Guyana Times, Monday November 18, 2019.

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Tributes pour in for former acting Chief Justice Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4111

monday, november 18, 2019

PRICE

Wales Estate closure

Children of sacked sugar workers forced to find odd jobs to support schooling Page 3

Headless body of Brazilian found in Lethem – Police hunting teenage cousin

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Miner arrested after airline refuses to P2 carry corpse Christianburg residents decry lack of street lights P9

See story on page 7

Hundreds participate in World Children’s Day Awareness Walk

Page 13

GDF lauds services of veterans P11 GNBA, GECOM meet to discuss elections P9 partnership

GPF records P2 significant decrease in cocaine seizures – acting Crime Chief

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; former Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase Green and a young supporter of the festival, along with others, along the route to D’Urban Park

159 children placed 6-year-old into foster care killed

Page 2

Page 13

on EBE – 37 adopted thus far in 2019 Public Road

Page 12

Guyanese P13 dominate Digicel Youth Pan Caribbean Film Competition

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monday, november 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPF records significant decrease in Miner arrested after airline cocaine seizures – acting Crime Chief refuses to carry corpse

T

he Police Narcotics Branch has recorded a significant decrease in cocaine seizures for the past few years, acting Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Michael Kingston has stated.

According to the acting Crime Chief, a lot of work has been done by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to curb the prevalence of cocaine peddling and/or trafficking both locally and internationally in the past five years.

In fact, in 2015, the police seized 153 kilograms of cocaine but only 10 kilograms were seized for 2019 thus far.

“I know for a fact that persons may wonder why there has been a rapid decline.

But, our intelligence shows that since the presence of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) here it has brought about significant progress in the seizure rate. This has resulted

Cannabis eradication exercises and persons charged

One of the fields that were destroyed by Police

in the vast decrease of cocaine activities,” Kingston explained.

He pointed out that in relation to cocaine seized at international ports, specifically the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), in 2015, ranks of the GPF managed to seize 145 kilograms of co-

caine there.

For the year 2019, to date, there have only been 5.143 kilograms seized.

“In 2015, there were 155 persons charged for cocaine-related offences, in 2016 there were 81 persons, and in 2017 there were 148 persons and at present we have 70 persons.”

Meanwhile, the Crime Chief (ag) stated that as it relates to eradication exercises, in 2015, 41 acres of ganja were destroyed while in 2018, a total of 24.5 acres were targeted and destroyed and for 2019 thus far, 82 acres of cannabis fields have been found and destroyed.

Kingston further added that in 2015 there were 851 kilograms 376 grams of cannabis seized by ranks attached to the GPF and that in 2019 this figure has been greatly reduced to 551 kilograms 352 grams to date.

“Additionally, for persons charged with cannabis-related offences over a five-year period, in 2015 we started at 630 persons and at the moment we have 388.

With our recent commissioning of the Drug Treatment Court, it is anticipated that this kind of behaviour will decrease as we go along…”

Carpenter jailed for stealing from Linden businessman

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Linden carpenter, who appeared before Magistrate Wanda

Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Friday charged with break-

ing and entering and larceny, has been sentenced to a year’s imprisonment.

Fifty-five-year-old Raymond Chung of Lot 15 Rainbow City Mackenzie, Linden, was arrested and charged by Police at Greenheart Street, Mackenzie, on Friday in connection with the offence.

The court heard that the accused broke and entered the property of

Chinese businessman Liu Zhi Heng, which is located at Greenheart Street, sometime between 00:00h and 09:00h on Thursday, November 15, 2019, and stole a quantity of beverages, groceries and electrical tools valued $179,900.

Chung pleaded guilty to the charge prior to the oneyear sentence being handed down by the presiding Magistrate.

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forty-six-year-old miner is now in Police custody after he was arrested for disorderly behaviour at the Port Kaituma Airstrip, Region One (Barima-Waini).

The suspect, who hails from Crane, West Coast Demerara, was arrested by Police on Saturday, at the airport.

According to information received, the miner was an outgoing passenger on a Trans Guyana aircraft, when he boarded the aircraft with a corpse that was not secured in a body bag.

This prompted strong disapproval from other passengers who refused to trav-

el under such circumstances.

Reports are that passengers began to express their disgust which angered the man, who began to behave disorderly.

The miner, not feeling satisfied with the manner in which the matter was handled, reportedly stood in front of the aircraft in an attempt to prevent it from moving, since he was not allowed to transport the corpse.

However, the ranks on duty quickly rushed to the scene and detained the miner.

Police are investigating the incident.

6-year-old killed on EBE public road

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six-year-old girl is now dead after she was struck by a motorcar on the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE) on Saturday evening.

Dead is Kellisa Richards of Lot 4 Farm Railway Embankment, EBE, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara). The accident occurred sometime around 17:00h on the Farm Railway Embankment.

According to Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Simon Mc Bean, Richards was attempting to cross the public road unattended when a car, bearing registration number PRR 7918, hit her.

As a result of the impact, both the child and vehicle ended up on the opposite side of the road.

Kellisa’s mother told the police that the former Greenwich Primary pupil had asked to go to the nearby shop but she refused to let her go. However, the sixyear-old, unknowing to her mother, went on the road by herself and it was then that

Dead: Kellisa Richards

she met her demise.

After she was hit, the injured and unconscious child was picked up by the driver of the car and rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital.

There, she was pronounced dead on arrival (DOA).

Meanwhile, the 32-yearold driver of Tuschen, EBE, was taken into custody and is assisting with further investigations.

news

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

Monday, November 18 – 09:00h-10:30h and Tuesday, November 19 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, November 18 – 08:25h – 09:55h and Tuesday, November 19 – 09:40h-11:10h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected to give way to light rain showers from mid-afternoon.

Light rain showers are expected to continue throughout the night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to South SouthWesterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 08:24h and 20:43h reaching maximum heights of 2.31 metres and 2.37 metres.

Low Tide: 14:12h reaching a minimum height of 0.85 metre.

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Wales Estate closure

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monday, november 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Children of sacked sugar workers forced to find odd jobs to support schooling

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ver since the Wales Sugar Estate closed – leaving thousands of workers without jobs, many of their children are now forced to find odd jobs around the community to offset expenses for their schooling.

During a visit to the village on Saturday, parents who were sent home from the sugar industry indicated that it was very difficult to send their children to school, owing to transportation expenses and other supplementary spending for textbooks and studying materials.

One parent, who gave her name as Urmila, stated that since her husband was dismissed, her 14-year-old son has been working in the afternoon to earn some extra money.

“When he come home from school, he does do some extra work round here, and then Saturday and Sunday, he does find a lil’ work to do – mason or anything that he could manage. Right now, he father does only work sometimes ‘cause not every time people does get work. He used to go over at Uitvlugt a couple morning but then they tell him that they don’t have anything,” she indicated.

She further added, “When we get, we does give him, but not all times his father doe get work. When he don’t get, we got to use the money that we save up until he work again.”

Meanwhile, a few houses away, an elderly man named Chotoo (only name) told Guyana Times that his son was retrenched and he has been supporting his grandson’s schooling.

“He got to travel to go to school in Canal Number Two. He got to pay about $300 a day travelling plus little money for a snack, so if it wasn’t for me, he would have got to drop out from school,” the elderly man re-

The closed Wales Sugar Estate

layed.

Meanwhile, other young teenagers have resorted to selling ‘bird seeds’ and produce from their families’ kitchen gardens to offset educational expenses.

Thousands of dismissed sugar workers are finding great difficulty in securing alternative jobs following their retrenchment. In early November of 2018, the National Assembly gave approval for almost $2.5 billion to cater for the remaining severance to 4723 sugar workers, and Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln had also ruled in favour of the ex-employees, saying that they should be paid with interest in the range of four to six per cent.

It took the court over a year to initially hear the Wales severance matter after the workers, their families, union and other supporters were protesting for their legally-entitled benefits.

Aside from Wales Estate closing in December 2017, the closures of Skeldon,

Rose Hall and Enmore were all finalised as part of Government’s cost-cutting measures. The latter three were later reopened under small operations as part of the Administration’s move to attract private investors.

In recent times, hundreds of acres at Wales were leased to a company for coconut cultivation and processing despite Government’s promises of opening up the land to the retrenched workers for farming.

Only on Saturday, most of the sacked workers relat-

ed that they were still struggling to find jobs, awaiting the promise that they would be granted the plantation lands as assured.

Some said that they were disappointed and dismissed the possibility that they would ever get land after hearing that a large portion was already “given away”.

In 2017, the workers were promised by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government that lands from the Estate would be given to them to engage in farming and other agricultural activities to earn a living.

Two years later, these lands have not been distributed to the former sugar workers and hundreds of acres have now been leased to private persons, including recently, 700 acres for coconut cultivation and processing.

The Wales Estate on the West Bank of Demerara was one of four – Enmore Estate in Demerara, and Rose Hall and Skeldon in Berbice— which were closed under the current Administration, leaving thousands jobless.

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monDAY, november 18, 2019

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

The Security Forces’ disequilibrium

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gainst the background of the PNC’s use of the Disciplined Forces during their first iteration as rulers of Guyana -- to rig elections, and even opening fire and killing Opposition activists -- the stance of those forces in the lead-up and after the scheduled March 2 General Elections becomes relevant.

This is especially urgent in view of developments in Bolivia, where the Police top brass intervened to precipitate the resignation of President Evo Morales, who has taken asylum in Mexico. The situation has since deteriorated, with at least two dozen civilians being killed to date by the military.

