Guyana Times - Monday, October 22, 2018

Over US$1M to be spent on filaria campaign P13 this year – Lawrence THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3723

3 dead after fuel truck turns turtle in Puruni guyanatimesgy.com

Monday, October 22, 2018

PRICE

WHAT'S INSIDE:

1 shot, 2 arrested after pointing gun at security P11 officer

Page 2

Page 3

$80 vat included

Jagdeo points to annual jail breaks under coalition Govt

Kwakwani residents benefit from medical P16 outreach

– warns about sowing seed for another crisis in the future

Oil and gas sector

"I’m not P11 impressed with Govt’s readiness" – political analyst

Fire guts Sophia home, 12 homeless Father of 2 gunned down during alleged Page 2 robbery

P7 Split on sugar policy proves Govt's incompetence – financial analyst

Page 9

...says ‘no cost attached to sufferings taking place in sugar belt’

AG report finds

Over $50M still unaccounted for in school feeding programme Page 9

Partially P10 decomposed body yet to be identified … 3 months after discovery

2 news 3 dead after fuel truck Father of 2 gunned down turns turtle in Puruni during alleged robbery A MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

The mangled truck following the accident on Saturday

T

hree men are now dead after the truck in which they were travelling turned turtle at Kumung Trail, Puruni River on Saturday afternoon.

The dead men were identified as 24-year-old Clifford Anthony Bhim, a porter of Itaballi Landing, Cuyuni; David Choi-Weenam, 52, a miner of Four Miles, Bartica and Jude James, 39, a miner of Yarrowkabra, Linden-

Soesdyke Highway.

The driver of the truck, 29-year-old Ravi Dookram and his stepson, Steve Carr, 18, of Lot 757 Section C, Block Y, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, were listed in stable but serious condition at the Bartica Regional Hospital.

Dookram was later medevacked to Georgetown Public Hospital to receive further medical attention.

Based on reports received, the truck, bearing registration number GWW 4811, was transporting about 44 drums of diesel and as it was climbing a hill, it developed mechanical problems and started to reverse.

At the time, there were two persons inside the truck cabin along with the driver, and two others in the tray of the vehicle. Although the driver reportedly attempted to control the vehicle, it toppled several time before landing on its four wheels.

All the men were severely injured, and Anthony, ChoiWeenam and James reportedly died on the spot.

Their bodies were transported to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary, but were expected to be transported to the Lyken Funeral Home where post-mortems would be conducted.

father of two was in the wee hours of Sunday shot dead after four armed men invaded his Lot 161 Mon Repos Pasture, East Coast Demerara (ECD) property.

A friend who was with the now dead man was also shot and was said to be in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Dead is 30-year-old Christopher Swamy, an employee of Flower City Restaurant, Better Hope, ECD. Based on information received, the now dead man, his wife and his sister-in-law, along with a friend, Rawle Williams, 28, and his spouse Marcia Williams, 38, were liming and imbibing in front of the home. However, about 01:30h, they were confronted by two masked men, one of whom brandished a handgun.

Police stated that the suspects relieved Marcia Williams of a cellphone and an undisclosed sum of cash after which they assaulted her husband to the head.

It was during the commotion Swamy was shot to the chest. The men then fled the scene.

Swamy and Williams were rushed to the Georgetown Public

Dead: Christopher Swamy

Hospital where Swamy was pronounced dead on arrival and Williams was admitted.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, Marcia Williams explained that the men accosted her and after relieving her of the items, they enquired whether or not she was okay.

The bandits then turned their attention to Swamy and Rawle Williams by opening fire on them.

Swamy was shot once to his foot and once to his chest, while Rawle received a gunshot wound to his neck, the woman told this newspaper.

After carrying out the act, the men reportedly

quickly escaped the scene in an unknown direction.

Swamy’s brother-inlaw, Arijit told this publication that he was asleep in the upper flat of the house when he was awakened by a nephew who informed him that bandits were outside.

“Me wake up and left bassidy because me want to know what happening, so when me peep, me nah see no bandit. But then I start to hear hollering and screaming downstairs and then I hear the shots. When I run downstairs, I see me brother-in-law lying on the floor and me start for shake him, but he was already dead,” the man relayed.

The other injured man was checked and after he responded, a car was quickly called to the scene to rush him to the hospital.

Guyana Times understands it might have been a premeditated murder.

Information received revealed that the now dead man had an altercation with an ex-policeman about a month ago after which he was threatened.

On Saturday, the said ex-policeman visited the father of two at his place of employment and repeated the threats. An investigation has been launched into the murder.

3 Jagdeo points to annual jail breaks under coalition Govt news

MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, October 22 – a night retraction at 03:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, October 23 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, October 22 – 14:55h-16:25h and Tuesday, October 23 – 15:25h-16:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy skies and sunny conditions can be expected in the morning, with sunny intervals in the afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures will range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 15:12h reaching a maximum height of 2.58 metres.

Low Tide: 08:46h and 21:06h reaching minimum heights of 0.68 metre and 0.61 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2018

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– warns about sowing seed for another crisis in the future

F

or each of the three years that the coalition Government has been in office, there were jailbreaks and riots at various prisons, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has noted.

Addressing a recent press conference, the former Head of State said that this pointed to the incompetence of Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and, by extension, the Government.

“Ramjattan’s incompetence knows no limit. So, we have had another fiasco at the prison. We warned about this … but he is impervious to criticism,” Jagdeo stated.

The Opposition Leader believes that Ramjattan has underperformed in every single area of his responsibility, stating that crime was on a rampant increase and the Minister has made a mess of the prison system.

He recalled that the then Opposition used to argue that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration was weak on law and order, which has now come back to haunt them.

“Because almost three years you had some burning of the prison and loss of life … because of the incompetence … they created this moral hazard by their own acts,” he asserted.

On Monday October 15, 2018, three inmates from the Lusignan penitentiary, one of whom has since been recaptured, scaled the fence of the Holding Bay area and escaped.

Later that night, several inmates at the facility started a riot over the food they were served and in retaliation, ranks opened fire on them resulting in at least 10 of them being injured.

At a press conference following these incidents, Ramjattan lamented that he did not know what else could be done to address the troubles within the prison system.

“I don’t have any other suggestions … for their security, for the citizens’ security as to what we can do there …

So, look, the thing gives me headache every night,” the Minister stated.

He went on to disclose that the requests made to various international agencies for funding to address the state of affairs within the prison system have been rejected and now the only solution would be to await money Guyana will earn from oil production in two years’ time.

Back in early July 2017, eight prisoners, a few of them high-profile criminals, escaped from the Camp Street Prison. There was a huge riot that led to a massive fire which destroyed a large section of the penitentiary.

While most of them were recaptured, a few remain on the run.

With the transfer of most of these prisoners to other prisons, 13 of them escaped from Lusignan Prison. Two

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

was the worst prison riot in Guyana.

Jagdeo said the coalition was warned about its actions after March 2016, as it related to the fact that after the prisoners set fire to the jail, they secured a meeting with a member of the executive.

“They created a moral hazard there … where it ends?” he questioned, noting that prisoners have been given the impression that if they resorted to riotous actions, their demands would be met.

He said, “In the long term, their actions will affect us … we have to be extremely

The Private Sector Commission (PSC), in a letter to Minister Ramjattan, indicated its concern on a number of issues affecting the prisons in Guyana and, by virtue of this, public safety in the country.

The Commission noted that in a recent meeting of the Management Board of the Prisons, it was highlighted that there was a general lack of adequate security at all of the prisons, a lack of fire prevention systems, the lack of transportation to enable movement of prisoners and food where necessary, and

An aerial view of the Lusignan Prison located on the East Coast of Demerara

escapees, Paul Goriah and Cobena Stephens, are still on the run. Another major riot erupted there, and there were calls for investigations based on the inhumane conditions of the facility.

In March 2016, the Camp Street Prison was destroyed when prisoners started rioting under similar circumstances. Seventeen inmates died because of burns, smoke inhalation and injuries received during the unrest. It

cautious about our approach (with the release of prisoners and not sow the seed for another crisis in the future).”

Minister of State Joseph Harmon said Friday that Ramjattan has met with a team of persons with expertise to discuss possible solutions to address the issues facing the Guyana Prisons Service (GPS). Ramjattan not disclose what was discussed or whom he had met with.

the inadequacy of the current complement of prisons to safely house the prison population.

It further stated that while the Commission is concerned about the safety and security of the public, it is also disturbed by the lessthan-humane conditions under which the inmate population at the Lusignan Prison is housed.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MondAY, october 22, 2018

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

Three-year report card: Economy and security

L

ast Thursday, President David Granger addressed the National Assembly at the beginning of its new session.

He took the opportunity to laud the achievements of his government over the last three years, and to project what the nation should expect in the less than two remaining years of his administration.

While the President cast his net over the entire ambit of his government’s responsibilities, we will examine his comments in two sectors that are uppermost in the minds of the citizenry: the economy, and security.

The President reiterated, “The State’s principal objective is to secure the ‘good life’ for all. The ‘good life’ is about securing sustained economic prosperity, ensuring citizens’ access to quality public services, and promoting social cohesion.” To secure this “sustained economic prosperity”, he claimed, “Your Government will continue to place emphasis on building greater economic resilience through economic diversification, strengthening the traditional sectors, and by catalysing and building capacity in new and emerging sectors such as agro-processing, information communications technology, and ecotourism.”

However, details were sparse in fleshing out these objectives. The most blatant gap between the rhetoric and the reality was exposed when the President discussed the sugar industry, which is emblematic of the rest of the economy. The APNU/AFC Manifesto, under the rubric “Industrialisation and Jobs”, had promised “to create a new economy that will stimulate rapid development through Guyana’s transformation from a raw material producer to a manufacturer of value-added goods and services.”

In reference to sugar, the Manifesto promised to consolidate the industry, for instance, by rehabilitating the factories to “make them cost effective”, while “changing agronomical practices in the fields to boost yields”. Yet, after just a year after taking office, President Granger’s government ignored the advice of the CoI it had established to examine options for the industry and closed four estates, which involved firing 5700 sugar workers from GuySuCo and loss of jobs for another 2000 with private cane farmers.

This decision confirmed suspicions that both its Manifesto and CoI Report were just rhetoric designed to secure votes.

To talk of “the good life” in Parliament, when it took another year to secure severance payments for the fired workers, exposes the President to accusations that he is contemptuous of the intelligence of the Guyanese people.

When the closings of the sugar estates were abruptly announced, his government had promised “diversifying” the lands into cash crops through leasing lands to the fired workers, but this proposal was dropped like the proverbial “hot potato”, never to be heard of again.

In Parliament, the President declared rather blithely, “Sugar workers have not been abandoned to an uncertain future. We will continue to work diligently to ensure that displaced workers are provided with opportunities to participate actively in other sectors of the economy, such as the production and processing of rice and other crops, livestock, fisheries, construction, manufacturing, services and mining.” If, after almost two years after Wales was shuttered, none of these proposals has even been initiated, why should he be believed now? The talk about “agroprocessing” will remain that – talk -- unless the “agro” portion is established; and this takes time, planning, finance and training, none of which is in sight.

The APNU/AFC Manifesto had also acknowledged that “the crime situation is both the most pressing and most depressing problem facing ordinary citizens today”, and had adumbrated 27 initiatives to deal with it. Security had been one of the perceived strengths of the APNU/ AFC coalition, fortified as it was by a platoon of ex-security experts. But none of the security initiatives undertaken was consummated, while the Government has focused on what is apparently a political witch hunt, using SOCU – which is supposed to go after “organised crime” – to focus totally on alleged PPP-government’s corruption. To date, the outfit has lost every case that has gone to trial.

In the meantime, crime continues to plague the country as the Police insist on producing statistics to convince the country otherwise.

The delegates in the Miss Berbice, I am a Big Deal Pageant slated for November 24 at the Albion Community Centre Ground. The young ladies were unveiled to the public on Saturday evening on the lawns of State House, New Amsterdam

Saudi Arabia calls Khashoggi killing “grave mistake”, says Prince not aware

S

audi Arabia on Sunday called the killing of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi at its Istanbul Consulate a “huge and grave mistake”, but sought to shield its powerful Crown Prince from the widening crisis, saying Mohammed bin Salman had not been aware.

The comments from Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir were some of the most direct yet from Riyadh, which has given multiple and conflicting accounts about Khashoggi’s killing on October 2, first denying his death before admitting it on Saturday amid an international outcry.

The kingdom’s weeks of denial and lack of credible evidence in the face of allegations from Turkish officials that Khashoggi had been killed have shaken global confidence in ties with the world’s top oil exporter, Western governments say.

US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said on Sunday that Saudi Arabia’s admission that the Washington Post columnist had been killed in a fistfight was a “good first step but not enough”, though he added it was premature to discuss any sanctions against Riyadh.

Three major European powers – Germany, Britain and France – pressed Saudi Arabia to provide facts to back up its earlier explanation of a fight, while Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would not export arms to Saudi Arabia while the current uncertainty over Khashoggi’s fate persisted.

Speaking to US broadcaster Fox, Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, extended condolences to Khashoggi’s family.

“This is a terrible mistake. This is a terrible tragedy. Our condolences go out to them. We feel their pain,” he said.

“Unfortunately, a huge and grave mistake was made and I assure them that those responsible will be held accountable for this.”

He said the Saudis did not know how Khashoggi, a Saudi national and US resident, had been killed or where his body was. He also said that Prince Mohammed, de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, was not responsible.

“This was an operation where individuals ended up exceeding the authorities and responsibilities they had. They made the mistake when they killed Jamal Khashoggi in the Consulate and they tried to cover up for it.”

Khashoggi went missing after entering the consulate to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage.

After denying any involvement in the 59-year-old’s disappearance for two weeks, Saudi Arabia on Saturday said Khashoggi, a critic of the Crown Prince, had died during a fight in the building. An hour later, another Saudi official attributed the death to a chokehold.

Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi speaks at an event hosted by Middle East Monitor in London, Britain, September 29, 2018

(Middle East Monitor/Handout via Reuters/File Photo)

“Nothing can justify this killing and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms,” Germany, Britain and France said in their joint statement on Sunday.

“There remains an urgent need for clarification of exactly what happened ... beyond the hypotheses that have been raised so far in the Saudi investigation, which need to be backed by facts to be considered credible.”

Reflecting international scepticism over its account, a senior Saudi Government official has laid out a new version that in key respects contradicts previous explanations.

The latest account includes details on how the team of 15 Saudi nationals sent to confront Khashoggi had threatened him with being drugged and kidnapped and killed him in a chokehold when he resisted. A member of the team dressed in Khashoggi’s clothes to make it appear as if he had left the consulate.

Erdogan to speak Turkish officials suspect Khashoggi was killed inside the Consulate by the team of Saudi agents and his body cut up.

