Guyana Times, Monday 24 June, 2019

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3964

monday, june 24, 2019

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Good Hope P14 man allegedly electrocuted in bid to hang self

pariah State if Govt doesn’t respect rule of law – Teixeira

Constable nabbed with passports

See story on page 3

– says President has to lead from front, set date for elections

WPA calls for GECOM awaits consequential CCJ rulings to

DPP recommends departmental charges – Crime Chief P2

House-to-House Registration

orders to determine be accepted way forward

See story on page 12

Page 7

– urges timely replacement of unconstitutionally-appointed GECOM Chair

3 suspected P9 bandits nabbed in Ruby Backdam, 2 escaped Wakapao suspected poisoning

P2 2 family members discharged, 3 remain hospitalised

Miss World Guyana 2018 Ambika Ramraj on Sunday evening crowned her successor, Joylyn Conway, at a simple ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel. Conway was selected to represent Guyana on the international stage later this year at the Miss World Pageant (Shaconeil Burnette photo)

Laxity on Govt's transgressions

Sections of GPF treating issues in political fashion – Jagdeo

Page 13

City Hall P10 moves closer to independent waste collection

with newly-

acquired tractor

2 news

monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Constable nabbed with passports

DPP recommends departmental charges – Crime Chief

T

he police constable who was nabbed earlier last month with several Guyana passports in his home is expected to face disciplinary charges soon.

This is according to Deputy Police Commissioner and Crime Chief, Lyndon Alves, who told Guyana Times on Sunday that this has to be done now that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed such.

“He will be charged departmentally; it is a disciplinary charge that is under the Police Act and that is what he is being

charged under…. Under this charge, if they someone is found guilty then the Commissioner would determine the way forward.”

He stated that the investigation into the allegations levelled against the rank in question has been completed and at this point, the fate of that policeman is yet to be determined by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

“The person can be fined, can be dismissed, the person can be demoted. It depends on the discretion and nature of why he was charged”, the Crime Chief noted.

In early May, based on

cation that while investigations into the matter had still been ongoing at that time, the duties of that policeman had been changed.

“He is still on the job since the investigation has not been completed as yet. But he is not at the Immigration [office]. He is now under open arrest.”

According to the Crime Chief, the police constable had initially been placed unDeputy Police Commissioner, Crime Chief Lyndon Alves

intelligence gathered by certain members of the GPF, ranks swooped down at the constable’s home and discovered a quantity of Guyanese issued passports.

The rank in question was said to have been at his workplace when other policemen confronted him about the accusation and he was subsequently placed under close arrest.

He was later placed under “open arrest” and still remained employed as a member of the GPF. The Crime Chief had previously told this publi-

der “close arrest” where his freedom was restricted and he had been confined.

However, based on the investigations up to a few weeks ago and in keeping with the law when it relates to the rights of individuals who are being investigated for breaches or breaking the law, that has changed.

“Like I said, he is under open arrest but still we

are investigating so I cannot say what the outcome is at this point. Open arrest is where you move around and you can perform your duties but there is still limited freedom. So at this point, he is performing duties assigned by the GPF but has been removed from the location where his alleged involved with the passports reportedly occurred,” Alves had explained.

Wakapao suspected poisoning

2 family members discharged, 3 remain hospitalised

T

wo members of the Wakapao, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) family that fell ill as a result of suspected poisoning after they consumed cassava bread were discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital on Saturday afternoon.

A relative told Guyana Times on Sunday that Richard Thomas and Oscar Thomas were discharged after showing signs of improvement.

“We are really happy they pull through. After the two deaths, we were very worried if we were gonna lose the rest but this is a positive for us and we are happy,” the relative said.

The relative added that three more remain hospitalised, one of whom is in a serious condition in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The relative expressed hope that they all recover fully.

On Monday last, Selena Thomas died at the medical institution as a result of the said poisoning. A post-mortem examination performed on her remains on Wednesday could not determine the cause of death.

Samples were, however, taken and sent overseas for further analysis. Meanwhile, her father, Edward Richards, 76, who was also hospitalised, succumbed to the same symptoms on Wednesday as a result of his condition worsening.

A relative of the family told Guyana Times last week that the other family members are being treated

Selena Thomas

Edward Richards

for cyanide poisoning.

The relative expressed frustration over the mystery illness which has left two of her family members dead without answers as to what really could have caused their demise.

“I am devastated right now. I don’t know what to think or say. Just like that, they died. It could have been anybody. We all eat cassava bread all the time. Why now or how? I just can’t find answers. I hope the doctors find what it is soon because I am so scared because the others are still hospitalised,” she told this publication.

The disastrous ordeal started last week after the late Selena Thomas baked some eight cakes of cassava bread which she and her household consumed and shared with family.

The relative explained that soon after eating the cassava, which they reaped from their farm, they complained of stomach pains then started to vomit. They were rushed to the Suddie Hospital and later transferred to the GPHC due to

the severity of their conditions.

The family called for a full investigation into the matter since the staple food is a main Amerindian dish and is consumed by almost every household. They are questioning how the consumption of this food could have led to these deaths.

Meanwhile, Indigenous leaders have also come out to voice their concerns on this issue. They also called for a thorough investigation into the matter and refuted the claims of cyanide poisoning reported to relatives by medical officials.

Further, Police ranks have been deployed to Wakapao Amerindian Reservation to investigate the circumstances leading to the deaths of the two persons and the hospitalisation of others.

G Division Commander, Khali Pareshram told this publication on Thursday that although no report had been formally made to any of the police stations, a team of police ranks was sent to the Amerindian village.

news

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monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Monday, June 24 – 09:30h-11:00h and Tuesday, June 25 – 11:00h-13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Guyana risks becoming pariah State if Govt doesn’t respect rule of law – Teixeira …says President has to lead from the front, set date for elections

Monday, June 24 – 08:45h-10:15h and Tuesday, June 25 – 09:50h-11:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light rain showers should prevail until the mid-afternoon, followed by partly cloudy skies and sunny intervals. Light rain showers are expected in the evening.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 09:07h and 21:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.22 metres and 2.28 metres.

Low Tide: 15:11h reaching a minimum height of 0.94 metre.

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Former PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

M

uch is at stake if the Government continues to disregard the Constitution and leadership is not shown by President David Granger, who, by law, has to set a date for elections that is in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana, but, since December 2018, has failed to do so.

This is according to former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who was at the time appearing on the Globespan 24×7 live show in New York, USA on Sunday.

Also appearing on the panel with her was Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member, Dr David Hinds and Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Presidential Candidate Lenox Shuman.

According to Teixeira, Guyana is at a crossroads where it can either respect the Constitution, or become a pariah State that does not respect the rule of law. She noted that the onus was on President Granger to respect the Constitution.

She pointed out that despite the ruling, the status quo remained the same, and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson remained at the helm of the elections body despite being declared unconstitutionally appointed by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

She stressed the importance of the President making efforts in good faith to

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Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams

comply with the ruling and the Constitution, so that his public utterances that he respected the CCJ ruling could have some credibility. These good-faith efforts, she noted, would include Granger seeking Patterson’s resignation.

“The attitude of the Government since the ruling has been less than inspiring and, frankly, quite disturbing. We need good-faith efforts by the President, to advise Mr Patterson to resign.

We have to have good-faith

efforts by Granger to name a date for elections within 90 days from June 18, based on the CCJ ruling.

“Those two things, were he to do them, would certainly enhance the Government’s dedication or declared dedication to the Constitution and would give some comfort to Guyanese that we are still within the democratic fold of countries. That is the next step,” Teixeira said.

According to Teixeira, anything other than concrete good-faith efforts from the President would mean he has been paying nothing but lip service when he declared his respect for the decision. Her call for good-faith measures was echoed by Shuman.

Meanwhile, Dr Hinds noted that the two political sides now have to come together in some kind of compromise. According to Hinds, it is his hope that the leaders can put the country as a priority in seeking such a compromise.

However, Teixeira highlighted the importance of the Constitution, which she noted was supposed to guide the behaviour of citizens and was sacrosanct. She also pointed to all the effort that went into creating the constitutional changes during the 1999 to 2001 constitutional reform process.

As a way forward, all the panellists were in agreement that the political parties should agree on a strict timeline to be followed in order to appoint a new GECOM Chairman.

And with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo already declaring that he has a list of candidates ready to provide to the President, Teixeira noted that such an appointment

could be made in a week by the President.

Last week, the CCJ ruled that the no-confidence motion tabled in Guyana’s National Assembly in December 2018 had been validly passed and, therefore, general elections must be held within a stipulated time frame. It also ruled that Patterson was illegally appointed.

But while Granger publicly announced his respect for the CCJ rulings, his Ministers have been less respectful. Government Ministers have, in fact, made statements that defied the CCJ rulings and even the CCJ’s jurisdiction in Guyana – although Guyana has recognised the Court as its final appeals court since 2005.

President David Granger

The first such statements were made by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

According to Jordan, the coalition Government is not prepared to call elections unless House-to-House Registration is carried out regardless of what the CCJ or anyone says.

Jordan made this statement during a Government outreach in Bartica on Tuesday, in the presence of several other Ministers of Government. At the time, Jordan also rallied coalition supporters to protest if necessary for House-to-House

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Registration. This is despite the fact that this exercise is likely to further delay elections that were constitutionally due since March 21 of this year.

On Friday, Minister of State, Dawn HastingsWilliams rejected the CCJ’s appellate jurisdiction during a bizarre protest staged by several Government Ministers and a few A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters outside GECOM’s headquarters, where they were calling for House-to-House Registration before elections were held.

Hastings-Williams voiced her blatant disregard for the CCJ as Guyana’s final court of appeal by saying that that Court had no authority to issue any consequential orders on Monday, since Guyana is an independent state with its own laws. The PNC, through General Secretary Amna Ally, has since distanced itself from her comments.

The CCJ has set today as the date to hand down consequential orders, though it has given the opposing sides an opportunity to craft their own way forward, to be submitted to the Court for consideration.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, JUNE 24, 2019

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

Consequential

orders and consequences

T

his afternoon, the CCJ will be taking recommendations from the involved parties on the scheduling of general elections for the country and on the appointment of a new Chair of GECOM. The court of ultimate resort for Guyana had, in its wisdom, requested the said parties – ultimately, the PNC-led Government and the PPPC Opposition - to put their heads together and arrive at a modus vivendi on these matters that were consequential to their judgments: that the NCM of Dec 21 was validly passed, and that the appointment of the GECOM Chair was ultra vires. They hoped there would “be a happy marriage of principle and practicality”.

On their face, the consequential orders should not have posed any challenges, since the constitutional bases for the CCJ’s judgement were explicit on the remedies sought.

To wit, since the NCM was valid, according to Art 106 (2), the President and Cabinet should immediately resign, and elections must be held in three months. And secondly, if the appointment of the GECOM Chair was invalid, the President must forthwith appoint one from a list of six names to be submitted by the Opposition Leader, in accordance with Art 162 (6).

In reference to the NCM, which is a constitutional device available to all Commonwealth democracies, to test the legitimacy of sitting governments in terms of their support from the “people’s representatives”, the Government’s challenges to the validity of the vote of one of its MPs, and as to whether that vote gave the Opposition, which had moved the no-confidence, the constituted requisite majority, were both rejected. In other jurisdictions, such as notably Britain and India, the governments had resigned and elections were scheduled without any fuss in 1979 and 1999 respectively.

The actions of the PNC-led Government following the CCJ’s rulings, however, have been most unfortunate for the democratic transition on which Guyana had embarked after the free and fair elections of 1992, following two decades of illegal rule by the PNC, courtesy of flagrantly rigged elections.

The President has not demanded the resignation of the GECOM Chair, following that gentleman’s incredulous avowal – in light of being an ex-Judge - of being flummoxed about what to do following the CCJ’s declaration that he was illegally appointed.

The Opposition Leader, on the other hand, announced he was prepared to immediately submit the requisite list of six “fit and proper” persons. Since the President invited the Opposition Leader for a meeting “next week”, meaning after the CCJ’s hearing today, it means the CCJ will have to issue its own consequential order on the appointment.

On the issue of scheduling elections, the Opposition Leader evidently seized the request of wedding “principle to practicality” by suggesting that elections be held in two or three months. Obviously, the three-months date after the valid NCM of Dec 21 has expired, but since GECOM has had six months since then, they cannot credibly complain about not being able to conduct elections by September, which would satisfy the OL three- months’ deadline. GECOM, however, with the casting vote of the illegal Chairman, had voted for HtH registration to “sanitise” the voters’ list, and had proposed a date of late November.

While the rationale and the date were ostensibly in consonance with the Government’s position, the latter actually originated from the administration’s refusal to accept the NCM by insisting it was an improper mechanism to curtail their term of office. The PNC-led Government has now picketed GECOM’s offices, demanding house-tohouse registration. They appear determined to drag out the elections date until “first oil”, which might be in sight with the announcement that the first FPSO will arrive in September.

Ironically, there is no law authorising HtH registration, since continuous registration was introduced back in 2001/2004 and there are several well publicised mechanisms to produce a valid voters’ list – as was pointed out by the legal officer of GECOM. The CCJ must curtail the dilatory tactics of the Government in its consequential orders.

One of the finalists of the GTT+Star Singing Competition, Josephine Mitchell performs at the finals on Sunday evening at Movie Towne. The results will be announced on July 1

Venezuela detains 6 military, Police officials – family members, activists

V

enezuelan authorities have arrested six members of the country’s military and Police forces over the weekend, according to relatives of the detainees and human rights activists, as President Nicolás Maduro seeks to weed out dissent.

Air Force Brigade General Miguel Sisco Mora was arrested Friday afternoon in a parking lot in Guatire, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of the capital Caracas, his daughter Stephanie Sisco said. Navy Corvette Captain Rafael Costa was detained on Friday in nearby Guarenas, according to his

wife Waleska Perez.

“We demand that the Government provide us with information about his whereabouts,” Stephanie Sisco wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

The arrests come nearly two months after a failed uprising against Maduro called by Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, the head of the Opposition-controlled National Assembly, who in January invoked the Constitution to declare himself president and has called on the armed forces to join his cause.

They also come on the heels of a visit to Venezuela

by United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, who on Friday called on Maduro to release prisoners arrested for peacefully protesting. Maduro, whose 2018 re-election has been widely denounced as illegitimate, said he would take the UN’s concerns seriously.

Human rights group Penal Forum had previously said that two retired Air Force Colonels had been arrested in Caracas on Friday afternoon while two high-ranking officials from Venezuela’s CICPC forensic Police Unit were arrested in Guatire, according to human

rights lawyer Tamara Suju.

Neither Venezuela’s Information Ministry nor the Chief Prosecutor’s office responded to requests for comment on the six detentions on Sunday.

According to Penal Forum, some 700 people are detained for political reasons in Venezuela, including about 100 members of the military.

Maduro’s Government has denied it holds political prisoners, and frequently accuses the Opposition of fomenting violence. Maduro refers to Guaidó as a puppet of the United States seeking to oust him in a coup. (Reuters)

Venezuelan airline advising passengers of T&T visa A t least one Venezuelan airline began issuing advisories to passengers regarding this country’s visa stipulation – indicating passengers can only enter T&T once they can prove their stay is for a specific reason.

But up to Thursday, there was no word from either the Foreign Affairs or National Security Ministry on the visa including its cost.

Questions sent by Guardian Media seeking details from both Ministries went unanswered on Friday.

According to the notice issued by Rutaca Airlines of Venezuela, passengers can only enter T&T if they can prove their stay in the country will be for reasons specific to illness, medical consultations, business, or they are people “in the process of residency”. In addition, they can enter if they are in-transit passengers for 48 hours and have tickets to their final destination.

The notice which was issued immediately after the visa procedure was scheduled to start on Monday also stated that passengers would – after arrival

The Government was urged earlier to release all those detained for peacefully protesting by UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, who announced that a team from her office would remain in Caracas to monitor the human rights situation [UN]

at Piarco airport – be given a “Visa Waiver Programme” and have to pay TT$400 or the US equivalent in the interim.

