who alerted the Police which led to his arrest.

In court on Tuesday, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield opposed bail on the grounds of the serious nature of the offence and the penalty that the charge attracts. The prosecutor also informed the court that Wray deliberately avoiding apprehension by the Police.

The prosecution’s submissions were upheld and the 29-year-old man was remanded to prison. The case will continue on February 28 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Mash…

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…dem down he theme for this year’s Mashramani is “Celebrate 49 with victory in Mind”. Now your Eyewitness would like SOMEBODY to tell him that this theme wasn’t selected by the PNC-led Government with the elections – precipitated by the No-confidence Motion (NCM) – in mind!! For a Government that insists the NCM’s ‘of no effect”, you know they’re just whistling Dixie when you consider all the campaign activities – outside of Mash – they’ve launched.

You already know about the second invasion of the Rupununi last weekend by NINETEEN Ministers – out of a Cabinet…oops! – PLENARY of 27, complete with their fawning entourages!! The poor residents had never seen so many coastlanders at any one time in their territory, much less Government officials!! But in the face of all the giveaways and promises to deliver the moon and stars, the PNC insist they aren’t campaigning!! If that were so, imagine what’ll happen when they REALLY start to campaign!!

Well, Mash 2019, which is Saturday, will give you an idea. Talk about “bread and circus”!! The PNC will be pulling out all the stops as they pander to the notion that becoming a Republic is all about “wining and grinding”.

We all heard about the origins of the festival in Linden back in 1970 and all it has become is a cheap version of the carnival of Trinidad. Celebrating after a hard day’s work!! Ha!! The Trinis’ Carnival is redolent with THEIR heritage – starting with the French planters who brought it from Haiti and were escaping from the revolution of Toussaint L’Overture. But this isn’t OUR Republican heritage, is it?

Mashramani is supposed to use symbolism to bring into the minds of the people the sacrifice of our peoples to make Guyana become completely free of the colonial power. And the sacrifice it would take in the years ahead to realise the potential in our six peoples. We start with the revolt of Cuffy in Berbice back in 1763, who against all odds took over the entire Dutch Colony and declared it free – even if for a glorious moment!

Do these philistines in Government think that valiant act of liberation was achieved by “wining and grinding”?

At each age of our struggle, brave men and women had to have their blood spilled into our soil from the beheadings after the Revolt of 1823 to the “leaden argument” of the rulers – as so stated after the massacre at Devonshire Castle in 1872. This continued with the Cent Bread riots of 1856 and Georgetown 1905 – all the way to the killings at Leonora of 1939 and Enmore of 1948.

But this PNC wants to keep us in mental slavery to “wine and grind”! …down democracy Your Eyewitness is bemused – NOT amused – by the outrageous efforts by the PNC-led Government to again make us into a Banana Republic for which Latin America is famous. British colonialism had insisted our political class in the Caribbean imbibe Liberal Democracy before they could take over the reins of government. And for the most part we did….just look at Trinidad, Barbados and the rest of the “British Caribbean”.

The one that broke the mould was Guyana under Burnham and his PNC from 1968 to 1992. Out of the window went individual rights and the right to dissent – not even that most sacrosanct of democratic spaces – the voting booth. Our ballots were snatched and counted by the Army at their headquarters – even as that Army was ordered to march through the villages dominated by the PPP Opposition to intimidate them into terror.

Burnham strutted around in a 4-star General’s uniform as he saluted officers who’d just swore fealty to him.

And that’s what his 2-star successor (Brigadier) is consummating right now!! …GECOM Constitutionally, elections should be held on March 19, which should be OK since the list is certified till April. So why should the PNC be rewarded by extending the date when their foot dragging is making the list obsolete?

Stand firm, PPP!!

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

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wednESday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Kwakwani residents Govt, RUSAL split over recognition of Bauxite Union block access road Firing of striking workers

…as bauxite company defends firing striking workers

RUSAL officials: In foreground is former Chief Labour Officer Mohamed Akeel, followed by RUSAL’s representative (right) and another official

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ussian bauxite company RUSAL is maintaining its contention that it does not recognise the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), something the Government’s Labour Department is rebuffing.

The matter came up at the Social Protection Ministry on Tuesday where RUSAL officials met with the Labour Department. Afterwards, the RUSAL representative was asked about the relationship between his company and the Union.

The GB&GWU has complained about the company’s refusal to negotiate with the Union. This is despite winning a recognition poll in 2017 involving bauxite workers by an overwhelming majority as the preferred representative of workers in the sector.

“We have no relation with this union,” the Russian company’s representative said.

“It happened before I came to Guyana to work … it was an alternative poll. This poll took place on October 3, 2017. It was won by Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union.

“Only a few weeks after, we got information that the judge in (a case decided) this board was constituted with some breaches and could be considered illegal. It meant former worker was considered by de-

cision of judge illegal. I think many people knew the board was illegal. But nobody said to us such a (poll) could be considered nil and void.”

This is a reference to the judgement issued in the case of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) versus the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

FITUG General Secretary Carvil Duncan had claimed that TURCB unilaterally appointed a chairman in 2015 without consulting them, and only recognised the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC).

In the written judgment issued by the High Court on November 8, 2017, it said FITUG was not consulted prior to the appointment of a chair in 2015. This was found to be in violation of the Trade Union Recognition Act, especially as it relates to the selection of a chairman of the organisation.

Recognised

When asked, however, Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle maintained that the GB&GWU by virtue of winning that poll should be the duly-recognised representative of the bauxite workers.

This is, after all, the approach

the Ministry has adopted.

“They (RUSAL) can’t say that. A poll was done there.

The Union is the recognised union; there’s no doubt about that. The GB&GWU is the recognised union. They did a poll and the Union won that poll.”

The poll came against the backdrop of eight years of refusal by the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), RUSAL’s local subsidiary, to treat with the GB&GWU. This Union has been crusading against the transgressing of workers’ constitutional right to Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining (Article 147), and the violation of Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act (1997) in the domestic and international communities.

The GB&GWU, as a result of the poll, had renewed calls for the BCGI to honour the laws of Guyana and treat with the Union according to said laws, failing to do otherwise would constitute a breach of the law and be continued high-handedness and disrespect shown by management for the sovereignty of Guyana and the workers of Guyana.

The GB&GWU said too it called on the coalition Government, with authority vested by way of recognition, to cause the BCGI to respect the will and rights of these workers. Back then, the Union had warned that after any failure to do so, Government could not absolve itself from taking responsibility in siding with foreign forces to undermine this nation’s integrity and sovereignty.

Company defends decision

Meanwhile, the company’s managers have defended the firing of 60 of its employees, saying that the workers’ contracts do not cater for them taking industrial action.

When asked, RUSAL’s representative said that workers sign contracts which stipulate they could be dismissed if they down tools. According to the official, firing workers for breaching their contracts by

Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle

striking is a ‘usual practice’ in the mining sector.

The fate of the 60 workers who were dismissed remains in limbo, as the RUSAL representative noted that their re-employment depended on a number of factors. According to RUSAL’s representative, the company has already tried to get the striking workers to resume work by reaching out to them, with only one success story.

RUSAL’s representative was also asked about RUSAL’s reluctance to pay more than one per cent increases. This is believed to have directly led to the strike. The official said that for some time RUSAL has not been making a profit, but rather breaking even.

Meanwhile, Chief Labour Officer Ogle was very guarded when asked by the media about the meeting and the way forward. However, he revealed that more meetings will have to be held, including one tentatively scheduled for tomorrow with Russia-based RUSAL officials who are flying in to Guyana. He also revealed that Government would put two proposals to RUSAL on the way forward.

The striking workers were fired last week after they downed tools and protested an arbitrary one per cent salary increase. The workers said that they were told that the one per cent was sanctioned by the Government itself.