Turkish sources say the authorities have an audio recording purportedly documenting Khashoggi’s murder inside the consulate. In a speech on Sunday, Erdogan appeared to suggest that he was getting ready to release some information about the Turkish investigation, and would do so at his weekly speech to members of his ruling AK Party in Parliament.

He has remained largely silent on the case, although Turkey’s pro-Government newspapers have released information detailing a 15-member team that purportedly arrived in Istanbul to confront Khashoggi at the Consulate.

“I will make my statements about this issue on Tuesday at the party group meeting,” Erdogan said.

For Saudi Arabia’s allies – particularly in the West – the question will be whether they believe that the Prince, who has painted himself as a reformer, has any cul-

pability. King Salman, 82, had handed the day-to-day running of Saudi Arabia to him.

“I am not satisfied until we find the answer. But it was a big first step, it was a good first step. But I want to get to the answer,” US President Donald Trump told reporters this weekend, when asked about the Saudi investigation and Riyadh’s subsequent firing of Saudi officials over the incident.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Trump said that “obviously there’s been deception, and there’s been lies”.

His Treasury Secretary, Mnuchin, said he would not attend a Saudi investment conference on Tuesday, although he would still visit Riyadh as planned for talks with his counterpart there on joint efforts to counter terrorist financing.

A leading Republican US Senator said he believed the Crown Prince was behind the killing, adding that the Saudis had lost all credibility in their explanations of his death.

“Yes, I think he did it,” Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview with CNN. Shifting narrative Saudi Arabia’s account of the incident has changed multiple times. The authorities initially dismissed reports that Khashoggi had gone missing inside the consulate as false and said he had left the building soon after entering. When the media reported a few days later that he had been killed there, they called the accusations “baseless”.

King Salman ordered the dismissal of five officials, including Saud al-Qahtani, a royal court adviser seen as the right-hand man to Prince Mohammed, and deputy intelligence chief Ahmed Asiri, Saudi State media reported on Saturday.

The King also ordered a restructuring of the intelligence service, to be led by Prince Mohammed, suggesting the Prince still retained wide-ranging authority.

Some Governments and prominent executives have said they would pull out of a forthcoming investment conference in Saudi Arabia. Among the latest, the Government of New Zealand said it would not attend, as did the head of the main banking unit of Japanese financial group MUFG. According to the senior Saudi official, the Saudi team rolled up Khashoggi’s body in a rug, took it out in a consular vehicle, and handed it to a “local cooperator” for disposal.

Turkish investigators are likely to find out what happened to the corpse “before long”, a senior Turkish official said on Saturday. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, october 22, 2018

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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

Unfit to lecture anyone on moral conduct

Dear Editor, Recently, the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Mr Adrian Saunders, at a public lecture delivered in Guyana, encouraged Guyanese to write public commentaries critical of decisions of the CCJ. His Honour obviously recognises that the right to criticise decisions of the courts is part and parcel of the freedom of expression guaranteed to us as a fundamental right by the Constitution.

Needless to say, there is a distinction between criticising and being disrespectful. Unlike Attorney General Mr. Basil Williams, I am conscious of this distinction, and bear it in mind in my public comments in relation to the recent ruling of the Guyana Court of Appeal.

I read the news article of the AG's recent press statement accusing me of being disrespectful of our judges. In that press release, he deceptively plucked certain statements I made out of context in order to make his point, including statements that I made in and to the Court.

The fact that I was permitted to make those statements in the Court ought to establish that the Court itself did not find them offensive, obviously having regard to the context in which they were made.

That is why the AG deliberately excluded the context in his Release.

For example, I said that the Barbadian Queen's Counsel were alien to the historical evolution of, and political vicissitudes which inspired, Article 161 (2) of the Constitution to its current form. The AG accuses me of labelling these two gentlemen as “aliens”!

I specifically deny describing the Court’s decision as "political". What I said and wrote were widely carried in the press, and anyone is free to examine it for themselves.

That my written comments were carried by the press unedited is evidence that the press did not consider them scandalous; since, by carrying them, the press itself would have been implicated in the scandal.

I must wonder why the AG would want to remind the na-

tion about his disgraceful conduct before Justice Franklin Holder. But since he has made reference to it, it is apt that I remind that, among the several disrespectful statements made to that judge, he informed the court: "The last man who said that to me was a magistrate who was later found dead!” The Judge immediately rose from the bench and exited the courtroom.

This was followed by a letter of complaint written by the Judge to the Chief Justice, and a letter sent by the Chancellor to the President, complaining about the AG's conduct before Justice Holder. These letters were all made public, and were widely carried in the press.

Only recently, the nation witnessed how this very AG refused to obey an Order of Chief Justice Roxanne George to bring the Judicial Review Act into force, and complied with the Order of Court only when Contempt of Court proceedings were filed against him. I can cite more instances of flagrant disrespect of the Judiciary by this AG, but I think the point is made already.

In conclusion, while I was critical of the Court's decision, as I have right to do, I did not disrespect any judge. In any event, the AG lacks the moral and professional authority to lecture me, or anyone else for that matter, about professional legal conduct.

Respectfully, Anil Nandlall

GECOM being run like old-time cake shop (Pt 1) Dear Editor, With each passing day, the inherent fault lines eroding the democratic purpose of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) threaten to graduate into a devastating tsunami. In fact, the magnitude of evidence in the widely circulated public media from many disappointed stakeholders puts the rebranded image of the organisation as tantamount to that of an old-time cake shop being run with hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ money.

It is clear that the undercurrents have further deepened, since the strongly-challengeable, unilateral appointment by President Granger of the Chairman, Justice (retired) James Patterson. Nothing significant has so far been done by the Chairman to remedy the problematic issues at GECOM. Rather, things seem to have gotten worse, rendering the decaying grey matter incapable of adjusting to, or overseeing, a meaningful input that would cleanse the infested cake shop operations.

In essence, when appointed, Commissioners have to take to the public media to air the overwhelming internal inefficacies and dirty linen permeating GECOM. It is a clear sign that we are fast approaching breaking point!

Numerous published evidence -based revelations provide a very dismal picture of the many distasteful happenings being conducted within the organisation. Under Chairman James Patterson’s watch, Chief Executive Officer Keith Lowenfield acts as a lord unto himself, and has become even more em-

boldened to unleash another imbued ‘Town Clerk-like’ display.

It was recently reported that when asked about approaches to expending on public relations projects, Lowenfield informed GECOM’s statutory meeting that once the Finance Ministry gave the accounting officer the approval to expend funds for any purpose, the GECOM Secretariat was not required to bring the issue before the Sub-Committee or the Commission.

The seriousness of this erroneous response cannot be understated. Lowenfield pretends to be not any wiser following highly prosecutable findings contained in the report of the 2017 Auditor General’s examination of GECOM’s financial activities. It is clear that the procurement mechanism is being continually abused under a created guise of so-called urgent requirements for the same activities year after year; election after election.

In essence, the internally applied approaches are being deliberately manipulated to accommodate fraud and handpicked beneficiaries.

In a public entity such as GECOM, properly accountable practices are enshrined in the approved procurement legislation to address procedures that must be followed in the pre-procurement cycle; the cycle, and the postprocurement cycle. Critically, procedures in the law are specific to how this firm procures in terms of mandatory compliance procedures that support accountability. Particularly, they address the tender process, including forms of tendering -- whether selective,

public, or special; and consider strongly the Terms of Reference for the critical activities.

In the GECOM setting, these do not often change, and are repeatable, since they are often informed by the plan for the specific elections and the related budget. This column, on numerous occasions, called for release of the GECOM budget, which often seems absent, abstract or lacking, in the interest of transparency and accountability.

It is therefore appalling that the Commission would entertain such responses from the CEO of the Secretariat when requests for clarification are made by Commissioners.

Notably, the Chairman of the Commission and the CEO of the Secretariat had, months ago, indicated the readiness of the organisation to fulfill the rudiments of the November 12th Local Government Elections.

One had expected that such confirmation would have been driven by structured planning and budgeting, approved by the Commission (including all commissioners).

One had expected that the execution of the Secretariat’s plan would have been strongly monitored, supported by a structured schedule that is devoid of occurrences of fraudulent financial manipulation to benefit a few. One would have expected that the high-risk elements which undermine the required level of professionalism would have been identified, and approaches to mitigate them would have been employed.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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mondAY, october 22, 2018

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Foundation

Continued from Saturday

By Brigit Katz

Provide meaningful consequences

Punishments for bullying behaviour can be effective, but they should be meaningful and limited in scope. If, for example, you find out that your teenager is engaging in cyber bullying, her actions should be met with an immediate loss of Internet or phone privileges. In the case of particularly severe offences, revoke the privileges for the foreseeable future, and seek the help of a therapist. But for less acute forms of bullying, the child should be able to earn her privileges back over the course of a few days.

“If you remove a privilege for too long, it may actually lose validity,” says Dr Kristin Carothers, a clinical psychologist. “The kid’s like, ‘OK, well, I can never get it back, so I’m just not going to try.’ You want to make it so that the time within which punishment happens and the amount of time for which it happens are really balanced to have the biggest effect.”

Make it right

Once your child has regained her privileges and is calm, explain that she made a mistake that needs to be fixed. Your child might choose to apologise – in person, in a letter, via text message, and so on – but repairs can take many different forms. You can encourage your child to bake cookies for the whole class, for example, or to play a game with a peer whom she had previously been excluding.

Dr Howard recalls a former patient who had been name-calling and very patently excluding other children from her social group.

As a means of repair, the girl’s mother had her daughter invite all the children whom she had bullied to a social event. “It was a correction,” Dr Jamie Howard, director of the Stress and Resilience Programme at the Child Mind Institute explains. “And it was sort of Mom’s way of re-establishing control.

Monitor the situation

If another parent approaches you about your child’s bullying, notify teachers right away so they can be on the lookout for problematic behaviour.

Follow up with teachers on a regular basis and give plenty of labelled praise when your child is being a good friend.

Cyber bullying can be particularly difficult to monitor because it doesn’t take place in plain sight. If your child has bullied other kids over the Internet, obtain passwords to her Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, and check them regularly to make sure that she is using social media in a kind manner. Be upfront about this: let your child know that you will be monitoring her social media activity until she proves that she can handle it responsibly. “If you’re paying the phone bill, and you’re paying for the Internet, you should be aware of what’s going on with your child,” Dr Carothers says.

Seek help

If you are continually working on building friendship

skills with your child and the bullying does not stop, seek a mental health evaluation. Your child might need a therapist’s help to work through underlying issues.

Stay connected

In some ways the most important action you can take is to build an open channel of communication with your child about his day-to-day life that will put you in a better position to recognise signs of bullying and trouble. Dr Carothers recommends asking your child a few open-ended questions on a daily basis. “I believe in general checkins with kids,” she explains. “If you want your kid to talk to you, you have to go and talk to your kid.”

In the morning, ask your child what she has planned for the day; after school, ask your child to tell you about one really great thing that happened that day, and one not-so-great thing. It can be tough to get started, but kids who are regularly expected to share details of their lives with parents are more comfortable continuing into adolescence to clue their parents in to what they are doing.

Gina found that staying connected to her son in a supportive, non-judgmental way was key to minimising his aggressive behaviour. “Talk to your kids and be very present in their lives,” she suggests. “They need to feel like you care and that you hear what’s going on with them. Fill their heads and hearts with love.” (Excerpt from childmind.org)

I

t is natural for children to be somewhat self-involved.

Their primary focus, especially when they are young, is making sure that their needs are met by the people around them. This generally means that children learn to ask for the things they want fairly early in their development, and they will have many opportunities to perfect their technique.

But as children mature, it also becomes necessary for them to look outside their own needs and begin being more responsive to the needs of others. Parents play a big role in helping children develop generosity, both through encouragement and example.

Here are some guiding principles to keep in mind for raising generous children.

Encourage empathy

Generosity starts with thinking about how others feel. Children are naturally egotistical, but parents can cultivate empathy by helping children imagine how others feel. This can be an everyday occurrence (How do you think your brother felt when you took his toy?) or you can seek out occasions for empathy, like participating in a food or clothing drive. Choosing something special to give to someone their own age will make children feel more connected.

Praise generous deeds

Children will naturally do nice things for others from time to time. If you notice a nice gesture, like sharing a toy, giving a compliment or helping carry in groceries, praise your child for the behaviour. Positive recognition for something makes a child more likely to continue doing it.

Set an example

From the moment they’re born, children look to parents for cues on how to behave. Talking to children about giving back is important, but setting an example of generosity in your own life – including an elderly relative in plans, volunteering at the school fair, pitching in with the dishes after a big dinner – shows children you really mean it.

Pick a charity

Children can get into the act of giving back by choosing a charity for the family to donate to. If every member of the family chooses a cause to support, however modestly, it can start a conversation about what each person values. Supporting a charity also makes children feel proud and might even launch a new tradition, especially if it is timed around a holiday or birthday.

Generosity can happen every day

Often when we think of generosity it’s in terms of gift-giving or volunteering, but generosity can also be a spontaneous part of your day. Let children know that it is always good to look for little ways to make a positive difference in someone’s day, like pitching in to speed up a sibling’s chores, or being kind to someone after they’ve made a mistake.

Spread cheer

Making cookies, cards and small presents can be fun for children, and giving them to people in their community can make them feel part of something bigger. Whether they’re neighbours or teachers, the local crossing guard or the choir director, acknowledging them strengthens ties and reminds children to appreciate the people in their lives. (childmind.org)

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MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Split on sugar policy proves Govt’s incompetence – financial analyst …says “no cost attached to sufferings taking place in sugar belt”

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he squabble between the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) points to a major difference of opinion within Cabinet about the future of the sugar industry, which means it may take even longer for Government to decide on a unified sugar policy, says US-based financial analyst Sasenarine Singh.

Singh also believes that the division among the coalition parties highlighted the Government’s incompetence in handling the industry. “Clearly, there is a difference of opinion within the Granger Government on how to handle GuySuCo and this is a manifestation of that difference of opinion. It makes the Government look extremely incompetent,” he asserted.

The financial analyst said if anything, the Cabinet must be united on its policy measures and with regard to GuySuCo, it comes across extremely disunited.

Singh, a former member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), the smaller coalition partner, said if he were in Government, he would have done things differently.

He recalled that the previous People’s Progressive

Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration was pumping between $6 billion and $8 billion into the industry each year. At the end of the Party’s last three years in Government, it would have expended some $18 billion, but this had kept GuySuCo afloat.

Singh noted, however, that the coalition Government had spent close to $38 billion in three years, reduced the industry’s staff by 7000, cut production by more than 55 per cent and spent twice the amount used to subsidise the industry on an annual basis.

“So we spent twice as much to destroy the industry when you could have pumped $18 billion in GuySuCo to keep it going.

Nobody is going to deny that you’re pumping money into GuySuCo and nobody will deny that there were deficiencies that were brought forward from the PPP Govt.”

