Guyana Times - wednesday, January 30, 2019

Drone owners, importers need permits – GCAA P14

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3820

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

“GECOM must be compelled to hold elections in 90 days” – activist

...says President Granger’s involvement absolutely necessary ...current voters' list valid & proper – GECOM Commissioner ...says house-to-house registration unnecessary Pages 3&9

High Court orders GuySuCo to pay 1 month’s salary to ex-Wales cane cutters

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Woman brutally stabbed by children’s P13 father

PPP calls P11 for external investigation into deaths of children at GPHC

Page 12

Guyana drops P7 on latest anticorruption index – tied with Panama, Gambia and others for 93rd position

Pensioner killed in Nismes hit P2 and run

Head teacher bans parents from entering Mon Repos Page Primary School 13

CANU raids Charlestown house; large Page quantity of 9 cocaine, ganja unearthed

Parents of pupils attached to the Mon Repos Primary School protest the decision by the school's administration to disallow them to enter the compound (Adam Baksh photo)

LBI youth dies days after Page 12 sustaining injuries in Police – mother blames Police lock-ups for death of son

“Queenie” appeals 18-year sentence for killing Bajan boyfriend P10

2 news

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Pensioner killed in Nismes hit and run

Deceased: Hurbert Caesar

A

70-year-old man became the latest hitand-run victim after he was struck down along the Nismes Public Road, West Bank Demerara on Monday evening by an allegedly speeding motorcyclist.

Dead is Hurbert Caesar of Nismes Public Road, WBD. Based on information received, the now dead pensioner was heading to a shop in the area on his pedal cycle when the motorcyclist collided with him. The father of three sustained injuries and was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital in an unconscious state and was pronounced dead on arrival.

The rider of the motorcycle bearing registration number CJ 5283 fled the scene, but the Police are making stringent efforts to apprehend him.

The mangled motorcycle

The bicycle and the motorcycle involved in Monday’s accident

and pedal cycle were taken into the possession of the Police as they continue their investigations.

The man’s grieving widow, Shaundell Caesar, told Guyana Times that she iwas seeking answers regarding the missing motorcyclist.

She related that her husband had left home around 18:45h on Monday on his bicycle to go to a nearby shop to purchase a bottle of Vicks when he was struck down.

The woman explained

that she was home at the time Caesar left home and some time after, she received a telephone call from her neighbour who informed of her the accident.

In a state of shock, she contacted other relatives who went to the scene. The devastated woman hopes that the perpetrator is arrested and brought to justice.

The man’s body was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour to await an autopsy. He leaves to mourn his wife, three children, and other relatives.

news

3

wedneSdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, January 30 – 01:00h and 13:30h-15:00h and Thursday, January 31 – 02:00h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, January 30 – 12:50h-14:20h and Thursday, January 31 –13:45h-15:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Cloudy skies will prevail during the day, with light rain showers in the late morning and early afternoon hours and sunny conditions in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Overall temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 12:25h at a maximum height of 2.23 metres.

Low Tide: 05:52h and 18:35h reaching minimum heights of 1.08 metres and 0.98 metre.

saturDAY, JANUARY 26, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

06 10 13 22 24 28 23

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

TuesDAY, JANUARY 29, 2019 DAILY MILLIONS

07 11 18 21 26 LUCKY 3

6

4

4

Afternoon Draw

9

8

2

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03 05 06 08 09 20 21 PAY DAY

02 07 08 12 17

SUPER PAY DAY

03 04 07 12 21

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

“GECOM must be compelled to hold elections in 90 days” – activist …says President Granger’s involvement absolutely necessary

By Samuel Sukhnandan

G

iven the stalemate between Government and the Opposition over the holding of elections and the failure of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to definitively pronounce on its readiness for same, outspoken activist, attorney and chartered accountant Christopher Ram said the most rational and obvious thing to do at this point was to get the Commission to act.

In expressing deep concern over the posture of GECOM, Ram told Guyana Times on Tuesday that “GECOM is a creature of the Constitution of Guyana and it seems that the move is to frustrate and undermine the holding of elections”, reiterating that election must be held in 90 days as constitutionally mandated, as a result of the successful no-confidence vote.

Ram, who has been at the forefront on this issue, argued, “The election has to be held in 90 days unless there is a two-thirds vote in the National Assembly to extend that period. This is messing around with the Constitution and it is heading down a dangerous and slippery slope.”

Asked what role President David Granger could play in helping to address the issue before hand, the social commentator said, “As a person committed to democracy, the President must take the lead in this matter. It has been said time and time again that the world is watching and citizens are watching, and this inertia and unwillingness to do something.” He continued, “If GECOM doesn’t want to move, then it must be compelled to move.”

However, Ram told this publication that democracy operated on the presumption of certain standards of behaviour. “You don’t expect that the President should have to call them to say do this … as a creature of the Constitution, GECOM must know what it is required to do from the time a vote of no confidence came up. It should have been preparing itself.”

He argued further that

Attorney and accountant Christopher Ram

GECOM should always be prepared to have elections in 90 days or less, subject to the requirements of the Representation of the People’s Act. Ram has rubbished the arguments that GECOM now has to go back to house-to-house registration, as is being peddled by the Government through its representatives on the Commission.

When questioned as to whether given the current circumstances that Guyana is faced with, if he sees the President’s involvement as necessary now, Ram responded in the affirmative. “Absolutely … and he has to let people like Vice President (Khemraj) Ramjattan know that you don’t play around with democracy and he is playing a very dangerous game,” he posited.

Contention

People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-nominated

Commissioners on GECOM are contending that far from the view being expressed by GECOM and Government officials, elections can be held by March 19, 2019.

One of them, Sase Gunraj has noted that the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield has been creating an impression that there is not enough time to complete various tasks before elections. But according to him, these tasks can be completed concurrently.

“Lowenfield has said that we need 90 days for specific tasks. When you look at the tasks that make up those 90 days, most of the tasks can be done concurrently,” Gunraj said. “For example, advertising for staff can occur at the same time that you are procuring training material.”

In a recent interview, Commissioner Bibi Shadick had also asserted that GECOM could hold elections within 50 days. According to Shadick, she is basing this on the information provided

by Lowenfield at Thursday’s meeting at the Secretariat.

The Commissioner related that she even offered

Lowenfield a proposed timeline for conducting elections within that time frame.

Last week, Chief Whips Gail Teixeira and Amna Ally emerged from their meeting with GECOM with more questions than answers, as GECOM refused to give deadlines for its preparations.

In an interview after the meeting, the Opposition Chief Whip had been less than satisfied with the answers she did get. According to Teixeira, she asked if the Commission could make simultaneous preparations to accommodate what remains of the time frame for elections.

GECOM, which successfully ran the Local Government Elections (LGE) in November 2018, less than three months ago, is being blamed by Government for not being ready, but it is the President of Guyana, who has to give a date for elections and not GECOM as is being touted. The President of Guyana, according to the Constitution, has to dissolve Parliament and issue a date for elections.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

wednESdAY, January 30, 2019

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

Were it the other way around

T

he 2015 General and Regional Elections were held about a year and a half earlier than constitutional due. The reasons for that should be revisited and in doing so it would present a particular context of the current political situation facing the country. Donald Ramotar was President at that time, having come to office in 2011 with a minority government; the first and only Executive President thus far to be in that unenviable position.

The Opposition, comprising A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), had a combined majority of 33 seats and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, 32. Being at the disadvantage of the Opposition combined one-seat majority, it was virtually impossible for Ramotar to implement any major policy or programme that needed parliamentary approval.

As a matter of fact, the then Opposition used its one-seat advantage to slash budgetary allocations to a meagre dollar for some agencies, including the Government Information Agency (GINA) and the National Communications Network (NCN), both of which were accused of spreading Government propaganda with taxpayers ’money.

Funding was also deprived for transformative projects, such as the Amaila Falls Hydro, the Specialty Hospital and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion. Other critical physical and social infrastructural development programmes met the same fate.

Workers and their family suffered and development was curtailed as the Opposition exploited their combined one-seat advantage at the expense of the welfare of the people and country.

From all analyses, the reasons the Opposition offered for its actions were generally not valid. Many believed that the APNU/AFC Opposition did not want Guyana’s rapid and unprecedented development to continue while it held the parliamentary majority. One thought was had the funding being approved, the PPP Government would have benefited politically and, in simple terms, looked good despite being a minority. In other words, suffer the people and country for political gratification.

Not stopping at denying funds, the then Opposition also made strong demands. Citing what it believed to be unacceptable financial transactions through sole-sourcing, it clamoured for the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) so as to bring an end to it. It accused the PPP Government of preferential treatment of contractors with regard to the supply of necessary materials. In addition, it demanded Local Government Elections (LGE) despite the belief that the desired framework had not been derived.

Those two particular demands were used as the Sword of Damocles over Ramotar’s head for him to either give in or face a noconfidence motion in Parliament. Knowing fully well that they could have toppled his government, given their combined one-seat majority, the Opposition pressed their demands and filed the no-confidence motion as an ultimatum. Ramotar prorogued Parliament, as allowed by the Constitution, and eventually was forced to set an election date – May 11, 2015.

Interestingly, it wasn’t the only ultimatum he got. A leading lawyer and executive of the AFC gave his own in demanding the government resign within a given timeframe. In the end, APNU and the AFC formed a coalition and was declared the winner of the elections with 33 seats; a government majority of one. That was used to pass budgets, parliamentary Acts and other motions it favoured.

On December 21, 2018, it suffered a humiliating defeat in a noconfidence motion brought by the Opposition PPP/C. The motion was carried as a Government Member of Parliament voted with the PPP/C. That once again showed the impact and advantage of one parliamentary seat. Now, on the losing end, the Government ran to the courts seeking protection on the grounds that the one- seat majority, which it exploited up to December 21 of last year, is now suddenly not valid.

A plethora of excuses, including absurd Mathematics, are used to support its case despite the unambiguity of the Constitution on a no-confidence motion and its ensuing process. Maybe it is not a coincidence that the author of the straw-clutching Mathematics theory is the same Attorney who gave Ramotar an ultimatum just prior to the 2015 elections.

That aside, if Ramotar had not prorogued Parliament and the then APNU/AFC Opposition had brought the no-confidence motion as threatened, it would have been carried given its one-seat majority.

What if the PPP/C then had refused to abide by the Constitution and used absurd Mathematics as an excuse? What if the PPP/C had accepted the results of the no-confidence motion, but, subsequently changed its position? What if the PPP/C had rushed to the court to buy time? What if the PPP/C, some 40 days after the motion was carried, acted as if the no-confidence vote never happened? What if the PPP/C had refused to call the election and tried to influence GECOM in support?

Given the country’s political history, almost certainly, the PPP/C would not have been allowed to disregard a successful no-confidence vote or the constitutional requirements it mandates. If history were to provide guidance, any refusal by the PPP/C in such circumstances would not have gone down well. The answers to the questions would more than likely unveil that missing context of the Government’s argument today. If the question of, had it been the other way around, were to be posed, it appears that the context is conveniently absent.

A pupil of one of the primary schools on the Essequibo Coast takes to the stage of the Anna Regina Multilateral School to perform during the Education Ministry’s Annual Children’s Mashramani Competitions, which kicked off in Region Two on Friday last

UN Khashoggi investigator meets Istanbul Chief Prosecutor

…international inquiry led by UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard seeks to establish who ordered Khashoggi’s murder

Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard has asked Saudi authorities for access to its consulate in Istanbul to investigate

T

[File: Jose Cabezas/Reuters]

he United Nations human rights investigator leading the international inquiry into the murder of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi is meeting Istanbul’s Chief Prosecutor on Tuesday.

Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard, on a week-long visit to Turkey with a forensic and legal team, met Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu a day earlier.

“We have made a request to the Saudi Government for access to the Consulate as well as meetings with Saudi authorities here.

We’re waiting for their response,” Callamard told Al Jazeera on Tuesday.

“To be fair the request came to them quite late so we must give them time to process our request. We are respectfully asking the authorities to give us access at some stage.”

Callamard said her re-

port would be made public in time for the June session of the UN human rights council.

“The report will be made public a few weeks before I present it to the human rights council in Geneva, so end of May possibly,” she said.

