Guyana Times , Wednesday January 8, 2020.

GECOM P ready for Nomination Day – PRO 11

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

Issue No. 4159

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

PRICE

MoPI kept millions rather than returning money to Consolidated Fund – AG

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GRA flagged for not selling seized vehicles to highest P7 bidders

See story on page 3

...vehicle sold for $400,000 despite $1.8M competing bid

Following political pressure

Former MP P8 charged for sexual assault

…blatantly breaches FMA Act

Govt Commissioner's walk-out breaks up GECOM meeting Minister’s PPP/C speedboat members operating attacked at Bartica without while approval – putting up Speedboat party flags Association

Page 13

Page 9

$80 VAT INCLUDED

Page 9

Abused mother of 3 lives in fear after husband threatens to kill P2 family

Construction worker nabbed with unlicensed firearm P2

Attacker

Berbice pensioner killed by speeding car on pedestrian crossing See story on page 14

Total, Apache tout ‘significant’ oil find in P15 Suriname waters

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Abused mother of 3 lives in fear after husband threatens to kill family

A

Denita Mohamed

mother of three is now fearful for her life and those of her children after her abusive husband threatened to kill them.

The woman, Denita Mohamed, who almost lost her life two weeks ago because of a beating she received from her husband, noted that while she is fearful, she has to protect her

children.

She identified her abuser as Shafeek Mohamed.

The young mother told Guyana Times on Monday that she is constantly being abused by the man with whom she has been with for more than 11 years. As a result of the abuse she received from the hands of her husband, she was forced to leave her marital home and is now staying by her parents with her children.

She noted that despite them being at her parents’ home, whenever the man sees her, he would carry out his threats. She recalled her husband giving her ecstasy pills about two years ago and dealing her a severe beating. This resulted in her lodging a complaint against him with the Police.

He was subsequently ar-

rested and charged for assaulting her. The court had imposed a restraining order against him for two years.

“Nuff time he had cutlass and he would put it in front me and my daughter and then he would hit me in front of the children,” she noted.

The woman further stated that the last fight she had with her husband stemmed from him visiting her home and begging her to return

Mohamed was severely beaten by her husband two weeks ago

home. After she refused, she was beaten in her parents’ home.

“I nearly die on December 27… he brutally beat me and cut my fingers… bit my nose… damage my face and threaten to kill me, my kids and my parents. If wasn’t for my parents, I would have not been here because they heard me screaming in the house and came out,” she cried.

The distraught woman

was almost in tears during the interview with Guyana Times. “I’m so frustrated and worried for my life and my kids’ life,” she stated.

Ever since the last incident, he has been in hiding but the young mother believes that his parents are aware of his whereabouts.

A report was made to the Police and they have launched a manhunt for his arrest.

Construction worker nabbed with illegal gun, ammo

P

olice have detained a 25-year-old construction worker of Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, in connection with the discovery of an unlicensed gun and matching ammunition.

Based on reports received, Police acting on information went to Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, where they observed the construction worker trying to dispose of a firearm.

However, a search was carried out on the man which unearthed a Glock 19 pistol with seven live rounds of ammunition. In addition, the police also found six grams of cannabis in the suspect’s possession. He was told of the offences, arrested and is expected to be charged shortly.

Seven live rounds

The unlicensed firearm

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

MoPI kept millions rather than returning

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

…blatantly breaches FMA Act

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Wednesday, January 8 – 03:30h – 05:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Thursday, January 9 – 04:30h – 06:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

Wednesday, January 8 – 14:25h – 15:55h and Thursday, January 9 – 15:05h – 16:35h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine with light midday showers are expected during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 02:37h and 14:51h reaching maximum heights of 2.39 metres and 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 08:25h and 20:55h reaching minimum heights of 0.83 metre and 0.63 metre.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS N

01 05 11 20 22 28 18

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

DAILY MILLIONS

07 16 17 20 21 LUCKY 3

1

0

7

Afternoon Draw

6

4

0

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01

02

04 07

PAY DAY

10 13 21 SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020

04 05 07 11 16

01 08 10 11 17

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

money to Consolidated Fund – AG

T

he Public Infrastructure Ministry has been red-flagged by the Audit Office of Guyana (AOG) in its latest report on public finances; this time, for keeping millions of dollars rather than returning it to the Consolidated Fund as the law says.

According to Auditor General Deodat Sharma in his 2018 Audit Report, checks by his auditors found that the Ministry kept 222 cheques totalling $732.7 million on hand as of January 2019. Further cheques in September revealed that 76 cheques amounting to $9.5 million were still in the Ministry’s possession.

This money, according to the Auditor General, represents unspent balances from the just-concluded year. Section 43 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act of 2003 states: “Except as otherwise provided in this Act or in any other law, at the end of each fiscal year, any unexpended balance of public moneys issued out of the Consolidated Fund shall be returned and surrendered to the Consolidated Fund.”

In its recommendations, the Audit Office recommended that the Ministry ensure compliance with the FMA Act. According to the Ministry in its response, however, all efforts were made to have them either paid to the rightful person or returned to the Consolidated Fund.

“The head of the budget agency (Public Infrastructure Ministry) stated that the Ministry received a large number of cheques in December 2018 from the Ministry of Finance. The head further stated that the cheques were being updated and all efforts will be made to have them paid over to the payees or refunded to revenue,” the report stated.

The Consolidated Fund has an important role to play in governance. Article 216 of the Constitution of Guyana states, “All revenues or other (sums of) money raised or received

by Guyana (not being revenues or other sums of money payable by or under an Act of Parliament into some other fund established for any specific purpose; or that may, by or under such an Act, be retained by the authority that received them for the purpose of defraying the expenses of that authority) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

Fund.”

Article 217 stipulates that money cannot be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund except: “(a) to meet expenditure that is charged upon the Fund by this Constitution or by any Act of Parliament; or (b) where the issue of those (sums of) money has been authorised by an Appropriation Act; or (c) where the issue of those (sums of) money has been authorised under Article 219.”

Besides money not being returned to the Fund in the stipulated manner, Government has been red-flagged by the Auditor General’s office time and time again for not using the Consolidated Fund in a rightful manner.

Over the past few years, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament under the leadership of Chairman and

now People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali, has been reading the riot act to various agencies for similar infractions.

After the Auditor General’s report for 2018 was handed over in October amid political uncertainty regarding sittings of the National Assembly, PAC

President David Granger

members had urged that the parliamentary opposition’s absence from the house not be used as an excuse to duck the report.

But with Parliament dissolved since December 30, 2019, in order to pave the way for elections on March 2, 2020, it is unclear when the Audit Report’s findings will be dealt with by a fully-constituted PAC.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

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

Helping drug offenders

W

ith the support of various stakeholders, Guyana last year set up a drug treatment court to cater for rehabilitation of drug offenders providing them with an opportunity to fix their lives and return to a state where they can be valuable members of their communities again.

The court will feature a drug treatment team that includes Magistrates, State Counsels, a legal aid attorney and a probation officer. In explaining how it works, Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards related that offenders will get to choose to do community service or enter a drug rehabilitation programme. She noted that participants first have to sign an agreement which binds them to follow certain rules including regular attendance of the programme and submitting to random drug tests etc.

Once the offender goes to the court and the offender pleads guilty or is found guilty by the Magistrate, that offender is provided with the option to accept a custodial sentence or to enter a treatment programme which the drug court provides, as an alternative to incarceration.

It was also explained that the programme will provide treatment tailored to the needs of the participants and will work alongside key organisations to ensure the success of the programme. Some of the key interventions will be educational sessions, one-to-one counselling, group counselling, treatment recovery plan, reintegration, postgraduation plans.

As stated in a previous editorial, court-supervised treatment of certain types of drug-dependent offenders as an alternative to incarceration is a concept that has proven its value across different cultures as a means of reducing crime, reducing repeat offences, reducing relapse into drug use, and reducing the prison population. Jamaica recognised this in 1999, with the passage of the Drug Court (Treatment and Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act, and the establishment of two drug treatment courts in the country which has proven to be effective.

Drug dependence is partly regarded as a disease and should be treated as such. Treatment of the disease is important since leaving it untreated almost guarantees that the drugdependent person will relapse into drug use. Further, not only will it result in the drug-dependent offenders re-offending, it will certainly lead them to commit other crimes in order to feed their drug habits.

In many Caribbean territories, especially Guyana there is a high proportion of prisoners incarcerated for drug-related crimes. While it is still difficult to quantify the drugs/crime relationship, there is sufficient evidence to connect drug users to crime and lack of citizen security.

It is well known that the cost of drug abuse and related problems to our society is very significant. These costs lie in law enforcement actions against drug traffickers and street dealers. The costs to the health and welfare systems are also believed to be very high as various studies on the subject show that drug abuse places significant additional strains on already overburdened healthcare systems.

Many experts have concluded that jailing offenders does not help them in any way, but rather pushes them to graduate into “bigger things”.

It should be mentioned that the heart of the success of drug treatment courts is the combination of treatment with judicial supervision and oversight. Without treatment, there is no drug treatment court. And without the power of the bench, the offender’s adherence to an often lengthy course of drug treatment would probably be much harder. Drug treatment and the justice system, therefore, go hand-in-hand.

We are not saying that drug treatment courts are the magic bullet that will help all drug-dependent offenders but certainly this approach offers a way out of the cycle of drugs and crime. It is one sure way of addressing drug addiction and crime in our communities as a new system will provide rehabilitative services to offenders rather than have them incarcerated— which does not help in any way.

Bird balloon?

A murmuration of migrating starlings fly in a group over a field near Kiryat Gat, Israel, January 1, 2020 (Reuters/Amir Cohen)

Sincerity versus deception Dear Editor, The PPP/C’s campaign launch at Kitty Market Square on Sunday will go down not only as memorable but as the best by any political party. It was packed with a comprehensive developmental outline for the next 5 years. On the other hand, the APNU/AFC’s launch was only about great pomp and fanfare. It was all fluff meant to deceive once again!

In comparison, the APNU/ AFC’s launch pales into insignificance even though millions were spent, some say taxpayers’ dollars, to attract people by providing free food, drinks and live entertainment by well-known artistes. The coalition needs to understand that content matters most of all!

The APNU/AFC’s campaign launch and the presentations delivered were supposed to convince Guyanese to vote for that party but it reminded me of damp squibs which failed to ignite. The lacklustre deliverances were devoid of any concrete plan and were filled with regurgitations of past promises. It reminded of so much of the 2015 failed promises and the dismal failure of the coalition to bring about the ‘good life’ and the ‘progress’ they had chanted so

incessantly about. The presentations were all about holding on to power as was evidenced

by Granger’s statement when he said, “We are going to reform the Constitution so that that nonsense (referring to the No-Confidence Motion) they tried for us in the last twelve months doesn’t happen again”. This has now made it pellucid and conclusive that Granger intentionally violated the Constitution because he is of the opinion that Article 106 is “nonsense”. This man has no right to the presidency of this country! No President has ever dubbed and labelled their country’s Constitution with such disdain and utter disregard! This also makes it conclusive that if this man is ever elected to the presidency again then his dictatorial rule is guaranteed and Guyana will be worse off than at the end of the 28 years dictatorship of the PNC. The entire presentation’s main thrust was oil and riddled with more promises of ‘good life’. For nearly 5 years Guyanese have traversed backwards!

Unlike Granger’s team, the PPP/C campaign launch presentations were filled with factual statistical analysis to highlight the abys-

mal failure of the coalition and its penchant for corruption and wasteful spending whilst presenting to Guyanese an achievable plan to steer Guyana’s economy back on the road to progress. Dr Ali’s presentation was totally inspiring and he made it clear that the emphasis will not only be on oil but all the other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining, forestry and tourism. He also outlined some transformative projects and emphasised inclusivity of all Guyanese. He will be a President for all Guyanese!

Dr Ali’s delivery was passionate, emotional and factual and honest but Granger had nothing to brag about except the establishing of towns, Local Government Elections, which they lost badly, and some cosmetic infrastructures. His presentation was devoid of any meaningful content and his attempt to tarnish the character of Dr Ali was most distasteful to say the least. A political party must campaign on its achievements and the coalition has nothing to brag about!

Furthermore, if the coalition was in some state of sanity they should never have chosen D’Urban Park to launch

its election campaign since it marks a project which epitomises squandering and corruption at its best! It has to be that these people have gone mad! The Auditor General’s report has revealed that the Public Infrastructure Ministry cannot account for $500 million of taxpayers’ money, undisclosed donations of $64 million and that $177 million in payment vouchers cannot be found by the auditors. This corrupt project was started in 2015 as soon as they assumed office and it cost the taxpayers approximately $1.4 billion. It was their first big one and indeed it set the stage for many other corrupt deals to follow!

In conclusion, any sane and reasonable person looking at the D’Urban Park stadium on that Friday night would have to wonder how come these people are asking for another term when they are standing, speaking, singing and dancing on their very own monument of corruption and all the while begging for another chance!

Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Online banking has become burdensome

Dear Editor, It is out of frustration that I have decided to make public the travesty one has to go through when doing online transactions with Republic Bank Ltd (Guy). I have noticed that the bank has decided to compensate for the inconvenience caused due to the transition and upgrade of its electronic system, for which they should be applauded.

However, one issue that needs urgent attention is the online purchasing system using its card. As a Guyanese, I am not sure if it is applicable to other territories as well

in which they provide similar services, for me to make an online purchase and/or transaction I must first make contact with the bank’s head office in Trinidad and Tobago for them to provide access to my account, which was opened in Guyana.

It is burdensome to make calls to Trinidad and Tobago every time one has to do an online transaction because access is given only for 24 hours.

Hence, a subsequent transaction would necessitate another call and note that not all times you will get through easily or may have wait and

go through extensions to get to the individual authorised to open the account. In addition to the inconvenience, the cost to call to Trinidad and Tobago must be borne by the account holder.

The account holder is no way at fault if the bank cannot provide proper security for the transaction and payment; that is the responsibility of the bank and as such should be the one to provide such calls free of cost to the account holder or return the remittance.

It is unfair because I did not apply to any office outside

of Guyana to initiate any process to open my account and I was never told subsequently, that I would need to make contact with its headquarters in Trinidad for any transaction.

Through this medium, I am calling on the Bank of Guyana to make the necessary declaration to protect the citizens from being unfairly treated and ensure that Republic Bank Ltd (Guy) compensates for all the calls made for this purpose over the years.

Yours sincerely, Name submitted

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

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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

Granger, Bynoe thumbing their It’s hard not to collective noses at Guyanese connect the dots

Dear Editor, Guyana will receive four million barrels of ‘profit-oil’ in 2020; the Granger Administration has already sold three million of those in 2019. Granger has not bothered to hold a press conference and offer details. Given the importance of this event and the strident calls for transparency in all dealings with oil revenues, this is a troubling development.

But there is worse news, as I write this; the Department of Energy is working feverishly to conclude an arrangement for the sale of all of Guyana’s profit-oil over the next five years. The deal reportedly involves payment of 0.75 per cent of all sales to a newly created Londonbased marketing company.

0.75 per cent may not sound like much but it will amount to over US$100 million over

the next five years.