But the former AFC member recognised that the major concern for most people was that GuySuCo was more than just a company, as it catered for a majority of the nation’s people.

According to statistics, the sugar industry takes care of the needs of some 17,000

pump billions into drainage and irrigation which GuySuCo used to take care of in the past. Just like the sport facilities, the medical services and the village community empowerment services.”

Suffering

Singh said if one were to visit Wales, West Bank Demerara, one would get a sense of what was happen-

town. If people don’t have any income, they will turn to crime. What we have done is turn productive people into thieves, because we thought about reducing production … And yet GuySuCo is not more efficient today than it was in 2014. It is actually worse,” he added.

Singh believes that the time will come when Guyana may have to import sugar because the industry has

Former AFC member and financial analyst Sasenarine Singh

families.

Already, there has been devastating news of how the downsizing and closure of three estates are causing severe hardships for the people who were once employed and their families. Many of those fired remain unemployed and are now turning to crime and other social ills.

“Nobody is putting a cost to what’s happening there.

The other thing that the Government is not telling anybody is that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has to

The abandoned Wales Sugar Estate located on the West Bank of Demerara

ing in the communities that once relied on sugar for an income.

“Go to Wales, it’s a ghost

steeply declined and may get worse if not addressed soon enough. Generally, the industry has performed its

worst in many decades. This year, production is projected at 91,000 tonnes.

Newly-appointed GuySuCo Chairman John Dow had told Guyana Times in an interview that the aim was to improve infrastructure and purchase new equipment that would aid in increasing the industry’s performance. However, in order for this to happen, the Corporation would need capital.

At present, GuySuCo is working to improve sugarcane yields to beyond 70 tonnes of cane per hectare.

He has said if improvements in this area take place, then chances are this too can add to an overall improvement in production by the Corporation.

Singh said, “I empathise with the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer because I believe that they have been given a basket to fetch water. The damage has already been done and it’s hard to undo it. My understanding is that there were plans for the $30 billion bond. It’s unfortunate that the money was allegedly misappropriated which had nothing to do with the original plan.”

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

8 news

MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Alleged Linden Police beating saga

DPP recommends charges for Police, taxi driver

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he office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that charges be laid against a Linden Police Officer and a taxi driver who were recently embroiled in an altercation at the Wisroc- Amelia's Ward minibus park in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Police had launched an investigation after the parties were both questioned in relation to the incident, which transpired on October 8, 2018 shortly after it occurred.

The incident, which was recorded on video, showed the taxi driver, Kevin Grant, being physically assaulted by a rank after apparently resisting arrest.

Based on investigations and statements obtained from the parties involved, legal advice had been sought, with the video also being presented in the file. E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) Commander Linden Lord said it was recommended that Grant be charged with resisting as well as assaulting a Peace Officer acting in the execution of his duties and for Police Constable Tquian Barnes to be charged with using unnecessary violence against Grant.

Lord said the charges would be prepared and filed for court presentation today. He noted that the incident was somewhat unfortunate and uncalled for on both parties’ part.

"The Police should be given a chance to execute their duties and if by chance they err, of course, the administration would take action. Likewise, Grant if he erred, the law will take its course," the Divisional Commander said.

During the incident, it was observed that a Police Officer who was also on the scene was in possession of what appeared to be a gun; however, Lord noted that he was made to believe that one of

A screen grab of the incident

the ranks reportedly had an air pistol, which allegedly fell out from his waistband and he picked up it and replaced it.

The incident had unfolded in full view of the public and was reportedly sparked after the taxi driver who was being apprehended by ranks attached to the Mackenzie Police Station for a minor traffic violation failed to report to the said Station.

In a cellphone video, which was viewed by Guyana Times, the ranks could be seen attempting to arrest the driver by handcuffing him and forcing him into a Police vehicle.

A rank was also observed hitting the driver as he was being led to the Police vehicle. By then, a large crowd had gathered and several other ranks were

observed on the scene.

The taxi driver, who later spoke to this publication at the Station following the incident, related that he had stopped his car at a corner and was confronted by Police who had advised him to park further up.

He explained, however, that the only place he could have driven was inside the park, which is located a short distance away, since according to him, there was no other space available.

The driver went on to state that when he got there, the Police started to write him a ticket for failing to stop 30 feet away from the corner. "The car end up fulling (with passengers) and he taking over five minutes to write the ticket," he related. The driver added that he was then told that another offence was being added after he questioned why the process was taking so long. He said he was then told that he was required to proceed to the station, but he refused, since, according to him, it was a ticket offence.

It was shortly after this, that an exchange occurred between the driver and the Policemen resulting in his arrest, during which he alleged that he was warned. Following the incident, a number of persons who witnessed the altercation turned up to the Police Station alleging that "Police brutality" was meted out against the driver.

"This is a quiet, quiet boy; if you see how he (the officer) kick he up," one person alleged. Others noted that if no satisfaction was given, they would go further to report the incident. "They can't do that to this boy. If they make this boy walk out of here without any satisfaction, we taking a bus and we going Eve Leary, to the Commissioner because they wrong," another had stated.

Reporting on…

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…“Granger, Ganja and Goadie”

t’s rather pathetic how the putative Prime Minister of Guyana, Moses Nagamootoo, has embraced his relegation to being the mouthpiece of David Granger’s PNC government. A few weeks ago, in Granger’s “Guyana Review” -- now published as an insert in the Stabber News -- there was such a cloyingly sycophantic puff piece on Granger that health centres across the country were inundated by readers who couldn’t stop gagging!!

Unfortunately, just when the medical staff might be taking a well-earned break, they’ll be getting another tsunami of “vomiters” who read Nagamootoo’s piece in his Chronic column on Granger’s address to Parliament!!

But you’ve got to hand it to the man who’d been promised a testosteroned Prime Ministership and ended up with the “larwah” of a weekly column: he takes that column very, very seriously!!

This week, he wrote that on seeing 3 groups outside Parliament, he “thought immediately that this week’s column should be titled: ‘Granger, Ganja and Paisa’!!

The man is always thinking about his job!! Sadly, it’s a job that rests on the carcasses of the two outside columnists – David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis – whom he knifed in the back. He’s now showing them what kind of columns the PNC boss-man demands: hagiographic and propagandistic!!

Nagamootoo used an extended cricketing analogy in his column, which he captioned, “Light roller on 20/20 pitch”!! Having never played T-20 cricket, he obviously doesn’t know that on such a pitch, the bowler – Granger in this case – would be consistently clobbered for sixes!! He waxed eloquently about the “slow spin” used by Granger, missing his Freudian slip with the word “spin” when used in communication!! He wrote, “I realised that his was no ordinary address: he was cataloguing achievements just three years after taking office”. Granger was giving his spin on how he’d delivered the good life after three years!

And what were these “achievements”?? Let’s go to the horse’s mouth: “…building a first-class education system, with emphasis on providing access to education, attendance and achievement. The first round of applause greeted the announcement that the Public Education Transport Service has distributed 1,254 bicycles, 28 buses and nine boats to help get our children to school, “without expending a dollar from the Government coffers.”

Imagine that!! Nagamootoo praising the PNCgovernment for “building a first-class education state” with bicycle donations from private citizens! While pissing off teachers – who’re responsible for delivering that education – by refusing to give them a living wage!!

The impasse with teachers, brought on by the PNC’s unilateralism, went unmentioned and unreported by Nagamootoo!!

One may understand “a mouth muzzled by the hand that feeds it”.

But how does Nagamootoo explain his mouth spewing crap? Goadie?

…(stillborn) constitutional change

Once again, there are drumbeats – faint, but growing in intensity – for “constitutional change”. Your Eyewitness asks, ‘What’s the point?” Two recent events illustrate his scepticism. First, relating to the matter of stipulating constitutionally the need for the PNC and PPP to work together in some sort of collaborative mechanism.

But just read David Hinds’s column for this week. The caption alone says it all – “The APNU+AFC Coalition has collapsed: It has become a PNC government”. Of course, your Eyewitness has been saying this all along; but Hinds is a self-confessed “supporter” of the Government, and an executive member of one of its coalition partners, the WPA! This is a view from “inside”. He details how the AFC – even with the Cummingsburg Accord -- had been neutered!

But some may retort that the Accord isn’t a “Constitutional imperative”. Well, what about Art 162 (2)? Wasn’t that a constitutional imperative to foster “consensus” between the parties??

Fact is, until the PNC’s weaned off sucking (unilateralism) eggs, we’re spinning wheels!

…the Berbice Bridge

With all the hullabaloo over the announced toll increases by the BBCI, the Government still refuses to act.

Its primary duty is to other shareholders – especially NIS and commuters.

It should buy out other shareholders and ensure NIS’s long-term cash flow.

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

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MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fire guts Sophia home, Over $50M still unaccounted for 12 homeless in school feeding programme AG report finds

– cash was kept in personal possession of school treasurers

Funds for the Kato School Feeding Programme were reportedly diverted

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ollowing the launch of a special investigation by the Auditor General Office into the controversial school feeding programme, the AG’s latest report revealed that $52.5 million was still unaccounted for.

State auditors examined the records of 11 schools in Regions Seven and Nine.

Some $73.6 million was allocated to the programme in those schools, which was supposed to go towards feeding 2189 students.

But the 2017 AG report revealed that key documentation. such as bank reconciliation statements. was not presented to the auditors. As such, the AG could not even determine whether the sum, which was received by eight schools, was ever deposited into the bank in one lump sum.

“The absence of this key control measure can lead to the perpetration of wrongdoing, without prompt detection,” the report notes, while adding that there was no evidence of supervisory checks of cash books by the management committee in three of the schools.

“Supervisory checks were also absent in the stock ledgers and goods received book for six schools in Region Nine … the safeguarding of public funds was compromised.

Moreover, cash was kept in the personal possession of the treasurers in eight schools. This unsatisfactory situation could lead to the perpetration of wrongdoing,” the report states.

In its response, the Ministry acknowledged the AG’s findings. But it was pointed out that the programme itself was in the process of being transitioned from central management to community-based management.

“As such, challenges will be encountered,” the Ministry said.

“Notwithstanding this, the Ministry will seek to provide the necessary training to avoid reoccurrences of this nature. Further, better monitoring will be done.”

But in the ‘follow up on the implementation of prior year recommendations’ table, the school feeding programme is the only issue within the Education

Ministry that the AG described the recommendations as ‘not implemented’.

Millions of dollars were injected into the initiative ($1.3 billion and $1.9 billion in the years 2016 and 2017 respectively) which was implemented in the 10 administrative regions following its re-launch in 2010 by former President and now Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

But notwithstanding the original lofty aims of the programme, coordinators in the cited regions have reportedly since been abusing the responsibility and power vested in them.

Particular scrutiny into the expenditures for each meal revealed outrageous costs attached to them, raising further queries as to whether the right procurement procedures were adhered to in the contract-awarding stage, among other issues.

According to media reports, funds allocated to the feeding programme for the recently-opened Kato Secondary School were even diverted to other areas.

The aftermath of the fire on Sunday

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fire of unknown origin on Sunday afternoon gutted a B Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown house leaving at least 12 persons homeless.

The fire reportedly started just after midday in the lower flat of the building and quickly spread to the entire three-storey building, leaving the occupants no time to save any household items.

The fire was first detected by an occupant of the house who immediately raised an alarm.

The other occupants of the house then ran to safety and the fire-fighters were summoned. However, by the time the fire tenders arrived, the house was almost gutted. The entire upper flat was destroyed, with the lower flat being the only thing left intact.

The owner of the house, Sean Gittens who was very distraught, told Guyana Times that the fire started in a section of the house that was unoccupied. He also explained that there was no electricity in the building, and he was of the belief that the fire was purposely set.

“The lady who occupied a part of the bottom flat said

A side view of the burnt house

that her prepaid meter had no credit and as such, the fire could not have started there.

So, I am thinking that somebody probably could have set the fire, because I have a lot of enemies,” Gittens relayed.

The man revealed that his elderly mother who lived in a section of the house was unaware of the fire and as such, had to be pulled from the burning building.

The woman who was subjected to smoke inhalation was, however, taken to safety without any major injuries.

The house, according to Gittens, is uninsured and

he estimated his losses to be close to $29 million.

“This house is 15 years old and it is worth $50 million, so is done $29 million gone there. This house used to be insured, but my insurance was not renewed, so it seems like all of this money gone. Who is going to build back this now?” the distraught man cried.

A source told this publication that someone in the said house seemed to have been stealing electricity which might have caused the fire. An investigation into the fire has been launched.

10 news

MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Reduced prison Boat captains in Mazaruni River crash that left 10 dead listed for High Court trial sentence imminent for former death row inmate

…found guilty of manslaughter during retrial

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Ricky Bobb

Keanu Amsterdam

Deon Moses

Zaheer Baksh

fter five years of being wracked by emotional turmoil, relatives and dependents of ten persons who perished when two boats collided in the Mazaruni River on January 22, 2013 will finally get closure at the trial of the captains of those boats, scheduled for the current session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.

Boat captains Devon Thomas and Cabesh Persaud had each been placed on $1 million bail at their arraignment on manslaughter charges in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts in April

2013.

When their matter comes up for trial, they are each expected to be indicted on 10 counts of manslaughter.

Thomas had been captaining the “Matheran”, a vessel which had been carrying 13 passengers, while Persaud had been captaining the “Dube,” which had had six passengers.

The allegations detail that on January 22, 2013, while being the captains of two travelling speedboats, they killed a total of ten occupants who had been on board the two vessels in an incident that occurred

at Crab Falls in the Mazaruni River.

The persons who perished were Kevon Ambrose, 25, of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo; Keanu Amsterdam, 17, of Barr Street, Kitty, and his 27-yearold brother Ricky Bobb, whose body was recovered afterwards; Jermaine Calistro, 27, of Boodhoo Housing Scheme, EBE; Jewan Seeram of Tuschen, EBE; Deon Moses, 33, of Norton Street, Wortmanville; Ulrick Grimes, 39, of Salem, EBE; Christopher Ramnarine, 21, of Parika, EBE; Zahir Baksh,

34, of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara; and 48-year old Brazilian national Francisco Olivera Alves.

Justices Sandil Kissoon, James Bovell-Drakes and JoAnn Barlow are on rotation for the current sitting of the Assizes.

Justice Kissoon is the lone judge currently presiding over cases that include murder and attempted murder, while Justice Bovell-Drakes is scheduled to preside later in the session. Madame Justice Barlow is hearing cases at the Sexual Offences Court.

A

ive years after receiving a death sentence at the High Court after being found guilty of killing another man over a motorcycle, Terry Kissoon was declared guilty again for his crime – only this time, it was the lesser count of manslaughter.

This means that Justice Sandil Kissoon, who presided over the matter, is expected to impose a sentence of lesser severity when the offender is sentenced on November 8, 2018.

The defendant was indicted twice at the High Court on charges of murdering Troy Smith between July 30 and 31, 2010, at Smith’s Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown residence. He denied the charge on both occasions.