Rutaca also stated that those entering as tourists and to visit family must process T&T visas at the T&T Embassy in Caracas “once the process has begun”.

Venezuela-born interpreter Auraceli D’Olivierre said she received some details on the process by writing to the T&T Embassy in Caracas.

“They told me the name, surname and of the identification of the person who

wants the visa should be sent to the Embassy (in Caracas) and the person should also state their motive for the trip to T&T and their phone contact and then the Embassy would send them the requirement for the visa,” she added.

But Venezuela-born T&T-based activist Heidi Diquez said Venezuelans were still awaiting official word from local authorities.

“We cannot question Government for instituting the visa; it should have been done a long time ago.

However, most information so far seems to be com-

ing from the airlines (in Venezuela).”

“We had people training to come to T&T and we’ve put this on hold until systems are clarified or announced properly,” she said.

Diquez also expressed concerns about practices concerning the employment of young Venezuelans in some areas, and how labour systems can guard against potential exploitation. She said she had received information on boys and girls who were registered yet being paid TT$150 daily, seven days weekly.

“There’s also concern that 1000 Venezuelan children who are here will lack access to education. Some NGOs are establishing online systems for secondary students which will be accredited by Venezuelan systems. But there’s nothing for primary students – despite some Catholic schools trying to accommodate some – and the September term begins soon. We would encourage the Education Ministry to sit with different organisations to see how best this could be solved.”

(Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, JUNE 24, 2019

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

The Caribbean Court of Justice ruling Dear Editor, The Caribbean Court of Justice rulings on the two cases, one appealed by the APNU + AFC and another by the Opposition PPP/C, have brought to the open many troubling issues in relation to our politics and some of our institutions.

Over the last four years many articles and commentaries have appeared warning of a creeping dictatorship and the need for everyone to stand up to halt the drift.

The first and most obvious was the decision that the Opposition appealed after the APNU+AFC got a successful decision at our Court of Appeal which in 92:1 verdict ruled that the no-confidence motion needed 34 and not 33 of 65 votes. The CCJ rejected that ruling.

It upheld the National Assembly vote, Guyana’s Chief Justice ruling and the appeal by the PPP/C which was that thirty-three votes were the required number of votes to pass the no-confidence motion.

Almost all Guyanese,

lawyers and non-lawyers alike, must have known this.

Even those who brought the case it appears did this only to delay the calling of election and to give the regime more time in power.

The other issue on the appointment of the Chairman of the Election’s Commission is also vital. The CCJ ruled that the opposition was right and Mr. Patterson was not properly appointed to that post. He is, therefore, unconstitutional. He should resign or be removed immediately.

To me, a person not trained in law, that also seem so obvious.

The process by which the chairperson of GECOM should be appointed was first proposed by President Jimmy Carter for the 1992 elections. It was a mechanism to get a consensus on this very important post.

The reason for this is also clear. For a functioning democracy all the forces in the society must have confidence in that most important body.

It must not only be fair but must also appear fair.

In fact, it was constitutionalized at the insistence of the PNC while in Opposition during the 2001 massive Constitutional Reform process. They wanted it entrenched in the Constitution to ensure that they (PNC) had a voice in such an appointment.

The Commission grew in stature from 1992 when Rudy Collins headed it and did a very professional job.

In 1997, elections which in my view was the best conducted election in Guyana, the PNC won a massive victory. Having lost the PNC rioted and called for a forensic audit. The PPP/C agreed to the audit which was conducted by a team from CARICOM. That audit restored the confidence in the Commission.

After the 2001 elections, the Chairman Joe Singh, before demitting office had an international audit done on those elections which further boosted the prestige of the Commission.

The elections of 2015

were one of their great successes in their move to control the Commission and facilitate rigging.

It is important to note that after the 2011 elections the APNU had demanded that the Chairman Surujbally and the then Chief Elections Officer Gocool Boodhoo, be removed.

They had demonstrations and even went in front of the homes of those two officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in vigils harassing their families and threatening them.

Eventually, the PNC/ APNU dropped the demand to remove Surujbally but kept insisting that Boodhoo should go. When the vote came at GECOM, Surujbally voted with the PNC recommended Commissioners to remove Gocool Boodhoo as CEO. Now in power the APNU is continuing its quest for control. The only motive it is quite clear is to manipulate and rig elections.

The way the Chairman, Mr. James Patterson, was appointed to the post of

CEO was the first demonstration of the drive to take control and turn that body into an instrument of the PNC/APNU. In the process lists of very prominent Guyanese, people of distinction were dubbed not fit and proper.

The next stage was the getting rid of the man who served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer for a long while, Mr. Vishnu Persaud.

This was so blatant that it was shocking. This man scored the highest points on GECOM own criteria, moreover, he has years of experience and was never even accused of any malpractice. He seems too professional, thus, he had to be removed the PNC/APNU are allergic to fairness and professionalism.

Clearly, the Chairman and the three APNU+AFC recommended Commissioners have no interest in professionalism and free and fair elections. It appears that they have seen themselves as agents of the APNU determined to keep that Party in power even if

they destroy democracy and Guyana in the process.

The rulings of the CCJ are important first steps in stopping the descent into undemocratic rule.

However, we must not believe that the PNC will halt their efforts to perpetuate themselves in power.

They are already showing signs that they are ready to disregard the ruling of the CCJ. The President, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance have made pronouncements that have telegraphed their intentions. They seem ready to show contempt for the CCJ and the rule of law. They must not be allowed to get away with this!

It is now even more important that every fair minded and everyone consumed by the desire to live in a free and democratic society must now stand up and be counted for Peace, Justice and Bread!

Regards, Donald Ramotar Former President

The APNU/AFC’s argument is baseless Appoint an interim GECOM Chairman, call election in 3 months Dear Editor, It began with the irritatingly idiotic argument that 34 constitutes the greater half of 65. That foolishness finally came to an end with the ruling of the final appellate court, the CCJ. Then it was the invalidity of Mr Charrandas’ vote because he had dual citizenship. All of this was the PNC coughing up a defence when they themselves are guilty of multiple members of their parliamentary team who are also dual citizens. So, the duplicity of the PNC-led coalition is endless, which makes their situation hopeless and one that relegates them to a shameless bunch of individuals who are bent on holding on to power illegally.

But before I entertain their latest gripe, I would like us to clear up a few disturbing facts.

1. The CCJ has ruled that the NCM was validly passed which means that the President and his Cabinet must resign, paving the way for an election within 90 days.

2. The GECOM Chairman was an illegal appointee and as a result, must be revoked and a new appointment made from a list submitted by the Opposition.

3. The Government shall remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a new President is sworn in.

Mr Granger has not honoured any of the above constitutional requirements which means that at the present moment, he has an illegal Government.

Rightfully, if we are to take a look at the present situation in its truest perspective, we should not be accepting any negotiations from

Granger because he is an illegal occupant or squatter in Government. However, we shall break that illegal barrier to entertain a discussion with him. So, here we go again, as we discuss their latest rant.

The latest imbroglio is a house-to-house registration exercise, which according to them, should clear up the “grave discrepancies” in the voters’ list. The first item on their agenda is the sanitation of the list which necessitates the removal of dead persons. This in itself is a ludicrous argument because dead men cannot vote because they are dead. They might be on the voters’ list but due to the fact that they are dead, they cannot vote.

No one can vote for them either because multiple voting or proxy voting has been long outlawed as a voting method. Guyana no longer uses that type of voting.

And here again, the PNC is exposing themselves to the public. Multiple voting, or proxy voting, is a longtime grandstand rigging practice of the PNC. That huge rigging pool has dried up with the abolishing of the proxy voting system.

4. Their last argument is that the youths would be disenfranchised because thousands of youths are not on the voters’ list. This is another baseless argument of theirs because Guyana has Continuous Registration, which means that those eligible to vote would have been upgraded to voter status in the automatic voter cycle we already have in place. So, whichever angle you look at it, Mr Granger has no case.

The house-to-house exercise has two motives in its hidden agenda and

if given the opportunity would enable the Granger Administration to carry out the most brazen rigging exercise in Guyana’s history. Their ploy in the houseto-house exercise is to go into homes and coerce persons into voting for the PNC which would be falsely entered into a database at GECOM. This is the PNC’s rigging strategy, pure and simple. But the holding of elections within the 90-day timeline precludes them from doing this, hence the confusion in their camp.

This brings me to the question, whenever Patterson is replaced, the new Chairman needs to take a serious look into the replacement of the IT Specialist at GECOM, because that department holds a lot of the PNC’s rigging secrets.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Dear Editor, Guyana is at a crossroad and is accelerating into a democratic or a dictatorship society. We never would have imagined in our lives that a Government in power would openly and daringly use power at its disposal to destroy a country’s democracy in such a short span of time.

The APNU/AFC Government’s refusal to work with the Opposition to agree on proposals to allow Guyana to become a matured country indicates that they would disrespectfully disregard any orders that would be handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

David Granger and his Government were laying a platform since the unilateral appointment of GECOM Chairman James Patterson to delay the or even rig

the scheduled General and Regional Elections.

On the successful passing of the NCM, the entire “Baby Party “ was derailed, leaving Granger with no other alternative but to keep delaying the elections in order to buy time to continue his wickedness. The loud noise for house-to-house registration is definitely a cry in the wilderness since this exercise is not mandatory by law and the Government is entrenched in a constitutional crisis.

I would recommend that the Caribbean Court of Justice in its consequential orders install an interim GECOM Chairman and

order elections within ninety days. After the elections then allow the restart of the process for the appointment of the new GECOM Chairman.

We must recognise the works of the Opposition Leader and General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, with his stewardship, maturity, intelligence, leadership, integrity, commitment etc, the PPP/C has regained its position as the only political party that can manage Guyana in future development.

Regards, Zamal Hussain

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monday, JUNE 24, 2019

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f a bully picks on me, should I fight back?

– Cole* Standing up to bullies doesn’t mean you have to have a physical fight with them. Most of the time, you don’t have to fight. There are almost always more effective ways to deal with bullies — ways that are better for you.

Sometimes, though, people feel they need to (or want to) fight a bully. They may feel that they’re being physically threatened right at that moment and need to protect themselves.

They may think fighting back will teach the bully a lesson or be the best way to escape.

Some people may feel pressured by others to fight back even when they don’t really want to. Feeling pressured by other people is not a good reason to fight.

There’s no easy answer to the question about when someone should fight back physically.

Some bullies don’t actually want to fight. They just like to intimidate others or show off in front of their friends.

Other bullies back down without a fight if the person they’re targeting stands up to them.

Foundation Some bullies like to get into a fight. They might like to cause pain to others – or feel pain themselves.

Fighting can get dangerous. A fight sometimes leads to serious injuries. The bully might have a weapon. Fighting may make the bully feel he or she has to come back later with a weapon or friends to help — and the whole thing can get out of control.

So, what can people who are being bullied do to feel m o r e in control and able to defend them-

There’s no easy answer to the question about when someone should fight back physically. Some bullies don’t actually want to fight. They just like to intimidate others or show off in front of their friends.

Other bullies back down without a fight if the person they’re targeting stands up to them. selves?

If you’re being bullied, talk with a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher, counsellor, or coach. They can get involved to help. Most schools do not tolerate bullies and have strict anti-bullying rules.

In some cases, it also might be necessary to get help from the Police. After all, if a bully physically attacks someone, it’s assault — and that’s a crime. If a bully uses a weapon or threatens to use one, it can result in severe penalties for the bully, including expulsion from school, arrest, and even prison.

For people who want to build skills and improve confidence, taking self-defence classes can help. Even for people who never need to use self-defence skills, just learning them can be very helpful.

In a few rare situations, fighting back may be the only way out at that moment. Fighting back physically is only a good idea when there is no other choice to avoid injury. But in almost all other cases, there are better, more effective, and safer choices. *Names have been changed to protect user privacy. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

D

o you sweat, chew your pencil, and feel butterflies in your stomach as your teacher hands out a test? A lot of people (adults included) get freaked out when it’s time to take a test.

It’s natural to feel some stress about taking tests. In fact, sometimes a little adrenaline (a hormone made by your body during times of excitement or stress) is a good thing to jump-start you.

Here are some tips for taking tests: First, be sure you’ve studied properly. It sounds like a no-brainer, but if you’re sure of the information, you’ll have less reason to be worried.

Get enough sleep the night before the test. Your memory recall will be much better if you’ve had enough rest. In a scientific study, people who got enough sleep before taking a math test did better than those who stayed up all night studying.

Listen closely to any instructions. As the teacher hands out the test, be sure you know what’s expected of you.

Read the test through first. Once you have the test paper in front of you, read over the entire test, checking out how long it is and all the parts that you are expected to complete. This will let you estimate how much time you have for each section and ask the teacher any questions. If something seems unclear before you start, don’t panic: ask.

Focus on addressing each question individually. As you take the test, if you don’t know an answer, don’t obsess over it. Instead, answer the best way you can or skip over the question and come back to it after you’ve answered other questions.

Relax. If you’re so nervous that you blank out, you might need a mini-break. Of course you can’t get up and move around in the middle of a test, but you can wiggle your fingers and toes, take four or five deep breaths, or picture yourself on a beach or some other calm place. As we all know, it can be easy to forget things we know well — like a locker combination.

The difference is we know we’ll remember our locker combination because we’ve used it hundreds of times, so we don’t panic and the combination number eventually comes back. During a test, if you blank out on something and start to get tense, it suddenly becomes much more difficult to remember.

Finished already? Although most teachers will let you hand a test in early, it’s usually a good idea to spend any extra time checking over your work.

You also can add details that you may not have thought you’d have time for. On the other hand, if you have 5 minutes until the bell rings and you’re still writing, wind up whatever you’re working on without panicking.

These tips should help most people, but some can get serious test-taking terror. If you’re one of them, you may need to talk to a parent, teacher, or counsellor for help.

Good luck! (kidshealth.org)

7 WPA calls for CCJ rulings to be accepted news

monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

– urges timely replacement of unconstitutionally-appointed GECOM Chair – as Court scheduled to hand down consequential orders today

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he Working People’s Alliance (WPA), in a break from the utterances of members from the People’s National Congress (PNC), is calling for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) rulings and the Court’s jurisdiction to hear such matters to be respected.

This was communicated in a statement on Sunday, in which the small party in the coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) noted that the rulings were important for both Guyana and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) bloc at large.

“WPA adds its voice to those which have already urged acceptance of the CCJ’s rulings even if there are partisan disagreements with, or disappointment at the outcome. In so doing, we affirm the legitimacy of the institutions we have collectively created and agreed to,” the party noted.

“In this regard, the swift recognition by the sitting government whose arguments did not find favour with the Court was most encouraging. The issues arising from the two cases are central to our country’s and the Caricom sub-region’s political process.”

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

According to the WPA, nothing can be more important than the removal of an elected government by means other than the electoral process. In similar manner, the WPA noted the importance of the process by which the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is appointed.

It further noted that the Court has given the two sides an opportunity to arrive at a consensus on the orders to flow from the rul-

ings. As far as guidance is concerned, it suggested a “happy marriage between principle and practicality”.

For the WPA, this is a fair balance that should be embraced by all sides.

“The ball is once again in our leaders’ court –it is yet another test of their political maturity, which has so often been absent from their deliberations. WPA prefers a workable solution by the two sides rather than an order from the CCJ, which, in any case, seems reluctant to in-

sert itself beyond its rulings.”

At the same time, the WPA also reaffirmed a position put forward by President David Granger, that the current voters’ list is tainted. According to the party, it believes a few extra months do not amount to an unfair extension or delaying tactic.

When it comes to replacing retired Justice James Patterson as GECOM Chairman, the WPA urged that this process be completed quickly and that someone who has no political ties to any party be appointed.

“Regarding the selection of a new GECOM Chair, WPA thinks that both the Opposition Leader and the President have a responsibility to ensure that the system works to the advantage of Guyana. Towards this end, we endorse the suggestion that both leaders agree to a list of potential candidates from which the President chooses the Chair.

We also suggest that such a list should not include anyone with overt political ties to any political party. We further urge that this process be done in a timely manner,” the statement added.

