Guyana Times - Wednesrday, January 16, 2019

Banks DIH taxed profits grew by $501M in 2018 P11

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3806

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

PRICE

No-confidence resolution

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Chief Justice rejects Govt’s delaying manoeuvres See stories on pages 3 &9

No-confidence vote today after historic Brexit deal defeat P17

P11 OAS vote on Maduro’s presidency

Caricom countries voted based on national interest – former Minister

… to complete “majority” and “dual citizen” cases by January 31 … approves application for Opposition Leader to join proceedings Members of the Guyana Police Force on Tuesday cordoned off major roads around the High Court as the no-confidence resolution matters were heard by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George (Adam Baksh photo)

City Hall CoI

Criminal, financial sanctions to be handled by Police

7 on trial for murder of MetenMeer-Zorg P2 businessman

Page 7

Teen arraigned for murder of Bush Lot brothers Murdered: Monica Adams

No-confidence resolution

The democratic process is at work in Page 13 Guyana – Caricom SG Man gets 16 years for Page killing ‘child mother’, 12 attempted murder of teen

Passenger P13 nabbed with 3283 grams of ganja

Page 12

Jailed: Paul Scotland

Application for miningP15 licence to be made easier

2 news 7 on trial for murder of Meten-Meer-Zorg businessman wednesdAY, January 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Allan Dorsett, called “Baird”

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even persons, including a woman, on Tuesday denied killing Zulfikar Namdar, called “Vickey, at his family’s grocery store at their MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast

Delwayne Croft

Demerara (WCD) home.

In a tense and packed courtroom, the murder accused were all indicted for the September 10, 2013 robbery-murder of the 20-yearold man.

Esan Lawrence, called “Muscle”

Allan Dorsett, called “Baird”; Delwayne Croft; Esan Lawrence, called “Muscle”; Jermaine Williams, called “Yankee”; Andrew Chandler, called “Sonic”; Samuel Bacchus,

Jermaine Williams, called “Yankee”

Andrew Chandler, called “Sonic”

called “Kirk”; and Cassandra Singh-Dorsett all entered pleas of not guilty in the presence of their Attorneys Nigel Hughes, Ashley Henry, Adrian Thompson, and George Thomas.

Murdered: Zulfikar Namdar

Hughes and Henry are representing the number one accused Dorsett while Thompson is representing Williams, Chandler and Bacchus.

Meantime, Thomas is appearing for Croft, Lawrence and Singh-Dorsett.

Attorneys Tuanna Hardy, Abigail Gibbs and Teriq Mohammed are prosecuting the case presided over by Justice Navindra Singh.

The trial commenced following the prosecution’s opening address which reminded the jury of their duty to impartiality.

Among the first set of

witnesses were the victim’s parents who recalled seeing their son’s lifeless body in a pool of blood after gunmen raided the home.

Namdar’s mother, Fazila Namdar, who was on the verge of tears recalled that she, her grandson and driver were forced to lay face down after two bandits invaded and demanded to see the business owner. Her husband, Goolzar, testified that he was hiding when he heard the bullets. He, nevertheless, saw a tall male sporting a cap.

Fazila said she handed over a kit containing $1.3 million in cash, several pieces of jewellery and her passport. Steven Mohamed, who was packing drinks aback the store, also recalled coming face to face with the gunmen, who had asked for the “boss man”, but he said he had not known where he was.

All three witnesses pointed out the number five accused, Andrew Chandler, who lived a few houses away from the store and was working as a labourer at a nearby masjid which was under construction. Chandler was nearly in tears as he was being identified.

Taxi driver charged for sexually assaulting 11-year-old

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Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown resident was on Tuesday granted bail by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on a sexual assault charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Forty-year-old Rishi Seepersaud, a taxi driver, denied the charge which stated that on September 8, 2018, at McDoom, Greater Georgetown, he sexually assaulted a child under the age of 16. The Police report stated that the child was 11 years old at the time.

Seepersaud’s Attorney,

Darren Wade made a successful application for bail on behalf of his client.

Reports are that on the day in question, the minor was a backseat passenger in the defendant’s car when he stretched out his hand and touched her inappropriately.

The victim, after being dropped off at her home, related what had occurred to her parents who then reported the matter to the Police.

Magistrate IsaacsMarcus granted the defendant his pre-trial liberty in the sum of $100,000 and scheduled the matter for January 28, 2019.

news

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wednesdAY, January 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

No-confidence resolution

Wednesday, January 16 – 12:30h-14:00h and Thursday, January 17 – 01:30h and 13:30h-15:00h.

Chief Justice rejects Govt’s delaying manoeuvres

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

… to complete “majority” and “dual citizen” cases by January 31

Wednesday, January 16 – 11:45h-13:15h and Thursday, January 17 – 12:45h-14:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers and sunny intervals are expected throughout the day, with clear to partly cloudy skies in the evening. Overall temperatures will range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 12:21h a maximum height of 2.34 metres.

Low Tide: 18:27h reaching a minimum height of 0.85 metre.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

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hief Justice (acting) Roxane George on Tuesday rejected Government’s attempts to extend its time in office on the grounds of the ongoing no-confidence vote case, informing the court that these matters will all be expedited owing to their national significance.

Government had sought a conservatory order to stay the enforcement of the no-confi-

Leader, oral submissions will be done on January 25.

The Attorney General also informed the court of his wish to have additional arguments included in claimant Compton Reid’s claim. When the narrow time frame was pointed out to him, Williams held his ground.

Chief Justice George informed Williams that since it was a legal issue, an affidavit was not needed. However, Williams was eventually granted permission by the Chief Justice to make submissions in two of the three cases which relate to Article 70 of the Constitution of Guyana.

Williams, who was seeking relief under the Constitution, had wanted the court to rule on whether the Speaker’s decision that the December 21, 2018 motion was indeed carried by a majority of all elected members, and whether or not the 33-to-32 breakdown means it was validly passed.

In his petition, which was filed separately from the dual citizenship challenge,

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Police on Tuesday cordoned off streets surrounding the High Court

dence resolution pending the court case. But Chief Justice George told Attorney General Basil Williams that she intended to make her ruling

by January month end and, therefore, such an order was unnecessary.

According to the Chief Justice, the entire country is awaiting the resolution of the cases and as such, there will be no delays.

She gave the sides a date of January 18 to exchange submissions, January 21 for rebuttal submissions and in the case of Christopher Ram vs the Attorney General and Speaker of the National Assembly, submissions will be heard on January 23.

Oral submissions for Compton Reid vs the Attorney General, former MP Charrandas Persaud and the Speaker of the National Assembly will be heard on January 24.

And finally, in the case of the Attorney General vs the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Opposition

Williams argued that the current total of elected members of the National Assembly is 65, and the majority of members legally prescribed by Article 106 (6) of the Constitution is

Chief Justice (acting) Roxane George

tantamount to an absolute majority that legally requires a vote of 34 or more.

In his request for a conservatory order, Williams had said it was necessary to preserve the status quo as Article 106 (7) of the Constitution requires that the President and all Ministers of the Government remain in office and hold elections within three months.

Attorney Neil Boston

Justice George’s decision to expedite the cases was lauded by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who noted that the court deserves credit for its impartiality in the matter.

He did not rule out that the Chief Justice may have taken into account the 90-day deadline for elections after the passage of a no-confidence motion.

“It is one of the first times, actually, that I’ve seen a court demonstrate a true appreciation of the fact that certain types of matters of national importance should be heard and determined with every convenient speed. I think this court should be roundly complimented for appreciating that reality.

“I’m also happy that all attempts made by lawyers in this matter to stall and delay was rejected by the court and the court was firm that the matter must be determined by the end of the month and has given appropriate directions.”

Turn to page 9

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, January 16, 2019

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

The minibus code of conduct

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code of conduct for minibus operations and operators has been mooted and could soon be implemented. This in principle must be commended as well as those who are part of the process. It is vital not just for the much-needed improvement of service but for safer driving on the roadways.

For far too long, this has been allowed to go unchecked, resulting in wanton dissatisfaction of commuters and road accidents, tragically some with fatalities.

It should be noted that not all operators are offenders, as some continue to provide the desired service and adhere to traffic laws. Unfortunately, they seem to be in the minority thereby exposing users of public transportation to many errant operators. It must also be noted that some passengers are comfortable with the service provided by the errant ones who, without consideration for others, engage in blasting music sometimes laced with vulgar lyrics, overloading, and reckless driving.

One would easily state that some schoolchildren are among those who are comfortable. However, it is not confined to that group as some adults are guilty and are abusive to passengers who object. These objections and the seeming joy the schoolchildren in question derive in some buses would serve to embolden the operators to continue their daily service and traffic violations. This has led to an unfortunate national normalisation and acceptance of this disservice meted out to commuters.

What is even more unacceptable is that it happens even as Police are on the roadways. Some officers have been seen trying to curb the situation, but clearly it appears not to be holistic.

There is the belief that quite a number of buses in the system are owned by Police Officers at different levels. This may be a factor in junior ranks not being willing to apply the law to those operators. Also, it is no secret that some other drivers who are pulled over for violating traffic laws call a superior officer and the rank has to back off.

Again, this would make the ranks hesitant to execute their duties having being made to feel that their actions to ensure traffic order have no value. While this is not the only factor, it is a contributing one to daily transgressions on the country’s roadways. Undertaking, meandering in and out of lanes, using unauthorised roads to bypass traffic lights and stopping and moving off at random are just some of what transpire daily from some minibus operators.

Recently, the Traffic Chief was reported as saying that passengers have to help police minibus operations. Some concerned passengers and other road users would have made reports to the Police. It is not clear how those have been handled in the past and what the plan is for the future. One suggestion would be for such reports and the subsequent actions taken to be made public. Following such reports, if errant operators who endanger passengers and other road users are made to feel the brunt of the law, it could become a deterrent.

The call by the Traffic Chief is good, but not new. For it to work, members of the public must be made to feel that they could genuinely contribute to improving the system and not being made to feel their time is being wasted. This means that internal mechanisms within the Force would have to be in place to so accommodate. Attitudes that allow for easy accommodation would, therefore, be a concern in this dispensation. Much has been said about the manner in which some ranks relate to members of the public.

Attitudes, however, are not confined to the Police, but the operators as well. While both sets could be challenging to change, it’s not impossible. At least on one front, the desired example would have to be set by those who operate buses owned by Police Officers who must so insist. Ranks must also be made to feel that if they were to intercept one such bus for violating traffic laws, they will not be reprimanded by their superiors.

In addition, the use of undercover cops in some minibuses would help. If that were to be implemented (if not already), operators would eventually realise that they are targets for the improvement of the service. A combination of these efforts, if implemented and sustained, would be steps in the right direction much to the satisfaction of commuters. The longer these are held back, frustration will increase and the situation could worsen.

That said, obviously the biggest challenges surrounding the code of conduct would be implementation followed by monitoring. It would not be easy. Here again, the public must be made to feel a sense of ownership, which makes it easy for them to willingly participate. Ironically, they feel the brunt of the violations by the operators and are also made to feel helpless in their quest for recourse. More than likely, they may want to gauge the effect first before committing. Who can blame them, for they have unflattering stories to tell.

Some of the lucky customers who were on Monday treated with customer appreciation packages, cake and $2800 in credit by GTT for their steadfast support of the company’s services over the past 28 years

Saudi aide fired over Khashoggi murder still wields influence – sources

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aud al-Qahtani was dismissed as a top aide to the de facto Saudi leader in late October, after overseeing the operation to kill Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul by giving orders via Skype, according to regional intelligence sources.

A senior Saudi official at the time called his removal “a political decision ... based on dereliction of duty and participation in the sequence of events” that led to the murder. Weeks later, the US Treasury sanctioned Qahtani for his role.

But six sources told Reuters that Qahtani remains active on behalf of the royal court. Two of them said he has kept in touch with the Crown Prince while three others said he has continued to instruct a small group of Saudi Journalists on what to write about the Kingdom’s policies.

As head of the royal court’s media centre until his dismissal, Qahtani ran an electronic media army tasked with protecting Saudi Arabia’s image, dictating the official line on issues from a dispute with Qatar to security and human rights.

The apparent impunity of Qahtani, seen as the Crown Prince’s right-hand man, risks undermining Saudi promises to hold those responsible to account, the sources say.

The US Senate last month backed a resolution blaming the Crown Prince, known as MbS, for the killing and insisted Riyadh fully investigate.

A Saudi official denied Qahtani was still playing a role inside the royal court, saying he has not conducted any work since his dismissal

A demonstrator holds a poster with a picture of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the Saudi Arabia Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, October 25, 2018 (file photo)

and that he remains under investigation and banned from travel.

The official referred Reuters to comments by the Public Prosecutor’s spokesman last year that 21 Saudis were taken into custody in relation to the Khashoggi case, 11 of whom have been indicted and referred to trial.

Reuters has been unable to reach Qahtani since he was fired.

At the heart of the Crown Prince’s inner circle, Qahtani controlled access to MbS and would often speak on his behalf before he was dismissed, Government insiders have said.

No official replacement has yet been announced.

Qahtani has continued to make repeated appearances at the royal court, although it was not clear in what capacity, five of the sources said. All of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal matters.

“He is still around, free and in favour. The Crown Prince is still holding on to him and doesn’t seem to be willing to sacrifice him,” one

of the foreign sources said.

MbS himself has told visitors that Qahtani is still an advisor while assuring them that some responsibilities have been taken from him, according to a source familiar with the discussion between the Crown Prince and the visitors. The source did not elaborate.

Qahtani has also continued to dictate the royal court’s official line to columnists and top editors he considers able to influence public opinion, according to three of the sources, despite leaving a WhatsApp group he ran for that purpose.

Instead he has messaged individuals directly, instructing them on what or what not to write, these sources said.

Lying low

Qahtani’s involvement in Khashoggi’s murder, which intelligence sources have said included giving orders over Skype to the team inside the Consulate, has fuelled speculation that MbS ordered the hit. Saudi officials have said the Crown Prince knew nothing of the killing.

The Public Prosecutor has said Qahtani briefed a team of Saudi operatives ahead of a mission to repatriate Khashoggi. Saudi officials have refused to disclose whether Qahtani was among those arrested.

The Saudi Public Prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects detained over Khashoggi’s killing and a first court hearing was held this month. The suspects were not named and Reuters could not determine whether Qahtani was present at the hearing.

A source familiar with US Government agencies’ reporting and analyses said they believe Qahtani has been instructed to lie low for a while, but think it is unlikely that MbS would ditch Qahtani.

Some Western allies had been concerned, even before Khashoggi’s killing, by the power Qahtani wielded within the royal court and have privately urged Riyadh to replace him with more seasoned advisers, according to Western diplomats in Riyadh.

Qahtani stopped using Twitter, a platform he regularly used to attack the Kingdom’s critics, on October 23 and changed the biography on his profile to “personal account”.

But Saudi activists living abroad still see his influence on Saudi media and in the Twitter attacks they say they face, accusing them of being disloyal to MbS or unpatriotic for not supporting his policies.

“Nothing has changed. It seems to have the same line, the same offensive language.

His fingerprints are all over it still,” said Hala al-Dosari, a Saudi scholar and activist based in the United States.

(Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, January 16, 2019

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

Sugar: The rise and fall of a Government Dear Editor, There is much debate, analysis and conclusions on what caused Mr Charrandas Persaud to vote against his Government on December 21, 2018 in the National Assembly. Mr Persaud in his media interactions and on social media cited many reasons for his action. One of the reasons identified, is the manner in which his Government handled the sugar industry.

In his exact words, he stated that “…. you de-

stroy(ed) the lives of sugar workers in a village, district that I live in, I cannot live with that”.

Editor, this statement from Mr Persaud is instructive and requires further examination. From all indications, Mr Persaud was instrumental in luring many sugar workers and their families from his village/district to support the APNU/AFC coalition in the May 2015 elections.

The promise of 20 per cent increase in wages for sugar workers and a bet-

ter life attracted attention and eventual support. This new electoral support from the sugar belt was enough to thrust the APNU/AFC coalition in Government.

Upon assumption to office, the coalition shamelessly abandoned its campaign promises for the sugar sector and adopted the Errol Hanoman/Clive Thomas destructive and devious plan of systematic estate closure and sell-out.

By December 2017, that promise of 20 per cent increase in wages and a good

life for the people in Mr Persaud’s village/district changed to a life of zero wage and misery with the closure of Rose Hall Sugar Estate.

This draconian action by the Government on the very people that contributed to its rise to power must have rattled the soul of Mr Persaud and etched at his conscience. He witnessed first-hand; the daily struggles of the thousands of newly unemployed and had no answers for their questions on the promises

Fake news is our greatest enemy Dear Editor, Shortly after the 2016 US Presidential elections I wrote about “startling rise in the unscrupulous manipulation of people’s emotions by very savvy media operators”. In 2017, fake news was named phrase of the year, since then we have seen reports of the extent to which social media users were manipulated via the ‘Russian Collusion’ investigation.

Fast forward to Guyana 2019 and “fake news” poses more grave a threat to our democracy than “rounded up half men”.

If for example you believe that 26 members of the National Assembly currently hold dual citizenship, you are a victim of fake news, the true number is 7; if you shared news that our President had lost his voice

due to cancer of the throat, you too were a victim. Fake news is now being used in an attempt to influence the People’s Progressive Party’s choice of Presidential candidate; an online poll purporting to offer choices for candidate was examined by an IT expert and found to have set percentages built into the software. The orchestrated attack on the academic credentials of former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali began with innocuous questions about his BSc, MSc and PhD certification. Ali responded by releasing an abundance of academic certifications and pledged to release his transcripts upon receipt but the fake news mill has grist and will continue to grind regardless of evidence.

Irfan Ali’s stellar performance as Minister of

Housing, his delivery of countless massive housing schemes and his guidance which saw over 10,000 housing units being constructed by developers, home owners and Government, is not the subject of discussion.

Fake news aims to distract and divert conversations about issues that really matter. Discuss and compare Irfan Ali’s record with the less than 3 houses in 3.5 years of the APNU+AFC Administration! The fake news machine sought to build a straw man and bludgeon him; fortunately a Saints boy is never without a solid defence, in Irfan Ali’s case, the solid house walls that house thousands, all of whom benefited from his astute management of the Ministry of Housing.

In the silly season of

Elections, much more fake news will be generated, media operators will seek to create divisions within parties, society and even families. The racist fringe elements will try to tell you this election is about ‘race’, I urge all Guyanese to examine the records and issues facing our nation, separate fact from fake news, make an effort to examine the source of your news. A trusted source is our only defence against the enemies of our nation both outside and within. A reminder from Matthew 12:22 “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand”.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Flawed and unconvincing

Dear Editor, The letter by Timothy Jonas which is captioned “ANUG supports the call for legalisation of marijuana in Guyana,” is highly flawed and unconvincing. Such a call by ANUG (A New and United Guyana) also comes across as an unpatriotic manipulation to attract votes.

Flagrantly, ANUG fails to address the scientific influence of this substance on human behavior in the context of a profound lack of education and deep poverty, among a sea of problems in Guyana. In my view, this calculation is a pivotal frame of reference which is critically important to determine whether marijuana is suitable for legalisation at this time in Guyana. Obviously, ANUG remains clueless about the problems associated with marijuana use and misuse, particularly for a country such as Guyana.

ANUG needs to be reminded that the social, political and economic dynamics in Guyana are strikingly different from those in Canada and California where marijuana is legalised. The legalisation of this substance in those countries should never be a justification for its legalisation here. Further, ANUG needs to be informed that the recreation-

al use of marijuana remains largely illegal in both the Netherlands and Jamaica.

ANUG also needs to be reminded that the legalisation of marijuana will never reduce the prison population in the face of deep poverty in Guyana. Legalisation is guaranteed to produce the opposite effect. At the very least, it can be reasoned that legalisation under current conditions will dramatically send more Guyanese into prison via armed robberies, pickpockets, burglaries and a variety of illegal means simply because unemployed users will need to come up with scarce dollars necessary to purchase such an expensive drug. I just do not see how marijuana can be affordable under conditions of poverty and where unemployment is sky-high.

Legalisation under current conditions just does not make any sense. It is simply an insane proposal. At this time, Guyana can’t afford to legalise the recreational use of marijuana.

If ANUG seriously cares about the welfare of marijuana users, then it must guide Guyanese to do the right thing by respecting our laws. Discipline is needed. The breaking of our laws directly expands the prison population and none of

this is ever acceptable. To this end, Guyana must never rush to legalise marijuana in the absence of the required foundation just to reward those that are hellbent on breaking our laws, or to reward those who want

to profit financially from this drug at the expense of human lives or to reward those that issue hollow calls for votes.

Sincerely, Annie Baliram

which he led them to believe.

The destroyed livelihoods of ordinary citizens (voters) and the Cadillac livelihood of decision makers (politicians) was convincing enough for Mr Persaud to have no confidence in his own Government. This was expressed in his supporting vote in the National Assembly for which he must be commended.

If the APNU/AFC coalition decides to step out of its arrogant and denial modes, it will recognise, the importance of sugar in Guyana’s society. Sugar was instrumental in APNU/AFC’s rise to and fall from power in 3 ½ short years.

The subject of sugar will continue to be a major part of the Guyanese conversation. While the APNU/ AFC coalition Government was deliberate in dimin-

ishing the sector, all other entities and organisations must be commended for the focus and prominence they gave sugar.

The electronic and print mediums, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and especially the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) deserve special commendation for its individual focus on the subject of sugar.

GAWU has been focused, responsible and relentless in its efforts in highlighting the developments in the industry.

Despite its challenges, sugar remains a formidable force, capable of making or breaking a Government. Let’s light a candle for the 7000 sugar workers that were terminated by APNU/ AFC Government.

Sincerely, Sookram Persaud

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WednesdAY, january 16, 2019

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ave you ever lost your temper?

Did you yell and scream or want to hit someone? Maybe your little brother got into your room and played with your toys without permission. Or maybe your teacher gave you too much homework. Or maybe a friend borrowed your favorite video game and then broke it.

That made you angry!

Everyone gets angry. Maybe you "lose your cool" or "hit the roof." Anger can even be a good thing. When kids are treated unfairly, anger can help them stand up for themselves. The hard part is learning what to do with these strong feelings.

Foundation

Kids who tease you or call you names can make you angry. Or you might get angry with your parents if you think one of their rules is unfair.

Worst of all is when you are blamed for something you didn't do. But it's also possible to get angry and not even know why.

ach might start to hurt. You may just feel crummy about yourself or start to cry. It's not good to hide your anger, so you should find a way to let it out without hurting yourself or others.

How can I tell when someone else is angry?

There are different ways people feel anger. Usually your body will

When someone you know is angry, he or she may stomp away or stop talking to you, or become quiet and withdrawn. Some people scream and

tell you when you are angry. Are you breathing faster? Is your face bright red? Are your muscles tense and your fists clenched tight? Do you want to break something or hit someone?

Anger can make you yell or scream at those around you, even people you like or love.

Some people keep their anger buried deep inside. If you do this, you might get a headache or your stom-

try to hit or harm anyone close by. If a person is this angry, you should get away as soon as possible. Once you are away from the angry person, stop and think.

Try to figure out what made that person so angry. Can you make the situation better? How does the other person feel? When the other person has cooled down, try to talk about the problem. Listen to what he or she

How can i tell when I’m angry?

What is anger?

You have lots of emotions. At different times, you may be happy, sad, or jealous. Anger is just another way we feel. It's perfectly OK to be angry at times – in fact, it's important to get angry sometimes.

But anger must be released in the right way. Otherwise you'll be like a pot of boiling water with the lid left on. If the steam doesn't escape, the water will finally boil over and blow its top! When that happens to you, it's no fun for anyone.

What makes you angry?

Many things may make kids angry. You may get angry when something doesn't go your way. Maybe you get mad at yourself when you don't understand your homework or when your team loses an important game.

When you have a hard time reaching a goal you might become frustrated.

That frustration can lead to anger.

has to say.

What should I do if I get angry?

Don't lose control if you get angry. Taking it out on others never solves anything. Instead, admit to yourself that you are angry and try to figure out why.

What can you do to keep the situation from happening again? If your little sister gets a toy and you don't, it's not OK to break that toy.

Maybe you can ask her to share it with you. Or if your science homework is too hard, don't rip up your notebook. Ask your teacher or a parent for help instead.

It helps to talk about your anger with an adult, such as a parent, teacher, or relative. Once you talk about anger, those bad feelings usually start to go away.

Anger busters

Here are some other things you can do when you start to feel angry: talk to a friend you can trust count to 10 get or give a hug do jumping jacks or another exercise draw a picture of your anger play a video game run around the outside of the house five times as fast as you can sing along with music pull weeds in the garden think good thoughts (maybe about a fun vacation or your favourite sport) take a bike ride, go skateboarding, play basketball — do something active!

Never getting angry is impossible. Instead, remember that how you act when you're angry can make the situation better or worse. Don't let anger be the boss of you. Take charge of it! (kidshealth.org)

Questions and answers

L

ots of kids love video games. In fact, they like them so much that they might hear something like this from mom or dad: "Enough! Unplug that thing and find something else to do!"

It can be good advice, even if you were just about to crash through to the next level. Why? Too much of anything is just too much. It's true that some studies have shown certain video games can improve hand–eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and the mind's ability to process information. But too much video game playing may lead to health problems.

It's hard to get enough active play and exercise if you're always inside playing video games. And without enough exercise, kids can become overweight.

Really overdoing video games also could affect other important stuff, like friendships and how well a kid does in school. And kids who play violent video games might act more aggressively.

But here's the good news: Playing video games some of the time can be OK. Just choose quality games and limit screen time – which includes TV, computer, smartphone, tablet, and video game time combined – to no more than 2 hours a day.

A good game will be the right one for how old you are. Games are rated like movies and your mom or dad can help figure out which ones you should use. If you can choose one that gets you up and moving, that's even better.

You might challenge your mom, dad – or even your grandma – to swing the bat in a game of baseball or try out some fancy moves in one of the dancing games. Could your grandma be a dancing queen? Time to find out! (kidshealth.org)

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wednesdAY, January 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

City Hall CoI

Criminal, financial sanctions to be handled by Police tunity to be heard.

Several officers, the LGC noted, requested additional time to respond and this was granted. Over the course of the next two weeks, the Commission will meet with these officers and deliberate on the responses before any action is taken.

Failure to address

Town Clerk Royston King

W

hile noting that it is currently looking at implementing recommendations made from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into City Hall, the Local Government Commission (LGC) has stated that the measures which require further criminal and financial probes will be referred to the relevant agencies.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Commission said it continues to pursue the clearest possible resolution of several findings and recommendations that have emerged from the CoI into the administration, operation and management of the financial affairs of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.

After several weeks of hearing, the one-man Commission handed over its report containing several recommendations. Since then, the Commission has been tasked with deliberating and taking decisions to ensure that these recommendations are dealt with, whilst ensuring that established good industrial relations principles are adhered to during the conduct of this proceeding.

“While the Local Government Commission will proceed to implement the administrative measures that we have delib-

erated on and agreed to, separate measures will be referred for either criminal or financial investigation and action as may be warranted,” the LGC stated.

However, even as the LGC continues to deliberate on the recommendations made by retired Justice Cecil Kennard, it failed to address recent concerns raised regarding these meetings of the Commission.

People’s Progressive Party’s Commissioner, Carol Sooba, recently disclosed that she was barred from a meeting of the Commission since one of the recommen-

City Hall

Moreover, the Commission noted that in deliberating on the recommendations, a decision was taken during a statutory meeting of the Commission on December 20, 2018 that in keeping with the rules of natural justice, letters should be sent to several officers outlining the findings of the CoI against them, requesting that they respond in writing to these findings and attend meetings organised by the Commission to address these responses whilst being given an oppor-

dations was that she should be paid her benefits as a former employee of City Hall.

Sooba confirmed that she was asked by her fellow Commissioners to recuse herself from a particular meeting where those discussions would be convened. While noting that the committee was disgruntled about this recommendation, Sooba said she was told afterwards that she cannot sit on the meeting to discuss other matters upon the persistence of the Chairman,

Mortimer Mingo and ViceChairman, Andrew Garnet.

“They would have wanted me to take out things from the report…They told me I would have to recuse myself when they have to discuss my benefits and I said that was fine.

That’s good but then the Chairman and Vice Chairman insisted that I should not sit through any meetings for the entire report… I’m a constitutional office-holder.

I am a Commissioner.

I recused myself from my matter [but] there is no issue on any other matter that I should recuse myself but for some reason, they want me to recuse myself from the entire thing,” Sooba told Guyana Times just over a week ago.

Meanwhile, commenting on the matter, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall said that no one from the Commission can prevent a constitutionally elected Commissioner from preforming respective duties.

“I reject such a notion because the Local Government Commission is simply engaged in considering the report and possibly, to recommend or implement these recommendations.

The Commission is not making any findings. Those findings have already been made by the CoI. I cannot imagine how Sooba’s presence can influence our prejudice,” said Nandlall.

This was backed by Sooba’s fellow Commissioner, Clinton

Collymore, who further indicated, “There are other reasons for this. One of the reasons is that she was at the municipality for a very long time and she has some institutional knowledge as to what is going on and they don’t want that exposed”.

Some of the officers were requested by the LGC to present themselves for further inquiry, which was presented in the Inquiry’s final report, inked with 31 recommendations.

Disciplinary actions were instated for Town Clerk Royston King, Acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry Munroe, Internal Auditor Omadeily Newton, City Constable Andrew Foo, Human Resources Manager Paula Braithwaite, among others.

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wednesdAY, January 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man gets 16 years for killing ‘child mother’, attempted murder of teen

Murdered: Monica Adams

P

aul Scotland was on Tuesday handed two sentences for fatally stabbing to death the mother of his three children, Monica Adams at her mother’s Paradise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home and for wounding the woman’s brother, Charles Elliot, on January 3, 2014.

Justice Navindra Singh sentenced him to 16 years after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. Scotland reportedly killed the woman by attacking and stabbing her several times about the body.

The court heard that he had gone to the home and saw her with another man and as such, summoned her outside.

She refused and the offender grabbed her by the hair and dragged her into the backyard.

When her younger brother, then 16-year-old Charles Elliott intervened by lashing Scotland with a shower rod to stop the attack, he turned on the young man and also stabbed him once before fleeing the scene.

The offender’s lawyer, Dexter Todd told the court that his client was in his 20s when the killing took place.