Khashoggi was murdered inside Saudi Arabia’s Consulate in Istanbul on October 2 last year.

US intelligence agencies believe Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered an operation to kill the Washington Post writer.

Riyadh denies the powerful prince had any involvement, alleging “rogue” Saudi elements acted on their own accord.

“No question”

Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, said the panel’s investigation is expected to focus on establishing respon-

sibility.

He called for the CIA to share its intercepted recordings of the grisly killing.

Roth told reporters at an event in Geneva on Monday that Callamard was trying to look at the question of authorisation.

“There is no question that this was a Saudi Government operation,” he said.

“But the Government’s line is that this was a rogue operation by people somehow who didn’t have anything to do with the Saudi Crown Prince – even though a number of his close aides were intimately involved, and there was a well-reported call back to Riyadh to tell the boss that the deed was done.

“So, what the special rapporteur is going to look at is what evidence is there to pinpoint the Saudi Crown Prince’s responsibility.”

Crucial intercepts

Roth, who said he had

spoken to Callamard last week, added: “The CIA has come out, apparently on the basis of intercepts, and said that the Crown Prince did order this murder. And the US Senate endorsed that finding.

“I hope that the CIA will share those intercepts and that evidence with the special rapporteur. I think this is an important enough issue that it is time in some form to release them, so that we can all see it. I know that the special rapporteur is pushing for that,” Roth said.

The gruesome murder has drawn attention to the Saudi Government’s detention and alleged mistreatment of Saudi activists, including women, and the bombing campaign by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, he said.

“It is unfortunate it has taken the Khashoggi murder to galvanise people, but it did and that somehow woke people up to the nature of the Saudi Government.” (Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, January 30, 2019

5

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

I will not dignify GHK Lall’s idiocy that hints of a communist hegemony Dear Editor, I write in response to a letter to the Editor from the Chairman of the Gold Board, Gabriel (GHK) Lall (Kaieteur news - January 28, 2019). This remigrant with intellectual leanings is usually worth a read for style if not content. Unfortunately, now that his brown bag appointment and the accompanying perks are under threat, an unvarnished Lall emerges to bark for his political masters. Mindful of “Dem boys” advice of the same day, I am nevertheless risking ‘jail for a year’ in refuting Lall’s roll in the mud pit.

GHK begins with suggestions that an Irfaan Ali Presidency would lead to a systematic reversal of the

limited ethical and reputational gains. One would hope that there would be reversal of the reputation the Granger Administration has gained for Guyana for being “limited” as exposed in its negotiations with ExxonMobil; the inability of the Granger Cabinet to recognise that the “private approach” brought to them by David Patterson was illegal and very obviously unethical; that spending $327 million of taxpayers’ money to rent a house that cost $25 million (paid for with the rental deposit) was an exercise in barefaced corruption and cronyism.

The list of mismanaged projects and corrupt transactions that have involved Granger and his

Administration in three short years outstrips any other two-decade period in our nation’s history; in this alone APNU+AFC have excelled. Ironically in the same edition that contains Lall’s misgivings, there is a stern warning from Jan Mangal (former presidential advisor on oil and gas) that the Energy Department should not engage in one-on-one negotiations as “the data exists to prove that these negotiations are highly prone to corruption”.

Editor, GHK Lall’s attempt to place the blame for sloth in Guyana’s passage and implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering legislation on the previous PPP/C Administration in an exercise to rewrite history;

an Orwellian exercise better suited to the talents of our current Attorney General whom is versed in this practice and whom is already seated upon Rocinante and cloaked in an armor of imbecility. GHK Lall should note that Williams has no need for a Sancho Panza thus far, handling punishment meted out by his bête noir with equal measures of calm and delusion.

Lall foolishly posits the argument that a “rotten bureaucracy” will return in defence of the super-sized hog feeding at the public trough, this sounder of swine created by tripling the number of Ministries and departments by David Granger and his team. The cost of Government is now in ex-

cess of $70 billion dollars a year.

GHK Lall has the temerity to look up from the trough long enough to write about Irfaan Ali, who increased housing stock by 28,456 units, while managing the installation of 25 wells and 7 water treatment plants, increased access to treated water from 20 per cent of the population to over 50 per cent, in addition to his work to nurture the fledgling tourism sector.

Irfaan Ali managed three Ministries; one Minister; one salary; measurable progress over a six-year period. Compare to Granger’s passel of incompetents who promise much, are paid higher salaries and delivered less than 1000 house

lots in three and a half years.

Editor, I will not dignify GHK Lall’s idiocy that hints of a communist hegemony as those cold war ideological arguments are as fossilised as the author. I would suggest David Granger that in future he not send a hog with his nose buried too deep in the trough to offer arguments on his behalf, for this one seems to be offended by his own stench, unbalanced mentally by his diet on rotting cabbage and is way out of depth rolling in the mud.

Like the tiger in the aforementioned “Dem boys seh” I am now willing to serve my year in jail for debating with a jackass.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

“Immediate reaction disorder” must be addressed Dear Editor, In his book “Thinking, Fast and Slow”, Daniel Kahneman enumerates two systems namely, system one which is fast, intuitive and emotional and system two which is slower, more deliberative and more logical. Our behaviour falls under either of these systems. We respond differently to the sit-

uations.

Sometimes we react immediately and passionately.

This behaviour is driven by several factors such as upbringing, society, ego etc. The trigger is the child in you. Many people suffer from this. It can be called, “immediate reaction disorder”, where one acts purely on passion. Most likely

consequences from immediate reaction disorder are negative and detrimental.

One has to move from child to parent in order to thrive positively and impact positive actions. We have to slow down and be calculative while reacting to a situation. We have to be logical and reasonable to react in a certain manner. This cannot be taught

or does not come with age but it is the result of checking and rechecking our behaviours to any given situations.

If one wants to improve in this regard, one has to try and change the behaviour pattern. There are people who react immediately to situations and then regret the behaviour.

But if those people could

Where is the “grant” money?

Dear Editor, Can the Gov't please tell us where the Grant/ free money that Guyana got for the purpose of building 10,000 septic tanks for the poor people of Guyana is?

Also, where is the Grant/ free money Guyana got to repair Stabroek Market Clock?

At this time I would also like to inform, that any person from any Commonwealth Country can vote in Guyana’s Parliament, and Canada is

a Commonwealth Country.

Let anyone check the law to verify this.

I would also like to point out that one local newspaper said that the PPP is willing to let Guyanese contact them through email to say what we expect from the PPP if they win the election but the paper did not provide the email address, can you please publish it so we can give our views?

And one thing I want to suggest to the PPP is if they win; I would like for Gov't to

stop taking the 20 per cent withholding tax from our savings account.

Sincerely, Mohamed Azad

first asses the consequences, their behaviour would be better. People who suffer from this disorder can be detrimental to others.

Let us help people who suffer from this disorder.

Best regards, Jerri Dias

6

wednESdAY, january 30, 2019

Page

S

tress is one of those words that we use so often it can be hard to know what it means. Stress comes in different degrees: Is what you're feeling stress, Stress, or STRESS?

Everyday stress

When we're talking about the first level of stress, we mean the usual pressures of everyday life. For example: The stress of juggling everything you need to fit into a busy week. This is the kind of stress you might feel if you have a term paper deadline plus a Maths exam tomorrow, and you need to find time to do your normal homework, tutor the kid you mentor, and hey, don't forget dance class.

The stress you feel before an event that makes you nervous. This is the stress that makes your palms sweat before you recite your lines in the school play, give a presentation to your class, or buckle up to take your driver's test.

The lingering stress you feel over things that happen in your daily life. Maybe it's a misunderstanding with a good friend or stewing over whether you'll ask your crush to a party.

Everyday stressors are not always easy, but they're not big disasters either. In fact, a bit of everyday stress can actually be good. For example, the stress most of us feel before presenting in

Foundation

class boosts our adrenaline and helps us perform at our best.

The more practice we get at handling everyday challenges, the better we get at dealing with challenges in general. The better we get

get ready. We tackle these everyday stressors by studying for exams, practising a class presentation, or thinking about how to work it out with a friend. Once we get to work on finding a way to solve the problem, the pres-

things can create stress that takes more time to resolve.

It might seem like the feelings that come with these stressful situations will never go away. But the coping skills we've built as we deal with everyday stress

at dealing, the less stressed out we feel. It's like learning to ride a bike as a kid: Bumps in the road can look pretty scary when you're wobbly and first starting out. But the more bumps we take, the more confident we become. Before we know it, we're balanced and in control.

Everyday stress simply calls awareness to a situation that needs attention.

It reminds us to slow down, steady ourselves, focus, and

sure and stress ease.

can kick in to help – even if we don't realise it.

The stress that comes with difficult life situations feels stronger and lasts longer than everyday stress. It can help to learn more about how others have dealt with a similar situation; to talk about what you're going through with someone close; and to get support or guidance to help you work out, cope with, or adapt to, your specific situation. (Excerpt from kid-

Difficult Life Situations

Beyond everyday stress, there's the stress that can come from difficult life situations – the ones that are pretty challenging but don't happen every day. We don't get as much practice dealing with these medium-sized stressors (luckily!).

Moving, divorce, a painful break-up, the death of someone close, difficult emotions, family conflict – these

shealth.org)

L

ately I haven't felt anything but anger and frustration from being in school, dealing with all the bullies at school and abusive teachers, then coming home and having to deal with my parents because of all the trouble the teachers put me through ... any advice?

– FB* It sounds like you're in a situation where the pressure feels like it's coming from all sides. Having to deal with bullies at school can make it hard to focus on schoolwork – then parents and teachers might pressure you for not doing, or acting, your best. Maybe no one really gets what you're going through.

But letting anger and frustration build can affect your mood and happiness. And that's not fair to you.

Start by letting someone who really gets you know what you're up against. Find someone who is on your side.

It might be a friend, a teacher, a coach, or an advisor. Ask this person to just hear you out for a few minutes. Explain the stress you're facing. (Make sure a teacher, coach, counsellor, or someone else at school knows about the bullies and how they affect you.) Talking things through calmly also can help you vent the frustration and anger.

Your challenge is to deal with bullies and meet expectations at school and home — all without losing your cool. That's hard to do alone!

Start by letting someone who really gets you know what you're up against. Find someone who is on your side.

It might be a friend, a teacher, a coach, or an advisor. Ask this person to just hear you out for a few minutes. Explain the stress you're facing. (Make sure a teacher, coach, counsellor, or someone else at school knows about the bullies and how they affect you.) Talking things through calmly also can help you vent the frustration and anger.

When someone knows what you're going through, you can think of ways to deal with the situation together. Plan how you'll react to bullies and ways to steer clear of them.

Keep anger under control with physical activity. When you're feeling angry or frustrated, channel it by going for a run, working out in the gym, or shooting hoops on the basketball court.

Find a little time to relax and chill. No matter what kind of day you've had, make time to relax and laugh. Find a friend or two to hang out with – even if it's just for a few minutes after school.

Taking these steps can help you override stress before it gets to be too much. The idea is to deal with the situation so stress doesn't pile up and affect your mood and happiness. Keep your cool, do your best, reach out to positive people – and don't let bullies ruin your day.

Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

(kidshealth.org)

news

7

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana drops on latest anti-corruption index – tied with Panama, Gambia and others for 93rd position

Transparency International has been one of the foremost anticorruption voices

T

r a n s p a r e n c y International has released its latest global rankings, showing that while Guyana is considered one of 20 countries that have made improvements it has also taken a step backwards last year.

According to the index, Guyana fell by one spot to the 93rd position out of 180 countries. The index placed Guyana’s corruption perception score at 37 to tie with Gambia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mongolia and Panama.

The highest ranked Caribbean country was the Bahamas at 29th place with a score of 65. It is followed

by Barbados, which received a score of 68 for anti-corruption. The next Caribbean country is St Vincent and the Grenadines, which was ranked at 41 with a score of 58.

The top-ranked countries on the list were Denmark at number one, and New Zealand at number two. The United States of America was ranked at 71, with a score of 22.

Last year, Guyana scored 38 and was ranked 91 out of all the countries reviewed. Over

the past few months, however, much has been said about the Auditor General’s 2017 report and the sole-sourcing of contracts.