Last week, President

Granger had requested a meeting with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. The correspondence was penned

by Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, on the President’s behalf. In the letter, Harmon conveys the President’s best wishes and asks that they meet to discuss the political ramifications of the CCJ rulings.

While the letter does not specify a date and time to meet, it does say that the meeting has to be after today, Monday, June 24.

Today, the CCJ will be hand-

ing down the consequential orders that follow its ruling that the No-Confidence Motion was passed.

Other consequential orders will relate to the appointment of retired Justice Patterson. The CCJ had found that Patterson’s appointment was flawed and in breach of the Constitution.

The Court also ruled that the President ought to have given the Opposition Leader an explanation as to why consecutive lists of nominees for the position of GECOM Chairman were being rejected.

8 News

monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramjattan wanted to be Attorney General ...but “got what we deserve”

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ounding Member and recently elected leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan has disclosed that after his party in coalition with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) won the 2015 elections, he wanted the position of Attorney General (AG).

However, during a live radio programme last week, Ramjattan said he had to step aside since Basil Williams, a member of People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R), also wanted the position. The PNC/R is the largest party in the five-party APNU, which holds the majority in the coalition Government.

“My first choice was Attorney General… [But] Basil Williams was also interested in that and we had to opt for the next and that was security,” Ramjattan stated.

Over the years, AG Williams, who is also the Legal Affairs Minister, has been heavily criticised for the State losing a lot of cases under his watch. However, both he and President David Granger has defended his performance.

Ramjattan, nevertheless, noted that his expertise in the criminal law area was better put to use as Public Security Minister.

He further posited that his

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

party, the AFC, got what it deserved after coalescing with the APNU in February 2015 to successfully contest the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

“We deserved what we got and it was because of the APNU side also appreciating what we deserved. They deserved what they got too.

If we gonna fight over the little that some people feel that we got more and so on, it’s not gonna take us any place. And so, it is important that when you form a coalition and worked out a partnership agreement, you do not go crying all about the place that we should’ve gotten instead of 12 seats, 14 or we should’ve gotten more than eight Ministers and things like that. And similarly, the other side

shouldn’t be saying things like ‘oh, they should’ve only gotten five and so on’. It worked out successfully because we managed to win the elections by a very slim majority. Had we not done the agreement, certainly Donald Ramotar would’ve been there up to now,” Ramjattan posited.

At the AFC’s National Executive Conference (NEC) earlier this month, Ramjattan was not only elected the party’s leader but also secured backings to be its Prime Ministerial Candidate at the upcoming elections – ousting current Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

In accordance with the 2015 Cummingsburg Accord, signed between the two parties, AFC will have the Prime Ministerial position while the Presidential post goes to APNU. The Accord has a lifespan of a minimum of three years and maximum of five years and was focused primarily on the General and Regional Elections.

However, the AFC back in 2017 was pushing to have the ‘deal’ reviewed and revised, and had even set up a committee to lead those talks which never panned out.

But the APNU’s point man for the negotiation of the Accord, Carl Greenidge,

Recalcitrant…

W AG Basil Williams

had stated last November that there were no immediate plans to modify the agreement since it has been working well.

In fact, after a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting back in January, the minority party in the coalition Administration also reiterated its commitment to the coalescing pact.

But this is despite the AFC in recent years coming under fire for the submissive role it has been playing since joining forces with the APNU. This led to the minority party contesting the November 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) on its own. The AFC then contended that it is still a force to be reckoned with after garnering between four and 10 per cent of the popular votes.

Man granted bail on larceny charges

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keem Cort of Campbellville, Georgetown was arraigned on Friday last before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in relation to two charges of larce-

ny.

The first charge alleged that on June 19, 2019 at Campbellville, Georgetown, he stole from Jamal Cummings one bicycle valued at $15,000.

The second charge al-

Akeem Cort

leged that on the same day, at Kitty, Georgetown, he stole from Joan Bailey a purse valued $2,600.

The 24-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to both charges, but facts presented by Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh detailed that, on the day in question, the 64-year-old Bailey was

walking along the roadway when she was approached

by Cort, who was riding a bicycle which he had allegedly stolen from Cummings. He snatched the woman’s purse and attempted to escape; but an alarm was raised, and persons in the area apprehended and handed him over to the Police, and he was later charged with the offences.

The prosecutor did not object to Cort being placed on bail, and thus he was placed on bail in the sum of $65,000 and under the condition that he reports every Monday to the Kitty Police Station until the hearing and determination of the cases.

He was also instructed to make his next court appearance on July 26.

…PNC hen it comes to the question of power, CLR James, who accused Walter Rodney and Jagan of being naïve, could’ve never dared to even dream of doing so for the PNC. As a student of Machiavelli, Burnham – who saw politics as “war by other means” - left his master’s template for successors like Granger.

Politics, according to Machiavelli, isn’t fundamentally about justice or goodness; it’s about getting, and using, and keeping power. Power has its own rules, and these have nothing to do with morality. To understand power, he proposes that we focus on what works, not on what might be, or should be.

And what has worked for the PNC has been fraud and violence! Never mind Granger’s choir boy appearance; that’s also Machiavellian: the ruler must APPEAR to be virtuous, said Machiavelli, since “Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration”!!

The CCJ must follow its instincts about “authoritarian” imperatives of the PNC when it issues its consequential orders following today’s hearings. The PNC’s demands for HtH registration has as much to do with “credible” elections as the price of crushed ice -- absolutely nothing.

It has to do with two things: dragging out the elections as long as possible towards the “first oil”; and secondly, setting the stage for protesting the elections, which they know they’ll lose.

Granger and the PNC know that the present voters’ list is credible. They went to the LGE last year with the same list, didn’t they?? They didn’t raise any questions of “disenfranchisement”, whether of the youthful or the notso -youthful then. Youths aged 14 were added to the list last year, and so those who’re 18 as of the next elections will automatically be sorted into the preliminary voters’ list.

So what’s new now?? Oil, that’s what!! They’re salivating at the thought of getting their grubby little paws on that oil revenue; but more to the point: at this state, they figure the voters would look somewhat more favourably on them if oil’s in the offing; and, hint, hint and wink, wink, they’ll be handing out cheques like Father Christmas!

Why do you think the First Lady was rushed over to “launch” the first FPSO in Singapore last week? It’s oil, baby! Oil!!

Just like Hoyte demanded a forensic audit of the 1997 elections results, but yet resorted to the courts to vitiate the results on a technicality about ID cards, HtH registration’s a plot to both delay elections and be the platform to launch violent protests, as Hoyte did in 1998.

Hope the CCJ read Machiavelli!! …retrogrades Poor Nagamootoo! He complained in his last portfolio left intact – his column in the Chronic - that an unnamed “broadsheet” has been pointing out that he’d been “shafted” and given “Larwah”. He didn’t deny the accusation, however, or that he evidently enjoyed the experience, since he wanted to return for more of the treatment!! But Ramjattan beat him to it!! Your Eyewitness wonders if Nagamootoo knows a “broadsheet” refers to a serious newspaper, as opposed to “tabloids”!!

Anyhow, Nagamootoo, went on to excuse Minister Jordan’s call for “war break” if the PNC’s demand for HtH isn’t granted, since “youths” will be disenfranchised.

Presumably because Jordan was addressing that demographic, Nagamootoo claimed the numbers man was just trying to be a “cool cat”!! Imagine that!! To emphasis his point, Nagamootoo invoked Sammy Davis Jr being described as a “cool cat”!! Sammy who? Maybe the almost 80-year-old Nagamootoo can remember Davis - a star from the 1960s - but does he really think Guyanese youths do?

No wonder PNC old heads outnumbered youths at the protest for their “franchise”!! Not dope!! …and losing it We know the old don’t “think” any longer, they mostly remember; hence Nagamootoo’s allusion to Sammy Davis.

But in claiming Jordan didn’t call for a “real” war, what about boasting he’d worn his olive fatigues??

That was standard army gear even in WWII!!

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

news

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monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sexual harassment at CJIA

Board of Directors condemns act, calls for immediate review of policies

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n light of sexual harassment claims at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the Board of Directors has initiated steps to immediately tackle the issue in the workplace.

This was decided at a meeting on Friday.

In a missive to the press, the Board stated that the interventions reflected its deep concern about the allegations of sexual misconduct recently published in the news media.

“The CJIA Board condemns any behaviour which creates an unsafe environment for staff, concessionaires, contractors, suppliers and passengers using CJIA. The Board is fully committed to ensuring that the CJIA is a safe workplace for all, especially women and other vulnerable social groups,” the release stated.

As such, the Board has called for an immediate re-

view of all policies, protocols, regulations, and practices that govern conduct and engagements in the workplace, and has taken steps to hire external consultants and specialists to conduct the reviews.

In addition, training will be provided for all persons who work at the Airport, including staff at all levels and persons working at the Airport on behalf of other agencies and companies.

“The Board wishes to assure the public that all allegations of improper conduct will be taken seriously and there will be prompt investigations. The Board will ensure that there is follow-through on any investigations that are conducted, and any allegation that is found to be credible will result in the immediate appropriate action,” the entity noted.

Meanwhile, the CJIA Board expects to have the external human resources

A section of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

management and gender affairs consultants in place by month end.

It was reported that the sexual assault incident occurred in the office of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer on July 30, 2018 while the duty-free staff was in a meeting with him.

The victim claimed that she was hugged inappropriately and kissed on her lips by the accused. In her complaint letter the day af-

3 suspected bandits nabbed in Ruby Backdam, 2 escaped

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he Police have reportedly arrested three suspected bandits in Ruby Backdam, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) on Sunday evening while two escaped.

Based on reports received, a resident of Ruby Backdam was driving along the main access road heading home when he came under gunfire.

He reportedly attempted to overtake two cars – a Carina 212 and a Toyota Premio when the occupants opened fire. The man managed to escape and immediately contacted the Police.

A cousin of the traumatised man explained that the Police took close to an hour before they responded to the report. Nevertheless, he noted that as the Police were

making their way into the Backdam, they reportedly intercepted one of the cars with five occupants.

As the car came to a halt, two of the men exited and ran into the bushes. The Police reportedly discharged rounds in their direction, but they managed to escape. The other three occupants were arrested.

The man explained that Police found a gun and ammunition in the motor car.

He stated that the residents were fearful given the fact that two men remained at large. He recalled about two months ago, a businessman was shot and killed during the commissioning of a robbery and believed that the group of men were on a mission to commit other robber-

ter the incident, which was seen by this newspaper, the woman explained that she went to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer to have an issue with her boss’s vehicle resolved.

Following the accusation, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer was sent on one’s week leave to facilitate an investigation.

A Police source confirmed that the official has been placed on $20,000 station bail as they continue to investigate the matter.

ies in the area.

Somdat Ramgobin, 46, also known as “Rakesh”, was killed in mid-May when bandits invaded his Parika Backdam home.

It was reported that two men entered the premises – one brandishing a gun – and asked for “Rakesh”. The men then proceeded to call out to Ramgobin who responded, and was immediately attacked with a glass bottle and beaten to his head and body.

The duo then demanded cash and were given some $600,000 by the now dead man. Unsatisfied, the men then demanded jewellery and after being told that there was none, they took Ramgobin to a bedroom in his house where they shot him to his chest.

Good Hope man allegedly electrocuted in bid to hang self

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22-year-old East Coast Demerara man was allegedly electrocuted during a bid to commit suicide.

Dead is Vickram Bridgmohan of Phase Two, Good Hope, ECD. The young man reportedly lived alone in a dilapidated wooden house.

He was discovered dead sometime around 11:00h on Sunday morning by his sister who lives next door. At the time that he was found, Bridgmohan had a wire wrapped around his neck.

He is believed to have been mentally unstable.

According to his sister,

Seema, she usually cooks for the young man. She explained that Bridgmohan went to her on Sunday morning for food but she was not finished cooking.

The woman said that sometime later that morning, she called for her younger brother to collect his food but after calling several times, there was no response. As such, she went over to the house to get him.

She further stated that after walking a few steps towards the upper flat, she turned around and saw Bridgmohan in a sitting position with the wire wrapped around his neck.

His back was against the wall which had a fuse box and wires attached. At the time of the discovery, Bridgmohan was bleeding from his nostrils and mouth, she added.

The upper flat of the building is an open space with the only piece of furniture being a bed. There were spots of blood, both fresh and stale, around the room and according to the woman, the young man previously had a cut on his hand.

The body of the 22-yearold was taken to Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem. An investigation is ongoing.

Man fined for unlawful wounding

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enzil Wilson was last week fined $30,000 and ordered to keep the peace after he admitted before Georgetown Magistrate Faith McGusty on Thursday that he had unlawfully and maliciously wounded his common-law wife.

Wilson told the court that it was a misunderstanding, and that at the time of the wounding, his wife was pulling his hand

whilst he had a padlock in the other hand; and when he turned, the padlock hit her.

The wife told the court that she moved out after the incident, but would like the matter to be dismissed against the man.

Having ordered that he pay the fine or spend six weeks in prison, Magistrate McGusty further instructed Wilson to keep the peace between himself and his wife.

Denzil Wilson

10 news

monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

City Hall moves closer to independent waste collection with newly-acquired tractor

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he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has made a hugh leap closer to collecting its own solid waste with the acquisition of a new tractor and trailer.

Solid Waste Management Director Walter Narine, in a brief telephone interview with this publication, said the new John Deere tractor and dump trailer were handed to City Hall as part of Government’s 2019 subvention to that municipality. The total cost of the equipment stands at approximately $9 million.

Narine declared that the equipment would help to reduce the monthly expenditure of the City Engineer’s Department as it would be used when the alleyways and drains of the capital

city are being desilted.

The Solid Waste Department presently has two tractors while the Engineer’s Department has one, he noted.

Narine reminded that the M&CC intends, in the near future, to cease paying contractors to pick up solid waste around the City, and instead provide this service itself.

Such a move, he said, would save the Council millions per year, as City Hall presently pays $14 million to its two major contractors, Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Cevons’ Waste Management, to provide this service.

“It is our hope that within another two or three years, with the continuous acquisition of these equipment, we would be free of

contractors from the Solid Waste Department and the Engineer’s Department,” Narine disclosed.

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine last month revealed that, during a meeting with officials of the Council and the major garbage contractors, a five-year contract which would lower the monthly cost of these services from some $32 million to just over $14 million had been examined. This amendment was made to the existing contract which was signed in 2015, and was made valid until October 2020.

The major solid waste collectors had, on November 25, 2018, withdrawn their services after months of operating without being paid. Immediately thereafter, services were provid-

he Anna Catherina Early Childhood Development Centre in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), is now fully functional with fifty infants below the age of three years old enrolled.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that the long-awaited opening of the learning complex took place on June 17. In addition to 10 care-

givers, an administrator, a cook, handyman and three security officers are also employed.

In July of last year, the building was formally commissioned by Minister of Finance Winston Jordon, who posited that early childhood education is vital for the development of the nation’s children.

Since then, the Regional Administration was busy

putting all the necessary logistical arrangements in place for the smooth functioning of the institution.

At a simple orientation ceremony held for the selected toddlers and their parents, Regional Executive Officer of Region Three, Jennifer FerreiraDougall noted that the Administration received over 100 applications but could have only facilitated

The new tractor and dump trailer

ed by five agencies; namely: Granderson, Trash Tech, Tri Star, C&S Services and Garbage Eaters.

The deadlock between the Council and the major contractors had had a major negative impact on the

capital city, as residential and commercial areas were piled high with garbage just a few days after those contractors had withdrawn their services.

As such, both these contractors had met with

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and officials of the M&CC, and a promise that payment would be made had put an end to the unending saga between collectors and the cashstrapped Council.

$36M Early Childhood Development Centre opens in Anna Catherina T

Toddlers playing in one of the play areas within the Early Childhood Centre

50 because that is the capacity of the institution.

“Because of the number of applications that were received, an interview panel was established to screen the applicants. We have given priority to working single mothers and families with small paycheques in order to ensure that persons in need benefit from this facility that is offering its services free of cost,” REO Ferreira-Dougall explained.