Mr Granger and Mr Bynoe are thumbing their collective noses at the Guyanese people with their continuing refusal to acknowledge that long-term deals cannot be entered into by a caretaker Government and the need for full transparency in all dealings with oil and gas. The recently leaked Auditor General’s report for 2018 contains page after page detailing corrupt practices, billions of unaccounted public monies and brazen theft by the Granger Administration. The attempt to sign a five-year oil sale arrangement with a clear fund-siphon attached is beyond the pale of honesty and decency.

David Granger has hidden from the glare of unscripted questions throughout his Presidency; he has

clung fiercely to the idea that it is better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt; this cannot be the modus operandi of Guyana’s leader in our new era as an oil-producing nation.

Opaqueness is a recipe for civil disaster.

Granger is going to attempt to sell the next five years of oil production before February 2020, mere days before a general election. This is how Granger wants to begin his “Decade of Development”, it is a roadmap for corruption; a return to the ‘dark ages’ and an establishment of a Granger Monarchy. Republic day is on the March 23, a week later Regional and General Elections will be held, let us resolve to vote for the end of opaque oil dealings, corruption and see a return to the

rule of law and a system of parliamentary democracy.

The PPP/C presidential candidate has stated publicly that there is a great need for measures to be in place to ensure transparency and accountability to guard the emerging sector against corruption. Given that Granger came into Government and met a full Treasury (US$968 million) and is leaving it with nothing but buttons five years later, there is no greater urgency for all Guyanese to work together to halt this insidious longterm sale of oil being negotiated clandestinely by Granger and Bynoe. I will continue to shine this little light of mine, Guyanese will get to do their bit at the polls on March 2, 2020.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Looking forward to revised electoral system Dear Editor, As the clock ticks away towards the March 2 General and Regional Elections, Guyanese should be paying very keen attention to what I regard as confusion over the voters’ list. In recent weeks, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has announced that the so-called Revised Voters’ List contains an astonishing 671,000 out of a population which is officially listed at 750,000.

This simply cannot be even if we deploy the most creative and dishonest forms of calculation.

As far as I know, Guyana’s schools’ popula-

tion of students under age 18 is listed at about 260,000.

Therefore, if you subtract this number from 750,000, the revised list cannot be anywhere near 671,000.

Editor, this situation could represent what people around the world refer to as the perfect storm for controversy and political unrest. I have read letters and commentaries from people in both the dailies and in social media platforms, blaming last year’s ruling by the Chief Justice that qualified people cannot be removed from the list.

How GECOM will manage this looming level of con-

fusion in the coming days as the date nears and as the political tension rises is beyond me. I do fear some level of confusion on Election Day. Going forward, I look forward to the day when the major parties, in and out of Parliament, will sit down like knights at the roundtable, and clean up this sordidly confusing and overly bureaucratic electoral system of ours. We sit in front of our television sets and watch as results from places on the globe with far larger populations are announced within hours of an election. Ours is fraught with objections from parties, recounts and dispu-

tations of the statements of polls. We simply have to find a more efficient system to work with.

Also, we do not hear of the political strife that accompanies preparations for general elections in other places as is the case here with our electoral scroll. I am dearly hoping that the system is revised in the near future so it could make more sense to ordinary Guyanese.

I look forward to the publication of the final voters’ list and the numbers on that list therein.

Sincerely, Peter Joseph

Are the persons of the Granger cabal really honest?

Dear Editor, President Granger, at the APNU/AFC campaign launch on January 3, said his Government is composed of honest persons. But is this really the case? Are the persons of the Granger cabal really honest? Let us consider the following, though they are many examples:1. The August 5, 2015, Stabroek News reported that “Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman today denied that there will be astronomical pay increases for Government Ministers and with additional allowances.” Then on October 7, 2015, Stabroek News reported “Cabinet Ministers are to see their salaries rise by 50 per cent in a move likely to generate criticism as public servants were given a small salary hike after having been promised a “significant” increase by the APNU/ AFC Government. Minister of State Joseph Harmon yesterday said that he would make no apologies for the 50 per cent salary increases to Cabinet Ministers, argu-

ing that it is well-deserved.”

Hardly the signs of an honest bunch, I would say.

2. The November 23, 2017, Kaieteur News reported that “Finance Minister Winston Jordan has told Kaieteur News that there was no advance payment made to the Government of Guyana by United States oil giant, ExxonMobil.” The December 9, 2017, Kaieteur News then reported “The evidence shows that since last year, the Government accepted, and arranged mechanisms, to collect a signing bonus from Exxon. The money, which Kaieteur News understands is to the tune of US$18 million, now sits in an account at Bank of Guyana.” How honest was this?

3. The November 22, 2016, Stabroek News reported “The D’Urban Park project was financed and managed in its first phase by Homestretch Development Incorporated, a private company owned by Larry London and associates…”.

The Stabroek News went on

to say “The project, which was initiated in November 2015, was transferred to the stewardship of Ministry of Public Infrastructure in April of this year after evidence of substandard works on the stands surfaced in the public”. I also saw in the same article that “Patterson had revealed in the House on August 8 that $150 million provided from the Contingencies Fund completed Phase 1 of the project. At that time, he was defending a request in the Supplementary Financial Paper No 1 of 2016 for an additional $407.6 million from the Contingencies Fund for the project. Additionally, the 2015 Auditor General’s report stated that $36.509 million from the Lotto Fund went towards the rehabilitation of D’Urban Park without parliamentary approval.” The October 2, 2017, Guyana Chronicle reported on the matter that “Also, an additional $500 million from the Consolidated Fund was sought by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in

December 2016, and was approved by the National Assembly.” The January 5, 2020, <<<Guyana Times>>> reported that “The Auditor General’s (AG) 2018 report is out and among its revelations is the fact that the Public Infrastructure Ministry gave $500 million of taxpayers’ money to a private company for the construction of D’Urban Park, then could not account to the Audit Office for how the money was spent.” Was this honest?

It is hard to convince the rational-minded that the Government is really what they say they are. Not too long after the President made his remarks, on January 5, 2020, the media reported: “Government has failed to account for over $800 million spent in 2018, according to the Auditor General’s report.” Again, it appears, honest and decent is just a catchphrase without any real meaning.

Yours faithfully, Patricia Persaud

Dear Editor, The January 6, 2020 edition of Guyana Times quoted the coalition’s Prime Minister hopeful Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, we must emphasise ‘hopeful’ given no mention of his hopeful title has been officially announced, to have said at the January 3 campaign launch activity that “[w]e want to wane the next generation away from cane cutting…”. It appears to us that the ‘hopeful’ Mr Ramjattan really is a very confused person, willing to step down to the lowest of lows in order to safeguard his perks and privileges.

So apparently, Mr Ramjattan, in offering a justification for the coalition’s justification for its cruel and heartless treatment of the sugar industry and the thousands who depend on it, said he and his colleagues want to bring an end to cane cutting in this country. While it is known that cane cutting tasks are generally one of the more demanding and back-breaking jobs in our nation, it allowed many families to be able to put meals on the table, put a roof over their head and allowed their children to go on to reach for the stars. Many prominent Guyanese have roots in their sugar industry. Their academic accomplishments were on the backs of their parents, grandparents and other relatives whose work in the industry supported their pursuits. Their work and efforts should not be demeaned but celebrated and are a sterling example of hard work and perseverance.

But it appears, in Mr Ramjattan’s mind, an end to cane cutting really means that those who engage in such tasks should be put out of jobs and placed on the breadline without anything to do. As this is what has happened.

Certainly, any Government, any leader, or even any ‘hopeful, worth their salt, would not fathom such an approach.

But then Mr Ramjattan and company are not known for their contemporary and rationale approaches to issues.

Just remember half of 65 be-

ing 34.

But we see the ‘hopeful’ statement as a more ominous indicator. If Mr Ramjattan wants us Guyanese away from cane cutting, is he is saying that the coalition, if re-elected, will bring an end to the sugar industry and thus cane cutting? When it comes to the sugar industry, like many other things, from our experience, it is hard to take at face value what is being said by the now caretaker Administration. The Guyana Times article reminded that the same ‘hopeful’ in 2015 said “…I want to tell you that the propaganda that you are hearing the APNU/AFC coalition is going to ground both industries to the dirt is all lies! We are not going to in any way close the sugar industry”. Well, it reminds us that time is the greatest judge, as not even fully five (5) years later, the sugar industry has seen four (4) estates closed; 7000 made jobless, and the industry last year recording its worst production since 1926.

While the Government has said it is committed to maintaining the minimised sugar industry, such expressions, we are aware, have not been translated into any tangible measure. The Guyanese public is well aware that $30 billion has been borrowed to improve the industry’s standing, yet, after nearly two (2) years, the projects earmarked that funding have not broken ground. The January 3, Stabroek News quoted a GuySuCo statement as saying “[t]he Industry will continue to face challenges to achieving reliability in the factories if … capital investments continue to be delayed”. Clearly, in our view, the industry, though having monies available, is being starved of the investment that is desperately required at this time.

And now Mr Ramjattan says a Government he is a part of wants to end cane cutting. It’s hard not to connect the dots.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

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healthy lifestyle can help you thrive throughout your life.

Making healthy choices isn’t always easy, however. It can be hard to find the time and energy to exercise regularly or prepare healthy meals.

However, your efforts will pay off in many ways, and for the rest of your life.

Steps you can take:

Be physically active for 30 minutes most days of the week. Break this up into three 10-minute sessions when pressed for time. Healthy movement may include walking, sports, dancing, yoga, running or other activities you enjoy.

Eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choose a diet that’s low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and moderate in sugar, salt and total fat.

Avoid injury by wearing seatbelts and bike helmets, using smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home, and using street smarts when walking alone.

Use safety precautions at all times.

Don’t smoke, or quit if you do. Ask your health-care provider for help.

Drink in moderation if you drink alcohol. Never drink before or while driving, or when pregnant.

Ask someone you trust for help if you think you might be addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Foundation

Help prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS by using condoms every time you have sexual contact. Condoms aren’t 100 per cent foolproof, so discuss STI screening with your provider. Birth control methods other than condoms, such as pills and implants, won’t protect you from STIs or HIV. Brush your teeth after meals with a soft or medium bristled toothbrush.

Also brush after drinking and before going to bed. Use dental floss daily.

Stay out of the sun, especially between 10:00h and 15:00h when the sun’s harmful rays are strongest. You are not protected if it is cloudy or if you are in the water — harmful rays pass through both. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that guards against both UVA and UVB rays, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

Select sunglasses that block 99 to 100 per cent of the sun’s rays.

Maintaining a healthy outlook

People today have busy, demanding lives. You may feel pulled in different directions and experience stress from dealing with work, family and other matters, leaving little time for yourself. Learning to balance your life with some time for yourself will pay off with big benefits – a healthy outlook and better health.

Steps you can take:

Stay in touch with family and friends.

Be involved in your community.

Maintain a positive attitude and do things that make you happy.

Keep your curiosity alive. Lifelong learning is beneficial to your health.

Learn to recognise and manage stress in your life. Signs of stress include trouble sleeping, frequent headaches and stomach problems; being angry a lot; and turning to food, drugs and alcohol to relieve stress.

Good ways to deal with stress include regular exercise, healthy eating habits and relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing or meditation.

Talking to trusted family members and friends can help a lot. Some women find that interacting with their faith community is helpful in times of stress.

Get enough sleep and rest. Adults need around eight hours of sleep a night.

Talk to your health care provider if you feel depressed for more than a few days; depression is a treatable illness. Signs of depression include feeling empty and sad, crying a lot, loss of interest in life, and thoughts of death or suicide. If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, get help right away. Call 911 and a local crisis centre. (ucsfhealth.org)

I have really bad nightmares. Is there anything I can do to get them to stop?

– Hunter*

A

lmost everyone has nightmares from time to time. But some things can contribute to persistent bad dreams.

For some people, medicines, alcohol, drugs, lack of sleep, fever, or anxiety sometimes cause nightmares.

Often, though, nightmares seem to be triggered by emotional issues at home or school, major life changes (such as a move), trauma, and stress — even if what happens in the nightmares seems unrelated to your life.

What can help?

Try to eliminate bad dreams by: Setting a regular sleep schedule. It should include enough sleep at night so you don’t feel the urge to

take afternoon or evening naps.

Cutting out caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes (especially late in the day).

Exercising during the day – but don’t work out right before going to bed.

Relaxing before falling asleep. But avoid violent or scary movies, TV shows, books, and video games.

In rare cases, a medical problem may cause sleep disturbances – and for that, a visit with your doctor is the way to go.

If something is really bothering you, if you’re anxious or fearful, or if you continue to have bad nightmares, look into seeing a counsellor or a psychologist.

Getting to the root of an emotional problem could solve the nightmare problem. *Names have been changed to protect user privacy. (kidshealth.org)

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA flagged for not selling seized vehicles to highest bidders ...vehicle sold for $400,000 despite $1.8M competing bid

W

hile the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) can be proud of its increased tax collection for the 2018 fiscal year, the same cannot be said for the manner in which it has sold and disposed of seized vehicles.

In the Auditor General’s 2018 Report, GRA was reported to have collected a total of $68.1 million from the sale of seized items for that year. Of all their seizures for 2018, the majority (38 per cent) was motor vehicles

and spare parts.

Almost immediately, the Audit Office reported having difficulties ascertaining what happened to six of 28 vehicles which were sold by way of tender in July 2018. It was found that two of the vehicles that were subject of the tender were found to be registered to two Government agencies rather than the highest bidder.

According to GRA, however, four were sold and two were indeed assigned to the agencies. However, GRA not-

ed that this was approved by the Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia, something allowed by the Customs Act. The Audit Office, nevertheless, urged that they sell vehicles to ensure they maximise revenue.

But more drama would follow the sale of vehicles.

According to the report, the AG could not ascertain whether the bidders for 27 of a total of 71 vehicles honoured their obligations. GRA confirmed that indeed, 16 of the bidders did not honour

Child asphyxiated while “spinning” in hammock

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12-year-old girl was on Monday afternoon found dead in a hammock at a neighbour’s home that she was visiting. Dead is Ashley Iyanna Agard of Lansdale Village, East Bank Berbice.

According to the Police, the former Vryman’s Ervin Secondary School student who did not attend school on Monday was found in a motionless state in the hammock.

There are reports that a part of the hammock was wrapped around her neck.

Her mother, Samantha Downer, told this publication that as she was leaving home to go to the hospital to visit her sister, she was summoned to the neighbour’s house.

However, the woman explained that although she was running late, she went over. It was at that time she was told that something was wrong with her daughter.

“When I go, I see her lying on the ground and I just pick her up and bring her

Samantha Downer speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday

home. She was not breathing. And my husband took her to the hospital.”

The young girl was pronounced dead on arrival at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

When Guyana Times visited the neighbour's house on Tuesday, no one was at home but relatives of the neighbour remain tightlipped on the matter.

However, Guyana Times understands that the hammock had a large hole and a 4-year-old was spinning the

hammock with the 12-yearold inside.

The Police have since questioned two females as the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, an autopsy performed on the body on Tuesday gave the causes of death as “Asphyxiation due to Broncho-aspiration of Gastric content”.

It was revealed that Agard had hassar curry just before her demise and that might have caused her to stop breathing. The investigation continues.

their obligations.

