Guyana Times - Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Gender, social inclusion policy to be implemented P by year-end 12

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

Issue No. 3855

THE BEACON OF TRUTH Wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019

Jagdeo to make one more good-faith attempt to avert constitutional crises

Page …to meet with President today 3 …as Granger agrees to Opposition Leader’s terms for meeting

Charrandas Persaud ‘probe’

Peter Ramsaroop detained for 8 hours Page 11

by Police …says political harassment at play

Essequibo Coast drivers fume over delay in licence renewal Page 2

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Linden shop owner shot P7 twice over Mash Day fight Mother denies son was sexually assaulted P14

by Region 1 Chairman

Thief nabbed after robbing P9 teacher outside school

Minibus driver remanded for ECD fatal P8 accident

Sophia man charged for stabbing wife People’s Progressive Party/Civic Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali on Tuesday held an outreach at Santa Aratack where he listened to issues affecting residents. Ali also visited riverine communities on the east and west banks of the Demerara River

PPP/C Commissioners Several walk out of Gecom’s injured after Page 7 minibus meeting Page 2

…over ads for house-to-house registration

plunges into trench

P15 Bauxite workers impasse

Protesters refuse to P10 unblock Berbice River

2 news Several injured after minibus plunges into trench wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

causing him to lose control and hit the median.

This resulted in Cully being tossed out of the bus and ending up on the northern

carriageway.

The minibus then turned onto its left side, crushing the now dead woman. It then skidded some distance

before coming to a halt.

The vehicle was eventually turned back onto its wheels and the decapitated body of Cully was removed.

Essequibo Coast drivers fume over delay in licence renewal

…forced to travel to Georgetown to access GRA service

D

The minibus being pulled out of the trench at Vlissengen and Shell Roads after the injured persons were taken to the hospital

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ne day after two people lost their lives in a tragic minibus accident on the East Coast of Demerara, several others, including a pregnant woman, have been injured in a similar accident – this time in Georgetown, after a minibus that was reportedly speeding veered out of control and ended up in a trench.

Guyana Times understands that the driver of the Route 44 minibus, which bears registration number BLL 1949, was heading to the Georgetown minibus park about 11:00h but while in the vicinity of Vlissengen and Shell Roads, the driver lost control.

This publication was told that the minibus driv-

er, Ashton Faithful, 33, of Ogle, East Coast Demerara ECD, attempted to overtake a car, but ended up hitting the car on its right side and spun out control, landing in the trench.

Four passengers, including a pregnant woman, were injured in the process and were taken to private medical institutions, while Faithful was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is nursing injuries to his neck.

Police have since launched an investigation.

On Sunday, two vendors died tragically after the bus in which they were travelling crashed and toppled several times before coming to a halt at the Success Public Road, ECD.

Fifty-eight-year-old Denise Cully, of Lot 89 Vigilance, ECD, died on the spot while Patricia Ellis, 59, of Lot 30 Haslington, ECD, died while receiving medical treatment.

Based on information received, the accident occurred about 07:30h and involved a minibus bearing registration number BTT 4910, driven by a 47-year-old resident of Golden Grove, ECD. A Police report disclosed that the minibus was proceeding west along the southern drive lane of the southern carriageway of the said road, reportedly at a fast rate of speed.

It is alleged by the driver that a blue motor car overtook him from the left side and hit his left rear wheel

rivers living in Region Two ( PomeroonSupenaam) are fuming over the long delay by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to start renewing drivers’ licences at its branch at Anna Regina.

Drivers whose licences are due for renewal are now being advised by the police, who previously renewed the licences that they are now required to travel to GRA’s headquarters in Georgetown to access the service.

Several drivers reached out to this publication and complained about the difficulties, both financial and otherwise, they are facing to travel to the city.

According to some of the drivers, when they go to GRA they have to wait for long periods and in some cases, after having waited, they are told that all their information is not in the system and they have to return to the Anna Regina Police Station. One driver com-

plained that he travelled to the city and was told that all of his records are not in GRA’s system because it was done manually at Anna Regina.

Some drivers said that they have their licence for over 30 years and are now being told that their documents cannot be found and they may have to redo the practical test.

The police, since earlier this year, put a hold on the issuing and renewal of drivers’ licenses in the region.

The drivers who reached out to this publication claimed that they cannot drive since GRA does not

have their records. They are calling on the Police Traffic Department and GRA to act quickly to remedy the situation since many of them depend on driving for a living.

Region Two is a predominantly agricultural region and many farmers heavily depend on their licence to operate their farm machines and to transport their produce to markets and mills.

When contacted, Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said that he is very concerned about the matter and will be meeting with the region’s Police Commander shortly to try to resolve the matter.

news

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wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 6 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, March 7 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 6– 16:40h-18:10h and Thursday, March 7 – 16:55h-18:25.

Jagdeo to make one more good-faith attempt to avert constitutional crises …to meet with President today …as Granger agrees to Opposition Leader's terms for meeting

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals are expected throughout the day, followed by partly cloudy skies in the evening.

Overall temperatures will range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 04:36h and 16:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.55 metres and 2.64 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:25h and 22:44h reaching minimum heights of 0.64 metre and 0.58 metre respectively.

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oday will mark one of the most crucial meetings yet to take place between President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, as both parties have agreed to engage in meaningful discussions aimed at ironing out issues specifically related to setting a date for the next General Elections.

The meeting is set to take place at 11:00h at the Ministry of the Presidency. News of this confirmed meeting was received late Tuesday evening, when Minister of State Joseph Harmon responded to a letter from Jagdeo setting out certain conditions under which he was willing to meet with the President.

Harmon said, “The content of these letters have been conveyed to the President who advises that he is prepared to meet with you on Wednesday, March 6 at 11:00h at the Ministry of the Presidency and to discuss the issues raised in your aforementioned letters,” the Opposition quoting a section of the letter they received.

In a missive written to Harmon on Monday, March 4, Jagdeo said the parliamentary Opposition agreed to extend the deadline for General and Regional Elections, but only if the Government adheres to certain requests, including having elections before the expiry of the current voters’ list on April 30, 2019.

As part of that arrangement, the Opposition Leader has proposed that no new contracts should be awarded by the State, after March 21, 2019, when the Government becomes unconstitutional.

Further, Jagdeo is requesting that no new agreements, loans, grants, land leases, or any other such agreements or contracts be signed after March 21, 2019. In addition, he wants no abuse of State resources for partisan activities/purposes; and access of the State-owned media by all contesting political parties.

The Opposition Leader stated in his correspondence to the President his party’s willingness to lend its support for the two-thirds majority required for an extension beyond March 21, 2019. However, Jagdeo asserted that the Opposition would only agree to that if the Government agrees to those terms.

Following the passage of the No-confidence Motion on December 21, 2018, elections are to be held within three months according to the Constitution; that is, by March 21, 2019. The only way this deadline for the polls can be extended is through a two-thirds majority vote in the National

Assembly, which demands concurrence by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP); otherwise, the Government becomes illegal.

But the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has insisted that it is unprepared to hold elections before the constitutionally due deadline. As such, Jagdeo informed the President that his proposal to have before April 30, 2019, is “reasonable” and “feasible” with a claims and objections period, “provided that GECOM acts in good faith and in conformity with its mandate and the Constitution”.

Jagdeo had said in that missive if the President finds favour with the proposal, he will meet with him today as requested, to which the President has agreed to. But he also proposed that the meeting focus exclusively on the date for these elections. The Opposition Leader however reminded that the date by which

the Government becomes illegal is fast approaching.

Integrity

However, the Opposition said it is the view of many people that nothing positive will come out of the meeting today given the track-record of duplicity of the Granger Administration thus far.

“The Opposition Leader shares some of these misgivings. Nevertheless, having been approached by many Guyanese, civil society bodies and members of the diplomatic corps to make one last attempt to avert the constitutional crisis that the President, with a complicit GECOM, is leading our nation into, the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to make one more good-faith attempt in the interest of the nation, and, will attend the meeting,” a statement from the Opposition added.

Turn to page 7

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WEDNESday, MARCH 6, 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

Shades of green R

ecently, the Government information arm reported that a multimillion-dollar tertiary dormitory at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, will soon be commissioned. The facility is to house students from the hinterland who are in the process of pursuing higher education. Also, a report carried by another arm of the State media apparatus noted that the opening of immigration offices at Linden and New Amsterdam, has been delayed due to technical issues.

These are commendable and welcomed projects that are expected to increase convenience and comfort through the respective services they provide. However, one cannot help noticing that the aesthetics of the exterior of both are dominated by shades of the colour green. The hue on the dormitory is far darker and pronounced.

Green, which is the colour of choice of the dominant party in the coalition Government; the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), appears to represent its presence, works and a desired legacy. Since May 2015, it has been used to cover many existing State buildings and new construction undertaken by the Government in an exposition of its “call card”.

As a reminder, the Ministry of the Presidency has been repainted in green which is also the colour of choice of its spanking new and imposing fence. The historical State House was also dowsed in green much to the dissatisfaction of those who are concerned with preserving its authenticity.

Bridges, new and renovated, and some other public establishments were not spared from the brush that stroked green as the Government’s iconic project; D’Urban Park. Even official stationery, including envelopes, from some Ministries are green. This recolouring cannot be seen as chance, but clearly as a calculative move to impose dominance of that ruling party’s colour.

In both cases of the dormitory and the immigration offices, it appears that the extensive use of the colour green was deliberate in the ongoing effort for its dominance through political branding by the coalition Government. In doing so, it offers the literal manifestation of creating a green society; naturally way off course from the real purpose and expectation.

Over the years, local political parties have become easily recognisable by colour where the identification through pigmentation may have superseded name. “Painting the town red” can therefore now connote something completely different in the current circumstances.

Many are peeved and have noted their concerns over the Government’s use of its dominant party colour on the State’s real estate. From what continues seemingly unabated in that regard, it can be interpreted as a form of indoctrination, especially of young minds through the colour green, what it now seems to represent in Guyana and which has nothing to do with the country’s immense agricultural potential and forest as reflected on the national flag.

That indoctrination can unmistakably inculcate that green, in the context of its use, is a sign of dominance, it’s unblemished, the natural choice and one that must reign superior over any other. By association, these sentiments can possibly be instilled into young minds over time, thereby enhancing that dominance. Holding government makes it much easier to execute.

Reportedly, the Head of State’s claim of being unaware of the need for permission to repaint State House. With his known passion, writings and exploits in history, his knowledge of the value of monuments and heritage buildings cannot be in doubt. They are generally erected or designated because of its historical value, impact and what they represent.

It is believed that State House may have some protection through the National Trust. That would suggest that, like monuments in various parts, any refurbishing or altering the aesthetics, must be approved by the assigned protective body. If not, it can be considered an act of defacing a national landmark.

Some argue such an issue, the repainting State House, is not of national concern. What they might have missed, probably conveniently, is that the protection of these landmarks are institutionalised and at the least, must be afforded the respect of informing of the intention to alter. It should be noted that taxpayers’ monies fund both the repainting project and the officials of the National Trust.

Imposing dominance through a politically identifiable colour here in Guyana can negatively impact efforts for social cohesion, which, ironically, the designated Ministry was established by the Government and through which millions of taxpayers’ dollars are being spent to help build a cohesive society. The various acts of foisting green upon the nation also probably exposes the ineffectiveness of that Ministry.

Some may have already seen that as a foregone conclusion and very possibly, it may be the biggest impact of the paint brushes given the reality of a divided nation and the seemingly fragile state of togetherness. While the fragility has definitely been impacted by other factors, when actions of the State are seen as a direct influence, the intention to forge cohesion may not be seen as genuine.

Well into its fourth year, it appears that the Government is impervious to the related criticisms and impact of colour coding.

Had it not, more than likely the dormitory and the immigration office would not have reflected shades of green.

Lemeki Tuikubulau receives the sacramental ashes during an Ash Wednesday celebration at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Fiji (Vilimoni Vaganalau/FijiSun photo)

Venezuela crisis: Why Chávez’s followers are standing by Maduro P

resident Hugo Chávez may have died six years ago, but he is still watching over the Venezuelan capital. Wherever you go, you spot abstract images of his eyes graffitied on buildings.

In the poor neighbourhood of 23 de enero, in the east of Caracas, his presence is even greater. It was here that the former leader organised a failed coup attempt in 1992.

It is known as a traditional Chavista stronghold. Chávez graffiti and propaganda are sprayed on to many a wall.

Marcos Lobos, 58, is one of Hugo Chávez’s biggest fans. He lives in a 14-storey block of flats that is overlooked by the barracks where Chávez launched his coup and where the late leader was laid to rest after dying of cancer in 2013.

Born and brought up in 23 de enero, Lobos’ entire family lives in the same block. On the building’s front wall, there’s a stencil that reads “Chávez, the heart of my homeland”.

Marcos shows me the “Chávez corner” in the living room. Above the television, there are dozens of pictures of the former leader. In some he is in his presidential garb, in another he is accompanied by Cuba’s ex-President Fidel Castro. And in the middle of the wall, there is a clock, with Chávez’s face on it.

“Warrior for justice”

“He was more than an icon, he represented hope and still does because his ideas were revolutionary,” Lobos says.

“He was all about social equality and justice. He opened our eyes, created a national conscience about how to take Venezuelan politics to the people.”

His wife, Mirna, chimes in: “Before, it was all about the rich people, politically powerful people, and we had nothing,” she says. “Chávez loved us. People thought that when Chávez died, we’d be buried with him but no,” she says, adding that Nicolás Maduro is the “son” of Hugo Chávez so they are prepared to fight to keep him.

“It’s not Maduro’s fault,” she says of the deep economic crisis Venezuela is facing. Instead she holds the “empire” responsible, a reference to the US, which the Maduro Government says has ruined the economy through its sanctions and through its opposition to Maduro’s socialist Government. The whole family blames it for supporting Maduro’s critics. “The opposition has taken everything from us,” she adds.

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro took part in a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the death of Hugo Chávez

But even in this pro-Chávez neighbourhood, the family is becoming more isolated. People are increasingly open about showing their discontent.

President Maduro’s approval ratings hover at around 20 per cent. So even if Maduro is Hugo Chávez’s “son”, is he as good a leader? Marcos’s mother Teresa pauses and then says no.

“Maduro is Maduro, Chávez was something really special,” she says. “But those who say they aren’t with Maduro were never Chavistas [supporters of Hugo Chávez] because we Chavistas have to stand with Maduro,” she says.

“We have to support him because he’s Chávez’s legacy.”

A legacy destroyed

According to Heinz Dieterich, a former adviser to Hugo Chávez, Maduro has destroyed Chávez’s legacy. Dieterich advocated what is known as “21st-Century socialism”, a brand name that President Chávez adopted for his politics. So how do the two men compare?

“Maduro became Machiavellian and the only thing that matters to him is hanging on to power. He’s become a bourgeoisie usurper with a leftist discourse.

Maduro doesn’t just lack Chávez’s brain, but his ethics too,” Dieterich says.

Yet there are still Venezuelans who believe in Chavismo. Dieterich puts that down to President Maduro’s propaganda. “When you have a lie machine, you programme people,” he says. “They don’t see the facts anymore, they just interpret things through the State vision – newspeak and everything else. The reality, facts is fake news.”