The REO further indicated that the Child Care and Protection Agency has direct oversight of the complex since they have the overall responsibility of our nation’s children.

Child Care and Protection Officer Zalika Williams explained that the region satisfied all the requirements that were necessary in order to open the institution to the public.

She also noted that her department has already visited the institution twice since the opening and plans to make frequent visits in

Regional Executive Officer Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall addressing the parents at the orientation session

the future.

“We already visited the school two times and will continue to do so frequently. Parents must feel satisfied with the kind of services that are being offered

by Government and we have a role to ensure that the adults who are caregivers do the right things. We want persons to recommend the facility and it must become a model institution that changes the perception

that all is not well with free services,” Williams said.

The building was constructed by the Government through the Ministry of Finance – Basic Needs Trust Fund. The facility includes four care areas/ classrooms, a sleeping area, sick-bay, a staff room, an administrative area, storage spaces, a kitchenette, a laundry room, sanitary facilities, and an outdoor play area for the children.

11 MoPH, UG in talks for Master’s in Speech Therapy news

monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

The gathering at the prayer breakfast service at the launch of Rehab Week 2019

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ehabilitation services in Guyana will soon be taken to new heights with a cadre of professionals to aid those in need of help.

Subject Minister Volda Lawrence has announced that the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has been in discussions with the University of Guyana to offer a Master’s Degree in Speech Therapy, the Department of Public Information (DPI) has stated.

“We are currently in talks with the University of Guyana to have them start a Master’s in a speech therapy programme, which will

from the United Kingdom to have staff from the Ministry attend specialised institutions in Britain for sixmonth periods. The training will allow those persons to expand their knowledge while familiarising themselves with special techniques and equipment available.

Minister Lawrence noted that rehabilitation was on an upward trajectory in Guyana, and gave the assurance that Government would continue to place emphasis on the development of the rehabilitation department with more budgetary allocations.

Director of Rehabilitation Services, Arianne Mangar

be run with the aid and guidance of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association,” Minister Lawrence stated.

She made the announcement on Sunday, during a prayer breakfast service at the launch of Rehab Week 2019 at the Umana Yana.

The upcoming week of activities will be observed under the theme, “Rebuilding lives each day with better awareness, action, and accessibility.”

According to Minister Lawrence, the programme will be two-fold, as she pointed out that upon completion of their Master’s, persons “will then be able to lend support to the University of Guyana in the training of the undergraduate batch of SLT (Speech and Language Therapy) students; thus providing a sustainable way to maintain speech and language services in the health system.”

It was further disclosed that the Minister was also in discussions with officials

“We know that this investment in rehabilitation will increase human capacity by allowing people with a health condition to achieve and maintain optimal functioning. We want to ensure that we can reach children, our youths, and adults in all 10 regions,” Lawrence noted.

Additionally, it was highlighted that there was the need to strengthen the capacity of the health sector by focusing on delivery and services – delivering quality, effective and responsive disability and rehabilitation services.

It is the expectation, the Minister said, persons with disabilities will no longer be hidden from the public but given the opportunity to benefit from the services offered by the Ministry and have a good life.

Rehab Week, which started back in 2003, is observed during the last week of June. The aim is to increase the public’s awareness of the various services

and professions that fall under the rehabilitation umbrella of the Public Health Ministry.

Director of Rehabilitation Services, Arianne Mangar disclosed that during Rehab Week 2019, 100 members of staff would be placed into two groups to conduct rehabilitation services. One group will head to five nursery schools in Wakenaam in a quest to identify children with special needs. A similar exercise will be carried out along the LindenSoesdyke Highway by the second team.

A series of other activities are also scheduled in observance of Rehab Week.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

12 News

monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

House-to-House Registration

GECOM awaits consequential orders to determine way forward – CCJ ruling will take precedence at next statutory meeting – Legal Officer says new voters’ list not necessary

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CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders

reparations by the Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) to conduct houseto-house registration remain halted as the elections body is awaiting the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ’s) consequential orders which will give an indication on the way forward.

This is according to GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, who in a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Sunday, explained that the Commission is slated to have its statutory meeting this week where the CCJ ruling will take precedence.

This meeting will come on the heels of both the Government and the Opposition submitting to the CCJ, their conditions and proposals as to how and when Guyana should forge ahead so as to have free and fair elections held as soon as possible.

Earlier this month, the house-to-house registration exercise came to a halt and Ward had explained that this delay did not necessarily mean that GECOM would have put aside the house-to-house registration process.

“I think what had initially happened was that the anticipated timeline to commence the field exercise was scheduled for June 1 [2019]. That was what we were looking at tentatively.

So, that did not happen but house-to-house registration is still on, just that it will start at a later time than anticipated,” she had said.

At that time, according to Ward, this process was expected to last for an average of three months.

“The exercise will commence sometime later this month. I do not have a definitive date as yet. The Commission is deliberating on a day to start the process.”

Prior to the CCJ’s ruling on June 18 last, the elections body was standing firm by its belief that the exercise is mandatory before the next General and Regional Elections are held.

In May, after the statutory meeting, Government-

nominated Commissioner Charles Corbin had disclosed that there were some procurement issues at the election secretariat which by extension would delay the process.

Nevertheless, Ward had previously told Guyana Times that the training of staff required for the exercise has been completed and they are now in the process of tidying up placements.

GECOM had planned to forge ahead with houseto-house registration, even when the country had been awaiting a ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the December 2018 passage of the Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion.

On the other hand, GECOM’s legal officer, Excellence Dazzell had contended that house-to-house registration is not necessary and advised that another less time-consuming process be utilised in accordance with the law to update the list.

She recommended that the electoral commission advise Chief Elections Office, Keith Lowenfield to set the machinery in place to extend the life of the voters’ list and as such did not see the need for a new voters’ list. But the lawyer’s advice was set aside by GECOM.

CCJ validated passage of Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion against Gov’t

On June 18, 2019, the CCJ threw out Government’s arguments and ruled that the No-

Confidence Motion that toppled it on December 21, 2018, was indeed validly passed.

Handing down the decision was CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, who read a summary of the final judgement. Justice Saunders said that the court found that 33, and not 34 as the Government and supporters have argued, was the majority the Opposition needed out of 65 Members of Parliament (MPs) to pass the Motion.

“The CCJ decided that the requirement for “a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly”, referred to a majority of the total number of votes or seats in the Assembly, irrespective of the number of members who actually vote.

In determining that majority, he added, the court was of the opinion that the “half plus one rule was not applicable”.

Justice Saunders informed the courtroom and viewing public that the majority was clearly at least 33 votes.

The CCJ also rejected arguments that former Alliance For Change (AFC) MP Charrandas Persaud was constrained from voting against his list, a major plank of the State’s case. Justice Saunders noted that nothing in the Constitution prevents a crossover vote and as such, his vote was and still is valid. The No-Confidence Motion, the CCJ decided, was validly passed.

Meanwhile, Justice Saunders informed that CCJ Judge Maureen Ragnauth-Lee had made the observation in her concurring judgement that the Constitution has to be clear regarding Persaud being prevented from voting against his list. She did not believe, as the Government argued, that such a provision was implicit.

On the matter of Persaud’s dual citizenship, Justice Saunders noted that the court had decided that had the Government really wanted Persaud out of the National Assembly

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) located in Kingston, Georgetown

on those grounds, it would have challenged his presence on the candidate list and eligibility to enter the National Assembly long before the vote – in fact, within a month of the coalition’s victory in 2015.

President gives mixed reactions about CCJ’s ruling

Meanwhile, President David Granger, in a public address soon after the announcement from the CCJ, claimed to respect the ruling. On the other hand, Granger went back to the position that house-to-house registration was still necessary, even though the activity would push elections back until after November 2019

and was advised against by GECOM’s own legal adviser.

“The Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Patterson, has previously informed me that the Commission will be ready to hold elections in November 2019. This will be after the completion of house-tohouse registration. I now await a recommendation for a specific date from GECOM and I will then issue a proclamation,” Granger said.

The list of electors, which was used as recently as the last Local Government Elections last year, only expired April month-end.

Further, legal arguments are that a simple and less

time-consuming Claims and Objections process can be embarked upon to update the list to ensure persons eligible to vote are registered.

This was, however, ignored by the President in his address.

Now that the motion has been validated, Article 106 (6) which states, “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence” should take effect, something which Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has been calling for since the passage of the Motion on December 21, 2018.

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Laxity on Govt’s transgressions

Sections of GPF treating issues in political fashion – Jagdeo

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

n light of People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira writing Police Commissioner Leslie James over recent comments made by Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in defiance of the CCJ ruling, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is confident that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will do what it is mandated to do.

But in the same breath, he stated that while he has confidence in the country’s security forces, there are attempts in certain quarters to treat issues in a “political fashion” especially when the Government is being accused of a crime.

“Anytime this Government breaks the law they just duck the issue or not pay attention [to] it. And then an attempt to magnify or expand anything that the Opposition remotely does not even as half as egregious as what they are doing to magnify those and to launch big probes etc into those.

So that is what I am worried about, the trend that is creeping in and it is confined to a few leaders of the Police Force that we know of,” the Opposition Leader told reporters at his recently held press briefing.

Jagdeo emphasised that actions are only being attributed to a few leaders and not the GPF by extension.

“Our policemen work hard. Many of them have issues and they have big concerns about what is going on in the GPF. There are individuals there who take direction, these are the people who have to be probed, a

Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into these individuals, they are the ones who are breaking down all the systems in there.”

Less than a week ago, in a letter to the Top Cop, Teixeira referenced media reports quoting the two officials while on a Government-sponsored outreach in Bartica.

She referenced Jordan’s call for citizens to be ready to protest for house-to-house registration. She also made reference to Jordan saying “war break” as he called for street protests.

Another reference was made to Jordan saying that regardless of the CCJ ruling, house-to-house registration must be carried out. Meanwhile, she referenced quotes attributed to Nagamootoo, in which he warned of “trouble” if houseto-house registration was not completed.

In her letter to Police Commissioner Leslie James, she reminded him of his calls on March 21 for Guyanese to remain calm and keep the peace. She also reminded him that he had warned at the time that persons breaching the law would be held accountable.

According to Teixeira, these statements are inciting and a threat to public order and safety.

“Your statement of March 21, 2019, is more relevant now than then, as we have now the rulings of the CCJ, the highest court, and we are all, therefore, expected to abide by the CCJ rulings that the No-Confidence Motion is valid and elections must be held within the shortest time,” Teixeira

wrote.

“I, therefore, call on you as Commissioner and the custodian of public safety and order to carry out your mandate vigorously and to publicly defend, preserve, and protect the rule of law and the Guyana Constitution in our nation.”

Since the ruling of the CCJ on Tuesday last, which stated that the APNU/ AFC Government was defeated by the Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion in December of last year, Jagdeo noted that the responses by the APNU/AFC coalition Government and President Granger have been in defiance and portray non-acceptance despite their public declarations and that the President is unwilling to act in accordance with the country’s laws.

The Constitution says that following the passage of the No-Confidence Motion,

the President and Cabinet must resign and elections held within three months of the Motion. That deadline elapsed since March 21, 2019, with Government having spent much of the time in court seeking to overturn the Motion rather than ensuring elections were held.

The latest Government official to join the bandwagon in publicly declaring non-acceptance of the powers of the CCJ is State Minister, Dawn HastingsWilliams, who on Friday rejected the CCJ’s appellate jurisdiction.

During a bizarre protest staged by several Government Ministers and a few A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters outside the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM’s) headquarters, where they were calling for house-to-house registration before elections are held,

GPF headquarters

Hastings-Williams voiced her blatant disregard for the CCJ as Guyana’s final court of appeal by saying that that court has no authority to issue any consequential orders today, since Guyana is an independent state with its own laws.

“GECOM is the only authoritative body that will inform the Government

whether they’re ready or not for elections. CCJ cannot rule, Guyana has its own institution. Guyana is an independent country with its own independent laws,” the Minister said.

Hastings was joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Karen Cummings, who also called for house-to-house registration before elections.

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monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Miss World Guyana contestants launch community to take Guyana in a digital direction

Influx of Venezuelans

UN meets with MoE to discuss language barrier K

Representatives from Voices GY presenting the findings from a study (MoE photo)

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he United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) recently presented the findings of a study conducted in Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini), to assess the situation which found that there is a need for infrastructural development, education and cultural reintegration among others.

The Education Ministry met with the team from Voices GY on Friday, where an assessment was conducted on behalf of the UNHCR. In a post on social media, the Ministry said, “The needs assessment focused primarily on education for Venezuelans and returning Guyanese in that region.

Some of the major issues that were highlighted today (Friday) following the study were the existence of a language barrier, cultural integration and infrastructure”.

“As such, recommendations were made by the UNHCR and the Voices GY representatives to address these issues so that there can be improved access and qual-

ity of education in the communities that are located in that region,” it added.

Meeting with the team were Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, Chief Education Officer (CEO), Marcel Hutson, Senior Secondary Education Officer, Ameer Ali and Technical Facilitator, Kerwin Jacobs.

The parties committed to future collaborations to fill the gaps and achieve their objectives in the education sector.

While there has been no formal request from the Guyana Government for funding, the United States (US) stands ready to provide aid to help with the influx of Venezuelan migrants here.

Currently, Guyana is benefiting from US funding through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the thousands of Venezuelans fleeing their homeland.

In March, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in-

jected some US$1.6 million into Trinidad and Tobago to assist with Venezuelans moving there.

Thus far in Guyana, there are approximately 5800 Venezuelan migrants – double the amount recorded six months ago – and this number is expected to increase daily.

On this note, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch noted that while the situation is not a “serious concern” to the Guyana Government as yet, it may soon become one due to the heightened influx of migrants from the neighbouring Spanish-speaking country.

“In the past, the majority of Venezuelans have been on the border. But a few weeks ago, there was a vessel with about 140 Venezuelans that came right into Georgetown.

So that is an indicator that maybe things are worsening a little bit,” she noted while adding that recently she met a Venezuelan working in a restaurant in Berbice, which is quite a long way from the border.

The current crisis engulfing Venezuela is now in its fifth consecutive year and according to a new United Nations report, almost a quarter of the once-wealthy South American nation’s population is in dire need of help, with a whopping 94 per cent of Venezuelans living in poverty.

International media reports say the internal report highlights that some seven million Venezuelans “or about 24 per cent of the total population currently living in the country are estimated to have urgent priority needs for assistance and protection”.

imberly Adams, a quarterfinalist in the Miss World Guyana 2020 competition, has officially launched her “Beauty with A Purpose” initiative, with the goal of transforming the digital landscape of Guyana.

The initiative, Future Guyana, was designed to tackle the issues of brain drain and lack of innovation in the country by establishing accelerator programmes geared towards providing equal and accessible opportunities in the information technology field.

“While education is a fundamental element in the overall path of progressing this sector, it is incomplete. Our students must be equipped with the appropriate resources and opportunities after the education leg”, Adams explained.

She further stated that the structure of the community is one that hopes to enforce social change by creating an initiative driv-

Kimberly Adams

en by the people. As such, she related that the Future Guyana community consists of two key elements: the resource network and volunteer network.

“The resource network is comprised of businesses and organisations willing to lend their resources and time towards our accelerator programmes. This may include office space, mentorship, equipment sharing and so forth. Our volunteer network is made up of like-minded individuals with a passion for the industry and a drive for change.

They have access to the resource network for assistance with designing and launching these accelerator programmes.”

The Future Guyana community has since established a few resource partners including Nexus Hub Inc, University of Guyana Robotics Club, Sites.gy and more.

“We look forward to expanding this network and developing well thought out programmes for our students and visionaries,” the Guyanese beauty stated.

Having worked in the Blockchain field for the past four years, Adams emphasised the socioeconomic impact technology can have on a country and she has since become an advocate for emerging technologies in developing nations.

More information about the Future Guyana community can be found by visiting www.futureguyana.com or www.facebook.com/futureguyana

Linden students undergo leadership and local democracy training - ahead of appointment of new junior Mayor

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Some of the youths who participated in the training

number of students from Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) recently received a two-day training in leadership and local democracy ahead of the appointment of a junior Mayor who will serve for the period 20192020.