This includes the Public Procurement Commission investigating and red-flagging the sole-sourcing of the Demerara River bridge feasibility study.

The contract in question was awarded to the Dutch company, LievenseCSO, for a feasibility study into the new Demerara River Bridge.

The parliamentary Opposition had requested that the Public Procurement Commission investigate the award of the $148 million sole-sourced contract.

In its report on the matter, the Commission flagged Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson for requesting from Cabinet that the contract be sole-sourced instead of being processed through the Procurement Board as the law says should be done.

After agitation from the parliamentary Opposition, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) had begun investigating the corrupt trans-

action. Right from the start, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had stressed the need for the unit to avoid showing favouritism to Patterson, particularly at a time when Opposition Politicians were being brought into SOCU for questioning on other matters.

SOCU has since said it completed its investigation into the corrupt transaction, with the unit’s Head, Assistant Police Commissioner Sydney James confirming to this publication a few weeks ago that the file has been in the hands of the Police Legal Advisor since last year.

This was confirmed when Guyana Times made contact with SOCU Head, Assistant Commissioner of Police (retired) Sydney James. In a brief interview, James noted that it has been in the hands of the Legal Advisor; Justice (retired) Claudette Singh, for several weeks.

AG report

When it comes to the Auditor General’s report, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and now presidential candidate Irfaan Ali has been one of several public figures highlighting the fact that the report is littered with discrepancies and corruption for the 2017 fiscal year.

“In the education sector, as it relates to the supply of dietary item under the Kato Breakfast School Feeding

Programme, Region Eight, prices paid were significantly higher when compared to prices of similar items previously purchased by the Region.

In total $33.6 million was expended on items whose prices were grossly inflated,” he had said last year.

“Similarly under the $2.1 billion School Feeding Programme, eleven schools in Regions 7 and 9, couldn’t account for $52.1 million, a repeated misdemeanour that was highlighted in the preceding Auditor General report. Hence, at the Ministry of Education Tender Board level, procurement irregularities continued uninterrupted.”

Ali had also highlighted parts of the report, where it was revealed that forty contracts totalling $15.9 million were awarded without the requisite Tender Board approval, of which thirty-five were awarded to one contrac-

An artist’s impression of the sole-sourced Demerara River Bridge

tor at a total value of $12.8 million. “Moreover, numerous instances of overpayments were recorded. For example, two contractors, with respect to the installation of water distribution line and system, and night lighting system at the Synthetic Track and Field Facility, received $4.114 million and $4.767 million respectively in overpayments.”

“In another instance, the contract for the construction

of a chain link fence at the One Mile Primary School, Wismar, which was awarded by the Regional Tender Board for the sum of $12.583 million, received an overpayment of $727,000.”

The corruption perception index did acknowledge, however, that Guyana is among 20 countries to have significantly improved their scores over the past seven years.

8 news

wednESdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man nabbed with counterfeit currency gets bail

T

wenty-three-yearold Alston Pierce appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Tuesday slapped with a counterfeit possession charge.

Pierce, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, denied the accusations which stated that on January 26, 2019, at Stabroek Market Square, he had a quantity of counterfeit $5000 bills amounting to $325,000.

Defence Attorney Eusi Anderson in a bail application informed the court that his client was convicted for a petty offence when he was

The counterfeit $5000 notes

a teenager and ever since he was released from the

Juvenile Holding Centre he was never convicted again.

However, Police Prosecutor Adunni Innis did not oppose bail being granted but asked that conditions be attached.

As such, the young technician was ordered to lodge his passport and report to the Brickdam Police Station on a weekly basis until completion of the matter.

He was released on $200,000 bail and the matter was adjourned for February 18, 2019.

It was reported that the young man was arrested on Saturday last following an intelligence-led operation by members of the Guyana Police Force.

Licence of drunk driver suspended

A

fifty-eight-year-old West Coast Berbice (WCB) man had his driver’s licence suspended on Tuesday when he appeared at the Blairmont Magistrate Court charged

for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Krishna Sandarson of Lot 14 Cotton Tree Village, WCB, stood before Magistrate Renatta Singh and pleaded guilty to the

charge which stated that on January 27, 2019, he drove his motorcar while the alcohol level in his system was above the legal limit.

Police stated that on the day in question Sandarson

was stopped by Police ranks on patrol and upon recognising his state, they performed a breathalyser test.

In addition to the suspension of his licence, he was fined $7500.

Intriguing silence…

T

…from the diplomats on Govt intransigence he Opposition Leader had alerted the diplomatic community of the constitutional crisis the Government’s refusal to abide by Article 106 (6) and (7) is precipitating. By now the Cabinet was supposed to have resigned and arranged for elections in three months’ time – with the Government just taking care of essential services. Jagdeo started immediately with the ABC and EU diplomats and has gradually widened his sensitisation efforts, as the PNC-led Government continue to dig its heels in.

But what have the diplomats done about the PNC’s spitting in the face of democratic norms? Zilch; nada; takogo; nothing!! Now you, Dear Reader, may protest that tradition in the comity among nations frowns on “interference” in the internal affairs of nations. But that wouldn’t apply to us, would it? Modern international law has accepted, for instance, that aid or grants can be extended with conditions such as adhering to democratic norms. And as a matter of fact, all the aid from the West now routinely incorporates this caveat.

For instance, when the EU unilaterally broke the Lomé contract for our sugar that was supposed to “last in perpetuity” (so much for the sanctity of contracts!!), they offered compensation for us to ride out the financial choppy waters they’d created. But the moment President Ramotar prorogued Parliament in 2014 – which he was constitutionally allowed to do – in order to seize the initiative to set his own election date after Moses Nagamootoo’s no-confidence motion, the EU suspended disbursement of $5,400,153,527 (over $5 BILLION!!)!! (Not so incidentally, this $5 Billion was handed over to the PNC/ AFC Government in 2016 and they yet shut down Wales!!)

There were all sorts of hue and cry from the APNU and AFC camps about the prorogation and the Western embassies took heed. The UK and the OAS demanded elections ASAP!! Your Eyewitness wonders why there’s this intriguing silence on the refusal of the Government to comply with the Constitution. Is this not also a “threat to democracy”?? Is this not also conducive to instability in the region – moreso, at a time when it’s absolutely necessary to prevent another meltdown in view of what is going on in next-door Venezuela??

Your Eyewitness doesn’t want to be an alarmist; but our ethnically divided society doesn’t need much provocation to tilt its politics over the edge. He candidly concedes the influence the Western countries have on the Government of Guyana because of our history and our common culture that’s based on democratic values.

Their intriguing silence at the Government’s intransigence not only sends the wrong signal about their commitment to democratic values.

It may suggest that there is some intrigue afoot? …about school shooter There seems to be more in the mortar than the pestle on the events surrounding the threat to the Nations’ School and the subsequent shooting of the Principal. Now, after the threat posted on Facebook by a student who was obviously disgruntled at being expelled – and certainly expressed this disgruntlement – most concerned observers thought it was an open-and-shut case.

But the suspect was supposed grilled by the cops – and then let go. Does this mean he had an alibi for the time when the ambush and shooting of the Principal took place?

The Police aren’t saying. Your Eyewitness hopes the case is solved with greater alacrity than the one over in Berbice where a student cuffed a head teacher in the face while out on the streets.

The point is violence in our schools is on the increase – most likely from, once again, imitating the behaviour from “foreign”. In most inner-city schools in the US, there are metal detectors to discourage knives and other weapons in the high schools.

Should we take pre-emptive action? …on AFC’s status While the AFC’s been agonising about its “relationship” with the PNC, the latter has stayed mum. One commentator suggested the relationship is one where AFC’s just a “utensil” of the PNC. A chamber pot or “potty”??

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

news

9

wedneSdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Current voters’ list valid & proper – GECOM Commissioner …says house-to-house registration unnecessary

H

ouse-to-house registration has been touted as necessary by Government Commissioners before elections can be held, but according to the Oppositionnominated Commissioners, the voters’ list is valid and such a process is wholly unnecessary.

Commissioners Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn were at the time appearing on a television programme.

On the programme, e “Elections 2019; what is GECOM’s mandate?”, the Commissioners were adamant that GECOM has the capacity to hold elections by March 19.

Commissioner Bibi Shadick noted that even if the list has a few deceased persons on it, there are checks and balances at polling stations to weed this out.

“We have a list. It is valid up to the 30th of April.

GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick That list was just proven at the Local Government Elections. There were no complaints from anybody.

Nobody challenged the list.

Nobody challenged the results of those elections. And we have to understand that that list is valid and proper,” she said.

Shadick also pointed out that the General Registry

Office (GRO) is supposed to be constantly helping to update this list.

“OK, we admit that there are dead people’s names on that list,” she hypothesised.

“But that’s not a difficult thing to take away. In fact, there are so many checks and balances at the polling stations, nobody that was dead and on that list went and vote at the (Local Government Elections).

“Names of dead people can be (removed), but that is an in-house process. That is the GRO giving information and according to the law, you remove names. That has nothing to do with going house to house and find out who is alive. To try and do house-to-house registration now is an effort, and I’m fully prepared to say it, to have them violate what the Constitution is asking for.

“We all understand that the government has fallen, Cabinet has to resign, and elections have to be called

within 90 days. Now that is what GECOM should know.

There is a work plan that they produced. Between then and now, there are other things that have happened. GECOM cannot be political! It is a constitutional agency.”

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

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

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix during a visit to the General Registry Office

after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

Government lost such a no-confidence vote on December 21, 2018.

However, there is no word on when elections will be held. In the meantime, there are several related court cases that rulings are expected for on Thursday.

Guyana Times under-

stands that with approximately 500,000 persons on the voters’ list, house-tohouse registration could take as much as six months.

Commissioners had said that $3 billion of GECOM’s budget was for this exercise. Back in November 2018, GECOM was able to deliver a LGE with limited hiccups using the same voters’ list.

CANU raids Charlestown house; large quantity of cocaine, ganja unearthed

R

Some of the narcotics found in parcels at the Charlestown residence during Tuesday’s operation

anks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) on Tuesday morning swooped down on a Charlestown, Georgetown, house where they unearthed a large quantity of cocaine and marijuana carrying in excess of $40 million in street value.

The intelligence-led operation was carried out at the St Stephen Street, Charlestown, home and lasted some seven hours. So far two persons – a male and female – were arrested, as CANU hunts for another suspect whom they believe might have a big role in the illegal trade.

Guyana Times understands that CANU ranks responded to intelligence of the “possibility of narcotics being stored at this location” and staked out the residence until they caught the suspect red-hand-

The two suspects being escorted out of the Charlestown house on Tuesday

ed.

“…We would have conducted our own surveillance and what we

saw was the person that we currently have in custody, he arrived this morning in the motorcar –

PPP 3008. Shortly after, we saw a 42 minibus arrive as well. The suspect went into the house and came out back with a black plastic bag, which he handed over to the driver of the minibus. Then (he) returned to the house and came out with another bag which he placed in the back seat of the car. Then he walked away up the street.

Basically, the ranks intercepted him then,” Deputy Head of CANU Leslie Ramlall told reporters at the scene on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Ramlall, after intercepting the suspect, he was taken back to his motorcar where he opened the vehicle for the ranks to conduct a search, during which they unearthed a black plastic bag containing cannabis.

Turn to page 10

10 news

wednESdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Albouystown teen slapped with “Queenie” appeals 18-year sentence for killing Bajan boyfriend gun possession charge

A

Section D, South Sophia, Greater Georgetown mother of two, Tramangra Williams, known as “Queenie” has challenged her 18-year prison sentence over the unlawful killing of her Bajan boyfriend 10 years ago.

Her appeal will be heard at the Appeal Court early February as the accused is reportedly moving to acquire an attorney.

Her sentence was handed down by Justice Navindra Singh in January 2014 for the December 27, 2008, stabbing of Tyrone McDonald Best. He died on January 3, 2009, whilst receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

It was reported that after considering the evidence during the High Court trial, a 12-member mixed jury found her not guilty of mur-

Tramangra Williams known as “Queenie” is challenging her prison sentence

der but guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter.

Justice Singh’s sentence was initially 30 years but he deducted 12 years for provocation and remorse shown as the offender had told the jury via an unsworn statement that she was sorry for what happened.