“It’s a mindset that you find in religious fundamentalists,” he argues. “They don’t interpret the world for what it is, but through their biblical vision. There’s no way of changing that. That explains how many people who believed in Hugo Chávez and saw a future and a paradise in Hugo Chávez haven’t managed to see Maduro in his true historic sense.”

The fight against imperialism

Across town, in the sprawling slum of Petare, in the east of Caracas, an event is being put on in the name of peace and against imperialism. Everyone is expecting Maduro to attend. A singer is belting out a tune that people are dancing to.

“We don’t want to be a North American colony,” they chant, a dig at the increasing pressure coming from the US for Maduro to step aside.

In the crowds, people are wearing T-shirts with Hugo Chávez’s eyes printed on the front. Others are voicing their support for Nicolás Maduro.

Many are wearing the khaki uniform of Venezuela’s civil militia.

Ivonne Bravo is one of them. “The US wants the country’s wealth, but they need to remove their tentacles from Venezuela,” she says. “There are warrior women here who are ready to defend the revolution and our President Maduro.”

Nicolás Maduro’s supporters move on to another song, Vamos Nico (Let’s go Nico). It is a rallying cry for these people to keep supporting their man in these difficult times.

It is a faithful crowd but their numbers are dwindling. (BBC News)

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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

Grateful to Ramsahoye and Bashir in freedom struggle

Dear Editor, I write to pay to tribute to two political heroes of Guyana, Isahak Bashir and Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, who recently passed away. Both played significant roles in the independence movement and the struggle for the restoration of democracy. Unfortunately, both were victims of local politics. Grave injustices were committed upon them. They were denied (well-deserved) pension entitlements for serving the nation with honour and integrity.

Sir Fenton and I collaborated in the pro-democracy movement. Following the rigged elections of 1968, Ramsahoye migrated but never accepted citizenship of another country. He revealed to me, difficulties of travelling on a Guyana passport. From abroad, he joined the struggle for free and fair elections in Guyana. It was

this struggle that led to a working relationship with him in Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua, and London requiring me to travel there to meet and discuss strategies and tactics to help return democracy to our homeland. In addition, I had the distinguished honour of hosting him for several days during which time we interacted, along with fellow pro-democracy activists Ravi Dev, Baytroam Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha, Hassan Rahaman, Rennie Ramracha, among others. It was at one of these meetings at my home that the idea of a World Union of Guyanese was conceived to unite the diaspora to lobby for free and fair elections in Guyana.

Ramsahoye agreed to be its International Coordinator and patron. The World Union of Guyanese (WUG) was subsequently launched at a

gathering of community and political activists, business persons, and religious leaders. After some resistance from ACG (PPP support group) members questioning Ramsahoye’s motive for launching the WUG, a loose executive body was established to organise activities.

Weeks later, a group of us from America flew to Trinidad where we were hosted at the Hilton

by Ramsahoye for follow up meetings over a couple of days. Lindley Geborde of New Jersey, Roy Narine of Chicago, Hassan Rahaman of NY and Ravi Dev were also there. A programme of activities was agreed upon.

Then we all flew to Guyana where we met Cheddi Jagan and leaders of other political parties to apprise them of WUG and the plans from New York and Trinidad. I met Jagan in private and he queried Ramsahoye’s motive in launching WUG and

whether it was intended to canvass for him to be a presidential consensus candidate for elections. Ramsahoye had no intention of rejoining active politics or serving as Attorney General.

He did, however, offer his legal services for free to Jagan and other political parties that were involved in the struggle for free and fair elections. Thereafter, Ramsahoye lobbied leaders in the Caribbean to help put pressure on the Hoyte dictatorship to return the country to a liberal economy and democratic governance. Ramsahoye also met and or wrote politicians and or Governments in the UK and America in addition to other countries. A letter was also dispatched to the Carter Centre and other human rights groups. We all know free and fair elections were held in October 1992 and democracy was restored. Ramsahoye was

never recognised for the role he played in ending the dictatorship and returning democratic governance.

Ramsahoye complained to me that he was denied his pension benefit by the dictator Burnham.

Ramsahoye revealed once that he was asked to submit a form (I believe it was 1977) to attest he was alive in order to get his pension. He duly complied only to get a response that he did not submit forms that he was alive in preceding years. I approached several officials to address the matter of Ramsahoye’s pension as I also did with regards to Balram Singh Rai and Isahak Bashir. These were not addressed.

Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan, as AFC opposition MPs, promised to raise this matter. But it never came up in Parliament, not even during their tenure as Prime Minister and

Security Affairs Minister respectively.

Bashir was given a reduced pension because he dared to challenge the Burnham dictatorship and more specifically the Speaker of the House.

He was suspended from Parliament and the suspension period was not counted in the calculation of his benefits. He was cheated. It remains uncorrected to this day even though Ramjattan and Nagamootoo know grave injustice was committed against Bashir (who may very well have supported them in the 2011 and 2015 elections).

The Guyanese nation should be grateful for the vital roles Bashir and Ramsahoye played in liberating our nation twice (from the colonial rulers and from Burnhamism).

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

What has happened to the long arm of the law?

Dear Editor, Now that commissioners and employees of the Local Government Commission (LGC) have finally been paid after waiting for over two months for the release of their monies, one can only hope that they will get back energetically to the business of dealing with the most memorable and expensive financial fraud cases of all time in Guyana which occurred at the Georgetown Mayor and Town Council.

Financial fraud all over the world is a major crime

which often comes with heavy punishment and fines for those involved. Enron, Cendant, and WorldCom are examples of massive companies torn apart by financial fraud and scandal. Other cases include fraudsters trying to sell the Eiffel Tower and the Brooklyn Bridge.

But in each of these cases where serious white-collar crimes were committed came heavy punishment and fines instituted against the perpetrators. Those cases have at least one person, but more often than not there

Welcoming much-needed minibus Code of Conduct

Dear Editor, The very essential, much-touted and long-awaited minibus Code of Conduct has finally become a reality.

The travelling public which mainly consists of the working class and school children, who can afford no other means of transportation and who regularly use these buses is eagerly awaiting to see if the code is going to serve the purpose for which it was intended.

The hooliganism, bullyism and downright lawlessness which was allowed to become so entrenched must come to an end. It can only happen with the support of the Minibus Union, the owners, the drivers, the conductors, the commuters and of

course the police. The court would also have an important role to play. For this Code of Conduct to bring the much-needed relief from this aggressive and hostile behaviour pattern displayed by many drivers and conductors.

Yes, there are some buses in which both drivers and conductors are very polite, and they also adhere to the laws as it relates to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02.

Many or most of them need to understand that they need the commuters just as much as the commuters need them.

Sincerely, Archie W Cordis

were groups of fraudsters going to prison.

Look at Madoff, who is currently serving a sentence of 150 years in federal prison for securities fraud. Look at WorldCom, whose CEO and CFO went to jail for lying about billions of dollars in yet another case of corporate accounting fraud or the 15-year-old Barry Minkow, who started a carpet cleaning company called ZZZZ Best and who was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for 57 counts of fraud and racketeering.

Then there was ‘Count Victor Lustig’ who was no Count, but who used the fake title as one of his many lies to convince people in the

scrap metal industry that he was a part of the French Government, and twice sold the Eiffel Tower, which he said had to be torn down.

At the Georgetown municipality, there was the notorious parking meter deal, the illegal sale of municipal properties and vehicles, the doling out of billions of dollars’ worth in illegal contracts without adherence to tender board procedures, the procurement of goods on a massive scale without a bidding process, the unlawful hiring practices and upward adjustment of salary scales, the shakedown of vendors and demands for bribes by their police department, and the illegal waiving of proper-

ty rates and interest accrued.

More so, several senior officers were cited by the Local Government Commission of Inquiry for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds. Others were cited for complete incompetence and dereliction of duty.

But guess what? In spite of these appalling and abysmal findings, the only thing that has resulted so far from what was discovered was one person had his services terminated who quite outrageously has sought a judicial review of the decision and is seeking to be reinstated.

Unbelievable!

Meanwhile, all of the other unscrupulous, perfidious and villainous senior staffers who were fingered in the inquiry continue to filch, loot and dip their hands into the cookie jar. What has happened to the long arm of the law? Is our legal system no longer concerned with the punishment of individuals who commit crimes? Dismissal alone is not enough, those who violate the law must face incarceration, fines and other penalties. More so, stolen assets must be traced and returned to the citizenry.

Regards, Kwasi Sanderson

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Predicting feelings magine yourself in this situation: A friend asks you to a party. You learn that all the girls in your group were invited – except for Paula. How do you think Paula will feel if she finds out?

A. angry B. sad C. hurt D. excluded E. confused F. nervous G. embarrassed H. indifferent You probably came up with your answer by putting yourself in Paula’s shoes and imagining how you’d feel. Most people in this situation will feel some or all of emotions A through D: angry, sad, hurt, and excluded. It’s not as likely that someone who is left out will feel confused, nervous, embarrassed, or indifferent.

Being able to predict how other people might feel is a part of emotional intelligence (EQ for short). It’s a skill we can all develop with practice.

When we understand how other people are likely to feel, it can guide our interactions with them. For example, in the party example above, what if Paula asks: “Are you going to Regan’s party?” Knowing that she wasn’t invited probably influences how you respond.

You might say (or avoid saying!) any of the following: A. “Yes, I’m going – are you?”

B. “Yes, I’m going. I feel awkward telling you. Is it true she didn’t invite you?”

C. “Yes, everyone’s going!”

D. “Of course I’m going! It’s going to be the best party of the whole year!”

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E. “Yes. I’m sorry you weren’t invited. I don’t think Regan meant to hurt your feelings, I heard her parents only allowed her to ask a few people.”

If you didn’t know Paula wasn’t invited, you might answer with A, C, or D. Because you know the full story, though, you’re more likely to consider Paula’s feelings and answer with B or E. Answers C and D are the kinds of things you say when you know for sure the other person has been invited.

How to build this skill It’s not always easy to predict or understand how someone else feels. Some people are better at it than others, but just about everyone can improve with practice.

Understanding others is all about watching and listening.

It starts with watching If you see someone trip and fall, you probably wince — ouch! — as if it happened to you. We have a natural tendency to sense what other people feel just by watching them. Scientists think there’s a biological reason for this. They believe that brain cells called “mirror neurons” activate in

the same way whether we do something ourselves or watch another person do it.

Try these ways to develop your observation skills: Look at people’s expressions and body language. Next time you’re at the mall, in the coffee shop, or on the bus, try this: Look around and try to identify how people might be feeling based on their body language, facial expressions, and what they’re doing. The girl with the textbooks on her knee might have an exam coming up. Does she seem confident – or stressed? What about the guy with his eyes closed? Is he feeling peaceful? Tired? Upset?

Read books or watch movies that have realistic portrayals of human emotions. Pay attention to how different characters feel and act. Try to understand why the characters feel the way they do. Based on those emotions,

predict what a character will do next. Or see if you can explain why a character did what he or she did.

It improves with listening People who are good at understanding others are usually good listeners. Research shows that the better someone

listens, the more connected that person feels with the person who is talking. This produces a feeling of bonding and closeness.

Most of us rate ourselves as good listeners – after all, listening seems like such a simple, basic thing to do. But often we’re so busy thinking of

a special time in his or her life.

For example, ask your parents about their wedding day or get your grandparents to tell you about having their first child. Try to imagine what the experience was really like for them. Ask them to tell you more about how they felt and why.

what we want to say that we don’t listen as much as we’d like. Here are some ways to build good listening skills: Practise listening well in everyday conversations. Really pay attention to what the other person is saying. Train yourself to think of listening as more important than talking.

Tune in to feelings as well as story. When a friend tells you about something, try to imagine how he or she might have felt. Make statements that show you’re trying to understand your friend’s experience, like: “Oh, that must have felt amazing!” or, “That must be upsetting for you.”

You’ll probably notice that you feel closer, more “in sync” with the person. You might find you can predict what your friend will say next.

Take time to listen to someone in depth. Interview a friend or family member about

Turning understanding into compassion After building your skills in understanding others, how do you use that knowledge?

If you’re like most people, you use it to help and support the people you care about. This is compassion, and compassion helps us form relationships. Try these three ways to be more compassionate: Ask others what they

need. If a friend is going through a difficult time, ask what you can do to help.

If your friend says, “I don’t know,” think about what you’d want in the same situation, then offer to do something similar.

Show a sincere interest in others. Be curious about the people you know – not in a nosy or fake way, but in a way that shows you want to understand them a little better. For example, ask about the kinds of things they like to do, or about their feelings, ideas, and opinions.

Act with kindness. When you hear gossip, ridicule, or unkind teasing, make it your first reaction to imagine how it would feel to be on the receiving end. That can help you tune in to other people’s feelings and refuse to join in.

Even small acts of compassion can build positive social connections (try saying “hi” to someone who is sitting alone at lunch and see how it makes you feel). Scientists now know that strong social connections influence our health, happiness, and even how long we live. (kidshealth.org)

Reading body language Sometimes you get more information about a situation from what a person doesn’t say: Part of emotional intelligence is reading the signals people send and taking them into account.

Let’s say Paula approaches you, looking upset. She asks: “Are you going to Regan’s party on Saturday?” Her emotional signals (body language, facial expression) clue you in that Paula knows she wasn’t invited. In that situation, you might still answer with option A, but you’d probably be more likely to choose B or E. But what if Paula approaches you looking cheerful and says: “Hey, I heard Regan is having a party this weekend. Are you going?” Based on her body language, you might conclude, “Oh, she doesn’t know and she’s expecting an invite.”

If you have good EQ, you probably feel conflicted about telling Paula you’re going to the party when you know she’s the only one who’s not invited. Even though it’s up to Paula to manage her own emotions, you probably feel empathy for her.

You know that how you respond can help her feel supported or make her feel worse, so you choose your words accordingly.

Making sense of reactions The skill of understanding others helps us predict what people might feel in a certain situation, but it also allows us to make sense of how people react.

For example: In homeroom at 08:00h, your friend is smiling, friendly, and full of energy. Later that afternoon, he looks upset, almost like he might cry. Which explanation is your best guess for what might have happened between these two times?

A. He had a fight with his girlfriend at lunch, and now they’re not talking.

B. He passed the 4th period algebra exam.

C. He just found out he didn’t make the final cut for varsity basketball.

D. The chemistry teacher assigned a lot of homework.

E. He probably just had a bad day.

You likely ruled out option B instantly: Emotional intelligence tells you that your friend’s reaction looks more like failing an exam than passing. If your friend had a bad day or a lot of homework (options D or E), he might seem stressed out, tired, or worn down – but he probably wouldn’t be on the verge of tears. Ruling out those options lets you zero in on what’s most likely to be upsetting your friend: options A or C. People who are skilled at understanding others imagine another person’s feelings (“I think he’ll feel awful if I say that to him”). They are able to relate to how that person reacts to things (“Oh, I completely get why she got angry like that.

No wonder!”). Understanding how others feel, act, and react helps us build better relationships.

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wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP/C Commissioners walk out of Gecom’s meeting …over ads for house-to-house registration

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he Oppositionn o m i n a t e d Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday walked out of a meeting with the entity’s Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson, over arguments in relation to the placement of advertisements for workers to conduct house-tohouse registration.