However, Police reports that chronicled the events had stated that the two men ended up in a heated confrontation after Kissoon had accused Smith of stealing his motorcycle. It was highlighted that Kissoon gave Smith 24 hours to return the vehicle, but then he allegedly took out a handgun and shot Smith in the abdomen before reportedly making his escape.

During his first trial, Kissoon was unanimously found guilty and issued the death penalty in 2013 by Justice Diana Insanally, before that decision was challenged and eventually over-

Terry Kissoon

turned by the Appeals Court in July 2018. As such, a fresh trial was ordered and the matter came up during the ongoing session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.

During the proceedings which lasted over a week, State Counsels Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt prosecuted the matter, closing their case last Monday.

On Thursday last, Justice Kissoon summed up the trial evidence before handing the matter to the jury for deliberation. After several hours of consideration, the panel returned with a 10-2 guilty verdict, finding the offender guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter. This means that the former death row inmate will be handed a commuted sentence. He was represented by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos during the most recent trial.

Partially decomposed body yet to be identified

… 3 months after discovery

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ore than three months after a partially-decomposed body, believed to be that of Patrick Vyphuis, was discovered in a mining camp, in Kuribrong, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), investigators are yet to confirm the man’s identity.

Baffled family members, while still trying to cope with the news of Vyphuis’s death, have since buried his 19-year-old son, who was killed in Yarrowkabra, Linden-Soesdyke Highway a few days ago while attempting to make peace between an abusive man and his reputed wife.

Odessia Spencer, Vyphuis’s sister, said she believed more ought to be done and noted that the family suspected his employers may have been involved.

F Division (Interior Locations) Commander Kevin Adonis told Guyana Times that a DNA test was yet to be conducted as the remains suspected to be

Patrick Vyphuis

those of Vyphuis were at a mortuary in Georgetown.

During a previous interview, the now dead man’s employers Alvin and Rosetta Jaisingh, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, related that he was mentally unstable.

Rosetta Jaisingh explained that the man had left for the interior on July 11, 2018. turn to page 12

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MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Oil and gas sector

"I’m not impressed with Govt’s readiness" – political analyst

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s the time draws closer for first oil, which is expected in the first half of 2020, Government has been making plans to prepare for this new sector, which has the potential to transform the economy, improve infrastructure, and advance the social services in the country.

However, much has been said about the Government’s slothfulness in looking towards implementing key pieces of legislation that would guide the sector beyond that critical year.

Adding his voice to that argument is former Government minister and political analyst Dr Henry Jeffrey, who feels Government’s approach is questionable.

“From the little that I read in the press, I am not impressed that we (Guyana), or the Government, has its hands on all the major pulses,” Jeffrey told Guyana Times in a recent interview.

He opined that the coalition Administration has not inspired in the Guyanese populace any significant hope that it knows what it is doing in this sector.

He said, “We have now set up an Energy Department.

We have a head who doesn’t know anything about oil, and we will have to depend on somebody as the chief technical head who worked with a foreign Government for 6 months.”

Dr Jeffrey was referring to Dr Mark Bynoe, who is experienced in the area of climate change and other environmental issues.

On the other hand, the technical head he referred

with working with pressures, particularly a place like Guyana. And what does that mean? If you work with the Government of Australia, the relation with them and the Opposition might be a normal democratic thing. It’s not here,” Dr Jeffrey stated.

The draft Local Content Policy has in recent months been criticised for lacking provisions which would safeguard against exploitation by

es the work the private sector has been doing in regard to the draft Local Content Policy, he said, “I see they are doing things, but they have

Local content

Political analyst & former Govt Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey

to is Matthew Wilks, who was appointed Oil and Gas Adviser in the Department of Energy within the Ministry of the Presidency. Wilks has worked in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, among several other countries.

It was, however, reported that Wilks had, in January of this year, joined a company called Spring Stone Energy Limited, and had worked there until he took up the post at Guyana’s Department of Energy.

There has been great suspicion that the company lists Matthew Edmund Wilks as its director and Amanda Catherine Wilks as a director, finance manager and secretary of the company. The company also has two shareholders, it has been reported.

“You can have hundreds of years working for the industry itself, but you have to know the ramifications

On the issue of local content, the political analyst also expressed disappointment at the manner in which this issue is being dealt with by both the Government and those within the local private sector, whom he feels should be demanding certain benefits.

“I think the local content was perhaps one of the first legal documents we should have had. Up to now we are still messing around with it.

And people are saying, ‘Don’t worry we’ll look after you’.

There is no rule that you have to use services in Guyana,” he added.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had submitted a model local content legislation to the Government, saying that the move is part of safeguarding the rights of Guyanese businesses. The Chamber has expressed disappointment that there has been no legislative framework since 2015, when the first oil discovery was made here.

President of the GCCI, Deodat Indar, has contended that the draft Local Content Legislation, if adopted by the APNU/AFC Government, would fill that gap and correct the wrongs being done to Guyanese businesses.

A drill ship offshore Guyana

companies, especially since there have been intensified reports of local companies being bypassed for contracts and services.

While Dr Jeffrey recognis-

always been relatively weak.

If it were a case of Jamaica, it would have been a different game. Yes, they are pressing, but they are still in that initial stage; and maybe the en-

tire political structure has made them so. They are not as vocal, pressing and pushy as they would have been normally expected to be.”

The second review of the local content policy is expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year.

Government has said it is important for the new legislation to be ‘balanced’, since a ‘too strongly national’ local content policy can jeopardise the efficiency or the viability of the company being relied on to harness the resource.

Guyana is now home to the world’s biggest new deep-water oil discovery. United States oil giant ExxonMobil has been keen to push development of the oil reserves.

Production could begin in 2020 with production of some 500,000 barrels of oil a day.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

1 shot, 2 arrested after pointing gun at security officer

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wenty-one-year-old Shane Allison, a miner of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, was shot after he reportedly pointed an unlicensed firearm at an armed guard attached to a private security firm in the vicinity of Bourda Market on Sunday morning.

Two other men who were with the gunman were arrested and were currently assisting with the investigation.

Preliminary investigations by the Police revealed

that about 02:10h on Sunday, the 23-year-old security officer who was stationed at the Bourda Market observed the men standing on Bourda Street between Robb Street and North Road acting in a suspicious manner.

Realising something was amiss, the guard approached the men, but as he got closer, the miner allegedly whipped out a handgun and pointed same at the guard, who, without hesitation, discharged several rounds from his service weapon – one of which

struck the now injured man.

The miner collapsed a short distance away. The Police were called in and upon searching the area, recovered an unlicensed .32 pistol with six live matching rounds.

The other suspects are a 34-year-old man of Nelson Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara and a 23-year-old of Pike Street, Kitty.

The security guard was taken into custody and was now assisting with the investigation.

12 news

MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

New lawyer aims for international change

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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s cliché as the Gandhi statement is -- “be the change you want to see” -- that is exactly the aim of 22-year-old Krystal Sukra as she begins her legal career after being admitted to the Local Bar. Sukra is more than just an attorney, she is also a local sports icon who has dominated the lawn tennis and volleyball fields for a number of years.

Hailing from New Amsterdam in Berbice, Sukra recently completed her legal education at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad, and last Wednesday had her application to be admitted to the bar presented before Justice Gino Persaud at the High Court. Immediately after being admitted to the local bar, <<Guyana Times>> caught up with the excited young woman, who explained that the road to get to where she is has not always been a paved bed of roses.

She said she has had to balance the love of sport, separation from her family, and the pressure to perform excellently in school.

When Sukra had gained a place at the Bishops’ High School in Georgetown and her brother a place at Queen’s College, her mother had taken the bold decision to move with them to Georgetown while her father had stayed behind to work and support the family.

When she moved to Georgetown, Sukra made the National Tennis team, and represented Guyana in a number of games.

When she graduated from the Bishops’ High School, she was too young to be admitted to the University of Guyana, so a decision was made for her to do a year of studies at the Queen’s College. Upon completion, she had gone off to UG and did a first year degree in International Relations, and was admitted to the Law Programme, from where she graduated with a 3.6GPA.

Attorney-at-Law Krystal Sukra

To complete her legal education, Sukra then went on to Trinidad, where she at-

tended the HWLS. “We knew -- even though it was difficult and dad being away -- we knew it was something we had to do, and sacrifices had to be made in order for us to reap the benefits, and that is something we had to do. Sports is very important to anyone’s physical and mental wellbeing,

and it helped mould me into a rounded person,” she said.

For now Sukra intends to start a local practice, but she has her eyes set on a career in International Law. She indicated that the decision to practice locally for some time has been made because she wants some hands-on experience before pursuing her Master’s degree. She had been accepted into Duke University but has deferred attendance until next year.

“International law is dynamic. It is multifaceted, and it encompasses so many areas. Whether it is human rights or international environmental law, trade, maritime boundary disputes, regulation of global commerce; it is everything. I am most passionate about international human rights law and international environmental law because I think that human rights are important for women, especially in the 21st century, and the UN advocates that gender equality is important to the socioeconomic development of any country,” she explained.

Sukra has said she does believe that the standards and best practices established internationally must be implemented in our domestic legislation, since they create more impact. She has

said her interest in international law is bigger, and she is aiming at effecting change at the highest international level, since she wants “to be a part of global change and shaping the global society.”

“I am passionate about the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women. The United Nations states that gender equality is not only a basic human right, but its achievement is imperative.

It’s important to socio- economic development, yet gender inequality remains entrenched in our society; and even though Guyana has ratified the Convention on Discrimination of Women, there is still the prevalent patriarchal control of women, which is caused by gender stereotype roles and active condemnation of the ever-progressive society, because it is considered incongruous to the cultural and social ethos of Guyana. As a result, women are the victims of sexual and domestic violence,” Sukra said.

She hopes that with international best practices, the perception changes. For now, she is determined to make her mark in the courts of Guyana, and move on to bigger things, effecting the kind of change she wants to see.

Partially decomposed body...

She related that after he arrived at the mining camp, he began acting strange and even told them that somebody wanted to kill him.

Jaisingh recalled, “He went in with my husband and when he go in, everything was okay. He cooked and so. After they reach in, everything was good. The next day now, he came to my husband and he tell him that look (names given) coming to kill meh. Me husband said he turn and tell him, bai, relax yourself nah. So, he said the night now he keep running into the bush and wan run to the creek and so.”

It was further related by her that other workers at the camp attempted to

control the man’s absurd behaviour, but failed.

She noted that as a result of this, on July 15, 2018, they were about to escort the man to his home.

“When he reach on the landing, he start running up and down at all them shops.

So they (ended up) getting him back into the Cruiser and while going out now, he messed his skin up, so they stopped at a creek to wash off him, because he can’t go in the vehicle like that. So when they stop now, he run and gone in the bush,” Jaisingh said.

According to her, three other employees again chased the man, but failed in their attempts to re-

from page 10

trieve him.

A report, she said, was subsequently made to the Bartica and Mahdia Police Stations. Vyphuis’s body, she added, was later discovered by a pork-knocker some four miles away from the mining site.

The now dead man’s sister rebutted these allegations and stated that her brother did not suffer from any mental illnesses. The family remains shattered and is still calling for justice to be served.

The body, suspected to be that of Vyphuis was discovered on July 25, 2018, clad in a white T-shirt and grey jeans, along with a pair of blue sneakers.

It was later identified by his employer.

news

13

MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PISLM meeting concludes on high note Over US$1M to be spent

…Guyana to craft land policy

The delegation of Caribbean representatives led by the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon (centre front row) at Thursday’s meeting

T

he Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) convened its third high-level session of sustainable land management in the Caribbean last week and according to members of the delegation, the meeting was fruitful and encouraging.

This was the position shared by representatives of the 10 participating Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) on Friday, during a press conference at the Marriott Hotel.

Chairman of the PISLM Task Force and Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Trevor Benn explained that a number of recommendations and decisions were taken by the delegation, which featured persons from Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St

Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.

He noted that much of Guyana’s input would be aligned to the Green State Development Strategy, but there were plans to craft a national land policy.

Benn related, “When it comes to the issue of sustainable land management, we are taking a number of steps, including for the first time in Guyana, we are going to be having a national land policy.

We’re working on a national land policy, revising all of our land use plans. We are trying to make them more descriptive than prescriptive.”

In his remarks, Jamaica’s Local Government and Community Development Minister, Desmond Mc Kenzie noted this region was prone to natural disasters and as such, proper land management was critical, especially in the heights of climate change.

“The discussion centred on the Region and the Region’s response to critical areas. The areas of discussion involving lands speak to a much broader picture than just the question of lands because most of the Region is prone to natural disasters,” Mc Kenzie told media operatives.

Agriculture and Lands Minister of Grenada, Yolande Bain-Horsford concentrated on the fact that her country was ahead in land management and soil degradation.

“We have started a project in soil mapping and soil fertility. We are moving in the right direction. Also, we have a land policy and we’re also looking at a land bank project,” said the Grenadian Minister.

Local Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had related on Thursday during his feature address that the Caribbean Community was on a developmental trajectory and many foreign territories were seeking the Region’s input in important environmental issues.

According to him, achieving land degradation neutrality will improve livelihood and contribute to food security in these countries.

Harmon said, “It is because of the importance which the world sees in what is happening in this region that they have identified and will continue to identify people from this region to speak on these important issues of land and climate in the world.

“Guyana, as well as other Caribbean SIDS, has made

substantial progress in these areas stated above and HighLevel Meetings of this nature ensure that work continues with strong political support and policy directives,” he added.

Some of the other areas discussed included soil care, the collaboration with Caricom on this partnership, support from the Region and the land degradation neutrality project. This provided a medium for the exchange of ideas and the formulating of actions from these decisions to better land management in these Caribbean states.

Ambassador Troy Hollingsworth of the Foreign Affairs Ministry also used the opportunity to share his thoughts, noting that: “Poverty, achieving food security, reversing inequality and achieving gender equality all find solutions for health with respect to how we utilise the land. I believe it is important that we develop the approaches and integrated policies that will reinforce and accelerate progress.”

Earlier this week, PISLM had organised a workshop for United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) national focal points from Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Haiti, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown with the aim of setting the agenda for these sustainable land management discussions.

on filaria campaign this year – Lawrence

Filaria pill distribution ongoing

I

n an effort to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease filaria, the Government, through the Public Health Ministry, will be spending over US$1 million in pills and sensitisation procedures this year.

This was related by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence during a recent interview. Although the Minister was unable to say specifically how much money was being spent on the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme, which was currently being rolled out in four administrative regions, she noted that the Ministry would invest all it had to, to protect its citizens.

At the launch of the MDA programme earlier this month, Senior Health Officer Quincy Jones disclosed that

each year about US$1 million was spent on the distribution process.