Todd claimed that the cou-

Convicted: Paul Scotland

ple shared a “warm relationship” which bore three children. He added that his client has exhibited good behaviour and was even selected as an orderly in prison. Prosecutor Gibbs petitioned for a sentence reflecting the nature and gravity of the offence.

According to reports, Scotland and Adams had

shared a rocky relationship and relatives had stated that he refused to allow the woman to cut ties, reportedly promising to kill her.

During his sentencing on Tuesday, he apologised for what had happened, saying he acted out of frustration when he saw her with someone else.

“It was out of frustration by coming and witnessing her with another man … I beg for mercy. Charles, I never meant what happened,” he said. In handing down the sentence, Justice Singh told Scotland that he reacted badly and that he should have walked away. The Judge, however, noted that upon his release, the offender can be an asset to society.

Both sentences will run concurrently; however, the Prison Service will deduct the five years the accused spent on remand awaiting trial.

Teen arraigned on robbery charge

A

n 18-year-old D’Urban Street teenager appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly on Tuesday to answer to a robbery charge, which was brought against him.

The unrepresented teen, Chris Bollers, denied the charge which stated that he robbed Raheez Mohammed of a cellphone

and cash on January 11, 2019 along Croal Street, Georgetown. The court also heard that during the commissioning of the robbery, he used personal violence.

The Police stated that the teenager was positively identified by the victim as the one who committed the act. However, Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh did not ob-

ject to bail being granted to the teen.

As a result, the defendant was released on $40,000 bail and was ordered to report to the Brickdam Police Station on a weekly basis until completion of the matter. The case will continue on February 6, 2019 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Democracy…

I

…and blood t’s said that “blood is thicker than water”. And this bit of folk wisdom was certainly reaffirmed when James McAllister, an old PNC die-hard, weighed in on the noconfidence consequences, to offer another concoction why Article 106 should be violated by the Government. He proposed a theory of a “social coup d’etat”, which rivals the Frankensteinan “half-man” theory of what constitutes a “majority”, that’s already been sold to the Govt!!

Before we examine the “social coup d’etat”, let us look at the blood ties since it provides the context for McAllister’s incredible exercise in sophistry! McAllister, you see, was a card-carrying member of the PNC from childhood, having cut his teeth in its youth arm, the YSM, for donkey years – serving in various capacities up to being its Chairman. But in 2007, he dared to assume that even though the PNC had traduced democracy in the country for 28 years, it would practice it in its internal leadership elections!! What naivety on ethnic “blood” leaders!!

As a leading member of “Team Alexander” challenging Robert Corbin for Leadership, he was summarily expelled from the PNC and recalled as MP. So much for democracy in the PNC!! He left Guyana in disgust! In 2014, after one of his team members, Aubrey Norton was rigged out of the PNC internal elections for leadership in another exercise of déjà vu, he revealed bitterly to this newspaper how the fix was made for Granger.

But now that AFC MP Charrandas Persaud exercised his right to vote his conscience, what’s McAllister’s reaction? That CP was bribed; making his vote an “illegal act” – analogous to the guns used in “regular” coups!!

The calls by the Opposition, the media, the GTUC, the Business Community, et al, for democracy to be upheld is simply “legitimising” the illegal act because they’ve been “gaslighted”!! That is, they were convinced to that position through devious and cunning tricks by the Opposition!!

That’s right, folks; without a shred of evidence, McAllister rushes to the side of Granger – who’s the illegal leader of the PNC, if he’s to be believed –- and weaves a web of casuistry for the gullible PNCites, who’re only willing to grasp at any stray thrown to the PNC! Forgotten is his humiliation, forgotten is his insistence that his expulsion wasn’t due to “infighting” in the PNC – but to the fight for “democracy”! Ethnic blood is thicker than water!!

Fact of the matter is that the “no confidence motion” in an integral aspect of democratic parliamentary practice – from England to India where Callahan in 1979 and Vajpayee in 1999 respectively resigned after defeat by that motion.

McAllister, the abused child, had become an abusive parent!! …and no-confidence motions The subtext for McAllister’s argument is that CP’s vote was an act of betrayal to his party – never mind that’s exactly how Corbin saw HIS support for Vincent Alexander back in 2007! But both actions, in fact, WERE democratic.

As one authority declared: “Each and every Member of Parliament gives an oath to uphold the Constitution of the Republic. When they are sworn in to the Parliament, they assume a higher responsibility to the Republic. Their political party becomes secondary. There is no “win” or “lose” in democracy. All there is, is the people’s’ choice – represented by their MPs.” The sine qua non of democratic governments’ legitimacy is they derive it from the people via their MPs. No party can COMPEL their MPs to vote a particular way – even though they use various subterfuges to accomplish that through their “whips”. The 100 Tory MPs who voted against Theresa May’s leadership a month ago in the House of Commons are all still there.

Why can’t the PNC aspire higher for Guyana than a “sh*thole country”? …and the courts Another characteristic of democratic government is the “division of powers” between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. In parliamentary democracies, however, the Executive and Legislature are fused. Leaving only the Judiciary to protect democracy.

All ayes are on the Chief Justice.

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

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wednesdAY, January 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

No-confidence vote case

Court approves application for Jagdeo to join proceedings – Ram, Harmon also approved; Saphier Hussein out

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo will now be a party to the proceedings

C

hief Justice (acting) Roxane George on Tuesday approved applications for Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and activist Christopher Ram to join legal proceedings opposing attempts to overturn the passage of the no-confidence vote through the Judiciary.

The hearing began with

the Chief Justice approving Jagdeo’s application to join the proceedings.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who spoke for the legal team representing Jagdeo, noted the importance of having him involved.

In his submissions to the court, Nandlall pointed out that Jagdeo’s role as

Chief Justice rejects Govt’s...

From page 3

Attorney Neil Boston, who appeared on behalf of claimant Compton Reid, acknowledged that the Chief Justice’s decision superseded the conservatory order and thus, it has been rendered unnecessary.

“The conservatory order at this time is not important, because the final issue will be determined by the end of the month. So, what are we conserving? Even on the date of ruling, the three months would not have expired, pursuant to [Art] 106.”

On December 21, 2018, the no-confidence motion brought by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo brought down the entire Government by a 33-to-32 vote majority when then Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament, Charrandas Persaud defected and supported the motion.

Persons have for some time argued that the Cabinet should have resigned by now, pursuant to the laws

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

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

Even though less than 90 days remain in which elections must be held, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has made no significant moves towards preparing for holding elections.

Opposition Leader means he ought to be joined to proceedings that can have such a national impact. In fact, the Attorney noted that Jagdeo should have been included in the first place.

Neither the claimant nor the respondents had any objections and the application was approved. The Opposition Leader, through Nandlall, had made an application in the High Court to become a party to the proceedings.

He had said that the case put forward by claimant Compton Reid is aimed at nullifying the no-confidence motion and preventing the law from taking its course through the provisions outlined in the Constitution.

Further, he stated that it pointed to political issues that could have far-reaching implications for national democracy, peace, order and good governance in Guyana. As such, he believes that filing a legal action will help to diminish the possibility of this ever occurring.

Also being added to the proceedings was Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in his capacity as General Secretary for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Harmon was represented by

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in his capacity as APNU GS, has also been included

Attorney-at-Law Roysdale Forde, in association with Attorney Stephen Lewis.

Political activist Ram, who had sought to join the proceedings, was also included. In fact, Justice George informed Attorney General Basil Williams that there was no need for him to file a separate affidavit responding to Ram. Ram is seeking to have the High Court validate the no-confidence resolution and have Government comply with constitutional provisions to demit office and call elections no later than March of this year.

Through Attorney Kamal Ramkarran, Ram’s grounds of appeal, also seeking relief under the Constitution, stated that Government was defeated with 33 votes against 32; that Government should resign if defeated on a confidence vote; that 18 days had passed and Government gave no indication to resign nor has fixed a date for national and regional elections.

The anti-corruption advocate has also argued that Cabinet’s failure to resign with all convenient speed and to fix an election date could lead to uncertainty and a constitutional crisis if neither of those occur in keeping with the Constitution by March 21.

As part of the evidence to support his case, Ram provided a certified copy of the no-confidence resolution as provided by Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs.

However, Attorney-atLaw Saphier Hussein’s attempts to join proceedings did not end so well.

Asked to justify his application, Hussein reminded the court of his political background and his running as presidential candidate for

Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram

his National Independent Party (NIP).

However, Justice George noted that Hussein had not met the threshold to be an interested party and as such, denied his application.

Outside the court, Attorney Neil Boston expressed regret that Hussein’s application was not granted.

“My only concern is that Mr Saphier Hussein wasn’t given the opportunity to present legal arguments. In as much as his application did not reach the threshold, he could have made a contribution. He might raise some issue of interest that we might have overlooked.”

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wednesdAY, January 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

80% of crimes in the Region are committed by youths – Caricom SG General pointed out.

According to him, it has been realised that there is great need for intervention in order to combat the current challenge.

He said, “The Crime Prevention National Plan and the Caricom Youth Development Action Plan are two of the main policy frameworks which guide and design the implementation of policy and programmes in Member States to address crime and violence from a prevention perspective through addressing the

communities and schools and, to an extent, individual countries, will culminate today.

The Summit is also geared towards creating “targeted actions” on policy-makers and stakeholders to create and maintain a peaceful Caribbean environment.

Participating in the event are a number of Caribbean countries like Jamaica, St Lucia and a number of other nations, including the United States.

Social Cohesion Minister,

respect for laws and rules and empower them to be change agents in our societies”.

The Minister explained that such programmes must include an avenue for youths to be able to shake off their aggression and release stress and anger which would have built up owing to insecurities.

He added that they must be geared towards fostering peace and cohesion among youths and the nation as a whole.

“These programmes

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

“S

ome of the main findings of recent studies are that the majority of victims as well as perpetrators of crimes reported by the Police are young males 18 to 35 years old.”

Those were the shocking facts revealed by Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque on Tuesday as the Caribbean Summit on Youth Violence kicked off at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

LaRocque further stated during his presentation that the Caribbean Region has some of the highest figures of youths being convicted for crimes.

In fact, the Ambassador disclosed that according to a United Nations (UN) report, 80 per cent of prosecuted crimes are committed by youths between the ages of 19 and 29.

“There are a number of socio-economic determinants of crime, of the least of which is the high youth unemployment in the Region of 25 per cent in 2017. That is three times the average and the highest,” the Secretary

A section of the gathering

underlined social factors”.

This is all done, LaRocque noted, with the intent of creating an enabling environment for adolescent and youth well-being. He, nevertheless, sought to highlight the critical role that families must play in the prevention of crime.

The Summit, which is being hosted with the intent of pooling ideas for the prevention of youth violence in

Dr George Norton, while delivering the feature address, spoke of the need for developing programmes to help build the self-esteem of youths.

Norton told his fellow Caricom States’ representatives that, “We must all continue to implement programmes and activities that seek to develop and enhance youths’ self-esteem and confidence; promote tolerance;

would include sports and recreational activities, educational and cultural programmes, mentorship and counselling programmes, creation of youth-friendly spaces across countries, consultations and practical and life skills training,” Norton posited.

During the two-day affair, participants will be involved in discussions revolving around the promotion of healthy masculinity, youth-driven responses to criminal gangs, and addressing risk and protective factors for youth violence, among others.

“Elections or no elections, proposal will be submitted to MoE”— GTU

G

uyana Teachers Union President Mark Lyte on Tuesday during a brief interview with Guyana Times said that whether or not elections are held in three months’ time, the Union will go forward to present its proposal to the functioning Government for a salary increase.

Lyte said, “I hope that the election process does not affect our proposal. In fact we are trying to submit the document and have it discussed before that time comes (elections)”.

Elections are likely to be held in 2019 following the collapse of the Government after a vote of no-confidence was passed when its own party member Charrandas Persaud voted for it on December 21, 2018.

According to the President of the Union, the members would have met to conduct its General Council meeting back in December, 2018, where it was decided that other members of the GTU would be consulted before the Union makes the submission of the salary proposal to the Education Ministry.

While being careful not to divulge anything specific in the document, he disclosed that the GTU is seeking more benefits this year, as many were not granted last year. The union president noted that a few of the old benefits will reappear in this year’s proposal to the Ministry.

Things went haywire during the last bargaining process between the Government and the Union which left children in empty classrooms as teachers resorted to the streets, calling for increased salaries.

GTU President, Mark Lyte

It was only late in last October that the GTU and Education Ministry came to an agreement with regards to teachers’ salary, an impasse that lasted several weeks.

As the agreement was inked on October 24, 2018 for a 12 per cent increase for 2016 and eight per cent for 2018, Lyte had said that the Union has learnt its lesson and is looking forward to broker a better agreement come 2019.

Moreover, the GTU President pointed out that the Union has “learnt so many lessons” and is now better prepared for the next bargaining process with the Education Ministry.

He explained that he believes the agreement made will better satisfy teachers and their families and even result in classrooms being better serviced. On the other hand, the General Secretary of the GTU during an exclusive interview with this publication said she believes the Union should have been more diligent in its doings.

She stated, “As a Union we needed to do a little more work, we needed to be a little more diligent in what we were doing, but it’s a learning experience and come 2019 our teachers, if it’s going to be a three years or a five years agreement, our teachers will see many more benefits coming their way”.

“Those teachers who would have felt neglected over the past years and they weren’t being able to gain access to their benefits I want to say to them rest assure GTU has been there for you, we will continue to be there for you and your benefits are intact,” she added. A 40 per cent salary increase for public school teachers was initially proposed for the year 2016. Over time, the percentage would be increased for all categories of represented teachers. For the year 2017, the Union was hoping to have bargained for a 45 per cent increase, which would then increase to 50 per cent for the remainder of the years indicated in the agreement (2018-2020).

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wednesdAY, January 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

OAS vote on Maduro’s presidency

Caricom countries voted based on national interest – former Minister

W

hen representatives of countries belonging to the Organisation of American States (OAS) met last week to vote not to recognise the legitimacy of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro’s new term in office, most Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries abstained from a vote.

This has since caused a regional debate on the matter and brings to question again whether the regional body, which represents 15 countries, has any strength and unity. But former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson posits that the vote was based on national interests.

While St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Dominica voted against the resolution, Guyana,

Jamaica, St Lucia, The Bahamas and Haiti voted for it. Meanwhile, St Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Belize, and Grenada all abstained from the vote.

“This was done based on how they perceived their national interest. And there is certain uniqueness about this situation. It wouldn’t take any country especially with such a general issue to vote without thinking about its national interest,” he told Guyana Times.

While he believes the split vote among Caricom countries does not necessarily point to a division, he opines that many may have deliberated on the fact that they should take a no-interference stance. However, he said adherence to principles

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson

should have been considered.

“Why… because of the severity of the internal issue within the country (Venezuela). But you can’t

expect all the groups to vote the same way on various issues. In some cases, there is going to be diversion for national interest, which used to be a common thing,” he observed.

But Jackson is also of the opinion that countries should consider more often a reflection of regional position rather than a diversion within the group on particular issues like these.

“More often it’s a reflection of a common regional position rather than the divergent of the group on particular issues. I think Caricom is based on solid set of common interest, but it comes a time when the interest and different positions are taken by different countries,” he added.

Asked whether he thinks

Banks DIH taxed profits grew by $501M in 2018

Chairman said, however, they would remain mindful of the innate challenges of operating a Group which could affect its continued development.