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell said the aim was to strengthen and advance leadership, communication and fluency skills so that the youths can be better able to represent themselves and others on social platforms.

The Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) commenced the junior Mayor initiative in 2018 with 18-year-old Devon Beckles serving from 2018 up until now. This year, Arrindell noted, the junior Mayor will be chosen from Grade Six. “This year we’re working with the Grade 6 classes to choose the junior Mayor.

Last year we chose from the Secondary school, this year we want to choose the children who are now going over into Secondary school...”, the Mayor noted.

Beckles was also part of the training along with stu-

dents from other grades.

“We brought back in the junior Mayor and the team and we also took children from the Grade 10. We worked with every group on leadership, volunteerism, self-esteem development, local governance”, Arrindell said.

The junior Mayor project is expected to commence in July while the junior Mayor is expected to be chosen in the final week. According to Arrindell, $500,000 will be awarded to the successful junior Mayoral candidate to undertake a humanitarian project.

“Like something within the schools – if they see children without shoes, children without textbooks, something humanitarian.

And then we’re hoping to do a community project”, she stated.

Arrindell also noted that the outgoing junior Mayor will be working alongside others to spruce up the aesthetics of the cenotaph at Mackenzie, Linden.

Likewise, she noted that it is expected that the new junior Mayor also undertakes a community enhancement project.

Asked about the success of the junior mayoral initiative, Arrindell said the outgoing junior Mayor would have benefited greatly. She noted that two of the key aspects learned was the spirit of volunteerism and participation. Arrindell pointed out that the outgoing junior Mayor would have donated finances towards the development of a “space” at his school which had been in a deplorable state.

“I think one of the things we would have seen is the junior Mayor’s development in terms of how he’s now able to present himself... we’ve seen an improvement in terms of how he’s now able to write and articulate, in terms of development of self-esteem to be more effective in the community. That is something that we wanted to see - where the person would develop overall to be able to become a leader in their community and I think for that I would say that it was successful”, she noted.

Arrindell added that the outgoing junior Mayor was also able to attend Council meetings and give suggestions as it relates to the community’s youth.

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monday, JUNE 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana participates in EITI Global Conference 2019

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delegation led by Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman represented Guyana at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) 2019 Global Conference which was held on June 18 and 19, 2019, in Paris, France.

The conference was held under the theme “Open Data, Build Trust” and aimed to reinforce the importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue and openness in addressing challenges, provide an opportunity to discuss emerging trends and best practices in the good governance of natural resources, and examine the role of the EITI in the good management of the extractive sector among others.

At the conference, Guyana was lauded for its success and steady progress made since 2016 and invited

Minister Raphael Trotman (centre) and members of the Guyana Delegation – Gomin Comache, Diane Barker and Dr Rudy Jadoopat (to the right); Gillian Pollard and Shondell France (to the left) at the conference

to be a member of a global network on contract transparency that is being spearheaded by Mexico.

At the conference, the delegation showcased Guyana’s progress towards EITI implementation at a booth and during a country

pitch session where members shared highlights from Guyana’s first EITI report and fielded questions from the audience.

The delegation also made good use of the opportunity to network with representatives from countries

in the region as well as internationally.

Trotman was also one of the main speakers at an executive session themed “Opening Contracts 2021 Ensuring a Good Deal” along with Doto Biteko, Minister of Mines, Tanzania and rep-

resentatives from Indonesia and the Philippines as well as Total and Publish What You Pay (PWYP).

During his remarks, Minister Trotman noted some of the underlying challenges of contract disclosure and candidly shared Guyana’s experience in this regard. The Minister went on to state that though Government was initially resistant to public disclosure of petroleum contracts particularly due to security and sovereignty concerns, in hindsight, the decision to do so was in the overall best interest of both the state and populace.

He further emphasised the strong commitment of HE President David Granger and the Government, to open and better governance and the Government’s continued quest to ensure that the te-

nets and principles of the EITI are firmly rooted in Guyana before ‘first oil’ in 2020.

Guyana’s objective of pursuing an accelerated procedure for acceding to the EITI standard was affirmed by the Cabinet in November 2016 following the discovery of petroleum and has progressed steadily with the formation of the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG), the submission of an application for formal membership, the acceptance of that application, and most recently, the completion of the first country report for fiscal year 2017.

The Government of Guyana remains committed to promoting transparency in the natural resources sector for the benefit of all Guyanese and to supporting initiatives that build the capacity of stakeholders.

US prods Iran for talks to US State Senators being ease Gulf tensions; Tehran hunted by Police dismisses sanctions threat

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not seeking war with Tehran after a senior Iranian military commander warned any conflict in the Gulf region could spread uncontrollably and threaten the lives of US troops

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S President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not seeking war with Tehran after a senior Iranian military commander warned any conflict in the Gulf region could spread uncontrollably and threaten the lives of US troops.

Tensions remain high between longtime foes Iran and the United States after Trump said on Friday that he called off a military strike to retaliate for Iran’s downing of an unmanned

US drone out of concern it would have been a disproportionate response.

“I’m not looking for war,” Trump said on NBC’s Meet the Press programme.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeated to reporters on Sunday that Washington wanted talks with Tehran.

“We’re prepared to negotiate with no preconditions,” he said. “They know precisely how to find us. I am confident that at the very moment they’re ready to truly

engage with us, we’ll be able to begin these conversations. I’m looking forward to that day.”

Pompeo also said “significant” sanctions on Iran would be announced today aimed at further choking off resources that Tehran uses to fund its activities in the region.

“We are going to deny them the resources they need to do that, thereby keeping American interests and American people safe all around the world,” Pompeo said before leaving to travel for talks on Iran with US allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Another source of regional tension is the war in Yemen –- Yemen’s Iranbacked Houthi group killed one person and wounded seven on Sunday in an attack on a civilian airport in Saudi Arabia. A Westernbacked Sunni Muslim coalition led by the Saudis and the UAE intervened in Yemen in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government that was ousted from power by the Houthis in late 2014.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The state’s Governor has tasked state troopers with finding the absentees

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leven Republican senators from the state of Oregon are in hiding.

They walked out of Salem’s Capitol building on Thursday and State Police have been given authorisation to track them down.

This bizarre series of events has unfolded amid a deep rift between the state’s rival parties.

Oregon’s Democrats, who have a clear Senate majority, want to pass landmark climate change legislation.

Local Republicans have fled to stop that happening.

This weekend, the state capitol had to shut down al-

together amid apparent security threats from militia groups.

Oregon Democrats are trying to become the second US state to pass an ambitious “cap and trade” climate plan.

House Bill 2020 would set overall limits on state carbon emissions, with permits or allowances auctioned off to polluting industries.

The plan aims to encourage businesses to switch to green technology, with the goal of slashing emissions to 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.

Under it, petrol and die-

sel prices are expected to go up. Republicans say these changes will disproportionally affect rural Oregonians, like farm workers and loggers. They argue the plan should be referred to a state-wide ballot so “every Oregonian has a voice”.

Democrats hold 18 of the 30 seats in the State Senate, but 20 Senators have to be present for a vote to take place.

On Thursday, the 11 Republicans who currently hold seats failed to show up for floor proceedings after negotiations broke down, blocking the legislation’s progress.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Australian children of militants rescued from Syria camp

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ight children, including six taken by their Australian parents to join the Islamic State (IS) group, have been evacuated from a Syrian refugee camp.

The group includes three orphaned children of notorious Australian militant Khaled Sharrouf.

The Government were able to evacuate the children in secret in conjunction with aid groups, Australian media say.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed they had been freed from a “bleak and complicated’’ situation.

“The fact that parents put their

children into harm’s way by taking them into a war zone was a despicable act,’’ Morrison said. “However, children should not be punished for the crimes of their parents.”

He added that the decision had not been made “lightly”.

“Australia’s national security and the safety of our people and

personnel have always been our most important considerations in this matter,” he said.

Earlier this year he insisted he would not endanger lives to extract Australians from camps.

Five children of Sharrouf were taken to Syria in 2014 by their mother, Tara Nettleton. She had

followed her husband who had left months before on his brother’s passport.

Sharrouf became notorious for graphic photographs he shared online from the warzone – including of his young children with weapons and one holding a severed head.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, JUNE 24, 2019

Regional

Thousands attend funeral of former Jamaican PM Seaga

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he life of former Prime Minister Edward Phillip George Seaga was colourfully remembered in tributes and songs at a State funeral service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston on Sunday.

Dignitaries from Jamaica and across the Caribbean, along with ordinary Jamaicans, descended on the venue giving glowing tributes to Seaga, who was Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1980 to 1989 and led the Jamaica Labour Party from 1974 until 2005.

Among the titles bestowed on Seaga during the service were “Caribbean Icon”, “Titanic Warrior”,

Prime Minister Andrew Holness gives his tribute to late former Prime Minister Edward Seaga at a State funeral service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston on Sunday (Photo: Andrew Holness Facebook)

“Visionary”, “Best Minister of Finance” and “West Kingston Transformer”.

These came via trib-

utes from Grenada Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell; former Jamaica Prime Minister Percival James

(PJ) Patterson; Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness; Seaga’s cousin Metry Seaga; and Member

lutching a rock as she struggled to escape battering waves and strong currents, Radha Jugoon watched in dismay as her 13-year-old son drowned in the sea while swimming along the Morne Diablo Beach on Saturday.

The body of Nicholas Maharaj, 13, a student of Fyzabad Composite, was found lodged between two rocks around 13:30h, more than an hour after he disappeared. Police said Maharaj and his parents, Jugoon, 43, and Pran Chaitram, 60, went to the beach with a neigh-

bour Kamla Rambharan, when tragedy struck.

Recalling the incident, Jugoon said she was reluctant to go in the water, but her son encouraged her saying she should have some fun. While swimming, the currents caused them to drift towards some rocks.

Jugoon said when she realised they were drifting she began calling out to her friend, who was swimming closer to Maharaj.

“I said Mala, don’t go there. Get out of the water. You going too deep. She started to call me loudly and

of Parliament for the constituency of West Kingston, Desmond McKenzie.

All said that Seaga was misunderstood as a result of his outward persona, as they shared the softer side of the former Prime Minister they got to know outside of the political spotlight.

Patterson said that, while they were political rivals, Seaga was a “titanic warrior” who had the will to succeed at whatever he did.

He said Jamaicans should put aside political divisions to applaud Seaga’s “monumental contribution” to Jamaica.

He hailed Seaga’s contribution to sports, culture and

music, the latter of which he said Seaga helped by developing the indigenous art form of the country.

According to Mitchell, Grenadians are grateful for Seaga’s role in the 1983 invasion of Grenada that toppled the Government of Marxist revolutionary Maurice Bishop, which had overthrown elected officials in a coup.

Mitchell said Seaga’s support for Grenada was epitomised by his attendance of the official ceremony for the elected government in 1984 after the invasion and he remained a friend of the country until his death. (Excerpt from loopslu.com)

Nicholas Maharaj

that was when we started to get into problems. I see her holding my son’s hands and then she let him go. The waves threw us against the rocks. I thought I was going to die. I see my son by the rocks and then he went down and did not come back up,” she said.

Rambharan managed to fight the waves and she made it to shore.

Chaitram who was sitting on a hillside watching their food said he realised something was wrong when he saw them drifting. (Excerpt

2 more border cities added 13-year-old boy drowns in Trinidad to US-Mexico asylum C programme – sources

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S-bound asylum seekers will be sent back to at least two additional Mexican border cities later this week to wait for their claims to be processed, officials said, with one of the cities in a region that is among Mexico’s most chaotic and violent.

The policy known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), or Remain in Mexico, will be implemented later this week in Nuevo Laredo in the northern state of Tamaulipas, which borders Texas, said two Mexican officials with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be identified.

Tamaulipas is home to the Gulf and Zeta cartels that include people-smuggling and kidnapping among their criminal activities.

One of the Mexican officials said the policy would also be expanded to San Luis Rio Colorado in the northern state of Sonora, which

borders Arizona. Mexican newspaper Reforma reported immigration official Julio César Navarro Contreras as saying San Luis Rio Colorado was on the list.

The latest expansion follows high-stakes negotiations to fend off trade tariffs.

US President Donald Trump had threatened the tariffs to push Mexico to do more to stop migrants from Central America and beyond from reaching US soil, after a sharp spike in numbers this year.

As part of the deal struck earlier this month to remove the tariff threat, Mexico agreed for MPP to apply to the whole length of the border, but capacity issues on both sides have slowed implementation.

Under the deal, Mexico has also deployed a new militarised National Guard police force to detain migrants.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

from Trinidad Guardian)

Barbados set to break record

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arbados is well on the way to another record year in tourist arriv-

als.

This was announced by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) William Griffith, as he delivered remarks during the BTMI/BA Breakfast Tradeshow and Seminar Friday morning at Sandals Royal.

“Barbados is on track for

another record year, already reporting 324,551 arrivals for 2019; which is four per cent above the same period for 2018,” he said.

This year, British Airways celebrates its 100th anniversary and 65 years of service to Barbados, and Griffith believes that in many ways, BA’s successes have been Barbados’.

“We appreciate the integral role they’ve played in our island’s tourism success

story. We all know that as a tourism destination, one of the key facilitators of growth is air capacity. And for 65 years, British Airways has been bringing visitors to our shores from our number one source market – the UK,” he said.

“Last year alone, 225, 519 of our 681,197 visitor arrivals came from the UK, representing 33 per cent market share. This share from the UK market alone

contributes approximately US$400 million in visitor expenditure to the island annually.”

For the past three years, he noted that the BTMI UK team, led by Cheryl Carter, has been able to help grow the overall air capacity by over 10 per cent and they are projecting a capacity growth of just under five per cent out of the UK market for 2019. (Excerpt from Barbadian Advocate)

Antigua: Popular DJ gets bail for 3 men shot dead, 12-year-old attempting to run over girlfriend among injured in Portmore vehicle.

Justice Stanley John granted the 39-year-old bail in the amount of EC$60,000 with a cash component of EC$10,000.

The incident which led to Graham being remanded to the Her Majesty’s Prison allegedly took place on June 9 in Bendals, Antigua. (Antigua Observer)

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hree men were shot dead and two other people injured by unknown assailants on Maryland Road in Waterford, Portmore, St Catherine Saturday, June 22, the Police are reporting.

The deceased have been identified as: 30-year-old Nicholas Douglas, otherwise called “Shane”, of Hopewell Road; 19-yearold Brandon Beckford of Bianca Way, and 37-year-old Marlon Boothe of Maryland Road, all of Waterford, Portmore.

A 12-year-old boy and the other man who

was injured in the shooting remain hospitalised.

Reports from the Major Investigation Division are that the males were among a group of people playing games along the pathway about 21:25h. They were allegedly approached by armed men who opened gunfire. The victims were taken to hospital where Douglas, Beckford and Boothe were pronounced dead and the two injured individuals were admitted in stable condition.

(Jamaica Observer)

Cancer crisis in Caribbean Arnold Graham, also known as DJ Nez

A

rnold Graham, a popular disc jockey, music teacher, and photographer, was granted bail in a High Court hearing on Friday.

Last week, Graham was remanded to prison after he was charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to run his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend over with his

B

ased on data up to 2018, the number of cancer cases in the Caribbean is projected to increase significantly in the near future.

According to GLOBOCAN estimates, cases will rise to 53,500 in men with 33,100 deaths – in women, the incidence will increase to 50,300 with 27,700 deaths. And adults are not the only ones

who will suffer.

Derived from cancer registry data, the number of annual cases of childhood cancer is projected to increase – in Trinidad and Tobago to 40, Jamaica to 90, The Bahamas to 14, Cuba to 275, Haiti to 520, and the Dominican Republic to 420.

Other countries would also see increases although they are expected to remain in

the single digits.

In addition, using the current rate, the International Agency for Research on Cancer estimated that in 20 years, the number of new cancer cases will increase from approximately 114,000 to 160,000 in 2040. Again at the same rate, mortality due to cancer would increase from 61,000 to 102,000. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, JUNE 24, 2019

17

Around the World

Ethiopia Army Chief India rejects US report on attacks on minority Muslims shot dead in ‘coup

I

ndia on Sunday rejected a US State Department’s annual report on religious freedom that raised questions about the Government’s inability to curb violent attacks on the country’s minority Muslims.

