Guyana Times - Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Guyana, UK sign trade agreement P12 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3876

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019

PRICE

Unconstitutional insertion

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Constitution never spoke of absolute majority – former senior Judge …says appellate ruling means dual citizens must now choose Page 3

PPP files Commonwealth no-confidence delegation to meet appeal at CCJ Page 7

with GECOM

8 homeless as Amelia’s Ward house goes up in flames

Page 11

…sets up new unit

Miner charged for murder of P10 cousin

801 child abuse cases recorded in 2018 P2

Teen charged for stabbing P8 friend to death

Viral video shows NA Tech Institute student violently assaulting colleagues

Miner takes Govt to court for building Mahdia Magistrate’s Court on his land Page 11

GTT taps into oil and gas P13 sector

Page 9

…asks court to urgently review Appeal …Commissioners clash over ‘election 2019’ discussions Court’s “absolute” majority decision Page 10

$80 vat included

Venezuela P4 crisis: Day off as fresh power cuts shut down services

2 news

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Viral video shows NA Tech Institute student violently assaulting colleagues

T

he Education Ministry has launched an investigation into a video which appeared on social media and went viral in which a student of the New Amsterdam Technical Institute is seen violently assaulting three other students in a classroom.

In the video, the teen is seen taking off his belt and using it to inflict blows which were mostly targeted.

The video had angered many who viewed it and have since called for the police to arrest the student. The student is also seen slapping one of the other students in a classroom.

In a statement to the media on Tuesday, the Education Ministry said the investigation was launched after the video emerged on social media.

“The Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEOTechnical) and the Institute’s administration have been advised by the Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, to ensure a thorough and expeditious investigation into the incident the Ministry views as disturbing,” the statement

when completed.

However, sources at the school told this publication that the incident occurred on Monday. When contacted on Tuesday, police in Berbice said that no official report has been made on the matter.

This newspaper was told

that the school’s administration has since suspended the student who assaulted his colleagues.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, several social activists and religious leaders have condemned the act, calling for a heavy penalty against the student to discourage others

from such violent behaviour.

Meanwhile, the mother of the student seen assaulting the others in justifying her son’s behaviour took to social media and claimed that her son reacted because they were ridiculing his food.

801 child abuse cases recorded in 2018

W

A snapshot from the viral video which shows the assault on the students at the NA Technical Institute

said.

According to the state-

ment, the findings of that investigation will be shared

ith 801 child abuse cases recorded last year and 392 in 2017, ChildLink, an activist group, has found in a study conducted last year that there has been a whopping increase in the number of children being abused.

Presenting the findings of the study on Tuesday evening at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus, ChildLink researcher Samantha Alleyne told the audience that she was very disturbed by her findings and believes that she may even require counselling.

“National statistics compiled by Child Care and Protection Agency confirmed that abuse of children, both physical and sexual, starts from as young as zero to three (years old). The data indicates that the sexual abuse of girl children remains high in the country.

The number of reported cases is as follows; 801 in 2018, 392 in 2017 and 616 in 2016.

Similarly, cases reported for boy children were 179 in 2018, 442 in 2017 and 118 in 2016,” Alleyne told the gath-

ering.

According to her, it was also found that children between the ages of 14 to 18 and eight to 13 years were more vulnerable to these attacks.

She added that during her research, it was also found that some parents were reluctant to accept the abuse story their children had told them. In such a case, she said a parent even blamed her child for what happened, saying that the child wanted to separate her from her spouse.

In this regard, it was noted that all victims at one point after their abuse, blamed themselves for what happened.

While sharing a survivor story, the agency explained that some children are severely battered after being abused because many times some children are abused by numerous persons. In one instance, the researcher said that she came across a child who was abused by five different persons.

During the study, three types of children were used to collect data. “Children

who experience sexual abuse, children who experience physical abuse and children who experience sexual abuse and their cases were persecuted,” Alleyne explained.

Interviews were held with the children who experienced sexual and physical abuse, while the parents of the children who were sexually abused were interviewed because they were younger and at risk of being traumatised again.

The interviews were conducted over a four-week period with 17 individuals inclusive of nine children and eight adults.

In December, the CCPA revealed that two children are abused every hour in Guyana.

According to CCPA, by the end of October 2018, the Agency had already responded to 4352 child abuse reports, which happens to be the highest number of reported cases ever for the period.

In fact, a 25.4 per cent increase was recorded when compared with figures for the same period last year.

news

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WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Unconstitutional insertion

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

Wednesday, March 27 – 10:00h-11:30h and Thursday, March 28 –11:00h-12:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, March 27 – 08:45h-10:15h and Thursday, March 28 –10:10h-11:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny intervals are expected to prevail throughout the day, followed by sunny skies in the late afternoon. Clear to cloudy skies are expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 08:40h and 21:19h reaching maximum heights of 2.34 metres and 2.15 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:47h reaching a minimum height of 0.91 metre.

saturday, march 23, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS G

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TUESday, March 26, 2019

DAILY MILLIONS

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Constitution never spoke of absolute majority – former senior Judge

…says appellate ruling means dual citizens must now choose

A

former senior Judge who had presided over several constitutional cases in Guyana on Tuesday said that the Constitution of Guyana did not contemplate having an “absolute” majority used to ensure the passage of a no-confidence motion – a word which he noted seems to have been interjected there by persons.

The former Judge expressed his scepticism for the mathematical formula submitted by the Government in cases arguing that the no-confidence motion was invalidly passed which was adopted by two Justices of the Appellate Court.

In the interview with Guyana Times, the former Judge noted that the Constitution speaks to all elected members or members present and voting, not “absolute” or “simple”. This is a view that Appeal Court Judge Rishi Persaud had supported in the 2-1 split decision and was earlier articulated by the acting Chief Justice in the High Court.

While Justice Persaud had dismissed the appeal and concurred with the ruling of the High Court, his two colleague appellate judges allowed the state’s appeal.

Both Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Dawn Gregory opined that while 33 is the majority of the 65- member National Assembly, the successful passage of a no- confidence motion requires an “absolute majority” of 34, and not the “simple” majority of 33 that has been used to pass ordinary business in the House.

According to the appellate judges, half of the National Assembly would be 32.5 and since there is no half vote then that would be rounded up to 33, which is a “simple” majority of the House, and so in order to make it “absolute”, one more has to be added to bring about a 34 majority.

Dual citizens

On the matter of dual citizenship, the former Judge noted that dual-citizen Members of Parliament no longer have the luxury of hiding behind blissful ignorance.

“I think everyone knows now that if you have dual citizenship, you can’t be an MP,” the former Judge said.

“In light of the ruling of the (Appeal) court, can you now say that you don’t know that you’re not qualified?

“That may have been open for (former Alliance For Change MP) Charrandas Persaud to say. But is it open for anyone else to say now, that they don’t know? They have to make a choice.”

The former Judge not-

Justice Rishi Persaud

Acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards

Justice Dawn Gregory

ed that in case dual-citizen parliamentarians disregard the Appellate Court ruling and a vote is held, it will fall to Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland to validate or invalidate the proceedings, bearing in mind the ruling.

With Parliament expected to be reconvened at any moment after the ruling of the Appeal Court on Friday, persons have been questioning whether dual citizens will return to the chambers. When it comes to the Government; however, it is expected to be business as usual for the dual citizens.

When contacted by this publication on Monday, Opposition Chief Whip Amna Ally had stated that all Members of Parliament on the Government side would be turning out for the next sitting. She noted that there was nothing impeding them from attending.

“I don’t know that there is a court action filed against

anyone from attending… so all parliamentarians will be attending Parliament,” Ally explained, when asked about the fate of the dual citizens on her side.

According to Jagdeo in the announcement on his social media page, he wishes to “place on record that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) will not attend any sitting of the National Assembly”.

This, according to Jagdeo, will be in effect while the appeal in the no-confidence motion cases is pending at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Following the Appeal Court ruling that the no-confidence motion was not validly passed, the PPP had announced on Friday that it would move to the CCJ.

Not attending

Already, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has made it known that it would not be attending sittings of the National Assembly, with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo announcing on Sunday that the Party would be sitting out sittings while the no- confidence cases still have to be settled.

Turn to page 9

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WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 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

Viral video of violence in school

O

n Tuesday, a video of a New Amsterdam Technical Institute student violently assaulting colleagues went viral.

On social media, persons expressed disgust as the teen is seen removing his belt and inflicting blows on his colleagues.

But more worrying is that the mother of the teenager in the video has since taken to social media, justifying her son’s behaviour claiming that the students he violently assaulted had teased him about his lunch.

Violence in schools locally has always faced the harsh realities that in some cases when teachers act to curtail students from such behaviour, they too are retaliated against by parents and in some cases, face the physical wrath of these parents.

In this particular case, whatever the grouse in the end, the students were violently attacked.

The newspaper has previously pointed out that the increase in violence among our youth is cause for great concern. On numerous occasions, local news agencies’ headlines are replete with accounts of the incidents and the statistics speak to troubling trends in relation to youth involvement in crime.

As previously stated also, this is a broader societal problem, but given the fact that our schools are a microcosm of the society, we now have another major issue that the education system needs to address head on. This is a challenge that the education system alone is ill-equipped to fully address and one that truly requires a multi-sectoral, broad-based approach at finding solutions.

Schools have been hard-pressed to find workable solutions to the various manifestations of violence, which, for some time, have emerged as major detractions from the traditional business of schooling.

There have been numerous accounts of the level of deviant behaviour occurring in schools. Teachers have long voiced their concerns in relation to their sense of powerlessness in the face of the increasing number and severity of the incidents which are occurring. More troubling are the accounts of these issues occurring at increasingly younger ages.

Teachers have noted that our children at astonishingly low levels in the system are demonstrating unprecedented levels of anger and aggression. In consultations aimed at finding possible solutions, many teachers have attributed the new rules limiting the use of corporal punishment in schools as a major contributory factor.

Others have cited the absence of the male presence in schools as another significant element. There has been widespread recognition that our schools lack the requisite human and material resources to adequately take on this new challenge.

The guidance counsellors, school welfare officers and social workers who serve the system are in short supply. As a result, the bulk of the responsibility for dealing with this new challenge falls back on the teachers themselves—a source of great resentment on the part of teachers.

Teachers have maintained that the nucleus of the issue is not within the school system and have openly declared that they should not therefore be saddled with the responsibility of addressing same. In addition, they highlight the fact that they lack the training and specialised skills required to adequately deal with the emerging challenges.

Given their central, strategic position in the lives of our children, schools have a crucial role to play in any approaches devised. This would require broad-based consultation with relevant stakeholders, an openness to innovative ideas and initiative, and the willingness and commitment on the part of policymakers to see the entire process through.

There is no quick-fix in relation to this issue, and both short and long-term sustainable interventions will be needed, integrating a number of different social, governmental and Private Sector agencies.

Projecting forward, plans will have to be devised to seamlessly integrate programmes into the structures of the education system. Mechanisms must be put in place to monitor and evaluate the various interventions, identify best practices, and share information.

This issue requires a comprehensive, collective effort that will facilitate the development of balanced, well-adjusted youths with positive outlooks on life. Ultimately, the quality of life we experience going forward will depend significantly on the steps we take to address the challenges facing our children today.

A family stand outside their submerged huts near Nhamatanda, about 130km from Beira, in Mozambique after Cyclone Idai hits Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi (VOA photo)

Venezuela crisis: Day off as fresh power cuts shut down services

Lights went out and mobile phone and television services were disrupted in Caracas

V

e n e z u e l a ’ s Government has told workers and students to stay at home as the country faces a second day without electricity.

Hospitals, public transport, water and other services have been affected.

The capital, Caracas, was first plunged into darkness on Monday. Power was restored four hours later, before a second blackout struck.

A days-long nationwide power cut earlier this month prompted looting and desperation in parts of the country.

President Nicolás Maduro’s government blames the power cuts on an “attack” by the Opposition, led by Juan Guaidó.

The Opposition cites two decades of underinvestment and corruption by the socialist Government as the cause of the power outage.

“Nothing is working,” Yendresca Munoz, a 34-yearold bank analyst living in Caracas told Reuters news agency. “During blackout days you can’t do anything at all. There’s no Internet, no access to cash.”

Other big cities, including Barquisimeto, Maracaibo in the west of the country, have also been reportedly affected.

On Twitter, Guaidó said: “When our people need certainty in the middle of another unsettling blackout, how can they go on repeating excuses of an ‘electricity war’ and sabotage?”

Since January, the Opposition Leader has been locked in a power struggle with Maduro’s Government, which is grappling with a severe economic crisis.

Last week, Guaidó’s chief of staff was arrested on terrorism charges in another escalation of the political crisis.

Power first went down in

Caracas around 13:20 (17:20 GMT) on Monday, causing chaos in the city’s public transport system as the metro shut down and many thousands of people had to stream home on foot or by bus.

Electricity was restored about four hours later, but cut out again at 21:50h, Information Minister Jorge Rodríguez was quoted as saying by Efe news agency.

He had gone on State TV earlier to repeat the now-familiar assertion that Opposition sabotage rather than a lack of maintenance had caused the afternoon blackout, saying hackers had attacked computers at the country’s main hydroelectric dam.

The Minister boasted that the first power cut had been fixed in “record time”. Since the second outage, power has still not been restored.

Because of the problems

with the power supply, TV viewers could only see a garbled picture when Rodríguez went live on air, a correspondent for the UK’s Guardian newspaper tweeted from Caracas.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s mines and energy minister Bento Albuquerque said that since March 7, Venezuela has failed to fulfil its contract to supply electricity to the northern Brazilian state of Roraima.

He said Brazil was working to start building a transmission line to connect Roraima to the rest of the Brazilian power grid in the second half of the year for completion in 2021, so that it was not reliant on Venezuela.

He added that Brazil would also seek public contracts for renewable energy, such as wind and solar, as another alternative to Venezuela’s supply. (BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019

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

Adult learning centres Serious questions for a reconvening of Parliament needed in Guyana Dear Editor, Guyana has poor education standards in comparison to the developed democracies which is compounded by “the brain-drain” as many Guyanese seek to escape Guyana to live abroad.

This education problem (the lack of education) needs urgent attention as an investment in education normally pays off in the medium to long-term.