Nevertheless, he assured stakeholders of the company’s commitment to deliver better results through initiatives such as innovative technology, leadership in the solar energy sector, the pursuit of market extensions internationally and impending diversification programmes.

L

ocal beverage giant Banks DIH Limited has recorded a whopping $4.085 billion profit after tax according to its 2018 annual report, compared to $3.584 billion in the previous year.

This represents an increase of $501 million or 14 per cent, according to Banks DIH Chairman Clifford Reis in his report.

The profit before tax, on the other hand, also grew by 18.8 per cent with $6.032 billion recorded in 2018 against $5.079 billion the previous year, representing an increase of $953 million.

Revenues generated by the company were recorded at $27.863 billion compared to $26.548 billion in 2017, a five per cent hike.

Meanwhile, the Banks DIH Limited Group’s third-party revenue was $30.923 billion from $30.006 billion in 2017 while trading profit from operations for the Group was $6.837 billion last year against $6.196 billion the previous year.

Profit after tax attributable to shareholders of the parent company was $4.2 billion while the Group’s Net Asset Value per share increased from $34.33 to $$40.15.

Furthermore, the Board of Directors recommended a dividend proposal of $1.10 per share unit, resulting in an overall cost of $934.8 million.

According to Reis, who is also the company’s Managing Director, these improved out-

comes were as a result of the increase in physical case sales of its Malt Products, XM Rum and Banko Wines as well as the company’s Golden Harvest Bread and baked goods, and Demico and Crème Select Ice-creams and Frostee products.

Additionally, he said benefits were also accrued as a result of efficiencies achieved from raw material conversion and improved production throughout, arising from capital expenditure investment over recent years.

“The improved results were also as a result of lower prices negotiated for several raw and packaging materials as well as from the prudent management of our financial resources,” he stated.

The Chairman noted, however, that the environmental tax affected the selling prices and, therefore, the affordability of the company’s soft drinks and bottled water products.

Reis further outlined that the recapitalisation of the company’s capital base was continued during 2018.

However, he pointed out that going forward this year, Banks DIH’s capital expenditure thrust will be focused on increasing a number of continuing and new projects including the construction of a new multi-storey car parking facility at the Demerara Park Area, which will include space for planned future development.

With regard to Citizens Bank Guyana Inc, profit af-

ter tax for the year 2018 was recorded at $602.3 million, while profit before tax was $1.009 billion. Revenues of the Bank stood at $3.160 billion, while Net Interest Income was $2.24 billion and earnings per share was $10.12.

Additionally, Citizens Bank’s assets base was $50.5 billion, while loan assets decreased from $28.2 billion to $25.5 billion in 2018, and Customer Deposits were $40.9 billion compared to $40.6 billion in 2017.

In terms of quality management and environmental responsibility, Reis noted that the company continued to be guided by principles of sustainability and accountability to reduce or eliminate any impact of its operations on the environment and communities.

Against this backdrop, the Chairman posited that Banks DIH would continue with its various programmes that celebrate the country’s diversity.

“We continue to evaluate our traditional business model to create wealth for shareholders through the creation of new synergies, implementation of finance and marketing initiatives and, continuing emphasis on cost reduction strategies... These new business models will bring into our existing business portfolio, a new generation of products and services which will foster job creation and added value,” Reis stated.

Despite a commendable performance last year, the

that these sister Caricom States will back Guyana, should the border controversy with Venezuela intensify, the former Minister says he thinks they will.

“I think they will back us; Caricom is in favour of Guyana’s general principle of territorial integrity. I have faith in the unity of the Caricom, certainly in relation to Guyana’s territorial integrity.”

In 2017, the majority of Caricom countries abstained from a vote at the OAS as the body approved a resolution calling for an extraordinary assembly to vote on suspending Venezuela from the group. The resolution was spearheaded by the United States.

The OAS's general assembly voted with 19 Member States in favour, four against and 11 abstaining, to take the first step to suspending the South American nation.

Back then, Guyana, The Bahamas, Barbados, and Jamaica supported the resolution, while Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines voted against the measure.

However, Belize, Grenada, Haiti, St KittsNevis, St Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago were among the 11 Member States that abstained during the vote.

The OAS has expelled

only two nations in its history. Cuba was forced out in 1962, and Honduras was suspended briefly following a 2009 military coup.

The ban of Cuba was lifted in 2009, but the island country rejected rejoining the Organisation.

The recent resolution was taken at the level of the Permanent Council of the OAS, and when the dust from voting had settled, 19 voted in favour of the resolution, six were against it, with eight abstentions and one member completely absent.

According to the resolution, the OAS would not recognise the legitimacy of Maduro’s new term as President. The resolution also urges Member States to use lawful, diplomatic, economic and financial measures to restore democracy to Venezuela.

Among other things, it also calls for new free and fair elections to be held. The resolution notes that the 2018 election failed to meet international standards and it lacked legitimacy.

The resolution also seeks “to invite Member States and Permanent Observers to implement measures to address the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and impacted countries, through the support to appropriate international and regional organisations”.

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wednesdAY, January 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Uncertainty looms The democratic process is at on future scrap work in Guyana – Caricom SG metal legislation No-confidence resolution

“T

he democratic process is at work,” Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque told reporters when prompted on Tuesday for a comment on the passage of the no-confidence resolution on December 21.

Ambassador LaRocque was asked about Caricom’s position on the Government taking the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice.

He responded, “We have to allow the democratic process to work. We have been observing; we have been looking on and watching on, but the democratic process is at work.”

Further, the Caricom SG said that the matter was before the courts and that the process should be allowed to run its course.

However, he suggested that it be done swiftly.

Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

“The matter is before the courts and I think we should allow the discussion and litigation to go through and see what the outcome is. I am sure the court in its wisdom and all of the other peers that may be possible will rule appropriately; my concern is that it be done swiftly, that the mat-

ter is before the court and let the court act swiftly,” LaRocque stated.

This is the first time that the Caricom SG has commented on the development. His regional counterparts have been quite vocal on the issue of late.

On December 21, 2018, the 111th sitting of the

11th Parliament voted on its confidence in the Government. The matter is now before the High Court.

In the meantime, Government remains in office despite numerous calls for it to step down. At a recent meeting with the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger, it was agreed that there needs to be a government in place to overlook the running of the country.

In addition, it was decided that the Chief Whips, from the Government and the Opposition, are to meet with the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to determine the Commission’s readiness to host regional and general elections.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

A

lthough the legislation to monitor the trade of scrap metal is said to be in its final stage before passage and implementation, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who holds responsibility for the sector, said he was still not sure when the bill would be presented to the National Assembly.

Gaskin made the disclosure during an exclusive interview recently conducted on the sidelines of an event.

According to the Business

Minister, the legislation is still with Attorney General Basil Williams’ Chambers.

“The legislation as I mentioned a few months ago has been approved by Cabinet (so) it’s with the Attorney General Chambers. It is a complete piece of legislation; it’s not just a few amendments so it does take a little more time than normal amendments,” Gaskin informed.

He went on to explain that the document was supposed to be brought to the National Assembly last December, but was further postponed owing to other matters which took precedence.

Gaskin said, “The Budget and all the enabling amendments that had to be passed around the same time, I think those took priority, so I can’t tell you exactly when it will be passed, but I do know it’s in the final stages of conclusion in the Ministry of Legal Affairs.”

Although he said the document was in its final stage, the Minister was unable to say when it would be presented in the National Assembly.

He would only say that limited resumption of the scrap metal trade continues to rid storehouses of the materials.

Last December, during the second day of consideration of the 2019 Budget estimates when Gaskin was questioned about allocations to various agencies under the Ministry, he informed that the legislation to govern the scrap metal trade would be presented this year.

In June 2018, he had said that the new legislation was taken to the Cabinet and approved at that level. The next step, he had noted, would have been to approach the National Assembly.

Government had approved a restart of the scrap metal trade in Guyana during February 2017 after closing down the industry one year prior to that.

In April 2018, after several months of delays, Government decided to reopen the trade to facilitate the clearance of some of the accumulated scrap metal across the country.

While a date for the full resumption of the trade had

not been announced, Gaskin had told Guyana Times that the date depended on several important factors.

The Minister disclosed that a meeting was held with exporters and dealers to introduce them to a new system that the Business Ministry was trying to implement.

According to him, it is a software-based system that was specially designed to help the Ministry to monitor and regulate the trade once it resumed, creating a level playing field for all.

Gaskin said the resumption of the trade would give the Ministry the opportunity to test the system to ensure that it was working and would also help to clear some of the accumulated scrap metal that has been legitimately acquired by exporters and dealers’ yards.

It was after a forensic audit conducted by the Scrap Metal Unit (SMU) that Government had moved responsibility for the scrap metal trade from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to the Business Ministry.

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4 in custody for execution of Passenger nabbed with 3283 Surinamese businessman grams of ganja

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The cocaine that was intercepted in the shipment of rice in Suriname

Dead: Nitinder Oemrawsingh

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our persons were taken into custody on Tuesday following the discovery of the body of a Surinamese businessman on the Number 63 Beach on Monday.

Authorities in Suriname have confirmed that the arrests are in connection with a cocaine bust made one week ago which might be connected to the murder of the businessman.

The body of a Surinamese national, identified as Nitinder Oemrawsingh, 40, of Corentyne Polder Nickerie Suriname was on Monday afternoon found on the Number 63 Beach on the Corentyne with a single gunshot wound to the head.

The rice trader was implicated in a cocaine bust last Tuesday by Surinamese

authorities. Some 2300 kilograms of cocaine was found in rice in a canter truck, which was intercepted at Jules Sedney Haven by the Narcotics Brigade of Suriname.

Officials in the neighbouring country remain mum on the arrests which were made hours after the discovery of the body.

Among those arrested are a truck driver and Customs Officer. However, the confiscated cocaine is expected to be destroyed shortly.

Reports are that the now dead man went missing on Friday after meeting with investigators in Suriname. It is believed that he made his way to Guyana shortly after and might have been on the run.

It has been confirmed that he crossed the border by means other than the official Guyana-Suriname border ferry.

Following the discovery of the body, an uncle visited the Skeldon Hospital Mortuary where he confirmed that the body is that of his nephew.

Up to late Tuesday evening, detectives were reviewing the footage from their surveillance cameras.

Meanwhile, sources told Guyana Times that upon discovery of the man’s body on Monday, an undisclosed sum of US currency was found in his possession.

28-year-old Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam resident was on Tuesday intercepted with 3283 grams of compressed marijuana during a road block at Weldaad Public Road, West Coast Berbice.

Based on reports received, Police, acting on information received, stopped a vehicle and conducted a search on the person and belongings of the male passenger, resulting in the discovery of seven taped parcels of the prohibited substance.

The passenger was taken to the Police Station where the contents of the parcels were weighed and amounted to 3283 grams.

He was placed in custody and was expected to make his court appearance before the end of the week.

Teen arraigned for murder of Bush Lot brothers

Murder accused: Keeran Jeenarine, also called “Roni”

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he teenager who confessed to the murder of the two Bush Lot Berbice brothers on Old Year’s Night was on Tuesday arraigned for the heinous crime when he appeared at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court.

Eighteen-year-old Keeran Jeenarine, also called “Roni”, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on December 31, 2018, he murdered Premchand Samaroo and Harichand Samaroo.

However, the defence counsel is holding out that Police had arrested and

charged his client wrongfully while arguing that video footage placed the teenager at another location at the time of the murder. Defence Attorney Charlyn Artiga stated that the video footage was taken from a supermarket and as such, the court has given the prosecution time to produce the video.

In addition, the Attorney also asked for the prosecution to make a full disclosure of all the evidence that it has against Jeenarine.

She also noted that he was in custody since January 10 after he presented himself to the Police. On the other hand, Police Prosecutor Inspector Orin Joseph told the court that the Police are still conducting their investigations.

Attorney Artiga argued that if the Police were not ready, they could have approached the High Court for more time to keep the accused in custody rather than

instituting murder charges without completing their investigation.

“Who is going to compensate him for the time spent and he could be exposed to all sorts of things in prison,” she argued.

She also argued that the Police were not certain who they were seeking for the murders, since they would have issued wanted bulletins for two men who were subse-

quently sent away.

Magistrate Alex Moore said those concerns could be taken to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on behalf of the accused.

With respect to the video, the Magistrate gave the prosecution until January 22 to review and complete the report on same. The matter was transferred to the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

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wednesdAY, January 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Army denies “preparing for elections in June” T he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has denied local reports that the army is in “preparation for National Elections in June”.

Following the publication by an online news report referencing a leaked training document, which allegedly ordered the military to prepare for General and Regional Elections in five months, the GDF on Tuesday evening said it is alarmed by the news article.

Insisting that it has “not authorised any such release” or made any such pronouncements, the army said it is aware that it is not the authority for specifying the date and/or time for which elections should be held. However, in the same breath, it did not rule out that such exercises are ongoing in eventual anticipa-

tion of the impending polls.

“Any Force will always have intelligent anticipation of tasks likely to be undertaken. These tasks once identified are issued to the subordinates as “Warning Orders” alerting them to the nature of the probable tasks and should not be misconstrued to mean anything else. The Guyana Defence Force has always respected the rule of law and due process, and will continue to maintain a professional Force which contributes to the development of the nation,” the missive from the military stated.

This new development comes even as the High Court is currently hearing two cases filed on the December 21, 2018 passage of the Opposition’s No-Confidence Resolution – one contesting the valid-

Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Patrick West

ity of former AFC Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud’s vote given his dual citizenship and another challenging the 33-32 vote, instead of a 34 majority that was used to pass the motion.

Those cases came up for hearing on Tuesday and acting Chief Justice Roxane

28 customers treated for GTT’s 28th anniversary

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wenty-eight lucky customers were on Monday treated with customer appreciation packages, cake and $2,800 in credit by GTT for their steadfast support to the company’s services over the past 28 years.

The randomly selected customers all expressed gratitude to GTT for supplying them with telecommunication services over the years.

Being a GTT subscriber with mobile, blaze internet and landline services, Customer Martin Moore said he is appreciative for the services GTT has provided him and family over the years.

“I use the Gyaff-A-Lot plan a lot on my smartphone and I am extremely satisfied with the services, blaze and my landline as well. I am just thankful because it makes communicating with friends and family easier and at a cheaper cost.”

Sharing the same view was GTT longstanding customer, Enid Brotherson who also commended GTT’s newly implemented SelfService portal. “I use the landline, mobile and blaze services and its good; no complaints really. Even when there is a complaint there are many avenues to get help; like there is the live chat which is convenient and you can call as well. And then there is the option to pay your bills from home. We are growing in Guyana with technology.”

Consuming GTT’s landline services from the very start, and recently through his new smartphone, another customer, Peter Denny said he has watched the company transform over the years. Denny noted that he foresees the company developing further this year and at a faster pace with the new

George has committed to a ruling by the end of this month.

Both Government and the Opposition have agreed to have the court expedite these proceedings as they await the outcomes to determine the way forward.

In fact, following a meeting with President David Granger last week, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has stated that they have up until mid-April for the hosting of General and Regional Elections since the current list of electors, which was used for the November

Local Government polls, will expire at that time. As such, the former Head of State is pushing for elections to be held within this timeframe, noting that it is sufficient for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to be ready.