Lawrence said, “This year we’re on that push to ensure that we can eradicate filaria from Guyana. It’s a big project for the Ministry of Public Health, we believe that we can do it and we have invested more money with the help of our partners PAHO/WHO (Pan American Organisation/ World Health Organisation).”

It was in the same breath that the subject Minister sought to explain how the additional money was being spent. According to her, “We have had quite a lot of educational pieces, educating people so that persons wouldn’t get caught up with the rumours and people (who are) just saying things without evidence.”

Turn to page 15

14 News

MondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

9 homeless after fire razes West Berbice home

N

ine persons are now homeless after a fire destroyed a home at Lot 19 Number 40 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) on Wednesday.

The fire reportedly started in the upper flat of the two-storey building, which was occupied by Sandra Grant and her two grandchildren.

The lower flat was occupied by Grant’s daughter and her family. Guyana Times understands that at the time of the fire, Grant was not at home.

Nelta Campbell says at the time she was at home in the lower flat, along with her 80-year-old bedridden cousin.

The woman explained that someone alerted her to the fire and as she rushed out of the house, she saw smoke billowing from the upper flat of the house.

A brother who lives in a house situated behind hers left to get water to extinguish the blaze, but, by the time he got back, the entire upper flat was engulfed.

He then joined those who were breaking into the lower flat in an attempt to save household items.

Campbell explained that after some time elapsed, she remembered her cousin and

The house after the fire

managed to take her to safety.

Meanwhile, the 63-yearold owner of the house was in Georgetown when she was informed of the fire. She later arrived at the scene only to see the gutted house.

“When I look, I see the entire upstairs everything burn flat…,” the woman cried. The Guyana Fire Service has since launched an investigation into the fire.

Initial reports suggest that an electrical appliance may have been left on and overheated, ultimately starting the fire, but Grant stated that she unplugged all the appliances before

leaving home.

“There is no appliance in the back room, only a bulb in there. No point in the back room. All the points were outside of the room and at the back of the back room, that is where the kitchen was. The freezer, gas stove and everything at the back there, but I am certain that nothing was left on,” she explained.

On Thursday, Regional Councillor Dulston Crawford visited the family to offer assistance. Persons who are interested in assisting the family can contact Grant on phone number 668-5484 and Campbell on 662-1045.

Minibus Association President to meet Minister to discuss fare

M

ore than one month after bus fares increased by $20 in 10 different zones across the country, United Minibus Union (UMU) President Eon Andrews is yet to meet with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin to discuss a possible $40 increase for longer minibus routes.

According to Andrews, during an invited comment on Saturday, he hopes to meet with the Minister during the coming week to discuss the increases for those routes where fares have not been hiked.

A few of those routes include 94 (Lethem to Georgetown); 63 (Moleson Creek to Georgetown); 72 (Mahdia) and 73 (Bartica).

“Those are long zones – 60, 63, Linden, Mahdia and those things we’re still looking at because remember those are very long routes, so $20 increase may not be appropriate for an increase, so we are looking at that,” he explained.

Andrews added, “Initially, I had said in my proposal probably $40 more (for the longer routes), but that was just something I put forward. It doesn’t mean that is what it will be. It could be $60, you know, but I thought that the shorter routes should get $20, because we have

UMU President Eon Andrews

to take the commuters into consideration because that is my most important concern although I represent minibuses.”

The new fare structure for 10 different minibus zones was announced, following the recent report of a $20 increase across the board that took effect from September 1, 2018.

Among the zones with new fare structures were 31 (Georgetown to Patentia); 32 (Georgetown to Parika); 40, 41, 45, 46 (Georgetown to Kitty/ Campbellville, South/North Ruimveldt/Guyhoc, Main Street/ Lamaha/Albert and Lodge); 44 (Georgetown to Mahaica); 47, 48 (Georgetown to Back Road,

East and West Sophia); and 42 (Georgetown to Timehri).

Plans were first announced by the Business Ministry on August 20 for a $20 increase.

Andrews, during previous interviews with Guyana Times, had said he was satisfied with the Ministry’s decision to implement a $20 increase.

In June, the UMU President submitted a proposal for not only a fare increase, but for several other requests to ease the pressure on minibus drivers.

Although the call for a fare increase came at a time when fuel prices were constantly rising, Andrews had noted that the call for the additional money was not only due to the fuel prices but several other issues.

Because of this, the Union President said even if the fuel prices were to drop, he would not be willing to reduce the fare.

“We are saying that, yes, there are increases in many other things. We are not basing our argument on fuel, because we don’t control that in this country,” he said.

Guyana Times understands that the Union had initially requested $20 for short drop bus drivers and $40 for drivers who traverse the longer routes.

President takes LGE sensitisation campaign to Linden

P

resident David Granger recently took the Local Government Elections (LGE) sensitisation campaign to the mining town of Linden, where he encouraged local leaders to pay attention to addressing issues at the local level.

Addressing members of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and community members at the Egbert Benjamin Centre, the President pointed to

President David Granger addressing the audience

Some of the members pay keen attention to their leader

the importance of LGEs in shaping local democracy.

Members of the coalition were in full campaign mode, endorsing the APNU, with President Granger declaring it the most exciting rally hosted so far.

In his presentation, the Head of State said Government was trying to use LGEs to transform Guyana.

“This is what we’re trying to do throughout Guyana: use the Local Government

Elections to transform Guyana. Not to remain stagnant, but to change things, provide better services for the children and residents of these villages …We didn’t go into Local Government Elections to lose, we went in to win. But what we said is that win, lose or draw, we’re going to have Local Government Elections, because it is the people’s entitlement. It is their constitutional obligation,” he noted.

The President stressed

too that local representatives must serve constituencies and pay attention to local issues to ensure that the needs of all residents of various constituencies were satisfied. He also pointed to what he termed “civil resistance” or “civil war” by some Regional Chairmen whom he said did not cooperate with Central Government, noting that this was prohibiting progress.

“And that is what’s holding back this country. That is what is holding back development…It is you, the representatives of the residents of those communities who must inform, instruct and direct your representatives about how to provide services for the respective communities…All politics is local, and Local Government Elections is meant to solve local problems. This is the importance…that is why you’re empowered,” Granger stated.

Continued on page 15

news

15

monDAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

What the people say VOX POPULI I SAY...

What do you think can be done to increase security in prisons in light of the recent escape of three prisoners from the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD)?

Jason Singh

Kester Whyte

Rajiv Rajpat

“I think it all comes down to the interviews being conducted with new Policemen. Evidently, they are not being asked the right questions, background checks are not performed and follow-ups by senior ranks are not conducted with these new joiners. To improve the security at prisons, I suggest the aforementioned points be addressed. Also, the wages and salaries of the armed forces should be placed under scrutiny as this could be a pivotal area in which to significantly reduce acts of bribery.”

First, they need to identify every possible weakness with their security and structures by going through building plans, basic checks and even speaking to staff and inmates. Next, they can go over past escapes to see how they did it and what resources were used. They can also survey the surrounding areas for weakness and make improvements there as well. From this, they can start improving security and allocating a budget if that means more guards, electric fences, and tracking hounds.

“Well, the Minister of Public Security said in the interview that he’s having nightly headaches, much less we the workingclass Guyanese and since the Government is specialised in ordering CoIs, I recommend strongly that His Excellency order a CoI headed by international security experts to make the necessary recommendations on how to remedy the current prison hiccups and to improve on the Prison Service’s ability to monitor prisons across the country.”

Gregory Hinds “Whatever the systems are that they put in place to keep the prisoners under lockdown, I believe they have to pay more attention to those systems and see what are the faults. In some prisons, prisoners have cellphones and access to the Internet. I think they have to look into this because it makes them more aware of what is going on out in society and I figure this could help in developing an escape plan or whatever.”

Jereme Ramratan “In my opinion, I think the prisons are overpopulated and are understaffed. They need a new facility somewhere – I would say one of the Essequibo islands.”

Caesar McAlmont “I think they should invest in better security systems at the prisons in Guyana. Also training of officers to enhance security at the prisons.”

Hugh Wooding graduate supports establishment of local law school ...says lecturers must be of high standard

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

young law school graduate who has recently been admitted to the local bar says that while she supports the establishment of a local law school, the standard of any lecturer placed there would have to be in keeping with that of international counterparts.

Speaking to Guyana Times last week, twenty-three-year-old Shivani Lalaram expressed much elation at being part of what she said is a prestigious profession, having been admitted in a ceremony presided over by Justice Sandil Kissoon in the presence of her family, friends and well-wishers.

The former Queen’s College student and graduate of the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad has set her eyes on a Master’s degree focusing on Environmental and Energy issues, given Guyana’s im-

Shivani Lalaram moments after her admittance to the bar at the Supreme Court in Georgetown

pending oil & gas sector.

However, for the foreseeable future, she will gather experience in criminal law first, having gained some experience as an intern in that area.

Lalaram told this publication that she has also been exposed to civil law. While noting her rewarding experience studying overseas,

she told Guyana Times that any institution established in this country must be of a high standard comparable to what obtains overseas.

“If they were to establish a law school over here, they would definitely need to ensure that the tutelage that you receive at Hugh Wooding and at the other law schools in the Caribbean is received

President takes LGE...

The Leader of the APNU also noted that candidates must prove themselves as leaders to serve their constituencies and that central, regional and municipal levels of governance must work together.

He said it was hard to explain the importance of LGE, since they had been absent for so long that people did not seem to understand what they were all about, as he emphasised that training for leadership starts at LGEs. “We are in the stage, my brothers and sisters, by which we are in the brink of a new form of democra-

cy, not only one that will promote the development of Linden, but one that will empower the residents to make them more conscious of the needs of their various communities … So, most important is that this is an exercise for real democracy in that you can identify your candidates … It’s good to be involved in decision making … because you are accountable, you are responsible,” he posited.

Further endorsing the coalition, the President said the APNU ‘train’ was not going to stop, noting that it has built a relationship of trust between candidates

From page 14

and members of the constituencies.

“APNU is a party which brings the depth of PNC experiences … We serve the working people and we’ve served this community for decades, but even so we must still mobilise…,” he said.

The President also noted that he saw Linden as playing a critical role in leading the towns across Guyana as he pledged that the party would increase the number of street lights, provide more solar energy and improve solid waste management among other things.

here. Additionally, in order to do that, we need to be able to compensate the lecturers and the tutors. Aside from that, I think it would be a good initiative for us to have,” Lalaram noted.

She outlined that she is not the first legal practitioner in her family, as her extended relatives Kamini and Sonia Parag are already into law practice. The new attorney credited her success to the sustained support of her family members, who continue to play an integral role in her success, even after her father had passed away. This occurred during the time she undertook studies pertaining to her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) in Trinidad.

“My major difficulty was

losing my father while I was at Hugh Wooding, but it kind of encouraged me and pushed me a little further, because my dad was the voice I heard every single time I felt that I couldn’t do it anymore,” she stressed.

She has encouraging words for current University of Guyana students pursuing their Bachelor of Laws qualification, saying that much focus should be placed on being well-rounded individuals.

“It is a very prestigious profession, and you do have to give to it to get out of it; and you need to have the passion for it. I would also say to them that whilst it is a jealous mistress, you have to remember to balance it.

You cannot be just in your

books. Ensure that whether you do a sport or whatever else, ensure you tie that into your study, because studying alone will not allow you to come out as rounded, as it’s a rounded profession,” Lalaram, who is the sibling of a doctor stressed.

Many local observers believe that Guyana should have its own law school, since only the top 25 Guyanese students gain automatic places at the Hugh Wooding Law School, while the others enter via a written entrance exam. However, the Caribbean-based Council of Legal Education has not approved the establishment of a local law school in Guyana owing to the wording of a treaty that governs its functions.

Over US$1M to be spent...

Lawrence reported that so far the MDA programme, which officially began two Mondays ago, has been successful as locals were more interested in taking the pills to prevent the dreaded disease from affecting their lymphatic glands, causing the legs, breasts and even penis to swell, which was often referred to as “goadie”, with the disease often called “big foot”.

The Minister said although some were excited to take the pills, others were more concerned about the side effects. As a result, she noted that more information would be provided for locals on the side effects, which are mild, as well as the benefits of consuming the tablets.

The four regions benefiting from the free pills – albendazole and diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) – are Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica);

Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) as these were found to be the most affected Regions in a survey conducted by the Ministry a few years ago.

The number of tablets will vary per age, and they are not to be given to pregnant women and children below the age of two years old. It is said that a person requires five annual doses of the pills before they become immune to the mosquito-borne disease.

Although the pills are being distributed in these four Regions, a Senior Health Officer had assured that the Ministry has not forgotten about the other regions.

“Whilst we enjoy the success of the past year and buckle down to the challenges of this year to continually roll out the MDA programme within these four Regions that is currently undertaking, I urge the members of

From page 13

the public and the media to know that the other Regions ... are not forgotten,” Jones pointed out.

Persons are being urged by the Ministry to take the pills as they will prevent the spread of lymphatic filaria which has no signs or symptoms during the first 10 years a person is infected.

It was disclosed during the launch of the MDA programme that epidemiology coverage has improved from 45.7 per cent in 2015, to 54.42 per cent in 2016 as only two Regions received the pills back in 2015, and the Government was able to extend the pill distribution to four in 2016.

This was still, however, no major achievement for the country as the pass mark for coverage percentage was 65 per cent, according to PAHO/ WHO. The country was finally able to achieve this last year, achieving 86 per cent epidemiology coverage.

16 news Kwakwani residents benefit from medical outreach mondAY, october 22, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rong-An Inc representatives with the Chinese Medical Team

contributed a lot, not only for the logging operations but also the various economic activities. We have assisted in building and repairing the Kwakwani Park Road for the community, and we donated to the various sporting and educational activities; so we also really appreciated the support from the community for the company,” Huang related.

She noted that the medical team is attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital, and its members would have committed to returning to the village to offer additional services and follow-up medica-

H

undreds of residents from the riverine community of Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River, on Saturday benefited from a medical outreached organised by Chinese logging company Rong-An Inc, in collaboration with the 14th Chinese Medical Brigade and the Kwakwani Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

On hand to attend to the residents were the 14 specialists from the Chinese team, offering services in Ophthalmology, Internal Medicine, Gynaecology, Plastic Surgery, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. This is the third such outreach organised by the logging company for Kwakwani residents.

NDC Chair Juanita Leacock said the NDC decided to collaborate with RongAn Inc because they are aware of the plight of the residents. Most residents are at home with various illnesses which are being left untreated.

“Sometimes we get the problem with doctors; but right now we have the General Medicine Doctors, but we don’t have the equipment for the other services.

In terms of giving of the service, they (the doctors) are limited to some (extent), and that forces persons to go out of Kwakwani to seek treatment in some specialised fields,” she explained.

“It is our hope, at the end of this event, that the residents here would go home satisfied with the service they received, and the treatment as well. We did this so that they can go home and rest assured that they got the specialised services then needed, as well as the care that is lacking,” Leacock added.