While some of the vehicles were eventually sold, some were again assigned to various departments. A worrying trend noted by the Auditor General concerns the vehicles being sold for rock bottom prices to various bidders.

According to the AG, a Honda All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) was sold to someone who did not bid for the particular item but rather, made multiple purchases.

This person rode away with a bargain, paying $161,000 for the ATV despite another bidder offering a sealed bid of $285,000.

In another case, a vehicle was sold to someone for $400,000, despite the first bidder offering $1.8 million for the vehicle during a sealed bid exercise held in February 2019. The AG also noted that out of 34 vehicles that were supposed to be sold during the exercise, nine were removed at the request of the CommissionerGeneral.

“However, no documentation to substantiate same was presented. Two were removed after publication of which 194 bids were received by intended purchasers, resulting in an estimated loss of revenue of $14.4 million,” the AG said, adding that his office could not determine if the bidders honoured their obligations

One of the vehicles seized by GRA

through payments for the remaining 25 vehicles.

In their defence, GRA stated that one motor vehicle was sold in accordance with the Customs Act, which, according to them, allows the CommissionerGeneral “to dispose of items in a manner as he may direct”.

They also pled ignorance of the other vehicle referenced by the AG. In his recommendations, the AG repeated urgings that vehicles be disposed of with the view of maximising revenue and that all relevant documentation be presented for audit review.

Last year, the parliamentary Opposition had actually approached the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to investigate fraud allegations at the GRA when it comes to seized vehicles. Specifically, the Opposition wanted to investigate how seized vehicles were finding their way onto the streets without being registered or gazetted.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters at one of his press conferences that hundreds of motor vehicles were being imported into Guyana and were not being placed on the register for Want of Entry and, therefore, were never gazetted and put up for auction. In fact, Jagdeo posited that these motor vehicles, most of which were luxury vehicles, were finding their way onto the streets.

“The hundreds of luxury vehicles like Land Cruisers, Lexus, Hummers, BMW that came into the country were seized by GRA, never made it to the register for the Want of Entry and so were never gazetted and placed at the auctions.

These hundreds of vehicles found their way into the hands of people sympathetic to the Government resulting in billions of dollars of lost revenue,” he had disclosed.

For his part, Statia has denied any impropriety at his agency.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Following political pressure

Former MP charged for sexual assault H

ours after former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP), Alister Charlie accused the David Granger-led Administration of using the criminal justice system as a political instrument against their political opponents, he was taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Charlie was on Tuesday charged for sexual assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He was released on bail immediately after the charge was read at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Charlie, who is also a Central Committee Member of the PPP, appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and denied both charges which alleged that between July 31 and August 1, 2019, at

Former PPP MP, Alister Charlie leaving court on Tuesday

Lethem, Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old boy.

It was further alleged that on August 5, 2019, in Lethem, Rupununi, he attempted to pervert the course of justice. In court on Tuesday, Defence Counsel, Latchmi Rahamat, in a bail application, requested that her client be released on reasonable bail.

The former MP was released on $200,000 bail and the case will continue on January 31 at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.

Only Monday evening, Charlie had said that “expectedly, as it is becoming clearer with every passing day that the coalition Government will lose the March 2, 2020 National and Regional Elections, they are becoming progressively more desperate and vindictive”.

He added, “we have already witnessed their acts of vandalism against our party’s flags and other campaign paraphernalia. We have also witnessed their acts of thuggery and intimidation against our party’s activists as they move around the country to spread the message of the PPP/C”.

According to Charlie, after applying tremendous political pressure upon members of the Guyana Police Force, “they have finally succeeded in getting me charged with the criminal offences of sexual assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice”.

It is to be noted, he said, that the initial Police investigation concluded the matter as being resolved with the Virtual Complainant retracting the complaint after confessing that he was forced to make that complaint by someone “who is a known PNC activist” in the area. It is also important to note, he said, that the incident in question allegedly occurred since July 31, 2019.

“Subsequently, Vice President Sydney Allicock visited the police station with a delegation and, as a result, a special team of police officers, centrally directed from Eve Leary, Georgetown, was dispatched to reopen the investigation.

As a result, these charges emerged. It is not without relevance that PNC activist, Carl Parker, the ex-Regional Executive Officer of Region Nine, was charged with attempted rape.”

“I maintain that I am innocent of these charges and these charges are instituted against me because I was a Member of Parliament and a Central Committee Member of the PPP,” Charlie stated.

Fighting…

W

…for relevance in PNC hen Burnham created his dictatorship, it was built on three blocks: the PNC party, the Armed Forces and the bureaucracy. He created the PNC and the army but inherited the bureaucracy. He insisted that the PNC was “paramount”, even over the government which ran the State: before the government, he intoned, there was the party!! And it wasn’t any old party – it was HIS party!!

But it wasn’t always so since he had to accept some individuals and groups who’d been around before he decided to break away from the PPP. With fellas like Kendall from New Amsterdam and Carter in Georgetown, he just couldn’t throw his weight around as he wanted from the very beginning. So as soon as he was placed into office, he solved that problem: by banishing some, “promoting” others as ambassadors and just ignoring the rest, like Robert Jordan of Wismar Massacre fame.

Well, Burnham’s protégé, Granger, seems to have learnt well from his mentor as to how to keep power in politics.

Even though some thought he was a novice when he was brought in by Robert Corbin back in 2011. All those who are promoting him as “Mr Clean” and, as a paragon of virtue and rectitude, should remember that the PNC election to get him into the saddle was rigged so massively, there was a walkout from the Linden delegation when the results were announced.

The PNC’s hanging its entire campaign on Granger’s “honesty” and “integrity” – words splashed on every billboard and banner under his smirking visage. What’s “honest” about becoming leader through fraud?? Where’s the “integrity” in that?? But he’s trying to hide that skeleton in his closet by bribing Aubrey Norton with a job at OP. On the upcoming Sharma Solomon and Vanessa Kissoon – like Burnham and their fellow Lindener Jordan— Granger gave them the cold shoulder.

And it seemed to have worked!! They showed up at the campaign launch all contrite and coy; settling for hanging out with the hoi polloi!! Clarisa Reihl and Hamley Chase both close to Hoyte – who knew Granger was a Burnhamite to the bone and banished him to UG! – objected to Granger’s rigged accession. Reihl was banished as ambassador to Canada and Chase to England!! And so on, like Lurlene Nestor, who was reduced to sharing out flyers in Sophia and having to prove her credentials by picking a fight with PPP activists!!

While degutting the PNC of its faithful since 2015, Granger filled the gaps with his army buddies and sissies!!

He’s done the same in the bureaucracy. The army and police were also purged and replaced with loyalists!

Next stop, if not stopped?? Duh!! Being dictator, of course!!

…for a spot Back in 2011, when Granger benefitted from the rigged PNC elections, old-time PNCite Carl Greenidge was the fella shafted. He was silenced, however, with the Foreign Minister’s gig – even though his forte was economics!! However, he’d gotten used to the good life on the smorgasbords of one international inter-governmental body after another. They live high off the hog, those fellows!! And Carl enjoyed swirling his cognac almost as much as Burnham!!

So Foreign Minister Carl stayed mum. But after Granger was handed Carl’s head on a platter following the NCM vote – when he was outed as a (gasp!!) Britisher – he fears that he might become as disposable as Reihl and Chase.

But he’s not one to abandon those five-star hotels! He has just reinvented himself to keep his job. Smelling the breeze blowing from Granger’s direction, Carl suddenly became a Pan Africanist!!

He accused the Muckraker of being “racist” for pointing out that Africa – with oil coming out its kazoos – remains dirt poor!!

Even though the Muckraker’s staff is 98% African!!

Carl’s desperate!! …futilely Accused of favouring the PNC with its coverage of their launch vs the PPP’s, CEO Enrico Woolford said it was not “broadcasting”, but “telecommunicating” – which is “free” – for the government!!

But it was a PNC event!! So why the PPP can’t get “freeness”?

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

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt Commissioner’s walk-out breaks up GECOM meeting

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s preparations continue for the upcoming General and Regional Elections, another meeting of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) ended abruptly on Tuesday after one of the Commissioners walked out.

This was the first meeting of the seven-member Commission for 2020. The last meeting was held in December 2019.

Guyana Times understands that at the beginning of the meeting, Government-nominated Commissioner Charles Corbin asked to leave the meeting early and this was granted. However, less than an hour after he left, his fellow Government-nominated Commissioner, Desmond Trotman, had a disagreement with another Commissioner and left the meeting.

This forced Tuesday’s meeting to come to an abrupt end.

Following the meeting, Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj would only say that the meeting did not

go to conclusion because “we lost a quorum”.

Nevertheless, he related that they were able to discuss the interactions and assistance GECOM will be getting from overseas partners as well as preparations and procedures for the upcoming Nominations Day on Friday.

GECOM has reported that at least 19 political parties, 14 of which are new parties, have submitted their symbols to contest the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

On December 27, 2019, the sevenmember Elections Commission met with President David Granger and briefed him on GECOM’s state of preparedness.

Following that high-level meeting, Opposition-nominated Commissioner Bibi Shadick explained that GECOM is on track with activities for the upcoming polls and that the Elections Secretariat has sufficient funding for the entire process.

Government Commissioners Desmond Trotman, Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin

Government would have approved over $8 billion for the hosting of the 2020 elections, a large fraction of which still remains unused.

“Just to ensure whether we’re on track with elections, and we are.

We have money but we just wanted to make sure that the Finance Minister will give the money when we ask for it in a timely manner,”

Shadick had explained.

However, Governmentnominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander had acknowledged that the availability of these resources will not be an issue.

“We’re advised by the executives that, that should not be a problem,” he had indicated after the engagement with the Head of State.

Over the past months, the

Elections Commission has been meeting and despite several meetings, it is yet to find consensus on finalising the voters’ list, particularly the use of the unverified data that was captured during the scrapped House-to-House Registration exercise.

Last month, it was announced that over 6500 persons of the 16,863 ‘new’ registrants were not confirmed during the five-day field verification exercise.

Figures released to the media showed that Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) had the highest number of unconfirmed persons, which tallied to 3657.

According to GECOM, there were 16,863 ‘new’ registrants but only 10,329 were confirmed.

In fact, one Oppositionnominated Commissioner had told this publication that field officers who conducted the verification exercise of “new registrants” had found empty lots at the addresses on record for those persons.

PPP/C members attacked while putting up flags in Berbice

F

o r m e r parliamentarian Harry Gill, along with other members of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), was on Monday attacked while erecting elections campaign flags at Number 10 Village, West Coast Berbice.

The incident, which was captured on camera, shows persons verbally abusing and physically blocking the team as they attempted to place the flags on the utility poles.

Gill, in an invited comment to Guyana Times, stated that a formal Police report will be filed and that the international community will be informed of the incident.

This was only one instance where party members were verbally

PPP Executive Member Harry Gill

abused.

Only recently, several PPP supporters were attacked and abused in Laing Avenue, Georgetown by residents as they were announcing the launch of its elections campaign.

In light of the recent

attacks, the Party had written to Police Commissioner Leslie James, asking for swift actions to be taken against supporters of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, who attacked opposition members and destroyed the party’s impedimenta.

The letter was sent

by Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall on behalf of the Party, which detailed that on January 2, a motor lorry carrying a music system and several party activists was driving through Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

However, Nandlall noted that they were making public announcements regarding the launch of the PPP’s elections campaign

set for today at Alexander Street, Kitty, Georgetown, when they were attacked.

“While in Sophia, several known PNC/ APNU activists led by Ms Laurene Nestor, blocked the

streets and started to hurl missiles at the lorry and its occupants and threatening them with violence were they to continue these announcements within the locality of Sophia,” the letter

stated.

Meanwhile, Nandlall revealed that a report of that incident was made at the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost on the evening of the incident.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Employee charged for stealing chainsaw

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uanda McDonald of Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, was on Tuesday released on bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates Courts.

The mechanic denied the allegation which stated that between December 21 and 22, 2019, at Cuyuni, River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), he stole one chainsaw valued $352,000 and one chainsaw bar valued $29,000; property of Innovative Mining Incorporated.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court

that the defendant was employed by Innovative Mining company as a mechanic and during the time in question, he requested time off to attend a funeral in Georgetown.

However, shortly before departing the location, McDonald was observed by others to be loading the items mentioned in the charge onto a truck.

The court heard a search was later conducted and the articles were missing. The matter was then reported to the police and McDonald was arrested and charged for the offence.

The Magistrate released McDonald on $150,000 bail and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for January 17, 2020.

French national slapped with illegal entry charge

C

hief Magistrate Ann McLennan remanded a 50-year-old France national on Tuesday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for illegal entry.

Sylvie Janine Pauline Dubose denied the charge which stated that between December 15, 2019, and December 20, 2019, at Springlands, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), she entered Guyana by sea

and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that on January 4, 2020, the woman, who was supposedly an outgoing passenger at the Eugene F Correira Airport, was intercepted by an immigration officer, after it was observed that there was no immigration stamp in her French passport.

The prosecutor told the court that the woman was

then arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters where a further investigation was conducted which revealed that she entered Guyana illegally via Springlands.

Further checks revealed that the woman reportedly visited Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

She was ordered to appear on January 13, 2020, at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM ready for Nomination Day – PRO I

n less than eight weeks, Guyanese will be heading to the polls and in preparation for the upcoming March 2 General and Regional Elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is all set to host Nomination Day on Friday.

This is according to GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, who delivered a presentation to members of the media on Tuesday, on the practices, procedures and laws relating to the conduct of Nomination Day. On that day, each party contesting the elections will have to submit their list of candidates for the election of a President, members of the National Assembly

and members of the Regional Democratic Councils to the Chief Elections Officer.

This will be done at the Umana Yana, High Street, Kingston, Georgetown on Friday from 13:00 to 17:00h.

Moreover, the Nomination Day process began last month when political parties had to submit their party symbols to GECOM

by December 13, 2019. This, Ward explained, was to allow the

Commission to examine the symbols and give approval to avoid issues such as duplication. This way, parties will be informed of ahead of Nomination Day and will be able to make adjustments.

However, she explained that parties are allowed also to submit their symbols on Nomination Day as well.

GECOM had reported that 19 political parties have submitted symbols thus far and of these, 14 are new parties.

While the two main political parties – the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition – have been

GECOM PRO Yolanda Ward at the lunchtime lecture organised by the Guyana Press Association (GPA) on Tuesday at Moray House

gearing up March 2 polls, there have been the formation of several new and small parties over the past months. As a matter of fact, so far, there have been 19 parties indicating interest in contending the upcoming elections.

According to Ward, the law prescribed that the submissions of the lists of candidates will have to be done strictly on Nomination Day and within the timeframe set – no time earlier or later. She went on

to explain how the lists are formed and who should be on each list.

The GECOM PRO pointed out that all the lists must be registered electors. For the National Top-Up List, it should comprise of 300-330 nominators, 42 candidates (persons to be elected to sit in National Assembly) who all need a statutory declaration form in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths or Justice of Peace, and include the name of the Presidential Candidate.

The Statutory Declaration form is what candidates sign to indicate that they are Guyanese and do not have dual citizenship.