While the elections body has already indicated its preparedness to deliver, both the Government and Opposition Chief Whips, Amna Ally and Gail Teixeira, have been identified to meet with the Commission to determine its readiness. Efforts have since been undertaken to fix that meeting.

Since the coalition Government assumed office in 2015, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have often raised concerns over certain measures taken that sought to “militarise” the country following the mass appointments of army officers to senior Government positions. In fact, several retired GDF Officers were appointed in key advisory positions within the Government, which is led by retired Brigadier

David Granger.

Concerns of stakeholders of the army and elections dates back to the 1970s when there was mass rigging of the 1973 elections and the killing of two PPP operatives, accompanying ballot boxes.

The GDF was reportedly pivotal to the rigging with soldiers deployed to seize legal ballot boxes which were dumped and replaced by fake ballots. Young voters Jagan Ramessar and Bholanauth Parmanand were fatally shot, and dozens more were injured by the bullets from members of the military at the No 63 Primary School.

Hundreds had gathered outside the school to ensure that their votes were counted at the Place of Poll; that is, at the school where they voted. The army arrived at the close of poll, and the people, in protest, attempted to block the military from removing the ballot boxes from the polling station when bullets from the barrel of the soldier’s gun began to fly wildly into the crowd.

Govt moving forward with proposed regional flags, renaming of regions

One of the lucky customers who was with a staff of GTT

advancement in technologies around the world.

“January is a great time to celebrate another year; it’s the first month of the year which sets the tone for all that is to come. In this, GTT’s 28th year, customers can anticipate great things from the Do More Company,” said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTT, Justin Nedd, who has ten years of service with the company.

Presenting the packages to the lucky customers was Vice President for Customer Experience at GTT, Orson Ferguson who told the customers, “I was extremely excited and privileged to have the opportunity to spend time with so many of our loyal customers to celebrate our 28th anniversary. Having a chance to speak with customers is always something that I value because they provide so much feedback; and I am reminded of why I come to work every day and that is to deliver quality

products and services to our customers.”

Ferguson added, “GTT has a lot of exciting services in store for our customers and over the next few years, we will be delivering some revolutionary products that will significantly improve customers quality of life.

Our best years are ahead of us and we look forward to your continued support.”

Currently, the “Do More” company has a daily trivia game on its social media pages, which sees lucky customers winning $2,800 in mobile top up. GTT will continue its customer appreciation with special deals on smartphones in stores countrywide.

On January 28, GTT’s celebrations will culminate with its Chief Blaze Ambassador, Timeka Marshall, in stores where the company will present random customers with fantastic prizes throughout the day to show its appreciation.

The proposed regional flags

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

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espite the challenges in some quarters, the Government said it will be moving forward with the proposed regional flags and renaming of regions.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan on Monday told media operatives that Government is behind on its

expectations in this regard.

This, he reiterated, is due to the unwillingness of most of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDC’s) to participate in what he said is leeway for democracy in Guyana.

“It is unfortunate that the elected leaders in those regions seem not to understand the importance of this initiative, which is greater levels of people’s empowerment and deepening of people’s empowerment and the deepening of Guyana’s democracy.”

Minister Bulkan said some regional leaders still seem “imbued” with the political principle and philosophy of “rule from the centre,” where the Central Government is the organ that makes decisions alone.

“We will pick up the pieces in 2019. The outcome of

consultations is the determination of the Administration to proceed with the initiative, having given the leadership ample opportunity to come on board. We will not allow the agenda to be hijacked by unwilling elements,” the Minister said.

In keeping with a principle of decentralisation and regional and local empowerment, the Administration had signalled to the RDCs that among desirables to be promoted are regional identity and pride.

Residents have been given the opportunity to make a determination on whether they would like to retain the existing names of their regions or if they would like to adopt new names. The residents would also make a determination on flags and other emblems for the regions.

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Ramsammy’s Ruminations

They can run, but APNU/AFC cannot escape, they must face the will of the people

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arliamentary and constitutional democracy is on trial in Guyana. APNU/ AFC is purposefully sabotaging and subverting the Constitution. Never has the time been more important for all good men and good women, for all citizens, to stand up for their country. In accordance with the parliamentary noconfidence resolution and the Constitution of Guyana, the APNU/AFC Government must Dr Leslie Ramsammy resign, dissolve Parliament and schedule General and Regional Elections within 90 days of December 21, 2018. This means elections are due on/ or before March 21, 2019. Instead, APNU/AFC is engaged in a desperate scheme to sidestep the Constitution. This desperate ploy to run from the law is futile because they can run, but they cannot escape the law. The Guyanese saying is “moon can run till daytime ketch um”.

The desperation of APNU/AFC’s futile attempt to run from the law is captured by the absurdity of the excuses. Clearly, they are trying to buy time. First, they accused MP Charrandas, one of their own MPs who voted for the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018, of taking a bribe. They claimed they have evidence of a rich Trinidadian oil tycoon handing over multimillion US dollars to Charrandas in a hotel room, but they adamantly refused to present that evidence. Mr Charrandas has responded by agreeing to a lie-detector test. None of the APNU/ AFC members who made the claim has come forward to present the evidence more than three weeks after and none of them has the guts to accept Mr Charrandas’s challenge of a lie-detector test.

Aubrey Norton was hurriedly brought out of obscurity to claim that he and the PNC have evidence that Bharrat Jagdeo was involved in the bribery of Charrandas. He too has refused to present such evidence to the Police. Bharrat Jagdeo has threatened to sue him unless he apologises. Clearly, no reasonable Guyanese believe these absurd stories. But, the Police Commissioner has confirmed that based on these concoctions, he is forced to dedicate investigative time to follow these allegations. In the meanwhile, criminal gangs are terrorising people everywhere in Guyana and the Police, while involved in spurious investigations, do not seem to have enough time to respond to real crimes that are causing loss of lives and property.

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice has begun to address a legal challenge of Charrandas’s vote on December 21, 2018, because Basil Williams on behalf of APNU/AFC arranged to have a private citizen challenge the vote based on Charrandas’s dual citizen status. Taxpayers’ money is being used for a private citizen to challenge Williams and the Speaker, neither of whom will contest the challenge. Even after an unreasonable delay in hearing this matter, the AG wants more time because he was not ready to present his arguments yesterday. Now there are more delays.

Never mind that whatever the decision, it has no effect on the December 21 event. Then there is the ridiculous challenge that 33 cannot be the majority of 65. The court must dismiss these reckless and deliberate efforts to subvert the law, the Constitution and our democracy. The truth is this government has no desire to challenge dual-citizenship. It simply wants to buy time.

Political and constitutional commentators, those people who were so vocal before May 2015, are on trial. Their time to stand up and speak out is now. Some have timidly called on the Government to honour the no-confidence resolution and hold elections in accordance with the constitutional timeline. One of those commentators has stood out – Mr Christopher Ram has shown willingness to go beyond a gentle condemnation of the Government. Mr Ram has approached the court to obtain a declaration to force the government to honour the parliamentary resolution. The law of the land must be obeyed and the Government must not be given a pass. Others, like Ralph Ramkarran, must do the same. The ABC countries and Caricom are also on trial. Fools rise because wise people remain silent.

The events of December 21, 2018 and since then demand aggressively calling out APNU/AFC on their reckless attempt to subvert the Constitution. There can be no plainer demonstration that APNU/AFC is rigging the law and Guyana’s democracy.

Standing on the sideline or flirting with silence is not an option.

Either we stand with the Guyanese people in their brave struggle to sustain and build a democratic society or we allow APNU/AFC to rig Guyana’s democracy. Too many people in Guyana, the ABC countries and Caricom chose silence as a 28-year dictatorship and rigged elections allowed Guyana to under-develop and become a basket-case in Caricom between 1968 and 1992. Let us not allow history to repeat itself.

Guyana gets US$8M for hinterland solar farm project

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s the Guyana Government continues with its “Green State” initiative, the country was given a significant boost to the tune of US$8 million to support the “Guyana Hinterland Programme: Solar PV Grid Tie Farms” which will see six communities benefitting.

The project has been selected by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) for funding via loan by ADFD, as part of the sixth cycle of the IRENA/ ADFD Project Facility, the Public Infrastructure Ministry said.

The announcement was made this week during the Ninth Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), where Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson is representing Guyana.

The Ministry noted that this announcement is timely as Guyana continues on its path towards a green economy.

This project will receive a loan of US$8 million in the coming year to install 5.2 megawatt (MW) grid-con-

nected solar PV systems in the hinterland communities of Bartica, Kwakwani, Lethem, Mahdia, Port Kaituma, and Matthew's Ridge to reduce fossil fuel consumption and increase the reliability of electricity supply. This will see the provision of 24-hour sustained electricity generation in these communities.

An estimated 34,700 people in the target areas, the Ministry said, will benefit and around 120 direct and indirect jobs are set to be created throughout the project’s lifecycle. Though this intervention is not expected to entirely replace diesel generation in the regions, the project will allow the utilities to annually reduce their diesel fuel consumption thereby allowing cost savings and a cleaner environment.

The Hinterland Electrification Company Inc supported by the Guyana Energy Agency, submitted the project proposal to the ADFD Facility in February 2018 for consideration, and was subsequently shortlisted and awarded in January 2019.

Guyana was one of only three countries selected to

be awarded this funding out of a submission of 112 proposed projects to the ADFD Facility across the globe.

According to the Director General of ADFD, His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, on Saturday said, “we are proud of our result-oriented Facility that has supported replicable, scalable and potentially transformative renewable energy projects set to benefit communities and improve their living conditions.

Today, at the Ninth Session of the IRENA Assembly, we are pleased to have selected truly impactful projects valued at US$31 million for the sixth cycle of financing awarded by the Facility.”

In addition to Guyana, other countries awarded were Togo and Liberia.

The IRENA/ADFD Project Facility helps emerging economies access lowcost capital for renewable energy projects to increase energy access, to improve livelihoods and advance sustainable development.

Over recent months, Guyana has been turning to financiers from the MiddleEast to fund critical projects here. In fact, last April Finance Minister Winston

Jordan secured a US$900 million from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), who committed the amount in financial and technical assistance for key development areas to assist with social and economic development.

Meanwhile, back in September, Guyana tapped into the funding, drawing down US$20 million to finance the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Utility Upgrade Programme, which is being co-financed by the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union, to “effect a comprehensive turnaround of its electricity distribution” to ensure “sustainable and stable supply”.

This entails the rehabilitation of 153 kilometres of GPL’s medium voltage and low voltage network and 6, 941 smart meters, including the associated transformers, service lines and distribution boxes. It will also fund the rehabilitation and extension of two 69/13.8KV substations at Kingston and Vreed-en-hoop including equipment switchgear, power transformers, rerouting of circuits distribution feeders and cable connections.

Application for mining licence to be made easier

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inister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes and a team from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Tuesday met with miners in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to discuss issues affecting them.

Key among these was the challenges the miners face with regards to mining applications.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), during the interaction, the Minister and a team also accepted mining applications.

However, Minister Broomes explained that such an exercise will soon be a thing of the past as currently; GGMC is working on computerising the application process.

“Miners usually have to travel to Georgetown for this process, however, we are trying to simplify it for them, decentralise using our office here,” Minister Broomes explained.

She further explained that this online mining application service should be functional by mid-2019.

The Natural Resources Ministers have been meeting key players in the mining sector to address some of their concerns. The Ministers have candidly addressed many of the issues highlighted, explaining the steps being taken in the respective Ministries to tackle them.

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes engaging miners in the GGMC Office at 7th Avenue, Bartica, Region 7

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wednesdAY, January 16, 2019

Regional

Venezuelan Congress declares President President Moise wants “credible, honest and transparent Maduro “usurper” of democracy

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e n e z u e l a ’ s Opposition-run Congress on Tuesday formally declared President Nicolás Maduro a “usurper”, whose actions would be considered null and void after he was sworn in last week for a disputed second term.

US President Donald Trump is considering recognising the leader of the Congress, Juan Guaido, as Venezuela’s legitimate President, CNN reported, citing three unidentified sources.

Maduro was inaugurated on January 10 under an avalanche of criticism that his leadership was illegitimate following a 2018 election widely viewed as fraudulent, with countries around the world disavowing his government.

The United States and many Latin American nations say Maduro has be-

Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaido attends a session in Caracas, Venezuela, January 15, 2019

come a dictator, whose failed State-led policies have plunged Venezuela into its worst-ever economic crisis, with no recovery in sight. Maduro says that a US-directed “economic war” is trying to force him from power.

“Today Congress declares that at this time there is no President of the republic,” Jorge Millan, an Opposition legislator, said in a speech. “Let’s start the process to recover the constitutional order,” he said.

Congress also approved

a measure asking dozens of foreign Governments to freeze bank accounts controlled by Maduro’s Government.

The measure calls on the United States, European Union and several Latin American Governments to instruct regulatory agencies to “prohibit any movement of liquid assets by the Venezuelan State in local bank accounts”.

The United States and EU have already imposed sanctions that limit the sale of Venezuelan Government debt and freeze assets belonging to Maduro and a number of his top officials.

The pro-Government Supreme Court, which has been in conflict with the legislature since the Opposition took Congress over in 2016, has pre-emptively invalidated any laws passed by the body. (Excerpt from Reuters)

El Chapo “paid US$100M bribe to former Mexican President” – cartel witness claims

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ormer Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto accepted a US$100 million bribe from drug cartel kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, a witness has testified.

Alex Cifuentes, who says he was a close associate of

Guzman for years, told a New York City courtroom that he had told authorities of the bribe in 2016.

Guzman is accused of being behind the Sinaloa drug cartel, which prosecutors say was the largest US drug supplier.

Peña Nieto served as the President of Mexico from 2012 to 2018.

Guzman, 61, has been on trial in Brooklyn since November after he was extradited from Mexico to face charges of trafficking cocaine, heroin and other

drugs as leader of what the US has called the world's largest drug cartel.

Cifuentes claimed the delivery was made to Mexico City in October 2012 by a friend of El Chapo. (Excerpted

from BBC News)

elections” in Haiti

President Jovenel Moise

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resident Jovenel Moise says 2019 must result in Haiti achieving “credible, honest, democratic and transparent elections” and that his Administration will provide the necessary resources to accomplish that feat.

Addressing the opening of a new Parliament session, Moise, whose victory in January 2017 ended a drawn-out and difficult election process that stretched on for 14 months, said that the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country is going through a “decisive period” as this is the fourth and last year of the 50th legislature.

“I have the opportunity to reiterate my personal attachment as Head of State, to democracy, to institutional continuity and Republican, as well as our

loyalty to the founding principles of the Republic of Haiti that are liberty, equality and fraternity”.

The bicameral National Assembly of Haiti consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

The Chamber of Deputies has 99 members, who are elected by popular vote for a four-year term, while the 30 members of the Senate are elected to serve six-year terms, with one third elected every two years.

Moise told legislators that the year 2018 had been characterised by economic, political and social challenges and this year “should allow us to be more concerned about the respect of the constitutional prescriptions, to strive, in the patriotic spirit, to overcome crises that threaten the survival of the nation”.

“2019 is the year of major Republican meetings.

It’s a historic year. We must achieve credible, honest, democratic and transparent elections. To carry out the latter, my Administration and the Government will make all necessary arrangements. It is a constitutional and republican requirement,” he said, noting that to respond to the demands of the people, the Government must intensify its actions with the required sense of urgency and determination.