Residents of Kwakwani, Region 10 on Tuesday blocked the main entrance to Aroaima

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esidents of Kwakwani, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) in disagreement with the dismissal of over 60 striking employees attached to the Russian Aluminium company, Rusal, on Tuesday blocked the access road in the community, which leads to the company located at Aroaima.

Information reaching Guyana Times indicates the residents and workers are dissatisfied with the outcome of meetings between the company’s officials and the Labour Department. On Tuesday, materials such as old tires and pieces of wood were placed across the roadway, as residents formed a human barricade.

One resident told this publication that this was done to prevent other employees, including senior management, from getting to work by bus in an effort to have a major shutdown of the company.

The residents have made calls for the community to stand firm in solidarity with the workers, noting that households and businesses will be affected as a result of the employees’ dismissal.

Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph noted that the affected employees feel discriminated against. He said other employees fear victimisation, with some remaining on the job for fear of being dismissed. He also refuted claims

that the company is operating at a loss, saying that the entity recently scaled up its equipment-base to include larger barges and trucks and has scaled up production as a result.

Meanwhile Police Commander of E Division (Linden-Kwakwani), Linden Lord noted that a 15-man Police team was dispatched to the community later on Tuesday to bring calm to the situation.

Over 100 residents were said to have blocked off an area known as Station One, which is the main entry and exit to the Rusal company.

Police Commander Lord noted that apart from the road, residents also blocked the river path leading to the company.

Calls

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman Adolph later joined calls for Government to intervene in the plight of over 60 workers attached to the Russian company, in light of their alleged dismissal over protests against a one per cent increase.

Adolph in an interview with this publication on Monday noted that the increase granted by the company is a “gross insult” to the workers and is “totally unacceptable.”

Turn to page 10

10 news

wednESday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Failed execution attempt suspects remanded …alleged mastermind released on station bail

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wo men, who allegedly failed in their attempt to kill a Chinese businessman in Corriverton, were refused bail when they appeared at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court on

Tuesday.

Sheldon Adams of Lodge, Georgetown; and Delwin December, of Work-en-Rust, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore and denied they unlaw-

fully wounding Jili Sun at Springlands, Berbice, on February 14.

Sun was hit in the face with a hammer when the suspects allegedly attacked him at his business premises. The

two were also jointly charged with larceny from the person.

It is alleged that on the same day and at the same time, they stole one cellular phone worth $100,000 from Chan Xai Wang.

Sheldon Adams

Delwin December

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Orin Joseph in his submissions told the court that a medical certificate shows Sun suffered a fractured skull and other injuries.

He objected to bail on the grounds that the Police are in possession of statements – both written and recorded – from both accused, confessing to the offences.

Prosecutor Joseph informed the court that Adams was apprehended in a car and there was what appeared to be blood on the front passenger seat. He also informed the court that when December was arrested, there was what appeared to be blood on his shoe.

He said Police and civilians placed both accused at the scene. Further, he noted that by the utterances of the accused saying they had an altercation with the victim, placed them at the scene.

He said Sun was still in medical danger.

However, Adams in a bail application on his own behalf told the court that the caution statement has nothing to do with the charges before the court but rather an altercation with the Chinese national.

Magistrate Moore remanded the duo to prison.

The case will continue on April 8 at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

This newspaper had previously reported that the two men had allegedly hit the businessman in his face with a hammer in what was believed to be a robbery attempt at Skeldon. They later reportedly confessed that it was a case of being hired to kill the businessman.

On Thursday last, the duo

allegedly drove up in a heavily tinted Toyota Premio motorcar and entered the window-making factory. Guyana Times was told that the men allegedly walked up to the businessman and reportedly hit him to the face with a hammer.

According to reports, the men were seen rushing out of the building and hurriedly entering the waiting car before it sped away. The businessman was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where he was admitted.

Meanwhile, based on the description of the vehicle and the licence plate given to Police by persons in the area, a car was intercepted at a roadblock on the Corentyne.

According to Police, only the driver was in the vehicle and his address was given as Lodge, Georgetown.

However, at Number 50 Village, Police arrested another man who could not give a reasonable explanation for being in Berbice. He is from Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

On Friday, a Police source informed this publication that both men confessed that they were reportedly promised to be paid by a Corriverton businessman to kill the Chinese businessman.

It had also been reported that the Police were able to arrest the businessman.

However, on Tuesday, senior Police sources in the division have expressed disappointment over what they call external interference after they were allegedly ordered to release the businessman on station bail.

Reports are the businessman allegedly owes the Chinese businessman some $4 million for windows he had credited.

Kwakwani residents...

From page 9

FITUG

Meanwhile, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) also expressed its concern over the situation in a statement on Tuesday. According to the Union, the workers are within their rights to demand better pay and working conditions “The FITUG sees the high-handed approach by the BCGI as grossly disrespectful to our workers, our laws, and all Guyanese. The actions

by BCGI are reminiscent of a similar act by another foreign-owned enterprise – Demerara Timbers Limited.

That company in 2016 chose a similar route apparently to punish workers for taking part in a protest to demand improvements. The matter which reached the High

Court came to an end when that company opted to settle the matter obviously recognising that it was in the breach.”

FITUG made it clear that the right to collective bargaining and union representation was “won by the struggles of past generations of Guyanese and have now become a proud feature of life in Guyana. The naked and clear disrespect to these hard-fought rights cannot be condoned in any way, shape or form.”

It went on to call on the Department of Labour, and the Government of Guyana, to resolve the situation and ensure that the workers’ rights are respected. FITUG also extended its solidarity with the workers, their families and their union.

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wednESday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPF hosts community outreaches

D Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper interacts with one of the vendors at the Leonora Market, West Coast Demerara

G Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Khali Pareshram and team during the meeting held at Lima Sands, Region Two

Commander of A Division, Assistant Commissioner Marlon Chapman along with his team as they visited several locations in Georgetown

enior officials of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in their respective divisions, on February 16 and 18 toured several locations in their districts with the purpose of listening and addressing issues raised by citizens.

The first visit was hosted at Leonora and Zeeburg

areas of the community and the markets places.

Commander of A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara), Assistant Commissioner Marlon Chapman along with his team of other senior Police officials visited several locations in Greater Georgetown, including

Pareshram and his team of law-enforcement personnel.

During the meetings held at several locations, residents over-all called was for an increase in security measures, such as the increased presence of plain clothes Police ranks and patrols.

They also raised concerns on noise nuisance, resus-

S

markets by D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) Commander, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper and his administrative team. During the outreach, several residents and business owners voiced their concerns for the need for more security, such as regular patrols in various

Cross and Leopold Streets, Hadfield Street, Brickdam, Croal and Avenue of the Republic, during which similar concerns were raised.

The final visit was at Lima Sands, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). The outreach was conducted by ‘G’ Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Khali

citation of the Community Policing Group and regularisation of the areas so that the roads can be gazetted.

Persons within these locations were assured by the Commanders that regular outreaches will be done to address the matters so as to ensure citizens feel safe in their communities.

Supply Health Centre’s construction to be re-advertised – REO ue for money and the contractor. A few months ago, an investigation was ordered into the issue by Regional Chairperson Genevieve Allen.

The move was sparked after Councillors on the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) recommended sanctions against the contractor.

Supply Health Centre

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he termination of a contract between the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) administration and contractor Navin and Sons, for the construction of a new health centre at Supply, East Bank Demerara, has left officials with no other choice than to have the project retendered at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

This was on Tuesday related to Guyana by the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Pauline Lucas at the sidelines of a handing-over ceremony.

Last year, the contractors were ordered to halt construction of the Health Centre after major building flaws were discovered.

In this regard, the REO

said that the project would have to be retendered and was likely to be advertised by next week.

“We have already prepared the bid documents, so it should be advertised shortly,” she explained.