In Guyana, after the riots of the sixties, the British agreed that a balanced force was one mechanism to achieve stability in the soon-to-be independent Guyana. The Governor constituted a Special Services Unit (SSU) of one battalion strength that was ethnically balanced – those who question whether Indians would join the disciplined forces should examine why the British had no problem finding Indians of the very highest calibre, such as Major Sattaur. This unit, of course, was disbanded by Mr. Burnham and the PNC as soon as they took over.

They constituted the new Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in 1965, but avoided the International Commission of Jurists’ (ICJs’) recommendation that the armed forces of Guyana be reconstituted to better reflect the ethnic composition of the population. This would make ordinary crime fighting more effective, as has been shown after such changes in the Police Forces in a host of developed countries, such as the US and UK. In the case of Guyana, where our politics are extremely polarized, the overwhelming dominance of one ethnic group in the Disciplined Forces presents an existential destabilising potential, as is being manifested presently in Bolivia.

This was exemplified in Guyana in the official report of the Commission that enquired into the “disturbances” in Wismar on May 25th 1964. “Conduct of the security forces on the scene: On the day of the disturbances at Wismar/ Christianburg, there were fifty-seven cases of assault including rape, which were treated at the Mackenzie Hospital.

Two persons were killed and at least one hundred and ninetyseven houses destroyed in addition to several cases of looting.

With the single exception of Assistant Supt. Lashley, who in company with Lt. Wishart and a party of men apprehended and shot a looter who refused to halt when ordered to do so, no member of the Volunteer or Police admitted witnessing any cases of assault, rape, looting or arson…(However) a variety of allegations were made by witnesses against the security forces – the Police and Volunteers. These include bribery, partaking in loot, standing by and refusing to give assistance whilst rape and assault were being committed, to extinguish fires, supplying gasoline to arsonists, and being politically partial by telling people who were beaten and stripped to go to their political leaders.”

Our people, including the members of our Disciplined Forces, are no different from people anywhere - they are subject to the same strengths but also to the same frailties of all humanity. It could happen here again; it is a structural condition. We should not bury our heads in the sand, but work to prevent this from recurring. Out of the raft of changes to the constitution in 2000, there was a recommendation that a COI relook at the composition of the Disciplined Forces.

David Granger was a member of the resultant “Disciplined Forces Commission” which submitted its Report to Parliament in 2004 and it was approved in 2010. It agreed that measures be taken to create more representative Disciplined Forces.

Sadly, even though now President Granger has boosted the strength of the various branches – and resuscitated the Peoples Militia (reserve) - there has been no effort to follow the recommendations on representativeness.

The bottom line is that no one ethnic group should dominate any state institution - especially the Armed Forces in an ethnically divided society. When that occurs, we have seen politicians and ethnic entrepreneurs call on their “kith and kin” in those forces to “take sides”.

Hindu devotees sit together on the floor of a temple to observe Rakher Upabash, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 12, 2019 (Reuters/ Mohammad Ponir Hossain)

The country is crying for leadership with vision, capability, and ability to deliver Dear Editor, Joe Harmon had the temerity to exit a ‘Cabinet’ meeting held 325 days after his party’s Government fell to a no-confidence vote and question whether former President Bharrat Jagdeo could serve as a Vice President in an Irfaan Ali Administration, Harmon said “It is testing the patience of the Guyanese people and their tolerance for lawlessness, because clearly there is a decision by the Caribbean Court of Justice that says that this gentleman [Jagdeo] cannot be the President or Prime Minister. That is really getting through the backdoor”, the irony of his statement was lost on him.

Later that same day, Jagdeo held his weekly press conference and fielded a barrage of questions on diverse issues such as the renegotiation of the Liza PSA; how continuous registration differs from House-to-House; what’s his take on relations with Caricom going forward; a smorgasbord of would/ should/could on every national issue. President David Granger is never asked these questions, for he rarely holds press conferences and the few interviews Granger has allowed have been notable for the paucity of new information and lack of specificity on many issues. Granger sloganeers, Jagdeo, in contrast, provides minute details. It has become clear that the Office of the Leader of the Opposition

is the hardest working, most cognisant and effective arm of Government.

The Kaieteur News front-page headline for example, “Jagdeo selective on oil contracts renegotiations” is a result of reporters subconsciously channelling the will of the people, a primal scream for help! There is a collective consciousness in Guyana that we are not getting the leadership we need at this crucial juncture.

There can only be a handful of people who believe that the Granger Administration can run a ‘cake shop’ and even those who do expect it to be with the aid of a battalion of highly paid foreign consultants. The only projects undertaken during the Granger Administration have been the continuation of past PPP projects such as the CJIA extension (bungled); the East Coast and East Bank road projects (behind completion deadlines); the Hinterland ICT hubs provided for and funded by the LCDS. Granger could have stuck with and even expanded the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), an innovative, world-leading conservation initiative, instead, Granger abandoned a programme that earned us US$250 million and had the potential to earn even more, in favour of an idealistic, incomprehensible consultant provided Green State Strategy. For most Guyanese, this is the various methods we use to en-

sure our last remaining (green) $5000 bill is not spent before the next payday, it is an avoidance of the ‘broke’ state.

The majority of our population would benefit for the aforementioned Ogle Bypass road, a project that had US$50 million in financing and an approved design sitting on David Patterson’s desk when he assumed office in 2015, it is 2019, Patterson has not completed a foot of that essential new road, he has delayed, procrastinated and prevaricated in every possible manner. The road has been redesigned, expanded, and fiddled with endlessly, the cost moved from the $50 million grant from the Government of India to $120 million and beyond, it has cost us millions of USD to date but not one yard of the road has been built to date.

As Guyanese sit with growing frustration in the East Bank traffic jams daily, they should consider that the same level of incompetence has no new Demerara Harbour bridge design approved as yet, again, many millions spent, nothing to show for it. one trillion two hundred million in budgeted expenditure (excluding loans) and no progress is a failing report card.

Granger did not foster talent and capability in his Administration, the genius bureaucrat who got the Berbice Bridge, the Marriott Hotel built and who would have had the Amaila Falls Hydro pushing 168 megawatts

of power into our electricity grid by 2018, Winston Brassington, was arraigned on ludicrous charges of selling land at less than market value to the investors of the MovieTowne mall.

The same mall where there was a seeming APNU/AFC convention on opening night. Granger and his cohorts know nothing about building, they were a poor Opposition, failing to read project documents and instead relied on newspaper reports to make judgments. The country lost years of progress when APNU/AFC became the majority in Parliament, it lost its way when they became the Government.

Irfaan Ali has taken up the mantle of leadership in the PPP, his style is team-oriented, and he will expect those who work with him to deliver results based on a well-planned manifesto of promises.

Granger and the AFC are huddled in back-rooms dividing the Ministries of the nation’s Government as if they were spoils of war, instead of the commitment of service to the nation.

APNU/AFC has delivered nothing because they lack the integrity, work ethic and capability to conceive of and deliver projects on any scale. The country is crying for leadership with vision, capability, and ability to deliver. Elections are on March 2, 2020.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, november 18, 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

Pay the poor workers now – anti-working class APNU/AFC must pay with interest Dear Editor, APNU/AFC must ensure sugar workers are paid now and must ensure payments include interest. The Ministry of Labour must censure and fine GuySuCo for violating the law again. APNU/ AFC choosing to sit idly on the sidelines is reckless and unfair, another total betrayal of sugar workers and their families and adds to its anti-working class credentials.

Sugar workers are usually paid weekly, every Friday. Before they showed up at pay offices for their weekly wages this past week, GuySuCo posted messages that workers should not bother showing up because the week-

ly wages that workers earned, and which is their legal right, would not be available. There was no notice informing the workers when they would be paid. This is not the first time wages for workers have been delayed; it is now a habit for GuySuCo to delay wages that workers have already earned.

Every time it has happened, David Granger and APNU/AFC have been missing in action, choosing silence and preferring to be on the sidelines.

In response to the outrage against non-payment of wages for poor workers, people whose families depend on these weekly wages, leaders of the PNC and AFC are insist-

ing it is not their business. Volda Lawrence, the Chairperson of the PNC, and Dominic Gaskin of the AFC made it clear that it is not APNU/AFC’s business. David Granger has said not a word. Moses Nagamootoo is in “la la land”. Ramjattan simply wants to be the PM candidate. Noel Holder might not know anything about this matter because he has been AWOL for a long time now. Jordon is too busy threatening to fire 20,000 public servants. It is amazing how often these charlatans have distanced themselves from GuySuCo. Since when is it none of APNU/AFC’s business?

These are workers. APNU/ AFC has an obligation to

Creating balance in our environment Dear Editor, The following is an excerpt from an article titled: The world needs more Ethiopia and less Exxon, by Toby A A Heaps, November 15, 2019, Fall 2019 Issue of Corporate Knights.

“The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali won the Nobel Peace Prize this year for ending a multi-decade war with Eritrea.

Equally notable, he made one of the boldest moves of any world leader yet to end the war on nature. On a single day on July 29, he led a blitz to plant 353 million trees (part of a larger programme to plant 4 billion), for an estimated cost of US$548 million, representing almost one per cent of Ethiopia’s gross domestic product.

To put that number in

perspective, if a rich country like Canada were to invest one per cent of its GDP planting new trees over a period of just eight years, it could remove up to half of the heat-trapping greenhouse gases (GHGs) that have been deposited by humankind in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution.”

The idea expressed in this excerpt is quite eye-opening and speaks to the importance that the Guyana Shield holds in the world. It also speaks to the opportunities that we as human beings have before us to have a positive impact on our planet. As a new oil-producing nation, we should play our part in replanting the trees we deplete in our forest industry in order to achieve both: 1. GHG neutralisation

due to our oil and gas industry 2. Sustainable harvesting of our lumber This could be financed by the forest industry via an environmental tax and our country will avoid adding to the problem of climate change. Also we should implement a similar environmental tax in the gold mining industry where the proceeds will also be utilised for tree planting after the completion of mining.