Antigua: Scotiabank principals hold crime, violence demand “fruitful” dialogue with local trade union Youth a regional solution, says

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he Union representing Scotiabank workers in Antigua and Barbuda has described as “successful” its first official meeting with the principals of the Canada-based bank to discuss the pending sale of its local operations.

The talks, held at the Trade Winds Hotel, centred on the proposed sale to Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) of Trinidad and Tobago, and its likely impact on the workers, whose bargaining agent is the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU).

The union’s General Secretary David Massiah said while all queries regarding the transaction between Scotiabank and Republic

Antigua Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) General Secretary David Massiah (file photo)

were not answered, he was satisfied with the outcome.

Massiah said the Union met with the bank’s legal team that deals with labour rela-

tions.

He said they were able to sign two Collective Agreements for some of the non-managerial staff, while

also commencing discussions on behalf of managers. “Outside of that, we had discussions with regards to the proposed transaction between Scotiabank and Republic, and we were able to upload on behalf of the employees whether or not the employees should be automatically transferred and the conditions of the public unit.

“We wanted to find out about the time frame they are hoping to conclude the transaction. The discussions were very cordial at best.

The representatives were not able to give us all the answers right now, but a commitment was made to meet with us shortly to continue the dialogue,” Massiah said.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Increased demand for flu vaccine in Trinidad

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fficials of the S u s a m a c h a r Presbyterian Church arranged for flu vaccinations to given to their congregation members on Tuesday.

District Medical Officer Dr Clement Ragobar said they were hoping to do as many as 60 vaccines. He encouraged other faith-based organisations to follow Susamachar’s lead and ar-

range for their members to get vaccinated.

More than 75,000 doses of the flu vaccination are available free of charge, and nursing personnel at health centres are working assiduously to get as many people as possible vaccinated.

At the Pleasantville Health Centre on Monday, 150 people got the flu shot.

“People are continuing to

come in droves…” a source at the health centre said.

Director of Health, Dr Albert Persaud said he was hoping all pregnant women and vulnerable citizens got vaccinations before Carnival. With 17 laboratory-confirmed cases of swine flu recorded in T&T, he said the Health Ministry was urging citizens to get vaccinated.

Persaud said he was not worried that more people could contract the virus during the Carnival season because he was optimistic that people would get vaccinated to reduce the risk.

“I am happy that the public is taking heed. People are alerted to the fact that the H1N1 virus can no longer be seen as the simple flu,” he said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

(Excerpt from CMC)

Caricom Secretary General

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two-day conference aimed at examining and redefining violence prevention solutions as it relates to youth violence and prevention in the Caribbean began on Tuesday with the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Irwin LaRocque, saying it is a regional problem that demands a regional solution.

LaRocque told the conference that has brought together leaders from youth movements, Governments, civil society, development organisations and academia that crime and security is an issue that is having an impact on all the 15 members of the regional integration grouping.

“It is a regional problem that demands a regional solution. It not only requires the full cooperation of all our countries but also all the stakeholders within the member states. The multi-state, multi-sectoral response to this challenge is vital for us to succeed in defeating it,” LaRocque told the opening ceremony.

He said a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2012 Caribbean

Human Development Report on Citizen Security, noted that crime and violence impose high social, economic, and cultural costs.

Crime and violence are development issues and the report recommended that a model of security for the Region should be based on a human development approach with citizen security being paramount, he added.

The two-day conference, which is being hosted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Caricom Secretariat, UNICEF, the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Londonbased Commonwealth Secretariat, the St Luciabased Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission, and the Caribbean Learning for Youth Networking and Change Sessions (LYNCS) Network, is intended to design transformational youth-centred action to combat crime and violence and address constraints that youth activists face in improving safety outcomes in their communities. (Excerpt from

CMC)

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Around the World

No-confidence vote today after Nairobi hotel attacked by suspected militants historic Brexit deal defeat B

ritain’s Parliament on Tuesday voted against Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal by a massive margin, triggering a no-confidence vote that could bring down her government.

The House of Commons Lower House voted 432 to 202 against May’s plan for taking Britain out of the European Union after nearly five decades, one of the biggest defeats ever suffered by a British premier.

The EU warned that the vote, which plunges Britain into uncharted waters, boosts the risk of a “no deal” Brexit.

Moments after the outcome, Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn submitted a motion of no-confidence in May’s Government.

The vote is set for today.

Speaking moments before the MPs cast their ballots, May said MPs had a “duty to deliver” on the results of a 2016 referendum that started the divorce.

“I believe we have a duty to deliver on the democratic decision of the British people,” May said, warning MPs that the EU would not offer any “alternative deal”.

“A vote against this deal is a vote for uncertainty, division, and the very real threat of a no deal,” she argued to loud jeers from the packed chamber.

“The responsibility of each and every one of us at this moment is profound, for this is a historic decision that will set the future of our country for generations.”

Most lawmakers have always opposed Brexit, as have some leading members of May’s Government, creating an inherent contradiction that has torn apart the island nation.

sions.

Others voiced their support for a second referendum, an option May’s Government rules out.

“No deal? No problem!”

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May

And with just over two months to go until the scheduled March 29 departure, Britain still cannot decide what to do.

May must now decide whether she tries to hold another vote, gets kicked out of office, delays Brexit – or if Brexit even happens at all.

As their nation’s fate was being decided, hundreds of noisy supporters and opponents of Brexit, some banging drums and others driving floats with huge dolls mocking top UK politicians, rallied outside the ancient Parliament building in London.

“It could end up being the day that will lead to us leaving with no deal!” said 25-yearold Simon Fisher, who backs a swift and sharp break with the EU. A much larger rally nearby in support of a second referendum turned Parliament Square into a sea of EU flags.

One pro-Brexit activist attempting to join the rally was detained by Police to shouts of “scum” from fellow protesters in an indication of rising ten-

May made it her mission to carry out the wishes of voters after she became Premier in July 2016, putting aside her own initial misgivings and stating repeatedly that “Brexit means Brexit”.

But facing a heavy drubbing, May decided to postpone a parliamentary vote in December on the Brexit deal in the hope of winning concessions from Brussels – and that a Christmas break would change lawmakers’ minds.

EU leaders came back with only non-binding clarifications, and just a handful of new MPs have rallied to May’s side.

The UK Government’s current plan appears to be to try to ram a very similar version of the agreement through Parliament on a second or possibly even third attempt.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker returned to Brussels from Strasbourg on Tuesday “to handle the situation after the vote,” according to his office.

In Strasbourg, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas raised the possibility of further talks while ruling out a full renegotiation of the text.

Hardline Brexiteers and Remainers oppose the agreement for different reasons and many fear it could lock Britain into an unfavourable trading relationship with the EU. Bitter debates about Britain’s place in the world have dominated the national discourse ever since the ref-

erendum, dividing families and playing out in front of Parliament on Tuesday.

Financial markets were also watching closely, with several currency trading companies roping in extra staff for the vote and at least one putting a cap on trades to avoid excessive movements.

Risk of no deal

Criticism of the deal is focused on an arrangement to keep open the border with Ireland by aligning Britain with some EU trade rules, if and until London and Brussels sign a new economic partnership which could take several years.

Sammy Wilson, Brexit spokesman with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, upon which May relies for her parliamentary majority, told the BBC his party would not be forced into backing the deal by fears over the border.

The Government must set out what happens next by Monday, if – as is expected – it survives the no-confidence vote.

Speculation is growing on both sides of the Channel that May could ask to delay Brexit.

But a diplomatic source told AFP any extension would not be possible beyond June 30, when the new European Parliament will be formed.

The withdrawal agreement includes plans for a post-Brexit transition period until a new relationship is drawn up, in return for continued budget contributions from London.

Without it, and if there is no delay, Britain will sever ties with its nearest neighbours with no agreement to ease the blow. (AFP)

Cars are seen on fire at the scene of the attack

S

uspected militants have attacked a luxury hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least six people.

Gunfire and blasts were heard at the compound in the Westlands district of the Kenyan capital, which houses the DusitD2 hotel as well as offices.

The Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab said it was behind the attack.

Despite the Government saying all the buildings were secured by Tuesday evening, fresh gunfire has since been heard.

Officials and witnesses said at least five people died at a restaurant in the complex in the incident, while another person died of their injuries in hospital.

A US citizen is among the dead, according to the US State Department.

But the total number killed is not yet confirmed – a mortuary worker told Reuters that it was at least 15.

The attack began about 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT). The gunmen threw bombs at vehicles in the car park before entering the lobby, where one blew himself up, Kenyan Police Chief Joseph Boinnet told reporters.

A woman working in a neighbouring building told Reuters news agency: “I just started hearing gunshots, and then started seeing people running away raising their hands up and some were entering the bank to hide for their lives.”

Police then rushed to the scene. One officer told the BBC’s Ferdinand Omondi at the scene: “Things are not good. People are dying.” (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Fearing for Saudi teen’s safety, Canada refugee agency hires guard

Huawei founder says company would not share user secrets

T

he founder of Chinese tech giant Huawei said on Tuesday that his company would refuse to disclose secrets about its customers and their communication networks, trying to lay to rest concerns the company might spy for Beijing.

Ren Zhengfei spoke in a rare meeting with foreign reporters as Huawei Technologies Ltd tries to protect its access to global telecom carriers that are investing heavily in next-generation technology.

Ren’s comments were the most direct public re-

Ren Zhengfei

sponse to accusations that his company is controlled by

the ruling Communist Party or is required to facilitate Chinese spying.

“We would definitely say no to such a request,” Ren said when asked how the company would respond to a Government demand for confidential information about a foreign buyer of its telecom technology.

Huawei is facing heightened scrutiny as phone carriers prepare to roll out fifth-generation technology in which Huawei is a leading competitor. 5G is designed to support a vast expansion of networks to serve

medical devices, self-driving cars and other technology.

That increases the cost of potential security failures and has prompted Governments increasingly to treat telecoms communications networks as strategic assets.

The company’s image suffered a new blow last week when Polish authorities announced one of the company’s Chinese employees had been arrested on spying charges. Huawei announced that it had fired the employee and said the allegations had nothing to do with the company. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

Los Angeles teachers’ strike extends to 2nd day as charter teachers join

A

strike at Los Angeles schools expanded on Tuesday as teachers at a small charter school system joined some 30,000 public-school educators on the second day of a strike, pressing for higher pay, smaller classes and more staff at the United States’ second-largest school system.

The expansion of the work stoppage to The Accelerated Schools, which runs three charter schools, comes after Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti expressed

support for teachers who educate some 640,000 students.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) officials have said all schools will remain open during the strike, though the Los Angeles Times said more than two-thirds of the student population did not attend class on Monday.

Beutner said the district has offered staff increases that would cost $130 million a year - more than county officials have said is available - while

the union’s demands would cost $800 million.

UTLA negotiators have demanded a 6.5 per cent pay raise, more librarians, counsellors and nurses, smaller class sizes, less testing and a moratorium on new charter schools.

Teacher pay currently averages $75,000 in the LAUSD, according the California Department of Education.

The district has offered a 6 per cent hike with back pay. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, an 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family, speaks at the COSTI Corvetti Education Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A

mid threats to the safety of Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed, who was granted asylum in Canada, the Toronto agency that is helping her has hired a security guard to ensure “she is never alone” as she starts a normal life, its executive director said on Tuesday.

Mohammed, 18, made international headlines after she barricaded herself in an airport hotel room in Thailand’s capital Bangkok to avoid being sent home to her family owing to fears of being harmed or killed. The family denies any abuse.

The teen has received multiple threats online that have made her fear for her safety, said Mario Calla, executive director of Costi, a refugee agency contracted by the Canadian government to help her settle in Toronto.

Mohammed, who has re-

nounced her family name alQunun, gave a public statement in Toronto on Tuesday that was read on her behalf in English by a settlement worker.

“I understand that everyone here and around the world wishes me well and would like to continue to hear about how I am doing, but ... I would like to start living a normal private life, just like any other young woman living in Canada,” she said in the statement read by Saba Abbas.

Mohammed thanked the Canadian and Thai Governments and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for making her move to Canada possible.

“I am one of the lucky ones,” she said. “I know that there are unlucky women who disappeared after trying to escape or who could not do anything to change their reality.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, January 16, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

dilbert

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Don’t lose sight of what you are trying to achieve.

Strive for perfection, pay attention to detail and don’t stop until you are satisfied and proud to present the finished product.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Honesty will be in your best interest when dealing with partners, bosses or anyone who has an effect or influence on your life and future. Speak from the heart.

CANCER

Make a kind gesture and you will keep the peace.

Refuse to let the actions of others affect your behavior.

Share your thoughts and feelings openly, and follow through with your plans.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

Know your boundaries when dealing with superiors. If you stay focused on what you do best, you’ll find a way to enhance your skills and apply them to current trends.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Your goal is to achieve.

If you channel your energy into something that matters to you, the rewards will be spectacular. Love and romance will enhance your life.

Travel, communication and sharing with friends and family will spark your imagination and encourage you to broaden your horizons and try something new. Sign up for an interesting course.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Don’t make a fuss. Look inward and consider the improvements you can make.

You can’t change other people, but you can strive to be the best that you can be.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Make your accomplishments count by using your skills, knowledge and experience to effect change. Don’t settle for less than your goal, and don’t stop until you complete your mission.

SUDOKU

Physical activities or laSAGITTARIUS bor will pay off. Less talk (Nov. 23- and more action will help Dec. 21) you avoid criticism and temptation. An unwanted change will end up being beneficial.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle

A change at home will CAPRICORN perk you up. Comfort, con(Dec. 22- venience and frugality will Jan. 19) ease stress and encourage better relationships with loved ones. Don’t let anyone meddle in your affairs.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself.

Revealing too much information can lead to loss of reputation and cause stress.

Focus on getting things done and bringing about positive change.

Contact an old friend or attend a reunion. Touching base with your past will be a good reminder of the goals you set and what you still want to accomplish.

wednesdAY, January 16, 2019

19

Australian Open 2019‌

Serena and Venus Williams through to 2nd round He struggled with an elbow injury which would later require surgery and endured a string of poor results before hitting top form again to win Wimbledon and the US Open and regain the world number one ranking.

"It feels great to be healthy and back on this court again," said Djokovic, who was appearing in his 300th Grand Slam match.

"Twelve months ago it was quite a different sensa-

Serena Williams

S

erena Williams stormed into the Australian Open second round as she began her bid for a 24th Grand Slam title with a win over Tatjana Maria.

The 37-year-old American, whose 23rd major title came in Melbourne when she was pregnant two years ago, won 6-0 6-2 in 49 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams holds the most Open era singles titles, but is looking to equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24.

Sister Venus dug deep to beat Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.

The Romanian 26th seed served for the match at 5-3 in the second set but Venus broke to love.

The 38-year-old American, ranked 36th, went on to take the set before dominating the third.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion said: "It

was pretty hairy there. I hope that this tough match will prepare me for the rest of the tournament."

Williams, who has reached the final at Melbourne Park twice, most recently in 2017 when she lost to Serena, will meet Alize Cornet of France next.

Meanwhile, Simona Halep avoided becoming the first world number one to suffer back-to-back firstround Grand Slam exits with a gutsy three-set win over Kaia Kanepi at the Australian Open.