In December 2018, Lucas revealed that the contract between the two parties had been terminated as a result of the shoddy works. She stressed that the decision to terminate the contract was based on recommendations made by the senior engineer for the Region and the Auditor General’s Office, both of whom conducted tests on the works done. Both tests lead to similar findings.

The Supply Health Centre has for some time been at the heart of a struggle between regional officials seeking val-

According to a report that was submitted by the Clerk of Works, the contractor had failed to comply with a number of requirements for the project.

Among the requirements reportedly ignored by the contractor was one for the complete removal of tree roots

and debris from the site.

Regional officials have complained that contrary to the specifications of the project, the casting of the Health Centre’s flooring was found to have been done without removing a major tree stump. Lucas had previously expressed concern that

this raised serious questions about the strength and quality of the building.

The contractor was ordered by the Clerk of Works to not proceed with casting the foundation of the Health Centre. This cease work order was reportedly ignored.

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wednesday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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wednesday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

300 rape kits donated GWI disconnects water from several schools in Region 6 to Region 4

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he investigation of rape cases are likely to significantly improve with the donation of 300 rape kits to the country’s most populated region; Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

The rape kits, which were donated to Region Four on Tuesday by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will aid in taking samples from the victim to locate and identify the perpetrator.

During a brief handing over ceremony hosted at UNICEF’s Brickdam Georgetown location, the Regional Health Officer, Dr Quincy Jones explained that the kits are fully equipped with the tools needed to collect samples from under finger nails and even other private parts.

The samples, he said, will be collected by the Police who will conduct further investigations to locate and identify the perpetrators of the act.

The kit will also aid in testing for HIV and pregnancy in rape victims, but is suggested to be used within 24 to 72 hours after the act, as evidence can be washed away.

The kits will be housed at medical centres across the region and can be accessed by victims, although the investigations will be conducted by Police officers.

“One of the mandates as a Regional Health Officer, we have, is to provide quality services to all citizens and visitors of Region Four and we need to provide adequate health care to those who would have been victims of sexual assault and essential to this is collecting the necessary evidence which is a timely thing because if you

everal schools in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) have been disconnected for nonpayment of water bills.

Among the schools disconnected is the region’s premier secondary institution, New Amsterdam Multilateral School.

Guyana Times was told on Tuesday that the move by the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) was taken in an effort to collect in excess of $61 million owed to the water company.

This publication understands that the regional administration has failed to pay water bills for all Government buildings in the region for

UNICEF Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet (centre) hands over a rape kit to Region Four’s Regional Executive Officer, Pauline Lucas and Regional Health Officer, Dr Quincy Jones

don’t collect the evidence within a crucial window period which is roughly between 24 hours to 72 hours, you could lose a lot of evidence,” Dr Jones explained.

UNICEF Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet told the media that the kits will work along with the Sexual Offences Act of 2017 to provide justice to rape victims.

According to her, “it’s a supply need that we heard from the partners (regional executives) and it’s for us to really jumpstart to kick off some clear action on the ground in addition to working with the Sexual Offenses Act and its part also of the National Plan of Action that we have in the context of the Sexual Offences Act.” Fouet added that she was pleased with the partnership which will hopefully be of good effect to the region, especially since, “it’s really to prevent and respond in this case to the sex-

ual offence and in particular sexual violence.”

Regional Executive Officer Pauline Lucas said the donation was quite timely and thanked the organisation as it was pointed out that the country has about 400 rape victims per year.

She added that Region Four has the responsibility of most times providing health care to visitors and the donation will ensure that justice can be served to all people.

Prior to the donation, Dr Jones pointed out that a crucial need had always existed, especially as technology continues to advance in relation to forensic science.

During the last quarter of 2018, Police statistics proved that rape cases have increased.

Top Cop Leslie James told the media that rape cases had increased by seven per cent, with 202 cases reported in 2018 compared to 189 cases in 2017.

three years. These buildings include schools, hospitals, health centres and all other Government buildings which fall under the remit of the regional administration.

This newspaper understands that GWI contacted regional officials on Tuesday

and informed them of the bill and plans to disconnect the water supply to buildings.

However, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kim Stephens is quoted as saying, “They cannot do that.”

Several schools in the region had their water supply disconnected after the administration was at the time not forthcoming with any favourable resolution.

The regional office in New Amsterdam owes GWI in excess of $3 million for water supplied over the past three years. Efforts to contact GWI for a comment on the issue proved futile. (Andrew Carmichael)

14 news GCAA launches probe into plane crash on WBD wednESday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Senior Police ranks alongside Mark Grimmond at the hospital on Tuesday

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ollowing the crash-landing of a Cessna 182 aircraft

bearing registration number N8704T that is owned and operated by Guyana

Adventist Medical Aviation Services (GAMAS) on Monday evening, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the incident.

The crash has left Policeman Mark Grimmond with multiple fractures to his face and lacerations about the body while the pilot, Lincoln Gomez, suffered a broken jaw and other bodily injuries. Gomez is a patient at Georgetown Public Hospital, while Grimond has been admitted to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital.

Reports are the two were transporting the body of the Director of Kaikan Bible School, Christopher

Injured Pilot: Lincoln Gomez

Matthews, who died on Monday after falling off a mountain at Arau in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The aircraft depart-

ed the interior location at 17:06h and was heading to the Eugene F Correia International Airport when the pilot made a “mayday” call to the Timehri Control Tower reporting a fuel emergency at about 18:45h.

However, the aircraft, according to the GCAA, went down shortly after that and the Police rank telephoned and reported that both him and the pilot were injured, but could not confirm their location.

The Aeronautical Search and Rescue Coordination Centre at Timehri was activated with assistance from the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, the Civil Defence Commission,

GCAA, Guyana Fire Service and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority.

The crash site was identified by a reconnaissance flight conducted by a Roraima Airways aircraft and as a result, Captain Gomez firing one of his distress flares from his location.

“The first responder team from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) landed as close as possible to the crash site.

Due to the conditions of the terrain, the rescue team had to trek for more than an hour cutting through thick vegetation to reach the crash site from the landing zone’, the GCAA said on Tuesday. continued on page 15

news

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wednesday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Belle Vue farmers, businessman The US$4B Lethem face off over land dispute airport promise was not a mistake, it was a deliberate lie

I

n 2014, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), then in the Opposition, voted down the budget for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the upgrading and construction of dozens of interior airstrips, the Amerindian Development Fund and the Amaila Hydroelectricity Project. In 2012, 2013, they did the same, voting down budgetary allocations for various critical infrastructural Dr Leslie Ramsammy development projects. The people of Guyana and, particularly, the Amerindian people, were collateral damage as APNU and the AFC combined to suffocate the People’s Progressive Party’s development and transformative trajectory.

In almost four years in Government, APNU/AFC has particularly been cruel to the Amerindian people. Immediately in 2015, they terminated the contract for more than 2000 young Amerindian Community Development Officers. Since May 2015 to now, no further land title has been issued to Amerindian communities. Jobs and development have stagnated in Amerindian communities. School feeding programmes, the $10,000 per child school programme, the availability of medicines and many other entitlement programmes have been terminated or restricted. The road between Linden and Lethem has become a deathtrap. Every single promise they made to the Amerindian communities was broken. They lied to the people before May 2015, promising them a better life, they continue their wanton lies today, even as people everywhere in Guyana struggle.

Faced with an impending early election, APNU/AFC is not only wantonly lying to the people right now, it is not only lying recklessly, it is insulting the intelligence of ordinary citizens.

President Granger and 19 of his Cabinet Ministers went and visited 22 Amerindian Villages in Region 9 this past weekend, claiming it is a government practice to visit the people. For almost four years, this is the first such visit and attention given to the Amerindian people by this Government. During the visit, a number of promises were made to the Amerindian people, with total disregard to the lies they told before they were elected and not recognising they were insulting the intelligence of people.

The Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, told the Amerindian community and the residents of Lethem that APNU/AFC planned on investing US$4 billion (GY$850 billion) in building the Lethem Airstrip into an international airport.