She has observed that

she loved him and never intended to stab him.

It was revealed during the trial that the Bajan accused his Guyanese partner of having an affair with her cousin’s father on the afternoon “Queenie” asked the older man for money and marijuana.

Her story was that while on the way to the home of her friend, Granny, he slapped her across the head and beat her across the body. After they got home, Tyrone reportedly aimed one of his boots at her head but she suddenly turned around with a knife and he supposedly charged into it and received injuries to his abdomen.

During the trial, the accused was represented by then Attorney Peter Hugh, now a Magistrate while then Senior State Counsel Judith Gildharie-Mursalin prosecuted the case.

Man remanded on cannabis charge

M

agistrate Judy Latchman on Tuesday refused to grant bail to a father of one who was nabbed by Police with more than 200 grams of cannabis in his possession.

Richard Bailey, 32, of Lot 150 Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, stood before the Georgetown

Magistrates’ Courts and denied the charge when it was read to him.

Particulars of the charge stated that on January 25, 2019, while in the vicinity of Turning Point, East La Penitence, Georgetown, he had 220 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris objected to bail based on the fact that the cannabis was found in a haversack the defendant was carrying at the time.

As such, bail was refused and Bailey was remanded to prison.

The matter will continue on February 25, 2019.

A

n Albouystown, Georgetown resident was on Tuesday arraigned on a charge of illegal firearm possession when he appeared before a city magistrate at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Eighteen-year-old Akelo Nurse, of Lot 273 Independence Boulevard,

Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus.

Although Police Prosecutor Adunni Inniss did not object to bail, she requested that conditions be applied.

Nurse was then granted

bail in the sum of $100,000 under the condition that he lodge his travel document (passport) and report to the Brickdam Police Station every Friday until investigations into the matter are completed.

The teen is expected to make his next court appearance on February 18, 2019.

CANU raids Charlestown house...

That discovery, the Deputy CANU Head noted, caused the ranks to search the premises. However, this newspaper understands that they had to await the necessary documentation to carry out the search hence, the operation went on for hours. “[We] conduct a search of the house and currently, we have a large quantity of suspected cannabis and maybe cocaine as well. What we’ve gathered as well this is narcotics that came out of Columbia…and this would’ve probably come within the last 48 hours, it arriving at this location,” Ramlall stated.

The narcotics were packaged off into small parcels.

By the end of the operation, the anti-narco officers drove off with the tray of a pick-up vehicle loaded with the illegal drug. At the time, Ramlall could not say the quantity of the narcotics found. However, uncon-

firmed reports suggested there are about 15 pounds of cocaine and approximately 100 pounds of cannabis Moreover, the CANU official could not say at the time whether the male suspect was living at the Charlestown residence.

However, he did reveal that the female was in the house all along. Both have since been taken into custody and are assisting with further investigations.

Meanwhile, with regards to the minibus, Ramlall told reporters that checks were made but no one was arrested. “[We] found the bus at home and conducted a search of that minibus and we didn’t find anything. Apparently, that person might have delivered whatever he had…

[He] could be a delivery man [or] could be somebody bigger than the delivery man, which we suspected so we’ll have to continue our investi-

From Page 9

gations,” the Deputy CANU Head stated.

Nevertheless, Ramlall lauded the successful collaboration between members of the public and the anti-narcotics body.

“It confirms that we continue to rely heavily on the support of members of the public as well as our intel-capabilities. And we’re thankful that we continue to get this kind of support from the members of public and the intel-community as well,” he stated.

Investigations into the major narco-find will continue.

Positioned on the South American continent with strong ties to the Caribbean region, Guyana has long been identified as a transhipment point for major drug trafficking activities as well other transnational crimes, which local authorities have been tirelessly trying to curb.

news

11

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP calls for external investigation into deaths of children at GPHC T he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has also made the call for an external investigation into the deaths of the three children who all lost their lives while receiving cancer treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to the Party in a statement, parents have certain expectations when they place their children in the care of healthcare institutions and they deserve answers.

Moreover, the PPP/C expressed its sincerest condolences to the families of sixyear-old Corwin Edwards, six-year-old Sharezer Mendonca, and threeyear-old Roshini Seegobin and urged the Georgetown

Sharezer Mendonca Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to provide answers.

Mendonca was taken to the Paediatric Ward on January 3, where she was administered with an in-

jection before undergoing treatment, but became unresponsive. She was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where her face started to swell and she later succumbed.

During the same period which Mendonca was admitted, three-year-old Seegobin visited the said medical institution for cancer treatment, but after returning home, her condition deteriorated. The leukaemia patient usually received treatment at the Hospital.

Guyana Times understands that another child, Curwayne Edwards, also passed away during this period after undergoing similar treatment. The injections were allegedly administered through the

Roshini Seegobin

children’s spinal cords. The use of the drug has reportedly since been discontin-

ued.

Rights of the Child Commissioner, activist Nicole Cole had also expressed her view that an external investigation which includes representatives from recognised and relevant organisations was more in keeping with transparency than the Hospital investigating itself.

Following the concerns raised, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence said the Ministry has reached out to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) for technical support in its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the passing of the three chil-

dren. In a statement, at her Brickdam office, Minister Lawrence noted that technical support was sought from PAHO to support the process of openness and transparency.

Meanwhile, PPP also expressed condolences to the family of Mae’s Secondary School student, 15-yearold Vanica Schultz, who allegedly took her own life at the educational institution on Thursday last.

According to the Party, the incident underscores the need for greater vigilance so that support mechanisms can be in place and accessible at times when our children are faced with difficult choices.

12 news

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

High Court orders GuySuCo to pay 1 month’s salary to transferred Wales cane cutters from their point of origin to the Uitvlugt Estate.

“It was dismaying notwithstanding the clear and unambiguous section of TESPA, the state-owned GuySuCo refused bluntly to respect the workers’ rights.

For us it was disconcerting that the corporation took on such an adamant position, going as far as issuing covert and overt threats to the

The defunct Wales Estate

N

early two months after the High Court ordered that exWales sugar workers be paid severance with interest; union representatives had to take legal action again to ensure that workers who took up employment at Uitvlugt received their one month’s pay benefit.

This came via the determination of Justice Sandil Kissoon who has ordered the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to pay retrenched Wales cane cutters who worked at Uitvlugt Estate following the closure of Wales Estate at the end of 2016.

These workers were meant to be paid one month’s pay in lieu of notice as of November 30, 2018, with the Court further ordering that they be paid four per cent interest per annum

up to December 5, 2018.

According to the representative body, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the January 21, 2019, order states to GuySuCo: “If you fail to comply with the terms of this order, you will be held in contempt of court and may be liable to imprisonment or to have your assets confiscated”.

Though the unemployed workers have received their benefits; those who went to Uitvlugt received severance payments, but did not benefit from the one month’s payout, GAWU noted.

The workers, along with their union have been saying all along that under the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA); they could not be compelled to travel 22 miles

concerned workers, though it was clearly on the wrong side of the law,” GAWU noted in a statement issued Tuesday.

Under TESPA, the employer is obligated to sever the workers when it was unable to provide similar work within a 10-mile radius. GAWU is left wondering if GuySuCo’s previous stance not to pay workers was shaped by the authori-

ties giving guidance and instructions. GAWU is hoping for good judgment to prevail.

In early November 2018, the National Assembly gave approval for almost $2.5 billion to cater for the remaining severance to 4723 sugar workers.

The High Court had ruled in 2018 that all workers severed by GuySuCo must be paid with interest

ranging from four to six per cent. Wales Estate was shut down in December 2016 while Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon were closed in 2017.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate Irfaan Ali has promised supporters that his Party will re-open the closed sugar estates should the PPP/C be elected to office.

LBI youth dies days after sustaining injuries in Police lock-ups – mother blames Police for death of son

A

68-year-old woman is calling for justice after her son, Kallicharran Sawak, 39, of Lot 3 La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara died on Monday afternoon at the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted.

He was reportedly found in an unconscious state in the Sparendaam Police Station lockups on January 21, hours after he was arrested for disorderly behaviour.

A distraught and tearful mother, Ramdai Sawak, told this newspaper that she is hoping that a thorough investigation into her son’s death can be conducted.

She explained that her son was intoxicated on

Thursday evening when he started to misbehave and even broke a window in her home when she became scared and called the police.

Sawak said that Police from Beterverwagting arrived at her home shortly after she called and took him over to the Sparendam Police Station where he was placed in a cell with others.

The woman said that her

that her son was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital in a critical condition.

Still shocked, the old woman said she rushed down to the hospital where she saw her son in a miserable state.

“We go to the Hospital and he bleeding from his eye and his head and not talking and he eye closed,” she re-

Sparendaam Police Station

daughter took food for him at the station on Sunday and she was not allowed to see him. The mother said that her daughter was told to leave the food because it was too early and they would give him the food.

It was the following Monday that they showed up at the Court where the now dead man was expected to be.

When she did not notice her son, Sawak said she enquired from a Magistrate who directed her to a police officer.

It was here she was told

called.

Sawak said she was shocked to see her son, who was a welder, in that state and tried to find out what happened from the Police at the Beterverwagting Station.

She said she was told, “He de behaving bad and they put he in a lock-up by heself and he de butting he head”.

The mother is contending that her son is not mad and would never have done such a thing. She is, therefore, calling for an impartial investigation to be done.

Dead: Kallicharran Sawack

She said, “I don’t think he would hit he head like that but God knows. Only God knows because when he go to the hospital he couldn’t ah talk or open his eye”. The family has since sought legal advice sought from Attorneyat-Law, Anil Nandlall.

Speaking with Guyana Times recently, Nandlall said that the Guyana Police Force has to give an account in relation to the injuries.

According to Nandlall, the Police Complaints Authority will be briefed on this issue as he made calls for an independent probe into the situation.

“Depending on how the matter unfolds, depending on what the findings are, we do not rule out the possibility of challenging the actions of the Police in the High Court or their omission to act in the circumstances to seek compensation for the injuries sustained,” the Attorney informed.

news

13

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Head Teacher bans parents from entering Mon Repos Primary School

A group of parents gathered outside the Mon Repos Primary School waiting for their kids

P

arents of pupils who attend the Mon Repos Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara on Tuesday protested the administration’s recent move to ban them from entering the school to visit their children since a laptop went missing.

According to the upset parents, a meeting was held with them on Monday where it was announced that they will no longer be able to visit the children during the day or even enter the school to pick them up or drop them off as a result of the missing device.

Two while the other is in Grade Five. She said, “My Grade Five child is a sickly child and I cannot enter the compound to take lunch for them. This morning (Tuesday) they tell us we cannot go in”.

That parent argued that she, like others, has no idea what was lost and would like to be able to enter the building as per normal again.

Priscilla Sukhnandan, another parent, explained, “My daughter is in Grade One and she doesn’t eat on her own. She only start (school in) September and apparently, you have to

Children playing in a grassy area of the school compound

The fuming parents complained that this drastic step would serve as a major difficulty since a lot of their children, especially those in Grade One, depend on their parents to use the washroom and even eat.

Rekha Singh, a mother who has two children attending the school explained that one of them is in Grade

give the guard your ID (Identification) card to go in there. I don’t know if is a jail your children in or what”.

She complained that the teachers are habitually late so parents are usually forced to stay in the classroom with the children until they arrive because the children would resort to mischief.

The parents said they

would be willing to use a visitor’s or parent’s badge, if the school provides, just so they can be with their children.

Meanwhile, another parent, Randolph Bissram told

this newspaper, “If you hear cry this morning, them (children) don’t want to go in which in them mother is go and put them in them class and see them guh”.

Bissram called for the removal of the Head Teacher as he blamed and accused her of being the root of corruption at the institution.

According to him, he attended the very school and never experienced an issue.

He complained that the present Head would usually victimise children if their parents speak out, while also alleging that she controls all the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) funds.

Although she controls these funds, the parents pointed to the fact that just recently the school bridge got partially damaged and even injured a child in the process. The bridge is yet to be repaired, the parents informed.

They also stressed the fact that their little ones are forced to play in a bushy and unsafe environment, which is likely a habitat for harmful reptiles.

Those parents are calling on the Education Ministry to make a speedy intervention into the issue.

When contacted, the Education Public Relations

Officer assured that he would look into the matter.