According to Ward, the onus is on the Candidates to be honest when they sign the statutory forms since the laws do not provide for false declarations made by candidates.

Meanwhile, the Geographical Constituency (Administrative Regions) List must include 150175 nominators from each constit-

uency and no more than 45 candidates.

It must be noted that parties are not mandated to contest both General and Regional Elections.

Likewise, they are not mandated to contest in all 10 geographical constituencies but they must contest in at least six of those regions.

With regards to the Regional Elections, the Regional Democratic Council List must comprise of 150175 nominators for each constituency – all residing in the said region, and 12 to 36 candidates also from within the region. They too are required to sign a statutory form.

Candidates and nominators can only appear on one party’s lists – both National Top-up and Geographical Constituency Lists – but only on one of that party’s geographical lists.

Parties are also required to have one-third female presence on their

National Top-Up List and same on the combined Geographical Constituency Lists in accordance with gender balance laws.

These requirements, as well as others, will be examined by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield on Nomination Day and those parties whose lists, even one, do not meet all the requirements will be deemed defective.

Parties will have 24 hours after Nomination Day to notify the CEO in writing of death and/or withdrawals of candidates and/or nominators. In addition, parties can also withdraw their lists but this will have to be done in writing by both the representative and deputy of the lists and before the lists are approved.

On January 12, the CEO will inform the representative and/or deputies of the defective lists of same and they will have until the following day to make and submit the corrections.

On January 15, the CEO will inform of the approval and/or non-approval of the lists by the Elections Commission. Parties will also have up until January 16 to make any appeals to the High Court based on the decisions of the Commission.

Additionally, representatives and/or their deputies will have until January 17 to notify the CEO of any joiner of lists by two or more parties. Finally, on January 19, the titles and symbols of the approved lists of each party will be published in the gazette along with the names of the candidates.

The CEO will make these lists available for public scrutiny.

12 NEWS 1 killed, another injured after boat slams into tree A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

father of two is now dead while another man was admitted a patient at the Suddie Regional Hospital after the boat in which they were travelling slammed into a tree at Grant Friendship, Lower Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Dead is 25-yearold Renny France also called “Kelly”, a miner of Friendship Canal, Lower Pomeroon River, while the injured man was identified as 27-year-old Dennon Lyte also of the said address.

Based on reports received, at

T N E D I ACC

the time of the tragedy, the wooden boat was captained

by Lyte.

While information about the accident remains

sketchy, it is believed that due to poor visibility, the captain collided with the tree. As a result of the impact, France was thrown

overboard and sustained serious injuries about his body.

Lyte also sustained bodily injuries. However, upon hearing the impact, residents in the area rushed to investigate. The two men were rescued by the residents and taken to the Charity Hospital where France was pronounced dead on arrival.

Lyte was transferred to the Suddie Hospital where is was admitted. France’s body is at the Suddie Hospital mortuary awaiting an autopsy. France leaves to mourn his wife, two children and other relatives.

CJIA senior manager freed of sexual assault charges

T

he sexual allegations brought against Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, Andre Kellman, were dropped on Tuesday after the victim refused to present evidence in the matter.

The matter was called before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty but the ex-worker at CJIA informed the court that she does not wish to proceed with the matter and as such, would not offer evidence against the defendant.

Kellman, 54, who is in charge of operations at the airport, was charged last August and appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly where he was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

At that time, the police had stated that on July 30,

2018, at CJIA, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, he sexually assaulted a 34-year-old woman.

The victim had alleged that she was hugged and kissed on her lips by the accused during a visit to his office during working hours.

In her complaint to the police, the woman explained that she went to Kellman’s office to have an issue resolved. As she was leaving, he allegedly walked around his desk to hug her – an act she deemed “inappropriate” but as she pulled away, he allegedly kissed her on the lips.

The victim further stated that as she headed towards the door, Kellman barred her from leaving and again allegedly kissed her.

According to the woman, she left in shock and immediately reported the matter to the airport’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Andre Kellman

and the Human Resources Manager.

After some time had elapsed with no word from management, she decided to make a formal report to the Timehri Police Station.

The incident was quick to

make headlines and without any hesitation, the woman’s security pass was revoked.

The airport later confirmed that Kellman was being investigated for sexual misconduct and was sent on administrative leave pending its outcome Kellman was initially released on station bail.

Meanwhile, after the conclusion of the investigations, a file was sent to the DPP, who recommended that charges be instituted against him.

Now, the DECO is cleared of all the allegations made against him.

Chainsaw operator to stand High Court trial for wife’s murder

Devanand Narine

Farida Khayum

man who stabbed his wife to death during an argument and later attempted to take his own life was on Tuesday committed to stand trial in the High Court after a prima facie case was made out against him.

Fifty-year-old Devanand Narine was arraigned in May 2019 before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the crime. At that time, he was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on May 16, 2019, at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), he murdered Farida Khayum.

He was remanded to prison and a preliminary inquiry (PI) was conducted before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

However, after the PI, the Magistrate ruled that sufficient evidence was provided by the prosecutor that warranted a High Court trial.

The chainsaw operator will be tried before a Judge and jury at the next practicable sitting of the Essequibo Criminal Assizes.

It was reported that the woman and her husband were involved in a heated argument during which he armed himself with a knife and stabbed her several times about the body.

Realising that his wife had died, he immediately injected a poisonous sub-

stance into his body.

The woman, who worked at the Hack Rice Mill, was rushed to the Suddie Regional Hospital but she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her husband was hospitalised at the same medical facility under Police guard.

The woman’s mother had explained that she retired to bed early but was awakened by her daughter screaming “I going to die”.

As such, she left her bedroom and as she ventured into the living area, she saw her daughter lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

She said she immediately raised an alarm and sent her 10-year-old grandson to alert the neighbours, who, in turn, summoned the Police. As the Police arrived at the scene, ranks found the suspect in an unconscious state with an empty bottle, which is suspected to have contained a poisonous substance, nearby.

Both the injured woman and the suspect were rushed to the hospital.

Neighbours had explained that every time the suspect returns from the interior, he would consume alcohol and there were regular fights between him and his wife over his behaviour.

A neighbour said that the man was seen consuming alcohol prior to committing the heinous crime.

Neighbours recalled hearing the argument between the couple earlier that evening.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Minister’s speedboat operating at Bartica Guyana’s 2019 gold without approval – Speedboat Association declarations

Bartica Speedboat Association President, Stephen Belle

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speedboat owned by a Government Minister is operating the Parika-Bartica route without the necessary approval and authorisation.

This is according to President of the Bartica Speedboat Association, Stephen Belle, who told Guyana Times on Tuesday that the issue was brought to his attention by a Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) officer on Tuesday.

Belle stated that while at Parika and loading passengers, an official from MARAD had to intervene after the captain and bowman were involved in an in-

cident. It was then that documents were requested for the boat and the captain referred MARAD officials to the Minister (name provided). This newspaper was told that the incident was reported to MARAD’s head office in Georgetown.

“After the monitor spoke to the guy he continued to load the boat without adhering to the instructions by the maritime officer saying that she can tell who she wants and do what she has to do.

Nobody can’t touch this.

This is the Minister’s boat,” Belle stated.

According to the President of the BSA, there have been many unprincipled practices and instances which have been occurring and ignored by MARAD and other relevant authorities.

The BSA President had claimed that there was an instance earlier in 2018 where one boat was given a turn in the system without the Association’s approval or any application being filed.

He had also stated that MARAD’s Director General, Claudette Rogers, had said that the boat was owned by an oil company, but it was later discovered that the owner of the boat was linked to a senior Government official.

Belle had said that the boat was placed in the system by MARAD without any

surpass 2018 target – foreign revenue simultaneously increased 11.81%

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The Bartica-bound boat loaded with passengers at Parika, East Bank Essequibo

consultations or approval from the Association.

“We are very much concerned about what is happening and it seems as though nobody cares and [there is] nothing to be done…,” the President had expressed.

Belle had also told Guyana Times that there are a number of boats operating without the legal requirements being met and that despite several reports being made, MARAD has failed to enforce the regu-

lations on those guilty of breaking the laws and other relevant authorities have continued to ignore this.

“Every day there are boats that are loading back and forth without licences under the watchful eyes of the Maritime officials at Parika. Reports were made to the police and to the Minister, the Director [of] Maritime Safety, Harbour Master and nobody seems to care, nobody seems to be doing anything about it,” Belle had explained.

Guyanese teen killed in suspected hit and run in Canada

Dead: Dianna Manan

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anadian Police are investigating the death of 16-year-old Dianna Manan, a Guyanese who was found on Queen Street, Brampton, Canada,

on Sunday.

The teen’s parents are said to be Guyanese who hail from Canal, West Bank Demerara, and Berbice.

According to Canada’s CP 24 news, a passing motorist found the 16-yearold lying in the eastbound lanes of Queen Street, near Cherrycrest Drive in Brampton on January 5, 2020.

Manan was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries.

Guyana Times understands that the teenager had left her grandmother’s home in Toronto on January 4 after being picked up by friends.

However, Canada’s CP 24 news reported that on

Monday the teen’s mother said that she had no idea why her daughter was in Brampton.

Meanwhile, authorities said that they have since

discovered that Manan had loose ties to Brampton and may had been at a house party on Saturday evening, prior to her death.

he Natural Resources Ministry on Tuesday announced that gold declarations for 2019 stand at 634,905 ounces when compared to 616,223 ounces in 2018.

The Ministry in a release stated that of the declarants, Guyana Goldfields and Troy Resources stand as two large-scale investors which, despite severe challenges and constraints, managed to have reasonably good production.

Correspondingly, Licensed Gold Dealers who purchase from small and medium-scale gold miners contributed approximately 57.69 per cent of actual declarations. These include Eldorado Mining and Mohamed’s Enterprises.

Further, the Ministry noted that the revenue earned by the Guyana Gold Board, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, has also increased.

“For 2019, this has amounted to US$111,971,234.84, equivalent to 79,702.849 ounces. This exceeds the revenue earned in 2018 (US$100,143,596.40) by

US$11,827,638.44 (11.81 per cent).”

As such, the Natural Resources Ministry commended the miners who made declarations despite the many challenges and constraints faced in the industry.

The MNR also acknowledged the efforts and responsible conduct of the declarants and commended the Board of Directors and staff of the Guyana Gold Board who have been key facilitators of this process.

“As the year 2020 progresses, it is hoped that the practice of increasing these declarations continues through the recommended and accepted processes,” a release from the Ministry stated.

In addition, the release further highlighted that the Ministry recognises mining as a critical component of the Guyanese economy and as such, the Government will continue to promote the growth of the sector in the most sustainable way by providing regulatory, fiscal and infrastructural support to aid miners in their worthwhile endeavours.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA collects $217B in taxes in 2018

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n its perusal of records from the 2018 fiscal year, the Audit Office of Guyana (AOG) has found that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) increased its collection of taxes by billions, so much so that it was able to cover for decreased revenue in certain categories.

According to Auditor General Deodat Sharma in his 2018 report which was seen by this publication, $217 billion in taxes was collected and deposited in the consolidated fund. This is an increase compared to 2017, when a total of $171 billion in taxes were collected by GRA. Some categories that saw more taxes being collected than was expected are customs and trade, value-added tax (VAT) and internal revenue. internal revenue collection accounted for the most, $88.7 billion, compared to the $80.4 billion that was expected.

The report notes that while $19.3 billion was estimated for customs and trade tax collection, an actual $22.1 billion was collected. In the case of VAT, $48 billion was actually collected, exceeding the estimated $43 billion.

Excise tax collection also accounted for a significant portion of the overall sum, as $39.6 billion was collected. On the other hand, the AG recorded shortfalls in fees and fines (by $99 million), rents and royalties (by $321 million), as well as dividends and transfers (by $2.6 billion) However, the AG also noted that the overall increase was able to cushion the effects of the shortfalls in the varying categories of tax collection. In total, GRA surpassed its budgeted tax collection target by $15.2 billion.

Meanwhile, GRA, when given a chance to respond, attributed all the increases to the higher value of some of the commodities that were imported. They also reported that 208 more importers have started making VAT payments.

“Custom and trade taxes categories grew by $2.8 billion, reflecting higher revenue collections of import duties of $2.3 billion and environmental levy of $200 million. However, dividends and transfers to consolidated fund declined by $2.7 billion mainly on account of lower transferred amount by Guyana Geology and Mines

The Guyana Revenue Authority

Commission.”

“The main contributors were internal revenue, value-added taxes, customs and trade taxes and excise taxes that exceeded the budgeted amount by $8.3 billion, $5.0 billion, $2.8 billion and $1.3 billion respectively. The increase from the internal revenue category were withholding tax $4.5 billion and personal income tax $3.8 billion.”

GRA also noted that the increased collections from withholding tax was due

to more companies making payments on overseas remittances. They also said that personal income tax collection showed increased receipts due to arrears payments from self-employed persons.

According to the authority, there were additional initiatives that led to 193 employers and 171 self-employed persons making payments in 2018.

While increased tax collection amounts to money for the state coffers, the par-

liamentary Opposition has long argued that from an economic sense, tax collection without corresponding growth in the economy is a bad combination.

Back in 2017, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had pointed out that when the 200 new tax measures which he said were introduced in 2016 fully kick in, Guyanese will feel the squeeze.

“You will see the cost of living going up, the business community will be unable to survive in the new tax en-

vironment,” he had prophesied, adding that with the pressure from GRA, these businesses will not feel driven to invest and create more jobs in the future.

“So, you would see not only deterioration in terms of cost of living going up, but less jobs being produced in the future because no one wants to invest in this country. And right now, people are losing jobs rather than them creating jobs that they (Government) promised,” Jagdeo had further stated.

Over the past few years, industries like the agriculture sector and mining have shown contractions.

Notwithstanding the poor performance in the various productive sectors, Guyana experienced a 4.1 per cent growth in the economy in 2018.

In addition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had projected a 4.4 per cent growth for last year, with an even steeper growth curve projected by them after oil production starts. It has been observed by financial analysts, however, that this does not necessarily mean life has improved for ordinary Guyanese.

Berbice pensioner killed by speeding car on pedestrian crossing

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pensioner was on Tuesday morning killed after she was struck down while using a pedestrian crossing at Nigg Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice. Dead is 81-yearold Parbattie Ramsarran of Lot 4 D Nigg, Corentyne, Berbice.

Based on information received, the motorcar bearing registration number PPP

injuries about her body. She was picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver was taken into custody as Police continue their investigations. Her body is presently at Ramu’s Funeral Home awaiting a Post-Mortem.

At the home of the dead woman, her son, Jaichan

about fifteen persons been at the post office…so I decided to wait at the bus shed fuh she… and I saw her walking out and but the time I look away someone under the bush shed, tell me, ' look something happen'… when I turn around I see my mother lie down in the middle of the road.”

He said as he ap-

Dead: Parbattie Ramsarran

proached, he observed that she was motionless but he was assisted by the driver to take his injured mother to the hospital.

“Me and the Chinee boy who went in the car and some other people who went around pick she up and put she in the same car and carry she to the Port Mourant Hospital. The doctor sound

3-year-old in urgent need of blood

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The car that was involved in the fatal accident

1008, driven by a 29-yearold male at a fast rate of speed, came into contact with the woman as she was in the centre of the pedestrian crossing.