As a start, the Government should consider investing in some adult education centres to facilitate the re-education of the adult population to meet the current and future demand. Investing in adult education is a worthwhile endeavour as it not only educates the adult population but this will also bolster parents to help and encourage

their children in their educational pursuits. Everyone accepts that parents should spend more time helping to educate their children.

However, how can this be achieved when many of the parents themselves are uneducated?

Fifty adult education centres throughout Guyana would cost about $10 billion (estimated cost). The bonus is that an educated workforce would encourage investment into Guyana. I accept that the money may not be there for this investment and that more urgent problems need to be prioritised.

However, it is a long-term investment that will pay dividends in the future.

Sincerely, Sean Ori

Dear Editor, Our 11th Parliament may best be at an end whatever the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) may yet rule on the majority that would have been required for the successful passage of the NoConfidence Motion (NCM) last December. A number of potentially difficult questions are now before us beyond the question of the majority required. We may be in a puddle that is of our Government’s own making.

The coalition Government raised two questions on whether the vote of Charrandas should even have been recognised (which would have left the vote as a tie, 32-32, and the NCM not carried). On the question of dual citizenship,

in my understanding of a not learned fellow, the Chief Justice’s (CJ) ruling which I understand still stands the CJ ruled that persons with dual citizenship should not have been eligible to be on nomination lists, should not have been selected and should not be sitting in Parliament. However, being there and to that time not knowing, Mr Charrandas’s vote was valid when cast, but would not be valid at any subsequent voting.

With respect to dual citizens now in our Parliament, I understand that before the CJ’s ruling there was no thinking that their continued sitting could have been challenged. They could have been removed by petition from the opposing side,

but within six months of becoming an MP – that time is long gone. Now, it may at first seem that they can be removed only by their own resignation or by the representative of their List notifying the Speaker of the party’s withdrawal and replacement of such dual citizens. Even so, we must sense now, strong moral questions before the dual citizen MPs themselves, but not only them, before their leaders and the representatives of their Lists also.

However, there is now the CJ’s recent declaration and it being acted upon – enforced.

Further, my understanding of the CJ’s rulings raises questions, now that we all know, whether the vote of a

dual citizen continuing to sit in Parliament should hereafter be counted.

Editor, fellow citizens have raised in their letters, the question of whether we Guyanese being what we are, should not find certain years of residency sufficient and ignore dual citizenship?

A good question but one if widely enough accepted is a question for the next or the next after Parliament, where a coming together for a two-thirds majority in Parliament might suffice.

Meetings, sometimes of bodies and minds, cannot be escaped.

Yours truly, Samuel AA Hinds Former President and former Prime Minister

Govt interpreting Constitution to suit agenda Dear Editor, The masses in Guyana and abroad are still shocked beyond belief by the Appellate Court’s split decision to nullify the Chief Justice (ag) ruling on the No-Confidence Motion which resulted from the insertion of the word “absolute” in Article 106 (6) of our Constitution. While the coalition is rejoicing its new lease of life, the people are appalled by yet another dimension of hypocrisy which is manifested by the selective acceptance of only one part of the Appellate Court’s ruling while conveniently ignoring the others.

The coalition gleefully accepted the Appellate

Court’s decision that an “absolute” majority is 34 of the members of the National Assembly but did accept the fact that the Court upheld Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George’s decision that a dual citizen is not qualified to serve in the National Assembly. This is in keeping with Article 155 (1) of our Constitution. However, the coalition has announced that it is “business as usual” and that Amna Ally, Carl Greenidge, Joseph Harmon and Dr Rupert Roopnarine, who are dual citizens will continue to serve as members of the National Assembly. This Government has once again exposed its penchant for violating our

Constitution, a pastime it has been actively involved in since assuming Office.

On the other hand, the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has made it clear that dual citizens from the Opposition will not return to Parliament. It is now anyone’s guess who is willing to abide by the Court’s ruling and by extension, the Constitution, and who is not!

Furthermore, we have witnessed that this coalition, from the very inception and even before the Chief Justice’s ruling, had declared that is was business as usual and that the

President, the Cabinet and the Ministers will remain in Office. The Government had said in a statement that “until the matter is concluded at the highest Court of Appeal, the status quo remains and the business of Government continues as usual”. However, afterwards, the Chief Justice had ruled that the Cabinet of the coalition Government ceased to exist immediately upon the passage of the NoConfidence Motion on the night of December 21, 2018.

Why did the Government not resign as commanded by the Constitution and upheld by the Court’s ruling? The

Speaker had ruled that the NCM was valid and the resignation of the Government should have been effected then. If on the final appeal the CCJ ruled that the NCM was not carried, then and only then should the Government have resumed power. So now what happens if the CCJ rules that the NCM was valid? Therefore, it is in the best interest of the country and its people that the Government should have resigned until the final determination of the NCM

at the CCJ. It has become the norm of this Government to interpret the Constitution in such a manner to suit its agenda which is to hold on to power at all cost. We have seen that start from the unilateral appointment of GECOM’s Chairman and it is continuing full steam ahead!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor Region Six

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wednesday, march 27, 2019

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

H

ow do you remember the way to your friend’s house?

Why do your eyes blink without you ever thinking about it? Where do dreams come from? Your brain is in charge of these things and a lot more.

In fact, your brain is the boss of your body. It runs the show and controls just about everything you do, even when you’re asleep. Not bad for something that looks like a big, wrinkly, grey sponge.

Your brain has many different parts that work together. We’re going to talk about these five parts, which are key players on the brain team: cerebrum (say: suh-REE-brum) cerebellum (say: sair-uh-BELL-um) brain stem pituitary (say: puh-TOO-uh-ter-ee) gland hypothalamus (say: hy-po-THAL-uh-mus)

The cerebellum’s balancing act

Next up is the cerebellum. The cerebellum is at the back of the brain, below the cerebrum. It’s a lot smaller than the cerebrum at only 1/8 of its size. But it’s a very important part of the brain. It controls balance, movement, and coordination (how your muscles work together).

Because of your cerebellum, you can stand upright, keep your balance, and move around. Think about a surfer riding the waves on his board. What does he need most to stay balanced? The best surfboard? The coolest wetsuit? Nope — he needs his cerebellum!

Brain stem keeps you breathing – and more

Another brain part that’s small but mighty is the brain stem. The brain stem sits beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. It connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord, which runs down your neck and back. The brain stem is in charge of all the functions your body needs to stay alive, like breathing air, digesting food, and circulating blood.

Part of the brain stem’s job is to control your involuntary muscles — the ones that work automatically, without you even thinking about it. There are involuntary muscles in the heart and stomach, and it’s the brain stem that tells your heart to pump more blood when you’re biking or your stomach to start digesting your lunch. The brain stem also sorts through the millions of messages that the brain and the rest of the body send back and forth. Whew! It’s a big job being the brain’s secretary!

Pituitary gland controls growth

The biggest part: the cerebrum

The biggest part of the brain is the cerebrum. The cerebrum makes up 85 per cent of the brain’s weight, and it’s easy to see why. The cerebrum is the thinking part of the brain and it controls your voluntary muscles – the ones that move when you want them to. So you can’t dance – or kick a soccer ball – without your cerebrum.

When you’re thinking hard, you’re using your cerebrum.

You need it to solve Maths problems, figure out a video game, and draw a picture. Your memory lives in the cerebrum – both short-term memory (what you ate for dinner last night) and long-term memory (the name of that roller-coaster you rode on two summers ago). The cerebrum also helps you reason, like when you figure out that you’d better do your homework now because your mom is taking you to a movie later.

The cerebrum has two halves, with one on either side of the head. Scientists think that the right half helps you think about abstract things like music, colours, and shapes.

The left half is said to be more analytical, helping you with Maths, logic, and speech. Scientists do know for sure that the right half of the cerebrum controls the left side of your body, and the left half controls the right side.

The pituitary gland is very small – only about the size of a pea! Its job is to produce and release hormones into your body. If your clothes from last year are too small, it’s because your pituitary gland released special hormones that made you grow. This gland is a big player in puberty too.

This is the time when boys’ and girls’ bodies go through major changes as they slowly become men and women, all thanks to hormones released by the pituitary gland.

This little gland also plays a role with lots of other hormones, like ones that control the amount of sugars and water in your body. And it helps keep your metabolism (say: muh-TA-buh-lih-zum) going. Your metabolism is everything that goes on in your body to keep it alive and growing and supplied with energy, like breathing, digesting food, and moving your blood around.

Hypothalamus controls temperature

The hypothalamus is like your brain’s inner thermostat (a little box on the wall that controls the temperature). The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (about 98.6°F or 37°C). If your body is too hot, the hypothalamus tells it to sweat. If you’re too cold, the hypothalamus gets you shivering. Both shivering and sweating are attempts to get your body’s temperature back where it needs to be. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

R

emember that great summer vacation you took last year? When you think back on it, you might see flashes of a day you spent swimming or a night spent watching fireworks explode high in the sky.

But how do you store those images, so you can enjoy them later? It’s your memory – and it’s part of your complex and multitalented brain.

What Is memory?

When an event happens, when you learn something, or when you meet someone, your brain determines whether that information needs to be saved. If your brain judges the information important, it places it in your memory “files”.

You probably know your brain has different parts. Some of them are important for memory. The hippocampus (say: hih-puh-KAM-pus) is one of the more important parts of the brain that processes memories.

Old information and new information, or memories, are thought to be processed and stored away in different areas of the cerebral cortex, or the “grey matter” of the brain – the largest, outermost part of the brain.

What can go wrong with memory?

As wonderful as memory is, it isn’t always perfect. It’s normal to occasionally forget the name of somebody you just met or where you put your shoes. And of course, everyone has forgotten an answer on a test. Darn! You knew that one, too!

It’s also typical for people to forget more things as they grow older. Your parents or grandparents might joke about having a “senior moment”. That’s when they forget something.

But some memory problems are serious, such as when a person has Alzheimer’s disease. In this disease, deposits build up and nerve cells stop working leading to memory loss.

Strokes, which also affect older people, are another medical problem that can affect someone’s memory. A stroke is when blood doesn’t get to all the parts of the brain, either because there is a blockage in the pathway or because a blood vessel (which carries the blood) bursts.

Brain injuries affect memory

At any age, an injury to the head and brain can cause trouble with somebody’s memory. Some people who recover from brain injuries need to learn old things all over again, like how to talk or tie their shoes. That’s why it’s so important to protect your head by wearing your seatbelt in the car and wearing a helmet when you skate, play football, ride your bike, skateboard, or wear roller sneakers.

You may have heard about a memory problem called amnesia (say: am-NEE-zhuh). This is when someone can’t remember things that happened recently and sometimes even things that happened long ago. It’s not usually like you see on TV or in the movies. People rarely forget their own names and they usually get better slowly, instead of all at once because something dramatic happens – like getting kissed by a dreamy prince or princess!

The most common cause of amnesia is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI is caused by a severe hit to the head.

Traumatic brain injuries can happen in a lot of ways and can be severe enough to cause a coma (prolonged unconsciousness), or a person may just be stunned without even being knocked out (like in some concussions).

Car accidents, bike accidents, and falls can cause TBIs. If you’ve ever seen someone take a hit to the head in a National Football League game, you may have seen the player being questioned on the sidelines. The doctor may ask the person some basic questions – like what happened, where they are, and what team they’re playing. Not knowing the correct answers could be the first sign of a brain injury.

Abusing alcohol or using illegal drugs is another way to injure the brain and cause memory problems. Hallucinogens can alter certain chemicals in the brain that actually make memories harder to recall.

Signs of a memory problem

A person might — or might not — be able to notice signs of his or her own memory problem. If someone has suffered a brain injury, doctors, nurses, and family members will be on the alert for signs of trouble.

Someone who has a memory problem will be unable to remember important things for varying lengths of time. The more severe the illness or injury, the longer the memory loss is likely to last. Some people forget just the moments right before and after an injury, which is not unusual with a concussion. Sometimes, these memories come back.

Most memory problems affect older people, so what can you do for your memory if you’re 8, not 88? In addition to remembering to wear your helmet, use your brain! By doing challenging activities, like reading and doing puzzles, you can exercise your mind so you’ll be remembering great memories for many years to come! (Excerpted from kidshealth.com)

7 PPP files no-confidence appeal at CCJ news

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…asks court to urgently review Appeal Court’s “absolute” majority decision

O

pposition Leader and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo through his Attorneys on Tuesday filed a notice of application for special leave to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), in relation to the decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal on the no-confidence cases.

The application was filed

by Douglas Mendes, Devesh Maharaj, Anil Nandlall, Kandace Bharath, and CV Satram. The named respondents in this matter are: Attorney General Basil Williams, Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, and Minister Joseph Harmon, a representative of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

The application is seeking an order to grant Jagdeo special leave to appeal the majority judgement of the Court of Appeal of Guyana delivered on March 22, 2019 by acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Justice Rishi Persaud, and Justice Dawn Gregory.

Further, the Attorneys are seeking an order to treat the hearing of the application as urgent and a further order for an expedited hearing of the application.

Also, it is seeking an order directing that the hearing of the application for special leave to appeal be treated as the hearing of the appeal against the majority judgment, and that certain orders be made in the appeal.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is Guyana’s final court of appeal

This includes an order setting aside or reversing the majority judgement of the Court of Appeal of Guyana and resorting to the decision of the acting Chief Justice Roxane George made on January 31, 2019; a declaration that the resolution of the National Assembly is valid; and a declaration that the no-confidence motion moved by Jagdeo was validly passed on December 21, 2018.

Jagdeo, through his attorneys, is also seeking a declaration that puts to rest that 33 votes/members constitute a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly within the meaning of Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of Guyana. The application is also seeking costs.

Nandlall has said that there would be a case management con-

ference conducted by the CCJ on Friday morning in respect of this matter. He said, “We expect that directions will be given by the Court, which will bring about an early hearing and determination of the appeal”.

Ruling

The acting Chief Justice, in January, upheld the December 21, 2018 passage of the no-confidence motion, ruling that in Guyana’s 65-member National Assembly a majority is 33. This, however, was appealed by Attorney General Basil Williams.

But while Justice Persaud has dismissed the appeal and concurred with the ruling of the High Court, his colleague appellate Judges allowed the State’s appeal.