Allowing for botanical bioremediation of areas affected by the use of mercury in the mining process, with the added benefit of GHG neutralisation from the oil and gas industry.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

Dissolving Parliament must not be held at ransom at the whims and fancies of a caretaker President Dear Editor, I read with utter disgust the words of former Minister of State and now Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency that, “the President has not yet signalled when he plans to issue a proclamation in this regard” ie to dissolve Parliament.

Well, Mr Director General, the time to dissolve Parliament was since December 2018 and your caretaker Government has the temerity to tell the Guyanese people after one year that the caretaker President would dissolve Parliament at his time of choosing, supposedly of eventualities and neither pontification of any merit. Well for your information, and just to reiterate the indefatigable fact, 49.4 per cent of the electorate in the 2015 general elections (of course that percentage was according to GECOM’s final

results which is still questionable until the PPP elections petition case is heard) has been very patient thus far and exercising restraint towards your illegal and undemocratic Government.

Further, you people need to be reminded that the PNC – APNU-led coalition Government assumed office in May 2015 by a 0.6 per cent (4506) of the votes lacking a simple majority of 51 per cent (compliments of GECOM – a new meaning; giving enormous conclusions on mediocracy) and won Administrative Region Eight by one vote at the national elections which saved the APNU/AFC coalition Government from being a minority in the National Assembly when there are countless spoiled votes for the PPP which were never recounted and even though the PPP won the regional elec-

tions to take control of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

For edificatory purposes, it should be known that as a caretaker, under any conditions, you don’t own anything as it belongs to somebody else, likewise a Government does not own a country, so the PNC and its functionaries should not attempt to impose and pose as the rightful owner of Guyana. Accordingly, let good sense and political maturity prevail at this time and as such, the caretaker President must dissolve Parliament by proclamation on or before December 4, 2019, allowing 90 days up to March 2, 2020, for holding of General Elections and let the Guyanese people choose a new Government.

Sincerely yours, Paul Ramrattan

ensure that rights of workers, including being paid for their labour, are absolutely being honoured.

Since 2015, they have completely and totally converted GuySuCo from a public corporation into a department of NICIL. When Granger and APNU/AFC closed four estates, they did not think the decision should have been GuySuCo’s decision.

When they fired more than 7000 sugar workers, they did not think this was GuySuCo’s business. When they insisted on a wage freeze since 2015, they did not leave that decision up to GuySuCo. When they arbitrarily appointed NICILSPU to literally boss over GuySuCo, APNU/AFC did not think it was any of GuySuCo’s business. When they anointed super-salaried CEOs for GuySuCo, APNU/AFC never even bothered consulting with GuySuCo. When they sell-

off GuySuCo’s properties, including GuySuCo’s land, APNU/AFC has no regard for GuySuCo. When they took a $30 billion loan in the name of GuySuCo, they did not believe GuySuCo should have been involved.

And why is it GuySuCo has no say in where the money is and how the $30 billion is spent? Suddenly, APNU/ AFC thinks GuySuCo should manage its own affairs and, suddenly, these people think they must distance themselves from GuySuCo and the workers.

One thing is very clear, APNU/AFC is anti-working class. Their assault against sugar workers, in particular, has been disgusting, disgraceful, dishonest, reckless and reprehensible.

David Granger not only is the leader responsible for dismissing more than 2000 Amerindian community development officers, for dismissing more than 7000 sugar workers and for

downsizing the entire economy with more than 37,000 workers losing their jobs, but his party is also now advocating the dismissal of another 20,000 workers from the public service, GuySuCo and GPL. APNU/AFC must not be given a pass for their outrageous, ugly and miserly treatment of sugar workers and for workers in general.

APNU/AFC has betrayed sugar workers, public servants and all workers in Guyana again and again.

Choosing the sidelines as their preferred option when workers are not paid is abrogating their responsibility and underlines APNU/AFC’s anti-working class credentials. It is remarkable how so many people have lost their voices, as APNU/AFC continues to sink Guyana.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Minister Broomes’ anti-suicide campaign Dear Editor, “Minister Broomes on ‘anti-suicide’ campaign at Linden schools” screamed the headline in a local newspaper. But then the article proceeded to wax on the Minister’s talk to the students. So, The Caribbean Voice checked and found out that Minister Broomes is not a psychologist or counsellor or suicide prevention advocate or activist. But as a Minister, surely, she would have been advised as to what suicide prevention entails.

In fact, TCV expected to read that the Minister provided at least one clinically trained counsellor to each school and that staff would be trained to identify suicide warning signs so they can quickly refer at-risk students to the counsellors.

We also expected to read that the Minister is planning workshops for teachers to strengthen them mentally and emotionally and to address their psychosocial needs.

Furthermore, we expected to read that the Minister is planning suicide prevention workshops in Linden schools, focusing on selfharm in general, including stress management, self-esteem, coping skills to deal with challenges, handling peer pressure, building self-confidence, learning self-forgiveness, saying no to drugs and alcohol, avoiding cutting, handling bullying, including cyberbullying.

As well, we expected to read that the Minister is planning to work with parent-teachers’ associations within the schools to train parents in basic prevention strategies such as emphatic communication and safe use/

storage of pesticides and to provide them with easy and quick access to help, should that become necessary.

Perhaps the Minister ought to note what experts, advocates and activists in the field have to say about preventing suicide. Among the strategies suggested are: • Strengthen economic supports • Strengthen access and delivery of suicide care • Create protective environments • Promote connectedness • Teach coping and problem-solving skills • Identify and support people at risk • Lessen harms and prevent future risk In effect, suicide prevention has to embrace a comprehensive approach of which talking to/lecturing people is not a recommended strategy. In fact, the Guyana Government’s National Suicide Prevention Plan (NSPP) does embrace a comprehensive approach and provides related specificities for all strategies. And because TCV knows that the Minister cannot only be interested in suicide prevention in Linden, given who she is, we are certain that Honourable Minister will use the NSPP to launch a national suicide prevention campaign and that among the measures that she would soon put in place are: • Counsellors in every school, drawing from the recent graduates of the UG psychology programme.

• Sensitisation for all

Police officers and healthcare workers.

• Total integration of mental health care into the physical health care system.

• A programme to tackle pesticide suicide, perhaps an adaptation of the Sri Lankan Hazard Prevention model that has been so highly successful in that nation.

• Speeding up the total renovation and equipping of the National Psychiatric Institution.

• Ensuring that all public hospitals have psych wards and mental health specialists including psychiatrists, psychologists, and traumatists.

• Establishing protocols for licensing of all counsellors and piloting legislation to criminalise quack counselling.

• Steps to decriminalise suicide • Making counselling easily and quickly accessible to all Guyanese regardless of their ability to pay.

• Getting the University of Guyana to embark on a comprehensive suicide survey. The results of which can then be used to drive prevention nationally.

Madam Minister please know that The Caribbean Voice stands ready to join you in this effort to tackle suicide throughout our nation!

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

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monday, november 18, 2019

Page

Foundation

S

Start studying in school

tudying for tests and quizzes actually starts way before you even know you’ll have a test.

Good study techniques begin in the classroom as you take notes. Note-taking is a way of remembering what you were taught or what you’ve read about.

Some keys to note-taking are to write down facts that a teacher mentions or writes on the board during class.

If you miss something, ask your teacher to go over the facts with you after class.

Keep your notes organized by subject and making sure they’re easy to read and review. This may mean that you need to recopy some notes at home or during a free period while the class is still fresh in your mind.

Unfortunately, most schools don’t have classes that teach you how to take notes. When it comes to taking good notes, it can take some experimenting to figure out what works, so don’t give up.

So you won’t need to set aside as much study time for the Spanish test — and if you break it up into a short amount every night, that’s even better.

Another study technique is called “chunking” – breaking large topics down into chunks. Let’s say you have a history test on World

chunks or studying the material by specific battles.

Most people can concentrate well for about 45 minutes. After that you’ll probably want to take a

Plan your study time

When you sit down to study, think about how much time you want to devote to each topic. This will keep you from getting overwhelmed.

If it’s Monday, and you’ve got three tests on Friday, figure out how much time you need for studying between now and then. Then figure out how long each subject will take. For example, a weekly Spanish verb test probably won’t be as intense as a big history test.

War I I .

Instead of thinking about studying all of World War II (which could overwhelm even an expert), try breaking your study sessions into two-year

short break. If you find yourself getting distracted and thinking about other things as you study, pull your at-

tention back. Remind yourself that when your 45 minutes of studying are up, you can take a 15-minute break.

Study based on the type of test you’re taking

Many teachers tell students ahead of time what the format of an exam will be. This can help you tailor how you study. For example, if you know you’re going to have multiple-choice questions on World War II, you’ll know to focus on studying facts and details. But if the exam will contain essay questions, you’ll want to think about which topics are most likely to be covered. Then come up with several possible essay topics and use your notes, books, and other reference sources to figure out how you might answer questions on those topics.

As you study, review your notes and any special information from your text-

book. Read things over several times if you need to, and write down any phrases or thoughts that will help you remember main ideas or concepts.

When trying to memorise dates, names, or other factual information, keep in mind that it usually takes a number of tries to remember something correctly.

That’s one reason why it’s a good idea to start studying well in advance of a test.

Use special memory triggers that the teacher may have suggested or ones that you invent yourself.

In the case of math or sci-

ence problems or equations, do some practice problems.

Pay special attention to anything the teacher seemed to stress in class. (This is where good note-taking comes in handy!)

Some people find it helps to teach what they’re studying aloud to an imaginary student. Or work with a study partner and take turns teaching aloud.