This fantastic sum is more than four times the total annual budget of Guyana, the entire 2019 Budget being about GY$200 billion. I read this announcement with total disbelief, since the transformation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport cost about US$150 million, less than three per cent of the cost Patterson proposed for the Lethem Airport. His announcement was boldly enshrined into the headline of the Sunday Chronicle and widely communicated on social media by the Department of Public Information. One of Minister Patterson’s colleagues, the Business Minister, one of the few who did not travel to Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), claimed it might have been a mistake and, maybe, the Infrastructure Minister meant $4 billion and not US$4 billion. At that point, one knew already that Patterson lied because for such a large project, Cabinet must have approved it and yet Minister Gaskin was left to guess, hearing it for the first time.

At least 48 hours later, the announcement still stood as a headline in the Sunday Chronicle and was still aggressively disseminated across social media by the Department of Public Information. I waited to hear if the Infrastructure Minister, the Chronicle and the Department of Public Information will correct the statement. But 48 hours elapsed and no correction.

Eventually, the incredulity and absurdity of the promise forced the Government to mutter a timid correction that the real promise is to spend US$4 million to just upgrade the Lethem airstrip. It was such a low-keyed downgrading of the promise that to this day, several days after, most people have not seen or heard the denial. Clearly, it was another wild, false promise; promising heaven on earth to Lethem and Region Nine.

Minister Patterson and his APNU/AFC colleagues believe wild promises are a viable substitute for a real development programme. People know APNU/AFC is good for promises, but are clueless when it comes to development. APNU/AFC is living in “la la land”, refusing to recognise that the Guyanese people know their lies and their wild promises. APNU/AFC lied when they promised public servants, teachers and sugar workers a 20 per cent annual increase in wages and salaries, never to close a sugar factory, to give rice farmers $9000 per bag of paddy, to reduce VAT to under 12 per cent, give jobs to all UG graduates within their first 12 months in Government, constitutional reforms within 100 days, to end corruption. As election approaches, the lies will become more fantastic and the promises more wild. Buckle up.

The fences erected that are at the seat of contention

as their original contracts disallowed them from doing so. They indicated that after President David Granger granted the approval, they opted to begin planting in 2017. However, according to the Belle Vue farmers, they are being bullied for the land.

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene on Sunday, a fence with barbed wire was seen along a section adjacent to the Belle Vue Public Road. Further checks revealed that there were also further partitions along other sections, inFarmer Francis Ferreira cluding one blocking the entrance on a reserved space warm and quiet for a dam along which maSunday afternoon was chines could be driven to ignited after Police clean waterways. were called to the Belle Vue, According to some of the West Bank Demerara area aggrieved men, the fences after a popular business- were erected last week, and man and several farmers of they could not freely access the Belle Vue Co-op Society their farmlands. They said faced off over a farming land also that the businessman dispute. The farmers con- allowed cows to graze in the tended that they, and their crops which would hinder a predecessors, have cultivat- return on investment. ed cane from 1956 to 2016 Young farmer Satesh under a co-operative ar- Rajpat, whose great-grandrangement following an ini- parents were among the tial Bookers contract. original farmers in the Belle However, when the Vue Pilot Scheme, told this Wales Sugar Estate ceased newspaper that the inner operations by the end of fence is blocking persons 2016, the farmers petitioned from their farmland in the Government to be allowed second field. He added that to cultivate diversified crops his cassavas and ochro p l a n t s , among others, were damaged owing to drainage works allegedly carried out by the businessman. “ T o plough this place alone cost me $200,000 to pay people and for diesel for my tractor,” the farmer explained.

Police had to be called in to quell tensions He also

observed that several of his pineapple plants were damaged owing to an excavator that was allegedly driven across his field.

Fellow cash crop farmer, Lloyd Millington highlighted the struggle to move on to other crops and is hopeful for the authorities to intervene so that his plantains and other crops are preserved.

Another veteran farmer, Francis Ferreira, who cul-

Keith Scott and Government officials to have meetings with them to settle the issue. Efforts to contact the Minister by this newspaper did not yield success.

However, the farmers went on the state that last week the businessman was told not to destroy crops which include saime, pumpkin, carilla, cassava, and corn.

“Since Wales Estate stop producing sugar at this fac-

A

The aggrieved Belle Vue farmers during the face off on Sunday

tivates corn, was also present at Sunday’s standoff. He told Guyana Times that following a previous dispute since 2009, he was provided with Cabinet minutes from 2010 minutes which allowed some of the displaced farmers to be reinstated to their land.

During the standoff, Police arrived stating they were present to ensure law and order was maintained.

The Station Sergeant at Wales Police Station, who was passing at the time, was stopped and informed of the tensions that had escalated. Guyana Times understands both sides have been making reports to Police, with the businessman accusing the famers of employing measures to startle and chase his cows.

The farmers in a missive called on Minister with responsibility for Labour,

GCAA launches probe...

After several hours, the rescue team recovered the injured pilot and the Policeman, and after stabilising them, returned to the landing zone for evacuation with the Bell 206 helicopter. The injured men were flown to Base Camp Ayanganna and subse-

quently transported to the hospitals.

However, the body of Matthews could not be removed from the site during the first extraction due to constraints of terrain and weight. His body was flown out of the site on Tuesday.

The investigations are

tory, our members have been meeting regularly and we decided to go into other crop farming. Since 2017, over 40 of our 55 members in our coop society have been doing other crop farming within four fields of our cultivation in phase one. Now we are ready to do phase two, that is to clean the other fields and do permanent crops, animals, chicken rearing, fish farm… but now we are being prevented from implementing our phase two… we need help and protection now,” the farmers outlined.

The closure of the Wales Sugar Estate was seen a multiplicity off spin-off effects affecting not only workers and their families but farmers and those operating in the market area. The newspaper did not garner success in reaching Deodat Deokenandan on Monday.

from page 14

being led by the Guyana Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Unit which has committed to examining all possible factors that could have contributed to the accident.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Welfare Officer,

Deputy Superintendent Jewel Sullivan along with Public Relations Officer (PRO) Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan; his deputy, Cadet Officer Ike Grandison; and other members of the Guyana Police Force visited Constable Grimmond.

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wednesday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

News

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wednesday, february 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

‘Montrose Granny’ murder trial commences Trial of Muslim scholar accused

Murdered: Danrasie Ganesh

C

olin Allen, also known as “Colis Williams” and referred to as “Bonus”, on Tuesday denied killing 77-year-old Montrose, East Coast Demerara grandmother, Danrasie Ganesh, as the trial began at the High Court before Justice Navindra Singh. The first of several witnesses testified, including relatives who recounted how the home had to be broken into to retrieve the woman’s body.

Ganesh, called “Carmen” was murdered on August 1, 2015, at a home she was caretaking but three and half years later, the alleged killer, Collin Allen, indicated he is an innocent man by way of pleading not guilty when the State prosecution presented the murder indictment. As such, a 12-member jury was empanelled to hear the case. Some 10 witnesses are expected to testify during the trial.

The dead woman’s son Mokesh Ganesh and daughter

Basmattie Ganesh recalled seeing their elderly’s mother’s battered body after worried neighbours did not hear a response from the woman that morning after calling out to her. Mokesh testified that after he saw the body, the Police came with ranks and reviewed video footage of the woman’s murder.

He recalled that on August 2, 2015, the following day, he was in his hammock and he saw someone peeping and he said it was the same person he saw in video. The male escaped on bicycle but Mokesh testified said he saw him for 12 seconds from four feet away. Further, he chased the person but did not see him and he went to the Police with this information, the jury heard. The person whom he said he saw was identified in court as the defendant.

He, along with his sister, said the defendant on August 22, 2019 gave investigators a detailed account of what transpired on that fateful day at the home where their mother resided. However, Allen’s lawyer, Rachael Bakker argues this was a fabrication crafted by Police and told to the Ganesh’s for them to say in court.