Both Justices Cummings-

Edwards and Gregory opined that while 33 was the majority of the 65-member National Assembly, the successful passage of a no-confidence motion required an “absolute majority” of 34 and not the “simple” 33 majority that has been used to pass ordinary business in the House.

Following the ruling, Jagdeo stated that the Constitution of Guyana is pellucid on what number of votes is needed for the passage of a no-confidence motion; it is a majority of all elected parliamentarians – the majority of 65 is 33 votes.

According to him, the Constitution is clear in saying that the vote is valid if a majority of all elected parliamentarians – 33 parliamentarians – cast their vote in favour of the passage of a no-confidence motion.

He added that all right-thinking Guyanese would conclude that 33 is the majority of 65 – a conclusion that was extensively addressed by the acting Chief Justice in her ruling.

“No strange mathematics can change what is in the Constitution … a majority of all elected members in the National Assembly is 33,” Jagdeo said.

He explained that the argument about a vote of 34 being needed was not the argument he expected to be used by the Appeal Court to overturn the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag).

The Opposition Leader noted

that in 2014, when the Alliance For Change (AFC), supported by APNU, advanced a no-confidence motion against then President Donald Ramotar, it was done with the explicit acknowledgement that AFC and APNU had the 33 votes that were needed for their no-confidence motion to be successful.

He added that prior to the December 21, 2018 vote, the coalition Government boasted that it had 33 votes, and, therefore, the no-confidence motion could not be passed with a vote of 32.

After the vote, according to him, both President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo accepted that the PPP/Civic no-confidence motion was validly passed in the House.

In addition, Attorney and social commentator, Christopher Ram posited that the Court made a grave error of unquestioning acceptance of decisions and principles from afar with no regard that, at best, they could be of no more than persuasive value.

In the process, he added, Friday’s decision marked a turning point in Guyana’s jurisprudence, introducing a harmful level of uncertainty into constitutional and statutory interpretation in local courts. In this regard, he stated that the Court was “wrong” in its interpretation of what constitutes a majority in the National Assembly.

8 News

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teen charged for stabbing friend to death

A

teen miner was on Tuesday hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was slapped with the capital offence of murder.

The charge against Emmanuel McCloud, 19, alleged that he murdered Herbert Willie on March 24, 2019, while they were at 111 Miles, Potaro River, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) during an argument.

The prosecution is con-

Murder accused: Emmanuel McCloud

tending that on Sunday last, at about 02:20h, ranks from the Bartica Police Station received information and went to Mahdia in the vicinity of Mahdia Primary School where they saw Willie lying on the road, bleeding profusely.

He was picked up and transported to the Mahdia Hospital where he was admitted a patient but later succumbed to several stab wounds he received to his

lower back.

Later that evening, police acting on information apprehended the suspect. The police have since claimed that McCloud under caution admitted to committing the offence. He was remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The case will continue on April 16, 2019, at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Miner get bail on gun-related charges

F

ifty-year-old Raphael Edwards of Strong Hope Canal, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supernaam) was on Monday slapped with two gun-related charges when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Edwards denied the charges when they were read to him on Tuesday

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

It is alleged that the chef was found with an

The gun and ammo that were found in the mining camp

unlicensed shotgun and 29 matching rounds on

March 22, 2019, at Kopang Backdam, Region Seven

(Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

According to facts presented in court on Tuesday last, police ranks were acting on information when they conducted a search at the mining camp in which he was working and found the gun and ammunition.

In court on Tuesday, Edwards was released on $70,000 bail on each of the charges. The case will continue at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on the April 17, 2019.

How can it be…

G

…“business as usual”? uyana doesn’t get hurricanes like the rest of the Caribbean where the devastation to the physical landscape and infrastructure takes years to return to “normal”. But the impact from the NCM of Dec 21, had been nothing short of a massive PSYCHOLOGICAL hurricane that hit the nation and left it reeling. AS with the physical hurricanes, there’d been an early warning – from the Opposition Leader that he’d be tabling the NCM. The Govt, of course, didn’t give it no mind. Maybe because we’d never experienced NCM hurricanes?? After all, NCMs are a regular feature in Britain, India and Sri Lanka, etc. Governments there have been tossed out and elections called in a hurry, but it’s no big thing since it’s such a regular feature. They roll with the punch!!

After Amna Ally taunted the PPP, “Bring it on, baby!!”, and then heard Charrandas say “Yes! Yes! Yes!”, the anguished cries of “No, Charrandas, no!!!” from her benches were the first manifestation of the hurricane’s landfall. After the PNC types tried to roll with the force. They regrouped and returned to the House – fully expecting their Speaker to reverse his pronouncement that the motion had been validly passed. Another gale force wind threw them for a loop when he refused!!

And then came the full force of the hurricane when the High Court not just threw out their plea that the NCM was invalid; it informed them their dual citizens had to be tossed out on their ears!! The next few months were chaotic for the PNC as they ran around like a chicken without a head as they were buffeted by the full force of the Chief Justice’s masterful decision. They resorted to accelerating “plan B” – delaying elections to rig later, by controlling GECOM. Their resort to the Appellate Court was more like a Hail Mary, than anything else.

But lo and behold, they were offered a reprieve when 2 out of 3 Judges ruled in their favour by performing some legal gymnastics!! And the PNC and its partisans let out a collective sigh of relief as they thought the hurricane had passed. Carl Greenidge and Amna Ally even announced it’ll be “business as usual”!! Really? It just shows how removed from reality these political types are!!

What they should know is that they’re just experiencing the lull in the devastation as the “eye” of the NCM hurricane passes over the society. The PPP’s appeal to the CCJ will have to be heard sooner than later. And that is when the rear of the hurricane will hit them in the rear!!

So, when will our society return to “normal”?? Que sera, sera!! …changed?

There are so many questions your Eyewitness hoped the courts would’ve answered by now. One of them was how come all the parties in the National Assembly – including the Clerk and Speaker – had agreed on the meaning of the word “majority” when they voted on the NCM, and yet it’s now being redefined not just prospectively, but retrospectively to the fateful vote!! Even if we accept the ruling of the Appellate Court that the MPs were misinformed as to the meaning of “majority” in Art 106 (6) surely they didn’t know that then.

After all, the “dual citizen” question was held in abeyance for Charrandas and his vote counted as valid because, the Justices ruled in the High and Appellate Courts – he didn’t know he was violating any rule. So isn’t sauce for the goose also sauce for the gander??

When the Speaker refused to recant his decision that 33 was a valid majority for Art 106 (6), didn’t he specifically suggest resort to the Courts for the FUTURE?? …fighting over dead meat Seems the AFC just can’t pull off their Berbice Regional Management Committee election for their executive.

Unlike Linden, where the election went through like a dose of salts.

Is it because of the struggle between the two tokens for the PM candidacy?

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

9 Commonwealth delegation to meet with GECOM News

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…Commissioners clash over ‘Election 2019’ discussions

A

high-level team from the Commonwealth Secretariat will be visiting Guyana to meet with top officials from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Thursday.

The aim of the meeting is to discuss the ongoing issues regarding election preparations.

The team will include Adviser and Head, Electoral Support Section, Martin Kasirye; Political Adviser to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr Tres-Ann Kremer, and Head of Good Offices.

The team is scheduled to arrive in Guyana today and will be here until Saturday.

The meeting with the GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson and Commissioners is expected to last for two hours.

This was confirmed by GECOM Commissioners Robeson Benn and Vincent

Political Adviser to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr Tres-Ann Kremer

Alexander.

This meeting follows one that has taken place most recently between the Carter Center and officials of GECOM regarding election readiness. This meeting took place prior to the Court of Appeal decision.

Besides that visit, during Tuesday’s statutory meet-

ing, Commissioners on both sides clashed when “Election 2019”, which was placed on the agenda, came up for discussions.

Benn, a People’s Progressive Party (PPP)nominated Commissioner, told the media that Alexander requested that it be removed from the agenda and instead go with elections, alone.

The former Minister, now Commissioner said this points to the overall position, manipulations and collusions that have been taking place to have elections occur in 2020.

But Alexander had a different opinion. He said he objected to having “Election 2019” placed on the agenda because at the moment there is no mandate to conduct elections this year.

Cover

Aside from these issues, Benn said he also raised

Constitution never spoke...

When it comes to dual citizens, the longstanding issue rose to the surface with the passage of the no-confidence motion last year.

In February, Chief Justice Roxane George had ruled on the case filed by Compton Reid over the dual citizenship of former AFC MP Charrandas Persaud.

In the case it brought to the acting Chief Justice, Government had argued that Persaud’s dual citizenship status invalidated his vote in support of the no-confidence motion that brought the Government down.

According to the CJ, by swearing allegiance to another state, a dual citizen is not qualified to be elected to serve in the National Assembly. But Charrandas is not the only one. In the Opposition camp, Chief Whip Gail Teixeira (who has Canadian citizenship) has already indicated her willingness to renounce her cit-

izenship.

In the case of the Government, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge (United Kingdom citizen) and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon (who has United States citizenship) have both failed to address if they would choose Parliament or dual citizenship when the time comes.

From page 3

Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states that “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who (a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

concerns over the letter that Patterson wrote to President David Granger on March 19, outlining his positions with respect to elections to be held arising out of the no-confidence motion. The PPPnominated Commissioner finds issue with the fact that the Chairman’s position did not arise from any vote put or finding of the Commission on the issues.

“The public is led to believe that this is the Commission’s position. In this case, it was not even allowed for the Commission to vote one way or the other before a letter was sent to the President and since then, the President and others on the Government side have been using this letter as a cover for the positions in respect for elections and in itself after house-to-house registration,” he said.

Another disagreement Benn had during Tuesday’s meeting is the fact that he had requested previously that GECOM cease and desist from house-to-house related actions. “It was a pol-

icy matter and not a legal matter and in any event, the imperatives arising out of the no-confidence motion, even if there is an extension or one or the other, GECOM should be prepared for elections within 90 days in any period.”

GECOM has already commenced rolling out its 2019 work programme, which essentially is houseto-house registration, as of last weekend. Training in that regard has commenced.

Training for trainers has been completed, while enumerators will be trained this weekend.

On Friday, March 22, in a 2:1 split decision, the

Court of Appeal ruled that a majority of 34 votes would have been needed to validly pass the no-confidence motion brought against the Government last year.

The ruling means that the motion was not validly passed, and hence the coalition Administration was not toppled as a result of the events that occurred. The judgment has since been highly criticised since the judges inserted the word “absolute” into the constitutional provision regarding the majority.

The matter is being appealed by the Opposition at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

10 news

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

8 homeless as Amelia’s Ward house goes up in flames realised that the house was on fire, it was too late to save anything.

“We just see the fire so the only thing we could’ve do was just wait for the fire truck to come. We couldn’t get out any

stuff because the fire was already covering the house,” one of the neighbours recalled.

The man noted that the Fire Service responded some 30 minutes after the fire started.

However, Police inquiry revealed that one of the occupants was reportedly sleeping in the veranda of the house when he heard a loud “booming” sound. He then went into the house and saw one of the

bedrooms in the upper flat in flames. As such, he quickly ran out of the house and alerted neighbours who summoned the Fire Service.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

Miner charged for murder of cousin

A The damaged Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden house

E

ight people are now homeless after a fire destroyed their two-storey home at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, on Tuesday.

The Lot 1987 Central Amelia’s Ward house belonging to Nigel and Simone Anthony went up in flames about 10:00h. None of the occupants were at home at the time of the fire.

Speaking with Guyana Times, one of the occupants of

the house noted that he was at work and learnt of the fire after receiving a telephone call. The family was unable to save anything from the house since by the time they arrived home, the entire house was engulfed in flames.

When this publication arrived on the scene, firemen from the Linden Fire Station were present and had the blaze under control.

Neighbours told this publication that by the time they

miner who allegedly murdered his cousin during an argument was on Tuesday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

David Smith, 31, of Black Water Island, Mazaruni, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where the charge stated that on March 22, 2019, at Cuyuni Landing, he murdered his cousin David Boyer.

The prosecution’s case is contending that an argument

Murder accused: David Smith

ensued between the duo after which Smith armed himself with an arrow and dealt his cousin several stabs.

According to police reports, the teen, a miner of Batavia, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was killed at about 22:00h on Friday last.

Reports are that Boyer and other miners were in their hammocks when the alleged perpetrator entered the mining camp. He appeared intoxicated and commenced cutting down the hammocks that the miners (including Boyer)

had tied.

According to the police, Boyer tried to persuade his relative to desist from doing so, and it was during this intervention that the suspect picked up an arrow and fatally stabbed the teenager in the abdomen.

Boyer died as a result of the injuries that he sustained.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded the miner to prison. The case will continue on April 10, 2019, at the Bartica Magistrate’s Courts.

Plaisance man freed of 2016 murder

F

amily members of 21-year-old Kevin Garraway could not contain tears of joy at the High Court on Tuesday after the former accused was declared a free man by Justice Navindra Singh following a unanimous not guilty verdict that was returned by a 12-member jury for the murder of 28-year-old Orrett West.

Garraway was slapped with the capital offence detailing that on June 3, 2016, at Plaisance Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, he murdered Orrett West of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown.

The trial before Justice Navindra Singh ended on Tuesday after a total of six witnesses including the fa-

Dead: Orrett West

ther, girlfriend, brother and three investigating police ranks were called to give evidence in relation to the murder of West.

Justice Singh, after summing up the matter, told the

jury that based on the statement given by Garraway, it was evident that he acted in self-defence since there was not sufficient evidence which determined that he was the attacker.

The jury returned with a not guilty verdict.

The now free man exited the courtroom in smiles accompanied by his happy relatives.

Garraway was represented by Defence Attorney Maxwell McKay. Meanwhile, Tariq Mohammed, Abigail Gibbs and Tuanna Hardy represented the State.

The prosecution’s case had contended that Garraway, on June 3, 2016, confronted the now dead man and asked if he still wanted a problem after an earlier dispute. According

to the prosecution, Garraway was at the time referring to a previous misunderstanding with the deceased’s girlfriend. The State’s case noted that in retaliation, West pushed Garraway after which a scuffle ensued between the two. During the midst of the altercation, West was stabbed in the neck and chest. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

A post-mortem examination conducted on the body of West revealed that he died due to shock and haemorrhage caused by stab wounds to the neck and chest. The prosecution during the trial also noted that Garraway managed to avoid police apprehension for three months but was captured in September of 2016.