Earlier this month the Ministry was forced to intervene in a similar matter at the Diamond Primary School on the East Bank of Demerara.

Guyana Times understands that the ban on parents was imposed after a teacher reported that she allegedly lost her laptop there as well.

After a publication was done by this newspaper, an intervention was done by the Ministry which led to the parents being allowed to enter the premises again.

Woman brutally stabbed by children’s father

P

olice in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) are on the hunt for a man who wounded the mother of his three children on Tuesday morning, leaving the woman with several stab wounds and a gash at the back of her head.

Unika Stewart, 22, of Bagotstown, EBD, was reportedly stabbed with a pair of scissors before being hit with a piece of wood by the suspect who is known as “Trini” Smith of Bare Root, Enterprise Road, East Coast Demerara.

The incident occurred sometime around 08:00h at Cowpen Street, Eccles, EBD. It was reported that the 24-year-old victim had severed the relationship, which bore three children, with the suspect a few months ago due to domestic issues. However, the suspect kept on pursuing her.

Guyana Times understands that Stewart had gone to one of the suspect’s relatives to complain about his constant harassment on Tuesday morning when the incident occurred.

A cousin of the suspect, Mark Rhode, told this publication that Stewart went to speak with his mother at her Eccles home and his cousin arrived sometime after.

The young man said that “Trini” was troubled by the breakup especially since

Injured: Unika Stewart

Welfare had given sole custody of their three kids to the mother.

“He de threaten she that he going to the obeah man for she so they come by mother to settle things but from the time he come and meet she there, they start fight,” the cousin related. He claimed that Stewart snatched “Trini” and a struggle ensued be-

tween the two.

According to the cousin, Stewart began pulling the father of the children to go to her mother’s home in neighbouring Bagotstown but they continued fighting on the road.

“They fighting down the road and ended up in the gutter and then Trini pull out a scissors and he jook she up couple times all over,” the young man related. He recalled that he then saw his cousin walking up the road.

He said they rushed to the woman’s aid and threw water to revive her. The injured woman’s sister, Ashanna Spelling, said that after receiving a phone call that her sister was injured, they rushed to the neighbouring village where they saw a crowd gathered.

She noted that upon arriving at the scene, someone told her mother that it is her daughter lying on the road injured. Spelling said she im-

mediately dropped everything and rushed towards her sister.

Spelling confirmed that her sister was stabbed several times and has a “small fracture” at the back of her head but noted that the doctors said she is recovering.

She also confirmed that the suspect was having a hard time accepting that Stewart ended their 10-year relationship seven months ago.

Spelling noted that she began pressing on the woman’s wounds to stop the bleeding as residents tried to get help.

Eventually, the police arrived at the scene and took the injured woman to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where she was treated and transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. She was admitted to the city hospital in a critical condition.

Up to press time on Tuesday, Police were yet to apprehend the suspect.

14 news

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Development at Nations “horrific” – PPP …calls on Govt to take aggressive lead

This act came with what was considered warning signs from a social media account, believed to be created by students of the institution. The posts started on WhatsApp and moved to Facebook, where threats

were made to the lives of students. In one instance, two persons were mentioned in the online posts.

The guardians spared no opportunity to probe the ongoing investigation by the Criminal Investigation

Department (CID) of the Police Force. When contacted, a senior member of the Guyana Police Force related that an investigation is underway but could not divulge any information that could jeopardise same.

Guyana inks new rice agreement with Panama

D

T

Parents engaged in a meeting on Monday with the school’s administration

he Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said it is concerned about the “horrific developments” affecting the School of the Nations and urged the coalition Government to “stop treating this matter in a ‘business as usual’ manner and take a more aggressive lead in addressing the situation.”

In a statement, the Party said that “the safety of our children in schools must be of paramount importance.

This situation could have serious consequences for both the children at the school and the country at large.”

The Opposition’s remarks comes at a time when parents of students attending the School of Nations on New Market Street,

Georgetown, have expressed fear for their children’s safety at the institution in the wake of the recent shooting of the Director, Dr Brian O’Toole and the constant threats posted on social media allegedly by an expelled student.

Their distress was clearly voiced during an engagement with the school’s administration on Monday, as questions mounted about the level of security which has been adopted in recent days.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of School of Nations, Dr Dexter Phillips explained that they are installing additional security cameras at blind spots along with an increased security presence at the entrances.

It was indicated that the administration took a decision to not resume classes as per normal today with the assistance of the Guyana Police Force for increased support.

The school had to implement these measures after the Director was shot on Sunday night at about 21:44h at his Prashad Nagar home shortly after returning home from a restaurant.

The police report stated that the 64-year-old man returned home and secured his gate after entering. As he was about to open the door, a male suspect approached him, pointed a gun and discharged three rounds in his direction – two of which caught him in both forearms.

espite the tension between Guyana and Panama last year, the two countries have patched up their differences and have reportedly already signed on to a new agreement for the supply of rice.

This is according to President of the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association (GREMA), Rajindra Persaud during a brief interview with this publication on Monday.

He said, “Everything is resolved” and further informed that local rice millers were able to resend the correct shipment of rice which was ordered by the country, late last year.

According to him, a number of other shipments were sent to the country after the stumble on the part of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) which was responsible for running necessary checks and tests on the rice before it left Guyana.

It was at this point, that the President disclosed that the two countries have entered a new agreement. He was unable to give specifics on the contract but confirmed that the relationship between Guyana and Panama has been restored.

President of the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association, Rajindra Persaud

In October 2018, it was reported that Panama had rejected some 20 containers of rice from Guyana and another shipment was expected to leave to replace the faulty product.

Guyana’s rice was rejected upon arrival in Panama since it did not meet the stipulated specification as was outlined by that country.

“The containers are being reshipped to Guyana… the contract was for white rice, and parboiled was shipped instead; that is the

issue,” Persaud explained.

Back in 2014, Guyana had signed a five-year agreement with Panama, under the previous Administration, to have its product marketed.

With the collapse of the lucrative PetroCaribe (rice for oil) Venezuela market in 2015, the challenges faced within the rice industry have been significant.

The PetroCaribe deal was set to expire in November 2015, but Venezuela axed the rice deal months before the official due date.

However, Government had said that the Spanishspeaking nation may still be purchasing Guyana’s rice, but through neighbouring Suriname.

The PetroCaribe deal was sealed by then President Bharrat Jagdeo and late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Under this deal, Guyana was required to pay upfront a percentage of the cost of fuel acquired from Venezuela, with the balance, which was placed in the PetroCaribe Fund at the Bank of Guyana, being treated as a loan repayable over 23 years with a twoyear grace period and two per cent interest.

Drone owners, importers need permits – GCAA

I

mporters, owners and operators of drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are now being cautioned by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) against using the aerial device without a permit.

The Authority said on Tuesday that Guyanese are not permitted to use any such devices once it has a camera or provision for a camera unless a permit is obtained, further noting that anyone desirous of using such a device must submit a request in writing to the Authority.

“Request must include the name and address of the applicant and the name of the company for whom he is working, if applicable.

The request must also include details of the aircraft to be used, including the make, model, serial number and dimensions of the aircraft, as well as the type of power plant installed on the aircraft, and any other information requested by the Authority” GCAA stated in a release.

Moreover, the Aviation Authority noted too that it is sending out the remind-

er since, for the Christmas season, the Customs and Trade Administration of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has detained a large number of recreational drones imported into the country without the required permit. The Authority noted too that using a drone without a permit is a crime punishable by the laws of Guyana.

“No person shall operate an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, irrespective of the dimensions or maximum weight of that aircraft, for the purposes of obtaining, recording, or transmitting information, once it has a camera or provisions for a camera, unless that person has obtained written authorisation from the Authority to obtain, record,

or transmit such information,” GCAA stressed.

It was noted that application for the drone permits must be made to the Director General, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority at 73 High Street Kingston, Georgetown. The application process, which includes the required security clearance from the Guyana Police Force, can take up to a minimum of thirty working days.

GCAA added that operators of UAVs “will be prosecuted” for any breach of the Drones Directive and any other written Laws of Guyana being in force at the time of operation, “including but not limited to the Criminal Law Acts of Guyana, Customs Act of Guyana, and the Telecommunications Act of Guyana”.

news

15

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations AFC clutching at straws, openly and blatantly lying, but who believes them?

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) is in trouble, clutching at straws, trying to navigate itself into some relevance. Having been totally rejected, their leaders now possess absolutely no credibility. They held their National Executive Meeting last weekend, confirming that they depend on piggybacking on the People’s National Congress (PNC) for survival.

Notice, I said the PNC, because A Partnership For Dr Leslie Ramsammy National Unity (APNU) is nothing but the PNC. The other parties are just useless cosmetics. The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) is now a one-man show, just as Keith Scott’s party and the Justice Party. The PNC forced the AFC to go it alone in the November 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) and that LGE confirmed that the AFC is “dead meat”, exactly as Khemraj Ramjattan had warned before the 2015 elections.

Lying to people in politics is not new, but the AFC lies are blatant, wicked, and reckless. Fortunately, people have learnt their lesson and, whereas the lies did succeed in 2015, those lies and other lies do not fool anyone anymore.

This past week, they announced that the AFC will make education free from nursery to university. Education in Guyana is already free from nursery to secondary school, except for those parents who voluntarily decide to send their children to private schools. Essentially then, the AFC is promising free education at university level. This announcement followed several postings in social media that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is including free university education as part of its manifesto for the 2019 General and Regional Elections.

The AFC has two problems. First, it would be good for all political parties to agree that OIL money would be used to improve the education system and to ensure education is free from nursery to university. But as part of the coalition with the PNC, the AFC cannot deliver on that promise.

It will need the PNC to make that promise too. The AFC knows that because the PNC has called the shots since May 2015, the AFC has no say and is unwilling and unable to stand its ground.

The AFC is impotent. Even if the PNC agrees for free university education and joins the AFC, they face a second problem – who will believe them?

Since May 2015, the fees for university students have steadily increased. For most of the last two decades, the annual fee for the University of Guyana was $127,000, except for certain programmes, like law and medicine.

Since May 2015, the general fees have increased and for 2019, the fees are now around $210,000. There are also increases for the special programmes like law and medicine.

There have been several increases in special fees and there are some new fees also. The AFC has not just been silent, it has supported these increases. Now faced with an election and with total rejection from the population, the AFC is promising free university education.

This is the political party and the same leaders who promised before the last elections in May 2015 that no sugar estates will be closed. In government, in partnership with the PNC in its APNU form, they ruthlessly closed four sugar estates and ripped away the jobs of more than 7000 people. Not only did they take away the jobs of sugar workers, the sugar workers had to fight them for their severance. In fact, several thousands of them had to go to court and the court had to order the Government to pay.

The AFC actually went further in 2011 and in 2015 and promised sugar workers 20 per cent annual increases in wages.

The sugar workers have been denied any wage increase for four years now and there is not a single sugar worker who believes that they would get a wage increase in 2019. The AFC has been silent as injustices burdened the sugar workers into poverty, being an integral part of the decisions that affect sugar workers.

It lied to the sugar workers, to its own members, and to the nation.

There are other lies. They promised rice farmers $9000 per bag of paddy. The rice farmers today get less than 25 per cent of that. They promised rice farmers no delays in their payments from millers. Today, rice farmers wait for their payment, sometimes more than a year.

They promised zero corruption; corruption today is vulgarly rampant, centrally directed. They promised constitutional reform and, in spite of their own Prime Minister, a senior leader of the AFC, leading the process, constitutional reform has come to a total standstill. In fact, the AFC has actively played a role in railroading and disregarding the existing Constitution. Who believes anything the AFC says today? They are pathological liars.

Security to be boosted as Wismar Post Office recommissioned

T

he Wismar Post Office which was partially gutted by fire following a foiled robbery last year reopened its doors to the public on Monday with emphasis placed on boosting security at the entity.

The Post Office which utilises the lower flat of a two-storey building has been completely rehabilitated with a new perimeter fence.

Last month, four months after the entity was torched, rehabilitation works began after the inking of a contract funded by Government and facilitated by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Regional Chairman Renis Morian had stated that he was not pleased with the inconvenience and discomfort experienced by the community's senior citizens who depend on the services offered at the location.