The Romanian top seed fought back impressively to beat the Estonian veteran 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 6-2 in Melbourne.

The fightback was a measure of revenge after Halep was stunned by 71st-ranked Kanepi at the US Open.

Halep, 27, will face American Sofia Kenin in round two.

"After losing against her

in the US Open, it was a bit of pressure on my shoulders," Halep said.

Djokovic starts with straight-set win

Top seed Novak Djokovic started his bid for a record seventh men's Australian Open title with a straightset win over American qualifier Mitchell Krueger.

The 31-year-old Serb, chasing a 15th Grand Slam title and third in a row, won 6-3 6-2 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.

Krueger broke Djokovic in the third game but the world number one dominated from there to seal victory in two hours and three minutes. He will face French wildcard Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round.

Djokovic's victory over the 230th-ranked Krueger was in stark contrast to the way he lost a year ago to South Korea's Chung Hyeon in the last 16.

tion on the court with the elbow injury.

Twelve months forward, obviously things are quite different."

Tsonga was on the losing side in the 2008 Australian Open final as Djokovic won his first of 14 Grand Slams.

Former world number four Tsonga missed seven months of 2018 after knee surgery and needed a wildcard to get into the tournament after his ranking

dropped outside the top 200.

But the 33-year-old will be a dangerous opponent, having reached the semi-finals in his comeback tournament in Brisbane and beaten Martin Klizan of Slovakia in straight sets in the first round in Melbourne.

"It's funny, 11 years after our first Grand Slam final here - it feels like a lot has happened for both of us," Djokovic added. (BBC Sport)

Khan says he 'couldn't say no' to Terence Crawford fight

Arsenal keeper to retire B at the end of the season A

Terrence Crawford will defend his WBO welterweight belt against Amir Khan on April 20

rsenal keeper Petr Cech is to retire at the end of the season. The 36-year-old joined Arsenal in June 2015 from the club's London rivals Chelsea, where he spent 11 years.

"Having played 15 years in the Premier League and won every single trophy possible, I feel like I have achieved everything I set out to achieve," said the exCzech Republic international. "I will continue to work hard at Arsenal to hopefully win one more trophy this season."

Cech's career was in doubt in October 2006 when he required surgery for a

skull fracture after a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt. The keeper was out for three months and has since worn a protective headguard during games.

He added: "This is my 20th season as a professional player and it has been 20 years since I signed my first professional contract, so it feels like the right time to announce that I will retire.

"I am looking forward to seeing what life holds for

me off the pitch."

(BBC Sport)

ritain's Amir Khan says he "couldn't say no" to a fight against undefeated WBO welterweight world champion Terence Crawford, but insists he still wants to face Kell Brook.

Khan, 32, returned to boxing last April after 23 months away from the sport.

He rejected a payday against Brook to fight 31-year-old American Crawford on 20 April in the United States.

"Winning this fight, people will remember me as a great champion," said Khan.

The former unified light-welterweight world champion told BBC Sport: "I kept thinking the Brook fight would be the next one until I got a phone call from [promoter] Bob Arum saying 'would you want to fight Crawford?'

"Looking at the way he fights and what he has achieved, I couldn't say no to it. It is a massive fight."

Khan lost to Saul Alvarez when he stepped up to middleweight in 2016, but beat Phil lo Greco and Samuel Vargas in his comeback fights last year.

He was criticised by some for his September points win over Vargas, when he was knocked down before recovering to take his record to 33 wins and four defeats.

"I needed a fight to motivate me to work hard and train hard," said Khan.

"Against Vargas and Lo Grego it was hard to motivate myself. This fight against Crawford will motivate me and make me work hard. Outside of Alvarez, this is the biggest test.

"Normally every fight I go into, I am the favourite.

This is a fight at my own division where I am not the favourite, which takes a lot off pressure of me and means I will work harder to prove a point. This is a fight I can win."

In December, 32-year-old IBF champion Brook said fellow Briton Khan had "let the public down" and blamed him for a fight between the pair not taking place.

Khan said: "The decision as to fighting Brook or Crawford has been one of the most difficult decisions of my career to date.

"Clearly, the UK fans want to see Khan v Brook, but I could not turn down the opportunity to fight for the WBO title.

"That is not to say that the Brook fight won't happen, as I want that fight to happen as soon as possible."

(BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, January 16, 2019

Kohli ton helps India beat Jamaica Scorpions make three changes for Australia to level series Volcanoes encounter I T ndia captain Virat Kohli hit 104 off 112 balls to help his side level the three-match one-day series in Australia at 1-1.

The hosts had set the tourists 299 to win, with Shaun

SCOREBOARD Australia Innings (50 overs maximum) AT Carey † c Dhawan b Mohammed Shami 18 AJ Finch (c) b Kumar 6 UT Khawaja run out (Jadeja) 21 SE Marsh c Jadeja b Kumar 131 PSP Handscomb st †Dhoni b Jadeja 20 MP Stoinis c †Dhoni b Mohammed Shami 29 GJ Maxwell c Karthik b Kumar 48 JA Richardson c Dhawan b Mohammed Shami 2 NM Lyon not out 12 PM Siddle c Kohli b Kumar 0 JP Behrendorff not out 1 Extras (lb 4, w 6) 10 TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 5.96) 298/9 Fall of wickets: 1-20 (AJ Finch, 6.6 ov), 2-26 (AT Carey, 7.4 ov), 3-82 (UT Khawaja, 18.3 ov), 4-134 (PSP Handscomb, 27.2 ov), 5-189 (MP Stoinis, 36.4 ov), 6-283 (GJ Maxwell, 47.3 ov), 7-283 (SE Marsh, 47.5 ov), 8-286 (JA Richardson, 48.6 ov), 9-286 (PM Siddle, 49.1 ov) BOWLING B Kumar (10-0-45-4), M

Shami (10-0-58-3), M Siraj (10-0-76-0), K Yadav (10-066-0), RA Jadeja (10-1-49-1) India Innings (target: 299 runs from 50 overs) RG Sharma c Handscomb b Stoinis 43 S Dhawan c Khawaja b Behrendorff 32 V Kohli (c) c Maxwell b Richardson 104 AT Rayudu c Stoinis b Maxwell 24 MS Dhoni † not out 55 KD Karthik not out 25 Extras (lb 9, w 7) 16 TOTAL (49.2 Overs, RR: 6.06) 299/4 Did not bat: RA Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, B Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj Fall of wickets: 1-47 (S Dhawan, 7.4 ov), 2-101 (RG Sharma, 17.5 ov), 3-160 (AT Rayudu, 30.4 ov), 4-242 (V Kohli, 43.4 ov) BOWLING: JP Behrendorff (8.2-1-52-1), JA Richardson (10-0-59-1), PM Siddle (80-58-0), NM Lyon (10-0-590), MP Stoinis (9-0-46-1), GJ Maxwell (4-0-16-1)

Marsh scoring 131 off 123 balls.

Kohli was the foundation of India's response but holed out to Glenn Maxwell off Jhye Richardson to leave his side needing 57 runs off the final 38 balls.

MS Dhoni (55) and Dinesh Karthik (25), both unbeaten, saw the tourists home.

The deciding match of the series will take place on Friday in Melbourne.

Australia's Marsh hit 11 fours and three sixes on his way to a seventh ODI century. But the home side were left to rue not setting a higher total after Indian bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami took a combined 4-17 in the last 18 balls. India paced their reply with Kohli at the helm and, despite his dismissal, Dhoni took over to complete the win. Dhoni, playing in his 334th ODI, was struggling in the Adelaide heat late on but scored an unbeaten 55 from 54 balls, which included two sixes as his only boundaries.

"Tonight was an MS classic," Kohli said. "He takes the game till the end, when only he knows what's going on in his mind, and he backs himself to hit those big shots at the end.

"And hats off to Dinesh too, he came in and took the pressure off him."

(BBC Sport)

Virat Kholi and MS Dhoni

he winless Jamaica Scorpions have made three changes to their squad that departed the island on Monday for Grenada where they play the Windward Island Volcanoes starting January 17 in the next round of the West Indies Championships.

The Paul Palmer-led side went down by 157 runs to the TT Red Force on Sunday after two poor batting displays before their home fans.

The news does not get better, however, as experienced batsman Rovmon Powell will miss the game because of a groin injury and will be assessed in the coming days. He has been replaced by Brandon King.

Meanwhile, Nikita Miller and Oshane Thomas have been rested and will be replaced by medium pacer Derval Green and former Windies pace bowler Jerome Taylor.

“We’ve lost the experienced Miller but Taylor comes with a wealth of that too,” said Captain Paul Palmer. “King will certainly strengthen our batting and we have Derval Green back from injury. So, we’re not losing out in any department. It’s just for us to apply ourselves and execute a winning plan.”

Meanwhile, medium-pacer Derval Green is happy to be injury-free and back in the Scorpions setup. “My recovery has been good,” he said.

“I thank the physiotherapists and doctors for their work. I’m always honoured to represent m y country so I look forward to making this trip count. I always have a hunger to do well so, I will give my absolute best and hope to remain injury-free.”

(Sportsmax)

Jamaica's sports minister calls for corporate Harden sets NBA record support to keep Tallawahs in Jamaica Brandon King comes in to replace Rovmon Powell in the Jamaica Scorpions squad

for most consecutive 30-point games J

J

amaica’s sports minister Olivia Grange said her government is willing to back the Jamaica Tallawahs but simply cannot afford what is required for the franchise to remain in Jamaica for the start of the upcoming CPL season in August.

She has thus called on Corporate Jamaica to come to their aid.

The Tallawahs CEO Jeff Miller told Sportsmax.TV last week that they would likely relocate the franchise to another Caribbean island by the end of this month should they not get the required support from

Jamaica.

He said the franchise that has been in Jamaica since 2013 simply could not afford to keep absorbing the massive losses from keeping the Tallawahs in Jamaica.

The Tallawahs incurred losses of US$1.8m in 2018 and US$1.5 in 2017.

However, Minister Grange said they are willing offer support.

“I am in discussions with the Tallawahs and hope to find a way to give some support as I stretch the little that we have. The Tallawahs need in excess of US$1 million each year for the next three years. We cannot find

that. I have to be clear and upfront about that. We cannot find that,” the minister said while speaking at the Melbourne Cricket Club’s Annual Dinner and Awards ceremony on Sunday. In fact, it’s in excess of US$1.5 million. But, working with the private sector we could find a way.

“So this evening, I make a special appeal to corporate Jamaica to come on board with the Jamaica Tallawahs.”

The Minister disclosed that the government had been involved in efforts to court sponsors for the Tallawahs at the highest

level.

“I must tell you we went as far as having the Prime Minister himself arrange a meeting with the Tallawahs and a private entity in Jamaica which also has an international connection,” she said. “Several meetings were held. Unfortunately, just maybe a couple weeks ago, the Tallawahs were told that this company is unable to assist.”

The minister said what the Tallawahs require is greater than the total subventions that the Ministry provides to more than 40 national sports federations each year. (Sportsmax)

ames Harden is on an impressive tear and he broke one of Kobe Bryant's NBA records on Monday.

Harden topped Bryant's record for most consecutive games with at least 30 points when he tallied 57 in a 112-94 win for the Rockets over the Memphis Grizzlies.

This marked Harden's 17th straight game with at least 30 points.

He also scored a Rockets record 36 points in the first half of the victory.

T h e Rockets have won eight of their last 10 games.

Despite be-

ing without Clint Capela, Chris Paul and Eric Gordon, Harden thrived, recording his third 50-point game of the season.

The reigning MVP has established himself as a contender to take the award home again this year with his stellar offensive performances.

Harden leads the league in scoring, averaging 34.8 points while also tallying 6.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game. Houston improved to 25-18 and sit in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Rockets will face the

Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.

(SPORTSMAX)

sports

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GBA punches off 2019 with Patrick Forde Memorial

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oxing fans will only have to wait just over a month before international amateur boxing action makes its grand 2019 debut.

After a successful 2018, with Guyana winning several Caribbean championships at the various levels, the prospects of Guyana’s amateur boxers are bright in the year 2019.

As such, the year’s calendar of activities will begin with a bang when the Patrick Forde Memorial tournament is cuffed off on February 17.

For the second year running, the tournament will provide Caribbean boxers with the platform to showcase their prowess against opponents from other countries.

Last year’s fights featured boxers from Guyana, Suriname and St Lucia.

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Steve Ninvalle

However, this year will see the addition of Trinidad and Tobago, with Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle looking to include other countries on the card.

As per usual, the punches will be exchanged in the rings at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue with the first bell slated to go off at 19:00h.

The weight classes that will be featured on the night of February 17 are middleweight, lightweight, bantam weight, junior welterweight and light heavyweight. According to the GBA Head, these classes are seen as the key ones for development.

“Those are the divisions that we would have done quite well in at the Caribbean championships, so we’re trying to push to make sure that these guys get some much-needed competition leading up to Pan Am,” Ninvalle said.

The night is sure to be jam packed with thrills and chills, as the card contains 15 fights. After the dust settled in the boxing rings at last year’s inaugural tournament, Colin “Superman”

Lewis was hailed as the best boxer overall, whilst Ravin Rodrigues was awarded the best junior boxer title.

Chris Moore was adjudged the best youth boxer while Deeron Williams was seen as the best school boy boxer.

Alisha Jackman was also recognized as the best female best boxer in the competition.

The Patrick Forde Memorial tournament is a collaborative effort between the GBA and Alford McDonald and comes on the heels of other developmental tournaments such as the Mike Parris Under-16, Andrew Lewis National Novice, Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate and the Terrence Ali National Open.

In addition to this, the GBA is looking to extend its collection of tournaments to include in that honour commonwealth gold medallist Winfield Braithwaite, a Guyanese pugilist who fought his way to the top in the 1978 games in Edmonton, Canada. “We’re trying to have a competition in honour of him and what he did for amateur boxing,” Ninvalle disclosed.

Harry Kane out until March with ankle injury T

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOT

RECEIVING

ottenham striker Harry Kane will be out until March after injuring ankle ligaments in Sunday's 1-0 Premier League defeat by Manchester United.

Spurs say the England captain, 25, will return to training in early March.

Kane, Tottenham's top scorer this season with 20 goals, is likely to miss both legs of the Champions

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continued their packed cricket season when the BCB/New Building Society Second Division 40 Over tournament continued.

Blairmont Community Centre (BCC) defeated Cotton Tree by 120 runs, while Rose Hall Canje humbled Edinburgh by 78 runs.

OF THE

GUYANA TIMES on Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Tottenham's backup strikers are Fernando Llorente, who has scored four goals in 13 appearances this season, and Vincent Janssen, who has not played for the first team since August 2017.

England face the Czech Republic on 22 March and Montenegro on 25 March in Euro 2020 qualifiers. (BBC

Sport)

– Rose Hall Canje trounce Edinburgh

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international duty with South Korea at the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Son, who has scored 12 goals, could be unavailable until February depending on how far South Korea progress. The final is on 1 February.

France midfielder Moussa Sissoko was replaced in the first half against United with what

Prashad, Glasgow, Deodat lead Blairmont to victory

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after the match: "It was a clear foul on Harry Kane, a big hit. [Referee] Mike Dean said he didn't see it."

Spurs, who are third in the Premier League nine points behind leaders Liverpool - look set to be without Kane for the games against Chelsea and Arsenal on 27 February and 2 March respectively.