Men jointly charged for robbing cop

T

hree men who were separately charged for robbing a police constable were on Tuesday charged jointly for the offence.

Keston Duke, 21, of Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown; Joshua Austin of Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown and Michael Shepherd made their second appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday, where they were jointly charged.

The three denied the offence which stated that on December 15, 2018, at Second Street, Alberttown, while they were in each other’s company, they robbed Julius Bowlin of a gold chain worth $21,000 and a pistol with six rounds of ammunition valued $125,000 property of the Guyana Police Force.

The trio was also charged for wounding Bowlin during the commission of the robbery.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh on each of their prior hearings had objected to bail citing the seriousness of the offence and the fact that Austin has another assault matter in another court.

Reports in December 2018 had stated that Bowlin was performing undercover duties next to a nightclub when he was robbed and later stabbed. The attack was captured on a nearby Closed

Circuit Television (CCTV) camera. The stolen gun was later recovered in a garbage heap in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The cases were adjourned to May 2 and 7, 2019, when the trial will commence.

Duke and Shepherd were released on $50,000 bail each on Tuesday by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

Austin was remanded to prison.

news

11

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Miner takes Govt to court for building Mahdia Magistrate’s Court on his land

A

n East Coast Demerara (ECD) miner, who claims that the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court is being constructed on lands which he holds the mining claims to, has threatened to take legal ac-

tions if works are not ceased immediately.

Royston Stuart of 70 Ann’s Grove Housing Scheme, ECD, is the holder of Claim Licence, dated September 2, 2016, issued under the authority of the

Mining Act 1989 and the Mining Regulations by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in respect to a certain tract of State land in Mining District Number 2.

Despite that Claim Licence being valid and subsisting, Stuart alleged that without his permission, lease, let or license, a group of men, unknown to him, have entered upon a part of the land allotted to him in the Claim Licence and have begun the construction of a building that is intended to be used to house the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.

As such, the miner has sought the help of former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall to get the authorities to cease construction.

“Unless the construction works… cease forthwith, and all structures constructed be demolished and removed from our client’s land within seven (7) days from the date hereof, we will have no alternative but to approach the High Court for a num-

ber of legal redress including injunctions and damages for trespass,” a letter from Nandlall to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Sueann Lovell, states.

The letter, dated March 22, 2019, was also copied to the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; acting Chief Justice Roxanne George; and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman as well as Junior Natural Resources Minister, Simona Broomes.

The lawyer pointed out in the letter, which was shared with the media, that his client had previously lodged a complaint with the GGMC since 2017 and as a result, a Mines Officer of the Commission

has informed those conducting the construction that it was being done on Stuart’s Licenced Claim and that the works must cease. However, according to Attorney Nandlall, these instructions have been ignored.

He added too that Stuart had also filed a complaint in writing on January 17, 2019, with both Natural Resources Ministers, Raphael Trotman and Simona Broomes. But again, it appears as though those complaints were made in vain because the unlawful construction continues unabated.

“We sincerely hope that unnecessary litigation can be avoided and that good sense will prevail. I respectfully await your urgent response,” Nandlall stated in

the letter.

As of Tuesday’s date, when the correspondence was shared with the media, no contact was made with Stuart’s lawyer.

The Mahdia Magistrate’s Court is being constructed in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) to the cost of $140.385 million. The construction of the court comes under provisions made available to the Supreme Court to fund its 2019 work programmes.

The Chancellor had said last year that the Mahdia court is among several District Court offices expected to open and will see regular sittings of the court and the availability of centralised services.

12 News

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana, UK sign trade agreement W

ith Brexit expected to legally take place on March 29, Guyana has signed a pact with the United Kingdom (UK) to secure its trading relations with the British country after it leaves the European Union (EU).

Guyana’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, David Hales, signed the CARIFORUM-United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Guyana Government on Friday last. UK’s Minister of State for Trade Policy of the Department of International Trade, George Hollingberry, signed on behalf of his Government.

The signing, which

Guyana’s Ambassador to Belgium, David Hales, and Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith were among those at the signing last Friday

took place on the margins of the 25th meeting of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) Council of Ministers in St Lucia, is of economic importance to Guyana’s Private Sector considering that the United

Kingdom is Guyana’s largest trading partner in Europe and its sixth overall.

The inking of this agreement is a direct response to the impending exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union as the cur-

rent trade arrangement governing Guyana’s exports to the British market will lapse once that State leaves the regional body. Additionally, this action is the culmination of an approach agreed between CARIFORUM and the United Kingdom in March 2017 to ensure continuity in the existing preferential trading relations,

including duty-free quota conditions, among others.

Eight other CARIFORUM Member States – Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines – have signed the Agreement, while others have signalled their intention to do so shortly.

Guyana along with oth-

er CARIFORUM States and the United Kingdom will now take the necessary domestic procedures that will allow for the Agreement to come into effect as soon as the latter leaves the European Union.

The partnership between the United Kingdom and Guyana accounts for about two per cent of imports and almost nine per cent of all exports. Furthermore, the United Kingdom is an important market for export of Guyana’s sugar, rice and rum.

At the regional level, absorbing about a quarter of exports from the Caribbean, the United Kingdom is the largest trading partner for CARIFORUM. On June 23, 51.9 per cent of the UK voted on a referendum to leave the economic bloc and since then, both British and EU officials have given assurances to local stakeholders that Brexit will not affect relations here and in the Caribbean.

In fact, only earlier this year, British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn was quoted saying that his country is looking to increase its footprint in this region with a “confident and clear British presence”, especially now as it leaves the EU. With Guyana’s ties to European embedded through its history with the UK, the EU has previously committed to continuing relations with the Government.

13

News

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GTT taps into oil and gas sector …sets up new unit

A

s Guyana prepares for first oil early next year, local telecommunications giant GTT has readied itself to tap into the nascent oil and gas industry by providing critical data transmission services to leading companies in the sector using its multimil-

what the cable does is not only Internet but it could (be used to) pass data. Data and internet is not the same thing,” he explained during a lunchtime lecture on Tuesday at the Moray House on Camp Street. The event, hosted by the Guyana Press Association (GPA), sought to

because the Internet is a public network. The cable can also be used as a private network, and we have several customers that use the cables as a private transport network, separate from the Internet,” he posited.

While he did not say how much the company has earned thus far from providing services to the bud-

noted.

The CEO went on to say that he foresaw an increase in demand for data from the petroleum sector, but noted that while there might be need in the future for large investments to facilitate this, GTT has already spent millions in having the infrastructure in place to support such extensive capacity. In fact, he disclosed that GTT currently only utilised just over 50 per cent of its network capacity.

Not protected

GTT submarine cable (in red) offshore Guyana

lion-dollar sub-sea fibre optic cables.

GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd noted that companies in various sectors locally were getting ready to benefit from the vast fortunes expected to be generated from the petroleum industry and GTT was no different.

In fact, he disclosed that GTT has already started providing key services to oil companies – including US oil giant ExxonMobil – which do not just include Internet connectivity.

“It’s not only Internet, they need connectivity. So

highlight and discuss how GTT’s submarine fibre-optic cables support the oil and gas industry.

According to Nedd, oil companies usually collect extensive data from the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs), which – using the cables – can then be transported to a secure location or locations such as their office right here in Guyana or in Trinidad or in the US. “The cables transport that data and it’s not necessarily over the Internet for, of course, privacy concerns

ding oil and gas sector using its US$50 million fibre-optic cables, Nedd noted that in addition to providing a vehicle to transmit sensitive data, these submarine cables could also play a critical role with respect to unmanned rigs and pointed to the North Sea, where it was a prevalent practice.

“The data comes in, and once every few months, they send someone out there just to do some spot checks.

But the fibre really allows less manpower on the rigs, which really helps to improve safety and productivity and drive down cost,” he

However, even with these cables under water, the CEO of the telecommunications giant stressed that they were not protected from damage and while drilling was the biggest risk of damage to these cables, he noted that the likelihood of this happening was low.

Nedd explained that for example in the Stabroek Block, every time Exxon went to drill a new well, it would write GTT to get a ‘no objection’ before drilling at a

GTT CEO Justin Nedd display a piece of the fibre-optic cable at the ‘lunchtime lecture’ on Tuesday

specific location.

“They provide the exact coordinates and once that ‘no objection’ is issued, then they go ahead. So ships in the area (provide no) risks,” he explained.

Nevertheless, the GTT boss posited that the local telecommunications giant in preparing to service the new sector, has invested big

money in training its staff and has since established an oil and gas unit.

“The oil and gas will change everything. In fact, I can tell you we have an oil and gas unit that deals with the folks onshore…

We spend hundreds of thousands of US dollars per year in training,” Nedd stated.

Turn to page 14

14 NEWS

WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

New health strategy to improve range of services offered – CMO

I

t was recently announced that Guyana has been lagging behind in terms of the health services it provides and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud, has assured that the Public Health Ministry is seeking to address this issue in its new health strategy for the years 2020 to 2030.

This was revealed by the CMO during a recent interview with this newspaper.

According to him, the health strategy will focus on implementing a range of new services that are currently unavailable to the public.

“We are in the process of developing a new strategy for 2020 to 2030 and in that strategy, we are looking at really trying to improve the range of service that is offered in the public health sector and in collaboration with the Private Sector,” he explained.

The CMO did not divulge many details on the soon to be ready strategy but would only say that the Ministry is currently in the process of assessing the current Health Vision, which expires in 2020.

“We are aligning our new strategy to our National Development Strategy or the Green Development Strategy along with the other global health strategies, both PAHO and WHO have strategies that extend worldwide under the Sustainable Development Goal we are

the supply of essential, quality, safe, cost-effective, scientifically sound drugs and medical products to health facilities in all the regions” and “improve service delivery through the establishment of Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks as the foundation for renewing primary healthcare and ensuring the continuity of quality, integrated and ac-

cessible care aligned to the needs of the population” among others.

Notably, Health Vision 2020 had targeted the reduction of modifiable risk factors and premature mortality from chronic diseases.

Under the previous Administration, Guyana had recorded steady progress over a ten-year period in improving health outcomes

for Guyanese. Specifically, Guyanese were living longer, children had increased chances of survival, the epidemic of HIV/AIDs, malaria and tuberculosis was being brought under control through an aggressive national response and, overall, the country was on its way to meeting most of its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) health tar-

gets for 2015.

Guyana’s national health agenda since 2008 was guided by the National Health Sector Strategy (NHSS) 2008 – 2012.

The National Health Sector Strategy 2008 – 2012 targeted the vision - “Guyanese citizens be among the healthiest in the Caribbean and South America”.

PI into Co-op Crescent killing begins Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

particularly focused on goal number three and we have some key areas there that we need to address.”

As was pointed out in a recent interview, the CMO said he hopes to have issues such as the alarming maternal mortality rate addressed.

Health Vision 2020 addresses the continuation of efforts to curtail communicable diseases in Guyana.

Strategic actions include the strengthening of vector control services through the establishment of a unified framework and strategic information system for vector-borne diseases.

Health Vision 2020 was drafted in the early 2000s to guide national health plans for the years 2013 to 2020.

The seven-year plan aimed to “improve the timeliness, accessibility and adequacy of

Travis Hazel also called “Fifty”

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he Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of 55-yearold Lindener, Leroy Barron commenced at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday before Magistrate Wanda Fortune.

Travis Hazel also called “Fifty” of Lot 24 Silver City, Wismar, Linden, is on trial for the September 15, 2018,

murder.

He is being represented

by Counsel Stanley Moore while Police Prosecutor Venetta Pindar is representing the deceased.

A total of five witnesses testified on Tuesday including brother of the deceased, Kevin Barron, former ambulance attendant Fiona

Mingo, Police Corporal Tyrone Van Hearsel and Police Constables Alex Sancharie and Devon Greene.

The witnesses were questioned in relation to their involvement in the alleged incident with Mingo being the first to testify.

It is alleged that on September 15, 2018, while at Co-op Crescent, Mackenzie, Linden, Hazel inflicted injuries upon the deceased during an altercation which resulted in his death. Initial investigations had revealed that there was an argument between Barron, who was known to do odd jobs around the Mackenzie Market and the defendant, during which the defendant allegedly armed himself with a piece of wood and gave the now deceased man a severe beating before fleeing the scene.

The deceased reportedly received several lashes to the

Dead: Leroy Barron

head. He was later taken to the Linden Hospital Complex in an unconscious state where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination later gave the cause of death as brain haemorrhage due to blunt force trauma to the head. The case will continue on Thursday.

GTT taps into oil and...

Guyana is now home to the world’s biggest new deep-water oil discovery and chief among those companies exploring offshore is ExxonMobil. The US oil giant is keen on pushing the development of the oil reserves and is expected to

commence production early next year.

Exxon noted that there was potential for at least five FPSOs on the Stabroek Block producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025.

Having announced

From page 13

its 12th oil find back in February, Exxon said these discoveries in the southwest section of the Stabroek Block reinforced Guyana’s potential to be able to produce more than 750,000 barrels of oil daily by 2025.

news

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WEDNesday, MARCH 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations The Cheddi Jagan International Airport is synonymous with APNU/AFC’s corruption

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orruption today has reached heights never imagined in Guyana. The list of blatant corrupt transactions since May 2015 has disappointed, nauseated and shocked people today. One transaction that has people talking and that has come to be synonymous with rampant corruption is Guyana’s largest single infrastructure project – the US$150 million Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Instead of people being joyous and proud over a spanking new modern airport, they are angry and disgusted Dr Leslie Ramsammy over the mismanagement and corruption that have scarred the CJIA project. The CJIA project has become one more of the dozens of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) ugly corruption scars on Guyana’s otherwise beautiful landscape.

The revelation this week that the project included a cost of US$35 million (more than G$7 billion) for sand used in the project, including for the runway, has shocked even the most ardent supporters of APNU/AFC. Independent analysts have estimated the real cost for sand for such a project should not exceed US$5 million. This means the cost was inflated by more than seven times the real cost. As unbelievable as this cost for sand is, there are other worrisome information that now has become part of the knowledge-base for Guyanese. In 2014, the project suffered a dramatic setback when APNU and AFC blocked the project in Parliament because, among other objections, was that the US$150 million budget was too excessive for the project that was designed. That project included an extended runway to accommodate bigger planes and new terminals with eight arrival and departure air bridges.