Both witnesses denied this suggestion and former Inspector Cedric Gravesande maintained he was there when this was carried out, though he says there was no footage of this event.

Basmattie Ganesh recalled her frantic attempts to get the door open when they arrived on the scene. The bent key was still

of abusing 9 boys for March 7

T Accused: Colin Allen

in the padlock, the jury heard.

Basmattie, who broke down in tears several times while testifying, said she resided about a street away from her mother who lived alone.

Inspector Cedric Gravesande later confirmed the murder being caught on video cameras which reportedly shows the accused striking Ganesh to her head with a metal object before dragging her to a corner where the woman collapsed. Gravesande also recalled the defendant telling him under caution that he first went into the home, retrieved some documents and gave it to someone who was waiting in a Toyota Spacio motorcar. Under cross-examination, the former Policeman said he never checked who the car belonged to.

It was after he returned to the house that Allen allegedly murdered the elderly woman.

Attorneys Tuanna Hardy, Abigail Gibbs and Teriq Mohammed are prosecuting the matter which continues today.

he Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Tuesday confirmed that the trial of Muslim scholar, Nezaam Ali, who was accused of sexual molesting nine boys between 2011 and 2012 will be heard on March 7, before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court. The defendant appeared before Justice Singh but his lawyer, Stanley Moore, requested a deferred date for the commencement of trial.

He is expected to be formally indicted on nine counts for the offence of sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust, with an alternative count of rape of a child under 16 years. The State indicated that all of its witnesses in the matter were present in court on Tuesday. The matter is listed for trial but could not be heard by Sexual Offences Court Judge, Jo-Ann Barlow due to her tenure as former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions as she would have been familiar with the case.

The DPP’s announcement follows concerns that the mother of three of the boys who were allegedly molested is being offered some $8 million by an Islamic organisation to have the matter settled. Ali, of Lot 268 Section C 5 South Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, was charged back in 2012 with raping the nine boys.

The charges alleged that between December 2011 and January, 2012, Ali, being a teacher attached to the Turkeyen Masjid, had engaged in sexual activity with the children, abusing a position of trust.

However, after being committed to stand trial in 2013, the matter was

Accused: Nezaam Ali

stalled for some time after birth certificates and medicals for the boys had gone missing from each of the nine files.

The parents and relatives of some of the alleged victims had publicly expressed their frustration at the situation in the past. One parent has even claimed that there has been a deliberate attempt to drag the matter out. In 2017, however, there was a turn of events when the DPP’s Chambers in a letter had ordered that the case be reopened. He was later re-committed to stand trial at the Demerara Assizes in 2018.

The mother of three of the alleged rape victims had told sections of the media that persons had been taking photographs of her sons and she regarded this act as bullying. Shortly after his previous committal, Ali’s then lawyer, Nigel Hughes, had filed in the High Court an action to have the committal overturned. This was rejected by the court and it was ruled that the committal would remain.

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wednesday, february 20, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

dilbert

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Don’t lose sight of your target. If you put everything you’ve got into reaching your goal, the rewards will prove to be worthwhile.

Plan to celebrate your victory with a loved one.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Emotional matters will surface if you or someone close to you isn’t truthful or tries to skirt important issues. Keep things in perspective and stick to details and facts.

CANCER

Trust and believe in your ability. Take the lead and make your voice heard. You can bring about change that will improve your life and important relationships.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

WORD GAME

Take care of responsibilities personally. If you trust someone to handle your affairs, you will be disappointed. Gather information and avoid making a mistake.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

Put more time and effort into personal improvements. Spend less and do more. Concentrate on better health and less excess. Joint ventures will not offer the results you are hoping for.

Listen to what others have to say, but act on principle, facts and truth.

Follow your instincts and be straightforward about your intentions and feelings.

Keep personal matters a secret. If you listen to others’ complaints, it will provide insight into the incentives you can offer to help you get what you want.

Follow your heart and start acting on your plans. Speak your mind and share your feelings. Love and romance are highlighted and will improve your personal life.

Be careful what you say SAGITTARIUS and how you handle others.

(Nov. 23- Saying the wrong word or Dec. 21) exaggerating the facts will put you in an awkward position. Practice moderation and minimalism.

Money matters, contracts

CAPRICORN and settlements should be han(Dec. 22- dled personally. Know what Jan. 19) you want and oversee anything that requires you to deal with government agencies, institutions or authority figures.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Don’t let the actions of others make you angry. Do your own thing and let your success speak for you. What you accomplish will be a reflection of you and your capabilities.

If you say what’s on your mind, you’ll find a way to solidify plans you’ve been wanting to make for some time. A promising relationship will become stronger if you speak the truth.

wednesday, february 20, 2019

19

CWI partners with Colonial Group International for Super50 and ODI Cricket C

olonial Group International Ltd. (CGI) on Tuesday announced a major Global Partnership with Cricket West Indies (CWI) that “will benefit cricket across the region from communities and young families to professional cricketers”.

Colonial is thrilled to be named the Title Sponsor/ Official Partner of the WINDIES ODI Home Series starting this week, in Barbados. This Global Partnership also includes becoming the Title Sponsor of the CWI Super50 Tournament, enabling Colonial and CWI to positively impact the cricket communities within the Caribbean and also reaching worldwide.

CGI is a Bermudabased holding company for the Colonial Group of Companies, which has commercial operations in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Barbados and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Group comprises independently incorporated companies in

CWI CEO Johnny Grave

these jurisdictions offering property and casualty insurance, employee benefits for pensions and health, life assurance and personal investment products and has received an “A Excellent” rating from AM Best.

Colonial’s CEO, Naz Farrow said: “The West Indies had a fantastic test series victory over England and we hope that leads to even greater things for cricket in the Caribbean.

We believe that our partnership will help develop the sport at the grassroots level and build a great future for cricket.

“Colonial is fully committed to the local communities it operates in and shares the core values of CWI; building happy, healthy active lifestyles for millions of people, whilst inspiring and uniting communities worldwide.”

Marlon Graham, VP of Brokerage & Broker Relationships, Caribbean for CGI, said: “Coming as I do from Barbados and having played for the West Indies at under-19 level, I am absolutely delighted that Colonial is involved in this sponsorship.

“Colonial as a provider of Health Insurance in

Dubai Tennis Championships: Osaka loses 1st match as World No 1

Naomi Osaka lost her serve seven times as Kristina Mladenovic beat a world number one for the first time in her career

N

aomi Osaka lost her first match since becoming world number one as she was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Kristina Mladenovic in the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Japan's Australian Open and US Open champion Osaka, 21, was playing for the first time since splitting with coach Sascha Bajin.

She lost in 66 minutes against the world number 67 in the second round.

They traded six successive breaks of serve before

France's Mladenovic, 25, held when serving for the match.

Osaka received a bye in the first round.

Mladenovic, who had not won a match this year before the tournament, will play Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro in the third round.

Second seedand twotime Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova fought back from a set down to beat fellow Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-4 and reach the last 16.

Germany's three-time

Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber saved two set points in the opener before winning 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 against Slovenia's Dalila Jakupovic.

Russia's Viktoria Kuzmova overcame seventh seed Kiki Bertens 6-2 4-6 7-6 (8-6), while American Sofia Kenin progressed with a 6-3 2-6 6-4 victory at the expense of Russian 11th seed Daria Kasatkina.

Taiwan's Hsieh Suwei saw off Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1 6-2. (BBC Sport)

Barbados, is keen to support and encourage healthy active lifestyles, cricket as a sport can help achieve this.

Hopefully this sponsorship will assist people to play more cricket than ever before. We want to help find the cricket stars of the future, men and women.”

Johnny Grave, CEO of CWI said: “We are delighted to welcome Colonial Group International as the title partner of the One Day International Series, the Super50 and also as the official insurance partner of Cricket West Indies.