Pensioners were forced to utilise services at the Mackenzie Post Office following the incident, which was reportedly plagued by overcrowding and other issues.

Following the fire, the RDC had lobbied for the swift repair of the Wismar

The newly-commissioned Wismar Post Office

Post Office and has since made calls for it to become an agency to be budgeted for, in light of difficulties in securing funding to conduct the repairs.

The interior of the building was reportedly set alight in the wee hours of August 2, 2018, after bandits forced their way into the building.

They reportedly encountered difficulties in accessing monies from a safe which was believed to contain oldage pension payments.

The safe, however, withstood the attempts and it is believed that the bandits

then set the building alight.

Pensioners who turned up to receive their old-age pension were unable to access pay-

ments due to the closure.

The incident has led to calls by residents and officials for more security since the entity has been hit by numerous robberies in the past. No arrests were made in relation to the 2018 fire and attempted robbery.

Meanwhile, the simple re-commissioning ceremony was attended by Postmaster General Karen Brown, Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) Raphael Massiah and Director Martin Gaul.

In addition, Regional officials including Chairman Renis Morian, Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph, pensioners and members of the GPOC were also present.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019

Regional

Venezuela moves against Guaido; US warns of “serious consequences”

T

he Trump Administration warned of “serious consequences” after Venezuela’s Government moved to freeze the bank accounts

of self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido on Tuesday, while State-run oil company PDVSA sought to sidestep US sanctions.

The sweeping sanctions

Venezuelan Opposition Leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido gestures as he attends a session of the Venezuela’s National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela, January 29, 2019

on PDVSA, announced on Monday and aimed at curbing crude exports to the United States and driving President Nicolás Maduro

from power, were the strongest measures yet against the 56-year-old former union leader who has overseen economic collapse and

an exodus of millions of Venezuelans in recent years.

The measures triggered higher global oil prices, angry responses from China and Russia and the first serious moves against Guaido since he challenged Maduro’s claim on the presidency last week.

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab said he had asked the Supreme Court to open a preliminary investigation into Guaido, accusing him of helping foreign countries to interfere in internal matters. He also asked the court to impose a travel ban on the 35-yearold leader and to freeze his bank accounts.

In response, US national security adviser John Bolton warned of “serious consequences for those who attempt to subvert democracy and harm Guaido,” in a

tweet that described Saab as the “illegitimate former Venezuelan Attorney General”.

The United States and several other countries have recognised Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate Head of State and denounced Maduro as a usurper. Maduro, sworn in on January 10 for a second term after disputed elections last year, accuses Guaido of staging a US-directed coup against him. Maduro is backed by a number of countries, including Russia.

Meanwhile, Maduro says he’s open to having talks with his opponents to resolve the political crisis in his country that has deepened since last week when Guaido declared himself interim leader, according to Caribbean360. (Excerpt from Reuters)

5 Vale staff and contractors arrested after Brazil dam disaster

T

hree employees of Brazilian miner Vale SA and two contractors were arrested on Tuesday, Prosecutors said, as a criminal investigation began after a devastating dam rupture expected to leave a death toll of more than 300 people.

Vale said it was cooperating with investigators in the case, which has enraged Brazilians and raised fresh questions about the company’s commitment to safety after a similar dam burst just over three years ago at a nearby mine it jointly owned.

Two of those arrest-

ed were Vale’s senior managers at the Corrego do Feijao mine, where a tailings dam broke on Friday, hammering the nearby town of Brumadinho with a flood of mining waste – according to a court order seen by Reuters. The job of the third Vale employee was not immediately clear.

Two other engineers, who worked for Germany’s TUEV SUED on a contract where they attested to the safety of the Vale dam, were arrested in Sao Paulo, according to state prosecutors and a spokesman for the German firm. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UN boss agrees to facilitate dialogue in Venezuela situation after meeting with Caricom leaders

F

ollowing a meeting with a delegation from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) on Monday, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has offered to facilitate discussion to help resolve the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.

The talks with Guterres at the United Nations came five days after the South American country’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president and received the backing of several countries, including the United States and Canada, while President Nicolás Maduro remained resolute that he is the rightful leader and resisted international pressure to step down.

Following those developments, Caricom Heads met among themselves and

agreed to seek an urgent audience with Guterres.

In a statement issued Monday night after the meeting, they said “the United Nations Secretary General extended his offer of good offices, circumstances permitting, to facilitate dialogue and negotiation between the parties”.

“The Caricom delegation indicated its readiness to work assiduously to bring the parties to the negotiating table,” it added, noting that the visiting leaders subsequently engaged with the various Permanent Representatives of Canada, Russia, the European Union and the African Union, as well as President Maduro and Mexico’s Foreign Minister, with a view to reduce tensions and build a platform for dialogue. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

17

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

US facing record low temperatures as polar vortex hits

T

he US will shiver this week in a once-in-a-generation deep freeze, forecasters warn.

The most extreme arctic blasts, caused by a spinning pool of cold air known as the polar vortex, could bring temperatures as low as -46C (-50F).

Weather officials in the state of Iowa have warned people to “avoid taking deep breaths, and to minimise talking” if they do go outside.

States of emergency have

been declared from Wisconsin down to Alabama.

John Gagan, a National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist, said: “The intensity of this cold air, I would say, is once in a generation.”

The NWS is warning that frostbite is possible within just 10 minutes of being outside in such extreme temperatures.

The coldest temperatures are expected to hit today, with forecasters predicting that Chicago will be colder than

Motorists have been told to pack extra supplies and to take extra care when travelling

Antarctica.

The Illinois city could ex-

perience a low of -27F, with freezing winds making that

Police arrest 6 in India over murder of ‘witch’ and her children

S

ix men in India have been arrested for killing a woman and her four children, including a 10-month-old baby, over suspicion that she was a witch who killed a girl, Police said on Tuesday.

Angry villagers broke into the woman’s home in eastern Odisha state and hacked her and her children to death with farm tools before dumping their bodies in a well, said

investigating officer Sushant Dash.

Dash said the six, including a local witch doctor, were charged with murder and other offences under Odisha’s Prevention of Witch Hunting Act on Sunday.

Dash said the villagers blamed the woman for the illness and death of a 12-year-old girl after the witch doctor - a traditional healer who treats

ailments believed to be caused by witchcraft - told them she had cast a spell on the child.

Campaign groups say superstition and occult beliefs are prevalent among people living on the margins of society with limited access to healthcare, education and development.

Villagers often consult local quacks who blame witchcraft for illness and prescribe ‘cures’ like burning sick children with

hot clay or iron, experts say.

“It is a form of violence against women and strict law alone cannot stop such crimes, we need to educate them,” said Anuradha Mohanty, head of the People’s Cultural Centre, a local child and women’s rights group. A 50-year-old man killed another woman in Odisha earlier this month, accusing her of using sorcery to make his son sick. (Excerpt from Reuters)

feel closer to -50F, officials say.

Thousands of schools and businesses, predominantly in the Midwest, have been closed as have a number of government agencies.

Dozens of so-called warming centres - emergency shelters for those with nowhere to go - have been opened in Chicago and other cities across the US.

Chicago has also seen some more unusual consequences of the cold weather.

Police in the city are also reporting that people are being robbed of their expensive, designer, coats at gunpoint.

Those wearing Canada Goose jackets, which can cost as much as £900 ($1,100), have been targeted, CBS News reports. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

dilbert

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Take precautions while traveling or doing something physical. An argument over something insignificant will zap your energy. Do your best to get along with others and to look for positive alternatives.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

An opportunity that comes along should not be ignored. Not everyone will be in favor of a decision you make, but you have to do what’s best for you. Personal improvements can be made.

CANCER

Use your skills appropriately. A partnership will need an adjustment if you cannot agree on how to best move forward. Don’t rely on a handshake; get what you want in writing.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

WORD GAME

Think things over and follow through on your conclusions. You’ll get the help you need to carry out your plans.

A personal change will encourage you to take better care of your health. Romance is highlighted.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

Networking functions will promote new opportunities. If you connect with a former co-worker, you’ll be given inside information that can help you advance.

Uncertainty regarding personal matters will develop. Take your time and wait for all the facts to be revealed before you take action. Someone you trust will offer sound advice.

If you challenge yourself mentally, you will discover something you are not only good at doing but enjoy as well. You’ll make a good impression on someone who shows interest in you.

Keeping a steady pace and sticking to interesting projects that require creative input will help keep you out of trouble. Don’t reveal personal information or opinions.

Listen to your heart and SAGITTARIUS sign up for something that (Nov. 23- could help make your life Dec. 21) better. Moderation, fitness and proper diet are encouraged, and romance is favored.

solution for YESTERDAY’s puzzle

Be a leader, not a followCAPRICORN (Dec. 22- er. If you let someone talk Jan. 19) you into something that you have doubts about, you’ll end up regretting it. Do your own thing.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Update the way you present yourself and your capabilities. Success is within reach if you are enthusiastic and open to suggestions. Personal gain is favored.

Rely on your allies. Call in favors and be prepared to face shady situations and manipulative people. Be on guard and prepared to protect your position.

wedneSdAY, January 30, 2019

19

Callum Hudson-Odoi: Chelsea boss Jamaica Scorpions recall Blackwood, Powell can't make promise over game time for overseas games C J helsea manager Maurizio Sarri says he cannot guarantee Callum Hudson-Odoi firstteam football but that the club do not plan to sell him this year.

The 18-year-old, who has 18 months left on his contract, has been the subject of a £35 millon bid from Bayern Munich.

He also handed in a transfer request after concerns about playing time.

"The club told me he's out of the market [in January] for sure and probably he will be out of the market in July," said Sarri.

"On the pitch he's doing very well. I'm really very happy with him.

"I'm not very happy with the situation, but I know very well that every big team here in England has the same problem.

"It's not easy to keep these young players. He is of course one of the best 18-year-old players in Europe, so it's very, very difficult."

Hudson-Odoi has not made a Premier League start for Chelsea and has made just three substitute appearances in the top flight this season.

He did start in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday and scored his second goal for the club in the 3-0 victory.

"It's impossible to promise him that he will play every match, because it depends on the situation," added Sarri.

"He's improving. I think he'll be the future of our club. He will be the future of English football."

Meanwhile, Chelsea have s i g n e d Juventus

the next round of the FA Cup and take on Malmo in the Europa League round of 32 before playing Manchester City in the League Cup final on 24 February.

"I thought for us it was important to have two players. One has arrived. I am waiting for the other," Sarri said.

"If he will arrive, I will be very happy, otherwise I have to work with these players.

It's not a big problem for me." (BBC Sport) Gonzalo Higuain

striker Gonzalo Higuain on loan for the rest of the season and Sarri is hoping for one more arrival before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

The Blues, who are battling for a top four spot in the league, face Manchester United in

ermaine Blackwood and Rovman Powell have been selected to a 13-man Jamaica Scorpions squad that left Jamaica on Monday for St. Kitts where they play the Leeward Islands Hurricanes starting January 31.

At the conclusion of that game, the Scorpions head for Guyana where they play the championship leaders, Guyana Jaguars from February 7-10.

Blackwood and Powell come in at the expense of Jermaine Levy and Andre McCarthy who were both dropped from the that defeated the Windward Volcanoes in Grenada last week.

Otherwise, the squad remains unchanged with Paul Palmer retaining the captaincy of the squad that now goes in hunt of a second win.

“We’re looking forward to these two games. One team is at the head of the table and the other is second, so they are playing good cricket. We just have to go out there and execute our plans,” said Palmer, who contracted pneumonia shortly after the team returned from Grenada last week.”

“We are looking forward to the challenge.”

He welcomed the return

of Blackwood and Powell to the team believing that their experience will benefit the team against the top two teams in the championships.

“They are good additions.

They are Windies players, having them around is always a plus and an added boost to the squad and we are looking forward to going and win these games.”

As for his own situation, Palmer said he is taking things one day at a time.

“I am recovering from pneumonia. I came back

Jermaine Blackwood

Murray undergoes hip surgery in London LeBron participates in full contact F scrimmages, remains day-to-day

ormer world number one Andy Murray has undergone a hip resurfacing surgery in London, the 31-year-old Scot said on Tuesday.