Soon after APNU and AFC became the Government, they restarted the project they had stalled in 2014. Shockingly, the very people who claimed the project cost was too high then reduced the scope of work, but at the same US$150 million cost. Instead of eight air bridges, the reduced scope of work ended up with only two. Visitors will notice four bridges, because, after public consternation, APNU/AFC added two more bridges, but outside of the US$150 million budget, having appropriated another US$750,000 (G$150 million) from the Consolidated Fund. In addition, instead of new terminals, there are now rehabilitated terminals. Adding salt to the wound, the project is now almost two years over the deadline and, as of now, is unlikely to be completed before the second half of 2019. Reportedly also, there are presently almost 1400 defects identified. How can we argue that the cost was heavily inflated, then reduce the scope, but not the budget? Something stinks to high heaven.

Truly most reprehensibly, the practitioners of corruption today were less than four years ago self-righteous anti-corruption crusaders. The leaders of APNU/AFC were the most vocal anticorruption advocates, vigorously crusading against the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government before 2015. APNU/ AFC’s anti-corruption platform and their persistent, aggressive anti-corruption messaging resonated with people. They rode this anti-corruption platform all the way to victory in the 2015 General and Regional Elections. There were people who honestly believed the PPP was doing a good, even a great, job of managing the country’s economic and social welfare progress, but voted for APNU/AFC because they bought into their anti-corruption posture. APNU/AFC’s anti-corruption messaging succeeded in creating the perception of PPP’s corruption. Interestingly, after spending more than $130 million in forensic audits, no evidence of PPP corruption has emerged.

But the self-righteous APNU/AFC anti-corruption crusaders of pre-2015 turned out to be more corrupt than politicians of any other era in Guyana’s history. Whether it is the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the Demerara River Bridge Feasibility Studies, the several medicine procurement contracts, the medical warehouse contract and many dozens more, averaging more than one per week for the entire four years since May 2015, corrupt transactions under this Government have poisoned development in Guyana. In fact, with negative dramatic events worrying people in Guyana every day, corruption continues to be among the top conversation topics in the country and always among the headlines in the breaking news.

Adding to people’s anxiety are the continuing question of enquiring minds – what has happened to the US$18 million Exxon bonus and the G$30 billion GuySuCo loan?

In 2015, many people aware of the history of the PNC, the parent body of APNU/AFC, of corruption, unaccountability and authoritarian DNA, were willing to take a chance, hoping they had changed. Now just four years into their term in government, APNU/AFC proves the tiger does not change its stripes. The DNA of the PNC for authoritarianism and corruption has exposed itself and has betrayed people. Unfortunately, poor people have become collateral damage, but APNU/AFC is blind, deaf and dumb to their plight.

Jussie Smollett: Prosecutors drop all charges against actor

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rosecutors have dropped all charges against US actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack.

The Empire star attended a court hearing in Chicago on Tuesday, where a judge sealed the case.

Smollett, 36, pleaded not guilty this month to 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police.

The city’s Mayor denounced the prosecutors’ decision to drop the charges as a “whitewash of justice”.

Smollett told reporters after his court appearance: “I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one.

“I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of

Jussie Smollett: “I have been truthful since day one”

one drop of what I’ve been accused of.”

It remains unclear why prosecutors dropped the charges against Smollett.

Chicago police Superintendent Eddie

Johnson said he was not briefed on the decision to drop the charges.

Though police provide the State’s attorney office with evidence, it is ultimately up to prosecutors

whether to pursue a case.

Smollett voluntarily agreed to give up his US$10,000 (£7,500) bail money, his lawyer said, emphasising there had been no deal with State prosecutors.

Superintendent Johnson said in a news conference on Tuesday that he felt justice had not been served and “the city is still owed an apology”.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel accused Smollett of fabricating a hate crime “all in the name of self-promotion”, adding that he took “no sense of ownership of what he’s done”.

The Mayor added the case would cast a shadow over genuine hate crimes as they decide whether to come forward. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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wednesday, MARCH 27, 2019

Regional

demands apology Wife of Venezuela’s Guaidó to Mexico from Spain and the visit Pence, Melania Trump Vatican over conquest G M

uaidó’s wife, Fabiana Rosales, will meet US Vice President Mike Pence at the White House today and First Lady Melania Trump in Florida on Thursday, White House officials said.

The high-profile meetings are aimed at demonstrating US backing for Guaidó, the head of Venezuela’s national assembly, who in January invoked the Constitution to declare himself interim President, arguing that President Maduro’s 2018 re-election was illegitimate.

“The United States is determined to support Interim President Guaidó’s leadership as he champions freedom and the restoration of democracy for the Venezuelan people,” a White House official said in a statement about Pence’s meeting

Fabiana Rosales, wife of Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó participates in a rally with Venezuelans living in Peru during her visit to Lima, Peru, March 23, 2019

with Rosales.

Most Latin American and Western countries have recognised Guaidó as Venezuela’s rightful leader.

Maduro, who retains control of State functions and the country’s military, says Guaidó is a puppet of the United States.

Melania Trump will meet with Rosales, a 26-year-old Journalist and Opposition activist who is considered Venezuela’s first lady by supporters, at the Trumps’ private Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday, a spokeswoman for the first Lady said.

Rosales, who told Reuters before her trip that her family and friends have been stalked and threatened, is also expected to visit New York City and Miami during her US trip. (Reuters)

exico's President has sent a letter to Spain's King Felipe VI and Pope Francis urging them to apologise for human rights abuses committed during the conquest of the region 500 years ago.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the indigenous peoples of Mexico had been the victims of massacres.

Speaking in the ruins of an ancient city, he called for a full account of the abuses.

Spain rejected his call and called for a "constructive perspective" instead.

The territory which now makes up Mexico was under Spanish rule for some 300 years before gaining independence in the early 19th Century.

At the time of the conquest, Spain was a fiercely Roman Catholic country and saw as its mission the

spread of Christianity to regions such as the Americas.

The man who became Mexico's first leftist president in seven decades has been pursuing a radical agenda since being sworn in in December, promising to tackle corruption, reduce inequality and lift millions of Mexicans out of poverty.

On Monday, he tweeted a video address from an archaeological site in Comacalco, Tabasco, where he is shown speaking alongside the First Lady, Beatriz Gutierrez.

"I have sent a letter to the Spanish king [Felipe VI] and another letter to the Pope so that the abuses can be acknowledged and an apology can be made to the indigenous peoples for the violations of what we now call human rights," López Obrador says. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Brazil not considering military force T&T: State gets in Venezuela – Defence Minister deadline for same

General Fernando Azevedo e Silva, who was appointed by Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro as Defence Minister, arrives for a meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, November 20, 2018

B

razil is not considering the use of military force in Venezuela and hopes for

a peaceful solution to the country’s crisis, Defence Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva said on Tuesday as

he met his American counterpart at the Pentagon.

“That’s not a hypothesis we’re considering. Brazil is looking forward to a peaceful and swift solution to the crisis in Venezuela,” he said, when asked whether the use of military force might be appropriate.

Meanwhile, the Russian military contingent that arrived in Venezuela over the weekend, drawing US condemnation, is believed to be made up of special forces, including “cybersecurity personnel”, a US official told Reuters on Tuesday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States was still assessing the Russian deployment, which Washington has called a “reckless escalation” of the situation in Venezuela.

Two Russian air force planes landed outside

Caracas on Saturday carrying nearly 100 Russian troops, according to local media reports, two months after the Trump Administration disavowed President Nicolás Maduro.

The Trump Administration has recognised Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s legitimate president and demands that Maduro step down. Russia has described this as a US-backed coup against the socialist Government.

The US assessment that the Russian contingent includes cybersecurity specialists and those from “related fields” suggests that part of their mission could be helping Maduro’s loyalists with surveillance as well as protection of the Government’s cyber infrastructure. (Reuters)

Hefty fine to be imposed for single-use plastics in Barbados V ery soon, in Barbados, persons who import petro-based single-use plastics or distribute, offer for sale or use such plastics, if caught, will face a huge fine and/or imprisonment for those acts.

Word of this has come from Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy Minister, Kirk Humphrey. He made the comments while pilot-

ing the debate of Control of Disposable Plastics Bill, which is intended to ban the use of single-use plastics made from petroleum.

He explained that if a person is found guilty, they could be fined Bds$50,000 and/or face imprisonment for one year. The Minister added that where that person continues to operate in contravention of the legisla-

tion, even after a conviction is obtained, they would be fined Bds$1000 for each day or part thereof during which the offence continues.

“From April 1 no person shall import single-use plastic containers or single-use cutlery as defined… With effect from the first day of July 2019, no person shall distribute, offer for sale, sell or use single-use plastic con-

tainers or single-use cutlery,” he stated.

His remarks came as he explained that while April 1 was the date originally identified as when the ban would take effect, Government has decided to extend the time to allow persons with such plastics in their inventory, in particular vendors, to get rid of that stock. (Excerpt from

Barbados Advocate)

sex case appeal

T

Jason Jones

he State’s appeal over a landmark judgement decriminalising sexual activity be-tween consenting male adults is set to be heard later this year.

When appeal came up for a case management hearing at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, Appellate Judge Gregory Smith gave Attorneys representing the Office of the Attorney General until May to file the record of appeal for the case.

A date for the hearing of the substantive appeal will be set after the record, which in-cludes High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad’s judgement in the case as well as the submissions that were made before him, is filed. The State has not sought an urgent hearing of the case.

In 2017, Trinidad-born Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay,

Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) ac-tivist Jason Jones filed the lawsuit, in which he challenged the constitutionality of sec-tions 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act which criminalised buggery and serious in-decency even between consenting adults.

Jones, who is a resident of the United Kingdom, claimed that the long-standing legis-lation contravened his constitutional rights to privacy and freedom of thought and expression and was in direct contradiction to the country’s international human rights obligations.

In his 58-page judgement delivered on April 12 last year, Rampersad agreed that the legislation contravened Jones’ rights to privacy and family life. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNEsday, MARCH 27, 2019

17

Around the World

Top Chinese leader backs crackdown on Uighurs “No cemetery, no vote”,

X

injiang needs to “perfect” stability maintenance measures and crack down on “religious extremism”, the ruling Communist Party’s fourth-ranked leader said on a tour of the Chinese region where members of the Uighur community have been put in internment camps.

Critics say Uighurs and other Muslims who live in Xinjiang are being held in detention centres, though the Government calls them “vocational training centres”.

Authorities say it has a genuine need to prevent “extremist thinking” and violence.

During a March 20 to March 25 vis-

it to Xinjiang, including Kashgar and Tumxuk in the Uighur southern part of the region, Wang Yang said the situation in Xinjiang was “continuing to develop well”, the official Xinjiang Daily said on Tuesday.

Authorities “must perfect stability-maintenance measures, and maintain high pressure on the ‘three forces’,” the paper cited Wang as saying, referring to “terror, extremism and separatism”.

“Correctly implement the party’s policy on ethnic minorities, resolutely oppose and crack down on ethnic separatist forces,” added Wang, who heads the leading but largely ceremonial ad-

visory body to China’s Parliament.

China has been stepping up a push to counter growing criticism in the West and among rights groups about the programme in the Xinjiang region bordering Central Asia.

That has included inviting foreign diplomats and reporters to visit on well-chaperoned tours.

The Government has shown happy, well-dressed people in the centres on these trips, and said they are treated respectfully and have their rights protected. Rights groups, however, say there is mistreatment and even torture. Charges China denies. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Algeria army urges removal of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika

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lgeria’s army chief of staff has demanded President Abdelaziz Bouteflika be declared unfit to rule after weeks of protests against him.

Speaking on television, Lt Gen Ahmed Gaed Salah said: “We must find a way out of this crisis immediately, within the constitutional framework.”

The President has already agreed not to stand for a fifth term in upcoming elections, which have been delayed.

Demonstrators accuse the 82-year-old of a ploy to prolong his 20-year rule.

Talks have been set up to oversee the country’s political transition, draft a new Constitution and set

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has led Algeria since 1999

the date for elections. But they do not yet have a date to start.

Protests against Bouteflika began last month after the President, who has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke

in 2013, said he planned to stand for another term.

But people have continued to march even after he agreed not to stand, instead demanding immediate change.

Lieutenant General Gaed

Salah - who is also Deputy Defence Minister and seen as loyal to Bouteflika - has previously said the military and the people had a united vision of the future, hinting at the armed forces’ support for the demonstrators.

Lt Gen Gaed Salah said the Constitution was “the only guarantee to preserve a stable political situation”, and called for the use of Article 102, which allows the Constitutional Council to declare the position of President vacant if the leader is unfit to rule.

The dramatic intervention by the armed forces chief of staff is the latest development after weeks of sustained protest in Algeria.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Mumbai’s Christian voters warn ahead of polls

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hristian voters in the Indian city of Mumbai have demanded more burial grounds ahead of national elections next month, claiming they are being forced to pile bodies on top of each other due to overcrowding in cemeteries.

Christians total 2.3 per cent of India’s 1.3 billion population, and an estimated 900,000 of the community live in the country’s financial capital Mumbai and its satellite cities, according to Christian associations.

The community’s members met at the weekend to discuss the problem and on Tuesday launched the #NoCemeteryNoVote hashtag to help publicise their demands.

There are six public cemeteries in Mumbai and three in its neighbouring district of Thane, considered a Mumbai suburb.

To make effective use of space, the community uses

shrouds instead of wood coffins, digs out the remains after about two years once the body is decomposed.

The remains are deposited into miniature vaults, but their numbers are also running low.

Community members said that bodies are rarely decomposed when another comes for burial, leading to an unpleasant experience for family members who see the remains of their loved ones juggled to make space.

Parliamentarian Rajan Vichare of regional party Shiv Sena that controls the civic bodies of Mumbai and Thane said work on a new burial ground in Thane was nearing completion.

“Nothing happens overnight. It will be ready in another six months. I will be mentioning this during my election speeches,” said Vichare, who will be contesting the elections this year.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel-Hamas fighting eases along Gaza border, Israel moves up tanks and troops

EU backs controversial copyright law

C

opyright laws which critics say could change the internet have been voted in by the European Parliament.