Another study technique is making flashcards that summarise some of the important facts or concepts.

You can then use these to review for a test. (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!

(kid-

shealth.org)

NEWS

7

monday, november 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tributes pour in for former acting Chief Justice S ympathy and condolences continue to pour in following the passing of former acting Chief Justice, Senior Counsel Ian Neville Chang, on Saturday.

Justice Chang died at the Balwant Singh Hospital after losing a battle to cancer.

Hours after his passing, President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo extended condolences to Justice Chang’s family and friends.

The statement said President Granger was saddened by the death of the former Chief Justice (ag).

“President Granger extends heartfelt condolences to his immediate family members, relatives and friends.”

Meanwhile, Jagdeo, who is also a former Head of State and the current General Secretary of

the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), in a post on Facebook on Saturday evening also expressed sympathy on the party’s behalf to relatives and friends of Justice Chang.

“The General Secretary and party joins with the rest of Guyana in mourning the passing of this great son of the soil… His career in the legal field spanned several decades, during which he served with distinction… His death dealt a great blow to the legal fraternity as it leaves a great hole to be filled.”

Additionally, the Supreme Court in a statement on Sunday also said the Judiciary and magistracy are deeply saddened at the passing of the former Chief Justice, whom it described as a true son of the soil who died at a city hospital on November 16, 2019.

“Justice Chang served

his profession and fellow Guyanese with great honour and integrity. His was a life of service to the nation. He was respected for his phenomenal legal intellect and was a fountain of legal knowledge which he readily shared.

Justice Chang’s death will undoubtedly leave a void in the justice system and with colleagues within the legal fraternity whose lives he impacted.”

Also extending sincere condolences was The Bar Association of Guyana, which said in a statement on Sunday that Justice Chang made law his life.

“His life was a testimony of dedication in, and to the law. His love for the law was one he demonstrated and shared with all of us who had any opportunity to have an interaction with him. This affection for the law was revealed and communicated in words, thoughts and

Headless body of Brazilian found in Lethem – Police hunting teenage cousin

T

he headless body of a Brazilian man was discovered in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakutuEssequibo) on Sunday morning and police are now hunting for the slain man’s 17-year-old cousin.

Dead is 22-yearold Dico Davi Roberto Moreira, a labourer of Bon Fim, Brazil. He is believed to have been killed sometime between 19:00h on Saturday and 07:15h on Sunday at Tabatinga, Lethem, Central Rupununi.

Moreira’s headless body – clad in a pair of long black pants and a blue jersey – was discovered on the road in Tabatinga. His severed head is yet to be located. His body had multiple stab wounds to the upper back and both wrists were partially severed.

Moreira, who has a tattoo of a cannabis leaf

on his left hand, was later identified by his sister, Joy Roberto.

Investigators are now hunting for the dead man’s teenage cousin, also of Bon Fim, who had threatened to kill him days before.

Reports revealed that the suspect and Moreira had a tense relationship after the teenager reportedly had an intimate relationship with Moreira’s ‘child mother’ some time back.

Last Monday, the suspect went to the now deceased’s home and stole his mother’s bicycle, which he sold to someone in Lethem. Moreira eventually went and retrieved the cycle and returned it to his mother.

On Wednesday, the suspect and some other persons went to Moreira’s home in search of him, but he was not there at the time. The teenager then

allegedly told Moreira’s mother that he would kill him.

The body of the young Brazilian was taken to the Lethem Hospital to be formally pronounced dead.

It is currently at the Lethem Hospital Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Region Nine C o m m a n d e r , Superintendent Keithon King told Guyana Times that they were working with their Brazilian counterparts to locate the suspect.

“We have an excellent working relationship with them, so we are in contact,” he stated.

The Regional Commander also explained that they had to find the cousin first and then they would know the identities of his accomplices.

Bharrat

Former Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang, SC

President David Granger

actions which can be described as ‘Chang style’.

We of the Bar Association know that his death is a loss of a friend and a mentor… For many of us at the Bar, he will always fondly be remembered simply as ‘Chief’.”

Prior to his service to the Judiciary, Justice Chang also served the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with distinction for over 20 years after which he did a short stint of private practice.

The former Judge served in the capacity of acting Chief Justice for 15 years. He went off on annual leave in December 2015 ahead of his February 2016 retirement. Chang then returned to private practice.

Justice Chang presided over some highly-controversial constitutional cases in Guyana during his tenure in the High Court.

These included the presidential term limit case, in which he ruled that the limit is unconstitutional since sovereignty resides in the people and not in the Parliament as it does in Britain; as such, certain fundamental clauses in the Constitution that serve to define its substantive nature can only be altered by a referendum of the people.

Justice Chang’s ruling was dismissed in Guyana’s Court of Appeal but was overturned by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Another constitutional case over which Justice Chang presided was the challenge filed by four Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) advocates, who were fined by the Magistrates’ Courts.

They appealed the law banning their mode of dress and Justice Chang ruled that while the act

of cross-dressing was not a crime in itself but for an “improper purpose”, it constitutes an offence.

In addition, the former acting Chief Justice also presided over the constitutional challenge that persons who were on a political party’s list of national candidates cannot sit in the National Assembly as non-elected members.

In that particular case, Justice Chang’s ruling prevented Citizenship Minister Winston Felix and Minister within the Social Protection Ministry Keith Scott from sitting in the National Assembly as technocrats under the current coalition Government.

During his private practice after retirement, he represented the Guyana Police Force (GPF) back in 2017 during the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger.

Opposition Jadgeo

Leader

8 NEWS

monday, november 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

35% supported violence between partners as private matter

D

uring the recent launch of Guyana Women’s Health and Life Experience Survey, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally highlighted that 35 per cent of women supported violence between partners as being a private matter.

The Minister stated that many women who participated in the survey related that they had never told anyone about instances of abuse by their husbands.

According to the Minister, violence against women is not a new phenomenon, since it stems from a pattern of behaviour that damages both physical and mental health.

“What is new is the growing recognition that acts of violence against women are not isolated events but rather from pattern of behaviour that violates the rights of women and girls which limits their participation in society.”

The Minister highlighted that the report proves that there is a clear need to improve efforts across a range of sectors, both to prevent violence from occurring and to provide necessary services for women experiencing violence.

“For the first time, a study sought to obtain detailed information nation-

Minister Amna Ally

wide about the prevalence, frequencies and types of violence against women, looking at the health outcomes of domestic violence – the factors that may protect or put women at risk of domestic violence and showing coping strategies and services that women use to deal with domestic violence.”

She noted that women who experienced physical and sexual abuse by a partner, suffer from a higher rate of depression. It was revealed that there is an urgency of breaking the silence and hopes that the new initiative will serve as a unified call to action for all working towards building a nation without violence against women and girls.

“All of us owe it to the

women who suffer from domestic violence, and the women who took part in this survey, to step up, speak out and end the violence now,” she added.

Ali added that she hopes the new initiative will serve as a unified call as we work towards building a nation without violence against women and girls.

According to the study, more than one in three Guyanese women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) and some 20 per cent of women in Guyana have experienced non-partner sexual abuse (NPSV) in their lifetime.

The scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) extends beyond partner-inflicted violence since one in every five (or 20 per cent) women in Guyana has ex-

perienced non-partner sexual abuse in their lifetime; 13 per cent reported experiencing this abuse before the age of 18.

Further, the investigation noted that women between the 15-24 age group reported sexual violence (NPSV), including rape, attempted rape, unwanted sexual touching and sexual harassment at statistically higher rates than that of the older generation group (the 55-64 age group).

Half of all women who experienced IPV in Guyana never sought help.

In March, First Lady Sandra Granger reported incidents of domestic violence by an intimate or previous intimate partner rose from 74.8 per cent in 2011 to 89 per cent in 2017, with females accounting for an upward 80 per cent of the victims. It was noted that three-quarters of these gender-based violence cases stem mostly from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Efforts in this regard continue to be marred by the high prevalence of gender-based violence in Guyana, which has risen by 14.2 per cent over the past six years

Sentinel Security guards decry working conditions in Region 2

S

ecurity guards attached to Sentinel Security Inc stationed in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are decrying the working conditions and

want the Department of Labour to step in.

These guards, who

are attached to the utility companies – Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) – in Anna Regina, want the Department to investigate the problems they are facing with the security service.

According to the guards, the company is in breach of the Labour Laws in many ways and when they complain to the regional supervisor of these issues, he threatens them with dismissal.

One of the issues the security guards complained about is that despite the company deducting monies from their monthly salaries for National Insurance Scheme (NIS), those contributions are not being paid

over.

The frustrated guards pointed out to this publication that if they fall sick during working hours, they cannot get any benefit from NIS because of the none payments. They noted that although many calls were made for a pay-slip to be attached to their payments, the company is refusing to do so.

The security guards further claim that they are being paid late every month and the only document to show this is an exercise book, which the supervisor makes them sign when they collect their salaries.

Additionally, the guards are claiming that they have to work six days per week on

12-hour shifts and only collect a flat salary of $56,640.

They are claiming that even though the Labour Laws stipulate that a workweek is 40 hours and any extra hours worked must be calculated as overtime, this is not being done.

In fact, they noted that despite many complaints made to the local supervisor, they only keep getting threats of dismissal.

As such, the security guards are calling on the Labour Department in the region to step in on their behalf and meet with the management of Sentinel Security Inc in order to bring an end to what they are calling “serious labour breaches”.

Moving…

Y

…up or down? our Eyewitness had reason to check out UG’s 2019 Graduation goings-on. The powers that be were very particular about matters and insisted it was actually a “Convocation” – which he understood to be a formal gathering of clergy or students and other credentialled folks. In this case, UG students were to be credentialled with 1985 degrees, diplomas and certificates and suchlike - which were to be “conferred”. Having never been to one of these shindigs before, your Eyewitness’ interest was piqued.