Murray has struggled to regain form since undergoing hip surgery last year and was knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open earlier this month, having said the tournament could be his last as a professional.

H i s post on

Andy Murray

Instagram featured an X-ray picture of his hip.

“I now have a metal hip,” Murray wrote in his post.

“Feeling a bit battered and bruised just now but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain.”

In an emotional news conference in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open, Murray announced he would retire this year, preferably after a farewell

appearance at Wimbledon.

The two-time

Olympic champion told BBC this month that surgery was the only option if he wanted to extend his career. “There is a strong possibility I won’t come back and play after an operation.

I want to play tennis, but not with the hip I have right now,” he said.

The ATP Tour posted a tweet in support for Murray: “Get well soon Andy, we know you will do everything to get back on tour!”

Three-time Grand Slam Murray initially had surgery on his right hip in January 2018 and has played 15 matches since returning to action last June.

He was due to play in next month’s Marseille Open but withdrew from the tournament last week. (Reuters)

L

eBron James continues to make progress towards returning to the court, participating in full contact scrimmages on Monday for the first time since straining his groin in December.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar remains listed as day-to-day and head coach Luke Walton is preparing to be without the three-time NBA champion for the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

But Walton did not rule out the possibility of James taking to the court.

from Grenada with it. So far it has been good so let’s see how it goes when we get down to St. Kitts, then the first training session. Let’s see how I handle that.”

The Jamaica squad is Paul Palmer (Capt), Oraine Williams, Chadwick Walton, Assad Fudadin, Jermaine Blackwood, Kenroy Williams, Aldane Thomas, Derval Green, Brandon King, Reynard Leveridge, Jerome Taylor and Dennis Bulli. (Sportsmax)

"We'll see how his body responds to [scrimmages]," Walton said. "From there we'll take it as far as making those scrimmages longer, or if he says, 'Hey I feel great, I'll see if I can play,' then we'll make those adjustments."

James originally suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Lakers' win over the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day. He has missed the Lakers' last 16 games and the teams have gone 6-10 in his absence. The Lakers signed James to a four-year,

LeBron James

$153.3million contract in July. He is averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game this season. (Sportsmax)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wedneSdAY, January 30, 2019

England batsmen’s Test record poor at Sir Viv Richards Ground – Holder, Brathwaite current WI players with tons at venue

By Clifton Ross

A

score a century at the venue.

With England obviously playing an entirely newlook team with the exception of James Anderson, who has been around ever since England won their last series back in 2004 – it is left to be seen which players could break the four-year jinx at the ground.

Windies, meanwhile, are brimming with confidence which stemmed from their 1-0 advantage. Holder’s double ton highlighted the game with Shane Dowrich supporting with a century of his own as Windies looked like a formidable batting unit.

England will need to be extra wary of Holder as his confidence is super high at the moment while remnants of his 202 not out will be taken into this match as he’s likely to resume his knock.

s if their crushing defeat in the first match didn’t cast a dark cloud over their camp, England will be entering the second Test in Antigua with a poor batting record at the Sir Viv Richards Ground.

Batting won the first Test and England’s classy line-up failed to fire against the hostility and the homefield knowledge which the Windies bowlers utilised to the fullest in order to achieve a mammoth 381-run win.

The last time an England team played at the venue was back in April.

During that tour, just two English batsmen managed to defy conditions and the bowlers to register centuries – Ian Bell and Gary Ballance.

Bell hit 143 while Ballance scored 122 to help England draw the match, but apart Kemar Roach from their twin tons, no other English player has managed to

Also, with Windies too having a new-look side, Holder and Kraigg Brathwaite enter the match as the only players with tons under their belts at the venue.

The Windies skipper had made his first century against the English back in the 2015 Tests where he hit another unbeaten score of 103; making his presence heavier while his 202 runs makes him the third leading Windies run-getter at the ground.

Brathwaite, who is also the leading run-scorer at the venue behind legendary batsman Shiv Chanderpaul, has 241 runs from four games played there and just needs two more Test runs to surpass Chanderpaul as the Windies and overall batsman with the most runs at the venue.

The Windies Vice Captain looked good in the

Joe Root and centurion Ian Bell running between the wickets during their match in 2015

First Test and smashed 121 as recent as July of 2018 against Bangladesh and could look to tap into his love of the venue and build on his recovering form.

England Captain Joe Root, who failed in the first Test, remains a big player among the two sides and his 107 versus the West Indies during the 2014 One-Day International (ODI) series should serve as a reminder to himself of the adaptability and understanding he has at the venue. Root is the most successful batsman in the English XI with regard to stats at the venue with 142 runs coming from just the one Test he played back

in the 2015 series – with a top-score of 83 to his credit.

For the bowlers, just Anderson’s four career wickets make England’s headline at North Sound while Kemar Roach, who blew away England with 5-17 in the first Test as they were skittled out for a record low of 77 all out, could be considered the king of the site.

The right-arm speedster is not only the leading wicket-taker overall with 17 scalps, but his best figures of 5-8 against Bangladesh makes him the most successful bowler in the world to play at the venue.

His buddy and new-ball partner Shannon Gabriel

with seven victims is another beneficiary of the Sir Viv Richards Ground. The speedster snatched 5-88 in the Bangladesh series last year and trails Roach and skipper Holder, who has eight wickets at the venue, but maintains an equally good record in comparison.

With Roach, Holder, and Gabriel being the most successful bowlers at the venue coming into the match and the skipper and vice skipper being among the leaders with the bat, it seems that the Windies will be gunning to wrap up the three-match series should they invoke the spirit of their past success playing in Antigua.

Khabib, McGregor Manchester United in talks with suspended for Chinese club over sale of Fellaini UFC 229 brawl U FC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor both received retroactive bans for their role in a post 229 brawl in October 2018.

The Nevada Athletic Commission handed down the bans and fines during a hearing on Tuesday.

Khabib’s nine-month ban could be reduced to six months if he cooperates in the filming and distributing of an anti-bullying public

service announcement. He was also fined US$500, 000 McGregor received a sixmonth retroactive ban as well as a $50,000 fine which means that he will be free to fight for the UFC from April 6th.

Khabib’s brother Abubakar Nurmagomedov received a one-year ban and a $25,000 fine by the commission for jumping the cage following the main event while Zubaira Tukhugov also received the same

ban and fine. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani outlined that he believes the bans for Khabib’s teammates mean that the current lightweight king will not fight until their suspensions are finished.

Khabib defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 229 via submission in the fourth round to retain his lightweight title however the two fighters’ parties were involved in a pull-apart brawl which soured proceedings following the main event.

(Pundit Arena)

Marouane Fellaini has made 21 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United this season

M

anchester United are in talks with a Chinese club about the sale of Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

The name of the club concerned has not been revealed but the Chinese transfer window does not close until 28 February.

United are refusing to say whether a fee has been agreed for the player.

Fellaini, 31, was

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor to reach 27/0

the first major signing of the post Sir Alex Ferguson era, joining for £27.5m on deadline day in the

2013 summer transfer window.

The Belgian has never won over the United fans, even though he was regularly selected by David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

He allowed his contract to run out at the end of last season but subsequently signed a new twoyear deal that is not due to expire until 2020. (BBC Sport)

sports

CLASSIFIED ADS

Volleyball close to achievement

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019| www.guyanatimesgy.com

of future plans

services HOUSE PLANS. DRAWN OR ESTIMATE. GIVE US A CALL ON 216-0671/6928464/622-0267.

FACEBOOK: K. LAKERAM CONSTRUCTION

SPIRITUALITY

– referee training course important

HAVING PROBLEMS SUCH AS HEALTH, MARRIAGE, LOVE LIFE, MONEY AND CHILDREN. REMOVE OBSTACLES OF ANY KIND. I CAN HELP. CALL FOR APPOINTMENT 600-1494

WANTED 1 HOUSE KEEPER, 1 COOK, 1 PUMP ATTENDANT, 1 BILLING CLERK. CONTACT 624-0033 OR 680-3863 GVF President Levi Nedd

NOT

RECEIVING YOUR

DAILY & SUNDAY

21

W

ith 2019 now fully in motion, the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) will be seeking to host a number of ac-

tivities in the future so as to further prepare players and officials alike for the year’s calendar.

The GVF has been undergoing a lot of changes as of recent with the election of long-time National Head Coach and former player Levi Nedd as President for the 2019 period.

The Federation got its 2019 season off to a good start with the first-ever outdoor tournament held at the Marriott Hotel beach front.

The tournament was used to identify players who will represent Guyana at the national level at the various overseas tournaments and invitational events which the teams have

been a part of over the years.

The recent beach tournament, organised by GVF Committee Head Dwayne Scott, was no different as it played a key role in getting players in form ahead of the new year of activities.

Nedd pointed out recently that the main plans were to get players competition-ready for 2019 and the final for the beach tourney was important, but the GVF was still assessing a date to host the final leg.

He also highlighted that the training course as crucial for the development of the Federation, as it will further help to bridge the gap between Guyanese referees officiating games locally and internationally.

Also, the tourney’s first set of games were merely a

prelude to the final, which according to the GVF Head, is slated to be held in the near future.

With a few players already selected from the last trials – Quacy Matheson, Juan Velazquez and Vance Harding for the males with Candacy Mentore and Philana Sampson filling the slots for the ladies – the final phase of the beach event will help the selected players get properly acclimatised ahead of their trip to Brazil a few months from now.

Looking to perfect all areas of growth, the GVF will also be hosting a referees clinic in the near future, according to the President.

The course, which has not been given a confirmation start date, is geared towards making officials properly

equipped to make the right calls during a match.

The course, which is a refresher for some, will target referees, both potential and accredited, across Guyana.

Although a venue has not been set for the course, owing to the mandatory request by the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) to have officials trained, it was confirmed that the course will play a key part in the Federation’s upcoming agenda.

Meanwhile, players will continue to train across the respective counties namely Demerara and Berbice under their Coaches, as they will be seeking to get into the best possible playing form ahead of the next local event lined up by the GVF.

Foakes hoping to redeem himself OF THE after Barbados horror show GUYANA B TIMES COPIES

in your area?

Contact our

Circulation Department on Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

en Foakes hopes he will get a chance to redeem himself in the second Test against West Indies, but knows he can have no complaints if he is dropped by England.

The wicketkeeper-batsman endured a miserable opening match of the series in Barbados, scoring seven runs across the two innings and only taking two catches behind the stumps.

Foakes was far from alone in not performing, though, as the tourists suffered a 381-run hammering in the first of three Tests in the Caribbean.

England are almost certain to make changes for the second match, which starts on Thursday, and Foakes knows he must improve if he retains his place.

Ben Foakes

"I didn't perform last game, so I can't sit there and say 'Why did you drop me'," Foakes told reporters.

"I did really well in Sri Lanka and I completely

want to play the next game.

But we lost by 300-odd runs and if a change is needed, a change is needed.

"You can't think 'am I going to get picked; am I not

going to get picked?' It will drive you crazy. I'm just preparing for the next game. If I get the nod, I get the nod. If not, then good luck to whoever does.

"There are so many distractions in cricket - so many things out of your control - and if I start thinking about them, it won't be good for me mentally.

"I didn't think I'd be in Sri Lanka. Then I thought I would have one game and then Jonny [Bairstow] would be back. And then I did well and kept the spot.

"So throughout my career, I've always felt, not that it's a bonus and I don't want to say I feel lucky to be here, but that things have fallen into place, so it's just up to me to take the opportunity.

"If I try and do my best then I'm satisfied. If I can get a chance and give everything I've got, you can't have too many regrets." (Sportsmax)

Arsenal close to signing Barcelona midfielder A

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

rsenal are close to completing the signing of Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez.

The Spaniard, 25, will join the Gunners on loan until the end of the season, with a purchase option in the summer.

Suarez has played 71 times for Barcelona since joining in 2013 but has only featured eight times this season.

He previously played under Gunners manager Unai Emery during a loan spell at Sevilla when Emery was in charge of the La Liga side.

Arsenal had targeted Suarez throughout the January transfer window but their pursuit was com-

plicated by wanting the deal to include only an option to buy and Barcelona demanding it be an obligation.

Reports in Spain suggest that, as a compromise, Suarez agreed to extend his current contract - which expires in June 2020 - in order to protect his value to Barcelona and encourage them to allow him to move to the Emirates Stadium.