The breadth and depth of Colonial’s partnership with

us will benefit cricket across the region from communities and young families to professional cricketers and especially fans of both the Super50 and the WINDIES. “It also demonstrates that cricket remains a great platform to reach many fans and communities and we are truly excited to partner with Colonial whose ambitions to be #1 in their field mirror our ambitions to strengthen cricket in the West Indies for millions of people.”

Grave added: “Cricket heroes inspire the next generation of children to play the game in their communities and this partnership

will also aim to improve children’s health and activity through cricket.” (CWI)

Colonial Medical Insurance ODI Series Schedule: 1st ODI: Kensington Oval – Wednesday, February 20 2nd ODI: Kensington Oval – Friday, February 22 3rd ODI: Grenada National Stadium – Monday, February 25 4th ODI: Grenada National Stadium – Wednesday, February 27 5th ODI: Daren Sammy Cricket Ground – Saturday, March 2

BCB/NBS 40-over tournament…

Young Warriors storm into semis after Rose Hall Canje thriller

T

he home of Shimron Hetmyer, the East Canje-based Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) clinched a 15run victory over arch-rivals Rose Hall Canje.

In the match that was played on Sunday, under glorious sunshine, YWCC Captain Suresh Dhanai won the toss and elected to bat. The YWCC openers, Alex Algoo and Ricardo Ramdial laid the perfect platform, adding a quick 80-run opening partnership.

Both batters represented Guyana at the junior level; Algoo departed for an aggressive 37, hitting two sixes, but was out via the run-out route. Five runs later, the Under-17 left-hander, Ramdial departed for a solid 22, when he was out stumped.

Vishal Mohabir (05) was out cheaply, but Mortimer Fraser (26) and Sanjay Khan (32) took control of the game and made the Rose Hall Canje bowlers work. Berbice Under-19 player Trevon Stanislaus came to bat at number six, but was run out for four. After the loss of four quick wickets, the YWCC began a resurgence.

It was then the courageous Captain steered the ship with his unbeaten 41. The pugnacious Dhanai has proved to be an important asset with both bat and ball and over time has developed as a leader. The YWCC ended their innings on a respectable 209-9 when their 40 overs expired, thanks to some lusty blows from Dhanai.

The belligerent Dhanai smoked 27 runs off one Michael Campbell over, then put the Guyana U-15 quick to his place, hitting a six and a four in the final over. Charran Singh was the pick of the Rose Hall Canje bowlers with 3-34, Andrew Williams had 2-19 and off-spinner Ameer Rahaman 2-34.

In reply, Rose Hall Canje showed some fight, taking the game deep, scoring 194 all out. After the talented right-handed Devandra Ramkishun departed for 13, trapped in front by Stanislaus, a belligerent Campbell stroked 64, and was involved in a 52-run partnership with Adrian Haralsingh (23).

The middle order was halted thanks, to some disciplined bowling from the YWCC, led brilliantly by Dhanai. Former Guyana

youth player Andrew Williams and Ameer Rahaman featured in a 57-run partnership that was broken by part-time off-spinner Ramdial. Williams was the batsman dismissed for 23 as the Rose Hall Canje team crumbled in the nail-biting affair.

Rahaman stood tall in his fighting unbeaten knock of 33 that went in vain.

Bowling for Young Warriors, left-arm spinner Stanislaus proved to be effective with 3-35 in his eight overs that included one maiden. Sanjay Khan had 3-31 and Vishal Mohabir had 2-16. Dhanai, who bowled the new ball, bowled eight tidy overs, giving away only 36 runs and taking one wicket. After a shining 2018, the YWCC continued to move forward in Berbice cricket, qualifying for yet another semis.

(Brandon Corlette)

Captain Suresh Dhanai top-scored for Young Warriors (Brandon Corlette photo)

20

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wednesday, february 20, 2019

F1 testing: Leclerc fastest for Ferrari in Barcelona C

harles Leclerc put Ferrari on top for the second day in a row at the start of pre-season testing in Spain.

The 21-year-old Monegasque, who steps up to Ferrari this season after an impressive debut year in 2018, headed McLaren's British novice Lando Norris.

Leclerc's time was within 0.1 seconds of that achieved by team-mate Sebastian Vettel in setting the pace on Monday.

R e d B u l l ' s Pierre Gasly had a crash late in the day, while world champion Lewis Hamilton was 10th for Mercedes.

Gasly lost control on the entry to Turn 12 and spun into the gravel trap late in the afternoon, brushing the barrier with his rear wing.

The Frenchman looked mortified to have crashed on his first day in a new car following his promotion to a top team, after spending last year with Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso.

Gasly sat in the car for some time after the incident, and when he climbed out left his helmet on until

he had returned to the pits and gone out of sight at the back of the garage.

He was not the only driver to have a 'moment' - Leclerc had a spin at the chicane, as Vettel did on Monday, while British-born Thai novice Alexander Albon spun into the gravel on his first lap out of the pits on his debut for T o r o Rosso.

Albon later spun again and ended the day fourth quickest of 11 drivers who took part in the day, using the second-fastest C2 tyres, which Norris also used for his quick time late in the day.

Leclerc was a second clear of the field until Norris' improvement, an eye-catching performance in the McLaren - although an earlier, slightly slower, time set on two-step harder tyres was arguably more impressive.

Behind Norris, Kevin Magnussen's Haas was third fastest ahead of Albon, the Alfa Romeo of Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, Mercedes driver Valtteri

Bottas and Gasly.

Headline lap times in pre-season are a notoriously unreliable guide to form because teams do not reveal the specification in which cars are running, and tyres, fuel loads and engine modes all have a significant effect on lap time.

On top of that, teams are at this stage focusing more on reliability and learning rather than absolute speed.

Fivet i m e champions

Mercedes in particular always tend to run a low-key programme in testing.

Nevertheless, Ferrari's reliability and pace has impressed onlookers.

Williams were missing for a second consecutive day as they fought delays to the build of their new car, which was due to leave their Oxfordshire factory to fly to Barcelona on Tuesday evening.

Williams say the car should be at the track by 04:00-05:00 local time on Wednesday, after which they will have to finish the build.

The team expect to be able to run after lunch today and finally get their pre-season testing programme off the ground. (BBC Sport)

Neymar “cried for 2 days” after breaking a metatarsal in January

N

eymar watches PSG's game against Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes at the start of February Brazil striker Neymar says he cried for two days after breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot in late January.

The Paris St-Germain star is out until April, having sustained the problem in a French Cup game against Strasbourg.

It is the same injury he suffered in February last year which put his World Cup in doubt, but this new blow "is more complicated", Neymar said.

"This time I had a tough time getting over it," the 27-year-old told Brazilian TV channel Globo. "I spent two days at home crying.

"The first time I hurt myself I said, 'I'll have an operation, it has to be fixed as quickly as possible'. I wasn't sad."

Neymar watches PSG’s game against Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes at the start of February

Last year, Neymar was out for three months after surgery, returning just in time to play in the World Cup where he scored twice in Brazil's run to the quarter-finals.

This time, PSG's medical staff has decided on conservative treatment of the fracture rather than another op-

eration.

PSG said that Neymar will be out for around 10 weeks, meaning he will miss their Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United, which the French side lead 2-0 after last week's first leg at Old Trafford. The second leg is in Paris on 6 March. (BBC

Sport)

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A glimpse of Sunday’s action

L

ocal karatekas turned up in their numbers on Sunday last in a bid to display their skill and advance their rankings in the 2019 Association do Shotokan Karate-Guyana (ASK-G) Karate Championships.

The activity, which featured kata and kumite from karatekas

aged five-six to adults, was quite entertaining for those in attendance.

Starting with the five- and six-year-old students, the males competed separately from the females and strove to outperform their colleagues in both kata and kumite.