Of the 6000-plus residents of Kwakwani, over 250 of them packed the venue of the outreach to receive medical attention.

Captain of the Chinese Medical team, Dr Jiansong Shen, expressed gratitude to the residents of Kwakwani for allowing the medical team to provide service within their community. He said the team is committed to helping the residents of Guyana and improve the level of health care delivered.

The medical team also presented a number of medi-

A resident getting her blood sugar level tested

tion. The team members use their extra time to volunteer in various communities, offering various services to the residents.

Huang said that as a part of their CSRP, the company is committed to ensuring that Guyana is a better place.

Kwakwani residents expressed appreciation at being serviced by the medical specialists, since it is not quite often that these services are available within their community.

“I feel really good about it, because when you go to the hospital you really don’t get much help, because you

don’t have that doctor for your problem. I have an ear problem, and they looked at it and give me some medication and then tell me to do an ear scan. I will have to do that, but I am happy with the service they provided. It was good,” resident Abiola Alphonso indicated.

Another resident, Natasha James, said her baby was running a fever, and he was able to be looked after by the pediatrician and given the treatment. She said she is grateful for the medical team’s visit, and urged them to visit more than once per year.

Mother still seeking answers – 4 years after son’s disappearance

A

Eye examination

A resident receiving treatment for pain in her legs

cal supplies to the Kwakwani Hospital to aid improved service delivery.

Meanwhile, the assistant to Rong-An Inc’s Managing Director, Sara Huang, said the company is delighted to host the third of such outreaches. Explaining that it is a part of their corporate social responsibility, she said

the company has a very close working relationship with the community, and for the past few years, has been working collaboratively on the development of Kwakwani.

“We have been conducting continuous maintenance and repairs on the 113km Unamco Road, which has brought convenience and

devastated mother, whose now 32-yearold son went missing four years ago, is still looking for answers about her son’s disappearance.

Troy Greenidge, a miner of Lot 8 John Fernandes Housing Scheme, Greater Georgetown, went missing on October 15, 2014, after he left home to collect his salary from his employer in Diamond.

It was four years ago, Greenidge of John Fernandes Housing Scheme at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was last seen and his mother Seeta Persaud is still seeking answers regarding his disappearance.

The grieving woman visited <<<<Guyana Times>>>>> and once again shared the chilling story of the last day she saw her son.

Persaud explained that since her son disappeared, they have been hearing all sorts of rumours about what might have happened to him, including one that says he was beaten to death and his body burnt by residents in an East Bank Demerara (EBD) community.

The distraught woman said she is frustrated with the slow pace of the investigation being carried out by the Guyana Police Force, as she has been running around for four years with no formal word from the law enforcement officials on the probe into her son’s disappearance.

The missing miner is the father of two children; ages six and four.

When he left his home, the then 26-year-old father of two boys was clad in black three quarter pants, a blue jersey, white and black Nike sneakers and his hair was braided. He never returned.

The following day (October 16, 2014), Persaud received a call from her sister informing her that Greenidge was reportedly arrested by Police.

As such, the woman rushed to the Providence Police Station, EBD where her son was supposedly held and made enquires but was told that no such person was in custody there.

Searches were made at the Brickdam and other Police stations with the same result.

Persaud told <<<<<Guyana Times>>>>> that she returned to the Providence Police Station and spoke to an officer, whose name was given as “Singh”, where she made a report.

It was then that she was told that there was an incident in Greenfield Park, Providence, EBD, where a woman saw three men in her area, close to her home, and sounded an alarm screaming “Thief! Thief!”

Two of the men reportedly ran away and the third person, allegedly Greenidge, stayed. It was reported that Greenidge, who was in the area to reach someone concerning employment, was picked up by a man whose name was given as “Barry”, who is also from Providence.

When Police Officers reported to the scene, they

were reportedly told by “Barry” that they (he and others) already “dealt with the matter”.

The distraught mother recalled that the said Police Officer (Singh), who filed Greenidge’s initial missing persons report, arrested the man and reportedly told Persaud that the matter was being investigated.

According to Persaud, she visited “Barry’s” wife who reportedly told her that her husband did apprehend Greenidge but subsequently released him.

The grief stricken woman relayed to this publication that she continued to visit the Police station and even reached out to a number of news entities where she told her story.

Following an airing of a news report on her son’s disappearance, she received a call from an unknown number. Persaud said “It was a woman, who asked me if I ain’t find my son as yet. I said no and she said that she is from the said area in Providence where Troy went missing. She told me that she hear them bai talking and saying how they collect me son, beat he and killed him and buried his body somewhere right there, in Providence using an excavator”.

Persaud is requesting anyone with information that would lead to her finding her son, or regarding his disappearance, to make contact on telephone number 610-1537 or the nearest Police station.

17

mondAY, october 22, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Russia nuclear treaty: Gorbachev warns Trump plan will undermine disarmament

Mikhail Gorbachev has questioned the sense of withdrawing from the INF

F

ormer Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev says US President Trump's plan to withdraw from a key Cold War nuclear weapons treaty is a reversal of efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament.

Gorbachev – who signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with President Ronald Reagan in 1987 – questioned the plan's intelligence.

Trump said Russia had been "vio-

lating [the INF] for many years".

Russia has condemned the plans and threatened to retaliate.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin would be seeking an explanation from visiting US National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Germany was the first US ally to criticise the move, with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas urging Washington to consider the consequences both for Europe and for future disarmament efforts.

The INF banned ground-launched medium-range missiles, with a range of between 500 and 5500km (310-3400 miles).

It was signed near the end of the Cold War, a period of relations between the US and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1989 marked by intense international tension and overshadowed by the threat of nuclear conflict.

In the past five decades, the US and Russia have signed a range of joint agreements to limit and reduce their substantial nuclear arsenals.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Polls close in Afghanistan's long-delayed parliamentary elections

P

olls have closed in Afghanistan's long-awaited parliamentary elections, with large numbers of voters defying deadly attacks to cast their ballots.

Most polling stations in the country opened on Saturday at 07:00h (02:30 GMT) and were scheduled to close at 16:00h (12:30 GMT).

But voting was extended to Sunday at 18:00h (13:30 GMT) as the Independent Election Commission (IEC) said they gave voters more time to cast their ballot because of a lack of voter materials at some polling stations and problems with the electronic voter system.

Zabih Ullah Sadat, deputy spokesperson for the commission, told Al Jazeera that 250 polling centres "opened

at 9am on Sunday and remained open until all the voters had cast their ballots".

Vote counting is under way and preliminary results are expected within 20 days.

The electoral body has until December 20 to release the final results.

"The extension of polling will not cause delays in the release of the final results," Sadat said.

Close to nine million Afghans registered to vote in the elections, the third since the Taliban armed group was pushed out of power in 2001.

More than 2500 candidates, including 417 women, are vying for a seat in the country's 250-member Parliament. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

6 civilians killed in Kashmir blast T&T PM to seek Cabinet approval

for TT$25M in disaster flood relief

T

Kashmiri men carrying an injured person from the site of the gun-battle in Kulgam [Sameer Mushtaq/Al Jazeera]

P

rotests have erupted in India-administered Kashmir after six civilians were killed when an unexploded shell went off at the site of a gunfight in the southern district of Kulgam, officials said.

Senior Superintendent of Police in Kulgam, Harmeet Singh, told Al Jazeera on Sunday that the forces had laid a midnight cordon around a dozen houses in Laroo village of the district on specific information about the presence of rebels.

"By morning, three militants were killed who were hiding in one of the houses.

There was an exchange of gunfire and grenades from both sides," the official said.

The official said the rebels were locals and belonged to the south Kashmir villages of Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag.

"When the fight was over, the forces cleared the area and left. There was stone-throwing from all sides by the people even during the encounter.

Despite requests not to visit the site, locals approached the gunfight site and a shell exploded," he said.

Deputy Commissioner of the district, Shamim Ahmad, told Al Jazeera that six civilians died in the blast and 30 others were wounded, some of them in the clashes.

"The situation is under control and curfew has been imposed. Phone and Internet services have been suspended," the official said.

rinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley says he will approach Cabinet for funds to help with flood relief.

Rowley was speaking during a joint media conference on Saturday.

“I would speak ahead of the Cabinet here and indicate that I would ask Cabinet to approve and authorise TT$25 million initially to assist persons who may require assistance from the treasury. We will ensure that this money is well spent and is spent as quickly as possible on those persons who have been affected,” he said.

Heavy rainfall over the last few days has resulted in widespread flooding across Trinidad and Tobago.

“This is a national disaster, the flooding is quite widespread and quite severe and it is going to cost a lot of money to bring relief to people who have been affected.

Notwithstanding whatever

Heavy rainfall over the last few days has resulted in widespread flooding across Trinidad and Tobago

shortages we are experiencing, we will have to find the resources to help,” Rowley said after touring some of the affected areas.

According to the Prime Minister, the Defence Force, especially the Coast Guard and Fire Service have been using small boats going street to street to reach residents stranded in their homes.

Meanwhile, there are no reports of fatalities as a re-

sult of the floods in sections of the twin-island republic.

During a press conference on Saturday, National Security Minister Stuart Young made the statement in reference to information being circulated on social media.

He told reporters that fake information being circulated online has caused first responders to divert attention from affected areas.

(Excerpt from CMC)

With divorce deal almost done, Nigeria's Kaduna state: 55 May repeats rejection of EU dead after row at market proposal on Northern Ireland

S

ectarian violence sparked by a spat at a market has left 55 people dead in Nigeria's northern Kaduna state, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

Muslim and Christian youths reportedly clashed after a row between wheelbarrow porters in the town of Kasuwan Magani.

The State Police Commissioner said 22 people were arrested after the

unrest.

Authorities also imposed a round-the-clock curfew in the town. Nigeria often sees outbreaks of sectarian violence.

Official presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu tweeted that Buhari found the country's frequent use of violence in such disputes "worrisome".

According to the President, “No culture and religion support the disre-

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

gard for the sanctity of life,” adding that "peaceful coexistence is necessary for the progress of any society and its wellbeing."

Without harmony between different groups, "our everyday businesses would be impossible to achieve," the President said.

He called on community leaders to encourage tolerance and stop such discord before it could develop into violence. (BBC News)

P

rime Minister Theresa May will tell Parliament today that 95 per cent of Britain’s divorce deal has now been settled, but will repeat her opposition to the European Union’s proposal for the land border with Northern Ireland.

Facing some of the fiercest criticism to date over her Brexit plans after the two sides failed again to reach agreement at a summit last week, May will try to calm

passions in Parliament where her strategy has angered eurosceptics and EU supporters alike.

With just over five months until Britain leaves the EU, talks have stalled over a disagreement on the so-called Northern Irish backstop, an insurance policy to ensure there will be no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland if a future trading relationship is not agreed in time.

But May’s attempt to un-

lock the talks by considering an extension to a status-quo transition period beyond the current proposed end date of December 2021 has further stirred passions at home.

In an attempt to highlight how much progress has been made in more than a year of talks with the EU, she will tell Parliament the Government has reached agreement on everything from Gibraltar to future security over the last three weeks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, october 22, 2018

ARCHIE

Emotions will escalate if you aren’t careful. You are (March 21- best off not sharing your April 19) thoughts and feelings with co-workers or anyone who may want to make you look bad.

ARIES

Don’t let erratic behaviour TAURUS or someone’s inconsisten(April 20- cy cost you. Know what you May 20) want and take care of business yourself. Leave nothing to chance if you want to make progress.

dilbert

Be aware of others’ actions GEMINI (May 21- and wants, and how you can June 20) best help them. Make your position clear, your concerns known and your promises realistic.

Moodiness will defeat you if you can’t walk away from (June 21- someone or something agJuly 22) gravating. Knowing when to move on will lead to better days ahead.

CANCER

Peanuts

Don’t let anger take the LEO reins. You will do much better (July 23- if you keep a low profile and Aug. 22) don’t stir up a situation that needs time to settle. Keep the peace.

Calvin and Hobbes

Get involved, bring about VIRGO change and mingle with peo(Aug. 23ple who share your interests.

Sept. 22) A positive change is in the works; all you have to do is show up and take part.

Take a look at your opLIBRA (Sept. 23- tions, and discuss your plans Oct. 23) with an expert. The advice offered may not be what you want to hear, but it should be considered.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — CURTAILS (CURTAILS: kur-TALES: Cuts short or reduces.)

SUDOKU

Clearing space at home for SAGITTARIUS a project you want to pursue (Nov. 23- will motivate you to get movDec. 21) ing. An unanticipated opportunity will lead to positive change.

Average mark 38 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 53 or more words in CURTAILS? The list will be published Monday.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — ARGOSIES aegis ager arise arose arsis rage raise rase rise rose gases gasser gassier

gear gesso goes gore gorse grass gross oasis ogre ogress orgies osier sage

sager sago sari sear sego sire soar sora sore egis ergo

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Look out for someone SCORPIO who needs some help. There (Oct. 24is no point getting angry Nov. 22) over something you cannot change. If you do your best, things will take a positive turn.

Take a moment to prepare CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- for what you want to do next.

Jan. 19) A personal change will give you a push to get rid of items you no longer need.

solution for SATURDAY’S puzzle Stick to the people and AQUARIUS things you know you can (Jan. 20- trust. Steer clear of anyone Feb. 19) trying to tempt you to indulge in something that is expensive or unhealthy. Focus on proper diet and exercise.

Protect your reputation PISCES (Feb. 20- by living up to your promises.

March 20) Money or an interesting proposal will come your way from an unusual source. A physical change you make will create interest.

mondAY, october 22, 2018

19

US Grand Prix 2018…

Hamilton loses out on 5th title in United States L

ewis Hamilton just failed to clinch a fifth world title when he finished third in a thrilling US Grand Prix.

Mercedes let a victory slip through their fingers by delaying a second pit stop and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen took his first victory for more than five years.

Hamilton’s title rival and Raikkonen’s team-mate Sebastian Vettel looked to have handed Hamilton the title early on when he spun battling with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen also beat Hamilton, who will have to wait until the race in Mexico n e x t weekend to have a n other chance of clinching the title.

He leaves Austin, Texas, with a 70-point lead over Vettel, who eventually finished fourth, with 75 available over the remaining three grand prix.

In a tense finish, Raikkonen, Verstappen and Hamilton were nose to tail and the Mercedes driver failed in his one opportunity to pass the Dutchman with three laps to go.

As it happened, even doing that would not have been enough to clinch the title for Hamilton, as Vettel passed the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas f o r fourth place on the penultimate lap.

It

out-accelerate the Mercedes and pass into the first corner.

But Hamilton and Mercedes appeared to grab back the initiative when they decided to pit under an early vir-

tual safety car period on lap 11, when the cars are controlled to a certain lap time.

That saved Hamilton 10 seconds over a stop under racing conditions and he was on Raikkonen’s tail within eight laps.