He will not be in attendance for Tuesday's visit of Cardiff City in the Premier League.

Suarez spent two seasons at Manchester City as a teenager but only made two first-team appearances before being sold to Barcelona as a 19-year-old.

The Gunners remain in was forced off during the FA United on Friday - is not exnegotiations to sign a wide Cup defeat by Manchester pected to be out for long. (BBC Sport) player - Inter Milan's Croatia international Ivan Perisic is among the options being pursued, with Belgium winger Yannick Carrasco of Chinese club Dalian Yifang another to have been linked.

Despite a number of injuries, Arsenal are not likely to bolster their defence.

Captain Laurent Koscielny could be in contention to return in time for Sunday's trip to Manchester City, while Sokratis Papadopoulos Denis Suarez has one cap for Spain - who like Koscielny

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019

“We must not be the stepchild”– Hinds

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

T

Griffith, Bishoo, Joseph excluded from 6th round squad

… former GABF President makes call for better funding he Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has one too many times found itself on the asking side when it comes to obtaining funds to offset topnotch i n terna-

tional competition expenses.

Just last year, the Federation made several public appeals, begging Government to do better when it could not acquire funding in time for a basketball championship in neighbouri n g

Former GABF President Nigel Hinds

Suriname. As a true testament to his time in office, former President Nigel Hinds, just before he handed over the mantle to Michael Singh, had a few bold requests as it relates to funding the blossoming Federation.

“It is often said that much more needs to be done by the Government and you cannot be more accurate in that statement,” Hinds declared in his final presidential remarks.

Explaining the plight of the Federation, Hinds said that the problem needed to be addressed at the root – the national budget.

“The problem is that it starts at the budget level, and the budget is $1 million set out for 20-plus

sport disciplines when they need about $10 billion as a starting point to probably address the sports concerns and needs from youth to the senior level.”

The former President went on to highlight a few areas in which more funding can help to propel the sport, outside of just having a team travel overseas for a tournament.

“In particular in the schools, where you need coaches and you need proper playing facilities,” he said.

However, the former GABF Head was careful to note that funding was not always an issue. As he explained, Hinds referenced that a $10 million donation in 2014 would have been adequate at the time.

But, owing to the Federation evolving and producing a higher standard of players and furthermore, better competitions, it is now in need of more to maintain that standard and propel itself upward.

“Now $10 million could probably just fund one team for one championship. So we’ve raised the bar,” Hinds stated.

Reflecting on his presidency, he disclosed that he often ‘fought fire with fire’ when the Federation was denied funds it direly needed. An example of this was when Hinds had asked for a sum of $10 million to fund a senior men’s and women’s team at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships (CBC).

Citing this, he noted that systems should have been in place to have monies granted for such competitions, rather than having the Federation ‘beg’.

“We didn’t want to grovel and whine for monies, which should have been allocated voluntarily,” he disclosed.

In his assessment of the situation, the President, who served from 2014 to 2018, noted that much more could be done, but it boiled down to having persons who were selflessly willing to help.

“So that’s something that we can try to change, but it comes down to having politicians with that vision and appreciation for the importance of sports,” he noted.

As such, in his capacity of outgoing president, Hinds sought to make a bold call to Government and corporate Guyana alike, urging them to be more involved in the welfare of the Federation.

“So, this is a call to the politicians, the corporate community, and the Non-Governmental Organisations, particularly the Guyana Olympic Association who I think could do much more for basketball. We must not be the stepchild or the pariah and you’re throwing grains at us. We merit a five or 10 million [dollars],” Hinds said.

Devendra Bishoo

T

he official 13-man squad for the Guyana Jaguars’ sixth-round clash against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force has been announced.

Unsurprisingly, Vishaul Singh, Raymon Reifer and Chanderpaul Hemraj returned to the formidable Jaguars unit.

The first ball of the match will bowl off tomorrow, Thursday, January 31 from 10:00h at the Queens Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago.

Opening batsman Trevon Griffith made way for fellow opener Hemraj. The Enterprise-bound Windies ODI player, Hemraj missed the fifth-round clash against Hurricanes owing to Cricket West Indies (CWI) President’s XI duties, where he played against England in a pair of two-day practice matches.

Meanwhile, right-arm fast bowler Keon Joseph, who sat out the fifth-round clash against Leeward Islands Hurricanes, found himself out of the squad, which now includes six seam-bowling options. The likes of Romario Shepherd, Clinton Pestano, Raymon Reifer, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Christopher Barnwell are seam-bowling options that offer support with the bat. The 33-year-old Devendra Bishoo h a s

sustained an injury which left the Jaguars with only two spinners in the squad.

The Denesh Ramdin-led Trinidad and Tobago Red Force team suffered three defeats, including a 76-run defeat in their first match of the season against Windward Islands Volcanoes and a 245-run loss against Hurricanes. Red Force bounced back with a 157run win against Jamaica, but then lost to Barbados Pride by seven wickets, in their see-saw season.

Red Force will be aiming for a change of fortune in their fifth match of the season, having played three of their home matches at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba and one match in Kingston, Jamaica. Guyana’s arch-rivals will be playing their first match of the season at their fortress, the Queens Park Oval, in Portof-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

The Leon-Johnson-led Jaguars unit is the top-ranked team this season with 85.6 points while their opponents, Red Force have 33 points.

Barbados Pride will clash with Windward Islands Volcanoes, and Leeward Islands Hurricanes will meet Jamaica Scorpions in the other fixtures set to bowl off on Thursday.

Full Guyana Jaguars squad reads: Tagenarine Chanderpaul; Chanderpaul Hemraj; Raymon Reifer; Leon Johnson (Captain); Vishaul Singh; Anthony Bramble; Christopher Barnwell; Romario S h e p h e r d ; Veerasammy P e r m a u l ; Gudakesh Motie; Keemo Paul; Sherfane Rutherford and Clinton Pestano.

Rayon Griffith will remain Head Coach for the second time this season while Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the Assistant Coach and Neil Barry Jr is the team’s physiotherapist.

(Brandon Corlette)

Trevon Griffith (Brandon Corlette photos)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, January 30, 2019

CPL 2019 draft scheduled for May 22, says Pete Russell

23

– each team to retain 4 players

By Brandon Corlette

T

he largest sporting event in the Caribbean, the auspicious Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will begin from August 21 this year, with the first match set to bowl off in Trinidad.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of CPL, Pete Russell revealed that Guyana would host its first match on August 22 at the National Stadium Providence.

Russell disclosed that the CPL player draft is the next planned event for CPL that will take place on May 22, two months later than last year, at the familiar venue in London, United Kingdom. In 2018, the draft took place at Gfinity eSports Arena in London on March 1, 2018.

The COO explained that the UK would be a place of interest during May, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup taking shape from May 30, in the United Kingdom. The rules of the players draft will be different this season, with a team having the advantage of retaining only four players.

The 2019 CPL draft is expected to be of more interest with teams vying to retain their best players; Russell and the CPL management were impressed with the performances of the emerging talents that the 2018 CPL produced, especially the young players in Guyana, in Shimron Hetmyer,

Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford.

Owing to the superior quality shown by the players in the Caribbean, Russell disclosed that teams in CPL 2019 will have only four overseas players per team. The CPL management and the Cricket West Indies (CWI) are working cohesively to introduce an “elite 12”, which includes young players from the Caribbean that are yet to announce themselves on the international arena. Russell told this publication that these 12 players will play for different teams across the CPL; this will aid in the development of cricket in the West Indies.

In the 2018 CPL draft, a total of 227 overseas players were listed and 121 West Indian players were listed. The 2019 CPL draft will see more exciting West Indian players listed. The draft will be modelled after the familiar Indian Premier League’s where the teams are allowed to retain four of their own players from last season. The four retained players will not be included in the draft, but their draft price may alter.

The CPL window period has shifted owing to the ICC schedule, and the CPL is aiming to facilitate all West Indian players. With India scheduled to tour the West Indies later this year, CPL are seeking to accommodate all the Windies players to meet the needs of the cricket fans.

More matches are expected to take place at the Caribbean venues, but matches in Florida are still on the cards, as the

CPL has diversified its cricket in recent seasons, introducing “the biggest party in sport” to the United States of America.

Meanwhile, Russell told this publication that the Jamaica Tallawahs will remain on the CPL agenda. “Jamaica is a power-house and we want the fans to witness them in CPL 2019,” Russell stated.

Over the past years, CPL fans have been buzzing about Indian players to feature in CPL; Russell was precise in his response, stating that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has a strict commercial product in the IPL and Indian players will not be featured in CPL. It remains on the CPL wish list to meet the fans’ needs and include the likes of Virat Kohli, but it remains the reality that Indian players are not permitted to play other T20 leagues, including CPL. Russell thanked the Guyanese fans for their continuous support over the past years, stating “CPL will not be the same without the Guyanese fans”.

The 2019 CPL will be a record-breaking event and it will continue to improve as the years progress.

CPL COO Pete Russell

Guyana benefits from US$25M CPL economic impact T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is steadily growing as one of the most popular summer events in Guyana, and the numbers are now testimony to this fact. Unlike the previous five years, CPL had a historic 2018 in Guyana where the country moved from hosting four-five games to a massive seven, inclusive of two play-off games.

As expected, the additional games were well received in the home of the Amazon Warriors where patrons flocked the Providence National Stadium each night, resulting in seven sold-out matches in Guyana.

In the case where crowd photos were the only testament to the support that CPL and Guyana were receiving, an enormous figure disclosed by “the biggest party in sport” has now proven that those assumptions were correct.

“It’s not surprising that we increased the revenue obviously, because we had more games here, but I think what did surprise us is that we were able to get the support that we got across all seven games and that’s very exciting going forward.”

Those were the senti-

ments expressed by CPL’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Pete Russell as he reflected on a whopping US$25 million impact that was made by the Hero CPL on Guyana’s economy in 2018.

That figure was recently revealed by Hero CPL, taking into account seven matches played at the Providence National Stadium on August 9, 11, 12 and September 8, 9, 11 and 12, 2018.

Last year’s US$25,515,816 figure is an 80 per cent increase on the 2017 figure.

In the exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, Russell went on to list a few sectors that were considered in the enormous figure.

“So, last year, we provided over $25 million in terms of economic impact for Guyana and that’s made up in a number of ways.

Visitors coming in, what we spend in the country and then what local vendors are making themselves. As well as all the promotional activity that goes on, because we increased our TV viewers to over 200 million globally,” Russell explained.

In addition to this, Hero CPL was responsible for some 468 jobs created and 7654 hotel rooms filled in Guyana.

Speaking on the boom in the hospitality sector, Russell stated, “So the Guyana brand is getting a great deal of visibil-

ity around the world, but if you drill Guyana to the numbers; what is fascinating for us is because we split the season in August and September, actual arrivals in Guyana are up 40 per cent. CPL is obviously the biggest thing that happened in September.”

In a breakdown of the logistics, the total media exposure for Guyana came in at US$8.2 million, which is more than twice the number that was calculated in 2017.

Furthermore, the “biggest party in sport”, CPL expended US$1.29 million in Guyana for the duration of

the 2018 season. Almost half of that sum, 43 per cent to be exact, went towards suppliers and local staff. With US$978,000 spent in 2017 as comparison, the 2018 number was a more-than-significant increase.

For Hero CPL, this increase is a key aspect of their vision.

“For us, yes, what we do on the pitch is very important, but it’s also important that we provide that assistance …around the region, so economic impact is a large part of our key performance indicators (KPIs) in terms of performance,” Russell explained.

CPL is eager to return for the 2019 season, which will begin on August 21.

With the possibility of seven games being hosted at Providence, the COO is upbeat about the electric crowd that will once again overflow the Guyanese venue.

“To fill the stadium seven times over was a major achievement, and again, it’s all about fans. We don’t experience anything like this across the Caribbean.

They’re great cricket lovers; they love to support their team.” (Jemima Holmes)

wednESdAY, January 30, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CPL 2019 draft scheduled for May 22, says Pete Russell Page 23

– each team to retain 4 players

Volleyball close Guyana benefits to achievement from US$25M CPL of future plans economic impact Page 21

Page 23

– referee training course important GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.