People’s Progressive Party’s Commissioner Robeson Benn was the first to leave. His departure was followed by the other two Opposition Commissioners, Bibi Shadick and Sase Gunraj.

Benn said he argued that it was not an activity established

by GECOM’s budget process.

In fact, these Commissioners believe GECOM should be engaged in carrying out its claims and objection period based on an order, which should have been signed by the Chairman in 2018.

“Directions for the placements of ads were given by the Chairman. I objected and said this should not happen.

I said that the Chairman’s power and activity in the public and even there, aris-

PPP-appointed GECOM Commissioner Robeson Benn

es from a decision of the Commission… either by or by consensus,” Benn told media operatives on Tuesday.

He maintained that house-to-house registration is not a priority activity of GECOM, while explaining that a decision was not made on this matter because discussions were still ongoing.

He recalled that during the last discussion, it was suggested that house-to-house registration could take more than nine months, or the six months which was recom-

APNU-appointed GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander

mended by Commissioner Vincent Alexander.

“Now here out of the blue we see ads in the newspapers for house-to-house registration which is not a priority activity even for the resumption of GECOM by its normal activities… the undertaking of any house-to-house registration when we have not finalised a discussion of the matter was going along with a partisan position in respect of the matter,” Benn further added.

He also reiterated that there was a conspiracy to delay the holding of General Elections despite the Noconfidence Motion that was passed in the National Assembly. He claimed that Patterson leap-frogged efforts by advertising for house-tohouse registration staff, saying that it reinforced concerns about his partisan nature and his placement. He said, “The Commission has been captured and is being directed otherwise by one side of the bipartisan political spectrum that we have.”

On the other hand, however, Alexander challenged the comments made by Benn, declaring that house-to-house registration is just part of the Commission’s normal work programme. He claimed that the 2019 work programme included house-to-house registration.

Election preparation

Alexander also declared that there are other activities in which GECOM is engaged in, to start election preparation, and that the election manuals are close to completion. Meanwhile,

Jagdeo to make one more...

The Opposition said this will be the last attempt by the parliamentary Opposition to offer the Government a way out of the constitutional crisis and to keep Guyana in the democratic fold of nations.

It said if the meeting fails, the true nature of the Government will be seen by all those who urged the Opposition Leader to meet.

“Tomorrow (today) will be a test of the integrity, credibility and sincerity of the President; he will be tested as to whether he can be trusted “as a man of his word” to put our nation, its future and its people first on a foundation of constitutional and parliamentary democracy. This will be a test as to whether the Constitution or ‘power lust’ wins out,” it asserted.

Respect the Constitution

Last week, Jagdeo made

clear his intention that he does not plan to meet with the President unless an election date is announced by him. He said the two agenda items listed in the missive are issues that are covered by the Constitution and therefore he sees no need to be meeting on those issues.

“It is a waste of time to go there for another PR (public relations) opportunity where we shake hands and people believe oh, everything is going fine, we’re in a normal situation. Unless election and the time and elections date are on the agenda, there’ll be no meeting,” he asserted.

Jagdeo noted that the Constitution provides for the role of the National Assembly and for the funding and gives GECOM the discretion to use the funds

that they have at their disposal which is a lump-sum.

When questioned as to whether he thinks he should attend the meeting in the interest of the country and its people, the Opposition Leader responded saying he will not accede to any act of bullyism and dictatorship. Rather, the Government should respect the Constitution.

“Moving this country forward can only be done in a context where we respect our Constitution and the laws of Guyana. It can’t be done with impunity when one side believes they can violate every law, every ruling of the court and when the time comes, use patriotism,” Jagdeo added.

Initially, Jagdeo said his party will not support an extension to the time for the holding of elections beyond

from page 3

the 90-day period following the passage of the Noconfidence Motion.

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

Although the Opposition has been calling for elections within the constitutional time frame, which the GECOM chair accepted in his letter to the President, the Government claimed that it was up to GECOM’s readiness that determines the date. Even without the Commission voting for house-to-house registration, the Commission has placed ads to facilitate this six-month process without the concurrence of the PPP Commissioners. (Samuel Sukhnandan)

to support his argument, another Government-appointed Commissioner, Charles Corbin, said there is nothing strange with carrying out house-to-house registration, although an election should be held on March 19.

The Opposition has maintained that house-to-house registration could not be accommodated.

The party feels the People’s National Congress Commissioners are pushing for house-tohouse registration in order to have a delay in the hosting of General and Regional Elections.

The Opposition-appointed Commissioners on Sunday called on GECOM to with-

draw advertisements for staff to conduct house-to-house registration. Advertisements have been publicised for the positions of Assistant Registration Officer and Enumerator; both of which are temporary positions for house-to-house registration.

But GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Warde claimed that a majority voted to inform President David Granger, to continue its routine work for 2019.

That essentially included ensuring that the current voters’ list remained valid after it expires on April 30, 2019 while at the same time conducting house-to-house registration.

Linden shop owner shot twice over Mash Day fight

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olice in E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) are investigating the shooting of 28-year-old Linden shop owner, Marvin Somersoll of Lot 67 Z Wismar Housing Scheme.

Reports are Somersoll was shot at about 09:00h on Tuesday following an altercation over an incident that occurred on Mashramani Day. This publication was told that the suspect, also of Wismar Housing Scheme, and the victim’s 17-yearold brother had a misunderstanding on February 23, which led to the beating of the teen.

Guyana Times understands that on Monday, the suspect went to the victim’s

home asking him for his teen brother when an argument ensued between the two and the suspect subsequently went away. However, he returned on Tuesday while the victim was washing clothes in his yard.

The suspect is alleged to have pulled out two guns, including a small handgun and shot the victim twice, once on both feet. The bullets are said to have hit just above the knee on his right foot and just above the ankle of his left.

The suspect then made good his escape. The victim was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex where his condition is listed as stable.

Police are still hunting for the suspect.

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wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Minibus driver remanded for ECD fatal accident D

enzil Clarke, the minibus driver who crashed on Sunday last, causing the death of two women on the Success Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Tuesday charged and appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Clarke, a 47-year-old resident of Golden Grove, ECD, was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and appeared before Magistrate Alisha George.

He was remanded on the charges and is expected to make his next court appearance on March 15.

Denise Cully, 58, of Lot 89 Vigilance, ECD, died on the spot while Patricia Ellis, 59, of Lot 30 Haslington, ECD, died while receiving medical treatment.

The two women plied their trade at Bourda Market, Georgetown, by

Dead: Denise Cully

Dead: Patricia Ellis

selling fruits and other produce.

Based on information received, the accident occurred at about 07:30h and involved the minibus bearing registration number BTT 4910, driven by Clarke.

A police report disclosed that the minibus was pro-

ceeding west along the southern drive lane of the southern carriageway of the said road, reportedly at a fast rate of speed.

It is alleged by the driver that a blue motorcar overtook him from the left side and collided to his left rear wheel, causing him to lose

control and collide into the median.

This resulted in Cully being flung out of the bus and ending up on the northern carriageway. The minibus then turned onto its left side, crushing the now dead woman. It then skidded some distance before coming to a halt. The vehicle was eventually turned back on its wheels and the decapitated body of Cully was removed.

According to the police, the other passengers were then assisted out of the vehicle by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, except Jordon Beaton, who was taken to the Woodlands Hospital where he was being prepared to undergo surgery having reportedly lost several fingers.

Ellis died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Crisis?...

T

…what crisis?

hree million of its citizens have fled to neighbouring countries because they were literally starving in Venezuela, but their President Maduro insists there’s no “humanitarian crisis” there!! Over here in Guyana, the PNC-led government’s term of office is constitutionally due to end on March 19 after the NCM, but it’s been working in cahoots with its majority in GECOM to desperately cling on to power. And the government’s spokesperson insists there’s no political “crisis” here!! The ostrich syndrome – burying one’s head in the sand – must be catching!!

The problem with the ostrich syndrome, however, is that with its head in the sand, the ostrich’s rear end in unavoidably upraised and from that position literally invites a good kick in the behind!! And that’s what has happened to Maduro in Venezuela and will happen to the PNC-government - if it doesn’t wake up and smell the bush tea. The spokesperson says rather than looking at the exponentially increasing contradictions and tensions as a “crisis”, folks should see it as an “opportunity”!!

Sure!! And the captain of the Titanic should’ve seen the iceberg an “opportunity” to break the record for most fatalities in an ocean accident!! Or the Japanese should’ve seen the atomic bombs over Nagasaki and Hiroshima as an “opportunity” to rebuild those two cities!! Why is it these PNC types are oblivious to the damage they’re doing to the possibility of us ever achieving democratic governance - by trampling all over our constitution?? That’s the real crisis. Because, once our faith in impartial rules to govern our politics is shattered, like Humpty Dumpty, it’s impossible to ever put them back together again!!

Yes! The only thing that stands between us and the jungle is the set of rules embodied in our constitution, which outlines how all the institutions we’ve set up to run our state, will function. We all aspire to become like the mother country – Britain – but we fail to appreciate it’s because they adhere to their constitution – EVEN THOUGH IT’S NOT IN WRITING!! It’s like the rules about which side of the road we should drive on. Sure we can all drive on whatever side we want to…but apart from the chaos, can you imagine the mayhem that will ensue?

And that’s what our politics will become if the PNC continues to insist that Constitutionally, 33 isn’t the majority of 65 seats – especially when they were governing for over three years on that basis!!

This, however, is just the last in a long line of PNC abuse of the constitution – starting as far back as it’s promulgation in 1980, when it was written!! Remember “paramountcy of the PNC? This confounded nonsense must stop!!

…in Venezuelan influx

Your Eyewitness has already expressed his sympathy for the Venezuelan refugees streaming across our border.

Some of our border citizens have already expressed concerns about health and other social problems that accompany these poor souls. They are now over 5123 of them – and mushrooming. And your Eyewitness would hazard a guess this OFFICIAL number is quite understated, if for nothing else, than the not exactly impervious nature of our western border. What with the dense jungle; low population density and undermanned border stations!

Now while we should be concerned about the humanitarian crisis (even if Maduro isn’t!), as Guyanese we also have to be concerned about the strategic implications of the Venezuelan refugees. The last population figure of Region 7, for instance, is 17,597… and we should realise it doesn’t take much to tilt that number in a Venezuelan direction.

More Guyanese might’ve taken refuge in Venezuela back in the day, but we weren’t claiming 2/3 of that country, were we??

And remember, Guaido and company are even more strident about “their” Essequibo!

…in sugar

As if the PNC government hadn’t done enough damage to the sugar industry by shuttering 4 estates and firing 7000 workers, comes news that the SPU is now inflicting the coup de grace!

By strangling the rump GUYSUCO of funds!!

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

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wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Come home and invest – AMCHAM tells Diaspora P

resident of the American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana (AMCHAM) Zulfikar Ally urged a gathering in the United States to come back home and invest in what they do best or fulfil a need that they see currently existing in Guyana.

Ally was at the time speaking at a business meeting and reception in New York on Monday.

He informed the gathering that the mission of AMCHAM is to promote trade and commerce between Guyanese and American companies with their specific mandate being the representing of US business interests in the Guyanese market.

“We recognise that Guyanese companies face challenges in keeping up with the standard and

pace of the global business environment due to a number of constraints including technology, financing, availability of skilled labour, high energy and other importation costs, to name a few, and as such, AMCHAM supports initiatives that help to overcome these hurdles,” he explained.

He noted that these include initiatives aimed at building capacity, connecting venture capitalists with businesses seeking capital for growth, expansion or improvements and at advocating for transformation or optimisation, as the case may be, of systems which reduce the bureaucracy associated with conducting business in Guyana.

AMCHAM Guyana envisions itself as the leading, influential voice that

drives a business-friendly policy in Guyana. Ally said that they are focused on playing their role in fostering an enabling business environment in which both investors and Guyanese companies can maximise value and enjoy the gains which flow from their investments.

He noted that since the organisation was formed, they have interacted with numerous companies, many of which are in the process of establishing themselves in Guyana. The organisation has served as an information hub to companies and has guided them throughout the process and through the linkages AMCHAM has formed in order to make this process more efficient for the investor.

“What I can guaran-

A section of the gathering at the Intercontinental Hotel, New York

tee is the full support of the chamber if you choose to invest in Guyana and become a member. Our

Thief nabbed after robbing teacher outside school

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young teacher was left in a state of shock on Tuesday afternoon when two bandits robbed her of her necklace and motorcycle right in front of the school she teaches at in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Reports are at about

14:30h on Tuesday, the 20-year-old woman was in the process of leaving the school’s premises, when she was approached by two perpetrators who robbed her of the two items.

However, one of the men, who had the motor-

cycle in his possession was apprehended by public-spirited citizens and handed over to the police.

According to the police, the 33-year-old suspect of Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is co-operating with investigators. He is also be-

ing questioned in relation to several similar offences.

Meanwhile, the other perpetrator who goes by the alias “Red Man” is currently being sought by law enforcement officials. Investigations are in progress.

New father died from blunt trauma to head

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he young father who was killed as he was on his way to see his newborn baby at the New Amsterdam Hospital, died from shock and haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head.

The post-mortem examination was conducted on Tuesday by Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan.

Muhammed Ally, 24, of Benet Dam Rosignol, Berbice, was killed by his neighbor, who hit him to his head with a metal pipe.

His uncle, Mohamed Ahmad, explained that his nephew was a very pleas-

ant person.

“His father told me that the man lashed him off the bike and when he fell the man lashed him again with a crowbar…Don’t matter what you tell him he always smile and walk away.

I never heard him curse all the years I know him.

I have never seen him angry, never smoked a cigarette; all the people that know him fell in love with his personality,” he said.

The Blairmont Estate labourer was reportedly lashed by a neighbour in an act of revenge leaving a one-day-old baby fatherless.

name of his newborn on his hand as he was on his way to see the baby. He, however, never got to see the child.

Ally leaves to mourn, his wife of eleven months and the newborn baby. The couple had moved to the area about two months ago.

Ally is expected to be laid to rest today.

Meanwhile, the suspect remains in custody.

Dead: Muhammed Ally

Ahmad said his nephew had written the intended

members support each other, and we use our network and our voice to ensure no business is fighting its own battles. We are here to support you as you conduct business in [a] manner that is sound, professional and adds value to the US-Guyana trade and business relationship, and to the country’s development,” he assured.

He said that with the current preparations for first oil in 2020 as well as what is to come post first oil are reasons enough to come back and invest across all spectrums.

He further informed that with the dawn of a new era comes new public investments, despite the Government of the day, resulting in large public and social infrastructure projects, health, education and transportation improvement projects.

“Lessons learnt from oil-dependent economies have served to guide nations in the direction they take at this very critical juncture of development, that is, the transition into an oil economy. The major stakeholders in Guyana, as well as AMCHAM Guyana Recognisance

Fund, is of paramount importance to reduce the economy’s dependency on oil revenues through secure investments and diversification,” Ally said.

The investment climate, he noted, is ripe for non-traditional industries and services since there are tax concessions available through the laws of Guyana and is mandated through the Guyana Office for Investment GOINVEST. “If you ask us what are some of the business opportunities that exist in Guyana today, we will tell you they reside in almost every sector. From providing goods and services including housing facilities for the growing expat community, financial and accounting services, provision of equipment and advisory services and the list goes one,” he added.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Guyana, known as AMCHAM Guyana, was launched in August 2018 with a Board of Directors comprising of 17 members.