As a result of the impact, the woman sustained severe

Persaud Balkarran, explained that his mother had gone to the post office to uplift her pension while adding that when he is at home, he would normally accompany her.

“I went out after her and

her and then tell me that she dead,” he said as he broke down in tears. He added that his mother was a good person and did not have to die in that manner.

The Police are continuing their investigations. The woman leaves to mourn her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren among other relatives and friends.

he parents of threeyear-old Chayanne Parboo and the Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA), a charity healthcare organization, are pleading to the public to donate blood to the young girl who is presently hospitalised and in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Young Parboo is required to have a bone marrow test done to diagnose her condition, but due to her low blood count, doctors are prevented from performing the test, thus placing her in the line to urgently obtain blood platelets.

Father of the sick child, Lakeram Parboo told Guyana Times that his daughter fell ill four weeks ago and was admitted to the Suddie Public Hospital but was later transferred to the GPHC where doctors made the health discovery.

The sick child: three-year-old Chayanne Parboo

According to the father, the child’s platelet count is only 6000 and she will need at least 50,000 to conduct the test, since a normal

platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets.

The parents are pleading with the public to help their

daughter by donating blood types of either A+, A-, O+, or O-.

Persons who wish to donate can call 677-5280 or 679-1784 or make contact directly with GPHC. Meanwhile, the SHEA organisation is also urging persons who have the abovementioned blood groups to visit the GPHC’s National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank) and donate with the aim of helping the child. The Blood type A+ and A- are most needed, but O+ & O- are compatible also.

The organisation reminded that platelets react to bleeding from blood vessel injury by clumping, thereby initiating a blood clot and have a very short shelf-life, unlike whole-blood.

Donors are, therefore, advised to check with the hospital for information on when to donate ensuring that the young child has a constant supply.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Granger’s constitutional reform threat: legalise dictatorship

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verybody is talking about constitutional reforms as one of the most critical issues in the upcoming March 2020 elections. David Granger made another empty promise that constitutional reform will be one of the top priorities for APNU/ AFC. He made that same promise in 2015 and in five years, not a single reform in the Constitution has been accomplished.

His record shows no commitment for constitutional reforms, so what did he mean when he said constitutional reform is one of his priorities.

We have to be concerned because we know what he meant – he wants to remove the article in the Constitution that caters for a No-Confidence Motion. He wants to appoint persons for GECOM’s Chair, the Chancellor, and the Chief Justice etc in his own deliberate Dr Leslie Ramsammy judgement. What he wants, is a Constitution creating a legal dictatorship.

One of his chief priorities for constitutional reform is removing the right of people to recall their government through a No-Confidence Motion. In every country, people have a right to recall their government. In most countries, the government is recalled through a No-Confidence Motion. In America, the government can be recalled through an impeachment. David Granger wants to ensure that the Guyanese people cannot recall their government. On March 2, 2020, Guyanese must stand firm and reject Granger’s intention to legalise his dictatorship; the people must ensure his term comes to an end.

Granger’s promise for constitutional reform is just another empty promise, a camouflage for removing rights from the Constitution, not to expand rights for the people, not reforms to improve accountability of government. David Granger has been in charge of constitutional reform for the past nine years since December 2011 and not once has he tried to expand rights. After the December 2011 elections, APNU and AFC took control of the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee. They had six members to the PPP four. Granger himself was a member and with the support of his colleagues from APNU and AFC, he was elected the Chair. I served on that committee together with Gail Teixeira, Anil Nandlall and Bibi Shaddick. This committee was established in the reformed Constitution of 2000/2001 and tasked with continuous review and reforms of the Constitution.

Between 2011 and 2015, Granger only convened the constitutional committee two times after the first meeting elected him as the Chair. The second meeting was supposed to develop a work plan. At that meeting, it was decided that we consider the extensive recommendations listed by the Constitutional Commissions which consulted broadly between 1993 and 1999. The report from the work of those commissions contained almost 200 recommendations for a comprehensive reform of the Burnham 1980 Constitution. The commissions that consulted across Guyana were chaired, first, by Bernard De Santos, the then-Attorney General (1992-1997) and, second, by Ralph Ramkarran. Most of the recommendations were adopted and included in extensive constitutional amendment laws in 2000/2001 and some between 2001 and 2011.

I was tasked with preparing a list of all the recommendations that were already incorporated into the amended Constitution and to prepare a list of the outstanding recommendations that had to be concluded. I did so and submitted that paper early in 2012. Granger did not convene a third meeting of the committee until 2013, only after several inquiries about the paper I submitted. This third meeting was nothing but a sham. After having the paper in their hands for almost a year, we were told that the members will need time to study the paper I submitted.

The constitutional committee never met again. In the four years that he directly had responsibility for constitutional reform and having the majority in Parliament, he did nothing.

In May 2015, he became President, with even greater power to effect constitutional reform. Basil Williams was appointed Chair of the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee. In these five years, the committee met three times: once to elect the Chair and two times where the meetings lasted a few minutes, without any meaningful deliberations. Granger himself castrated Basil Williams when he decided to side-step the legal parliamentary body with responsibility to drive reforms, handing over Cabinet responsibility for constitutional reforms to Nagamootoo, who was the rubberstamp Prime Minister. Nagamootoo has spent more than $100M. There were no consultations anywhere.

He appointed a task force headed by Nigel Hughes. That task force presented him with a report which is sitting somewhere gathering dust. Nagamootoo did what Granger intended – sabotage constitutional reforms.

This is the commitment APNU/AFC and, particularly, David Granger has shown to constitutional reform – zilch. Thus, when he boldly announced at the launching of the PNC/APNU/ AFC campaign last week that one of the major priorities is constitutional reforms, it is clearly a bogus promise. But he did dog-whistle his intention to remove the No-Confidence Motion and to expand the powers of the President. On March 2, we must say YES, YES, YES to constitutional reform, but NO, NO, NO to legalising a dictatorship. We can only do so by ensuring the removal of Granger as President and APNU/AFC as government.

Tuschen robbery

Police awaiting DPP’s advice before instituting charges

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he Police is awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before moving forward with charges in connection with Friday’s night robbery on the Five Star Chinese Restaurant, Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

One bandit was killed during the robbery.

When contacted on Tuesday, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) Police Commander Simon McBean said that three persons remained in custody even as Police were hunting a female who was also involved in the robbery.

“We are still looking for the female who have, based on our evidence, is outstanding. We don’t have a name; we are searching based on description,” McBean stated.

The regional commander further added that the Police have sought legal advice on the matter.

“From yesterday (Tuesday) we would have still had the three persons arrested – one hospitalised, two in Police custody. We are preparing to seek advice in the matter,” he explained.

The suspects in custody are a Police Constable attached to the Special Branch

Mark Prince who was shot and killed

at Eve Leary, Georgetown; a 20-year-old Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident and a Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident.

Following the robbery, Mark Prince, called “Fine Man”, was shot dead.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Prince’s reputed wife, Onika Thompson claimed that she was unaware that her partner had brushes with the law and was involved in the robbery.

However, even as she claimed no knowledge of her partner’s criminal activities, in 2016, Police had issued a wanted bulletin for him. In 2017, Prince was charged jointly with Regan Singh, for trailing a businessman from a city bank and robbing him.

In 2018, Prince was among six men who were nabbed at a Police roadblock on the

Grove Public Road, EBD. The men, while on bail for various criminal offences, had attempted to commit armed robbery on poultry farmer Michael Chang Yuen.

On Friday, Prince was among the bandits who pounced on Guang Hong Wang, 43, proprietor of the Five Star Chinese Restaurant and her husband who operate the food establishment in the lower flat of their premises. A customer, Navindra Lakahalall, 37, of Zeelugt New Housing, Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was also robbed when the bandits invaded the premises.

Reports are Lakahalall was in the restaurant when one of the male suspects and a female entered and purchased two beverages. Police reports stated that as soon as they consumed the beverages, they ordered a case of beer and in the process of Wang delivering the same, the male suspect whipped out a handgun and relieved her of two cellphones and an undisclosed sum of cash.

He then turned his attention to Lakahalall, and relieved him of one silver chain and an undisclosed sum of cash. At the height of the robbery, the three other suspects entered.

However, a neighbour,

who is a licensed firearm holder, heard the commotion and immediately went to investigate and was attacked by the armed suspect and another with a cutlass.

He then discharged several rounds in their direction after which the suspects fled the premises in a motor car with license plate PTT 8606 that had been parked nearby, leaving their accomplice Prince, who had been shot, at the scene.

The Police were contacted and the vehicle was intercepted at a roadblock on the public road in front of the Den Amstel Police Station.

At the time, the car had three occupants – one was in the back seat with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was questioned, arrested, and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

An unlicensed pistol with an empty magazine was found in the vehicle along with an undisclosed sum of cash and cellular phones.

It was later revealed that Prince who had been left behind with a gunshot wound to the neck died on the spot.

A cutlass was in his right hand and a haversack was on his back.

His body was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Some $130,000 was found in his possession.

Total, Apache tout ‘significant’ oil find in Suriname waters

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il producers Total and Apache announced a “significant oil discovery” on Tuesday that they said proves oil-rich rock formations off the coast of Guyana cross into Suriname waters, where they are exploring. The companies heralded the potential for “prolific” oil production after drilling work at the Maka Central-1 well off the coast of the South American nation showed that the neighbouring Guyanese Cretaceous oil play — in which rival ExxonMobil has discovered billions of barrels equivalent of recoverable oil and gas — extends into local waters. The two companies each own a 50 per cent stake in ‘Block 58’ where the well was drilled, after Total bought into it last month. Shares in Apache rose 20 per cent on the news to their highest level since May last year. Total shares were unmoved. “We are very pleased with this first significant oil discovery, made just after our entry into Block 58,” said Kevin McLachlan, senior vice-president for exploration at Total.

“We are optimistic about the large remaining potential of the area still to be discovered and will test several other prospects on the same block.”Exxon has discovered

an estimated 6bn barrels equivalent of recoverable oil and gas in its Stabroek block off Guyana since it started drilling in 2015, making the South American nation one of the world’s most promising areas for offshore oil exploration.A discovery of significant commercial oil deposits off Suriname could have major implications for the former Dutch colony, which is one of the smallest countries in Latin America and which has a population of less than 600,000 people. Its GDP per capita was less than $6,000 in 2017, according to the World Bank, with bauxite mining its largest industry, alongside some small scale oil production of less than 20,000 barrels a day John Christmann, Apache chief executive and president, said

that preliminary data from the Maka Central drilling

“indicates the potential for prolific oil wells”. “Block 58 comprises 1.4m acres and offers significant potential beyond the discovery at Maka Central,” he added. But analysts were slightly more skeptical. Bob Brackett at Bernstein said it was difficult to judge the significance of the find “given lack of complete disclosure” in relation to it. “The discovery could be transformational for Apache but we lack details and currently (and highly conservatively) ascribe no value,” he said. (Financial Times)

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

Regional

Venezuela’s Guaidó pushes past troops US, Mexico moving to enter congress after socialist takeover closer on need to

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enezuelan security forces let US-backed Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó enter the legislative palace on Tuesday amid a showdown for control of parliament after the ruling socialist party installed its own rival congressional chief.

Guaidó, who was re-elected on Sunday to a second one-year term as head of the Oppositionheld congress, had pledged to preside over Tuesday’s opening session after security forces blocked him from the building over the weekend to allow socialist legislators to swear in their own speaker.

Local television images early Tuesday showed Guaidó arguing for half an hour with troops wielding riot shields who again blocked the entrance to the legislative building, but eventually allowed him to push past them.

“This is not a barracks.

This is the house of laws,” Guaidó told the soldiers

blocking his entrance. “The military does not get to decide who can enter the house of laws.”

But inside, a brief session led by Luis Parra –

who was sworn in by allies of President Nicolas Maduro as parliament chief Sunday – had already ended, according to Reuters witnesses.

Parra’s swearing-in on Sunday gave Maduro sway over the last major state institution that had remained outside his control and appeared to mark a setback to Washington’s efforts to unseat him.

The gambit marked an escalation in Maduro’s crackdown on the opposition, whose key international ally – the Trump administration – has so far been unsuccessful in its year-long attempt to oust Maduro through economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

US special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams on Monday said Washington was preparing new sanctions to step up pressure on Caracas. But Maduro’s move suggests he does not expect major consequences from the United States, though the government has steered clear of actions – like arresting Guaidó – that could provoke a harsher response. (Excerpt from Reuters)

announcement on social media.

In a series of tweets, Holness noted that all ministers received secure laptops in order “to facilitate the electronic upload and dissemina-

tion of confidential Cabinet papers at the first sitting for 2020.”

Holness said that the Government has long been engaged in creating a unified digital platform for all

Government operations. He added that this was an important first step towards meeting the Government’s objective of total digital transformation across the public service. (Jamaica Observer)

Venezuela’s National Assembly President and Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, who many nations have recognised as the country’s rightful interim ruler, gestures as he walks to the National Assembly building in Caracas, Venezuela

Jamaica’s Cabinet goes paperless

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amaica Cabinet members on Monday received secure laptops as part of the Government’s transition to a paperless system.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the

develop Central America – Mexico

US Attorney General William Barr speaks during the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, in Washington, USA

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exico and the United States are increasingly in agreement on the need to lift economic development of Central America in order to curb illegal immigration from the region, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Tuesday.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has sought to enlist US support for his vision of stemming migration by creating more jobs and opportunities in Central America in the face of scepticism from his US counterpart, Donald Trump.

In a speech to diplomats in Mexico City, Ebrard said when Lopez Obrador first put forward the idea

in 2018, it looked “almost impossible” given Trump’s tough stance on migrants.

“Today the positions are getting closer regarding this development initiative,” Ebrard said.

The Minister noted that the US government would soon give its view on plans to roll out more investment in Central America, which is home to the bulk of migrants caught trying to cross illegally into the United States from Mexico.

Ebrard reiterated that his government was pushing the United States to help reduce the flow of arms entering Mexico illegally, which increased gang violence and social unrest. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Puerto Rico declares emergency after Australian bushfire strongest earthquake in 102 years smoke drifts to South America – WMO

A home is seen collapsed after an earthquake in Guanica, Puerto Rico

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uerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard on Tuesday after a series of earthquakes including one of magnitude 6.4 that was the most pow-

erful to strike the Caribbean island in 102 years.

The quakes killed at least one person, provoked a protective power outage across the entire island and cut off drinking water to 300,000 customers,

Vazquez told a news conference.

At least 346 people were left homeless, officials said, as homes were flattened, mostly in the south of the island.

Many damaged buildings sat next to piles of rubble.

The declaration of emergency will facilitate federal financial aid for the US territory. Vazquez said she had been in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Several members of Congress including Florida’s two US senators and Puerto Rico’s non-voting member of the House of Representatives appealed to US President Donald Trump for aid.

Trump has been briefed on the earthquakes and administration officials were monitoring the impact in coordination with Puerto Rico officials, White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Argentina revokes credentials of representative for Venezuela’s Guaidó

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n a blow to Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, Argentina’s Government said on Tuesday it did not recognise him as his nation’s interim President and had revoked the credentials of his representative in Buenos Aires.