But all it did was to confirm what he’d always figured: UG was just as Third World as the rest of the country.

Even as they imitated what they must’ve seen in one movie or another on how the First World does it. That big hall in which the graduates are assembled along with their teachers who’d imparted all that learning over four or five years?? UG had strung together five or six large tents under which were arranged a couple thousand plastic chairs. The stage in front was a ramshackle affair and the dignitaries didn’t look too dignified in their faux medieval get-up. What with them squinting into the sun and fanning their faces with their programmes to ward off the hell-like temperature.

The visitors, including your Eyewitness, were guided into chairs on the periphery and a motley crowd it was who’d eventually gathered. They’d brought enough babies and urchins to not only give him a headache but ensure that he’d just hear snippets of what was said from the stage, even if he’d wanted to. The “big screen” TV in front of his gathering was kaput and all he could see were the backs of the media camera crew. The sweaty gathering had to wait until the PM Nagamootoo arrived – and that took a while since he’d moved out from his home in Liliendaal and gone to “town”. He gathered from the feature speaker – the Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary who decided that 33 wasn’t the majority of 65 – that if there’s “no pain; there’s no gain”. Adversity brings growth and all that.

Your Eyewitness doesn’t know about that: people who put you down produce hate, either for yourself or for those who made you suffer. And adversity is equally likely to cause bitterness, frustration, and distrust – nearly the opposite of personal growth. Just look at what the vindictive politics of the PNC has wrought over the past four years to those who they’ve neglected.

But back to the convocation. There was much boasting and bragging about the “largest” number of graduated coming from the “social sciences”.

Your Eyewitness wondered how they’d fare in the new oil-based “green economy”. …the bar There’s one newspaper that has persistently gone after the International Oil Companies (IOCs) for their actions following the contract the Government signed with them in 2015. And no matter what your Eyewitness and others have pointed out, they keep on barking up the wrong tree.

When Granger’s Nassau pal Raphael Trotman, Minister renegotiated the PSA, he knew oil had been struck.

The fields had been “de-risked” so he could’ve set his own terms for Guyana since Exxon had just given up on prospects in the Arctic and the Canadian oil sands.

Their reserves had fallen to historic lows. Furthermore, the 1999 PSA signed by Janet Jagan had expired and the GoG wasn’t bound to the old terms – signed when no one knew oil was under the Atlantic. Yet Trotman, who was supposed to be working for us Guyanese, gave away the store and yet the said newspaper doesn’t say a word about his treachery!!

Since when we can move the bar and insist that companies don’t have to maximise their shareholders’ value??

What about value for us by the PNC?? …on The most erudite legal scholar of Guyana – for all times – Chief Justice (rtd) Ian Chang just passed away.

No other jurist has even alluded to the “basic structure” doctrine he invoked and which can block the PNC’s constitutional adventurism.

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

9 GNBA, GECOM meet to discuss elections partnership E news

monday, november 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

xecutives from the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) met on Thursday to discuss collaboration for the upcoming March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

Attending the meeting on behalf of the GNBA were Board Chairman Leslie Sobers, Board Member and Chair of the Monitoring and Compliance Committee Jocelyne Josiah, Board Secretary Violet Boyal, Head of the Monitoring and Compliance Department Christina Bianchini, and Public Relations Officer Joel Ally.

On GECOM’s side were

Chairman Justice Claudette Singh, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, and Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward.

Sobers gave a synopsis of the mandate of the GNBA and the scope of the authority with respect to its monitoring parameters and capacity. The Chairman alluded to the fact that GECOM has a wider mandate as it relates to monitoring during the elections period, and it is the intention of the Authority to collaborate with the Guyana Elections Commission and the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) during the elections period.

He went on to explain that the Authority, similar

to the ERC and GECOM, monitors for content that may incite racial hatred or crime and public disorder, with respect to broadcasting. He pointed out that enshrined in the Broadcasting Act, there is a fairness doctrine which means that broadcasters, when dealing with controversial issues, must cater for balance and fairness with respect to treatment, time and space allocation.

Board member Josiah informed GECOM representatives that there is an entire department at the GNBA that monitors content. She proffered that the Code of Conduct for GECOM needs to be reviewed and updated in

GNBA and GECOM at the meeting

preparation for the upcoming elections; GECOM representatives agreed.

PRO Ally informed the meeting that the populace is gradually moving away from the mainstream me-

dia and social media is continuously growing. He added that reporters in addition to signing on to the Media Code of Conduct should also reflect those principles stipulated in the

Code of Conduct when posting content and opinions on social platforms; being cognisant of the fact that they have an influence on their followers.

Christianburg residents decry lack of street lights knows that the area got a cemetery, so we don’t know if they don’t want it to be too lit but it needs to be lighted up. Tourists does come and take pictures at the waterwheel and so on, but we need lights. Residents asking for it since I moved here last year. It’s unsafe because sometimes you have to wait until somebody coming down the road so you can get somebody to accompany you when you coming home at night”, the resident told this publication.

They said following requests by residents, three

Street lights are being erected along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway

W

hile the Government is placing emphasis on installing street light along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, residents in the mining town are complaining bitterly about insufficient street light in their communities.

These residents are from the community of Christianburg at Wismar, Linden. The residents, who live in the vicinity of the Christianburg cemetery, are calling on the relevant authorities to look into the issue, which they noted has been a burning one for some time.

One of the affected residents who prefer not to be named explained to this publication recently that residents are urgently in need of some brightness in the area.

“We’re asking the authorities if they could put some more street lights in Christianburg because we does really be in blackout.

The street is really dark.

Parents, children does have to walk home at nights and it’s really troubling”, the resident noted.

The residents noted that those who live in the vicinity feel unsafe as they pointed to an incident which recently occurred whereby a suspicious-looking man was observed lurking underneath a tree in the area. At the time,

residents reported the incident and Police responded.

However, the residents indicated that after the man observed that residents were alerted to his presence,

he ran out of the area and Police responded approximately two hours later.

“We are asking if somebody in authority could put some lights.

Everybody

lights had been installed, however, they noted that this is insufficient, more so since one would have stopped working. These lights were installed following the incident with the man observed lurking underneath the tree.

“The place is very dark. I don’t want them to wait until something bad happens then to put up lights. At least if we could get it before Christmas, we’d be very grateful because we need improvement... we just need them to put in some lights. We’re begging them long, since last year.

We’re asking, please, be-

cause straight along from the bridge (MackenzieWismar) coming down have lights. Some working, some ain’t working and when you come down to Christianburg is hardly any lighting...”, the resident explained.

They also pointed out that many residents have indicated that they are living uncomfortably, owing to the issue. The resident added that residents were informed that the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) is in possession of lights but it is unclear why they have not been installed.

10 NEWS Offshore partners to provide jobs for Carnegie students S monday, november 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

tudents of the Carnegie School of Home Economics are expected to benefit significantly after several overseas companies have indicated their interest in providing jobs for qualified students.

This statement was made by the Principal of CSHE, Myrna Lee, at the launching of the three new programmes on its curriculum – caring for the elderly, childcare management, and housekeeping.

“Guyana will be experiencing first oil in the near future, CSHE has linked with new offshore partners who have indicated the interest in hiring qualified individu-

als [students] to serve their companies”, she stated.

Lee, however, did not reveal the names of the companies but rather stated that they will be made public at a later time.

Nevertheless, the newly launched programmes are intended to provide quality services in Guyana and will be offered as full-time and evening programmes to new students at the school of Home Economics.

Representative of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar in his remarks said that some of these courses are highly underestimated and

Some students of Carnegie

with Guyana’s booming development, the courses offered by CSHE has great potential to boost the country’s tourism sector.

“As we emerge as an oil and gas economy, tourism is going to employ the vulnerable in our society…if we are to look at the value

of a housekeeper in the hotel sector, we have a number of repeat guests that come to boutique hotels and lodges.

If you ask what is the reason

for repeating, it is because of housekeeping and the way they were treated”, he said.

Meanwhile, Director, Council of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Floyd Scott explained that there is a lack of skills in the programme that is being offered

by CSHE and noted that if the country is not fully prepared to provide quality services to tourists, Guyana will not benefit as a nation.

Students of the newly added programmes at CSHE were advised to take full advantage of the programmes offered since they are expected to benefit tremendously as Guyana develops.

Top Cop graduates with Commonwealth Guyana Film Festival welcomes entries Master’s in Public Administration A

P

olice Commissioner Leslie A James, DSS, DSM has reached yet another milestone in his academic pursuit.

On Saturday the Top Cop graduated with a Commonwealth Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Guyana’s 53rd Convocation held at Turkeyen Campus, Georgetown, Guyana.

James, who was appointed Commissioner of the Force on August 30, 2018, encouraged ranks of the various Policing Divisions, during the time of his studies, to pursue higher learning and commended those who had already done so, either from the University of Guyana or other tertiary institutions.

Moreover, he said that “I would like to see each member of the Force rigorously pursuing higher learning, after all, an educated work-

Police Commissioner Leslie James receiving his certificate

force can turn around the image of any organisation”.

Prior to reaching this milestone, James also has a Diploma in Public Management (1996-1998) and a Bachelor of Law (LLB)

(BSC) (1999-2006) from the said institution.

The 52-year-old, who was born under the zodiac sign Taurus, has also completed numerous courses locally and internationally.

s the Guyana Film Festival takes shape for the upcoming year, talented filmmakers are being called upon to submit their entries at the soonest.

The last day for submission is December 18, 2019, at 16:30h, and films must have been created no longer than 10 years ago.