Preparing for a visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, India’s Foreign Ministry issued a stiff rejoinder to the US criticism.

“India is proud of its secular credentials, its status as the largest democracy and a pluralistic society with a longstanding commitment to tolerance and inclusion,” Raveesh Kumar, the Ministry’s spokesman, said in a statement.

The State Department report, released on Friday, said some senior officials from Prime Minister

Raveesh Kumar, spokesman for the Indian Foreign Ministry, speaks during a media briefing in New Delhi, India, February 27, 2019

Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last year had made “inflammatory speeches” against religious minorities.

Kumar said India’s Constitution guarantees

fundamental rights and religious freedom of all citizens, including its minority communities. Muslims make up 14 per cent of India’s 1.3 billion people.

The US State Department report exam-

ined attacks on minorities during 2018.

“Mob attacks by violent extremist Hindu groups against minority communities, especially Muslims, continued throughout the year amid rumours that victims had traded or killed cows for beef,” the report said.

It also noted reports by Non-Governmental Organisations that the Government sometimes failed to act on mob attacks on religious minorities, marginalised communities, and critics of the Government.

While in New Delhi, Pompeo is expected to hold talks aimed at laying the ground for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Modi during a Group of 20 summit in Japan later next week. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Turkey’s Opposition wins rerun of Istanbul’s mayoral vote

I

n a major blow to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate Ekrem Imamoglu has declared victory in the rerun of Istanbul’s mayoral election, after initial results showed he was set for a clear win.

Imamoglu had won 54 per cent of votes with almost all of the ballot boxes opened on Sunday, with the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) candidate trailing on 45 per cent and conceding defeat.

Imamoglu promised a “new beginning” for Turkey’s largest city and com-

mercial hub.

His opponent, former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, conceded defeat after initial results showed he was set to lose by a decisive margin.

CHP’s projected win in the Istanbul election ends the 17-year rule by the AK Party in the metropolis.

The Istanbul mayoral election was first held on March 31, when Imamoglu secured 48.8 per cent of the vote, while the AK Party’s Yildirim held 48.55 per cent, granting Imamoglu the title of Mayor with a razor-thin margin.

The AK Party proceeded to file an “extraordinary objection” to the re-

sults, leading the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) to annul the results and schedule Sunday’s rerun.

To ensure no “illegal wrongdoings” were made in Istanbul’s mayoral rerun, various independent mechanisms have been implemented, in order to monitor the voting and counting process.

For example, at the call of the CHP, lawyers from across Turkey volunteered their time to travel to Istanbul in order to counter election fraud.

One lawyer was appointed to each voting booth set up in nearly 2000 polling stations across the city. (Excerpt from Al

bid’ attacks

T

he chief of staff of the Ethiopian army, Gen Seare Mekonnen, has been shot dead by his own bodyguard in the capital, Addis Ababa.

He and another officer died trying to prevent a coup attempt against the Administration in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region, PM Abiy Ahmed said.

In Amhara itself, regional governor Ambachew Mekonnen was killed along with an adviser.

The Government said the situation is under control after arrests were made.

Gen Seare was killed on Saturday evening at his residence along with another general, Gezai Abera, by the bodyguard who is now in custody, the Prime Minister’s press office said.

The Government said it has reason to think the attack was linked to the assassination of the governor of Amhara a few hours earlier in the region’s capital, Bahir

Dar. Ambachew was killed at a meeting in his office along with his senior adviser, Ezez Wasie, while the region’s attorney general was wounded.

Lake Ayalew has now been appointed as the region’s acting governor.

The Prime Minister’s office accused Amhara’s regional security chief, BrigGen Asaminew Tsige, of plotting the coup attempt.

It is unclear whether he has been arrested.

Many of those involved in the coup attempt are under arrest and operations are in progress to detain others, the PM’s press office said.

The Mayor of Addis Ababa, Takele Uma, has said life will resume as normal today and he called on the city’s public employees to go to work as usual.

Safety and security would be maintained in the capital, he promised. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Kushner’s economic plan for Mideast peace faces broad Arab rejection

Jazeera)

Pompeo says hopes Trump letter to North Korean leader can restart talks

U

S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that he hopes a letter sent by President Donald Trump to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un can pave the way for new talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear programme.

Pompeo, who confirmed Trump’s letter to Kim before departing Washington on a trip to the Middle East, said

that the United States was ready to resume talks with North Korea immediately.

Earlier North Korea’s state-run news agency KCNA said Kim had described the letter as being “of excellent content” but did not disclose any details about Trump’s message.

US-North Korea talks stalled after a failed summit in February between Trump and the North Korean lead-

er in Hanoi, Vietnam.

A US official said on Wednesday the United States had no pre-conditions for new talks, but that progress would require meaningful and verifiable North Korean steps to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Asked if working-level discussions between the countries would begin soon, Pompeo said: “I think the remarks you saw out of North

Korea this morning suggest that may well be a very good possibility. We’re ready to go, we’re literally prepared to go at a moment’s notice if the North Koreans indicate that they’re prepared for those discussions.”

Trump leaves for Asia later this week for the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, and meetings with South Korean President Moon Jaein Seoul. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Czech Republic protests: Andrej Babis urged to quit as PM

H

undreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Prague demanding that PM Andrej Babis resign.

Babis is facing a criminal investigation over alleged fraud, and is also the subject of an EU conflict-of-interest investigation. He denies the allegations.

It is said to be the largest protest since the fall of communism in 1989.

The Prime Minister is facing a criminal investigation in the Czech Republic for alleged abuse of €2 million in EU subsidies over 10 years ago.

The Prime Minister has denied all the claims made against him

Police say they are investigating accusations that Babis hid his ownership of a farm and conference centre known as “Stork Nest” (Capi hnizdo in Czech) so that it could qualify for an EU subsidy designed to help small businesses.

The billionaire is also the subject of an EU conflict-of-interest investigation over his Agrofert conglomerate, which he transferred to two trust funds shortly before he came to power in 2017.

However, a European Commission draft report leaked earlier this month found that Babis was still

profiting from the group. The report determined that he should return about 451 million Czech koruna (€17.5 million; £15.5 million) in subsidies.

A day after police advised that the state prosecutor file charges against him, the Minister of Justice was changed.

Demonstrators argue that the new Minister of Justice, Marie Benesova, is too close to Babis. The 71-year-old previously voted against a request from the police to strip Babis of parliamentary immunity.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Jared Kushner’s Middle East peace plan has been rejected by the Palestinian leadership

A

rab politicians and commentators greeted US President Donald Trump’s Middle East $50 billion economic vision with a mixture of derision and exasperation, although some in the Gulf called for it to be given a chance.

Set to be presented by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner at a conference in Bahrain on June 25-26, the blueprint envisions a global investment fund to lift the Palestinian and neighbouring Arab economies and is part of broader efforts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

“We don’t need the Bahrain meeting to build our country, we need peace, and the sequence of (the plan) — economic revival followed by peace is unrealistic and an illusion,” Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bishara said on Sunday.

The lack of a political solution, which Washington has said would be unveiled

later, prompted rejection not only from Palestinians but also in Arab countries with which Israel would seek normal relations.

From Sudan to Kuwait, commentators and ordinary citizens denounced Kushner’s proposals in strikingly similar terms: “colossal waste of time,” “non-starter,” “dead on arrival.”

Egyptian liberal and leftist parties slammed the workshop as an attempt to “consecrate and legitimise” occupation of Arab land and said in a joint statement that any Arab participation would be “beyond the limits of normalisation” with Israel.

The Palestinian Authority is boycotting the Bahrain meeting, saying only a political solution will solve the problem. It said Kushner’s “abstract promises” were an attempt to bribe Palestinians into accepting Israeli occupation. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

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monday, JUNE 24, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

SUDOKU

Saturday’s WORD

Go over your options and consider what’s in your best interest. If change is what you want, make sure your motives are based on more than your desire to make a point.

Home and self-improvements are featured.

Promote positive change and cost-efficient options.

Get approval before you begin certain projects.

Keep tabs on what others are doing or saying.

Someone may try to undermine you or take credit for something you did. Stay in the loop to avoid being left out.

Update your resume or look for options that will allow you to use your skills creatively. Take hold of your life and nurture important relationships.

Take a look at what’s going on around you before you start something new.

Being aware of what others want will help you avoid an unexpected and unwanted reaction.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Positive change can be made. Call in help for a difficult domestic or personal situation. Stay positive and push forward.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

There is much going on that you aren’t aware of. Before you make a decision, find out how others feel about your concerns and plans.

SCORPIO

Participate in something you believe in. Your intuition will help you find a robust solution. If you use your power of persuasion, you’ll have an impact on the changes that take place.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

You’ll be deprived of the recognition you want. Keep a low profile and stay out of the line of fire. This is not the time to exaggerate or be misleading.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

You will be anxious to get on with your plans. Your vision will inspire others to contribute, turning your idea into a bigger and better project than you anticipated. A partnership looks promising.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Deal with issues that concern home, family or health. How you handle your time and money will affect the way others react to the choices you make.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Refuse to let an emotional incident lead you astray.

Too much of anything will be counterproductive. Focus on what’s doable and what has the potential to make a difference.

monday, JUNE 24, 2019

19

Haris blitz ends South Africa’s World Cup dream

A

n inspired, back-to-thewall performance from Pakistan has knocked South Africa out of the 2019 World Cup. Pakistan let sense prevail in their selections

Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan struck repeatedly to overcome their top order and ensure this would not be a historic occasion for South

Mohammad Amir is elated after dismissing the set Faf du Plessis

for this game, and a rejigged XI collected a vital 49-run victory. Haris Sohail, drafted in place of Shoaib Malik, showed just what Pakistan had been missing by blasting 89 of the most sublimely-timed runs so far witnessed in this tournament.

His innings added further impetus after an 81-run opening stand between Imamul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman, and glued Pakistan’s middle together alongside Babar Azam, who contributed 69.

Haris then added 71 with Imad Wasim (with Imad contributing just 23, mostly at the other end); and, thanks to his nine fours and three sixes, Pakistan were able to take 91 from the last 10, and soar to 308 for 7.

South Africa have never successfully chased 300-plus in a World Cup; the highest total they’ve ever overhauled is India’s 296 in Nagpur in 2011.

And they haven’t chased a 300plus target in any ODI in nearly three years, the last time being against Australia in Durban in October 2016.

it was Shadab who pressed the issue with two vital strikes in the space of four overs. First, he had a slogging Quinton de Kock caught at midwicket just shy of a third World Cup fifty, and then he bowled a clueless Aiden Markram, whose struggles against quality spin continued.

When Markram fell, South Africa were 103 for 3, needing well over seven an over; and Shadab had 2 for 17, including a wicket maiden. He ended with 3 for 50, having also had an increasingly desperate Rassie van der Dussen caught by Hafeez off a slogged top edge. This

Pakistan celebrating their win over South Africa

Africa; and a reverse-swinging, low-armed Wahab Riaz then did what he does best -skittling the lower order at the death, with the required rate skyrocketing.

Amir finished with 2 for 49, taking his World Cup tally to 15 dismissals, which is the combined haul of Jofra Archer and Mitchell Starc, who have both played one more game than he has. He has almost as many as his team-mates have taken in total, and more than anyone else.

While it was Amir who made the first decision, troubling Hashim Amla’s front pad with a first-over in-dipper,

represents Shadab’s best figures of the tournament, and they are numbers which marked a timely turnaround.

Before today, Shadab was averaging a whopping 53.9 in ODIs this year, and Pakistan’s spinners were leaking 75.3 runs per wicket in the middle overs of this World Cup, comfortably the worst for any spin unit. But, on a tufty, dry Lord’s surface, both he and Imad found encouragement, and combined to take 3 wickets for 98 runs from 20 overs.

South Africa found no respite at the other end. The spirit went out of their chase when Faf du Plessis’s last stand

was cut short by Amir when Faf was on 63. He had scrapped his way to 50, but the required rate was nearing 8.5, thanks to the good work of the spinners, and something had to give.

Sarfaraz brought Amir back, and with his third ball, he

ensured S o u t h A f r i c a ’s captain would not go down with his ship by inducing a steepling top edge that just about touched the gloomy clouds that had settled over St John’s Wood, before plummeting back down to be easily pouched

by Sarfaraz.

David Miller, having earlier tweaked his hamstring in the field, hobbled to the crease in a cacophony of sound, as Pakistan’s fans, who packed the stands, sensed victory. He and van der Dussen swung gamely to add another 53 for the fifth wicket; but, with every over, the asking rate climbed.

With 15 overs to go and South Africa needing almost ten an over, all Pakistan had to do was stick to the basics: keep it tight, and let scoreboard pressure do the rest. But Pakistan aren’t a team who like to make things simple for themselves, and several lapses in the field repeatedly let South Africa off the hook and back into the game. In total, no less than six chances were grassed

Roger Federer wins 10th Halle title with victory over David Goffin

R

oger Federer got his Wimbledon preparations off to the perfect start by claiming a record-extending 10th title at the Halle grass-court event.

The Swiss, 20-time Grand Slam champion, beat Belgium’s David Goffin 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 to win a 102nd career title.

Chasing a ninth Wimbledon title next month, Federer was made to work in the earlier rounds, but dominated the final.

“It’s unbelievable! I never thought, when I first played here, that I would win 10 titles,” the 37-year-old said.

It is the first time Federer has reached double figures at one tournament, with eight at the Dubai Open and Wimbledon, and nine at his home event in Basel. This latest title comes after a French Open run in which he was defeated by eventual champion Rafael Nadal in the semifinals.

And the Swiss said his and Nadal’s success, as well as that

of 15-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, limit opportunities for younger players. “As long as me, Rafa a n d Novak are around, it is not going to be easy for a young guy to come up and dominate,” he said.

“Maybe it would be good for the sport if they did; I don’t know. People seem to like it as it is,” he said.

Federer had been taken to three sets by Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the last 16 and Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarter-finals at Halle.

But after a tight first set, he was handed a break in the first game of the second set when Goffin double-faulted on break point.

(BBC Sport)

Roger Federer won his first Halle title in 2003

a

s

South Africa went down swinging -yet more evidence that Pakistan’s standards in the field have dipped since Steve Rixon’s departure.

But, today, there was enough brilliance with the ball to make up for it. Shadab saw the back of van der Dussen; Miller missed a swipe at Shaheen Afridi and was bowled; and Wahab did the business of scything through the lower order.

Andile Faf du Plessis scored a resistant 63 in a losing effort

Phehlukwayo, playing a lone hand, was 46 not out, and South Africa’s campaign whimpered to a close as Pakistan’s was kept alive with a vital win.

There was also, for a change, plenty of brilliant batting to go around. Pakistan’s batting has lacked a centurymaker in this World Cup -unlike the teams that currently occupy the top four points on the table -- and no one made a hundred today either, but a far more fluent performance from

the top order ultimately gave the bowlers the sort of total they need to put the squeeze on in the second innings.

Imam kicked things off at a good lick, showing that his cover driving is in excellent working order, and outscoring Fakhar Zaman in the early exchanges. Though neither reached fifty, Imran Tahir rolling back the years to dismiss both of them for 44 (including a remarkable one-handed stunner off his own bowling), Babar Azam was soon ticking, and helped to weather the loss of Mohammad Hafeez for 20.

But the innings really belonged to Haris, who walked to the crease with intent, and batted with the same vim, bursting out of the blocks with two fours and a six in his first 10 balls. While Babar raised a mid-tempo, 61-ball fifty at the other end, Haris showed he had all the shots.

Crisp through the off-side, and particularly behind point, he was increasingly brutal to leg. A ramped uppercut brought him a 38-ball fifty, his first in World Cup cricket, and he just kept accelerating. A second six was chipped over Duminy’s head at long off, while a third was slogged over midwicket.