Tottenham forward Son Heung-min is currently on

BCB/NBS 2nd Division 40-Over tournament…

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League last-16 tie with Borussia Dortmund.

He will also be unavailable for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea on 24 January.

Kane injured his left ankle when he was caught between United's Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof late in the game at Wembley.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said

Cotton Tree v Blairmont Cricket Club

Marvan Prashad hit a superb century for Blairmont

Under clear skies on the West side of Berbice, the West Berbice giants, Blairmont, took first strike. The Blairmont team consisted of national youth players Javed Karim, Seon Glasgow, Marvan Prashad and Nigel Deodat. They amassed 313 runs in 40 overs.

The classy right handed Marvan Prashad and the elegant Seon Glasgow both scored centuries. Prashad top scored with a breathtaking 104 while Glasgow hit a punchy 103. Wasim Inshan

supported with 37.

In reply, Cotton Tree fell for 193 all out in 23.1 overs.

Left arm spinner Nigel Deodat destroyed the Cotton Tree team. Pooran Persaud, 46, and Harry Narine, 42, scored runs for Cotton Tree in a losing effort.

The Guyana under 17 spinner grabbed 5-24 while Javid Karim took 2-30 and Zameer Nazeer had 2-20.

Blairmont completed a comprehensive 120-run defeat of Cotton Tree.

Rose Hall Canje v Edinburgh Cricket Club

The Rose Hall Canje team took first strike and scored 208-7 in their allotted 40 overs. Opening batsman Devandra Ramkishun led the way with a defiant half-century. Ramkishun hit three sixes and four boundaries in his maiden half century. Veteran batsman Balram Samaroo hit a timely 41 that included two sixes and one four, while hard hitting opening batsman

Ameer Rahaman and his Rose Hall Canje team mates were brilliant with ball in hand

Sasenarine Sukhu chipped in with 31. Kristoff Bahadur also filled his boots with 34 valuable runs. Bowling for Edinburgh, S Nicholson, with 3-27, was the best bowler on show.

In reply, the Edinburgh Cricket Club boys were bowled out for 130, with only Jerome Andrews hitting a classy 49 in vain. Offspinner Ameer Rahaman

led the way with the ball, picking up 4-20 from his eight overs, while Charran Singh had 3-31 from his 8 overs and Kristoff Bahadur picked up 2-11 in a complete bowling performance.

Rose Hall Canje will now advance to the quarter finals of the BCB NBS Second Division 40 Over tournament. (Brandon Corlette)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, January 16, 2019

CWI President’s XI tour match v England…

Bryan Charles’ 5-fer stalls England batting on day 1

T

he England cricket team started their tour of the West Indies on Tuesday with a two-day tour match at the Three Ws Oval, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

England batted the entire day, scoring 284 runs all out. Bryan Charles was the

3

pick of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) President’s XI bowlers with 5-90 from 20.4 overs of testing offspin. He removed the big names like Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali. The Englishmen took first strike under heated conditions in

SCOREBOARD

England 1st Innings Rory Burns lbw Holder 35 Keaton Jennings c Singh b Joseph 10 Jonny Bairstow c Hamilton b Reifer 4 Joe Root (c) c Ambris b Charles 87 Ben Stokes c Cummins b Charles 56 Moeen Ali c Cummins b Charles 21 Ben Foakes † c Hamilton b Holder 11 Sam Curran c Hamilton b Holder 0 Chris Woakes not out 22 Jack Leach c Hamilton b Charles 5 Stuart Broad lbw Charles 14

James Anderson Extras (nb 7, w 2, b 5, lb 5) 19 Total (10 wickets, 70.4 overs) 284 FOW: 22-1 (Jennings 9.2ov), 34-2 (Bairstow 13.5ov), 106-3 (Burns 26.4 ov), 1754 (Root 38.2 ov), 217-5 (Ali 54.3 ov), 238-6 (Stokes 58.5 ov), 242-7 (Foakes 59.2 ov), 243-8 (Curran 59.4 ov), 2489 (Leach 62.2 ov), 284-10 (Broad 70.4 ov) Bowling: M Cummins (124-34-0), A Joseph (12-1-491), C Holder (14-2-67-3), R Reifer (12-0-34-1), B Charles (20.4-4-90-5)

Bridgetown; England openers Rory Burns and Keaton Jennings went out to bat, but they only added 22 runs together, in 9.2 overs. Jennings was dismissed for 10, caught

by Guyanese Vishaul Singh off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph. Newly-appointed number three Test batsman Johnny Bairstow fell for four, leaving the tourists reeling at 34-2.

Rory Burns held his nerves and fought hard during his 70-ball 35 runs. He was trapped in front by Barbadian right-arm fast bowler Chemar Holder.

After the 72-run partnership between Root and Burns, Stokes partnered his captain, and the duo dominated the game. Root was very aggressive in his strokeplay, hitting 12 fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball 87. Stokes made 56 from 97 balls, including seven

fours and one six.

Root fell at 175-4 and at tea, England were 2024 with the upper-hand in the practice match.

However, Trinidadian Charles had other plans for the English middleorder batsmen. Charles and Chemar Holder shared eight wickets between themselves taking the final six wickets for 82 runs.

Ali offer some resistance with a 50-ball 21 and Chris Woakes spent some time with an unbeaten 22, but Charles had the final say.

The 23-year-old grabbed a five-wicket haul, removing final batsman Stuart Broad for 14.

Charles finished with 5-90 in 20.4 overs with an economy rate of 4.35, while Chemar Holder finished with 3-67 in 14 overs. Guyana Jaguars bowler Raymon Reifer had one wicket as did Joseph.

(Brandon Corlette)

Bryan Charles

Manu Sawhney named Shiv Chanderpaul appointed as as ICC Chief Executive Jaguars’ interim T

he International Cricket Council on Tuesday announced Manu Sawhney has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Sawhney, the former CEO of Singapore Sports Hub and Managing Director of ESPN Star Sports, will join the organization next month before formally taking over the reins from David Richardson in July following the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The appointment was ratified by the ICC Board following a global search and appointment process led by ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar and the Nominations Committee. Mr Manohar said: “I am delighted to confirm Manu’s appointment today.

He brings 22 years of outstanding commercial experience to the ICC and will lead the delivery of our new global growth strategy for the game.

Our search produced a host of excellent candidates from around the world, but Manu stood out as the man to work with our Members and take cricket forward.

“He has proven success in a number of leadership roles in both sport and broadcasting. He is a strategic thinker and understands the cricket landscape and its complexities. The decision of the Nominations Committee to recommend

Manu Sawhney

Manu to the Board was a unanimous one and I and my fellow directors are looking forward to working with him.”

Sawhney, was with ESPN Star Sports for seventeen years and during his tenure as Managing Director was responsible for scaling the business and doubling annual revenues whilst delivering an innovative content and digital growth strategy and building strong partnerships with stakeholders across 24 countries in Asia.

Additionally, he led the global broadcast partnership deal with the ICC that ran from 2007-2015. He is also a non-executive director and member of the Audit Committee of Manchester United Ltd. He said: “It is a great privilege and responsibility to serve the global cricket community as CEO of the ICC. The sport has more than a billion fans and an ambitious growth strategy so it is a very exciting time to lead the organization.

“I’d like to thank the ICC Board for giving me this opportunity and look forward to working with them, our Members, the team and ICC’s incredible partners and cricketers around the world to propel the sport forward into a period of significant and sustained global growth in the coming years.” Sawhney will join the ICC in mid-February and will work alongside David Richardson the outgoing CEO to ensure a smooth transition of leadership before assuming control in July. (ICC)

Assistant Coach

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) announced the appointment of Shivnarine Chanderpaul as interim Assistant Coach of the Guyana Jaguars team. This appointment is with immediate effect, and comes on the backdrop of the ascendancy of Head Coach Esuan Crandon, who has departed to take up his position as Assistant Coach with the senior Cricket West Indies team. Crandon has been the Guyana Head Coach since 2011, with Guyana winning the Professional Cricket League for four consecutive years during his tenure.

Crandon will be with the Windies team at least until the end of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2019.

The GCB wishes to indicate that the appointment of Chanderpaul comes at an imperative time in the development of Guyana’s cricket, where the utilisation of knowledgeable and experienced coaches can lend effective support to the programme, which has shown significant growth.

Chanderpaul’s appointment is aided by his on and off field experiences in the

sport. He has been a very productive ambassador having played all levels of cricket and it is expected that he will transfer valuable knowledge to the Jaguars.

With the elevation of Crandon, Rayon Griffith will perform the duties of

Jaguars Head Coach, and is expected to continue to present his motivational approach, which has unarguably lent to the success of Guyana.

As part of the coaching development programme, Julian Moore will now be joining the Academy set-up with immediate effect as the Academy Coach.

Moore currently serves

as a Berbice Head Coach and that of the Guyana National Under-19 team and he is also the Tucber P a r k Head Coach.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul at Providence Tuesday (Brandon Corlette photo)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, January 16, 2019

23

Windies squad announced for 1st Test against England – Hetmyer lone Guyanese in squad

John Campbell is likely to make his debut

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel today announced the West Indies squad to face England in the first Test match of the much-anticipated Wisden Trophy Series.

The selectors have named an exciting squad, balancing players who have performed strongly in recent Tests with players who

have been recalled or called up for the first time due to recent performances.

Two uncapped players will be thrilled to join the squad ahead of this great rivalry: John Campbell, the 26-year-old left-handed opening batsman and Shamarh Brooks the 30-year-old right-handed middle-order batsman. There are re-

calls for fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and left-hander Darren Bravo.

Fast bowler Oshane Thomas has been named as cover for Joseph, who is making a comeback from injury.

Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne, said: “After a difficult Test Series in Bangladesh late last year, the opportunity presents itself for our team to pick itself up. Although a tough series against England is anticipated, home turf has always been a place where our team has made strides.”

Browne declared. He added, “With the return of Darren Bravo, who will add value to a batting department, we expect to see marked improvement. Young, exciting fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who was sidelined by injury, returns to the squad, and Shamarh Brooks has been elevated for his solid firstclass performances over the last three years. John Campbell, the incumbent ‘A’ team opener, who has played first class cricket for a number of years, will open the batting after a good first-class season in 2018. The panel takes this opportunity to wish Captain Jason Holder and his team all the best in the upcoming series.”

Darren Bravo returns to the squad

CEO Johnny Grave added: “The Wisden Trophy has got incredible history, and the West Indies have got a proud record to defend. England has only won one Test Series on West Indies soil in 50 years. We hope that our fans will once again become the team’s twelfth man and rally to create the noise and colour that gives the squad the support they deserve and register a win in what (would) be a great battle.”

(CWI) full squad reads as follows:

Jason Holder (Captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican NOTE: Oshane Thomas has been called up as cover for Alzarri Joseph

2018-19 CWI Regional 4-Day Championships; R5, Providence…

Rampant Jaguars, Hurricanes in odd battle of table leaders – 36.6 points clear of nearest challenger

By Clifton Ross

W

ith almost 40 points a clear way ahead of their 5th round opponents, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, table-leaders and defending

Veerasammy Permaul

champs Guyana Jaguars will continue t o stalk their prey as t h e y seek to maintain their unbeaten run this season.

Guyana has been ruthless since their title defence commenced last year, beating all their opponents outright to surge easily to the top of the points table, where they sit comfortably on 80.2 points.

They are followed by the Hurricanes, who come in second with 43.6 points, and although the clash is

one between the number one and two teams, it feels like the Jaguars could make a meal of their opponents.

The last time the two sides met, earlier in the competition, the Jags blew away the Hurricanes by 9 wickets after the champs let loose their deadly lot of bowlers, who ran amok. Bowling won the last game for the Jags, with spinner Veerasammy Permaul bagging 6 wickets for his MVP award.

The Hurricanes saw a few of their batters putting their hands up; with Montcin Hodge, and opener and skipper Devon Thomas being the only two batsmen to h i t fifties in the match during t h e first innings.

Thomas, Hodge, and the likes of Kacey C a r t y who has a ton under his belt; Rakeem Cornwall, who has not yet fired in a big way; and poss i bly Akeem Saunders would hold up the top-order.

Former Guyana Jaguars opener and new Hurricanes batsman Rajendra Chandrika

was hurt during the last game against his countrymen, after he was bowled for 9 in the first innings by pacer Keon Joseph. It is unclear whether the ex-West Indies Test batsman will be fit or if the Hurricanes will risk adding him to the squad, given his failure in the last game.

One major concern for the Hurricanes is the Jags batting, which has been the best in the competition to date. The champs have 3 centuries so far in the camp -- two to Anthony Bramble and one to Tagenarine Chanderpaul, while a number of their batsmen have hit fifties. A few of their players were drafted into the Windies President’s XI team for the England tour game.

The success of the players individually reflects the danger of the team holistically, as Bramble currently sits in the number one spot for overall most runs in the Championships, with 327. The highest average of the tournament is 109.00. Tagenarine, son of the Legendary Shivnarine Chanderpaul, recently hit the 300-run mark after his gritty ton in the last game highlighted the left-hander’s love for grinding the bowlers.

Bramble will be the man to watch out for; his 130 *

was followed up in the next game by a brutal 168, signalling his intent for the remainder of the tour should he not score a next hundred and earn a call up to the Windies Test team.

Leon Johnson has been a revelation for the team with his leadership and his impetus over the years; but with just one fifty in the tournament, followed by a string of low scores, the ex-Windies Test and ODI batsman would want to remind those of his class that he is still around, and should he fire come this round, it will complete the Jaguars’ batting cypher.

No worries follow the Jaguars in the bowling department. The blend of youthful aggression from the likes of Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd and Clinton Pestano in the pace department has rocked the opposition thus far. The leading wicket-takers of the tournament are all spinners, with Jamaica Scorpions left-armer Nikita Miller leader with 24.

Permaul, Guyana’s most successful bowler, trails his fellow left-arm spinner by a wicket, as he comes in at number 2 with 23 scalps, while Shepherd is the Jaguars leading wicket-taker for the seamers with 14 victims at a stingy

average of 22.14; leaving the other options with less pressure and more momentum to carry through their spells with success.

Hurricanes could fancy themselves in the bowling department as well, having some of the most talented bowlers in the Caribbean in their line-up. Test pacer Alzarri Joseph is the leading overall wicket-taker for seamers with 15 victims, while Windies B pacer Sherman Louis supports as the other senior. However, Joseph will not be available for this fixture.

Cornwall is tasked with shouldering much responsibility, given his record with the ball against Guyana; while the crafty Damion Jacobs could play a good supporting role in the spin department.

Meanwhile, the Jags will enter this game for the first time since 2013 with a new head coach, who is yet to be announced. Esuan Crandon recently vacated his post to take his new role as the Windies Senior Men’s assistant coach for the England series.

Thursday’s first day action is expected to bowl off from 9:30h, with admission to the Providence National Stadium free to the public.

Rahkeem Cornwall

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Windies squad announced for 1st Test against England

Shimron Hetmyer is the lone Guyanese in squad

Page 23

Shamarh Brooks

– Hetmyer lone Guyanese in squad

GBA punches off 2019 Rampant year with Patrick Jaguars, Forde Memorial

2018-19 CWI Regional 4-Day Championships; R5, Providence…

Hurricanes in odd battle of table leaders

– 36.6 points clear of nearest challenger

Page 21

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