The new rules will hold tech firms such as Google and YouTube - responsible for material posted without copyright permission.

Many musicians and creators say the legislation will compensate artists fairly - but others argue that they will destroy user-generated content.

Google said it would “harm Europe’s creative and digital industries”.

High-profile figures who have campaigned against the EU Copyright Directive include Wyclef Jean and web in-

ventor Sir Tim Berners Lee, while Debbie Harry and Sir Paul McCartney have been among its supporters.

Copyright is the legal right that allows an artist to protect how their original work is used.

It has taken several revisions for the current legislation, which was backed by 348 Members in the European Parliament, with 278 against, to reach its final form.

It is now up to Member States to approve the decision. If they do, they will have two years to implement it once it is officially published.

The two clauses causing the most controversy are known as Article 11 and

Article 13.

Article 11 states that search engines and news aggregate platforms should pay to use links from news websites.

Article 13 holds larger technology companies responsible for material posted without a copyright licence.

It means they would need to apply filters to content before it is uploaded.

Article 13 does not include cloud storage services and there are already existing exemptions, including parody.

The European Parliament said that memes - short video clips that go viral would be “specifically excluded” from the Directive, although it was unclear how tech firms would be able to enforce that rule with a blanket filter. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Palestinian Policemen loyal to Hamas stand guard at the site of a Hamas-run insurance office after it was destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, March 26, 2019 REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

C Yemenis rally in support of Houthis to mark war anniversary Y emenis held a mass rally in Sanaa on Tuesday to show support for the Houthi movement on the fourth anniversary of a war that has killed thousands of people and pushed the country to the brink of starvation.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have controlled the capital Sanaa and Yemen’s largest populated areas since 2014 when they ousted the Government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The United Nations is pushing ahead with tough talks with the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Government to find a political solution to the conflict.

Men, women and children marched waving the red, white and black national colours, and chanted slo-

Supporters of the Houthi movement shout slogans as they attend a rally to mark the 4th anniversary of the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen’s war, in Sanaa, Yemen

gans against Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition against the Houthis, and the United States which backs it.

They also blamed US

ally Israel for destroying the country.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blamed Saudi Arabia and its allies for rejecting peace.

The coalition accuses Iran of supplying the Houthis with arms, including drones and missiles.

Iran and the Houthis deny the accusations.

The Head of the Houthis’ Supreme Revolutionary Committee, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, denounced the US decision to recognise Israel’s sovereignty on the Golan Heights.

Tens of thousands of people have died in the war pitting the Houthis against the Saudi-led coalition, which intervened in Yemen in 2015 to restore Hadi’s Government to power.

The war has displaced over two million people and driven the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country to the verge of famine. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

ross-border fighting between Israel and Hamas abated on Tuesday after a day of Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli air strikes, but Israel said it reserved the right to strike again and kept its troops and tanks massed at the Gaza frontier.

The biggest IsraeliPalestinian escalation in months, which began on Monday with the longest-range Palestinian rocket attack to cause casualties in Israel for five years, appeared to have been curbed overnight by Egyptian mediation.

Israel responded to Monday’s rocket attack with a wave of strikes on targets belonging to the Hamas militant group that controls the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

The Israeli military said that after consultations with Netanyahu, it was boosting its troops in the area and calling up some

reserve forces.

The border fell quiet on Tuesday morning after Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group, which also took part in the fighting, said Egypt had brokered a truce. As in past escalations that ended with Egyptian mediation, Israel denied it had agreed to a ceasefire with groups it views as terrorists.

“We don’t want war, but if Israel wants it then what should we do? We ask our factions to respond,” said Mohammad Sayed, 40. “But we hope Egypt reaches a deal to end this.”

Gaza militants fired barrages of rockets into Israel late into Monday night.

Some were shot down by Israeli defences and others landed in empty areas.

Israel remained on high alert on Tuesday and ordered schools near the border closed and residents to stay near bomb shelters.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESday, March 27, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

dilbert

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Take action and get things done. Whether at work, school or home, set a goal and don’t stop until you meet your mark.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Emotional matters will escalate if you let someone interfere in your personal affairs. Don’t discuss your love life, domestic matters or finances to avoid conflict, discord and meddling.

CANCER

Dig in and get things done. Use your imagination and put your heart and soul into accomplishing your goals. Make love, romance and improving your life priorities.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — ABSTRACT

Average mark 17 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 23 or more words in ABSTRACT? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — DISCUSSION disc disco discus discuss icon incus iodic ionic scion scission

scud sinus sonic sound suds coin cousin undo onus nodus

Live and learn. Be observant and question anything you don’t understand. Don’t feel you must make a change just because someone else does. Watching from the sidelines will pay off.

Look at what you can do, not at what you cannot.

Don’t let someone confuse you or cost you the chance to be a part of something great.

Do what feels right.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Emotions will run high.

Channel your energy into positive pursuits and living up to the promises you made to yourself. Don’t let anyone take advantage of you or your generosity.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Implement the changes you’ve been contemplating for so long. It’s time to shake things up and live the life you desire. Love and romance should highlight your day.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t overreact or let anyone entice you to do something that isn’t in your best interest. Make domestic and lifestyle improvements. Put your health first.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

A little charm, intelligence and desire will get you where you want to go.

Personal changes should reflect your lifelong dreams.

Romance is in the stars.

SUDOKU

(ABSTRACT: ab-STRAKT: Theoretical rather than physical or concrete.)

Rise above adversity and strive to be your best.

Make changes for the right reason, not because of what someone else does or says.

Do things your way.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

You’ve got choices to make and you shouldn’t let anyone interfere with your goals. Move forward and put your plans in motion secretively to avoid discord.

Listen to suggestions, but don’t stretch your budget or set impossible goals. If you stick to tried-and-true methods that have worked in the past, success will be yours.

WEDNESday, MARCH 27, 2019

19

Bravo and Watson come up trumps against Delhi

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his encounter was billed as one between the youthful exuberance of Delhi Capitals and the vast experience of Chennai Super Kings, and the result added substance to the suggestion that T20 is not necessarily a young man’s game. Shikhar Dhawan’s fifty kept Delhi ticking after they opted to bat in their first home match of the season, but they unraveled to Dwayne Bravo at the death and their 147 for 6 never looked like it was enough despite the slowness of the track at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Shane Watson’s rapid 44 put Super Kings well ahead of the asking rate, and by the time the paterfamilias himself, MS Dhoni, walked in, they needed under five an over. Dhoni took it deep - at one point calmly patting away five dots in a row - and let the game go into the final over before Bravo sealed Super Kings’ second win in two, and sixth victory out of eight matches at this venue.

Chahar reins them in

On a pitch that historically favours spinners even more strongly than even the MA

Shikhar Dhawan

scene e r , have to get afChahar Shardul the potenlinks in an wise imble at-

Chidambaram Stadium, the of the season openDelhi might been looking ter Deepak a n d Thakur as tial weak otherpregnatack. A

spring-loaded Prithvi Shaw spanked three fours in a row in Thakur’s first over, but by the end of his opening spell, Chahar had more than repaired the damage.

As he had done on Saturday night, Chahar bowled all four up front and maintained control throughout, sending down 12 dot balls and striking the vital blow when he cramped Shaw for room and a spliced pull was caught at midwicket. By the time Chahar was done at the end of the seventh over, Delhi’s runrate was a modest 6.85, and with Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, Ravindra Jadeja and Bravo to come, any attempt to up the rate would not be an easy one.

Dhawan anchors

On a slow, slightly variegated pitch that made fluent strokeplay difficult, Delhi needed someone in the top three to dig in and bat through if they were to set a defendable total.

Dhawan got the job two-thirds done with a 47-ball 51 - his 33rd IPL fifty - that set up the innings before Delhi were reined in by Bravo and co. at the death. Sensing the need to bat deep after Shaw fell early, Dhawan used the crease well, going deep or making room to change the angles and open up scoring options in the field. He also picked his moments to attack, swiping back-to-back boundaries off Tahir and then repeating the treatment in Bravo’s first over.

But Dhawan’s dismissal was the fourth in eight balls as Delhi misfired at the death. He then missed a tough chance at slip off Ambati Rayudu’s edge in the very first over of the chase, bowled by Ishant Sharma, and then let a pull from Kedar Jadhav burst through his hands as Super Kings marched inexorably to victory later in the evening.

Bravo’s comeback

While Chahar had bowled his four on the trot up front, Dhoni chose to use Bravo’s overs all in one go at the other end of the innings. No one has taken more T20 wickets than Bravo’s 483, and 84 of these dismissals have now come during the last five overs in the IPL - second only to Lasith Malinga’s 96.

He is a master tactician during this period, and his 3 for 33 held Delhi back after they had ended the 15th over with a platform set at 118 for 2.

On a pitch Bravo called “two-paced” during the mid-match interview, his chang-

CSK celebrate taking a wicket

es of pace and variations in line and length brought the dismissals of Rishabh Pant, Colin Ingram and a set Dhawan in the midst of Delhi’s collapse to 127 for 5 in the space of one-and-a-half overs. Bravo’s eventual returns were all the more impressive given the way he had started his spell, having leaked 17 runs in his first over.

200 after the Powerplay in overs 7 to 15, but this time around he did the damage in the Powerplay. By the time he fell, stumped off an Amit Mishra ripper, the required rate was well under a run a ball and with the resources at Super Kings’ disposal, it looked like the rest of the chase would be a doddle.

Watto wins the war

The questions about Dhoni’s starting against spin might have grown a little louder had he edged his first ball to slip, rather than over him and away for four. Super Kings needed 50 from 58 when Dhoni entered, numbers which seemed almost too easy for a player of Dhoni’s legendary vintage in whiteball chases. When no further boundaries had been hit seven overs later, Dhoni might have been the only person at the Kotla who wasn’t starting to get a little edgy, but just as things were starting to get tight again, Dhoni did as Dhoni does, slashing Keemo Paul through cover and shellacking Mishra over wide long on as though he’d had planned it all this way.

Graciously, he left it to Bravo to hit the winning runs, but remained not out at the end for the 39th time in a successful IPL chase.

With the first innings having demonstrated the need for top-order solidity, Watson v Rabada was set up as a key battle as Delhi desperately hunted an inroad into an experienced line-up. The spark between the two was lit in Rabada’s first over, when Watson backed away into a bouncer as the South African quick focused on two lengths: at the boot or at the head. Watson glanced a 150km/h yorker for four and top-edged a bouncer to further rile Rabada up, and at one point the two engaged in what looked like a heated exchange. As much as he tried to force the issue, Rabada’s pace was defanged by the slow track and he just couldn’t break through.

It’s the middle overs that Watson dominated last season, striking the ball at over

Dhoni time

(ESPN cricinfo)

KKR, KXIP clash at Eden Gardens today

K

KXIP have opened their campaign with a win

olkata Knight Riders (KKR) will host Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 clash at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday after the visiting franchise skipper Ravichandran Ashwin took the centre-stage for ‘mankad-

ing’ Jos Buttler during the match with Rajasthan Royals (RR).

It was Ashwin’s ‘mankading’ of Buttler that had triggered a dramatic collapse with KXIP restricting RR to 170 for nine to notch up a 14-run win on Monday. KKR also won their opening match of the

season but KXIP are in a better position in the points table due to superior net run rate.

KXIP’s biggest star Chris Gayle scored a 47-ball 79 and his Jamaican rivalry with compatriot Andre Russell, who also looked in blistering touch for KKR, will be one of the sub-plots of the clash in Kolkata.

Gayle, who will retire from ODIs after the 2019 World Cup, has been in sensational form, smashing 39 sixes in the five-match ODI series against England and set the record for most sixes by a batsman in international cricket.

A typical slow starter, Gayle was 14 off 18 balls but the opener hit top gear in the 12th over hammering Jaydev Unadkat for four successive boundaries.

A former KKR player, Gayle knows Eden Gardens

like the back of his hand as he would look to continue his assault on the spin-oriented KKR attack.

Russell will be KKR’s answer to Gayle as the KKR star also fashioned a sensational win, smashing an unbeaten 49 from 19 balls in their opening fixture against SunRisers Hyderabad here two days ago.

The win saw their star spinner and explosive opener Sunil Narine hurt his finger and KKR would hope he is fit in time.

KKR will embark on a crucial four-match away sojourn after this and they would look to keep their momentum intact before they return home to face Delhi Capitals on April 12.

Squads: Kolkata Knight Riders: Dinesh Karthik (capt), Robin Uthappa, Chris Lynn,

KKR features the other hard-hitting Jamaican, Andre Russell

Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Nikhil Naik, Joe Denly, Shrikant Mundhe, Nitish Rana, Sandeep Warrier, Prasidh Krishna, Lockie Ferguson, Harry Gurney, KC Cariappa and Yarra Prithviraj.

Kings XI Punjab: R Ashwin (capt), Sam Curran, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammed

Shami, Nicholas Pooran, Moises Henriques, Hardus Viljoen, Darshan Nalkande, Sarfaraz Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Agnivesh Ayachi, Harpreet Brar, Murugan Ashwin, Chris Gayle, Andrew Tye, K L Rahul, Ankit Rajpoot, Mandeep Singh, Simran Singh, Mayank Agrawal, Karun Nair, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and David Miller.

Match time is 10:30 hrs.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

WEDNESday, march 27, 2019

Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup…

Dottin, Matthews top performers in Super50 Cup

T

he 2019 Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup was a successful one for the Barbados team – Deandra Dottin was the leading run-scorer with 299 runs while Hayley Matthews topped the bowling charts with 17 wickets. After the fifth and final round, Barbados retained the Super50 title, finishing with a maximum 24 points after winning all of their five matches.

Trinidad and Tobago finished second with 19 points while Jamaica came third with 14 points. Hosts Guyana attained 10 points while Windward Islands gathered five points.

Leeward Islands lost all four matches and remained without a point on the board.

The tournament’s most destructive batter scored

299 runs in five innings, C a p t a i n where she was dismissed Matthews scored 233 runs only once, that was in the 49th over of the in five infifth and final nings, reround against taining the Trinidad and reputaTobago. Dottin, tion of t h e who goes by the name World Boss, had the most sixes in scores of 23*, 94*, 34*, Leading 75*, and 73 in the five inwicket-taker nings she batted and was Hayley Matthews awarded three Player-ofthe-Match prizes.