But although he had a big lead when Raikkonen stopped, it soon became apparent Hamilton would have to stop again, unlike his rivals who stopped later, as his rear tyres began to blister.

But Mercedes left it too long to bring him in for a second stop, waiting at least five laps, in which time he ran into both traffic and grip problems and Verstappen joined Raikkonen in being close enough behind to ensure they would be ahead when Hamilton pitted again.

Once rejoining the race, Hamilton queried both the delay and the tyre choice Mercedes made, to take the softs

rather than the super-softs Verstappen had taken.

And sure enough, although he closed in on Raikkonen and Verstappen, he was unable to go by.

His best chance came on a thrilling lap 54, with two to go, as he raced side by side, switching back and looking for the advantage, through five corners with Verstappen, only to run wide at Turn 18 and lose his chance.

Mercedes’ strategy confusion let Vettel off the hook, after the German made yet another mistake in a season that has been characterised by them.

Needing to make up ground from his fifth place on the grid, following a three-place grid penalty, he tangled with Ricciardo and spun on the first lap.

He fought back up to fifth quickly enough

looked nailed on for Hamilton

but for a long time it looked as if Hamilton would win the title, as he was too far back to score enough points to keep the race alive.

But as Bottas ran into tyre trouble in the closing laps, Vettel was able to close in, and he dived for the inside of Turn 12 on the penultimate lap, as Bottas helped him through by running wide.

Verstappen, meanwhile, was superb in fighting for the win after starting 18th because of problems in practice.

He made lightning progress through the back markers in the early laps and was soon running fifth.

Red Bull then pitted him before Bottas to move him into third, which became second when Hamilton stopped again. It was a superb drive. (BBC Sport)

Kimi Räikkönen holds off Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to win the US Grand Prix

Hamilton lost the lead at the start to Raikkonen, who used his softer tyres to

MotoGP…

Marquez dislocates shoulder after winning 5th title in Japan

S

paniard Marc Marquez won a fifth MotoGP title - his third in a row - then suffered a bizarre shoulder injury when celebrating victory in Japan.

Marquez, 25, dislocated his shoulder after enthusiastic hugs from his Honda team and British rider Scott Redding.

The victory gave Marquez his eighth win of the season at his team’s home track.

“The shoulder just popped out.

Luckily with the adrenalin it doesn’t hurt, but I’ll need to be careful not to overdo it on the dancefloor tonight,” he said.

Redding said: “Once we were rivals, big rivals, now we have nothing but respect and fun. Sorry for

Championship standings 1. Marc Marquez (Spa/Honda) 296 points 2. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita/Ducati) 194 3. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 185 4. Maverick Vinales (Spa/Yamaha) 155 5. Cal Crutchlow (GB/LCR Honda) 148 6. Johann Zarco (Fra/Yamaha Tech3) 133 7. Danilo Petrucci (Ita/Ducati Pramac) 133 8. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa/Ducati) 130 9. Alex Rins (Spa/Suzuki) 118 10. Andrea Iannone (Ita/Suzuki) 113

Marc Marquez celebrated his fifth title in Japan

the dislocated shoulder.”

Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso was his main title rival but the Italian slid off while in second on the penultimate lap.

Fellow Honda rider Cal Crutchlow finished runner-up after Dovizioso’s fall with Alex Rins (Suzuki) edging out Rossi (Yamaha) for third.

Marquez moves level with Mick Doohan on five titles in the top class, with only Valentino Rossi (7) and Giacomo Agostini (8) ahead of him.

“I feel really good. I worked really hard all weekend,” said Marquez, who has won the title with three races to go.

“I was pushing really hard. I’m disappointed because Dovizioso deserved to be here on the podium.”

Marquez started the race in Japan in sixth place and had never won a MotoGP race after failing to qualify in the top five places on the grid.

But he quickly passed Briton Cal Crutchlow and then moved in front of pole sitter Dovizioso to take the lead.

A mistake from Marquez allowed the Italian to go back in front before he again passed Dovizioso on lap 21 of 24 to move back into first place.

Dovizioso appeared to be lining up a passing manoeuvre on Marquez in the final laps but slid onto the grass from his rival’s slipstream.

That allowed Crutchlow to claim second, with Alex Rins edging out Rossi to finish third. (BBC Sport)

Marquez pulls a wheelie after crossing the finishing line

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, october 22, 2018

Holder full of praise for "outstanding" Hetmyer W

indies skipper Jason Holder was full of praise for young batsman Shimron Hetmyer, who smashed an impressive ton against India, in an eight-wicket loss for the team on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Hetmyer arrived at his third international century in fine style after blasting 106 off just 78 balls, in a 322 total for the regional team. The left-handed batsman walked to the crease with Windies at three for 86 and shared in two partnerships to solidify the team’s innings.

Hetmyer’s stand included 6 fours and six sixes.

“He obviously one of the young exciting players. I

was very pleased for him, especially after the Test series he had. He had a few tough dismissals obviously. The character he showed today was outstanding,” Holder said.

In the two-Test series, Hetmyer made to a total of 50 runs in four innings with a high score of 17. The captain hinted that the player could have had an even bigger impact on the match.

“He really backed himself. He was going at more than a run a ball. It was just a matter for him to go a little deeper. Probably have batted another three, four overs we could have gotten the total we hoped for. It’s still a young team and our inexpe-

Windies captain Jason Holder at the post-match conference

rience probably showed.”

Holder hails team effort

Holder believes the team put together a decent effort,

particularly with the bat, despite going down by eight wickets at Barsapara.

A powerful India batting line-up, led by captain

Virat Kohli, who made 140 from 107 balls, and opener Rohit Sharma, who made an unbeaten 152, made short work of the total with 47 balls to spare.

“At the halfway stage I said to the guys ‘we are probably par’. We used the new ball as best as we possibly could. We got an early breakthrough but credit Kohli and obviously Rohit, they played an outstanding innings and took the game away from us and they batted right through to the end,” was Holder’s assessment.

“Looking back in hindsight we needed one or two more partnership breakers and you never know, we

could have been back in the game,” he added.

After a dismal performance with the bat in the Test series, however, Holder admits the team’s performance at the crease was far more assured.

“I was extremely pleased with the way the guys went out and batted. Credit to Shimron Hetmyer getting the 100, it’s always good to see a young player coming in and doing well. Obviously, Kieron Powell got us off to a good start as well,” he added.

“Everyone pretty much ever chipped in, in the lower half as well. It was a pretty decent effort with the new ball.” (Sportsmax)

James’ LA debut marred by ECB rejects claims against England players a fight and ends in defeat in new documentary

T

hree-time NBA champion LeBron James had to break up a melee as the Los Angeles Lakers lost on his home debut.

Punches were thrown from both sides as his new team lost 124-115 to the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

Rockets guard Chris Paul alleges that the Lakers’ Rajon Rondo spat in his face, which then led to a fracas.

James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, act-

The brawl which erupted lasted for just over four minutes

ed as peacekeeper as Rondo, Paul and Brandon Ingram were all ejected for their part in the brawl.

Ingram committed a foul on the Rockets’ James Harden, before Rondo allegedly spat in Paul’s face, with punches then thrown.

The altercation occurred with four minutes 13 seconds remaining, when the Lakers were trailing by one point.

The home side lost two players, Rondo and Ingram, while the Rockets had Paul

removed from the court.

After the game, Rockets’ forward Carmelo Anthony said of the alleged spitting incident: “I was right there.

I was standing right next to Chris.

“That is unacceptable.

You don’t do that. You don’t do that, to nobody. In sports, on the streets, that’s blatant disrespectful right there.”

James, who has lost his two NBA games since moving to the Lakers, declined to comment on the incident. (BBC Sport)

WTA Finals 2018…

Pliskova beats Wozniacki in White Group

K

arolina Pliskova beat defending champion Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-4 on the opening day of the WTA Finals in Singapore.

Czech world number eight Pliskova, 26, broke early in both sets to win in one hour 32 minutes in the White Group.

Australian Open champion Wozniacki, from Denmark, failed to win any of the 10 break points she created.

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina beat Czech Petra Kvitova 6-3 6-3 in the same group earlier on Sunday.

The event features the leading eight players this year, split into two groups of four.

The top two players from each round-robin group will progress to the semi-finals, with the final on 28 October.

In the Red Group on Monday, Japan’s US Open champion plays American Sloane Stephens, while top seed Angelique Kerber, from Germany, meets the Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens.

The Finals are being held in Singapore for the fifth and final time before moving to Shenzhen in China. (BBC Sport) Karolina Pliskova lost to Caroline Wozniacki in the WTA Tour semi-finals last year

T

he England and Wales Cricket Board has dismissed allegations of spot-fixing against England players made in a new television documentary.

An investigation by the Al Jazeera network claims to have “uncovered evidence of corruption at the highest levels of international cricket”, including by a “small group” of England players.

“Whilst the limited information we have been given by Al Jazeera is poorly prepared and lacks clarity and corroboration, it has been properly assessed,” the ECB said.

“Analysis of this by the ECB Integrity Team has cast no doubt on the integrity or behaviour of any England player, current

or former.”

Al Jazeera, which says it has obtained “purported recordings” of a match-fixer calling in the fixes to a notorious Indian bookmaker linked to organised crime, claims the corruption “appears to involve two dozen fixes in 15 international matches” dating from 2011 and 2012.

The broadcaster says the evidence points to a small group of England players allegedly carrying out spot-fixes in seven matches, Australia players in five matches and Pakistan players in three. Players from other teams allegedly carried out spot-fixes in one match.

The report adds the matches in which fixes were allegedly carried out include England versus India at Lord’s, South Africa versus Australia in Cape Town and several matches during England’s series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

“The ECB takes its responsibilities on anti-corruption and preserving the integrity of cricket very seriously,” the statement add-

ed.

“The materials we have been given have been referred to the ICC’s AntiCorruption unit and we will continue to work with them, as is the correct procedure for protecting the game.”

Responding to Al Jazeera’s claims, world governing body the ICC said in a statement it was “committed to working to uphold integrity in cricket”.

It added: “As you would expect we will again take the contents of the programme and any allegations it may make seriously and will investigate fully.

“The investigation into these allegations has already commenced and will run alongside a number of other live unrelated investigations. When considering the claims, we will work with professional independent betting analysts.

“We do welcome the commitment from the broadcaster to share the files with Interpol and, I hope, other law enforcement agencies who can act upon the information and support us in ridding the sport of these criminals.” (BBC Sport)

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sports

Double gold for Barbados in 3x3 Championships T

he Barbados male and female Under-18 teams stunned the competition in the Antilles 3 on 3 Basketball Championships on Sunday evening to become the 2018 champions.

Over the weekend, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) had become home to 9 Caribbean countries each vying for the coveted championships; and with the conviction that only one winner could emerge in each category, the teams came out with proverbial guns blazing, as they put their ‘best foot forward’ in order to make their home country proud.

Organised by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and the International Basketball Foundation (IBF), the event got underway following the leadership seminar that was hosted for the tournament’s participants.

Team Guyana, consisting of Akeem Crandon, Andrew Johnson, Nigel Bowen and Shamar France, had the best showing for the home team; making it to the semifinal round before suffering a bout of tough luck and missing their spot in the final by just two points.

A glimpse of the final action in the male encounter between Barbados and Martinique

Guyana and Barbados had had a ding-dong tussle, with one scoring right after the other. Barbados, however, managed to get away from Guyana with a three-point lead.

Guyana had seen a glimmer of hope when they received two free throws near the expiration of time, but their failure to capitalise resulted in them losing 13-11.

The female final had featured Barbados and defending champions Martinique. Having

shown their mettle in a commanding victory over Aruba in the semifinal, Martinique were again confident of taking the gold; but with the odds against them, the Barbadians exhibited enough determination to create an upset. Commanding possession of the ball and scoring, the Barbadians completely frustrated their opponents.

Martinique’s shot accuracy went awry, and they missed one too many chances. Though they came close in the final

he two matches in the 2nd edition of the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup, held on Sunday at the Everest Cricket Ground on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, did not disappoint.

Those matches, the Masters and the All-Stars, saw defending champions Regal Masters and Ariel Speedboat become consecutive champions.

In the first encounter, softball fans witnessed Regal Masters clashing with Mike’s Wellman. The onfield intensity was there, and Regal retained their ti-

The victorious Regal Masters Team

W Hussein was awarded man of the match for his 78 runs.

He was also named man of the series

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minute, the Barbadians held on to their lead for an 8-7 win.

The male final looked similar to the female final, with a contest between Barbados and defending champions Martinique.

Martinique’s male team came out like avenging angels looking to redeem their homeland, but they failed in their mission, since Barbados took an early lead in the scoring, and held on to it.

The Bajans were again helped by Martinique’s shot inaccuracy in their most important game. With one minute on the clock, Martinique managed to close the Barbadian 6-point lead to a 10-7 challenge, but their accuracy was again faulty, and they missed key shots that could have handed them the game.

Barbados, however, hit a final two-pointer on the buzzer, to take their victory at 12-7 and pick up gold in the process.

When the proverbial dust had settled, Barbados had managed to cop both male and female most valuable player (MVP) prizes. Alisha Squires was adjudged the female MVP, while male team captain Kiserian Adams was adjudged male MVP.

Masters, Speedboat successfully defend titles T

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tle with some difficulty, as Mike’s brought the champs to a close-call encounter.

Batting first, Regal were able to amass 145-5 in their allotted 20 overs. At the beginning of the match, Regal were shaky. They lost early wickets, giving Wellman a glimpse of hope. Regal lost their openers Eon Abel and Mahendra Hardyal for scores of zero and 11 respectively.

They then went on to lose the in-form Eric Thomas

for 7 off the bowling of spin master Imtiaz Mohamed, but the partnership of Mahendra Arjune (44) and David Harper (53) rebuilt the innings to give them a defendable total.

Imtiaz Mohamed naturally led the bowling for Wellman, bagging 3 for 17 off his allotted 4 overs. He was the only bowler able to make a dent in Regal’s innings.

Set a modest total of 146 to achieve victory, Mike’s

Wellman lost both openers for 16 and 22 respectively.

They could not get any substantial partnership going, and missed the target by six runs, making 140-8 off their allotted 20 overs.

Masters’ bowling attack was led by spin doctor Mahendra Arjune, who bagged 4-28.

In the All-Stars semi-final, Speedboat were superb in the field, diving for every delivery and plunging for anything that looked

like a boundary, when they battled Boots All-Stars in a one-sided affair.

Speedboat were able to restrict Boots All-Stars for 125-9 in their 20 overs. The only substantial score came from B. Samaroo, who bludgeoned 55 in his shot-filled innings.

Bowlers Kishore Smith with 3-24 and Nazir Hussain with miserly figures of 3-17 were the cream of the crop.

Set 126 to win, Speedboat raced to this total in ten overs, with S. Hussein scoring 32 and W Hussein, who was adjudged man of the series and man of the match, blasting 78 off 28 balls.