These members comprise of some of the largest corporations in Guyana.

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wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bauxite workers impasse

Protesters refuse to unblock Berbice River

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he Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU), which is the trade union representing bauxite workers who were dismissed by Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) has no plans of instructing any of its members to desist from blocking a section of the Berbice River leading to the company’s operation located at Aroaima, Region 10.

The river was blocked off by disgruntled residents and workers after over 60 employees were fired by the company some three weeks ago. This led to residents and disgruntled workers retaliating against the Russian-owned company, RUSAL, by blocking off the access road as well as a section of the Berbice River leading to the company’s operations.

Although RUSAL has said that it will reinstate the dismissed workers if the blockages are removed, the President of GBGWU,

Residents of Ituni, Hururu, Kwakwani and Mapletown, Aroaima in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) protesting on Tuesday

Lincoln Lewis, in an interview with Guyana Times said that he is not going to intervene.

“No, we are not going to do that. We are not going to do that. We didn’t put them up, don’t ask me to move them.”

The trade unionist is of the view that persons have

a right to have their voices heard and if those who are participating in the blockages feel that their actions are just and in keeping with the law, then he sees no need for the union to interfere in the matter. The river has been blocked with wire rope, preventing bauxite-laden barges from passing.

This publication understands that as a result of the blockages, the Russian company has lost millions already.

More protest

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, in solidarity with the employees recently dismissed following their protest over

the one per cent increase

by RUSAL, over 100 residents took to the streets of Mapletown, Aroaima in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) in another protest.

Residents from neighbouring riverine communities including Ituni, Hururu and Kwakwani, marched through the streets holding placards bearing slogans including, “RUSAL must go”, “1 per cent can’t mek it”, “pay up or pack up” and “daddy not working, I can’t go to school”.

The residents also chanted loudly, “Who must go?

RUSAL!”, “One per cent, can’t work!” and “No Union, no work!” as they made requests for a larger increase for the bauxite workers.

“We are here to encourage one another. I am so glad when I see people from Kwakwani coming over...it gives us more strength,” a protester noted.

The protesters made their way over to the company’s quarters and the riv-

er crossing where residents continue to block that section of the Berbice River leading into the Aroaimabased company.

The disgruntled residents noted that there will be “no letting up” as it relates to unblocking the river until their demands are met.

The RUSAL impasse is now in its third week with the bauxite company coming under heavy criticism over its decision to fire 61 workers because they started a strike action against a one per cent increase in salaries, which they said was agreed to by Government.

Opposition

Last week, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, a similar matter had arisen, and the then Administration managed to save the jobs that were at risk. turn to page 12

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wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Charrandas Persaud “probe”

Peter Ramsaroop detained for 8 hours by Police …says political harassment at play

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dvisor to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Peter Ramsaroop, was Tuesday detained for more than eight hours by the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in relation to an investigation into former parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud.

Based on the type of questions he was being asked by investigators, Ramsaroop concluded that the activity was all “political”.

Ramsaroop told Guyana Times that it was clear that investigators were attempting to ‘bully’ and ‘intimidate’ him, insisting that he can only be released after he gives a statement.

The political advisor said he visited Police Headquarters at about 08:30h in the presence of his Attorneys Mark Conway, Sanjeev Datadin and Sase Gunraj.

Ramsaroop said he was asked about 10 “odd” questions, all of which he refused to answer.

“They started out with questions such as which political party I am affiliated with, what is my role in the political parties of Guyana.

And then they went on to other questions in relation to the Canadians and then questions about me, personally,” he outlined.

“From the beginning of the first question, which was ‘which political party I am affiliated with’, I realised that this is political harassment…to get me in there to intimidate me,” Dr

“They started out with questions such as which political party I am affiliated with, what is my role in the political parties of Guyana. And then they went on to other questions in relation to the Canadians and then questions about me, personally,” – Ramsaroop Ramsaroop noted.

After he refused to answer questions, the political adviser said he was left there for hours without being offered something to eat or drink.

Ramsaroop said he was subsequently advised by investigators that he is free to go; however, shortly after they received a phone call and instructions from higher authorities, informing him to remain at Police Headquarters.

After more than eight hours, Ramsaroop was allowed to leave.

Following the historic evening on December 21, 2018, when Persaud – then a member of the Alliance

For Change (AFC) – made a conscious decision and voted in favour of the No-confidence Motion against the Government, the Member of Parliament (MP) left the country on a flight bound for Canada, where he is a citizen.

Since then, there have been allegations floating around that Charrandas was seen leaving the National Assembly escorted by PPP affiliate Peter Ramsaroop, who is also a businessman.

However, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has since dismissed these claims as mischievous, saying that the businessman was free to befriend whomever he wants to, even if it’s persons from the opposite side of the House.

M e a n w h i l e , Ramsaroop has also denied any wrongdoing, telling reporters that Persaud had requested his help – something which he would have done for any of his friends.

Ramsaroop’s help to Persaud has caused the Ogle Airport Inc to suspend protocol passes over an alleged security breach.

This order came from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), although the Airport insisted it did not breach any protocols.

According to reports, a Canadian diplomat, along with Ramsaroop, had obtained protocol passes to see Persaud off at the Eugene

F Correia International Airport, hours after the December 21, 2018 sitting of the National Assembly.

This is said to be one of the aspects under investigation.

Police are said to also be probing allegations that the former parliamentarian was bribed into voting in favour of a No-confidence Motion which brought down the A Partnership for National Unity/AFC coalition Government.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan – who is also the Chairman of the AFC – has since admitted that he initiated the Police probe into the expelled member.

“The personal involvement; yes, I got a call from Vice President Sydney Allicock indicating that there is someone that wants to give some informa-

Peter Ramsaroop

Charrandas Persaud

tion about Charrandas and his conduct, and indeed I then put the Commissioner of Police after speaking to Sydney Allicock. As a Minister of security, if some information does come and it’s information you feel can go somewhere … he indicated to me certain things and I said Mr Commissioner, you better make a check on what’s happening and

that’s it,” he had told media operatives at a press conference in January 2019.

Ramjattan believes that Persaud did not vote his conscience.

Police Commissioner Leslie James has remained tightlipped on the progress and nature of the investigation, only informing the media that the situation is “a matter of national security.”

12 news Gender, Social Inclusion Policy to be implemented by year end wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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ocial Protection Minister Amna Ally on Tuesday announced that the Government is working to ensure that a National Gender and Social Inclusion Policy can be implemented before year end.

This policy is intended tackle negative economic, cultural and social practices that hampers equality.

“The National Gender and Social Inclusion Policy is expected to be implemented during the second quarter of 2019 and will aim to mainstream gender issues into all sectors in order to eliminate all negative, economic, social and cultural practices that impede equality and equity,” the Minister explained.

She added that the policy is likely to strengthen links

between the Government, non-governmental organisations and even the private sector to mainstream gender equality in respective sectors. Moreover, the policy will develop, maintain and provide gender sensitive information and gender disaggregated data for the purpose of planning and implementing projects.

While speaking on the progress, Guyana has made in relation to gender equality, the Minister pointed out that she was specifically pleased with the representation of women in Parliament, adding that Guyana is well ahead of many developed countries.

According to her, 31.9 per cent of seats in the National Assembly is occupied by women.

She also boasted that Guyana has met its target of eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education. This, she noted, was progress towards achieving universal primary education standards.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Programme Manager for Gender and Development at the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Ann-Marie Williams explained that Tuesday’s forum was specifically designed to trace Guyana’s progress in Regional Gender Equality since 1975 through the United Nations Decade for Women.

Within that decade, three major conferences were held; the first was hosted in 1975 in Mexico which bore fruit of two documents.

The first was the declaration of Mexico and the equality of women and their contribution to development while the second encompassed the world plan of action for the implementation of the objectives of international women’s year.

Later on in 1980, the second conference was hosted which was used to report on the previous event. The third conference was held in 1985 which celebrated the accomplishments of the decade of women. It also established an agenda to guide future efforts to promote equality for

women, worldwide.

Some 10 years later, the Beijing conference was hosted to accelerate the implementation of policies to ensure equality.

She said, “We’re taking time out to look at the progress that have been made and also the challenges and we know that within the challenges lie opportunities so as we move towards 25 years of Beijing, it is time for us to literally take stock”.

It was explained by her that next year will commemorate 25 years since the fourth World Conference

was hosted and Guyana will be responsible for bringing together Governments and other stakeholders to consult on the priority areas that Guyana chose to work on after the Beijing conference.

Williams told Guyana Times that a few of the areas Guyana was expected to work on were education, health and women in decision making among others.

Guyana, like other countries, she said, will have to report on how they kept the promises they made for women and girls.

Protesters refuse to...

Jagdeo added, “we took back the company that was private to the treasury, brought it back, renationalised it and kept it going until we found a replacement…we worked hard to protect those workers there so our track record is important”.

According to him, not only are private and foreign companies taking advantage of workers but Government Ministers are doing the same while making specific

reference to the 7000 sacked sugar workers who had to go to the Judiciary to get their legally entitled severance payments.

The Opposition Leader added that the then PPP Administration exhausted every effort to ensure that workers’ rights are protected, especially with the passing of several laws which mandated severance payments among others.

Jagdeo pointed out that he has been lending

from page 10

Government advice which seems to be of no use.

Sixty-one workers were fired by the Russian-owned company after they protested a one per cent salary increase, which they said was agreed to by Government.

Following a meeting with Government, RUSAL refused to reinstate the workers and subsequently dismissed 30 more persons from the department in order to temporarily close it as a result of the strike actions.

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wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

dust, and to dust you shall return.” The old formula, based on the words spoken to Adam and Eve after their sin, reminds worshippers of their sinfulness and mortality and thus, implicitly, of their need to repent in time. The newer formula makes explicit what was only implicit in the old.

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sh Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting, and repentance. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter. Ash Wednesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Old Catholics, Methodists, Presbyt erians, Roman Catholics, and some Baptists.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to either the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or the dictum “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”. The ashes may be prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations.

Because it is the first day of Lent, many Christians, on Ash Wednesday, often begin marking a Lenten calendar, praying a Lenten daily devotional, and abstaining from a luxury that they will not partake in until Easter Sunday arrives.

In the traditional churches, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance – a day of contemplating one’s transgressions.

On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, members of the traditional churches between the ages of 18 and 59 (whose

Where do the ashes come from and what do the ashes symbolise?

health enables them to do so) are permitted to consume one full meal, along with two smaller meals, which together should not equal the full meal. Some Catholics will go beyond the minimum obligations put forth by the Church and undertake a complete fast or a bread and water fast until sunset.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also days of abstinence from meat (mammals and fowl), as are all Fridays during Lent. Some Roman Catholics continue fasting throughout Lent, as was the Church’s traditional requirement, concluding only after the celebration of the Easter Vigil. Where the Ambrosian Rite is observed, the day of fasting and abstinence is postponed to the first Friday in the Ambrosian Lent, nine days later.

Ashes

A priest marks a cross

In many congregations, the ashes are prepared by burning palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday, churches bless and hand out palm branches to attendees, a reference to the Gospels’ account of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when onlookers lay palm branches on his path.

The ashes of this hol-

of ashes on a worshipper’s forehead.

Ashes are ceremonially placed on the heads of Christians on Ash Wednesday, either by being sprinkled over their heads or, in English-speaking countries, more often by being marked on their foreheads as a visible cross. The words (based on Genesis 3:19) used traditionally to accompany this gesture are, “Memento, homo,

quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.” (“Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.”) This custom is credited to Pope Gregory I the Great (c 540–604). In the 1969 revision of the Roman Rite, an alternative formula (based on Mark 1:15) was introduced and given first place “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” and the older formula was translated as “Remember that you are

iday symbolise two main things: death and repentance. “Ashes are equivalent to dust, and human flesh is composed of dust or clay (Genesis 2:7), and when a human corpse decomposes, it returns to dust or ash.”

“When we come forward to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, we are saying that we are sorry for our sins, and that we want to use the season of Lent to correct our faults, purify our hearts, control our desires and grow in holiness so we will be prepared to celebrate Easter with great joy” (The CatholicSpirit.com).

With this focus on our own mortality and sinfulness, Christians can enter into the Lent season solemnly, while also looking forward in greater anticipation and joy of the message of Easter and Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and death.

14 news

wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mother denies her son was sexually assaulted by Region 1 Chairman

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley

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he mother of a 23-year-old young man who was allegedly said to have been raped by the Chairman of Region One (Barima-Waini) is refuting such claims, saying that the accusations are false and may be centred on a political agenda by her son’s uncle.

Shirley Gibbs, the mother of the young man in question, said that her son had left their home in Mabaruma on February 12, 2019 and returned on the same afternoon, intoxicated.

She said that shortly after he attempted to take his life twice and that is why she contacted Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley to help her transport him to Georgetown for medical and

mental health treatment.

“He (the Regional Chairman) said he will see a possible way to assist me. On Thursday afternoon at 2 pm (14:00h), he came by me and said he spoke with some Indigenous people in Georgetown and that the only way he can assist is for me to get a referral from the Mabaruma Regional Hospital which I did. On the Friday morning, Mr Brentnol Ashley, said he was willing to assist me in bringing him, my son, accompanying him out of Georgetown. He brought my son at the Amerindian Hostel where he stayed all the time.”

Gibbs stated that on the Monday following her son’s arrival at the Amerindian Hostel, he was taken to a clinic by a nurse and he subsequently returned to the Amerindian Hostel.

However, she explained that was when the false allegation about the Regional Chairman began to surface.

“From that Monday onwards, Allen Adams, who is the uncle, start broadcasting, start talking a lot of ill things about how the Regional Chairman bring my son to Georgetown … and how he interfere with him and how he left him in a hotel room and abandon him

Mother of the alleged victim, Shirley Gibbs

for three days. On February 20th, he (Allen) sent out a cell phone and $3000 at the Amerindian Hostel.”

The distraught mother further explained that the young man’s uncle sent money for him at the Hostel again and then subsequently sent his son to retrieve her son from the Hostel and take him to an aunt’s residence in Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara. This was something she knew nothing of, and never permitted.

“And my son was there for three days. He doesn’t notify the supervisor at the Amerindian Hostel, because when I came out the Saturday, the March 2, I was told by the caretaker there that my son was out

without her permission,” she explained.

According to Gibbs, on Monday, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) and its probation department took her and her son to a location on the East Bank of Demerara, where they spent most of the day answering questions as part of the ongoing investigations into the matter. She said after this, they had to visit the Brickdam Police Station.

“They ain’t do no mental test … all they do is because what is written in the papers… a physical test … that is the only test they did at Brickdam and the doctor there at Brickdam said ‘what you bring this boy here for? This is politics’. And the Police say ‘do it, man, do it’,” Gibbs revealed.

The woman added that all she wanted is for her son to receive the necessary mental treatment so that they could return home to Mabaruma, and for his uncle to stop using her ill child as a political weapon.

The woman divulged that her son was born in Venezuela, but at age 15, he began to have seizures and other physical ailments.

On Saturday last, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally told the media that the Child Care and Protection

Agency had launched an investigation into the sexual allegation.

Meanwhile, since the surfacing of the allegation, the Regional Chairman has refuted the claims, saying that he believes that the accusation is being instigated by the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government officials in the region who have been continuously targeting him.