In second position on the tournament’s batting chart, Barbados wicket-keeper/ batter, Kycia Knight scored 264 runs; she had scores of 81, 59*, 2*, 45 and 77, aver- b e s t aging 88. Stafanie Taylor, opener.

Jamaica’s captain, who was Rounding awarded two Player-of-the- off the top five, Match prizes, accumulated G u y a n a ’ s 263 runs in five innings. In S h e m a i n e fourth position, Barbados C a m p b e l l e

scored 211 runs in five innings. There were three centuries scored in the tournament: Taylor scored 119, Campbelle scored 111 and Matthews scored 108.

In the bowling department, Matthews with her off-spin topped the charts with 17 wickets, picking up the best bowling figures of the tournament when she grabbed 7-27 in 8.4 overs against Leeward Islands at Everest. Trinidad’s K a r i s h m a Ramharack had 13 wickets with best bowling figures of 4-38 while Leandra Ramdeen grabbed 10 wickets in the four matches she played. Guyana’s Erva Giddings was the most suc-

m a t c h cessful fast bowler in the tournament with 10 wickes played ets. at the Windies spin queen National Anisa Mohammed had Stadium nine wickets along with Providence on Thursday, Jamaican speedster Chinelle Henry and M a r c h Sheneta Grimond, 28, 2019. who also finished with (Brandon nine wickets. Taylor Corlette) and Dottin finished with eight wickets each.

There were two five-wicket hauls in the tournament: Matthews had 7-27 and Dottin had 6-43. The outstanding players were awarded on Tuesday last at the Regency Hotel. The teams will now focus on the T20 Blaze tournament that will s e e Leading run-scorer three Deandra Dottin

Firmino and Jesus score as Parika Defenders dim Floodlights in feature T20 softball match Brazil beat Czech

Gabriel Jesus scored his 12th and 13th goals for his country

P

remier League duo Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus scored the goals as Brazil came from behind to beat the Czech Republic in a friendly in Prague.

Liverpool’s Firmino seized on an error to slot in the equaliser after David Pavelka’s opener for the home side.

Manchester City forward Jesus added two in the last 10 minutes to win the game.

Both were close-range efforts - the first following

David Neres’ low ball and the second a neat finish after his initial effort had been saved.

Brazil’s South American rivals Argentina were without Lionel Messi, but beat Morocco 1-0 in a friendly thanks to Angel Correa’s late goal.

Lionel Scaloni’s side, who were beaten 3-1 in Venezuela on Friday, struggled without Barcelona forward Messi, who suffered an injury in last week’s defeat on what was his first international match

since the 2018 World Cup. But substitute Correa gave them the win seven minutes from time, running across the face of goal before hooking the ball back across goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and into the net.

Paulo Dybala led the attack on Tuesday in place of the absent Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel di Maria.

In other friendlies, Jonathan Kodja’s last-gasp penalty gave Ivory Coast a 1-0 win over Liberia in Abidjan, while Nigeria beat Egypt 1-0 with Danish-based striker Paul Onuachu scoring after nine seconds in Asaba following a defensive blunder.

Egypt were again without Mohamed Salah, who missed the weekend trip to Niger after being given permission to stay in Liverpool.

But his club-mate Sadio Mane conjured up a superb individual goal for Senegal, slaloming through the Mali defence to score an 87th-minute winner as they triumphed 2-1 in Dakar. (BBC Sport)

GFSCA President Ramchand Ragbeer smiles as he collects his enlarged framed picture from Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market in the presence of other members

I

n a specially-arranged T20 softball game in honour of the 65th birth anniversary of Ramchand Ragbeer, President of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), played last Friday under lights at the famous DCC cricket ground, Parika Defenders won by 16 runs in a keenly contested game.

The visitors, winners of Guyana Softball Cup 8 Over50 tournament, won the toss and took first strike amassing 198 for 9 off their 20 overs.

Muneshwar Balgobin top-

scored with 59 and got support from Anthony Arjune (48) and Dubraj Singh (27). Bowling for Floodlights, Jailall Deodas took 3 for 15; former Berbice senior inter-county all-rounder Anil Beharry, 3 for 25 and Rabindra Singh, 2 for 19.

In reply, the hosts threatened, but fell short by 16 runs losing eight wickets in the process as their overs expired.

Beharry led the way with a brutal 103 and got support from Seeraj Bheemsain (35) and Khalid Baksh (26). Devanand Kannan was superb in taking four wickets for Parika

Defenders. Beharry was adjudged best batsman and Man of the Match; Kannan, best bowler and Singh, the best fielder. Parika Defenders Captain Kenrick Persaud collected the winning trophy.

All trophies were donated by Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market and Market Road, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.

In the other game, Payless lost to Factory Price in another exciting encounter by five runs. However, no detailed scoresheet was available.

The Floodlights team also toured Antigua as part of the celebration of the President’s birthday, losing the windball and taped windball games, but won the feature softball match. The GFSCA also took the opportunity to thank the Antigua and Barbuda Softball Cricket Association for its kind hospitality and a well-organised tour. Parika Defenders, Payless and Factory Price were also thanked for their participation in the Friday night games.

Conor McGregor retires: Legitimate or leverage for UFC fighter?

N

ews of Conor McGregor’s announced “retirement” has once again set the internet ablaze, but cynicism abounds following the Dubliner’s latest social media statement - and for good reason. Because, let’s be honest, we’ve been here before.

Back in April 2016, after a disagreement over promotional responsibilities, the UFC pulled the Irishman from the main event slot at UFC 200 and McGregor infamously tweeted: “I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.”

The media pounced on the story, reporting the early retirement of the sport’s biggest star. But it turned out McGregor wasn’t retiring at all. He was merely using his star power as leverage to get

him the fight - and the deal that he wanted. And as a result he faced Nate Diaz in a huge rematch at UFC 202 later that year.

All good negotiators know when to walk away from the table, and McGregor has proved down the years that he’s certainly a formidable negotiator. He used those skills to great effect back in 2016 and it worked out incredibly well for him. Now there’s a very strong chance that he’s looking to repeat the trick by threatening to walk away again.

However, McGregor has made no secret of his desire to come back. He’s offered to fight Anderson Silva in Brazil. He’s hinted at a possible trilogy fight with Nate Diaz and he’s enjoyed multiple good-natured social media

The left hand which made Conor McGregor (L) the UFC Featherweight Champion at UFC 194 in December 2015

skirmishes with current UFC featherweight champion - and former McGregor victim - Max Holloway. Then there’s the unfinished business with the man who so comprehensively defeated him in his last outing at UFC 229, current UFC lightweight champion Khabib

Nurmagomedov.

All signs seemed to point to a McGregor return in July at UFC 239, during the organisation’s annual International Fight Week festivities. A bout with fellow fan favourite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone was mooted but then seemingly

scrapped, with Cerrone suggesting McGregor wouldn’t accept co-main event billing.

Now McGregor says he’s calling it quits.

Given the above, McGregor’s retirement announcement seems to fly in the face of all the noises we’ve heard from him since his defeat by Nurmagomedov, and suggests he’s trying to put the squeeze on the UFC again.

However, the last time he tried, the UFC was run by the Fertitta brothers, who were sympathetic to the Irishman and keen to keep their biggest star on board before the UFC’s record-breaking $4bn (£3.2bn) sale.

But now the UFC is run by sports PR and management giants Endeavor, whose figurehead Ari Emanuel (the real-life inspiration for

Entourage’s Ari Gold character) is known as one of the toughest negotiators in the business.

However, it’s worth noting that McGregor has fought just once for the UFC since their takeover, and having the Irishman compete will certainly do no harm to the company’s bottom line. That may well be uppermost in McGregor’s mind if he’s looking to strike another lucrative deal.

The flipside to this whole argument, of course, is that McGregor really has called it a day.

And if he truly has decided to step away for good, then he leaves the sport of mixed martial arts after a career inside and outside the cage that truly matches his fighting moniker - “Notorious”.(BBC Sport)

sports

21

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GFF extends gratitude to corporate partners

F

resh off the historic win against Belize which has seen Guyana advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has sought to express its gratitude to corporate Guyana for their outpouring of support.

The match, which was held at the National Track and Field Centre on Saturday, March 23, saw Guyana defeating Belize by a 2-1 margin to make its debut at the premier event of the CONCACAF Region, scheduled for June-July 2019.

However, in addition to the just over 4000 patrons, who supported Guyana’s senior men’s national team, the Golden Jaguars, it was corporate Guyana which contributed significantly to the successful hosting of the event.

In an invited comment, GFF President Wayne Forde said he was heartened by the support as it demonstrated corporate Guyana’s commitment to the development of football.

“This outpouring of support by our corporate partners to this very significant match demonstrates their understanding of the magnitude of the event and its far-reaching implications on football development in Guyana.

This is the first step in a long journey, which began with a dream and that initial dream has finally been realised with this qualification. The journey continues and can only be realised with continued partnerships of this nature to enable the realisation of the team’s successful participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup,” he noted.

No doubt, the GFF had more than a handful of corporate sponsors and that list includes: KFC Guyana;

Guyana’s starting 11 at the final Nations League qualifier last Saturday (CONCACAF photo)

ANSA McAL Trading Ltd Guyana; NAMILCO; Giftland Mall; A Forrester Lumber Yard; 93.1 Real FM; 97.5 MAAD FM; 94.1 BOOM FM; 104.1, Lite FM; National Communications Network (NCN); Power Producers and Distributors Inc; Sureia Manufacturers Ltd through the Aqua Pur Water brand; Industrial Safety Supplies Inc; Secure Innovation and Concepts Inc; Space Gym; Demerara Distillers Ltd; Star Party Rental; St Joseph Mercy Hospital – Ambulance & Medical Team; Pegasus Guyana; Radar Security Service and Supplies; National Milling Company Limited; Devon Construction and Contracting Services; West Indian Sports Complex; The Guinness Bar; The Fashion Box; Digicel Guyana; NEW GPC Inc; Courtney Benn Contracting Services Ltd; Muneshwers Limited

Club ‘45’ meet Pele/Patriarchs at Thirst Park tonight

F

ootballers of 50 years and over, inclusive of past nationals, will rewind the past and “tag-up” for a feature Masters clash at Thirst Park ground tonight.

The game, which is set to kick-off at 19:30h, will bring

together Club ‘45’ and a Pele/ Rastafari Patriarchs combination.

The National Park ballers under the name Club ‘45’ will be spearheaded by Lance Wills, with support from others, including Gavin

Huntley, Alex Mahaica, Jolly Lewis, Lionel Grimes, Patrick Vincente, Kevin Leander, Owen Adonis and Andrew “Docker” Bright.

Dennis “Chow” Hunte will lead the Masters from the GNS Ground – Pele/Rastas,

Hopkinson arrests 2nd place in Senior Division

VACANCY

CUBAN

COOK,

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which will showcase the likes of Vibert “Dordee” Butts, Michael Pedro, Floyd “Brick” Campbell, Lloyd Smith, Dallas Sharples, Allan La Rose, Shawn Jacobs, Mark La Rose and Eyon “Axeman” Wills.

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Travel Service; Central Immigration and Passport Office; Guyana Police Force; the Guyana Defence Force; Guyana Fire Service; National Data Management Authority; Guyana Minibus Union; University of Guyana; Department of Tourism; Communities Ministry, the Bartica Football Association, West Demerara Football Association ATC; Den Amstel Football Club; Lt Col (Ret’d) Joseph Harmon, MP; Minister of State; Winston Felix, MP, Minister of Citizenship; Carol Lewis Primo, Head of Immigration Support Services, Guyana Post Office Corporation; James Samuels and Charles Ceres.

Team preparations for Guyana’s participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup will begin shortly.

Harold “Top Gun” Hopkinson (centre) with the other members of Team Guyana which competed at the Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc-sponsored IPSC Level 3, 2019 Amazon Shoot in Suriname last weekend

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

T

he Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) IPSC Regional Director Harold Hopkinson, along with sanctioned handgun competitors, Dr Pravesh Harry, Angelique DeGroot, the father-son duo of Andrew and John Pang from the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation, travelled to the neighbouring country of Suriname, for the Secure Innovations and Concepts

Inc- sponsored IPSC Level 3, 2019 Amazon Shoot.

Battling a stomach bug that had him vomiting and nauseous, veteran hand gunner “Top Gun” Hopkinson pulled off a second-place finish against his younger more fit competition. As the only Super Senior, the 64 year-old security executive, shooting an out-of-the-box CZ Shadow 2 Production gun, was thrown

into the younger, more agile senior class.

In an invited comment, Hopkinson said he was absolutely shocked that he got the silver medal, since he was not convinced that he had shot well.

The Regional Director said he was proud that his team members had put up a valiant and commendable performance in front of their trainer Grand Master Ronald Brown.

“They all finished just off the podium. There were 60 shooters from Aruba, Barbados, Curaçao, French Guiana, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and host Suriname.”

He informed that the next stop would be Trinidad and Tobago followed by the 25th Anniversary competition of the Aruba Practical Shooting Association.

Hopkinson and his team members extended thanks to Police Commissioner Leslie James; Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Godfrey Statia; the GuyanaNRA President, Brigadier Patrick West and his GuyanaNRA Executive and Handgun Captain, Dale Hing for their collective assistance in making the Suriname tour a possibility.

22

WEDNESday, march 27, 2019

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Female hockey team completes stint in Canada – sights set on IPAC 2020

Gabriella Xavier takes a shot at goal The female Guyanese team in Canada

A

Guyanese national indoor selection travelled to Canada on March 20 to compete in a Field Hockey Canada Invitational Indoor Hockey Tri-Nation series from March 22-24.

Also invited to compete against a Canadian national selection and a Canadian President’s XI were the national team of Kazakhstan.

With a ranking of 13th in the world, the team from Kazakhstan would be the highest-ranked team of the series followed by Canada, ranked 17th and Guyana ranked 31st.