Breaking the standard routine, the female and male adult events were contested immediately after the five and six years’ old division. The adult females competed in kata first, followed by the kumite.

Roger Peroune, who is no stranger to competition, made light work of his opponents in the kata category to take the victory.

However, the male kumite can be hailed as the most entertaining event of the day, with a highly-competitive spirit coming from the participants.

The experienced Peroune and the young and energetic Shemar Parkinson put on a show once again in contention for the title.

Parkinson rose to the occasion early in the kumite, defeating Malcolm Francis in a heated battle that saw both sides at 1/2 point each, with Parkinson overcoming Francis near the end with the additional 1/2 point. Parkinson then went on to dispatch his other opponents on his way to the finals.

On the other side of the spectrum, Peroune quickly disposed of Budhdave Singh, but had a tough match against Trevon Miller, who stepped up from the 15-17 division into the adult group. After both gained a 1/2 point, Peroune was able to get the better of Miller with another 1/2 point.

The highly-anticipated final saw Parkinson scoring first; however, Peroune tied it up then lost another 1/2 point to Parkinson, who eventually won despite an oversight on a score.

Another karateka who performed exceptionally was young Kevin Fraser. Despite not being able to place, Fraser put up a good performance against the eventual winner, Shemar Francis in the male 12-14 kumite.

The best contestants in the following categories were also rewarded.

5&6 years white-orange belts Male – Ethan Rosine Female – Aishah Persaud

7-8 years white-orange belts Male – Ajit Dehaan 7-8 years brown belt Male – Maheshwar Dyasindoo 7-8 years green-purple belts Male – Nicolai Adolph 9-11 years green-purple belts Male – Maheshwar Dyasindoo 9-11 years brown & black belt Male – Jeremy Hargobin Female – Chelsea Benjamin 12-18 years white-purple belts Male – Luke Seabra 12-14 years brown & black belts Male – Shamar Francis 18+ years brown & black belts Male – Roger Peroune

GSCL/Republic Cup 2019…

Narine leads Wellman Masters to title

– Grill Masters flip Regal

B

ack-to-back half-centuries from Ramesh Narine spurred Mike’s Wellman to the Masters’ Over-40 title while Grill Masters beat Regal All-Stars to take the Open title in the annual Republic Cup last Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club Ground.

Narine, the veteran lefthander, had an almost flawless day in the sun with commanding knocks and purposeful bowling that firstly knocked out Regal Masters in the semi-finals before turning back a spirited Fed-Up Masters in the final.

In the championship match, Narine stroked 52 (3x6s, 5x4s) to set up Wellman Masters’ fivewicket victory with three balls to spare in fading light. Set 164 to win from their 20 overs, the eventual champions got useful knocks from skipper Wayne Jones and opener Ian Ramdeen, who both weighed in with 28 apiece, but it was Greg De Franca and Nandram Samlall that got them over the rope.

Left-arm slow bowler Laurie Singh gave Fed-Up Masters an excellent start with the ball when he sent back openers Ramdeen and Eon Lovell (01) very early.

However, Narine and Jones consolidated and almost put the run chase to bed before disaster

struck.

With fewer than 45 runs still required for a remarkable victory, the pair of left-handers was dismissed and was quickly followed by Lloyd Ruplall (05) to bring the opposition right back into the game before the pendulum swung again.

With 24 needed from 12 balls and five wickets in hand, Nandram and De Franca swung for the fences and cashed in on the small outfield. De Franca finished with 12 (2x4s) from four balls and Samlall, 21 (3x4s) when they brought home the memorable victory.

Bowling for Fed-Up Masters, Singh finished with 3 for 36 while fellow left-arm bowler Dharam Persaud was wicketless, but his four overs only cost 16 runs, including a maiden.

Earlier, after being sent in, Fed-Up Masters’ total of 163-7 was built around 57 from Captain Mohamed Rafeek and 47 from Troy Lewis while Man of the Match Narine claimed 1-32 (4); Latchman Kallicharran 2-19 (4) and Imtiaz Mohamed 2-36 (4).

On their way to the final, Fed-Up Masters (158-6) beat Fishermen Masters 104 all out by 54 runs while Mike’s Wellman (179-3) beat Regal Masters (1399) by 40 runs. Narine blasted

The victorious Mike’s Wellman team with the Republic Cup 2019 at Everest on Sunday

an unbeaten 83 from 37 balls (10x6s, 2x4s) and picked up 4 for 26 with the ball to crown a good day at the office.

In the all-stars final, Richard Latif stole the show to hand Grill Masters an easy 17-run victory over the star-studded Regal AllStars. Grill Masters were off to a disastrous start when Balram Samaroo was given out caught behind off Suraj Boodhoo without scoring at 8 for 1 in the second over. This paved the way for Latif to join opener Chien Gittens and the pair took the score to 124 in the 15th over when Gittens lost his leg stump to a fired-up Shilendra Ramnauth for 48 (6x4s; 1x6).

Latif, who lived a charmed

life, rode his luck and with new batsman David Lucknauth added 65 runs for the third wicket from the remaining 33 balls. Lucknauth finished on 20 from 10 balls (1x4; 2x6s) while Latif, who brought up his 100 in the 19th over, holed out off the final ball of the innings for 103. In all, he faced 63 balls and hit seven fours and five sixes as the Grill Masters finished on a commanding 189 for 3 from their 20 overs. Boodhoo (1-17); Sachin Singh (1-20); and Ramnauth (122) finished with one wicket each.

In reply, Regal All-Stars were off to a positive start with Sachin Singh (23) and Patrick Rooplall (11), putting on 29 for the first wicket from 3.1 overs. However,

after they were dismissed within the space of three overs, the rest of the batting did not look threatening except for Sewchand Budhu, who made 22.

The wickets were shared among the Grill Masters’ bowlers with Chandrashekal Arjune claiming 3 for 33, Gittens 2 for 16, and Latif 2-25.

The annual tournament was organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL), and was sponsored by Regal Stationery and Computer Centre and Regal Sport of Seaford Street, Campbellville. This year’s tournament was used as valuable practice ahead of the Florida Cup, which is scheduled for April 12 to 14 in Fort Lauderdale, USA.

22

wednesday, february 20, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championships…

Guyana not on board as Groups confirmed

2018-2019 Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Cornwall set to play 50th First-Class match – leading wicket-taker this season

By Brandon Corlette

T

In 2017, the GFF hosted national training camps for Under-13 Boys, Under-15 Boys, and Under-17 Girls in line with age groups covered by the elite Academy Training Centre programme

G

uyana’s Under-17 Men’s Team will miss a chance to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru, since they were not placed in any of the four Groups for the upcoming Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Under-17 Championships.

On Tuesday, CONCACAF conducted the official draw for the 2019 Under-17 Men’s Championship, at the CONCACAF headquarters, in Miami, Florida. However, Guyana will not be participating in this year’s event.

This edition of the Championship, to be hosted at the IMG Academy campus in Florida, will be disputed in three rounds.

Guyana were scheduled

to participate in the firstround qualifiers from March 16 to 24, or from April 1 to 9.

Just recently, the Under-20 Men’s team competed in their allotted championships, but were unable to make it out of the Group stage.

Guyana Times Sport believes that funding may be the issue which hampered yet another competition outing by a youth team.

However, there was no word from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) that the National Under-17 squad would not be a part of the tournament when the dates and venues were announced on February 15, with Guyana on the list of 35 participating nations.

Groups A to C each have five teams confirmed while

Group D has only four, because the Jaguars side was left out.

After round-robin play, the top three finishers in each of the groups will qualify for the knockout stage, joining the four group winners of the Qualification Stage in the round of 16.