Ngidi pulled things back a little with an exemplary final over, dismissing Wahab with his first ball and Haris with his fifth, but by then the damage had been done. Pakistan had a total which inspired them to believe, while South Africa’s chase lacked belief almost throughout. (Excerpted from ESPNCricinfo)

3

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan Innings (50 overs maximum) Imam-ul-Haq c & b Imran Tahir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Fakhar Zaman c Amla b Imran Tahir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Babar Azam c Ngidi b Phehlukwayo . . . . . . . . . 69 Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Markram . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Haris Sohail c †de Kock b Ngidi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Imad Wasim c sub (JP Duminy) b Ngidi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Wahab Riaz b Ngidi . . . . . . 4 Sarfaraz Ahmed (c) † not out . 2 Shadab Khan not out . . . . . 1 Extras (lb 6, nb 1, w 5) . . . . 12 TOTAL 308/7 (50 Overs, RR: 6.16) Did not bat: Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi Fall of wickets: 1-81 (Fakhar Zaman, 14.5 ov), 2-98 (Imamul-Haq, 20.3 ov), 3-143 (Mohammad Hafeez, 29.6 ov), 4-224 (Babar Azam, 41.2 ov), 5-295 (Imad Wasim, 47.6 ov), 6-304 (Wahab Riaz, 49.1 ov), 7-307 (Haris Sohail, 49.5 ov) BOWLING: K Rabada 10-0-650, L Ngidi 9-0-64-3, CH Morris 9-0-61-0, AL Phehlukwayo 8-0-49-1, Imran Tahir 10-041-2, AK Markram 4-0-22-1

South Africa Innings (target: 309 runs from 50 overs) HM Amla lbw b Mohammad Amir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Q de Kock † c Imam-ul-Haq b Shadab Khan . . . . . . . . . 47 AK Markram b Shadab Khan . 7 HE van der Dussen c Mohammad Hafeez b Shadab Khan . . . . 36 DA Miller b Shaheen Shah Afridi . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 AL Phehlukwayo not out . . . 46 CH Morris b Wahab Riaz . . . 16 K Rabada b Wahab Riaz . . . . 3 L Ngidi b Wahab Riaz . . . . . 1 Imran Tahir not out . . . . . . 1 Extras (lb 1, w 5) . . . . . . . . 6 TOTAL 259/9 (50 Overs, RR: 5.18) Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Hashim Amla, 1.1 ov), 2-91 (Quinton de Kock, 19.2 ov), 3-103 (Aiden Markram, 23.1 ov), 4-136 (Faf du Plessis, 29.3 ov), 5-189 (Rassie van der Dussen, 39.4 ov), 6-192 (David Miller, 40.5 ov), 7-222 (Chris Morris, 44.2 ov), 8-239 (Kagiso Rabada, 46.5 ov), 9-246 (Lungi Ngidi, 48.2 ov) BOWLING: Mohammad Hafeez 2-0-11-0, Mohammad Amir 101-49-2, Shaheen Shah Afridi 8-0-54-1, Imad Wasim 10-048-0, Wahab Riaz 10-0-463 Shadab Khan 10-1-50-3

20

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monday, JUNE 24, 2019

Dominant Lewis Hamilton wins

French Grand Prix as Vettel slips back A

lmost unchallenged after the first corner of the French Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton put in a dominant performance to seal victory. With his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas taking second, the team ensured that they obtain another onetwo finish and record their eighth consecutive win this season.

Ferrari were effectively in a different race. Charles Leclerc managed to come in third, ahead of the Red Bull of Max Verstappen; and Sebastian Vettel came in fifth, having started from seventh on the grid.

Hamilton led from pole with a consummate, if not entirely thrilling, display of control from the very front.

He finished a full 18 seconds ahead of Bottas, with Leclerc 19 sec behind.

Vettel secured the fastest lap of the race.

Hamilton’s 79th career victory is his second in a row at Paul Ricard.

Mercedes, who took their first F1 win at the French Grand Prix in Reims with Juan Manuel Fangio in 1954, were in control all weekend, and Hamilton was able to turn the dominance he showed in qualifying into a fearsome performance in race pace.

Hamilton now has six wins from eight meetings this season, including the last four in a row. That more

are to follow this season seems inevitable. He has extended his lead over Bottas to 36 points in the world championship, while Vettel has fallen 76 points behind.

The initial charge that Bottas had made to open the season looks to be faltering in the face of Hamilton’s once more coming in to his own. After qualifying, Hamilton had suggested he would only be getting stronger; and, on this form, it is hard to disagree with him. In another display of precision driving, he did not allow his teammate a look-in across the 53 laps.

Vettel, who qualified poorly, and Leclerc managed to maximise what they could with a car that was demonstrably not as quick though the corners, despite making time back in the two big straights. As things stand, and as Hamilton had suggested on Saturday, the title fight is at best now a two-horse race between the British driver and his teammate.

Hamilton held his lead from Bottas into turn one, with the Finn just holding off Leclerc to maintain second. Verstappen had a mighty look at Leclerc into turn two, but could not quite get his nose in front, and the front four held their grid positions to the end of the first lap.

Carlos Sainz went round the outside

Bangladesh out to keep slim qualification hopes alive

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fghanistan have manoeuvred themselves into a winning position twice in this World Cup, but on both occasions they have managed to lose.

In Cardiff, against Sri Lanka, they were in pursuit of a manageable chase of just 201.

On Saturday, against India in Southampton, they were 166-5, needing just 47 more runs.

Both times they couldn’t quite finish the job, when both times they probably should have done. Their World Cup campaign could have been in a vastly different place if they could have held their nerve.

As it is, they are without a win from six matches, and on Monday they face an inform Bangladesh team at the Hampshire Bowl, with Bangladesh still having a faint hope of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s men have lost to New Zealand, England and Australia, but have beaten West Indies and South Africa.

If they win their remaining three games they can get to eleven points, and that *might* be enough to see them through.

Like Afghanistan, however, Bangladesh have lost their last game. Australia’s 381-5 at Trent Bridge proved too much to chase down, although Bangladesh had made a fist of things with 333 in reply. Despite the defeat, it was another strong showing, another impressive rebuttal to the notion that they are anybody’s whipping boys. They have been one of the best aspects of this tournament so far.

The most recent meetings between the two sides should give Afghanistan belief, however. In two games in last year’s Asia Cup, they beat Bangladesh by 136 runs in the group stage, and then lost, agonisingly, by three runs in the Super

Lewis Hamilton won the French Grand Prix in dominant fashion

of Lando Norris to take fifth through turn one, but the two McLarens were unable to hold Vettel behind them for long. Vettel took sixth on lap five, and set off after Sainz. He passed him for fifth on lap seven, putting him eight seconds behind Verstappen in fourth.

Hamilton opened up two seconds on Bottas by lap seven, with the gap to Leclerc already at five seconds. The British driver was in control, putting in a series of fastest laps which Bottas could match; but without any form of pace advantage, Bottas was without a chance to challenge.

Hamilton had looked serene, but informed Mercedes he believed his seat was broken on lap 14. The issue appeared to have no effect on his times, as he continued to set more fastest laps, extending his lead over Bottas to four seconds by lap 17.

As the pit stop window opened, Verstappen was the first of the front runners to take the hard rubber on lap 21. Ferrari covered his stop a lap later, bringing in Leclerc, by now focused on maintaining their third place.

Mercedes, however, kept their drivers out, with Hamilton still confident in his

tyres, as his strong lap times continued to show. Bottas came in first on lap 24, and Hamilton followed him a lap later.

Vettel was going long however, and stayed out. Hamilton emerged just in front of the German, who finally pitted on lap 26, after a lock-up was causing him vibration.

Mercedes were in a class of their own out front, while both Ferraris were focused on trying to beat Verstappen’s Red Bull. Leclerc had the lead over the Dutchman, and Vettel was five seconds back, positions they would hold to the close.

Hamilton, however, was in no mood to relinquish any pressure, and pumped in a series of quick laps.

His lead over Bottas was an almost unprecedented 12 seconds by lap 34.

A late VSC to deal with a loose bollard added no drama to the finale, the victory that followed was as assured a win as he has taken all season.

McLaren finished with Carlos Sainz in sixth, while Britain’s Lando Norris, who had looked on for seventh until stymied by hydraulic problems, could manage only tenth. Daniel Ricciardo in the Renault was in seventh, with his teammate Nico Hülkenberg in ninth.

Kimi Räikkönen in the Alfa Romeo was in eighth. (Excerpted from The Guardian)

Virat Kohli fined for excessive appealing in tense India win over Afghanistan Bangladesh have to win all three of their remaining games to keep themselves in the hunt for a place in the semifinals

Fours. Unsurprisingly, those games, held in the UAE, were dominated by spin, and the slow bowlers may well be a key feature in Southampton too, given the game will be played on the same surface which hosted the match between India and Afghanistan.

In Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the Afghans will certainly bowl at least 30 overs of spin, and there is the part-time stuff of Rahmat Shah too. Bangladesh will probably throw all their spinners into the mix as well.

The match-up between Khan and Shakib Al Hasan should be fascinating.

Bangladesh’s number three has 425 runs in the tournament, and has been one of the standout players; while Rashid, who has not been at his very best, had restricted India’s powerhouse batting line-up to less than four runs an over on Saturday, and had removed MS Dhoni, suggesting he was getting things back on track.

Rashid can also draw inspiration from the performance of Nabi against Virat Kohli’s men. Quiet so far in this World Cup, he had almost hauled his team across the line with a fine innings, and had also bowled smartly. It is no coincidence that when Nabi and Rashid put on their best shows of the tournament, Afghanistan had come closest to winning.

If they and the rest of their teammates can give a similar performance to the one they managed against India, a second ever World Cup victory might be on the cards.

What to expect The Southampton surfaces have been slower than many had thought they might be, and the pitch for this game is expected to offer similar challenges for batsmen, given it

has been used before. The spinners will be happy though, and when you also consider the big boundaries, a high-scoring game could be unlikely. Unfortunately, some rain is forecast for the afternoon, and this could curtail play, although there should still be time to get a result.

Bangladesh After leaving him out against Australia, Bangladesh may consider bringing back Mosaddek Hossain to add another spin bowling option to their line-up. Mohammad Saifuddin, who has nine wickets in this World Cup tournament, could also come back into contention after Rubel Hossain’s rusty first showing in the tournament against Aaron Finch’s men, wherein he had conceded 83 runs from his nine overs in Nottingham.

Possible XI: Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mahmadullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Rubel Hossain/Mohammad Saifuddin, Mushrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman, Afghanistan Frankly, who knows what the Afghans might do with their team. They have made some strange changes throughout this tournament. Leaving our Mujeeb Ur Rahman against New Zealand was one, for example. Perhaps they might opt for an unchanged team in an attempt to repeat their good showing against India.

Possible XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Gulbadin Naib, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil, Aftab Alam, Mujeeb Ur Rahman. (Excerpted from Cricbuzz)

India captain Virat Kohli speaking to umpire Richard Illingworth during the match against Afghanistan

V

irat Kohli has been fined 25% of his match fee for excessive appealing in Saturday’s tense World Cup contest against Afghanistan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced.

Two-times’ champions India survived a scare against Afghanistan, who eventually fell 11 runs short of a major upset, after restricting India to 224-8 in a low-scoring contest.

India were desperate for a breakthrough when Jasprit Bumrah struck Rahmat Shah on the pad, and Kohli looked unhappy after the leg-before appeal was turned down.

“Saturday’s incident occurred in the 29th over of the Afghanistan innings, when Kohli advanced towards Umpire Aleem Dar in an aggressive manner when appealing an lbw decision,” the governing body said in a

statement.

The India captain was found to have breached the ICC Code of Conduct article relating to excessive appealing during an international match.

“Kohli admitted the offence, and accepted the sanction proposed by Match Referee Chris Broad; and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing,” the ICC added.

Mohammed Shami sealed India’s fourth win in five matches with the tournament’s first hat-trick.

Kohli also incurred his second demerit point in 18 months.

Four or more demerit points within a 24-month period converts into suspension points.

Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two short format internationals, whichever comes earlier. (The Guardian)

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RHTY&SC, cricket teams and Panthera Solutions launch Say No To Suicide programme T

he ancient county of Berbice is widely reputed to be the suicide capital of the world because of the high rate of suicides committed there annually compared to the size of the overall population. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, Guyana’s leading youth & sports organisation, and its 10 cricket teams have, over the last two years, spearheaded a highly successful Say No/ Say Yes programme directed at more than 70,000 youths in Regions Five and Six. In this programme, the 10 teams are encouraging youths to “Say No to Suicide, Drugs, Crime, Tobacco, Alcohol, and Yes to Education, Life, Culture, Sports and Religion”. on Thursday last, they continued to expand the programme by joining hands with Panthera Solutions, a company recently established in Guyana, but originating in Canada. Panthera Solutions has donated by cheque US$1500 which would enable the cricket teams to publish 1000 or more copies of their widely read Youth Information Booklet.

This 40-page booklet will be published at the F & H Printery in Georgetown, and will be distributed free of cost to schools, churches, NGOs and youths. Edited by the Club’s Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, MS, and his deputy Simon Naidu, this well researched booklet contains 27 articles on topics such as:

Panthera Solutions’ General Manager Andrew Dinsdale handing over the sponsorship cheque to Hilbert Foster in the presence of his staff

Suicide, The Importance of Education, The Importance of Discipline, Personal Hygiene, Do’s and Don’ts on Facebook, General Sports Etiquette, A Sportsman as an Ambassador, Drug Abuse, HIV/AIDS, Peer Pressure, Basic Public Manners, Public Speaking, Teenage Pregnancy and Pre-Marital Sex, Basic Advice for Teenage Females, the Importance of Religion, Choosing Friends, Respect for Elders, How to behave during a Public

Ceremony, Table Manners, Manners in the Classroom, and How to Handle a Job Interview.

Since its first edition, published six years ago, the Youth Information Booklet has been read by thousands of youths, and has been of major assistance to them.

Foster, a national awardee, has hailed the cooperation of the management of Panthera Solutions and its local hosting partner, Farfan & Mendes Ltd, in making it possible to

sponsor another edition of this very popular booklet.

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, he stated, would expand the Say No/Say Yes campaign by printing 11’ x 17’ Say No Posters for every classroom in Berbice, sharing out $1 million in school bags, and $500,000 worth of cycles to less fortunate students.

Another major sponsor will shortly be unveiled, who will help to publish another thousand copies of the booklet for the clubs and the BCB.

Foster is urging the Government of Guyana to place special emphasis on the problem of suicide in Berbice, as he said too many youths have been ending their lives too early. He noted that he had been a patient at the Port Mourant Hospital for one week and had observed that a great many youths had attempted suicide. He said the elder section of the population need to promote the message that problems are only a temporary stage of live, while suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

General Manager of Panthera Solutions, Andrew Dinsdale, expressed appreciation at his company being allowed by the RHTY&SC to come on board as a sponsor of such an important project.

This newly established company, which offers major services such as scaffold climbing, among other things, is 51% owned by Guyanese, and has, to date, employed more than a dozen Guyanese who are currently being trained.

A confident Dinsdale has promised that the company would employ about 500 Guyanese within the next five years.

The booklet will be officially launched on Friday July 19, during an awards ceremony at the St. Francis Youth Centre. The RHTY&SC hereby expresses gratitude to Onai Vasconcellos of Farfan & Mendes Ltd for arranging the sponsorship.

Wine Cellar & Massy Distribution’s inaugural Classic…

Haniff, Persaud and Emmanuel take best wines

S

tarting with the early tee-off programme at 10hrs, Pope Emmanuel London took control of the Lusignan Golf Course to offer an overall Best Net score of 63, a mark none following was able to come close enough to in the refreshing Wine Cellar & Massy Distribution’s inaugural Golf Classic on Saturday, June 22, 2019.

The celebration of premium wines, cheeses, and fine dining to complement the championship golf tournament at the LGC – with prizes of premium wines for the winners -- proved to be a welcome change to the normal program of championship golf and meals, with trophy prizes.

CEO of Wine Cellar, Marcia Nadir-Sharma, who was on hand early to inform guests and players about the types of wines on offer and how they blend with the cheeses, was delighted at the support received from golfers and guests, and was extremely grateful that Wine Cellar and Massy Distribution had had opportunity to be sponsors of the tournament.