Some of the categories include a feature film that should be over 50 minutes, and short films from one to 49 minutes long. The feature documentary should be over 45 minutes while the short documentary category calls for no longer than 45 minutes of footage.

Creative minds can also partake in the animated shorts which range from one to 30 minutes or the animated feature which should be over 50 minutes.

This festival will also have a music video segment, web series pilots, movie trailers and creative commercial categories – all with

a differently allotted timeframe. With every video that is entered, there is a chance to earn gold, silver and bronze seal endorsements in the individual categories.

For a submission to the made, it must be accompanied by a synopsis, duration, listed category and contact information. It must be submitted to the Department of Social Cohesion of the Ministry of the Presidency.

This event is set to coincide with Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary activities.

Guyana’s film industry has grown over the past years with the introduction of outlets such as film festivals for youths and other filmmakers to share their work with the public and international critics. Last June, Guyanese and Caribbean films were among the main features at the fourth Annual Timehri Film Festival.

The festival showcased mini LGBTQI and environ-

mental films, with community screenings at schools, prisons, the juvenile detention centre and the drop-in centre in Sophia. Movie enthusiasts had the chance of viewing the Walter Rodney film “In The Sky’s Wild Noise,” by the Victor Jara Collective in 1985. This was to be preceded by the brandnew “The Past Is Not Our Future: The Student Years of Walter Rodney”, done

by Matthew J Smith, on Rodney’s time in Jamaica.

Others included “For You”

by Alvin Seenauth and “From Ashes We Rise” by Khadijah Carberry.

The Caribbean line-up included “Douvan Jou Ka Leve” by Haitian filmmaker Gessica Généus, and “Cargo” by Bahamian filmmaker Kareem Mortimer, which was showcased in theatres.

A throwback feature “God Loves the Fighter”

by Trinbagonian filmmaker Damian Marcano was screened as well.

NEws

11

monday, november 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GDF lauds services of veterans

Some of the veterans who were honoured by the GDF

V

eterans of the Guyana Defence Force were celebrated and their service to Guyana recognised once again, at the GDF Veterans’ Day WreathLaying Ceremony which was held on Friday last.

Attended by serving officers and ranks, former Chiefs of Staff and other former officers, and scores of ex-GDF servicemen and women, the ceremony was held at the Veterans Monument at Base Camp Ayanganna.

“Guyana remains a unitary and indivisible state because of the courage, competence and commitment of those who served in the military. The suppression of the Rupununi Rebellion and the defence of the New River Triangle exemplified your military proficiency. Without your

selfless service and commitment to the development of this noble institution, we would not be where we are today! It is for this reason that we salute you. Thank you for your service!”

Those were the words of gratitude expressed by

Quartermaster General, Colonel Godfrey Bess, who is currently performing the functions of Chief of Staff, as he lauded the service of the veterans during his address to the assemblage. Colonel Bess also recognised that officers and ranks who serve today have much to glean from the demonstrated bravery of the veterans even as the Force marches steadfastly into the future.

“You served with distinction. You wore your uniforms with pride and dignity, and your moral values are our strength,” he said, before presenting the GDF pledge of one million dollars to President of the Guyana Veterans’ Legion, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) George Gomes.

Expressing the Legion’s thanks, Lt Col (Ret’d) George Gomes, noted, however, that some 111 veterans live as “shut-ins” and

One of the veterans receiving a hamper

suffer a range of debilitating illnesses. He appealed for specialist medical care to be made available to those former military personnel.

He also spoke to the anticipated tabling and enactment of the Veterans’ Act 2020 and the establishment of a Veterans’ Commission as recently

announced by Commanderin-Chief President David Granger, and explained that, with the passing of the Act and the establishment of the Commission, legal status would accrue to all GDF veterans.

This, he said, would allow for national budgetary allocations to be made in service to the veteran com-

munity. He thanked the GDF for its continued support of the Veterans’ Rest Home but called for the abolition of the fee applied to the accommodation of veterans at the facility.

Following the wreath-laying ceremony, the veterans lunched with the uniformed officers and ranks.

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Adult Education Association exploring online CXC competency exam

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ith a large fraction of Guyanese failing to complete their secondary education proficiency examination, the Adult Education Association of Guyana is now facilitating discussions on offering the Caribbean Certificate Secondary Level Competency (CCSLC) programme online.

The CCSLC is a secondary-level qualification developed by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and offered in the Caribbean region since 2007 for both secondary school students and adult learners.

Project Coordinator of the Adult Education

Association, Grace Oliveras told Guyana Times in a recent interview that this would benefit a number of persons in remote areas.

The programme, if offered, would assist adults in the development of their educational background.

“We’re doing a workshop, whereby it would be preparing the Adult Education Association to be able to deliver the Caribbean Certificate Secondary Level Competency online. We’re in collaboration through UNESCO to explore the possibilities of offering this programme online so people in Guyana can access it.

This is very very significant.

Project Cordinator Grace Oliveras

We realise that in the hinterland, persons were only

having an education up to the primary level and they were in dire need of a secondary education,” she explained.

According to Oliveras, the programme would address a number of areas, apart from a person’s intellectual capacity, and is a significant step for the Guyanese populace.

Presently, a date has not been announced for the implementation of the CCSLC. “There are a lot of persons who were not able to do their CSEC [Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate] subjects or they were not ready for that but what this is doing is not

only certifying knowledge but competencies and values for the workforce.”

According to CXC, the programme “responds to the changing demands of education, and is designed to certify the knowledge, generic competencies, and attitudes and values that all secondary school leavers should have attained”.

Meanwhile, Educational Consultant of the Commonwealth of Learning, Rosario Pasos explained that they are supportive of this venture.

“We’re trying to develop some capacity and develop some of the faculty knowledge to be able to create

an educational system that will be innovative and break down barriers to expand access to education,” Pasos indicated.

CCSLC is considered different from the basic and general proficiency because of it’s all-inclusive agenda.

The programme has two parts – a core of Mathematics and English while the other encompasses several options from which candidates must choose an additional three subjects. This many include Business, Arts and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) subjects.

Each CCSLC syllabus contains five modules.

Kala Utsav was introduced by the Sabha over 20 years ago to preserve the Indian art forms. Its intention is to motivate young people to continue the traditions of their fore-parents and achieve excellence in the various art forms while simultaneously building talent bases in the various regions.

It is a launchpad for talented youth across the country and allows for talent to

be discovered for future development. Trophies, certificates and cash incentives are given to all participants to encourage them.

One of the highlights of the Utsav is the Ramayan chanting category with dramatic depiction. This is aimed at promoting elements of the Ramleela tradition and last year, it saw many creative and excellent presentations.

The Kirtan and folk-

dance segments have always been audience favourites and are expected to be no different this year, as large groups in these categories have been practising dedicatedly to put their best forward.

It is anticipated that some amazing new singing talent will be discovered on Sunday as well. In fact, many prominent singers made their debut in the previous years.

GHDS’s Kala Utsav slated for Sunday

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he Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is set to host Kala Utsav – its annual Festival of Arts – on Sunday, November 24, 2019, promising a day of entertainment and talent to the Guyanese populace.

Hosted at the Reepu Daman Persaud Dharmic

Sanskritik Kendra, Prashad Nagar, the annual event will feature youths under the categories of Ramayan chanting, male and female singing, duet singing, classical dance, folk dance, Tassa and instrumental music.

Preliminary competitions were held throughout

last week on the West Coast of Demerara, Essequibo, Georgetown, East Coast of Demerara, East Berbice, West Berbice and the Upper Corentyne at various temples. Those who succeeded will take the final stage this week for a chance to be among the winners.

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159 children placed into foster care – 37 adopted thus far in 2019

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ne hundred and fifty-nine (159) children were placed into foster care while 37 were adopted thus far for 2019.

This was disclosed during an interview with Senior Probation and Social Services Officer Monique Meusa as the Social Protection Ministry and Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) observe foster care month under the theme “every child deserves a champion: become a mentor or foster parent today”.

Every year, November is set aside for this celebration.

With respect to foster care, the Social Protection Ministry has developed a national alternative care policy for children and it is

currently working on a strategic five-year action plan for the implementation of this policy.

As such, the focus of this plan is the deinstitutionalisation of children through the promotion of family-based care and minimising the need for children to have out-of-home care by providing training, education, financial and other support for parents which enable them to provide better care for their children.

However, the Ministry now has tangible resources to prevent unnecessary separation of children from their families with the establishment of the new Children and Family Care Centre.

In addition, these youths will be housed in the same residence where there is a high degree of care, support, structure, supervision, and services that are needed to aid in their positive growth and development.

Meusa told Guyana Times that in 2017 the mentorship programme was launched with several success stories where children were able to excel in their examinations and went on to pursue their tertiary education. “... of course, we are calling on the public to come on board and be mentors.

If it is that you cannot open your home and provide that space for a child you can come on board and

Guyanese dominate Digicel Youth Pan Caribbean Film Competition

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he Digicel Youth Pan Caribbean Film Competition, as part of the inaugural Turks and Caicos International Film Festival, announced the winners of the competition.

Open to amateur filmmakers across the Caribbean, the competition provided a platform for budding creatives to test the waters and show off their skills.

For the 21 years and over category, Dexter Copeland of Guyana won with his short film, “The Journey”.

He earned a round trip flight to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) with accommodation for the festival, a showing of his short film at the festival, all-access pass to festival events (gala,

be a big brother. It’s like a big brother big sister programme so you can come on board and have that child with you and give them the support and care that they need,” she added.

She also noted that this programme is geared for older children who are ageing out. As such, emphasis is being placed on the foster care group home.