The new administration of Argentina’s centre-left President Alberto Fernandez sent a letter

to Elisa Trotta Gamus, who represented Guaidó in Argentina, to notify her that her “special mission” in Argentina had been terminated.

In April, diplomatic credentials were delivered to Trotta by the Argentine Foreign Ministry under right-leaning former President Mauricio Macri. Argentina, which

already had a diplomatic mission from the government of President Nicolas Maduro, recognised Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president last year.

“She was under the special mission format that the previous administration had given her, not as a formal ambassador of Venezuela. We do not recognise Guaidó as President, but as a Leader of

the Opposition, and based on that, we consider that there is no special representation mission,” a spokesman for the Argentine Foreign Ministry said.

Trotta, in a statement shared with Reuters, said she hoped Argentina would continue to denounce human rights violations in Venezuela. (Excerpt from Reuters)

S

moke from wildfires in Australia has drifted across the Pacific and affected cities in South America and may have reached the Antarctic, the UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Tuesday.

Smoke from the fires had already turned skies bright orange over Auckland in New Zealand.

But skies as far away as over central Chile have now gone grey because of the smoke and the WMO cited reports that the sunset in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, had turned red.

“The fires have led to hazardous air quality, which has affected human health, in major cities in Australia, spreading to New Zealand

and sent smoke drifting thousands of kilometres across the Pacific to South America,” WMO spokeswoman Clare Nullis told reporters in Geneva.

Smoke had “probably” reached the Antarctic, she said.

The fires, which have raged for months in Australia, have already emitted 400 megatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and produced harmful pollutants, the EU’s Copernicus monitoring programme said on Monday.

Brown sooty deposits have already been reported on glaciers in New Zealand, potentially accelerating the rate at which they are melting, the programme said.

(Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

17

Around the World

Nigeria-Cameroon border Iran attacks US forces in Iraq in retaliation for killing of Commander grenade blast kills nine

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ran said it launched a missile attack on USled forces in Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday in retaliation for the US drone strike on an Iranian Commander whose killing has raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East.

Tehran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles from Iranian territory against at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US-led coalition personnel at about 01:30 am local time, the US military said on Tuesday.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps confirmed they fired the missiles to retaliate for last week’s killing of Qassem Soleimani, according to a statement on state TV. The statement advised the United States to withdraw its troops from the region to prevent more deaths, state TV said.

The Pentagon did not provide reports of casualties

The injured were rushed to hospital

Iran says the attack was in retaliation for killing the country's top Commander Qasem Soleimani [BBC]

in the attack.

US President Donald Trump, who visited the alAsad airbase in December 2018, has been briefed on reports of the attack and was monitoring the situation, White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

US Secretary of State

Mike Pompeo and US Defence Secretary Mark Esper arrived at the White House following news of the attack. It was unclear what response, if any, the United States was planning.

Hours earlier on Tuesday, Esper said the United States should antic-

ipate retaliation from Iran over Friday’s killing in Iraq of Soleimani, commander of the elite Quds Force.

“We’re prepared for any contingency. And then we will respond appropriately to whatever they do.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Putin meets Assad in rare Syria visit amid US-Iran tensions

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u s s i a n President Vladimir Putin has met his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad during a rare visit to the Syrian capital as the prospect of war between Iran and the United States loomed over the region.

Tuesday’s visit was Putin’s first to Damascus and second to Syria, a key Iran ally, since the start of the nearly nine-year war that Russian troops joined in 2015 to support the Syrian Government.

The two leaders listened to a military presentation by the Commander of Russian forces in Syria, the Syrian presidency said in a statement along with a picture of the two leaders shaking

The two leaders listened to a military presentation by the Commander of Russian forces in Syria

hands.

Putin extended his greetings to Russian forces for Orthodox Christmas which is celebrated on January 7.

He also said enormous progress had been made in the Syrian conflict, Russian news agencies reported.

“In his conversation with Assad, Putin noted that we can now say with confidence that a huge distance has been travelled towards restoring Syrian statehood and the country’s territorial integrity,” the agencies quoted Kremlin

spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Peskov told Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS that Putin met al-Assad at a command post for Russian forces in Syria, driving through Damascus on the way.

He said the two men heard military reports on the situation in various parts of Syria, where Russia’s armed forces intervened in 2015 in support of al-Assad.

Putin was due to visit several more sites, Peskov said, without providing further details.

The Russian leader visited Syria in December 2017 but had not been to the capital, only stopping at the Russian base of Hmeimim on the Mediterranean coast.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Blast in Pakistan’s Quetta kills 2, wounds many – officials

A

t least two people have been killed and several others wounded after a bomb targeted a security personnel vehicle in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, officials said.

The attack took place at an intersection near the city’s busy Liaqat market on Tuesday evening, Police said.

“Two people have been killed and the number of injured is 14,” said Waseem Baig, spokesman for the city’s main Government hospital.

The explosives were packed on a motorcycle, although it was unclear if the attack involved a suicide attacker or if the bomb was planted to go off via remote control or a timer, said Police official Mushtaq Hussain.

For more than a decade, Pakistani security forces have been battling rebel separatist groups that want independence for the ethnic Baloch areas of the province.

Such groups frequently target Pakistani security forces across the province, although no group immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s

Pakistani Police officers examine site of the bomb explosion in Quetta

attack.

In November, at least two security personnel were killed and five others wounded in a similar attack targeting a vehicle, local media reported.

Images from the scene of Tuesday’s attack showed a moderately damaged

Pakistani paramilitary vehicle, alongside debris strewn across the intersection.

Some shop fronts adjacent to the attack site were moderately damaged.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A

grenade that a child picked up from a bin on the NigeriaCameroon border has exploded, killing him and eight others.

Twenty-six people were also wounded in the blast on the Nigerian side of the border, a Cameroonian official said.

The child, believed to be under 10, mistook the grenade for scrap metal which he intended to sell, witnesses said.

It is unclear who left the grenade in the bin, but the area has been hit by an Islamist insurgency.

Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province, operate in the region.

Nigerian and Cameroonian troops form part of a regional force fighting the militants.

The Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Midjinyawa Bakary, told the BBC that the grenade exploded

late on Monday on a busy bridge linking the Nigerian town of Gamborou to the Cameroonian town of Fotokol.

All the dead were Nigerians, while the wounded included nationals from both countries, he said.

The injured were taken to a local hospital - some had their limbs blown off, residents in Gamborou told the BBC. Many poor children in Nigeria often go through bins, looking for scrap metal which they sell to metal dealers to recycle, said the BBC Nigeria reporter Ishaq Khalid.

Boko Haram’s decade-long insurgency began in north-eastern Nigeria but has spilt over into neighbouring states.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and more than two million have been displaced in the conflict. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Turkish support for Tripoli could “rebalance forces” in Libya

T

he planned arrival of Turkish military advisers in Libya should bolster the internationally recognised Government, but may not be enough to turn the tide of a conflict in which eastern-based forces have the upper hand thanks to foreign support.

Turkey’s decision to send the advisers and technical experts responded to a request by Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA), which Ankara backs against forces allied to veteran commander Khalifa Haftar.

But Turkish backing has often been outweighed by air power from the United Arab Emirates in support of Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), and by a technological and frontline edge provided by Russian military contractors since September, officials, diplomats and analysts say.

On Monday, the LNA ad-

vanced into Sirte, a strategic city in the centre of Libya’s Mediterranean coastline, and fighting has increased around Tripoli in recent weeks.

This has heightened pressure on GNA forces, which two sources close to those forces said had been struggling against missile systems being used to bring down drones and laser-guided shells thought to have been introduced by Russian contractors.

The GNA’s drone fleet has also been depleted by attacks on airports and air bases in Tripoli and the city of Misrata, northwest of Sirte.

Turkish officials have indicated that any deployment will not involve troops but that Turkey has been considering sending Syrian rebels. A source in the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army said some fighters had already signed up as guards. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Take a look at what’s available to you and enhance your life. Changing your course should help you either cut your overhead or bring in more money. Reach out romantically to a loved one.

Keep your life simple, focused and practical. If you take on too much, you will fall short of your expectations. Live within your means. Change only what isn’t working.

Size up your situation and set boundaries to protect yourself from being taken for granted. Stay one step ahead of anyone trying to undermine you. Romance is featured.

Take inventory and do things your way. Have a plan in place and stick to what’s important to you.

Live within your means and take care of financial and legal matters personally.

Take care of responsibilities. A little relaxation will ease stress. A romantic gesture will bring you closer to someone you love.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Steer clear of explosive situations. You have better things to do with your time than argue with opinionated people. Make plans with like-minded folks.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Pay more attention to the way you look, how you feel and the people you love.

Refuse to get dragged into someone else’s dilemma.

Moderation is encouraged.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You’ve got plenty to gain if you implement a change that will affect where or how you live. If you take the most intriguing path, the experience will encourage personal growth.

Listen carefully, decide SAGITTARIUS who is trustworthy and pro(Nov. 23ceed with caution. Protect Dec. 21) your reputation, possessions and assets. Someone will be unreliable and manipulative, offering false accusations. Update your image.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Start a routine geared toward better health, greater stamina and less stress. Keep your feelings and opinions secret. Don’t trust anyone with your money or possessions.

Keep busy. Make adjustments to your living quarters that will encourage you to pursue something that will add to your skills, appearance or intelligence.

Romance is on the rise.

Don’t share your opinions with everyone. If you can avoid an argument, you are best off doing so. If you contribute to a cause you believe in, something good will transpire.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

19

round-up: : Spurs hand D

eMar DeRozan scored 25 points, and Patty Mills had 21 off the bench as the San Antonio Spurs routed the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 126-104 on Monday night to snap a two-game losing streak.

The Spurs led by 10 points after three quarters and ran their advantage to 16 points early in the final period. Milwaukee closed to within 100-89 with 8:12 to play but never made a serious run down the stretch.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay scored 17 points each for the Spurs, with Dejounte Murray scoring 13 points and Trey Lyles pulling down 12 rebounds.

San Antonio set its season high with 19 3-pointers (on 35 attempts) in the win.

The loss snapped a fivegame winning streak for Milwaukee, which had not lost by more than 12 points all season. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 24 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists but missed all five of his 3-point attempts.

Dallas Mavericks 118 - Chicago Bulls 110

Luka Doncic registered a triple-double for the second straight game, contributing 38 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to boost Dallas to a victory against visiting Chicago.

Doncic scored a career-high 21 points in the third quarter, capping the flurry with a deep 3-pointer. Dwight Powell (16 points), Tim Hardaway Jr. (15) and Dorian FinneySmith (11) also finished in double figures for the Mavericks.

Lauri Markkanen scored 26 points to lead six Bulls in double figures. Tomas Satoransky (11 points, 14 assists) notched a double-double for Chicago, which has lost four straight and five of six to fall a season-worst 11 games below .500.

Denver Nuggets 123 Atlanta Hawks 115

Nikola Jokic scored a career-high 47 points, and Will Barton added a season-high 28 to help visiting Denver outlast Atlanta.

Jokic was 16-for-25 from the field, with four of the

Bucks worst loss of season made baskets 3-pointers, and surpassed his career previous high of 41 set against the Brooklyn Nets in 2017. His best previous output this season was 31 points against Memphis on Dec. 28. Jokic also had eight rebounds and five assists.

Barton went 12-for-20 from the field, including three 3-pointers, to eclipse his season-best 26 against Philadelphia on Dec. 10.

He also added nine rebounds and five assists.

Jokic and Barton combined to go 7 of 14 from 3-point range.

Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris scored 16 points apiece to lead the Nets, who continued to struggle in fourth quarters. After getting outscored 38-22 in the final 12 minutes of Saturday’s loss to Toronto, the Nets shot 7 of 23 in the fourth.

Sacramento Kings 111 Golden State Warriors 98

Philadelphia 76ers 120 Oklahoma City Thunder 113

Josh Richardson scored 23 points, and Ben Simmons added 17 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists as host Philadelphia held off Oklahoma City.

Tobias Harris scored 18 points, and Joel Embiid had 18 points, nine rebounds and a season-high eight assists for the Sixers, who improved to 17-2 at home and also snapped a four-game losing streak. Al Horford scored 13 points.

Steven Adams led the Thunder with a season-best 24 points to go along with 15 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder added 21 points.

Chris Paul and Danilo Gallinari had 18 points each for the Thunder, who had their five-game winning streak broken.

Utah Jazz 128 - New Orleans Pelicans 126

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 35 points, and visiting Utah knocked off New Orleans to win its sixth straight game.

The Jazz held the Pelicans scoreless for the final 1:27. Rudy Gobert, who finished with 19 rebounds, disrupted Brandon Ingram’s attempted tying layup with one second left.

Joe Ingles finished with 22 points, and Donovan Mitchell scored 19 for the Jazz, including the winning bucket with 1:12 to play.

Ingram had 35 to lead the Pelicans, who played without second-leading scorer Jrue Holiday, who has a left elbow contusion.

JJ Redick added 23, Lonzo Ball had 21 and E’Twaun Moore came off the bench

San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan (10) scores over Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Milwaukee Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo (USA TODAY Sports)

to score 13.

Indiana Pacers 115 Charlotte Hornets 104

T.J. Warren helped ignite a big third quarter and finished with 36 points as Indiana won at Charlotte for only its second victory in the last six games.

Warren, a forward playing in his home state, posted 13 points in Indiana’s 37-point third quarter, the most points in a quarter this season for the Pacers.

Warren finished 15-for-24 from the field and 6-for-6 on free throws.

Domantas Sabonis racked up 18 points and 12 rebounds, Myles Turner had 15 points and Jeremy Lamb added 11 points for the Pacers.

Washington Wizards 99 - Boston Celtics 94

Ish Smith scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, and Washington beat visiting Boston.

Jordan McRae added 19 points for the Wizards, and Isaiah Thomas scored 17 against his former team. The undermanned Wizards won their second straight game and have posted home wins against the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets and Celtics in an eight-day span.

Jaylen Brown had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who never led. Jayson Tatum had 17 points, and Gordon

Hayward finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Orlando Magic 101 Brooklyn Nets 89

Markelle Fultz scored 12 of his career-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, and Orlando made all the plays down the stretch to beat visiting Brooklyn.

Reserve D.J. Augustin added 16 points for the Magic, who outscored the Nets by a 26-18 margin in the fourth quarter. Wes Iwundu contributed 12, while Nikola Vucevic went scoreless until midway through the third quarter but finished with 11 points and 24 rebounds.

Trevor Ariza contributed 3-pointers to second- and third-quarter runs that allowed host Sacramento to pull away from Golden State for a blowout, in a game that saw the ejection of Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox led five players, including two reserves, in double figures with 21 points apiece as the Kings made quick work of their opponent on the opening night of a back-to-back.

Sacramento visits Phoenix on Tuesday.

The Warriors, who rested Draymond Green and had D’Angelo Russell out for the fourth straight game, trailed by as many as 31 before dropping their fifth straight. (Reuters)

Serena breezes into second round in Auckland

T

op seed Serena Williams kick-started her Auckland Classic singles campaign with an easy 6-3 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi on Tuesday.