The knockout stage of the competition will be played in its entirety in a single-match elimination format, with the semi-finalists automatically qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. In the previous edition of the Championship played in Panama in 2017, Mexico won their third straight title and seventh overall, with a 5-4 penalty shootout win over the United States in the final.

he giant Antiguan Rahkeem Cornwall is set to play his monumental 50th First Class match against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on February 21.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes Assistant Coach Wilden Cornwall spoke to Guyana Times Sport exclusively, and it was confirmed that the 26-year-old Hurricanes player would feature in the match at St Kitts, Warner Park.

In the ongoing Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Four-Day Tournament, Cornwall stands as the leading wicket-taker, with 36 wickets in only five matches. Cornwall has played two matches less than the second-leading bowler, Veerasammy Permaul, who has 33 wickets in seven matches.

This season, Cornwall has had two five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket match haul against Guyana Jaguars. His best bowling figures this season is 6-70 with a bowling average of 14.72 and an economy rate of 2.29. Along with Cornwall’s 36 wickets this season, he has 271 runs with bat in hand.

The right-handed Cornwall has a solid average of 30.11 this season with the bat and a high score of 65 in the five matches he played. Known by his teammates as “Jumbo”, Cornwall is seen as a dependable cricketer with both bat and ball. His overall FirstClass career is a testament to the talent he possesses.

Cornwall, who turned 26 on February 1, has churned out top performances over the years in the First-Class arena. In his 49 matches, he has had 238 wickets bowling

his controlled spin; Cornwall has captured 16 five-wicket hauls and 13 four-wicket hauls, along with two 10-wicket match hauls. With bat in hand, the 26-year-old has one FirstClass century and nine half-centuries, scoring 1953 runs.

In the shorter format, Cornwall has four centuries with the bat in List A cricket averaging 35.64. He is seen as a clean striker of the cricket ball. The last First-Class match he played he grabbed nine wickets against the Windward Islands Volcanoes on February 7, 2019. On a consistent basis, Cornwall picks up important wickets for his team, either the Hurricanes or West Indies A teams.

With such stellar performances in First-Class and List A cricket, Cornwall is equipped with all the qualifications to play at the highest level despite his fitness. He has proved to be an impactful player. He is regarded as the best off-spinner in the Caribbean by most cricket analysts and cricket journalists and time is on his side. It is only a matter of time for the giant Antiguan to play for West Indies.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, february 20, 2019

23

England v West Indies 5-match ODI series

Perfect series to answer Windies’ World Cup questions – opener bowls off today

By Brandon Corlette

T

he first One-Day International (ODI) between West Indies and England will bowl off today from 11:00h Eastern Caribbean time at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Today, February 20 marks exactly 99 days to the historic International Cricket Council (ICC) 50over Cricket World Cup that is scheduled for Thursday, May 30, 2019, in England and Wales.

From West Indies’ point of view, this ODI series is the perfect preparation for this mega-event. Post this five-match ODI series, West Indies will play a TriNation series prior to the World Cup. The Caribbean team will play four ODI matches in Ireland in the triangular series that features Bangladesh, starting from May 5, 2019.

England have won all of the four last ODI series against the West Indies

convincingly, both at home and away. In 2012, Windies toured England and lost the three-match ODI series 2-0.

The 2013-14 ODI series in the Caribbean saw England take the three-match series 2-1. England continued their dominance in the ODI format, whitewashing Windies 3-0 in 2016-17 in the Caribbean and 4-0 in England on the 2017 tour.

England have won 11 of their 14 ODI matches against West Indies in a bilateral series since 2012.

This time around, the upbeat men in maroon, led by Jason Holder, will fancy their chances in this 2019 five-match

ODI series after winning the Test series 2-1, stunning the

Englishmen.

The squad for the first two ODIs look a balanced team, with the “Universe B o s s ” , C h r i s Gayle returning.

In the build-up to the ODI series, Gayle has announced that he would retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup. He is expected to open the batting with fellow Jamaican John

Campbell.

Shai Hope, who has been the best ODI batsman for West Indies in recent times, is expected to bat at number three.

Hope ended 2018 with the third-highest ODI average after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The class act played

4 4 ODIs and has 1662 runs at an average of 47.48.

T h e a m a z i n g Guyanese talent, Shimron Hetmyer, who

is arguably the most exciting batsman in the world, is expected to form the middle order with Darren Bravo and Nicholas Pooran.

Holder, who has made big gains as an all-rounder in international cricket, is expected to follow while Carlos Brathwaite and Fabian Allen are the other all-rounders in the squad.

Ashley Nurse and Devendra Bishoo are the spinners, while Sheldon Cottrell, Kemar Roach, and Oshane Thomas are the fast bowlers.

England have looked a strong ODI team over the years and they h a v e warmed up in fine fashion in the lone 50over prac-

tice match. The England top order features explosive batters in Jason Roy, who warmed up with a hundred; Jonny Bairstow who finished as one of the leading batters in ODIs in 2018, and Alex Hales.

Joe Root, who also scored a century in the final Test and the warm-up match, will be a destructive partner with England’s specialist white-ball player, Eoin Morgan. Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali are all counter-attacking players who can take away matches singlehandedly.

The England seam bowling attack may feature Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Tom Curran, and Stokes. The spin twins, Adil Rashid and Ali will also be an essential asset in the England team.

This ODI series will be of much importance for both teams, and it will determine which players play at the 2019 ICC 50-over Cricket World Cup in England.

12-member team selected for AmeriCup Pre-Qualifiers D

espite worries about sponsorship just a few weeks ago, a 12-member Guyanese basketball team will depart local shores today, heading to Colombia for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) AmeriCup 2021 PreQualifiers.

After an intense selection process, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) arrived at a 12-man team that will represent the Golden Arrowhead in Tunja, Colombia. The team comprise a mixture of local and overseas-based talent.

The team have been drawn in Group B, along with hosts Colombia, Bolivia, and Paraguay, and will fight to finish in the top two in order to advance to the AmeriCup 2021 qualifiers.

The Colombia-bound team read: Harold Adams, Travis Belgrave, Travis Burnette, Orlon Glasgow, Delroy James, Gordon James, Anthony Moe, Stanton Rose, Yonnick Tappin, Timothy Thompson, Shaine Webster and Kevon Wiggins. They will be ac-

companied by Head Coach Andrew Hercules, Assistant Coach Dennis Clarke and Manager Alex Graham.

If Guyana should advance to the AmeriCup 2021 qualifiers, they will find themselves in a greater competition pool, vying with countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Dominican

Republic, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela and the Virgin Islands. Two teams from Group A countries namely Antigua, The Bahamas, Belize, and Cuba will also have a chance to be a part of the AmeriCup Qualifiers.

Head Coach Hercules is confident that the best Guyana has to offer in the

basketball arena was selected; as such, he spoke positively about the team’s prospects: “The only thing that stands between this Guyana basketball team and our dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible. If we do that, we will be victorious.”

Meanwhile, GABF President Michael Singh

made good on his promise to secure sponsorship.

“With a short time allocated for us for funding and team preparation, the GABF Executive is proud to produce its best possible squad, featuring our local and overseas-based talent,” Singh said.

The sponsors include

the Government of Guyana, through the National Sports Commission (NSC); Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson in his personal capacity, John Fernandes Limited, Alex Mendes, and NF Agriculture.

The recently-elected GABF President also spoke to the many positives that could be drawn from winning this tournament.

Singh added, “Victory in Colombia will solidify our grip on Caribbean basketball, allow us to focus on AmeriCup region, which is higher than [Caribbean Basketball Confederation] CBC basketball, as we join teams such as Dominican Republic and Bahamas, who do not play at CBC level.”

The AmeriCup 2021 PreQualifiers will run from February 22-24, 2019.

wednesday, february 20, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

12-member team Guyana not on board selected for as Groups AmeriCup Pre-Qualifiers confirmed 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championships…

Page 23

Page 22

England v West Indies 5-match ODI series

Perfect series to answer Windies’ World Cup questions Page 23

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