She disclosed that Wine Cellar is committed to the development of sports in Guyana, and said there

From left: Club PRO Guy Griffith, standing in for Pope Emmanuel London; Ian Gouveia; Lekhnarine Shivraj; Anand Persaud, standing in for Rabindranath Persaud; Maxim Mangra; Marcia NadirSharma; M Ganpat; Ms Ashley – a staff of Wine Cellar; Club President Aleem Hussain; Dr Joaan Deo representing Captain Chatterpaul Deo and holding gift for Patrick Prashad; Richard Haniff and Aasrodeen Shaw

could very possibly be involvement of the company in future tournaments.

Wine Cellar, located at MovieTown, Turkeyen, ECD may be contacted at winecellargy@gmail.com, 592-6248964 or on its facebook page or on Instagram.

Mr Lekhnarine Shivraj, a Director of Massy Distribution and a mem-

ber of the LGC, was on hand to represent Massy Distribution.

In the low handicap (010) category, Club President Aleem Hussain trailed 3 strokes behind champion Richard Haniff, who said “I just meant to enjoy myself in this tournament, and the company of Anand, Shanella and Eureka greatly encour-

aged me to maintain a good performance, even exceeding my initial expectations!”

Richard offered the Best Gross score of 75 in the tournament. Winners were Richard (66/9) - 1st, and Aleem (69/9) – 2nd. Other notable performances were offered by Patrick Prashad (74/9) and reigning Guyana Open Champion, Avinash

Persaud (80/2).

In the middle range (11-19) flight, winners were: Club Secretary Rabindranath ‘Pandit Ravi’ Persaud (67/18) – 1st, and Club Treasurer Aasrodeen Shaw (68/15) – 2nd. As always, because of the large number of golfers in this category, there were quite a few notable performances: Mike Gayadin (71/14); Bridgelall Harry (72/16); Joaan Deo (74/14); Shanella Webster-London (74/15); Mahindranauth Tewari (75/14); Satrohan Tiwari (76/15); Haresh Tewari (76/18); Ian Gouveia (77/15); Lekhnarine Shivraj (77/16); and an amazing improvement from Eureka Giddings, (77/28).

In the high handicap range (20-28), Pope Emmanuel London (63/24) set a fantastic 1st place score which was the tournament’s best net performance for the day; while a much improved Maxim Mangra offered 66/24 to be placed 2nd.

Other performances worthy of note in this Flight were Brian Hackett (70/21); and Guillermo Escarraga (77/21).

Specialty prize of Longest Drive was won by Ian Gouveia, while Nearest The Pin (8’) was won by Patrick Prashad.

22 Giddings, Bramble, Hetmyer among many awarded at BCB 2018 Awards monday, JUNE 24, 2019

Suresh Dhani, on behalf of Shimron Hetmyer, uplifted the trophy from Region Six Chairman David Armogan

By Brandon Corlette

A

colourful gathering was present at the historic Port Mourant Community Centre Ground on Sunday, June 23, for the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony, where awardees received bicycles, trophies and medals in recognition of their outstanding performances in the year 2018.

As expected, West Indies

player Shimron Hetmyer was awarded Male International Player of the Year and Cricketer of the Year.

Among the other big names awarded were: Anthony Bramble, who received the National Senior Player Award; and Erva Giddings, who expectedly was awarded Female Cricketer of the Year, while West Indies female cricketer Shemaine Campbelle also was expectedly awarded Female International

Breeders Cup set for July 14

– event will also feature grass track racing and car and bike show

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Erva Giddings received a bicycle and other silverware

Player of the Year and Javid Karim was named the Under-21 Player of the Year.

Albion’s Gourav Ramesh was named Most Disciplined Male Player, while Marian Samaroo was named Female Disciplined Player of the Year.

West Indies Under-15 selectee Isai Thorne was named Most PromisingMale Player, while his Rose Hall Canje team mate Ashley Ramnauth was named the Most Promising Female Player. Young Warriors’ Trevon Stanislaus was named Most Improved Male Player, while Uma Matadeen was named Most Improved Female

Player of the Year.

Among the special invitees were Region 6 Chairman David Armogan, Regional Vice Chairman Dennis Deoroop, Rose Hall Town Mayor Chattergoon Ramnauth, New Amsterdam Mayor Winfred Haywood; and there were several other guests.

Kick starting the award ceremony, the GuySuCo Training School boys showcased their talent with some dancing, while Levy Nedd, president of the Volleyball Federation in Guyana, entertained the gathering with some chutney music.

Chairman Armogan, speaking at the ceremony, urged the youngsters to continue striving for greatness, and expressed satisfaction at the work the BCB has been doing for cricket.

BCB President, Hilbert Foster, who has often led from the front with great integrity, thanked all those who assisted to make the awards ceremony a success; especially Brian Ramphal, who assisted by providing over $200,000 to make successful this second edition of the BCB Awards.

Foster also encouraged the successful cricketers to give back

Player. Andre Percival was named Coach of the Year (Inter-County), while CWI Level Three Coach Winston Smith was named Local Coach of the Year.

Local Umpire of the Year award went to Moses Ramphal, while Imran Mokhan was named Regional Umpire of the Year.

Devindra Lalsa was named the Second Division Player of the Year in the West Berbice Zone, while Balram Samaroo was named the Best Player in the New Amsterdam/Canje Zone.

Junior Sinclair, named the Most Valuable Player, received a bicycle in addition to trophies and medals for being adjudged

the Second Division Player of the Year in Lower Corentyne. Rishi Persaud was adjudged the Best Player from Upper Corentyne.

Blairmont Community Centre, awarded Guyana Cricket Board’s Club of the Year in 2018, was awarded BCB Club of the Year in the West Berbice zone. Shimron Hetmyer’s Young Warriors club, which had had a resurgence in 2018, has been named Club of the Year from New Amsterdam/Canje.

Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club was, without doubt, awarded the Best Club in Lower Corentyne, while No 72 All Stars were adjudged Top Club in the

The outstanding performers from the BCB 2018 ceremony (Brandon Corlette photos)

to those who had played a role in their journey to this point.

West Indies Under-15 selectee, Port Mourant’s Rampertab Ramnauth, was named the Under-13 Player of the Year 2018, while Jonathan Rampersaud was named the Under-15 Player of the Year.

Blairmont’s Seon Glasgow was named Under-17 Player of the Year, while Keith Simpson was named Under-19 (ODI) Player of the Year.

Former Berbice Under-19 captain Kevin Sinclair was named the Under-19 Player of the ThreeDay Inter-County tournament, while Shabika Gajnabi was named the Under-19 Female

Upper Corentyne area. Rose Hall Canje and Fyrish Cricket Club were adjudged the Most Improved Clubs.

Special awards were given to all who played a role in development of cricket in Berbice, including media houses and personnel who promoted the game in the ancient county.

In addition to cricket clubs acquiring balls from the BCB and grounds men acquiring rain coats, the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association was awarded for being one of the most successful in the ancient county.

The victorious inter-county teams were also awarded.

"I thought the last hit had enough bat on it" – Brathwaite

T

he Jumbo Jet Racing Committee will, for the first time ever, present the Breeders Cup, a fundraising event which will feature grass track racing, horse racing and a car-and-bike show at the Bush Lot United Turf Club on Sunday July 14, 2019 from 10:00 am.

The card consists of horses racing in five categories, and promises to be an exciting one.

Feature event of the meet is the E3 & Lower race, set to be run over a distance of 1200 metres. A winning purse of $400,000 is being competed for, while second and third place will settle for $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Other events listed on the card include: 3-year-old Guyana-bred horses racing over a distance of 1400 metres for a first prize of $300,000; with second and third place finishers receiving $150,000 and $75,000 respectively. J3 & Lower horses racing over 1200 metres for a winning prize of $200,000, with second and third place winners

With 5 to win, Carlos Brathwaite went for another six, but failed to clear Trent Boult at the fence

pocketing $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. Twoyear-old Guyana-bred horses racing for a prize of $150,000, with second and third place winners receiving $75,000 and $37,000 respectively. And the L and Lower race to be run over 1200 metres, with the winner receiving $100,000, while second and third place winners would collect $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

All races would be run under the Guyana Horse Racing Rules, and horses must meet the requirements set out by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee. A 50% deposit of entrance fee is required to be paid by July 6, while the remaining balance can be paid on the day of the race.

For further information on the event, interested persons can contact Chandu Ramkissoon on 642-9063, 608-9063 or 232-0657. Alan Padmore on 645-9635 or 2320657, Rajin Lion on 608-450, and Nikita Ross on 662-4668.

W

est Indies batsman Carlos Brathwaite tried to describe how he had felt as the ICC Cricket World Cup match between his side and New Zealand came to an end on Saturday with his team losing the game.

“Bittersweet”, “heart-breaking”, “devastated” were some of the words featuring in that description. It was a little while after play had finished in a game in which his remarkable but barely believable hundred had almost sealed a famous victory for West Indies against New Zealand at Old Trafford.

The pain was obvious. His dismissal from the last delivery of the 49th over, caught barely a yard inside the boundary, left his side five

runs short. “Everyone believed we could get over the line,” he said.

The belief was there alright. And if Brathwaite had hit the final ball of Jimmy Neesham’s penultimate over with just an iota more timing or power, the belief would have turned into reality.

“I thought it had enough bat on it,” he said.

“I was willing it to go up and up and up. It’s a game of margins. One or two yards more (and) we would have been victorious tonight,” he declared.

Brathwaite’s hundred was the star turn of a captivating match, but West Indies’ lowerorder played their part too. Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas helped

add 122 runs for the last three wickets.

Brathwaite and Thomas put on 51 for the final wicket, taking their side to the brink. Thomas didn’t score any of them.

“As soon as Sheldon got out, the conversation between Oshane and myself was “I’ll do the scoring”,” Brathwaite said.

“Myself and the lower order, we talked about it. Everything that we talked about happened, except getting over the line. The fight that the lower order showed was commendable.”

Did Brathwaite consider taking a single off the final delivery and taking the game into the last over? “I did tell Oshane about it. Told him we had to remain positive, we’re one hit away.

Still watch the ball, still react. If it’s not a ball I can get a six off, try to get a single. He was on high alert. But if it came in my area, I’d try to finish the game on that ball, which I did.”

Brathwaite’s career has stalled since the famous Kolkata night in 2016 when he hit Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes in the final over to win the World T20 for West Indies.

Before the game at Old Trafford, Brathwaite had just one half-century in ODI cricket. He was averaging 14 with the bat. He had been left out of the match against Bangladesh. This, finally, was the performance his career needed.

“Obviously, I know I can [do it],” he said.

“I never stopped working. Kept working hard.

It’s good to see your hard work pay off. For me personally, for my confidence, as a result of all the hard work I’ve been putting in, it’s finally good that it comes to fruition. Devastated not to get over the line, but also giving thanks for the performance. I’m not going to beat myself up, because the ball should have gone for six and we should have won.”

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, JUNE 24, 2019

GMR&SC Drag Racing Round 2…

23

Team Mohamed’s Magnus

sets new strip record Despite a questionable launch, Team Mohamed’s Goliath (left) still eased to victory

Peter Daby’s Rx-7 (right) was the fastest 10-second car on show

he turnout for the second round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC’s) Drag Racing Meet might not have been spectacular, but the results pretty much remained the same.

On Sunday, the King of the Strip title changed

the bigger classes of bikes did not get much of a chance to fuel any spectacular rivalry, because the event was rained out. This has caused the organisers to deliberate on the classes, and they will probably be rectifying the times and finishes during the course of today.

Before the weather cur-

T

holders, but remained in the same corner. Team Mohammed’s Nissan GTR, nicknamed the Goliath, produced yet another spectacular performance despite a minor late launch off the pad; and the closest rival was still evidently distant.

But Goliath was not the quickest vehicle at Sunday’s

competition at South Dakota; Team Mohamed’s Magnus Nissan GT-R, in its inaugural competitive run, set a new strip record at 8.099s to become the new King of the Strip.

The new attraction to this edition of the event was the ATV (4-wheel) drags and two-stroke bikes. However,

Spencer, Gopilall, Jeffery, Washington emerge victors in National Cycling C/ships

tailed the show, other divisions of racers had a chance to reign supreme. Peter Daby had the fastest 10-second car, while Krishna Jettoo finished with the best time in the 11-second division.

Shan Seejatan and Romeo Singh carted off the top spot in the 13-second

and 14-second divisions, while Ramesh Persaud and Marlon Wilson clocked top times in the other categories of the second division.

The winner of the 12-second division is still to be announced.

More details in a subsequent report.

GOA observes Olympic Day

Ajay Gopilall and Ralph Seenarine at the final showdown (Brandon Corlette photos)

By Brandon Corlette

D

espite some early morning showers, cyclists turned out in their numbers to participate in the Guyana National Cycling Championships 2019 road race, held yesterday from Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown to the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway and back.

Andy Spencer reigned supreme in the 80-mile Masters category, clocking in at 3 hours 26 minutes, 11 seconds; while Ajay Gopilall emerged champion of the Juniors category after completing the 80mile race in 3 hours, 26 minutes, 40 seconds.

In the Female category, Team Evolution’s Denise Jeffery, looking a class above the competition, won the 52mile race in 2 hours, 24 min-

utes and 16 seconds. The Juvenile champion was Mario Washington, who completed his 52-mile race in 2 hours 24 minutes and 16 seconds.

The Masters race, contested over 80 miles, ended with Team Evolution’s Spencer winning the Over-50 category and emerging as Champion of the Master’s Category.

He outsprinted Paul ChooWee-Nam (second) and Alex Mendes (third) in a close finish.

The competition got tenser when the Juniors race approached its finish at Homestretch Avenue, and the vocal gathering that witnessed its finish was gripped by the excitement.

Gopilall, who won the Time Trials on Saturday last, outsprinted fellow Berbician Ralph Seenarine (second) to

Dynamic Juveniles’ duo Mario Washington (first) and Jerimiah Joseph (second)

be declared Junior Cycling Champion for 2019.

Earlier, the Juveniles’ pair of Flying Ace cyclists Mario Washington and Jerimiah Joseph stole the show as they took top honours while Jonathan Ramsuchit finished in third position. David Hicks (fourth) and Steve Bhimsen (fifth) completed the top five riders in the Juveniles’ class.

Team Evolution’s Jeffery, who is also the Female Time Trials Champion for 2019, outperformed her counterparts to win in her class.

Elizabeth Small rode in 2

hours 32 seconds, eight minutes after Jeffery, while Shamika Teixeira finished in third.

The most anticipated race is set for Sunday June 30, 2019, with the Elite/seniors taking centre stage in the 120mile road race. This race will commence at Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown and proceed to Moblissa Hill before returning to its point of origin. All the big names in cycling, such as Michael Anthony and Jamaul John, are participating in this race.

T

Archery was among the disciplines on display

he Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has joined the rest of the world in observing Olympic Day. Yesterday morning, at its secretariat at Liliendaal, ECD, numerous sporting activities were showcased, with some participants being lucky to win novelty and cash prizes.

Basic techniques in the sports of Squash, Hockey, Table Tennis, Archery, Weightlifting and the 5k and 10k runs were demonstrated; and pugilists and ruggers who were present participated in the 5k and 10k races.

Participants also re-

ceived International Olympic Committee (IOC) certificates.

In the 10k event, in which participating teams had to have four males and two females, the Guyana Defence Force placed first and earned the $72,000 cash prize. The team from Police B Division finished second and earned $48,000, while Police A ended the event in third to pocket the final cash prize of $36,000.

Olympic Day is celebrated around the world on June 23 each year. The first World Olympic Day was held in 1948.

monday, JUNE 24, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

GMR&SC Drag Racing Round 2…

Team Mohamed’s Magnus

sets new strip record Page 23

Thumbs up: 2019 Masters champion Andy Spencer completing his race with finesse

Page 23

Spencer, Gopilall, Jeffery, Washington emerge victors in National Cycling C/ships

Page 19

Haris blitz ends South Africa’s World Cup dream

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