The Chairman assured the residents in the region that the allegation was a

mere attempt to stain his name and was false and wholly malicious.

He added that he has since contacted his lawyer who is presently examining the best way forward.

Ashley explained that the allegation was a “direct result of the desperation of the APNU/AFC clique, who is faced with defeat all around, especially with the successful no-confidence motion which necessitates the Government having to face new elections at which they will be defeated again”.

WCD men slapped with attempted murder charge

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wo men, who allegedly attempted to murder a MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) labourer were on Tuesday charged and brought before a Judge at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

The duo – 21-year-old Robindra Parahoo, called “Robin”; and 23-year-old Annacha Parahoo, both of Lot 108 Ocean Gardens, Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD – denied the allegation when

the charge was read to them.

They denied that on February 27, 2019 at Ocean Garden, Meten-Meer-Zorg, they attempted to murder 48-year-old Terry Persaud.

Both men were released on $200,000 bail and the case will continue on April 4. As a condition to bail, the suspects were ordered to report to the Leonora Police Station every Friday until the completion of the matter.

15 Ramsammy’s Ruminations Sophia man charged President must for stabbing wife meet Leader of J the Opposition to news

wednesday, MARCH 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

set elections date

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he Leader of the Opposition has done the responsible thing, acting in the interest of the Guyanese people. Recognising that President Granger and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) deliberately violated the timeline for elections to be held by March 21, 2019, in accordance with Dr Leslie Ramsammy the No-confidence Motion passed by the Parliament on December 21, 2018, Bharrat Jagdeo has written to the President indicating that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will support a parliamentary motion, enabling a two-thirds majority in Parliament, for the holding of elections beyond the March 21, deadline, as long as the President agree to a date

by April 30. The willingness to compromise and extending the olive branch have been made once again by the PPP. Will the President demonstrate he has the interest of Guyana at heart or will he continue the foolish conspiracy to hold on to power?

The belief that Granger and APNU/AFC never intended to give up power, even if they had to seize power by a coup d’etat, is now being tested. Unless President Granger acts in good faith and negotiate a date with the opening presented

by Jagdeo, Guyana will have an illegal Government and a dictator as President by March 21. While Granger might see this as keeping his ruthless promise to his supporters to bring Burhamism back to Guyana, the wiser thing to do is to accept the olive branch from the Leader of the Opposition.

The Jagdeo-olive branch is a face-saving way for President Granger to avoid the APNU/AFC-precipitated constitutional crisis. By March 21, Guyana will have a political party illegally holding on to power if President Granger squanders yet another opportunity to do the right thing. With only 16 days remaining in the constitutionally mandated 90day period for elections, playing wicked judicial games, APNU/AFC has essentially achieved its goal to create a constitutional crisis, leaving Guyana totally in the arms of dictatorship, arguing the dictatorship is doctrine of necessity. Now only a meeting convened by the President with the Leader of the Opposition to set a mutually agreed date for election and agreed to by a two-thirds majority can prevent this absolute crisis. Bharrat Jagdeo has established a face-saving platform for President Granger. He must accept it in the interest of the nation.

The meeting must instruct GECOM to carry out its constitutional mandate of conducting elections by the date agreed to by the two leaders and approved by Parliament with a two-thirds majority. Setting the date for elections in accordance with the law is not the responsibility of GECOM, conducting the elections is GECOM’s mandate. The meeting today must clearly insist on GECOM to meet its mandate.

There is a list that was used only a few months ago for an election that was praised. GECOM itself insisted in late December that it was able to conduct a General and Regional Elections within the constitutionally mandated date. This was until GECOM decided to take political sides and become complicit with the conspiracy to frustrate the country’s ability to hold the elections. GECOM’s immediate announcement in the face of the Leader of the Opposition’s letter to the President that it would not be possible to hold elections by April 30 is a subversive act, intended to provide the President with cover to reject the Leader of the Opposition’s proposal.

The Leader of the Opposition was absolutely correct in refusing to meet the President unless the meeting is to discuss a date for election. APNU/AFC and their surrogates in the media, both print and TV and social media, have condemned the Leader of the Opposition for refusing to meet the President. The Leader of the Opposition has never refused to meet with the President to discuss the election date and he has said so for months. His letter to the President on Monday is proof of that willingness.

For four years now, the President has abrogated his mandate to regularly meet the Leader of the Opposition to discuss matters of national interest. This is not the time for him to suddenly wake up and want to discuss important matters, it is the time to discuss one matter, the election date. The letter from the Leader of the Opposition proposing a meeting with a recommended election date now provides David Granger with a conundrum – does he want to serve in the nation’s interest or does he want to keep his promise to his supporters that he will be Guyana’s newest dictator, in the same ruthless way as Forbes Burnham, his hero, was?

ust days after Derick Solomon allegedly attacked and stabbed his wife multiple times about her body in the house which they shared, he was on Tuesday slapped with an attempted murder charge.

The 60-year-old man of Lot 210, Block F, North Sophia, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The charge stated that he, on March 2, unlawfully wounded 41-yearold Carol London with intent to murder her. He was remanded to prison and the case will continue on March 26, 2019.

Guyana Times previously reported that the suspect was detained shortly after he attacked the woman.

It was reported that the incident occurred at about 10:30h just as the suspect had arrived home.

A neighbour, Danelle West, reported to the police that she saw the suspect ar-

Carol London in her hospital bed

rive home in a grey Toyota Premio motorcar which he owned, but about five minutes later, she said that she heard screams coming from the house and then saw the suspect running out with a knife in his hand. He reportedly quickly entered his mo-

torcar and sped away.

As such, the young woman ran into the couple’s home where she discovered London laying in a pool of blood in a back bedroom of the concrete house with several stab wounds about her body and one to her face.

This publication understands that the woman raised an alarm and neighbours rendered assistance, rushing the woman to the Georgetown Public Hospital. She remains a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Linden’s elderly home neglected – Chairman

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ighlighting that the neglected Dorfolk Elderly Home in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has been in a state of disrepair, Regional Chairman Renis Morian has indicated that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is currently seeking funding for its rehabilitation.

While the building has been in the community for decades, only a senior citizen’s club – the Golden Years Club – is presently operating out of a small section of the building.

Lindeners have been calling for the structure to be repaired and made into a fully functional senior citizen’s home, owing to the lack that such a facility does not exist in the community.

The facility is as non-governmental organisation and is run by a committee, although the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) is partially responsible for the senior’s home.

Officials have in the past noted that the lack of funds has been a sore issue in moving the facility forward. However, Morian said the RDC, aside from its budgetary allocation, has been seeking funding to offset repairs.

“There are a number of projects that we would

The neglected Dorfolk Elderly Home in Linden

have asked around, spoken with different agencies (about)... This is outside of the region’s budget... One is to rehabilitate the Dorfolk Home.

The Dorfolk Home has been there for a long time serving our adults and it is in a state of disrepair for a over a decade. So we’re moving to have the Dorfolk Home rehabilitated... We have spoken to Minister Raphael Trotman and we’ve spoken to the Minister of Public Infrastructure.

We’ve spoken with folks from the Ministry of the Presidency. We went asking all around...for support,” he indicated.

The Regional Chairman added that he has been in

contact with the facility’s committee which has expressed willingness in moving forward. He noted however that there are some legal limitations which have to be ironed out.

“I said to the custodians, ‘For the Government to spend money on a non-Government building, there’s some legal things to be done’. The RDC don’t want to run the Dorfolk Home, we don’t want to take over,” Morian noted, citing that the aim is solely to rehabilitate the facility.

Meanwhile, Councillor Vladimir Glasgow has made the recommendation for the facility to be fenced. The Golden Years Club, which has been in existence at the

facility for 22 years, consists of seniors who engage in activities such as exercise, craft, health education and cookery. Members have outlined several issues regarding the infrastructure of the building, noting that it was not constructed in a senior citizen friendly fashion.

For instance, they noted that the washroom facility is situated too far away from the section they occupy and there is an opening in the middle of the building, which leaves it exposed to the elements.

Presently the building is in a substandard state, with many abandoned rooms, apart from the section that is occupied by the Club.

Trio jailed for minibus robbery

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on Trotman, Kevin Abrams and Anthony Damon, the trio who were accused of robbing several minibus passengers in December of 2017, were on Tuesday jailed for three years by Magistrate Dylon Bess.

The men, who were apprehended at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, had been on trial since their arraignment before Magistrate Leron Daly. The charges against them alleged that they, on December 13, 2017, at Mc Doom Public

Road, East Bank Demerara, while being in the company of each other, robbed Winnet Francis of valuables amounting to $6,500.

It is further stated that on the same day and at the same location, the men robbed Ryan Thomas

of $4,000; Shidea Aziez of items valuing $43,000, and Liloutie Persaud of $55,000 worth of items. Damon was additionally charged for being in possession of a .38 revolver and four live rounds of ammunition without being licenced to carry arms.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, march 6, 2019

Regional

Venezuela's Guaido in talks with Mexico apologises after unions to call Public Sector strike Police handed youths over to gang

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enezuela Opposition Leader Juan Guaido said on Tuesday he was in talks with unions about calling strikes for state workers in a bid to paralyse the Public Sector, tightening pressure on a weakened President Nicolás Maduro by targeting his key support base.

The strikes would seek to capitalise on the Opposition’s momentum spurred by Guaido’s triumphant return to Venezuela on Monday, after he flouted a travel ban to tour Latin American countries to muster support for his campaign to oust Maduro.

While Guaido had publicly speculated that authorities would detain him when he returned, he passed through Caracas’ international airport without a problem. Guaido has called on State officials, who have been historically pressured by the ruling Socialist Party

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A defiant Juan Guaido returns home to Venezuela

to publicly back Maduro, to disavow the government, and has promised future amnesties for those that do.

“The moment has arrived and our call, our request, and our complete support for public employees, is to bring about this strike,” Guaido told a news conference after meeting

with state workers. He did not say when the strikes would be held.

Guaido, recognised by most Western nations as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state, said the strikes would be staggered and aim to paralyse the Public Sector.

Maduro’s Government

has yet to comment on Guaido’s return, which is unusual, considering top officials habitually make references to him on State television and in Twitter posts.

Maduro accuses Guaido of leading a US-directed coup against him and has said he will “face justice.” (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Jamaica Police probe if seized fuel linked to Petrojam oil loss

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he Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on Monday said that, in a matter of weeks, the country will know if the nine 45-gallon drums of assorted fuel seized in Saturday's raid of premises in Greenwich Town are linked to oil loss at the State-owned oil refinery, Petrojam.

“An investigation has been launched into the matter and within another two or three weeks we should be able to tell you if there is any link to Petrojam,” acting head of the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Br-anch Superintendent Anthony McLaughlin said during a press conference at Petrojam's headquarters in Kingston.

Acting commanding officer of the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard, Lt Commander Aceion Prescott addressing Monday's press conference called by Petrojam. Flanking him are Petrojam Chairman Paul Hoo and Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Fayval Williams

The Police on Saturday charged a 76-year-old woman in connection with the find, which consisted of oil and two gas pumps. The exercise was part of a joint Police/military operation to clamp down on the illicit gas business that is known

to thrive in the community.

The arrest of the senior citizen was a continuation of a series of raids during the day, in which a further 19 45-gallon drums were seized from other residences in Greenwich Town, the Police told the Jamaica

Cuba denounces Canadian media manipulation of Venezuela

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uba rejected an article published by Canadian broadcaster CBC News on the alleged presence of Cuban military in the Venezuelan army, which it described as tendentious and manipulative.

In a message sent to the editor of CBC News, the Cuban ambassador in Ottawa, Josefina Vidal, assured that such a statement is a scandalous slander, Prensa Latina reported Tuesday in an office dated in Ottawa.

I demand that the CBC

news present proof, which evidently it does not have, since it does not appear in the whole article," the article states. The diplomat recalls that more than 20,000 Cubans provide services in the South American nation, 94 percent of whom are health workers and the rest from other sectors such as education.

It also accuses CBC News of repeating the thesis of US President Donald Trump, who accused Cuba of maintaining a private army in Venezuela, with-

out providing any evidence.

It is regrettable that the news media does not denounce the White House's plans for military aggression against the South American country and its strategy of destroying the Cuban Revolution, says Vidal.

In this regard, he recalls that the US National Security Advisor, Jonh Bolton, organized a coup d'état in 2002 against the then Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez.

(Excerpt from Cuba News)

Observer.

Ten of the overall number of drums seized were said to be filled with petrol.

In the meantime, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Fayval Williams told journalists that the recent dive mission conducted by members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard has identified no illegal attachments to Petrojam's underwater petroleum pipelines. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

exican officials have issued a rare apology to the families of five youths who were killed in 2016 in the eastern state of Veracruz.

Corrupt local Police Officers colluding with the notorious Jalisco New Generation drug cartel (CJNG) seized the five in the mistaken belief they were members of a rival gang.

They handed them over to the CJNG which killed them and burned their bodies.

More than 5000 people have disappeared in Veracruz over the past decade.

When the state's new governor, Cuitláhuac García, was sworn in on December 1, 2218, he launched an emergency plan to drive down the number of disappeared and requested help from inter-

national organisations to find those missing.

On Monday, Governor García apologised to the relatives of the five murdered youths, four men aged between 24 and 27 and a 16-year-old girl, saying that "the collusion between police and organised crime wasn't stopped in time".

Mexico's Deputy Interior Minister for Human Rights, Alejandro Encinas, said Mexico had a "profound responsibility" for what had happened. "We know that organised crime works with government officials at all levels," Encinas said at an event attended by the youths' families at the Museum of Memory and Tolerance in Mexico City. Encinas said that while public apologies were not enough, they were "a first step" towards justice.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

New accusation of sex abuse against Chile's Catholic church

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hile's Roman Catholic church, already the target of Vatican sanctions, was being shaken by yet another allegation of priestly abuse and high-level cover-up.

Daniel Rojas Alvarez, a 43-year-old indigent man, appeared on a state television broadcast Monday night saying a priest at the Santiago Cathedral had drugged and raped him in 2015. He said Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati had given him money when told of the attack and told him

not to report it.

"The case is terrible, unacceptable," Fernando Ramos, secretary-general of Chile's bishop's conference, said Tuesday.

The Santiago archbishopric acknowledged in a statement that it had received a complaint against the priest, Rigoberto Rivera, in the summer of 2015 and said he had been forbidden to celebrate public Mass since last year.

His attorney, Sandra Pinto, denied the allegations. (Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

El Salvador Judge accused of sexual abuse removed from top court

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l Salvador's Congress voted on Monday night to temporarily remove a Supreme Court Judge from his post pending a trial, after he was accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl.

Lawmakers also voted to strip Judge Eduardo Jaime Escalante Diaz, 51, of his immunity against prosecution in a nearly unanimous vote of the 84-member Congress.

"An important precedent is being set to prevent this type of event from repeating, especially with regard to officials with such a high position," said Patricia Valdivieso, a lawmaker with the conservative Nationalist Rep-ublican Alliance (ARENA).

Escalante Diaz, who has served for more than two decades on the 14-member court, is accused of fondling the girl on February 18, and then flee-

Supreme Court Judge Jaime Eduardo Escalante Diaz attends a special hearing of congress to vote on his impeachment, in San Salvador

ing after he was surprised by neighbours and the girl's mother.