Boots just couldn’t stop Speedboat from trampling them. The bowlers were taken to the cleaners, with every bowler having an economy rate over 9 runs per over.

The All-Stars Champions received $700,000 for the win, while Masters had to settle for $600,000 as the teams celebrated to their hearts’ content. The tournament was organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (Timothy Jaikarran)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, october 22, 2018

2018 Regional Super50 Tournament…

Guyana Jaguars top Group A

– matches cancelled due to flood

and Canada at Queen’s Park Oval in the T&T capital of Port of Spain, and Windies “B” and Guyana at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in the southern community of Tarouba have been cancelled.

Both matches will be treated as no-results, meaning all teams involved will be awarded two points.

CWI will announce instructions about ticket refunds later.

Sunday also marked the end of Group “A”, the cancellation of matches also meant that the Jaguars and Red Force finished in the top two positions respectively, and advance to the semi-finals of the tournament to be contested this coming Thursday and Friday at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Jaguars topped the group with 29 points –

S

DeNobrega dominates Digicel Cancer Awareness Cycle Meet

unday’s matches in Group “A” of the Regional Super50 Cup between Guyana and Windies B, and Trinidad and Canada have been cancelled, due to the extensive flooding caused by torrential rain, which has affected Trinidad & Tobago over the past few days.

The flooding left several parts of the two-island republic inaccessible and Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, described the situation as “a national disaster” during a tour of some of the affected areas on Saturday.

The Government issued a warning overnight for residents to remain indoors, un-

less going out is absolutely necessary, as weather forecasters anticipated more heavy rain on Sunday.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) expressed its solidarity and sadness to victims of the flooding.

In the interest of safety, the Super50 Cup matches between T&T Red Force

GFF continues to spread awareness

T

GFF at the Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

o enable a healthy and cancer-free society, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has conducted a series of activities to foster awareness of, early detection, and eradication of, breast cancer.

These activities were in the form of a “Wear It Pink Friday” and an information session on Friday last, the latter catering to the Secretariat’s staff and participation in the annual Pinktober Awareness Walk on Saturday respectively.

Additionally, the Secretariat’s staff were among 200 males in Guyana who benefited from the Prostate cancer screening done in partnership with the Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF).

Among the areas covered in the information session, conducted by Dr. Ravi, a gynecologist attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital,

were definition of breast cancer, causes, screening options, and prevention, among other aspects.

Dr Ravi has encouraged early screening and detection to ensure elimination of breast cancer.

On Saturday, the GFF joined with other organisations and individuals in the Pinktober Awareness Walk, which saw its President, Wayne Forde, and Third Vice President Thandi Mc Allister being among other staff members becoming engaged to spread awareness of breast cancer.

According to GFF President Wayne Forde, it is morally correct for the GFF to execute and participate in these initiatives.

“Cancer ravages lives indiscriminately. It cuts across class, creed, gender, both young and old. Promoting awareness that leads to ear-

ly detection seems to be the best line of defence in this age of medicine,” he declared.

“The GFF has a moral duty to join forces with our partners and other agencies to not only raise awareness, but promote healthy alternative life styles that will mitigate the onset of this dreaded disease,” Forde continued.

“Football is among the world’s most popular recreational sports. Pick up a ball, call a friend, find a space... Just play ball!” he encouraged.

This is the second year the GFF has partnered with the GCF to spread awareness about breast cancer.

Earlier in the month, some members of the National U20 Squad participated in the tree-wrapping exercise held on Camp Street, Georgetown.

T

four more than Red Force – with Windies “B” taking third place on 16, last year’s champions Windward Islands Volcanoes finishing fourth on nine and Canada following on eight.

Jaguars, led by left-handed batsman Leon Johnson, with Christopher Barnwell and Raymond Reifer featuring among the top 10 batsmen, and Jamaica-born off-spinner Ramaal Lewis and fast-medium bowler Clinton Pestano among the top 10 bowlers, will now face the second-placed side in Group “B” in the first semi-final.

Red Force, led by wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin, with Nicholas Pooran and Lendl Simmons in the top 10 batsmen, and several well-known international stars like the

he outstanding Paul De Nobrega has been crowned champion in the main event of the Digicel Cancer Awareness Race that was held on Sunday.

Riders participating in this activity had assembled on Irving Street, just outside of Camp Ayanganna, and had travelled north, making drifting turns on to Vlissengen Road and then Thomas Road, as those roads were transformed into a cyclist playfield.

In the main event, a 40-lap affair, DeNobrega had sustained a flat tyre, but the talented cyclist persevered to achieve greatness, separating himself from his fellow cyclists by a great distance for over 10 laps, and lapping two cyclists en route to being crowned champion.

Other finishers were as follows: Brighton John 2nd, Jamal John 3rd, Akeel Campbell 4th, Hamza Eastman 5th, and Michael Anthony 6th.

There were other races before this epic event. Among those races were Veterans over-and-under-45; the mountain bike category, Novices category, and the Junior and Senior categories.

The Veterans over-and-under-45 riders were earlier involved in an exciting 30-lap encounter, from which Paul Choo-wee-Nam emerged as the best rider in both of the veteran categories. He was the first rider to complete the race, and accordingly was awarded the prizes for both categories of veterans.

In the Veterans under-45 category, Junior Niles finished in 3rd position while Warren McKay emerged in second. And in the over-45 category, Club Evolution’s Amit Sankar finished in 3rd while Ian Jackson finished in 2nd.

In the mountain bike category, Quacy Punch, the dominant performer, finished in first while Jozi McHally and Mario King finished in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The Junior cycle winner was Brighton John, who enjoyed a good day at the office, as he copped 2nd position in the Senior category as well.

In addition to John, Emanuel Gareall and Donnavant Fraser were 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Junior category.

Digicel staff members were involved in an exciting mountain bike race, outstanding performers of which were rewarded by Digicel and Evolution representatives.

This entire event was conducted for the purpose of raising awareness of the scourge of cancer, breast cancer in particular, and funds for the Cancer Institute. Digicel col-

Bravo brothers, Dwayne and Darren, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Ravi Rampaul in their line-up, will face the top team in Group “B” in the second semi-final.

Following Saturday’s matches, Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners – led by Windies Twenty20 International captain Carlos Brathwaite – occupy the top spot in Group “B” with 22 points and Jamaica Scorpions – led by veteran left-arm spinner Nikita Miller – is second on 21.

Both teams play their last group match on Monday to determine the final places and complete the semi-final line-up.

The Grand Final of the Super50 Cup is next Sunday at Kensington Oval.

laborated with Evolution Cycle Club to support the much anticipated sporting event.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, General Manager of the

Cancer Institute of Guyana, F i o n a Legall, thanked all the cyclists for participating in an activity that supported such a good cause. She explained the importance of screening for cancer, and added that early detection saves lives. (Brandon Corlette)

Paul DeNobrega (Brandon Corlette photo)

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, october 22, 2018

23

Sharma, Kohli chase down 323 with ridiculous ease S

himron Hetmeyer scored his third hundred in only his 13th ODI, a display of attractive strokeplay, but it only set up a festive bonanza for a sold-out Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The hapless West Indies bowlers found themselves caught in a hit-out between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who chased down 323 with ridiculous ease.

Kohli scored his 36th ODI hundred - his 22nd in chases - and Rohit his 20th. They added 246 delightful runs, their 15th century partnership and fifth of 200 or more.

This partnership’s aggregate is now only five behind Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan in this era of Indian ODI cricket. Dhawan’s early exit, to the impressively quick Oshane Thomas, was the last moment of joy for West Indies.

What happened earlier would have seemed satisfying to captain Jason Holder, who had asked his team to score 300 regularly, but on a flat Indian track, against this top order, they were 40 too short.

And for that they had their batsmen to blame: so many of them got starts - Kieran Powell even got to fifty - but only Hetmeyer reached three figures, and even he left the job unfinished. It was left to Kemar Roach and Devendra Bishoo to bat out the last six overs, which they did admirably, adding 44, but that was the time when a proper batsman should have been putting Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami, not India’s first-choice ODI quicks, under pressure and taking the team past 350.

The drastic change in the conditions and the ball from Test cricket was evident in how Hetmeyer turned it all around. After averaging 12.5 in the Test series, he hit a 78-ball 106, attacking despite wickets falling at the other end. In isola-

tion, Hetmeyer’s hitting was sensational. He hit six sixes and six fours, and did so when conventional thinking would have called for consolidation and rebuilding. When Hetmeyer started, Kieran Powell had just brought a tame end to his similarly sensational but half-as-long innings with a hit straight to long-on. When Marlon Samuels was out for a second-ball duck, West Indies were 86 for 3 in the 16th over.

This is usually the time when India turn the

Rohit Sharma scored his 6th 150+ ODI century, the most by any batsman

Shimron Hetmyer celebrates reaching his third ODI century

screws, especially given their middle-overs wicket-taking form, the best since the Champions Trophy bar Afghanistan, who get to play lesser opposition. However, they were without the injured Kedar Jadhav and they had left out Kuldeep Yadav for this match. Kuldeep was also the man who had dismissed Hetmeyer in three of his four innings in the Test series.

With nobody turning the ball away from him, Hetmeyer set himself up for big hits frequently. It was almost like taking a single was the last option in his mind. He was ferocious on the pull, and upset the spinners with his powerful sweeps. Seventyfive of his runs came through 34 scoring shots into the leg side.

The wickets kept falling despite partnerships. Hetmeyer kept going, bringing up his

hundred with a stylish off-driven six off Shami in the 38th over.

At 246 for 5, West Indies would have hoped for another 100 at least in the remaining overs. And then Hetmeyer mistimed a sweep off

Kieran Powell

Jadeja, and wickets began falling again. The fall of wickets continued at the start of the second innings with Thomas announcing himself with an early spell in which he hit the high 140s consistently.

Thomas’ pace was his en-

BV/Triumph Movement extends condolences on Odinga’s passing T

he members of the BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement join with family and friends in reflecting on the life of the late Osafo Odinga, who died during the early morning hours of Saturday. At the time of his passing, he was the incumbent Project Coordinator/Public Relation Officer of the organisation.

The Movement said in a release that Odinga had been one of its founding members, and had brought not just his wealth of experience and expertise to the entity, but a passion for individual empowerment, community development, and for embracing one’s cultural heritage and identity through the recognition of the need to uphold social cohesion.

He had been very instrumental in the formation of the BV/Triumph Youth Choir, initiation of the Senior Citizens

Osafo Odinga

Appreciation activities, and implementation of the Movement’s coin concept, “Our community’s future is as bright as our youths of today,” through which he had encouraged youths from the community to become part of the Movement.

“The members of BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement pay tribute to this great son of the BV/Triumph community, and hereby extend their condolences to the family and friends of the late Osafo Odinga, as the Movement joins in the acknowledgement of his invaluable contribution to the community and in the celebration of his life.

“May his soul rest in peace, and his indomitable spirit live on through the lives of those he had inspired”, the Movement’s release detailed.

India Captain Virat Kholi racked up another triple

emy in these conditions with little help from the conditions. West Indies knew they couldn’t afford to let Kohli get into his innings so they attacked him more. Two slips, bouncers, the works. This spell of play was electric, but it eventually left West Indies shocked. Every minute error in length or line was punished by Kohli. Before they realised what had hit them, Kohli had reached fifty in 35 balls. Rohit, 18 off 21, looked like Mother Teresa in comparison.

Pretty soon it was clear West Indies had been below par with the bat. With the ball, they were dejected after that early Kohli onslaught. Kohli even played the cut regularly - or the back-foot drive that comes close to resembling it. It is not a shot he plays that often, but he knew he was going to be tested with the short stuff, and he wasn’t go-

ing to let bowlers dictate in these conditions.

Once spin came on, it was cash-in time. Rohit played himself in, and once he began hitting out, the bowlers were like a little ball caught in a pinball machine with two extremely long flippers. If one didn’t get them, the other did. Shot for shot, the two matched each other. Kohli took the ground, Rohit the airspace. Kohli hit 21 fours to Rohit’s 15, Rohit eight sixes to Kohli’s two.

Too stunned to react, the bowlers just kept turning up to claim their punishment.

Never mind the two no-balls by legspinner Devendra Bishoo, there was one for West Indies having one fielder too few in the circle. Not that it mattered even when they could push that man out after the 40th over. Rohit hit Thomas for three successive fours before bringing up the win and also his sixth ODI 150 with a six over long-off.

(ESPNcricinfo)

3

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Innings (50 overs maximum) KOA Powell c Dhawan b Ahmed 51 C Hemraj b Mohammed Shami 9 SD Hope † c †Dhoni b Mohammed Shami 32 MN Samuels lbw b Chahal 0 SO Hetmyer c Pant b Jadeja 106 R Powell b Jadeja 22 JO Holder (c) b Chahal 38 AR Nurse lbw b Chahal 2 D Bishoo not out 22 KAJ Roach not out 26 Extras (lb 6, w 8) 14 TOTAL (8 wickets, 50 Overs, RR: 6.44) 322 Did not bat: O Thomas Fall of wickets: 1-19 (C Hemraj, 4.3 ov), 2-84 (KOA Powell, 14.5 ov), 3-86 (MN Samuels, 15.3 ov), 4-114 (SD Hope, 21.4 ov), 5-188 (R Powell, 30.3 ov), 6-248 (SO Hetmyer, 38.4 ov), 7-252 (AR Nurse, 39.3 ov), 8-278 (JO Holder, 43.2 ov)

BOWLING: Mohammed Shami (10-0-81-2), UT Yadav (100-64-0), KK Ahmed (10-064-1), YS Chahal (10-0-413), RA Jadeja (10-0-66-2) India Innings (target: 323 runs from 50 overs) RG Sharma not out 152 S Dhawan b Thomas 4 V Kohli (c) st †Hope b Bishoo 140 AT Rayudu not out 22 Extras (lb 2, nb 3, w 3) 8 TOTAL (2 wickets, 42.1 Overs, RR: 7.73) 326 Did not bat: RR Pant, MS Dhoni †, RA Jadeja, YS Chahal, UT Yadav, Mohammed Shami, KK Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-10 (S Dhawan, 1.6 ov), 2-256 (V Kohli, 32.6 ov) BOWLING: KAJ Roach (7-0-520), O Thomas (9-0-83-1), JO Holder (8-0-45-0), AR Nurse (7-0-63-0), D Bishoo (10-0-721), C Hemraj (1.1-0-9-0)

mondAY, october 22, 2018

Sports is no longer our game, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our business

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DeNobrega dominates Digicel Cancer Awareness Cycle Meet Outstanding performers with Digicel representatives at the presentation ceremony (Brandon Corlette photo)

Double gold for Barbados in 3x3 Championships Page 21

Sharma, Kohli chase down 323 with ridiculous ease

The Barbadian teams pose with their spoils from copping both championships

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