Playing her first singles match since losing last year’s U.S. Open final to Bianca Andreescu, the 38-year-old Williams fired eight aces and was hardly troubled by Giorgi.

Williams broke the Italian’s serve three times, while remaining unbroken herself in a first round-match lasting 68 minutes.

Giorgi, 28, could not cope with Williams’ powerful serve as the 23-times Grand Slam winner prevailed in blustery conditions, stretching her unbeaten run against her Italian opponent to five matches.

Williams, who advanced to the doubles quarter-finals with Caroline Wozniacki on

Monday, is on course to face 15-year-old compatriot Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals should both advance.

Fifth seed Wozniacki, who is set to retire after this month’s Australian Open, outclassed local wildcard Paige Hourigan 6-1 6-0.

Hourigan, ranked 178 in the world, trailed 5-0 in the opening set in 13 minutes

and her tally of 30 unforced errors proved

decisive.

German fourth seed and defending champion Julia Gorges advanced to the last 16 with a 6-1 7-6(4) victory over Belgium’s Greet Minnen.

Second seed Petra Martic of Croatia was initially frustrated by lucky loser Usue Maitane Arconada before storming back to win 5-7 6-4 6-4.

(Reuters)

Serena Williams

20

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

Saini, Thakur sparkle in convincing India win India flexed their bowling muscles against an underwhelming Sri Lanka batting unit in Indore; Navdeep Saini taking two wickets and going for 18 across four rapid overs while Shardul Thakur neutered the opposition at the death with three wickets of his own.

Having kept the visitors to 142 for 9 – a total Lasith Malinga felt was 25-30 short of a competitive score – India then flexed their batting muscles. KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan flew through the Powerplay overs and put on 71 for the first wicket, breaking the back of the target. Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli then made thirties to carry the hosts to victory, with 15 balls and seven wickets to spare.

Although there were bursts of energy in Sri Lanka’s batting, these never lasted long enough to put India under serious pressure. Each of Sri Lanka’s top three got starts, but none could make more than 35. The middle and lower order (this Sri Lanka line-up bats to as low as No 9) kept being undone by India’s wiles.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s three successive boundaries to finish gave the innings a sheen of respectability, but the moment, Rahul hit two stunning cover drives back-to-back against Malinga, it be-

Saini in particular kept making breakthroughs in the last third of their innings.

KL Rahul imposes himself in the Powerplay

Navdeep Saini exults after going through Danushka Gunathilaka’s defence

came clear just how good this pitch was, and how much Sri Lanka were going to struggle to defend this score.

Sri Lanka fail to capitalise on start Avishka Fernando had looked good too at the start of Sri Lanka’s innings. He had hit his own sumptuous cover drive, off Jasprit Bumrah, to get off the mark, before spanking Saini through the legside twice soon after. But when he was tested with spin, his timing fell apart. Trying to launch Washington Sundar over mid-off in the fifth over, he managed only to find the fielder, departing for 22 off 16. At the other end, Danushka

Gunathilaka struggled his way through the Powerplay before Saini rattled his stumps with a 148 kilometres per hour full delivery in the eighth over.

Kusal Perera then looked good through the middle period, hitting three sixes off the spinners, including an audacious reverse-pull off Kuleep Yadav. But with Sri Lanka’s scoring rate now flagging, he holed out trying for a fourth six – Kuldeep claiming the wicket immediately after that reverse-pull. Still, Sri Lanka were only four down, in the 14th over. There was plenty of firepower to come, you thought. Not a lot of big-hitting materialised, however, as Thakur and

Each of the six boundaries India hit in the Powerplay came off Rahul’s bat. He clattered Lahiru Kumara through the legside for his first four, then smoked the next four boundaries through the covers – against both seam and spin. There were nervous moments during this stretch as well. In the fourth over, he got a top edge off de Silva that fell into space on the legside.

In the fifth over, Kumara struck him in the ribs. But he almost single-handedly hauled India to 54 by the end of six overs – a near ideal start to this chase. It took Dhawan almost until the end of the ninth over to hit his first boundary, but Rahul’s confident work had more than accounted for his tetchiness.

Hasaranga made the first inroads with the ball, first bowling an advancing Rahul through the gate with a googly, before trapping Dhawan in front (the original decision was overturned in Sri Lanka’s favour on review), but by this stage Sri Lanka badly needed wickets to be falling at the other end as well.

They didn’t.

Sri Lanka’s struggle for menace with the ball Sri Lanka were hamstrung by the absence of Isuru Udana, who went off the field with a muscle strain in the fourth over, after making a stop at short third man. Dasun Shanaka – Sri Lanka’s fourth-choice seam bowler – put in a de-

Sri Lanka Innings (20 overs maximum) MD Gunathilaka b Saini 20 WIA Fernando c Saini b Washington Sundar 22 MDKJ Perera † c Dhawan b Kuldeep Yadav 34 BOP Fernando st †Pant b Kuldeep Yadav 10 PBB Rajapaksa c †Pant b Saini 9 MD Shanaka b Bumrah 7 DM de Silva c Dube b Thakur 17 PWH de Silva not out 16 I Udana c Saini b Thakur 1 SL Malinga (c) c Kuldeep Yadav b Thakur 0 CBRLS Kumara not out 0 Extras 6 (b 1, lb 1, w 4) TOTAL 142/9 (20 Overs, RR: 7.1) Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Avishka Fernando, 4.5 ov), 2-54 (Danushka Gunathilaka, 7.4 ov), 3-82 (Oshada Fernando, 11.3 ov), 4-97 (Kusal Perera, 13.2 ov), 5-104 (Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 14.5 ov), 6-117 (Dasun Shanaka, 16.6 ov), 7-128 (Dhananjaya de Silva, 18.2 ov), 8-130 (Isuru Udana, 18.5 ov), 9-130 (Lasith Malinga, 18.6 ov)

cent shift as a replacement, getting through four overs for only 26 runs. But he lacked Udana’s guile. Iyer would be dismissed for 34 off 26 by Kumara, but Kohli was never going to let this chase meander. He hit a four and two sixes off the last six balls he faced, and the match was done.

(ESPNcricinfo)

BOWLING JJ Bumrah SN Thakur NA Saini W Sundar Kuldeep Yadav

4-0-32-1 4-0-23-3 4-0-18-2 4-0-29-1 4-0-38-2

India Innings (target: 143 runs from 20 overs) KL Rahul b PWH de Silva 45 S Dhawan lbw b PWH de Silva 32 SS Iyer c Shanaka b Kumara 34 V Kohli (c) not out 30 RR Pant † not out 1 Extras 2 (b 1, lb 1) TOTAL 144/3 (17.3 Overs, RR: 8.22) Did not bat: S Dube, Washington Sundar, SN Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, JJ Bumrah, NA Saini Fall of wickets: 1-71 (KL Rahul, 9.1 ov), 2-86 (Shikhar Dhawan, 11.2 ov), 3-137 (Shreyas Iyer, 17.1 ov) BOWLING SL Malinga CBRLS Kumara DM de Silva MD Shanaka PWH de Silva

4-0-41-0 3.3-0-30-1 2-0-15-0 4-0-26-0 4-0-30-2

Superb Man City overwhelm Man Utd in semi-final 1st leg

H

olders Manchester City will take a commanding lead into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final after outclassing neighbours Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford’s late reply will give United hope they can still turn this tie around in the return on Wednesday, January 29, but it should not deflect from City’s superiority for the vast majority of the game.

Pep Guardiola’s side stunned the home fans with three first-half goals, and in truth they could have had many more before the break, such was the gulf between the two sides.

City, who left Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus on the bench, started with a strikerless 4-4-2 system that saw Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne their furthest players forward.

It was Bernardo who broke the deadlock, with a superb strike from the edge of the box that arrowed into the top corner of the net.

Riyad Mahrez made it 2-0 when he ran on to Bernardo’s pass and rounded David de Gea, with the home side

hopelessly exposed.

By now, United were chasing shadows and it was soon 3-0, as a swift breakaway ended with De Bruyne twisting Phil Jones inside out before seeing his shot saved

by De Gea but ricochet in off Andreas Pereira.

United’s limp resistance and lack of threat saw them booed off by some supporters at the break, but they at least showed some resolve when they emerged for the second half.

City seemed content with their advantage, and United at last began to enjoy time on the ball, although they did not force Claudio Bravo into any meaningful action before Rashford’s goal.

That came when the visitors, for once, gave the ball away cheaply and Mason Greenwood fed the England striker to run through and score.

United never threatened to deny City a famous victory however, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are left with a huge task if they are to stop them reaching their fourth final in five years.

Bernardo Silva is the first Manchester City player to score in consecutive appearances against Manchester United at Old Trafford

City’s invention and improvisation shine through

City were torn apart in the opening stages when these two sides met at the Etihad in the Premier League last month, but this time it was United who were left reeling early on.

Guardiola’s line-up left many observers scratching their heads before kickoff but his system, a fluid 4-4-2 that saw De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mahrez and Raheem Sterling change po-

sition at will, worked like a dream.

In December, City had no answer to United’s raw speed, but here it was the invention and improvisation of the visitors’ attack that did the damage, time and time again.

City have made a habit of winning at Old Trafford in recent years, but their sparkling first-half performance was impressive, even by their high standards.

Only 3000 away fans were

there to witness it in person, in a tiny pocket of the ground, because of a reduced ticket allocation after incidents in recent derby matches.

But for those who got a ticket, this was a night they will never forget. They loudly revelled in United’s misery and their own side’s success before giving their players a standing ovation at the final whistle.

A reminder of United’s shortcomings While City’s fans celebrat-

ed pretty much throughout, United’s supporters endured a very different evening with all of their side’s shortcomings in evidence.

When United tried playing out from the back, they were not capable of passing through City, and repeatedly surrendered possession.

And while the home fans urged their side to press City, they were not able to get near them for much of the match.

It meant they were unable to lay a finger on the visitors until the hour mark when they finally managed their first sustained spell of pressure.

Rashford’s goal aside, there were not many positives for Solskjaer to take away from this encounter, but at least his side did not crumble completely, which looked likely at one stage, and finished the game showing some degree of fight.

Solskjaer’s side are, somehow, still alive in the tie, but this game should be seen as a reminder of how urgently United need reinforcements this month, even if they are more expensive than the club’s owners would like.

(BBC Sport)

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

21

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3rd round matches to be played this weekend …Albion, Rose Hall Town already in semis

T

he historic Berbice Cricket Board/Banks DIH Ltd Banks Beer Two-Day first division tournament continues this weekend with the hosting of the third and final round of matches.

The Two-Day tournament is the first of its kind to be hosted in Berbice since 2004 and involves the top eight First-Division teams. The Albion and Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour teams from Zone B have reached the semi-finals while Tucber Park, Young Warriors and Blairmont are in a tight tussle for the two spots in Zone A. In Zone A, Blairmont Community Centre will clash with Young Warriors at the Cumberland Ground.

Blairmont are expected to feature players like Seon Glasgow, Nigel Deodat, Javed Karim, and Marvon

Prashad against the likes of Seon Hetmyer, Alex Algoo, Sudesh Dhaniram, Ricardo Ramdehol and Trevon Stanislaus of Young Warriors. In the second match in Zone A, Tucber Park CC spearheaded by Garfield Benjamin, Kwesi Mickle, Leon Swammy, Martin Singh and Anthony D’Andrade will travel to Bush Lot to play West Berbice. The home team will include players like Shamar Angel, Joshua Van-Tull, Leon Andrews, and Keyron Joseph.

Bottom of the table, Port Mourant and Rose Hall Canje will do battle for pride at the Port Mourant Ground.

The home team are likely to depend heavily on West Indies Under-15 player Rampertab Ramnauth, Demetri Cameron, Joshua Ramsammy, and Salim Khan. The ever-improv-

ing Rose Hall Canje will be spearheaded by their inspirational captain, Ameer Rahaman. He will have support from West Indies youth player Isiah Thorne, Michael Veersammy, Sasenarine Sukhoo, and Kedar Amsterdam. The arch-rivals will be seeking their first victory at the Area H Ground. Then, RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour will be playing Albion in the battle of the top two teams. Albion will be led by national senior player Gudakesh Motie, Jonathan Foo, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Kevin Umroa, Sharaz Ramcharran, David Latchana, and Gourav Ramesh.

Eon Hooper will lead the home team effort with support from Junior Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Shawn Pereira, Sylus Tyndall, Jonathan Rampersaud, Keith Simpson, Brandon

Prashad, Delbert Hicks, and Keon Sinclair.

BCB President Hilbert Foster is hoping that the board will be able to complete all of the 2019 FirstDivision tournaments by the end of February.

The BCB will shortly announce the dates for the finals of the Ivan Madray 20/20, Busta Champion of Champions 40-over and Stag Beer 50-over tournaments.

Ramphal backs BCB with $500,000 donation …sponsorship target of $10M for 2020

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T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has hit the ground running for the year 2020 a s the vibrant and progress i v e county board seeks to build on i t s outstanding work in 2018 and 2019.

The BCB on Monday last received a financial donation of $500,000 from overseas-based Guyanese Brian Ramphal, a faithful sponsor of Berbice Cricket.

Ramphal, a businessman who operates in the technology field, came on board with the BCB on the recommendation of its former Secretary, Oscar Ramjeet in 2018.

BCB President Hilbert Foster, who leads an aggressive marketing drive to attract funding for the Board’s work, stated that Ramphal since March 2018 has donated over $1.5 million.

The funds have been used for two cricket tournaments, five educational posters, two cricket award ceremony and several coaching clinics. Foster, who was recently re-elected for a second term in a 31-0 landslide victory, hailed Ramphal and another overseas-based Guyanese, Dr Tulsi Dyal

Singh as one of the main reasons why his presidency has been so successful.

Together, they have donated close to $4 million to the coffers of the BCB over the past 20 months.

Ramphal’s 2020 contribution would be used for the third annual Brian

Ramphal Award Ceremony, Inter County MVP and Man of the Match Scheme, Coaching Clinics and an Internal Zone 20/20 tournament. Foster disclosed that the BCB in 2020 was aiming to host at least 25 tournaments at different levels, dozens of developmental programmes/events and to assist clubs as much as possible to fulfil their mandate.

In 2018 and 2019, the BCB had assisted all clubs in the Ancient County with over $5 million worth of balls, stumps, cricket gear, scorebooks, rain coats, bicycles,

Brian Ramphal

school bags and educational materials.

Foster made it quite clear that in 2020, the BCB would only assist clubs who have a junior section and have proper management structures in place. The BCB is working to assist clubs with about $3 million in assistance in 2020.

Ramphal, who is an awardee under the BCB Tribute to Heroes programme, stated that he was very impressed with the work of the Foster-led Board. He disclosed that he has a commitment to assist on an annual basis.

Windies star Bravo unveiled as face of 10PL World Cup

V

eteran Windies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been revealed as the face of 10 PL, a United Arab Emiratesbased tennis-ball cricket tournament.

The 36-year-old Bravo will be heavily involved in proceedings from start to finish beginning with the tournament launch press conference in February, to a celebrity appearance on the final day.

The tournament, now in its third year, has garnered increased interest this year with a reported 40 teams in pursuit of just 20 spots. The first two editions

of the tournament saw 16 teams take part.

Bravo has indicated his delight at both the association with and taking part in the tournament.