Guyana’s efforts to participate in this event were really motivated by the need to expose new young players to a high level of competition ahead of the next Indoor Pan American Cup (IPAC), which is scheduled for Pottsville, Pennsylvania in March 2020. The last time the Guyana women participated in international indoor hockey was back in 2017 when the IPAC was held here in Georgetown at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. This selection for Canada saw as many as six new faces on the 14-member squad, with five of them still being under 16. The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) deliberately searched for young talent emerging from the Smalta/iCool junior tournaments over the past couple of years in an effort to be-

gin preparation for the next four-year cycle in which the aim is for Guyana to attempt to qualify, for the first time-ever, for an indoor World Cup. Guyana opened its series in Canada in the morning of March 22 with a match against the Asian indoor champions Kazakhstan.

From the outset, it could be seen that the Kazaks were far more experienced than the young Guyanese who seemed to also struggle a bit with the fast smooth wooden surface on the University of Toronto Athletic Centre.

While Kazakhstan put the Guyanese under tremendous pressure in the first half, superb goalkeeping by Alysa Xavier and solid defence work from Guyana’s most experienced players, Marisha Fernandes and Trisha Woodroffe, kept the scores at 0-0.

The second half would see the tide swing in Guyana’s favour as Woodroffe hammered home two powerful direct penalty corner flicks in the 27th and 29th minutes to give Guyana a 2-0 lead. Kazakhstan gave it their all in the final 10 minutes and came close to scoring on a few occasions, but Xavier kept them at bay aside from one penalty corner goal in the final minute.

The 2-1 victory for Guyana over the highly-ranked Kazaks was an unexpected positive start for the

Guyanese.

The second match for Guyana that very same afternoon; however, proved much tougher as the well-rehearsed and experienced Canadians piled on pressure on the Guyanese, who defended bravely to keep the score to 0-0 at the half. The Canadians, however, finally found a way past Xavier in the second half through a Kaelan Watson field goal three minutes after resumption and a second from Shannon Pereira four minutes later. The Guyanese, desperate to recover from the deficit, pressed forward and created a few dangerous moments, but left their defence vulnerable. Canada were able to find gaps in the experienced Guyanese side and stretched the score to 6-0 by the end of the match.

The second day saw Guyana facing Canada White, who had defeated Kazakhstan by 2-1 the previous day. Both teams fought hard to gain the upper hand in this match with contrasting styles as the Canadians, with the definite edge in experience, executing deliberate and systematic build-ups while the Guyanese absorbed the pressure and looked to counterattack with their superior speed. The match ended in a 0-0 stalemate and the points table at the end of the pool dictated that these two teams would meet again in

the semi-finals.

The semi-final against Canada White saw the Guyanese having to chase from behind as the Canadians went one up through a Madison Babineau penalty corner only four minutes into the match. The Guyanese seemed to have their best match of the series thus far as they had better possession and showed creativity in attack than in previous matches. It took 30 minutes more of hockey, however, before the voluminous Guyanese cheering section was launched into an uproar as Nicole Eastman’s penalty corner strike beat the goalkeeper high in the left corner.

The 1-1 final score saw the semi-final go to a shootout, which similarly ended in a 2-2 stalemate and it took sudden death penalties to break the deadlock and Guyanese hearts, as Babineau scored immediately after Gabriella Xavier’s effort was blocked

by Canadian goalkeeper Hilary Neeb.

The semi-final loss meant Guyana had to face the Kazaks once more for the bronze medal match, which turned out to be anti-climactic for the Guyanese. Having come so close to making the final, the 4-1 resulting loss to Kazakhstan was a great disappointment, although the disparity in experience was evident on that final day.

The Kazaks had correct-

ed their penalty corner routine and made it difficult for the Guyanese to defend.

Five minutes into the match, the Kazaks scored and then earned a penalty stroke off a penalty corner strike that hit the knee of Marzana Fiedtkou on the goal line.

Experienced Captain Nataliya Gataulina converted to give Kazakhstan a 2-0 halftime score. The second half saw Guyana chasing down the Kazaks in an effort to save the game, but despite putting them under great pressure, the inexperience of the Guyanese was exposed when Kazakhstan escaped a high press and beat the Guyanese down the floor to score their third.

While Trisha Woodroffe would finally get on the score sheet for Guyana with a 30th minute penalty corner, Kazakhstan earned their second penalty stroke of the match and Gataulina converted to finish the match at 4-1.

Team Guyana Coach Philip Fernandes indicated that despite the disappointing placement of his team in the end, a great many of the objectives were achieved during the series.

Fernandes shared that the team, being fully aware of their unfavourable ranking and inexperience, had set a target to win or draw at least one match in the series. As it turns out, they won a match and drew twice during the series.

Fernandes noted that the Guyanese defended well

throughout the series, but needed to improve on their offensive skills and ability to turn chances into goals.

All four of Guyana’s goals came via the penalty corner route which highlighted the fact that they were not able to score in the run of play. While it is difficult to single out players in a team sport, the Coach was high in praise for goalkeeper Alysa Xavier who, in his opinion was the best goalkeeper in the series.

Fernandes pointed out that aside from Gabriella Xavier and Nicole Eastman, both of whom carried the brunt of the attack, Sarah Klautky and Abosaide Cadogan had encouraging moments and showed that they had the foot speed to match the seniors. Guyana must now try to find a facility in which to train for the IPAC in 2020.

While the GHB recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government for some land in Durban Park, that will take some time to develop and so in the meantime, the GHB could not afford to sit back and wait, as the other nations have clearly begun to prepare. The tile floor accessed by the GHB in 2017 remains inaccessible as basketball prefers to use the wooden surface at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and so the Board will need to try to find a temporary space where they can lay down the floor and have their teams train to be ready for 2020.

ECCC/Neville Ramotar Memorial T/20 & SPR Ent 40-Over Cricket Tournaments…

Enmore, Buxton SC, Better Hope among victorious teams

T

he SPR Enterprise/ Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) 40-Over and the inaugural Neville Ramotar T/20 cricket competitions continued across the East Coast of Demerara on Sunday with several matches.

In the encounter at Enterprise, ECCCC defeated Enterprise B SC by 85 runs. ECCCC took first strike and were restricted to 208-8 from 40 overs. Enterprise B SC made early inroads to restrict ECCCC to 142-9 before a last-wicket partnership of 72 runs between Satash Jainarine (42*) and Ranjeet Hiralall (36*) contributed to

what turned out to be a daunting target for Enterprise B SC. Amir Khan and Yuvraj Dayal supported with 30 and 24 respectively. Chaterpaul Singh took 4 for 26 for Enterprise B SC, who were bundled out for 123 in 30 overs. Vishal Persaud led the way with 29 while Dayal took 4 for 23 in 6.2 overs and Khan 3 for 24 in 8 overs.

At Buxton Ground, Buxton SC defeated LBI SC by 15 runs; Buxton SC made 214 all out in 32 overs with M Kato scoring 55 and P Mcpharley, 27. Y Bishun took 4 for 37 for LBI SC. LBI SC then fell short of their target by 15 runs after being dismissed in the

Richard Chaturia continued his good form with 53

33rd over for 199, with Rawle Merell taking three wickets for

Buxton SC. Better Hope A defeated Strathavon A SC by 73 runs at Strathavon Ground. Better Hope A made 249 for 7 (30 overs) with S Budhu scoring 80 not out and A Khan, 30. N Samaroo took 2 for 17 for Strathavon A, who were bowled out for 176 in 27 overs, with G Hemraj and Ramnarine scoring 45 and 30 respectively. S Budhu, F Clarke and R Mohamed took two wickets apiece for Better Hope A. Meanwhile, three matches were played in the ECCC/ Neville Ramotar Memorial T/20 knockout competition at two venues. In game one at Fairfield, Golden Achievers

SC defeated Cane Grove A (scores unavailable) while Fairfield SC defeated Beehive SC by 104 runs. Fairfield SC rattled up 201 for 9 wickets from their allotted 20 overs.

Richard Chaturia made 53 and S Ramotar, 40. L Rooplall took 4 for 17 while H Samlall and D Rooplall took two wickets apiece. Beehive SC were dismissed for 97 from 15 overs.

Walter Byrne took 3 for 15; T Charles, 3 for 9 and D Lovell, 2 for 17 for Fairfield SC. Lusignan East defeated Mahaica SC by 70 runs at Ogle. Lusignan East made 191 for 8 (20 overs).K Amsterdam and P Appana scored 43 and 37 respectively. Darshan Persaud

3

took

wickets for 35 for M a h a i c a SC, who were then bowled out for 121 in 18 overs. S Sahadeo, K Jailall, N Balram and Appana took two wickets apiece.

Ogle CC advanced to the next round by virtue of a walkover from Cane Grove B. Both competitions continue this weekend with matches at Fairfield, Enmore, Ogle, Lusignan, Buxton, Cane Grove, Better Hope and Enterprise Grounds.

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESday, march 27, 2019

23

Milo Schools U-18 Football Tournament…

Lodge, St John’s win to cop last quarter-final spots

W

ith the final two round-robin games being completed on Monday evening, the Milo Schools Football Tournament will now intensify as it heads into the quarter-final stage.

The quarter-finals have now been set after St John’s College and Lodge Secondary joined six teams who advanced over the last

weekend.

Playing the first game on Monday afternoon, St John’s College faced off against St Stanislaus College in an intense battle.

With the quarter-final berth on the line, both sides upped their defences which resulted in neither side being able to score early on.

However, fireworks soon came as

two goals were scored in the same minute by Saints’ Daniel Persaud and St John’s Akeel Bennette to push the score to 1-1. Saints acted swiftly and set up another goal which came off the boots of Jerimiah Sampson three minutes later to take the lead. Tyreke Saunders trailed closely and netted a goal of his own to level the scores.

When the other half began, Josiah King gave St Stanislaus the upper hand, but their opponents were not going to go down without a fight. Two back-to-back goals from Jaheim McPherson and Jared Corrica ensured that St John’s had just enough to take the win.

In the final round of 16 game, expectantly, Lodge Secondary dominated the encounter and cruised to victory. Their opponents, Tucville Secondary put up a fight as they tried to keep up with Lodge. Simeon Benn of Tucville got the scoreboard ticking in the 17th minute and like lightning, Lodge’s Dorwin George netted a goal in the 18th minute to equalise. George then netted a second in the 22nd minute and his teammates Curt Edwards and Shemroy Myers both scored in the 29th and 34th to bring their lead to 4-1.

Dawange Jones found the back of the net twice for Tucville in the second half, but as Edwards added another to Lodge’s tally in the 69th minute, they reigned supreme with a 5-3 win.

The quarter-finals are set for this weekend, March 30 and 31 at the Ministry of Education

Ground, Carifesta Avenue. There, Charlestown Secondary will take on Annandale, Bishops’ High will battle with President’s College on Saturday and then on Sunday, Christianburg-Wismar will face off with Vergenoegen, and Lodge Secondary will take on St John’s College in the final game.

Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup…

Guyana’s performance a reflection of poor female cricket structure

I

n the just-concluded Super50 tournament, Guyana finished with 10 points in five matches, registering two wins and suffering three heavy d e -

Sheneta Grimmond (Brandon Corlette photos)

– says Brandon Corlette feats. The top performers for the Guyanese w e r e Berbicians – Shemaine Campbelle, who finished with 211 runs, and Erva Giddings, who captured 10 wickets and scored 70 runs.

On reflecting on the performances of Team Guyana in the Super50 tournament, the showing was below par. Prior t o this regional tournament, the ladies were engaged in the inter-county tournament that saw Berbice reigning supreme. In contrast to the other countries, such as Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, where most of the players are exposed to competitive club and league cricket throughout the year.

The Berbicians play for the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), the Hilbert Foster-led Club, which facilitates the devel-

opment of female cricket among other clubs in Berbice.

Six of the eight Berbicians in the team came from the RHTY&SC. Guyana began their campaign with a 69-run defeat against Trinidad and Tobago, losing in critical moments.

The game that Guyana thought they had in the bag was against Jamaica as Shemaine Campbelle’s brilliant 111 eventually went in vain. Guyana made fielding errors that proved costly, handing the Jamaicans a six-wicket win at Everest.

Unsurprisingly, Guyana got their first win of the tournament when they defeated the jaded Leeward Islands by 131 runs. In that victory, the Guyanese did not have a complete performance as they continued to display their flaws in the field, dropping sitters and misfielding.

The Guyanese returned to losing ways against Barbados when they lost by five wickets after failing to capitalise as top-order batters with the exception of Campbelle failed to score significantly. The fifth

and final round saw Guyana complete a 57-run win over Windward Islands. Guyana attained victory over two of the weakest teams in the competition and within those victories, the team have not recorded comprehensive and complete performances.

A p a r t from Captain Campbelle, who scored 211 runs at an average of 42.2, only Shabika Gajnabi scored more than 100 runs, ending the five matches with 136 runs at an average of 27.2. Sheneta Grimmond scored 71 runs in five matches, Melanie Henry had 24 runs, Akaze Thompson scored 30 runs and Lashuna Toussaint scored 18 runs in three innings, including two ducks – all specialist batters.

Opener Mandy Mangru played four matches and scored 63 runs, but the pacers from Berbice had more success with the bat compared to the few specialist batters: Tremayne Smartt scored 98 runs in five matches and Erva Giddings scored

70 runs.

In the bowling department, the experienced leftarm seamer, Erva Giddings led from the front

w i t h 10 wickets in the tournament, the most by a Guyanese.

Giddings, who bowled the new ball, produced the early breakthrough on various occasions; she had 2-34, 3-39, 1-9, 2-52 and 2-14 in the five matches she played.

Grimmond was the second best Guyanese bowler, finishing with nine wickets in the tournament. Thompson had five wickets while off-spinners, Plafianna Millington and Mandy Mangru had four wickets in the three matches they took the ball.

Guyana will hit the reboot button when they open

their T20 Blaze campaign against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, March 28 from 14:00h at the National Stadium, Providence.

The administrators of female cricket must put more into the development of the female game in order to reap fruitful results.

Guyana’s leading runscorer, Captain Shemaine Campbelle

wednesday, march 27, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Female hockey team completes stint in Canada Page 22

Goalkeeper Alysa Xavier makes a diving save

– sights set on IPAC 2020 Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup...

Guyana’s performance a reflection of poor female cricket structure – says Brandon Corlette

VIVO IPL 2019…

Match #6

Kolkata

vs Kings XI Punjab Time: 10:30 hrs

Page 23 Team Guyana finished with 10 points in fourth position

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