The Judge did not speak on his own behalf during the congressional session on Monday, and his lawyer, Ana

Concepcion Urias, would only say that he did not object to the process.

If convicted Escalante Diaz faces a potential prison sentence of between eight to 12 years. (MSN)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, march 6, 2019

17

Around the World

patient ‘free’ of HIV Pakistan arrests scores in fresh UK after stem cell treatment crackdown on armed groups A

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akistani authorities say they have detained 44 members of various armed groups, including relatives of Jaishe-Muhammad (JeM) Chief Masood Azhar, the man at the centre of an ongoing crisis with neighbouring India.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday in Islamabad, Interior Secretary Azam Suleman Khan said those arrested would be held for at least 14 days, and if further evidence was found against them they would be prosecuted.

The detainees included Abdul Rauf, Azhar’s brother, and Hammad Azhar, the JeM Chief’s son, Khan said.

Both names were among several suspects whose

Interior Ministry officials Shehryar Afridi, right, and Azam Suleman Khan said the operation targeted armed groups operating on Pakistani soil

details were included by India in a recent dossier shared with Pakistan following an attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 42 Indian security forces personnel and prompted a

tense standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

In Tuesday’s press conference, Khan alleged that the Indian dossier, shared with Pakistan on Thursday, was short on prosecutable

evidence.

He asserted that Tuesday’s operation was aimed against all armed groups operating on Pakistani soil, an allusion that authorities were not just targeting JeM, which claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack.

In recent days, the United States, Britain and the European Union have issued statements calling on Pakistan to deal with armed groups, but Minister of State for Interior, Shahryar Afridi asserted that Islamabad was not under foreign pressure to make the arrests.

There was no immediate reaction by the Indian Government to the arrests.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UK patient’s HIV has become “undetectable” following a stem cell transplant - in only the second case of its kind, doctors report in Nature.

The London patient, who was being treated for cancer, has now been in remission from HIV for 18 months and is no longer taking HIV drugs.

The researchers say it is too early to say the patient is “cured” of HIV. Experts say the approach is not practical for treating most people with HIV but may one day help find a cure.

The male London patient, who has not been named, was diagnosed with HIV in 2003 and advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2012.

He had chemotherapy to treat the Hodgkin’s cancer and, in addition, stem cells were implanted into the patient from a donor resistant

to HIV, leading to both his cancer and HIV going into remission.

This is the second time a patient treated this way has ended up in remission from HIV. Ten years ago, another patient in Berlin received a bone-marrow transplant from a donor with natural immunity to the virus.

Timothy Brown, said to be the first person to “beat” HIV/ Aids, was given two transplants and total body irradiation (radiotherapy) for leukaemia - a much more aggressive treatment.

“By achieving remission in a second patient using a similar approach, we have shown that the Berlin patient was not an anomaly and that it really was the treatment approaches that eliminated HIV in these two people,” said lead study author Prof Ravindra Gupta, from UCL. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Explosive packages found at Heathrow, Senegal’s President officially declared election winner Waterloo and London City Airport

S

C

ounter-terror Police are investigating th-ree packages containing explosives found at Heathrow Airport, London City Airport and Waterloo station.

The “small improvised explosive devices” were found in A4 postal bags, the Metropolitan Police said.

The Force’s Counter Terrorism Command is treating it as a “linked series” and “keeping an open mind” about motives.

Heathrow’s Compass Centre was evacuated after a package was reported to police at about 09:55 GMT. The device set fire when staff opened the bag.

The Compass Centre, which is an office for Heathrow staff rather than part of the passenger terminals, remains closed.

Two more packages were found in the capital during the next three hours.

An area of Waterloo station was cordoned off after a second package was discov-

The device sent to Heathrow Airport ignited when staff opened it

ered in the post room at about 11:40h, the BBC understands.

About 100 workers were evacuated from City Aviation House at City Airport in Newham after a third package was reported at about 12:10h.

The second two packages were not opened and have since been “made safe”, police said.

Flights were not affected but Docklands Light Railway

trains did not stop at City Airport for about an hour during the investigation.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling urged people to report “anything suspicious” to police, while Mayor of London Sadiq Khan added: “Our thanks go to police, security, transport staff and all involved for their swift actions to keep our city safe.” (Excerpt from

enegalese President Macky Sall was officially declared winner of the February 24 vote on Tuesday, after the constitutional council confirmed his re-election with 58 per cent of votes.

Provisional results announced by Senegal’s official counting body last week had shown Sall comfortably securing a second term without a run-off vote.

Sall had been tipped to win after a first term that propelled the West African country’s economic growth to more than six per cent - one of the highest on the continent.

Rights groups criticised him for squeezing out rivals and the opposition rejected the results, but decided not to appeal.

“This renewed trust motivates me to work twice as hard, to do more and better,” Sall told a crowd of reporters gathered at the presidential

File Photo: Senegal’s President and a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections Macky Sall, speaks after casting his vote at a polling station as his wife Marem Faye Sall stands behind in Fatick, Senegal, February 24, 2019

palace on Tuesday.

Commenting on the election results for the first time, Sall thanked the voters for choosing continuity and supporting his modernising plans. He also addressed opposition candidates, calling for dialogue and unity.

The council confirmed that runner-up Idrissa Seck secured 21 per cent of the votes, while Ousmane Sonko came

third with 16 per cent.

More than 66 per cent of 6.7 million registered voters took part in the election.

Senegal has long been viewed as the region’s most stable democracy, with peaceful transitions of power since it gained independence from France in 1960.

Sall said his swearing-in ceremony would take place on April 2. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Nobel Prize in literature to UN religious freedom expert be awarded twice this year seeks visit to China’s Xinjiang T

T

he United Nations investigator on religious freedom said on Tuesday he has asked China to let him visit its Xinjiang region where some 1 million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims are in facilities activists call mass detention camps.

Facing growing international opprobrium for what it calls re-education and training centres, China has stepped up diplomatic efforts to fend off censure.

Defending its de-radicalisation program in the remote western region, China told diplomats recently that “absurd preachings” from Islamist extremists there

had turned some people into “murderous devils”.

China has not yet replied to his February request, he said.

Former Maldives Minister Shaheed disclosed he was among several UN rights experts to write to China last November voicing anxiety at its anti-extremism program.

The UN letter voices concern that China’s regulation “targets Turkic Muslim ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities as well as Kazakh nationals” within a context of a “crackdown on the exercise of fundamental rights in Xinjiang”.

It calls on Beijing to repeal the measure.

BBC News)

“There have been allegations of deaths in custody, physical and psychological abuse and torture as well as lack of access to medical care,” it said.

The Chinese regulation defines extremification as the “spreading of religious fanaticism through irregular beards or name selection”, the letter said. The law’s stated aim to make “religion more Chinese” was unlawful, it added.

Xie Zhangwei, a first secretary at China’s mission in Geneva, told the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday that China opposes extremism, discrimination, violence or intolerance. (Excerpt from Reuters)

wo Nobel Prizes in literature will be presented this year after the scandal-hit awarding body was blocked from naming a winner in 2018 The Nobel Foundation banned the Swedish Academy from awarding last year’s prize following allegations of sexual misconduct against the husband of one of its Board members and accusations of leaks, which effectively paralysed the institution.

In a press release on Tuesday, the foundation, which executes Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel’s will, said that its Board of Directors “believes that the steps that the Swedish Academy has taken and intends to take will create good opportunities for restoring trust in the

Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel created the literature prize and other awards in science and peace

Academy as a prize-winning institution”.

Laureates for 2018 and 2019 would be announced in autumn, the statement said.

The Nobel Foundation had previously threatened to strip the Swedish Academy of its role in awarding the prize following the scandals, which first emerged in 2017 and re-

sulted in a wave of resignations in protest.

Jean-Claude Arnault, the husband of poet and former academy member Katarina Frostenson, was convicted on two charges of rape in October 2018. Frostenson left the Body in January after an inquiry found she had leaked the names of prize winners on multiple occasions, which she denied.

The academy announced in May that the prize would not be awarded in 2018 “in view of the currently diminished Academy and the reduced public confidence in the academy”.

It was the first time the prestigious award was not handed out since a suspension in 1943 due to World War II. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, March 6, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Spend more time deciding what’s best for you. Walk away from anyone offering the impossible or trying to pressure you into something you don’t need. Protect yourself against theft.

CANCER

Partnerships, contracts and moneymaking opportunities look promising. Make changes that are conducive to getting ahead and establishing a better future. Ask and you shall receive.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

WORD GAME

Put your best foot forward and help those in need.

What you learn will be enlightening and will encourage you to get involved in your community. Positive change is doable.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Learn all you can.

Knowledge is power, and it will help you deter someone trying to coax you into something that isn’t right for you. Don’t second-guess your plans.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Be careful what you wish for. An offer will be riddled with complications.

Set up your affairs to minimise outside control; you’ll need to be the one calling the shots.

Focus on what’s important and finish what you start.

How you treat others will affect what people say about you. If you do good things, your reputation will precede you.

Listen and observe to gain experience and information that will help you make better choices. Don’t start something you cannot finish. Personal integrity and growth are favoured.

Take care of situations that involve others.

Discussing possibilities and offering choices to the people you care about will foster an agreement that will encourage better relationships.

Make changes for the right reason. Don’t take anyone’s word. Find out the facts and walk away from emotionally manipulative individuals. Someone’s motives should be questioned.

Get ready, get fit and take action. You can achieve a lot if you size up your situation and put plans in motion that promote progress and life improvements.

Don’t let a last-minute change someone makes disrupt your day. Go about your business and do your own thing. Keep your life simple and doable to avoid frustration and interference.

Let your intuition guide you. An emotional matter will help clarify exactly what you should do to prevent anyone from taking advantage of you.

wednesday, march 6, 2019

19

Not out yet: Chris Gayle and MS Dhoni rage against the dying of the light E

ven after four hundredand-some years, cricket still has its mysteries, such as whether the weather really causes swing, exactly what happened to the ball Garry Sobers hit for that sixth six, and quite why so many of the best players seem to end up advertising hair transplants.

You can make a great team of these, say, off the top of my head (and theirs), Graham Gooch and Virender Sehwag, Michael Vaughan, Ricky Ponting, Martin Crowe, Jacques Kallis, Sourav Ganguly, Greg Matthews, Shane Warne, Darren Gough, and Doug “the rug” Bollinger. It’s a symbiotic relationship. The cricketers get one sort of plug and the hair studios another.

Larry David joked that he was worried for Jordan Spieth because “he’s going to be wildly bald” and David explained: “It’s one thing to handle the pressure of the back nine at Augusta; let’s see how he does when he sees all that hair in the tub. That’s pressure.” Spieth is only 25.

Just wait till he’s deep into the merciless 30s, when the katabatic hangovers kick in and his waistline starts to go on him. International cricket can be a pitiless game at that age, when every slower ball is a sign a bowler has lost his zip, each loose dismissal an omen about a batsman’s reflexes, and every bad match is soundtracked by chat about the player’s place.

It’s been sweet and

satisfying then, to watch two 30-something pros overcome all this in the last few weeks.

O n Saturday MS Dhoni made a matchwinning f i f t y against Australia in Hyderabad, and, nine h o u r s behind, Chris Gayle another against England to level up the series in St Lucia.

Three months out from the World Cup, Gayle, 39, and Dhoni, 37, are both among the 10 leading batsmen in ODI cricket this year. After Saturday, Gayle had 424 runs in four innings, at an average of 106, Dhoni 301 in six, at an average of 150. The beautiful part is that while t h e y b o t h seem to feel every last hour of

their age, they have developed very different ways of coping with it.

At this point in his career, the only thing Gayle

seems t o be able to do really well on a cricket field is hit sixes, something which, fortunately for him, he does better than anyone else alive right now. Of those 424 runs he made against England, 234 of them were scored in sixes. There were 39 altogether, as many as Ireland hit in the whole of last year, more than most batsmen score in their entire career.

Really. Ireland hit 39 in 15 games in 2018, and of the 2,496 men who have played one-day international cricket, only 145 of them hit as many sixes in their lives as Gayle did in those four innings.

Odd thing is, aside from that, Gayle is really not much of a bat. Because the even more extraordinary stat is that while Gayle faced 316 balls in

the series, he only managed to turn for a second run o f f four of

them.

He is such a lumbering runner that he turns the likely twos into lazy ones, and the sharp ones into certain zeroes. It’s an approach entirely at odds with the busy business of modern batting, when everyone’s supposed to hustle for runs and teams track how many dot balls their batsmen use up.

Gayle w a s t e s

most of the deliveries he faces but does so much with the rest that

he gets away with it.

Dhoni, though, has a very different sort of problem.

At times it looks as if he can barely get the ball off the square. He didn’t make so much as a single

fifty in ODI cricket last year, when it really seemed the only reason he was still in the team was because no one was brave enough to tell him he wasn’t really needed.

Virat Kohli scored 1,202 runs at an average of 133 and a strike rate of 103 in 2018, Rohit Sharma 1,030 at 74 and 100, Shikhar Dhawan 897 at 49 and 102.

Dhoni contributed 275 at 25 and 71. His batting grew so becalmed against England that even his own fans booed him for his slow play at Lord’s.

West Indies’ Chris Gayle (left), 39, and India’s MS Dhoni, 37, have both starred in recent ODIs despite their advancing years

In the last six weeks or so, though, Dhoni has played three unbeaten matchwinning innings: 59 not out off 72 balls, 87 not out off 114, and 55 not out off of 54.

Two of those matches finished in the last over, the other in the last-butone. It’s as if the only way Dhoni can make these run chases interesting for himself is by concocting close finishes, as though he wants to see just how close he can cut it. In the 55 he made at Adelaide he hit only two boundaries, both sixes, and the second of them was to tie the game. The rest of the time he just nudged and flicked and pushed the ball around, doing nothing more than the minimum.

Dhoni has become a second-innings specialist, a sure steersman in any low run-chase.

And he suffers for it. He started to keel with cramp as these innings went on, kept stopping to suck up great lungfuls of air after each single. It’s been brilliant to watch, all the better because he started the year with an innings that was so slow, 51 off 96 balls in Sydney, that people were calling for him to be dropped so India could bring in Rishabh Pant.

When Gayle was first recalled at the start of this series, no one was quite sure whether West Indies should stick with him either. But he and Dhoni have proved they can still do it, each in their own particular way. (The Guardian)

Boateng, Hummels and Muller no longer part of Low’s Germany plans

G

ermany coach Joachim Low has confirmed he will no longer pick experienced trio Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller as he wants to take the team in a different direction in 2019.

Muller made his 100th appearance for Die Mannschaft in their 2-2 Nations League draw with Netherlands in November – a game that Hummels started – while Boateng has not appeared since the 3-0 defeat to Ronald Koeman’s side in October.

Germany endured a miserable 2018, exiting the World Cup in Russia in the group stages and then finishing bottom of their Nations League group.

Their dramatic fall from grace had led to many calling for the squad’s more senior players to assume less prominent roles – a change

The 2014 World Cup winners’ squad included Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller

Low initially appeared reluctant to make, saying: “It’s a big deal if we start changing things around.”

However, Low has had a change of mind and has now ruled the Bayern Munich trio out of any future

Germany squads.