“I am delighted to be the face of the 10PL World Cup of tennis ball

cricket tournament. I have learned a lot of my key tricks that am sure many of the players in the tournament will employ, especially the use of slower ball and yorkers,” Bravo said.

“The tournament, therefore, promises to be t h e

perfect platform for raw talents to showcase what they are capable of. I am really looking forward to this competition,” he added.

Meanwhile, Abdul Latif Khan, who is the chairman of Petromann Events, has expressed delight with having Bravo on board.

“It is an absolute honour to have Bravo as the face of the tournament. In the coming days, we will be unveiling a campaign with Bravo to further raise the profile of the tournament,” he said.

The tournament is expected to take place March 8-13. (SportMax)

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tropical Shipping fuels GuyBCA’s cricket nursery plans

T

ropical Shipping has continued its strides in making meaningful contributions to not only sport but persons with disabilities as it made another financial donation to the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) The timely donation, which was made on Tuesday morning, will be utilised to facilitate the establishment of two blind cricket nurseries and for the further development of blind cricket in Regions Four and 10. The funds received will go towards the procurement of blind cricket gear and equipment for the aforementioned initiatives.

Fuelled by Tropical

with disabilities. He further outlined the impact of blind cricket on the lives of persons who are blind and visually impaired, since the sport was introduced to Guyana in November 2005.

Singh, who is a current national and West Indies blind cricketer, emphasised on the positive impact that blind cricket has had on his life after he lost his sight as a teenager and was at home depressed.

He noted that blind cricket Blind Cricketer Ganesh Singh receives the sponsorship cheque from a Tropical Shipping was the vehicle for his rehabilitation, reintegration into sorepresentative ciety, and acquisition of confiShipping’s donation, the sually impaired to the fun- Coordinator Ganesh Singh dence as a blind person.

GCOPD, in partnership with damentals of blind cricket thanked Tropical Shipping for Also speaking at the prethe Guyana Blind Cricket through the nurseries and its timely donation. Singh also sentation ceremony was Association (GuyBCA), is hop- other blind cricket develop- highlighted the importance Tropical Shipping’s Country of sports in the rehabilitation Manager Glenis Hodge, who ing to expose children and ment activities.

GCOPD Programme and empowerment of persons adults who are blind and vi-

explained that the company was happy to play a role in helping to provide opportunities for persons with vision-related disabilities to be involved in sports, as part of Tropical’s corporate social responsibility. Among the items to be purchased are blind cricket balls, cricket bats, batting gloves, wicketkeeping gloves, and gear and equipment bags.

Tropical Shipping is a shipping and logistics company that has over 50 years’ experience in the business arena. It has weekly seven-day transit sailing from Florida to Guyana and provides Guyana with complete shipping services to and from Canada and across the Caribbean.

Boxing

Boxing executives elated at “once-ina-lifetime” training opportunity

F

ormer Guyana youth player and now Level Two Coach Ryan Hercules has thrown his support behind Guyana Jaguars to retain the Cricket West Indies (CWI) regional FourDay Professional Cricket League Championship.

Guyana Jaguars’ possession of the prestigious cup for five years in succession speaks volume according to Hercules, who believes that the team are well-balanced and definitely enthusiastic to create more history.

Jaguars have the ability to rule supreme from Thursday when the six-team, ten-round competition bowls off with the South American side tackling Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium, Antigua and Barbuda.

Apart from the formidable combination, which

will be led by Guyana’s most triumphant captain, Leon Johnson, Hercules also thinks that the experienced players would certainly make a big difference and that should also boost their confidence prodigiously.

“Yes, I think with the team they have it’s possible they can win the tournament again especially with a lot of experienced and West Indies players included like Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymon Reifer, Chandrapaul Hemraj and a mixture of youths, I think once the players stick to the basics and work together, it will be a successful one for Guyana,” the Essequibian stated.

Reflecting on what would have transpired over the past five years during which

The Guyanese boxers and Coaches following their arrival in Cuba on Monday

the Guyanese dominated proceedings, Hercules is also predicting the team will reproduce those magnificent performances.

Guyana Jaguars now should be empowered to do well again in every aspect of their game both on foreign and local soil.

“Obviously, you have some strong teams going to

compete, but I feel we have a side that is very well-experienced and as I said, the international exposure from many players is an asset for Guyana Jaguars,” Hercules, who worked with the Guyana Amazon Warriors team at last year’s Caribbean Premier League tournament, related.

Hercules is very confident

the collaboration would once more be a prevailing factor.

“You looked at the way Guyana Jaguars played over the years and be champions – really showed that we have got great talents; the team played fantastic cricket over the years and winning the championship for six years should not be a difficult task for the roaring Jaguars,” Hercules, who represented Guyana’s senior team in a festival tour-match in Canada, stated.

The other senior players who make up the lineup are also talented enough to make an impression.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Anthony Bramble has been very consistent behind and in front of the stumps while opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul is expected to start the innings with Hemraj. Both scored centu-

ries last year and Hercules is very optimistic they are eager to churn out more memorable innings.

Meanwhile, Guyana Jaguars selected two uncapped players: off-spinning all-rounder Kevin Sinclair and quickie Nial Smith. They will be without the services of batting sensation Shimron Hetmyer, all-rounder Keemo Paul and fast bowler Romario Shepherd. The trio are in the West Indies squad currently clashing with Ireland in a three-match limited-over series in the Caribbean.

But according to Hercules, Guyana Jaguars will still start as overwhelming favourites for the championship.

The five other participating teams are: Barbados Pride, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Hercules confident Guyana Jaguars can retain 4-Day championship

F

ormer Guyana youth player and now Level Two Coach Ryan Hercules has thrown his support behind Guyana Jaguars to retain the Cricket West Indies regional four-day Professional Cricket League Championship.

Guyana Jaguars’ possession of the prestigious cup for five years in succession speaks volume according to Hercules, who believes that the team is well-balanced and definitely enthusiastic to create more history.

Jaguars have the ability to rule supremacy from Thursday when the six-team, ten-round competition bowls off with the South American side tackling Leeward Islands

Hurricanes at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium, Antigua and Barbuda.

Apart from the formidable combination, which will be led by the Guyana’s most triumphant captain Leon Johnson, Hercules also thinks that the experienced players would certainly make a big difference and that should also boost their confidence prodigiously.

“Yes, I think with the team they have it’s possible they can win the tournament again especially with a lot of experienced and West Indies players included like, Johnson, Vishal Singh, Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Veersammy Permaul, Raymond Reifer,

Chanderpaul Hemraj and a mixture of youths; I think once the players stick to the basics and work together it will be a successful one for Guyana,” the Essequibian Hercules mentioned.

Reflecting on what would have transpired over the past five years in which the Guyanese dominated proceedings, Hercules is also predicting the team to reproduce those magnificent performances.

Guyana Jaguars now should be empowered to do well again in every aspect of their game both on foreign and local soils.

“Obviously, you have some strong teams going to compete but I feel we have a

side that is very well experienced and as I said the international exposure from many players is an asset for Guyana Jaguars,” Hercules, who worked with the Guyana Amazon Warriors team at last year’s Caribbean Premier League tournament, related.

After illustrating beautifully their talents for five straight years, Hercules is very confident the collaboration would once more be a prevailing factor.

“You looked at the way Guyana Jaguars played over the years, and be champions, really showed that we have got great talents; the team played fantastic cricket over the years and winning the championship for

six years, should not be a difficult task for the roaring Jaguars,” Hercules, who represented Guyana senior team in a Festival tour-match in Canada, stated.

The other senior players who have made up the lineup are also talented enough to make an impression.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble has been very consistent behind and infront of the stumps while opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul is expected to start the innings with Hemraj. Both scored centuries last year and Hercules is very optimistic they are eager to churn out more memorable innings.

Meanwhile, Guyana

Jaguars selected two uncapped players: off-spinning all-rounder Kevin Sinclair and quickie Nial Smith. They will be without the services of batting sensation Shimron Hetmyer, all-rounder Keemo Paul and fast-bowler Romario Shepherd. The trio are in the West Indies squad currently clashing with Ireland in a three-match limited-over series in the Caribbean. But according to Hercules, Guyana Jaguars will still start as overwhelming favourites for the championship. The five other participating teams are: Barbados Pride, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

23

Windies easily subdue Ireland in ODI series opener

Lorcan Tucker

E

West Indies went one up in the ODI series

vin Lewis fell agonisingly short of a hundred, but his immaculate unbeaten 99 followed Alzarri Joseph's feisty four-for as a dominant West Indies brushed Ireland aside in the first ODI in Bridgetown.

Batting on 93 with three required for a win, the o p e n er managed to s l i c e o n e wide o f third m a n f o r two Hayden Walsh Jr

runs. That left a straightforward equation - a six to win the match as well as get his hundred.

Lewis managed to smoke the length ball that followed, but it landed a few metres short of the extra cover boundary and left him on 99 as West Indies took a lead in the series.

Lewis' innings was nearly chanceless. He began solidly, offering a vertical bat as much as possible on a good batting surface that showed glimpses of being slow every now and again. The only chance he offered, a chip against Mark

Adair in the ninth over, was put down by Kevin O'Brien lunging low at mid-off. On either side of that ball, Lewis b l u d -

geoned short pitched bowling from the medium-pacer.

That early plan to put away horizontal bat shots was a theme throughout for Lewis, whose other highlights were blistering drives through extra cover, and nonchalant lofts over midoff against the spinners.

Occasionally he brought out the sweep - like when he brought up his fifty - and in a short chase, anchored the innings witho u t

compromising on his scoring rate.

In his company, all batsmen made starts without building on them.

Brandon King struggled in a 71run partnership as I r e l a n d cramped him for room, S h i m r o n H e t m y e r lasted eight

balls before top-edging a slog sweep, and Nicholas Pooran played one of the shots of the match - a glorious straight hit that slammed the edge of the roof - before finding backward point with a cut. Roston Chase, West Indies' new ODI floater, brought calm after a middle-order wobble and took West Indies to within three runs of victory before falling.

Shai Hope had begun in similarly pristine fashion to Lewis, but Adair had his revenge after being hit for two fours, hurrying him with a short ball that he sliced high in the midwicket region where William Porterfield took a diving catch running backwards.

That wicket was something of an extension of the first in-

nings, when Joseph and S h e l d o n Cottrell made effective use of a bouncy pitch that was on the slower side.

Ireland's top three pulled and hooked well against the new ball as West Indies kept their lengths on the shorter side.

The extra time because of the

Sheldon Cottrell is congratulated

by Keiron Pollard

surface's slow pace helped in that regard, but as the lacquer progressively went out, horizontal-bat shots became tougher.

Paul Stirling was at his flowing best piercing the off side early on, and got great connection on his pull shot against Joseph in his first over, but he couldn't keep it down. At midwicket, Pollard took an easy catch.

Andy Balbirinie, who had won the toss in his first match as ODI captain, played three pristine shots within minutes of coming in - one a drive through the covers, one watchful pull caressed to fine leg, and a gorgeous looking hook for six. But Pollard's gamble with the offspin of Chase inside the Powerplay worked immediately. Balbrinie reached out, first ball of the tenth over, and got a thin edge as the ball held its line. Hope held onto the first of his four catches behind the stumps.

The free-flowing nature of the innings stopped there. Debutant allrounder Gareth Delaney, who was picked to open ahead of James McCollum, was next to fall, getting an inside edge trying to pull Joseph's back of a length delivery after a sustained period of dot ball, and moments after a mix up had nearly ended Porterfield's i n n i n g s at the non-strikers end.

In his next over, Joseph pinned Kevin O'Brien deep in the crease trying to flick a full ball, and Sheldon Cottrell returned shortly after to find Porterfield's outside edge with a short delivery outside off that he appeared too eager to cut.

Ireland were 80 for 5 at that point, and slipped to 88 for 6 when Simi Singh was strangled down leg side.

Twenty-three-yearold wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker, who played ahead of Gary Wilson, then dug in with Mark Adair for just over 13 overs. They weren't extravagant in putting up the only half-century stand of the innings, but at just over four an over, they didn't open up the danger of a complete slowdown. But

two balls after the drinks break, Adair jumped down the track to a length ball from Hayden Walsh that was delivered from well behind the crease and ended up being beaten in flight completely. Joseph got another one to kick up from the surface in his last over to account for Tucker, and might have had a fifth wicket if Barry McCarthy hadn't had the option to overturn an lbw decision using DRS. There was one final bit of resistance from the lower order, with McCarthy and Boyd Rankin adding 30 for the last wicket. But they could only stretch the score to 180, which didn't prove nearly enough as the hosts won with a third of their overs to spare.

(ESPN cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Ireland Innings (50 overs maximum) PR Stirling c Pollard b Joseph 15 GJ Delany c †Hope b Joseph 19 A Balbirnie (c) c †Hope b Chase 16 WTS Porterfield c †Hope b Cottrell 15 KJ O'Brien lbw b Joseph 4 LJ Tucker † c Walsh b Joseph 31 Simi Singh c †Hope b Cottrell 5 MR Adair st †Hope b Walsh 29 AR McBrine c Paul b Walsh 4 BJ McCarthy c King b Paul 13 WB Rankin not out 10 Extras (b 5, lb 5, nb 2, w 7) 19 TOTAL (46.1 Overs, RR: 3.89) 180 all out Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Paul Stirling, 6.3 ov), 2-51 (Andy Balbirnie, 9.1 ov), 3-62 (Gareth Delany, 14.3 ov), 4-68 (Kevin O'Brien, 16.1 ov), 5-80 (William Porterfield, 20.2 ov), 6-88 (Simi Singh, 22.5 ov), 7-142 (Mark Adair, 35.2 ov), 8-150 (Lorcan Tucker, 38.3 ov), 9-150 (Andy McBrine, 39.2 ov), 10-180 (Barry McCarthy, 46.1 ov) BOWLING SS Cottrell KMA Paul AS Joseph RL Chase HR Walsh

9-1-39-2 7.1-0-34-1 10-1-32-4 10-0-35-1 10-0-30-2

West Indies Innings (50 overs maximum) SD Hope † c Porterfield b McCarthy 13 E Lewis not out 99 BA King c McCarthy b Simi Singh 20 SO Hetmyer c †Tucker b Simi Singh 8 N Pooran c Simi Singh b McBrine 17 RL Chase c †Tucker b Rankin 19 KA Pollard (c) not out 0 Extras (lb 4, w 4) 8 TOTAL (33.2 Overs, RR: 5.52) 184-5 Yet to bat: KMA Paul, AS Joseph, SS Cottrell, HR Walsh Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Shai Hope, 5.5 ov), 2-98 (Brandon King, 18.3 ov), 3-112 (Shimron Hetmyer, 20.2 ov), 4-130 (Nicholas Pooran, 23.1 ov), 5-178 (Roston Chase, 32.5 ov) BOWLING AR McBrine BJ McCarthy MR Adair Simi Singh WB Rankin

7-0-40-1 7.2-1-46-1 2-0-24-0 10-0-44-2 7-1-26-1

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

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

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Windies easily subdue Ireland in ODI series opener Hercules confident Executives elated at Guyana Jaguars ‘once in a lifetime’ can retain 4-day training opportunity championship Page 22

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