The new foster care group home initiative is intended to benefit adolescent youths who are deemed in need of formal care (par-

ticularly from the Children Court). Meanwhile, the embodying vision for the group homes is to provide a therapeutic, intimate family-like care setting for a maximum of six (6) youths to one group home provider.

Meusa added that the legislation is adequate to protect these children since it takes into consideration every harm that can be done to a child and also has systems in place to deal with such, ranging from the sexual offences act to neglect and physical abuse.

Assistant Director Tiona October noted that the organisation is similar to that of a psychologist who provides support to children who would have suffered trauma.

To pull down the curtains on foster care month, a boot day will be held at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on November 27, 2019.

Muesa urged the general public to come on board, join the programme and become a foster parent or a mentor.

Hundreds participate in World Children’s Day Awareness Walk Digicel's Chief Speed Officer Usain Bolt at the launch of the TCIFF in May, advocating for telling meaningful stories through film and touching on the importance of preserving our environment

in a better position to help develop the film industry in Guyana, and throughout the Caribbean. My goal is to cre-

(L-R) Marketing Executive at Digicel TCI, Romello Williams welcomes Dexter Copeland, Guyanese winner of the Digicel Youth Pan Caribbean Film Competition

parties, VIP), a brand-new phone and US$1000 cash.

“I feel extremely grateful and humbled to be a winner of the Digicel Youth Pan Caribbean Film Competition, and I must thank all the people who voted for me and those who supported me throughout this process. I must also thank Digicel for making this opportunity possible.

I’m hoping it will place me

The theme for Foster Care Month is "Open Your Heart, Open Your Home"

ate inspirational films that tell stories that truly resonate with my audience. At this year’s Turks and Caicos International Film Festival, I’m looking forward to learning essential industry information, to continue to empower myself and those in my community,” Copeland stated.

For the winner of the 14-17 years old category, Aderes Thompson, also from Guyana, who won with the

film “A Day in the life of a GTI student”, gets to have his short film featured on Digicel Guyana’s social media pages and website as well as a brand-new phone.

“We’re happy to have partnered with the inaugural Turks and Caicos International Film Festival and to have hosted the Digicel Youth Pan Caribbean Film Competition. I just want to thank all those who entered the competition and to say congratulations to the winners. We hope you enjoyed TCI! Film is all about storytelling, and in the Caribbean, that’s a big part of our culture, so we were very excited to see what everyone, amateurs and professionals alike, brought to the festival,” said Addison Stoddard, CEO of Digicel Turks and Caicos.

The festival is geared at raising awareness about the environment, as well as the Caribbean film industry, and the vision of the festival is to share compelling stories about the big issues facing our environment. In May, Digicel’s Chief Speed Officer, Usain Bolt visited the Turks and Caicos Islands to launch the festival and advocate for telling meaningful stories through film. He also spoke of the importance of preserving our oceans and the environment.

A section of the marching band proceeding along Brickdam, Georgetown as Give Another Chance Foundation (GACF) hosted its Second Annual World Children’s Day Awareness Walk and Pop-Up Festival

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inister of State Dawn HastingsWilliams on Sunday joined representatives, supporters and other well-wishers of the Give Another Chance Foundation (GACF) in their Second Annual World Children’s Day Awareness Walk and pop-up festival.

The GACF aims to provide basic education from pre-school to university, healthcare and community support to underprivileged children and youths in rural and urban areas. The group believes that one of the best places to start addressing matters of healthcare, suicide prevention, poverty, population control, unemployment and human rights is in the corridors of education.

This year’s festival was themed, “Promoting children’s well-being, children’s rights and SDGs”. It hon-

oured the United Nations’ “Universal Children’s Day”, which will be observed on November 20, 2019, and recognised the “Convention on the Rights of the Child”.

The walkathon started

at the Parliament Building, proceeded East along Brickdam, turned North onto Vlissengen Road, East onto Homestretch Avenue and into the D’Urban Park where the festival was held.

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Linden Hospital receives donation of blood Region 6 recognises top CSEC, NGSA performers pressure testing machines, other items

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he Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) on Friday received a donation of several blood pressure testing machines from overseas-based Guyanese, Raymond Hudson.

Hudson handed over three blood pressure testing machines, two of which are regular machines and one for the visually impaired. Additionally, he gave blood pressure testing machines to about 10 patients at the hospital’s hypertensive clinic.

In handing over the items to the medical institution, Hudson recalled visiting the hospital last August after suffering from hypertension. He noted that while the service he received was prompt, timely and great, there was something lacking.

LHC Public Relations Officer (PRO) Toshanna Alicock receives the donation from overseas-based Guyanese Raymond Hudson

“But I saw a need, whereby they could’ve done with some bedside machines. If they had a bedside machine to take my pressure, I would not have had to walk to a specif-

ic area. So I saw that need and I decided to fill it...”, he said.

Hudson also donated a number of umbrellas to hypertensive patients who may be affected by the sun-

Russia says it will return captured naval ships to Ukraine today

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ussia says it will return captured naval ships to Ukraine to-

day Russia will return three captured naval ships to Ukraine today and is moving them to a handover location agreed with Kiev, Crimea’s border guard service was cited as saying by Russian news agencies on Sunday.

Ukraine has been pushing for their return as a goodwill gesture from Moscow ahead of a possible four-way peace summit on eastern Ukraine next month.

“In accordance with agreements reached with Ukraine three Ukrainian ships ... are being towed

to a location agreed with the Ukrainian side for their handover, which will take place on Nov. 18,” Crimea’s border service said on Sunday, according to Russian news agencies.

Russia seized the ships off the coast of Crimea in November last year after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors.

Moscow said the ships two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat - had illegally entered its territorial waters. Kiev denied that.

Russia returned the sailors who had been on board the ships to Ukraine in September as part of a prisoner exchange deal.

Various Russian media outlets have reported that the ships will be returned to Ukraine without their ammunition and documentation.

The move, if it happens, will be seen as a confidence-building measure ahead of the planned Ukraine summit.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, which prompted Western sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy won a landslide election victory in April promising to end the conflict. (Excerpt from Reuters)

light.

LHC Public Relations Officer (PRO) Toshanna Alicock, who received the items, expressed gratitude to Hudson on behalf of the management and staff of the medical facility.

“We have blood pressure apparatus here, but these machines could never be enough. With the load of patients, we have here, and these are much easier for our nurses to go to the bedside of the patients so that they could check their blood pressure and manage it effectively as possible”, she said.

As it relates to the blood pressure apparatus which the patients themselves would have received, Alicock said it was indeed a plus since, oftentimes, patients would have to leave their homes to visit the hospital just to check the status of their blood pressure. With the equipment, she noted that it is now more convenient for them to administer home tests.

“I know this is going to go a long way in ensuring that these patients monitor their blood pressure effectively”, she noted.

The bedside machines, Alicock explained, will be utilised in the emergency and outpatient departments as she pointed out that it would go a long way in ensuring that patients’ blood pressure is monitored efficiently so that care and treatment can be administered.

Hudson noted that growing up, he learnt from his mother, who always gave back in whatever way she could, more so through feeding programmes which she conducted.

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Some of the students at the awards ceremony on Thursday

he Department of Education of Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) honoured its top performers at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

At a simple ceremony held at the St Francis Community Developers auditorium, the top two National Grade Two Assessment pupils, most outstanding male and female at the National Grade Four Assessment, the top 10 students at the National Grade Six Assessment, most outstanding male and female at the National Grade Nine Examinations, the top 10 CSEC students and the top male and female student at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) were rewarded for their outstanding performance.

To qualify for the CSEC award, students would have had to register at least 10 Grade Ones inclusive of Mathematics and English.

Among the top performers were Darshanie Jadubir, who secured 16 Grade Ones and one Grade Two to top the Region.

The others included Yugeeta Kumar, who secured 14 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos; Pravena Bhoge (13 Grade Ones and Three Grade Threes; Sarveena Persaud (12 Grade Ones, three Grade Twos and one Grade Three) and Melisa Rama, who secured 12 Grade Ones.

The Region’s top NGSA performers were Chitra Ramdihal and Pawan Ketwaroo, both with 520 marks.

Gabriella Henry, Brianna Isaacs, Marissa Siriram, Vikash Nadesan, Jaeden Conway, Hemesh Bhigroog, Bhawanie Yabindranauth and Aedan Sanmoogan were among the other awardees.

The event was held under the theme “Quality education – a prerequisite for outstanding regional performances”.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kim WilliamsStephens underscored the importance of quality education, noting that it was the foundation for equity in society.

“Quality education focuses on the whole child – social, emotional, mental, physical and cognitive development of each student regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion or geographic location,” she noted.

The REO added that quality education also prepared children for life, allowing them to develop all of their attributes and skills to achieve their potential.

Education, she reminded, leads to success. “Awardees, you being here shows that you were able to nudge out your competitors and so congratulations,” she said.

Awards were also given to four athletes, who excelled at the National Schools Athletics Championships.

Region Six has two Districts, which represent the Region at the annual championships.

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IAST pushing local products to outshine imports

– ready for GuyTIE 2020

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hat started out as a quest to develop local products and add value has turned into a thriving and growing industry today.

Cereals, personal-care products, and condiments are now all being produced locally at the highest standard and export-ready quality. This is thanks to the work being done at the University of Guyana’s Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), the institution at the helm of several local companies – Morning Glory Inc, Rupununi Essence Inc, and Pakaraima Flavours.

The research and development organisation has been around for more than 20 years, and in that time, it has continued its drive to develop and perfect local products and enable them to meet or surpass internationally competitive standards.

IAST’s Marketing Head, Raveena Mangal stated: “What we do is research, and we develop products that are sustainable and utilise science and technology.”

This is all being undertaken under the directorship of world-renowned food scientist, Professor Suresh Narine.