“2019 is the year of the new start for the German national football team,” he told Bild.

“We want to continue the upheaval that we initiated at the end of last year. Jerome

Boateng, Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller will no longer be in the squad of the national team.

“It was important to me personally to explain to the players and managers of Bayern Munich my thoughts

and plans.

“They are all still worldclass players who are at the forefront of their club and guarantee success.

“They are big players who have stood for a big time in the national team.

They have spent countless years for Germany and the national team. I thank Mats, Jerome and Thomas for the many successful, extraordinary and unique years together.

“In the national team, however, it is now important to set the course for the future. We want to give the team a new face. I am convinced that this is the right step.”

Germany face Serbia in a friendly on March 20 before kicking off their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign four days later against Netherlands, and Low has issued a challenge to Germany’s young players

ahead of what he hopes will be an exciting new era.

“We are sending a clear signal,” he added. “The young national team players will have the space they need to fully develop. You have to take responsibility now.”

Sporting director Oliver Bierhoff echoed Low’s sentiments and said it was time for Germany to look to the future.

“Our job is to decide what’s best for the team on the way back to the top of the world,” he explained.

“We now want to consistently make our new beginning visible in the squad.

“Thomas, Mats and Jerome have achieved great things for German football so far and will continue to do so in their club. I still feel very close to them and I’m grateful for the time together in the national team.”

(Sportsmax)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesday, march 6, 2019

ASK-G host another successful grading examination T

he karate fraternity in Guyana continues to make good progress as karatekas continue to be assessed frequently in order to zero in on their development.

On Sunday last, March 3, Head of the International Karate Daigaku (IKD), 9th Dan Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A- Tai, assisted by Amir Khouri 7th Dan and Roger Peroune 4th Dan, conducted the most recent of the karate grading examinations at the YMCA Thomas Lands.

With some refreshing performances by the younger children, the exercise culmi-

The entirety of the promoted karatekas

motion.

Meanwhile, the first Dan promotion was the largest category with Amara Geya Nandan (YMCA); Bohan Cao (YMCA); Joel Dazzell (YMCA); Budhdave Singh (YMCA); Angelo Harris (YMCA); Raphael Isaacs (Albion, Berbice) and Krisendat Phagoo (Albion, Berbice) all being promoted.

KYU promotions

Part of the grading action

nated in loud applause from the parents and supporters who were present. An enjoyable day came to an end after the white, yellow, orange, green and blue belts exams were completed.

Additionally, presentations for past successful Dan ranks were made by Shuseki Shihan Woon-A-Tai. Later on, examinations resumed with the anxious and anticipated Dan levels (8 for

Shodan, 1 for Nidan and 1 for Yondan).

An excellent performance by 50-year-old Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD) instructor, Parmeshwar Persaud earned him the status of Yondan.

In the Dan promotions, Persaud was the only karateka to be promoted out of 4th Dan while Chad Profitt (YMCA) was the lone participant with a second Dan pro-

9 to Yellow Belt: Yidiel Beaton, Shaoyu Li, Madison Narine, Aaradhya Samaroo, Kaleb Kassim, Suri Kassim, Suzanna Mohanlall, Emily Ceres, and Samarah Dhanraj .

16 to Orange Belt: Amira Rupai; Jordon Hargobin; Kristen Sanasie; Theron Lake; Tyrese Gittens; Dylon Bess (Jr); Noorisha Harrinarine; Esteban Corro Gonzalez; Edien Dookie; Mia Bailey; Samuel Klass; Vijay Tiwari; Chris Hicks; Halen Jiang; Stephen Buchana and Donte Garraway.

20 to Green Belt: Kyron Thomas, Romel Samuels, Jonathon Morgan, Sahira Ali, Giada Agdomar, Ajit Dehaan, Mia Singh, Nathaniel Higgins, Ethan Rosine, Nelicia Higgins, Saskia Dyasindoo, Jasmine Ramdas, Bethany Agdomar, Tyrone

Niles, Saif Tulla, Keith Williams, Elijah Rosine, On Beaton, Isaiah Anderson, and Aishah Persaud.

8 to Blue Belt: Joel Harry, Tyler Bess, Junxi Yang, Izaiah Abrams, Tyshaun Bess, Joshua Rampersaud, Joshua Daniels, and Rahman Yakub.

8 to Purple Belt: Matthew Salim, Adrian Bhawanidin, Isaiyah Proctor, Joshua Nimar, Anuvani Gunpat, Kristen Samaroo, Prince Dunn, and Christian Rampersaud.

8 to Brown (3): Nicolai Adolph, Maressa Baksh, Mariam Baksh, Maheshwar Dyasindoo, Malini Jainarine,

T

Georgetown, the competition is a 5-a-side knockout form a t , w h e r e by each team will be allowed two substitute players.

According to Joshua Generation Youth Ministry President C l a y o n Halley, the competition is intended to target church y o u t h groups, but if other youth organisations want to par-

ticipate, they will be allowed.

Halley also stated that the aim was to promote/encourage youths in the church to get more involved in sports and more so, create a competition that offers clean fun and entertainment for the entire family.

Halley told this publication that there would be cash, trophies and medals up for grabs, but the competition comes with a twist as the winning team will b e using a portion of the cash prize to facilitate a community project in their community and the rest will go towards sports development for the group.

There will be other attractions such as folk/traditional games prior to the start of the futsal competition.

Gates open from 12:00h and the entrance fee is just $100.

The Joshua Generation Youth Ministry is also inviting businesses and individuals to come on board as sponsors for the event.

For more information, call 671-6088.

Registration closes on March 17, 2019.

instructors – Roger Peroune, Malcolm Francis, Keith Beaton, Patrick Gurahoo, and Wanda Agdomar (YMCA); Clinton Moriah (New Amsterdam); Hazrat Ali (Albion and Blairmont); Parmeshwar Persaud (Land of Canaan) and Mahadeo Ramotar (GFK) for their commitment to the development of karate and the karatekas.

Additionally, Shuseki Shihan Woon-A-Tai will be hosting intensive instructors’ and judges’ training sessions at the Guyana Karate College (GKC) and ASK-G YMCA until he departs on Saturday, March 16, 2019.

WDCA Knockout T20 Competition…

Seyhodan, Sargent strike with 4-10 in Independence and Mc Gill wins

Joshua Generation Youth Ministry to host knockout Futsal Competition he National Gymnasium will come alive on March 21, 2019 as the Love and Faith World Outreach Ministries will be hosting its first-ever Inter-Church Youth Group Kingdom Knock Futsal Competition 2019.

Organised by the Joshua Generation Youth Ministry, located on Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater

Yam Chan Chu, Nicholas Rampersaud, and Luke Seabra.

9 to Brown (2): Obinna Utoh, Brandon Foo, Nathan Narine, Bhaskar Jaipersaud, Shinessa Boyce, Crystal Itwaru, Mariah Baksh, Akeem McPherson, and Anastassia Seabra.

7 to Brown (1): Maria Baksh, Jared Rambissoon, Navindra Deonarine, Kevin Fraser, Andre Sookram, Christopher James, and Bradley Fenty.

The Association do Shotokan Karate–Guyana (ASK-G) sought to congratulate all their students who were successful and also the

Keshram Seyhodan bagged 4-10 to hand Mc Gill the victory

T

he action continued in the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) Knockout T20 Competition as the in-form Mc Gill Superstars Sports Club (MGSSC) battled All Youths Sports Club (AYSC) last Sunday at the Wales Community Development Council (CDC) Ground.

The Mc Gill openers looked solid in the opening overs, but the team soon found themselves at 35-3 as the AYSC bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals. Keshram Seyhodan then came to the crease and blasted a quick-fire 19 (2x4s, 1x6) to counter-attack the AYSC bowlers, but he fell in the 15th over playing a reckless shot. Azar Deen and Shafiek Deen then took the score to 94-6 before the latter fell for a patient 26 in the

19th over off the bowling of Jadesh Persaud.

Mc Gill finished on 1006 in their 20 overs with Azar Deen unbeaten on 19 (2×4). Taking wickets for All Youths were Narendra Persaud (2-20); Budhan Baksh (1-13) and Dwayne Scott chipped in with 1-16.

Needing 101 for victory, All Youths SC looked shaky from the start as Sudesh Persaud and Azar Deen bowled with pace and precision.

Left-arm spinner Seyhodan was then introduced into the attack and immediately caused problems for the All Youths batsmen as he picked up two scalps in the seventh over.

Despite Jadesh Persaud’s cameo of 23, he could not carry on as Seyhodan and Travis Persaud continued inflicting further damage on their opponents.

Budhan Baksh offered some resistance, but kept losing partners at regular intervals. Baksh and Travis Worthright were at the crease when All Youths SC required 20 from the last two overs for victory.

Seyhodan bowled the penultimate over for two runs and also removed Worthright stumped for 5.

Needing 18 from six balls in the final over, Baksh, the set batsman, was on strike.

Azar Deen steamed in with pace and delivered a spectacular last over, conceding just six runs and also grab-

Richie Looknauth bagged 4-1 in a losing effort

bing the wicket of Baksh, who was caught at cover for 24, to hand MGSSC the victory.

The main bowlers for MGSSC were Seyhodan (410); Travis Persaud (2-28); Sudesh Persaud (1-11) and Azar Deen (1-15).

Meanwhile, in the other match between Cornelia Ida Cricket Club (CICC) and Independence A, CICC were sent in to bat and posted 128 all out in their allotted 20 overs. Scoring for CICC was Vaickesh Dhaniram (42) as Independence A’s bowling attack was led by Ricky Sargent with 4-10.

In response, Independence A chased the total down in 19.2 overs, ending on 130-8 with Sargent playing a match-winning 65 despite Richie Looknauth bagging 4-1.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, MARCH 6, 2019

21

Merriman’s Mall Chess Club on the rise

Devon Jacobs is at his happiest when playing chess

By Jemima Holmes

T

he Merriman Mall in Georgetown is home to many activities, the most popular of which is vending. However, in the hustle and bustle of business, a quiet section of the infamous Mall is home to the Merriman’s Mall Chess Club.

Tucked neatly between Church and North Roads, the open air venue not only allows for persons to

stop and look on, but in some instances join in on a game of chess.

Unlike his brother, Steven Jacobs with his choice of sports being cricket, Devon Jacobs has opted for a much quieter, more focused game.

Jacobs has been a stalwart at the Merriman’s Mall Chess Club for over a decade, and shared a little about the club with Guyana Times Sport.

“We’re here playing blitz chess and we normally gather every day

on a recreational basis. We’re now trying to organise our Chess Club ‘cause we’ve been gathering here for more than a decade. So, basically our participants and affiliates are very acquainted players and they’re great players, who in time I’d love to see in more activities of such.”

While noting that the Club sees close to 20 players testing their skills on a day-to-day basis, one of the Club’s greatest achievements to date is introducing to the game a young Anthony Drayton, who is now Guyana’s highest-ranked chess player, a FIDE master with a 2030 rating. Citing this, Jacobs explained the vision for the Club going forward.

“It would be a cohesion of the participants over a period of time through fundraising and other events such as this chess tournament; we look to develop slow but gradually since the event is new to our venue,” he explained.

The first step in exercising their mandate will be the Merriman’s Mall Chess Classic that will be hosted this weekend, March 9 and 10. The tournament is being hosted in honour of Calvin Giddings and Uncle Eddie who were avid

Many youngsters often learn to play chess at the Merriman’s Mall Chess Club (Jemima Holmes Photos)

players at Merriman’s Mall, but have since passed on. Chess organiser and Coach Wendell Meusa disclosed the exciting format that the competition will take on.

“We’re going to be having a grand prix style, which means on both days we’re going to be having different sections of chess.

We’re going to be playing blitz, rapid, and it’s going to be an overall points system. We’re looking to

make it nine rounds and the time control is going to vary from half an hour to five minutes,” he said.

Additionally, the Club will host a takeaway lunch on Sunday as a fundraising activity.

An excited Meusa is optimistic about the prospects of the up and coming Merriman’s Mall Chess Club, stating, “We’re actually trying to bring chess to life out here.”

BCB/New Building Society Ltd 40-Over Cricket Tournament…

D’Edward crush Warriors to face Rose Hall in final

D

’Edward Cricket Club of West Bank Berbice on Sunday last created history by becoming the first Club from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) to reach the final of the New Building Society Ltd countywide 4 0 Over

Cricket Tournament.

They defeated the favourites, Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) of Canje by nine wickets at the D’Edward Cricket Ground in one of the semi-finals.

The home team won the toss and invited the YWCC to take first strike. They lost National Under-19 player Alex Algoo, Ricardo Ramdial, Vishal Mohabir and Trevon Stanislaus to be reduced to 31- 4, but steady batting from former National Under-19 batsman

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Sanjay Khan (36) and skipper Suresh Dhanai spearheaded them to 160 all out in 39.4 overs.

Khemraj struck three huge sixes and a boundary while Dhanai also struck three sixes and two boundaries. Aaron Beharry supported with 22 and Carl Gilegous scored 10.

D’Edward m e d i um pacer Keith

Fraser took 2-24 and Heeralall Bridgelall, 4-5 while Devindra Lalsa, Hemraj Harilall, Narin Rampersaud, and Ramesh Boodram all took a wicket each.

D’Edward Cricket Club, in response, raced to 164 for 1 in just 18.5 overs as Altaf Khan blazed his way to 75 with four boundaries and five sixes. His fellow opener, Lakeraj Sookra was unbeaten on 74 with three boundaries and seven maximums as the pair shared a 150-run

opening partnership over 17 overs.

Khan was dismissed by left-arm medium pacer Devendra Ramoutar, who ended with one wicket for 26. Bridgelall was the other unbeaten batsman with three runs when victory was achieved.

The final between D’Edward and Rose Hall Town Bakewell will be played on Sunday, March 17 at the Albion Community Centre Ground from 11:00h.

Solskjaer confirms Sanchez out for 4 to 6 weeks

M

anchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed Alexis Sanchez is expected to be out for between four and six weeks with a knee injury.

Sanchez was afforded a rare start in the 3-2 win over Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday, but he was forced off early in the second half after hurting his right knee in a collision with Jan Bednarek.

The Chile international joined a lengthy injury list, while it proved to be another blow to his stuttering and disappointing United spell.

Sanchez is one of 10 firstteam players ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Paris SaintGermain through injury, while Paul Pogba is suspended after getting sent off in the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

The doctor for Chile’s national team estimated Sanchez could be out for eight weeks, though Solskjaer is optimistic it will not be that long.

“It was a bad knee inju-

Alexis Sanchez

ry, so if it is four weeks or six weeks, hopefully he will recover quickly,” Solskjaer told reporters at his prematch news conference.

United’s injury problems mean Solskjaer has had little choice but to once again call up several of the club’s most promising youngsters, with Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes, Mason Greenwood, James Garner and left-back

Brandon Williams all travelling to Paris.

It is a little over three years since Marcus Rashford burst onto the scene with a brace in the Europa League against Midtjylland, and Solskjaer thinks that will inspire the youngsters on Wednesday.

“I think every young player at this club is dreaming of having the impact

Rashy’s [Rashford] had, there are so many examples of that,” Solskjaer added. “Tomorrow [Wednesday] might be a chance for some of the young ones.”

United go into the match with little pressure on them given the first-leg deficit and alarming list of absentees, and while Solskjaer recognises the situation, he insists there is hope.

“You can say that [there is no external pressure on United], because we’re 2-0 down after the home game, but we will never approach any game like that,” he said.

“We are expected to go out easily, but that doesn’t happen with United players.

Our pride was hurt in the first leg.

“If we have nine or 10 players playing at their top standards, we will stand a chance. We can carry one or two.

“Everyone knows we can do it, we have done it. Results in the Champions League in the last few years, I don’t want to say were strange, but last year Juventus lost 3-0 to Real Madrid and were then 3-0 up in second-leg.

“The year before there was PSG against Barcelona, we all remember those games. There are so many examples of teams who can change results like this.

“When no one believes in you, there’s always that bit of character you have to show. These players are not used to losing and we’re not happy with the loss in the home leg.” (Sportsmax)

22

wednesday, march 6, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

CONCACAF Nations League Qualifier prep…

Jags team show positive signs, but need more work – Suriname friendly set for March 16

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he Guyana National Senior Men’s Team, commonly known as the Golden Jaguars, completed their third training match on Saturday last against Fruta Conquerors under the direction of Assistant Coach Charles Pollard, who said the match “had a lot of positives”, but he was disappointed with some individual performances.

This view was expressed following the match on Saturday at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre that ended 1-0 for the Jaguars, but saw the technical team focusing on specific technical and tactical areas.

According to Pollard, the team had a good first half and while there are areas

to improve, the team’s attitude is encouraging: “I think we had a solid first 45 minutes. We were good with the possession percentage, but need to get the team to concentrate for longer periods; this is an area where attention needs to be focused on.

I understand we’re asking the team to show something different, and I also understand that the learning process will take a while, but it’s a process we must engage. However, the team’s attitude is great and that’s an important element.”

Meanwhile, a training match is scheduled against a Suriname Senior Men’s Team on March 16 at 16:00h in Suriname.

“The match against Suriname will be a good

test for the Guyana-based squad,” said Pollard. “The fitness level has progressed very well and is getting to the point required. I think the fitness coach has been doing a great job. I was very impressed with most of the guys’ fitness level in the weekend fixture.”

More details of the scheduled training match with the Suriname senior squad will be disseminated during the week.

The training matches are part of the preparation for Guyana’s final CONCACAF Nations League qualifier against Belize on March 23 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara. Match time is 18:30h and admission will cost $1500.

BCB/Hetmyer Intermediate Cricket Tournament…

Dukestown Warriors, No 70 Spartan and Betsy Ground victorious

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he action in the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) Shimron Hetmyer Intermediate Cricket Tournament continued last weekend with several matches being played across the ancient county. Close to fifty teams are hunting for supremacy in the tournament which is named after Berbice’s explosive West Indian

Cricketer Shimron Hetmyer and served as a bridge between the Second Division and First Division levels. Teams are allowed to play four First Division players who are not debarred by the (BCB) while Under-19 Players are not considered First D i vision Players.

West Indies batting star and Young Warriors Cricket Club member Shimron Hetmyer has sponsored the tournament as part of his effort to express gratitude to Berbice Cricket for his humble beginnings.

Three teams, Dukestown Warriors Cricket Club, No. 70 Spartan Cricket Club and Betsy Ground Cricket Club all registered emphatic wins over the weekend.

K. Gangaram scored a brilliant 138 for Betsy Ground whilst another outstanding performance came from batsman R. Jugusteen 70.

Guyanaese Under-17 medium pacer Leon Swammy took 6 wickets for 4 runs for Tucber Park versus Edinburgh in a remarkable bowling performance.

No. 72 Cut and Load 135 all out in 33.5 overs in

their encounter against No. 70 Spartan. Ikram Khan 29, D. Chatterpaul 31, V. Persaud 25 were the best batsmen for No. 72 whilst the opponents’ outstanding bowlers were Rayan Yacoob 3 for 33, Omesh Khemraj 3 for 36, O. K. Mathura 3 for 15. On the flip side, No. 70

Spartan scored 136 for 6 in 20.5 Overs. Tameshwar Ramoutar 40 not out and Akash Persaud 27 fuelled their team to victory whilst Victor Pedro 3 for 39, A. Paresar 2 for 23 went invain.

Betsy Ground defeated Goed Bananen Land by 146 runs at the latter’s home ground. Betsy Ground powered to 360 for 6 in 35 overs with K .

Gangaram 139, R. Jugisteer 70, S. Sanichara 38, D. Emandin 32 putting the runs on the board. D. Cyril’s 3 for 37 were the only respectable figures.

Goed Bananen Land found themselves at 114 all in 23 overs. D. Cyril 45 was not enough to stand up to Betsy Ground’s bowling attack of: D. Emandin 3 for 19, K. Gangaram 2 for 27 and L. Jugisteer 2 for 18.

At No. 72 Cut and Load Ground, Dukestown Warriors crushed No. 64 Cricket Club by 7 wickets to enjoy an easy victory.

No. 64 Cricket Club were 66 all out in 23.2 overs after a poor batting performance which featured, Jason Itwaru top scoring

with 10 and extras contributing 21 vital runs. Jermain Reid 2 for 14, Vandam Narine 3 for 19, Errol Byass 2 for 12, Wayne Garnette 2 for 7 was the combina-

tion used by Dukestown Warriors.

Dukestown Warriors Cricket Club replied with 71 for 3 in 16.4 Overs. Clarence Beresford 17 and Budram Sukhdeo

15 were left not out in the run chase. Ramzan Subhan 2 for 26 was the only bowler to stand up to the opponents.

FIFA confirms Chelsea have appealed transfer ban

Stamford Bridge – home of Chelsea Football Club

C

helsea have submitted an appeal to FIFA over the club’s two-window transfer ban, world football’s governing body has confirmed.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee sanctioned Chelsea last month over 29 cases in which the club were found to have breached regulations relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18.

Responding to the ban,

which prevents Chelsea from registering any new signings before the end of the 2019-20 season, a club statement said they “categorically refute” FIFA’s claims and would be appealing.

“The club wishes to emphasise that it respects the important work undertaken by FIFA in relation to the protection of minors and has fully cooperated with FIFA throughout its investigation,” Chelsea said.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that Chelsea have now submitted their appeal against the ban.

Barcelona were handed a similar transfer ban in 2014 but an appeal by the LaLiga club pushed the punishment into the following year.

They subsequently signed Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Jeremy Mathieu, Claudio Bravo and MarcAndre ter Stegen before the ban came into effect. (Sportsmax)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, march 6, 2019

23

England’s Tour of the West Indies 2019…

Jonny Bairstow’s half century leads England to 4-wicket win after bowlers restrict West Indies

Sheldon Cottrell celebrates the wicket of Alex Hales

A

quick-fire half century by Jonny Bairstow has led England to a comfortable four-wicket victory against West Indies in the opening game of their three-match T20I series in St Lucia.

After Nicholas Pooran's impressive fifty anchored West Indies' innings in the face of a strong all-round England bowling performance led by Tom Curran's 4-36, Bairstow charged towards the tourists' target of 161 from the outset.

West Indies were not helped by some loose bowling and even more costly fielding. They got wickets too, but Bairstow lost batting partners Alex Hales, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan as well as being dropped twice and he did not even flinch, racing to his fifty off 27 balls and reaching his

68 off 40 before lofting Ashley Nurse to Carlos Brathwaite on the boundary. While the danger wasn't completely removed for England, Bairstow had set them off to such a strong start that nothing short of a serious colllapse would see them beaten.

Kent team-mates Joe Denly and Sam Billings all but completed the job with a 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket so that when Jason Holder had Denly caught by Pooran for 30 off 29 balls, England needed just eight runs to win. But there were nervous moments to come when Billings was dropped on Holder's next ball

by Oshane Thomas, whose one-handed attempt at deep square leg was a mess. Then Sheldon Cottrell added his third wicket with his first ball back into the attack,

bowling Billings for 18. By then, however, England only needed seven runs and they reached the target with seven balls to spare.

West Indies kept the squad which drew the ODI series 2-2 with England but made two key tweaks to their side, bringing in Pooran and Fabian Allen for John Campbell and Devendra Bishoo. Shai Hope opened alongside Chris Gayle in Campbell's place and immediately received a second chance when Adil Rashid dropped a sitter at third man off David Willey in the first over. Fortunately for England, however, Root held on to a leading edge at midwicket off Curran in the next over and Hope was sent packing with West Indies 7 for 1.

Surprisingly, with Gayle at the other end, it was Shimron Hetmyer who hit the first six three balls later. But, sure enough, Gayle chimed in with two of his own in the following over and it looked like the slog-fest his 39 sixes in the one-day series promised would continue in the shorter format. It was not to be, however, and when Gayle fell just a short time later, caught by Rashid at gully off Chris Jordan for just 15 off 12 balls, Pooran's inclusion became key.

After a stuttering start to his international career because of an 18-month layoff after injuring both his legs in a horror car accident in 2015, the 23-year-old Pooran made his ODI debut in the first fixture of the series against England in Barbados last month, scoring a duck, drop-

Chris Jordan took an excellent catch to dismiss Darren Bravo

ping a catch and holding another.

But, playing his ninth T20I, he stepped into the void left by Gayle's dismissal, bringing up his 50 off just 32 deliveries then slapping the next ball for a mammoth 111m six off Curran which cleared the roof of the stands.

Pooran was out three balls later, however, bowled by Curran with a clever delivery that took the top of middle stump for 58 off 37 balls, his highest T20I score.

Pooran shared a 64-run partnership with Darren Bravo, who was out to a spectacular piece of fielding by Jordan off his own bowling.

Jordan's slower ball enticed a leading edge from Bravo and the bowler had to change direction on his follow-through to take a diving catch in his outstretched right hand.

Jordan was impressive, bowling just three overs to claim 2-16, while Rashid was also excellent with 2-15 off his four. Joe Denly claimed the handy wicket of Allen off his three overs but the pick of England's bowlers was

Curran with all of his wickets being dangerous batsmen in

Hope, Hetmyer, Pooran and Jason Holder.

3

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Innings (20 overs maximum) SD Hope † c Root b Curran . . 6 CH Gayle c Rashid b Jordan . 15 SO Hetmyer c Plunkett b Curran . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 DM Bravo c & b Jordan . . . . 28 N Pooran b Curran . . . . . . 58 CR Brathwaite c †Bairstow b Rashid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 FA Allen c Jordan b Denly . . . 8 JO Holder (c) c Billings b Curran 7 AR Nurse not out . . . . . . . 13 Extras (b 1, w 10) . . . . . . . 11 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 8.0) 160/8 Did not bat: SS Cottrell, O Thomas Fall of wickets: 1-7 (SD Hope, 1.3 ov), 2-31 (CH Gayle, 3.6 ov), 3-37 (SO Hetmyer, 4.6 ov), 4-101 (DM Bravo, 13.3 ov), 5-102 (CR Brathwaite, 14.4 ov), 6-127 (FA Allen, 16.5 ov), 7-137 (N Pooran, 17.5 ov), 8-160 (JO Holder, 19.6 ov) BOWLING: DJ Willey (2-0-200), TK Curran (4-0-36-4), CJ Jordan (3-0-16-2), AU Rashid (4-0-15-1), LE Plunkett (4-0-440), JL Denly (3-0-28-1)

England Innings (target: 161 runs from 20 overs) AD Hales b Cottrell . . . . . . 11 JM Bairstow † c Brathwaite b Nurse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 JE Root lbw b Cottrell . . . . . 0 EJG Morgan (c) c Gayle b Brathwaite . . . . . . . . . . . 8 JL Denly c Pooran b Holder . . 30 SW Billings b Cottrell . . . . . 18 DJ Willey not out . . . . . . . . 1 TK Curran not out . . . . . . . 2 Extras (b 8, lb 7, w 8) . . . . 23 TOTAL (18.5 Overs, RR: 8.54) 161/6 Did not bat: LE Plunkett, CJ Jordan, AU Rashid Fall of wickets: 1-17 (AD Hales, 0.6 ov), 2-32 (JE Root, 2.3 ov), 3-83 (EJG Morgan, 8.3 ov), 4-103 (JM Bairstow, 11.3 ov), 5-153 (JL Denly, 17.4 ov), 6-154 (SW Billings, 18.1 ov) BOWLING: SS Cottrell (3.5-029-3), O Thomas (2-0-18-0), AR Nurse (4-0-32-1), JO Holder (4-0-26-1), CR Brathwaite (40-33-1), FA Allen (1-0-8-0)

LeBron: “I’m not Guinness “Greatest in the Streets” sitting games” Berbice zone starts Friday

L

os Angeles Lakers star LeBron James rebuffed any notion of sitting out any of the team’s remaining games, saying Monday night that “unless I’m hurt, I’m not sitting games.”

James made the comments to ESPN after the Lakers’ latest loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, a crippling blow to the team’s playoff chances. The Lakers are now 5.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the final playoff spot with 18 games remaining. “ T h a t

would take a lot of convincing from Luke on up,” James told ESPN. “Unless I’m hurt, I’m not sitting games. That conversation hasn’t occurred, but I’m sure it can happen soon.”

He scored 27 points in 42 minutes against the Clippers.

James missed 18 games with a left groin injury in December and January.

The Lakers have lost three in a row and five of their past six.

The Lakers play host to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. The Nuggets are chasing Golden State for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

(Reuters)

E

ight exciting matches are carded for Friday on the opening night of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” football Berbice sub-meet at the New Amsterdam Stelling tarmac.

Defending champions Trafalgar will open their title defence against Rose Hall, starting at 19:00h.

Sixteen teams from East and West Berbice will battle for supremacy over three days of competition – Friday, Saturday and March 16 to see who will be “Made of More” in the regional submeet.

The teams in Group A are Trafalgar, Rose Hall, Litchfield, Canje, Hopetown, Black Sharks, Bam Boys and NA Kings B while Group B will feature NA Kings, Fast Seven, Outsiders, Goalers, East Bank Gunners, Constab, Twenties and Top Form.

Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste disclosed that all systems were

in place for the competition which has become a popular event on the sports calendar in the Ancient County.

“Berbicians and football lovers alike can expect an entertaining three nights of action, and we are urging fans to be early to witness some very exciting games,” he added.

Baptiste further said that this was the second sub-meet for 2019 following the successful hosting of the West Demerara/East Bank zone last month at Pouderoyen tarmac in West Demerara, where Brothers United emerged as the champions and will advance to the national playoffs later

this year. The winners of the Berbice zone will also book a place in the play-offs.

The tournament’s coordinator is former national goalkeeper Philip Carrington, and the sponsors are Banks DIH Limited through its Guinness Brand and Colours Boutique of Robb Street, Georgetown.

wednesday, march 6, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

England’s Tour of the West Indies 2019…

Jonny Bairstow’s half century leads England to 4-wicket win after bowlers restrict West Indies

Page 23

Jonny Bairstow batted positive for his 68

Darren Bravo and Nicholas Pooran revived Windies after a poor start

CONCACAF Nations League Qualifier prep…

Jags team show positive signs, but need more work

Guinness “Greatest in the Streets” Berbice zone starts Friday Page 23

Page 22

– Suriname friendly set for March 16

Trafalgar won the 2018 Berbice Zone of Guinness “Greatest in the Streets”

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