“What we do is strive to create products and processes which utilise sustainable

technology. We show that local products can be better than imported products; not just in quality, but appearance, sustainable technology, sustainable science, and economics as well,” the Marketing Head said.

A standout product developed by IAST is Morning Glory Breakfast Cereal, which is a big hit with local retailers and consumers and has good export potential.

“Morning Glory has become quite a household name now and it’s a molasses-flavoured rice cereal,” Mangal explained.

Another product that the Institute has developed is the Rupununi Essence facial cleanser made from crabwood oil, coconut oil, and lemon-grass oil, which is the first product IAST commercialised. This was done through a partnership with the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry and the Medicine from Trees Group from Annai in Guyana’s Rupununi District.

“This is a women’s group that has previously produced crabwood oil. IAST went in through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and helped in packaging, in marketing, in branding, and in production through injecting science and technology in a manner which would increase the quality that they

IAST Marketing Head Raveena Mangal

were producing the soaps,” Mangal disclosed.

She said that all proceeds from this product go back to the Indigenous communities through the North Rupununi District Development Board

(NRDDB).

Pakaraima Flavours is another popular line of products the Institute

produces.

“Pakaraima Flavours produces ketchup and salad dressings that are made from sundried tomatoes that are grown on our very own mountains in Region Eight by the Indigenous communities there,” Mangal stated, noting that these products were the perfect combination of sweet and healthy as they contain 50 per cent less sugar than imported brands.

According to the Head of Marketing, the quality of these products is exceptional because they were produced according to strict quality standards. “Morning Glory has just actually won the [Guyana national Bureau of Standards] GNBS National Quality Assurance Award for overall quality in agro-processing, and for green initiative. That being said, it speaks to the standard of production that we have at Morning Glory Inc, and to all our other products as well,” she noted.

IAST is also working on expanding the brands it is helping to develop. A heart-healthy nutritional drink called “Sak” made

from derivatives of the purple potato is being prepared for market.

“We have new products in the pipeline for all our existing lines,” Mangal said. She announced that most of these new products would be available at the 2020 Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GuyTIE) where IAST would seek maximum exposure of its best products.

Mangal is hopeful that the event, which is slated for May 2020, will create new business opportunities for the various brands. They participated in the first event in 2018, and according to Mangal, “We did find it interesting.

It was one that allowed us to be exposed to a number of exporters and importers, so it gave us that exposure to them. We were able to build come contacts and showcase our products— not just to a local audience, but to an international audience as well.”

She stressed that IAST was looking forward to participating in GuyTie 2020 to showcase that its products were export-ready, to garner contacts “and get our products out there”.

GWI employees benefit NDIA commits $20M to from training programme

fight drought at BBP

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he National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has committed to spend $20 million to purchase fuel for Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) to assist farmers currently experiencing a drought.

This is according to Regional Chairman David Armogan, who met with NDIA Chief Executive Officer Frederick Flatts on Thursday last.

More than a week ago, the Regional Chairman had announced that the Administration had run out of funds to purchase fuel for the pump to take water from the Canje River.

He explained that only two of the five pumps were being utilised and the available fuel was likely to last for about 12 days.

Armogan explained that Government had cut the regional fuel budget by more than $60 million.

Ever since, farmers in Black Bush Polder (BBP) and the Number 52-74 Village area on the Corentyne Coast have been awaiting word on the way forward.

On Friday, however, the Regional Administration officially penned a letter to Flatts requesting assistance but according to reports received, the funds were not expected to be available un-

Participants of the training programme pose for a photo with the management of GWI and Chase Academy

Some Black Bush Polder farmers have decided that they will be going “into the crop”

til mid-week.

“We still have fuel to last out for more than one week and we have three pumps operating now in the Black Bush Polder,” the Chairman told Guyana Times.

On Thursday, Armogan wrote President David Granger seeking his intervention on the matter, which was very likely to impact the Region in a huge way.

According to him, he has asked the President to assist the Region to purchase fuel for the pump in the Black Bush Polder so that water could be pumped from Canje River to the Polders.

In the Black Bush Polder, there are 18,000 acres under rice cultivation and a further 3000 has

been producing rice in the Cookrite Savannah.

The Number 52-74 Village area has another 15,000 acres of rice and between Adventure and Number 51 Village, there are thousands of acres set aside for both rice and cash crops.

The areas depend on the pumps at Black Bush Polder.

Crops are dying on the Corentyne as farmers wait for water. Five pumps are normally put into operation. In fact, last year, a mobile pump was deployed to the area to bring the total to six.

Farmers are beginning to see hope, but most of them are still waiting.

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he Guyana Water Inc (GWI) has organised a Cross-Curricular Creativity Training Programme for 35 of its employees.

The opening ceremony of the Programme got underway on Thursday, November 16, 2019 in the boardroom of GWI’s headquarters, where it was revealed that the programme would be facilitated

by Chase Academy.

The programme targets employees who were never afforded the opportunity to complete high school.

It is, therefore, designed to give them a chance to learn core subjects such as Mathematics, English, Social Studies and other Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects, as well as write those exams.

Addressing the participants during the opening ceremony, GWI Managing Director, Dr Richard Van

West-Charles urged them to take advantage of the opportunity presented to them.

He assured the workers that the company was willing and ready to help them once they express the interest. The Managing Director further stated that it was the company’s responsibility to elevate staff from the level at which they entered the workforce, adding that if the company did not do so, then it has failed its human resources. The employees were advised to embrace this as motivation to move forward.

Dr Van West-Charles also encouraged them to drown out the naysayers who may not be interested in their personal development and would try to deter them from progressing.

Human Resources Management and Development Executive Director Elvis Jordan pointed out that management had

taken note of this particular need and, therefore, made the necessary arrangements to address it; hence, the creation of this programme. He told participants that his open-door policy would facilitate them receiving all the support they need on any subject matter.

Chase Academy Principal Henry Chase spoke of the legacy Chase Academy has created in achieving excellence. He noted that as long as the participants were willing to learn, his school was committed to their success.

The Cross-Curricular Creativity Training Programme will run for a period of one year, with classes scheduled for four days a week. Upon completion, the employees are expected to write CSEC examinations.

The 35 participants include craftsmen, sewer maintenance workers, pump operators, and labourers.

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monday, november 18, 2019

Regional

Haiti's President warns of humanitarian US border patrol

agency releases data on Caribbean operation

crisis, calls for support

H

aiti needs international support to tackle an unfolding humanitarian crisis, President Jovenel Moise said in an interview, two months into anti-Government protests that have exacerbated food insecurity in the Americas’ poorest nation.

Moise also told Reuters he was holding closeddoor talks with civil society groups and the Private Sector, as well as radical and moderate members of the Opposition in a bid to break political gridlock by creating a government of unity.

However the 51-year-old

President – who faces widespread anger over galloping inflation, rampant insecurity and allegations of corruption – would not say with whom he was talking.

Haiti’s leading Opposition parties have for months said the time for dialogue is over.

“We are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis,” Moise said in the interview on Friday in the garden of his home in the hillside suburb of Petionville, overlooking Port-au-Prince and the Caribbean Sea. “We need international support to get through this crisis.”

More than one-in-three Haitians need urgent as-

sistance to meet their daily food requirements, meaning nearly 3.7 million people, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said earlier this month.

But aid organisations are struggling to provide relief owing to protester barricades blocking roads, as well as gang violence and other crime. The WFP has said it is ready to launch air and maritime transport operations, but needs to raise US$2.9 million to do so.

Moise said his acting government had written to the Trump Administration requesting aid last month and the US Agency for

The dead man has been identified as 22-year-old Keith Morrell, a mechanic of Malvern Avenue.

Police reports are that about 16:30h, both men were standing on the roadway when they were allegedly approached by armed men who opened gunfire hitting them. The Police were summoned and Morrell pronounced dead

at hospital while the other man was admitted.

In the other incident, 30-year-old Andrew Morgan otherwise called “Pong”, of Fleet Street, downtown Kingston, who was shot and injured in his community on Friday, November 15, succumbed to his injuries.

Reports from the Kingston Central Police

are that about 18:55h on Friday, Morgan was sitting on a bench when he was allegedly approached by unknown assailant/s, who opened gunfire hitting him several times.

Morgan was taken to the hospital where he was admitted in serious condition; however, he succumbed to his injuries Saturday.

(Jamaica Observer)

that forced former President Evo Morales to flee into exile last week.

According to local media reports, the Opposition protests in Caracas and elsewhere in the country were big, but significantly smaller than those held earlier in the year.

"The political protests called by the Opposition against Maduro will have limited effects," analyst Carlos Pina told Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Maduro's supporters also took to the streets in different parts of the country in rallies billed as events to reject "destabilisation attempts against Venezuela's Government".

Some of the attendees held up placards in support of Morales, while Maduro denounced the lack of condemnation by United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet "on the massacre that is happening in Bolivia". (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

T Haitian President Jovenel Moise speaks with Reuters, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 14, 2019

International Development agreed to provide 2000 tonnes of food aid to address urgent needs. (Excerpt from Reuters)

2 men killed in downtown Kingston shooting incidents

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he Jamaican Police are reporting that two men are dead and another injured following separate shootings incidents in downtown Kingston.

In the first incident, a man was shot dead and another injured by unknown assailants on McWhinney Street, downtown Kingston on Saturday, November 16.

he United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released a summary of its fiscal year 2019 border enforcement operation in the Caribbean, saying that the initiative was possible through collaborative operations and partnerships with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

CPB said the operation has become “an integral part” of its procedures, “in order to manage illicit activity throughout the area”.

“CBP's Air and Marine Operations (AMO) played a major role in the determent of illegal activity throughout our coasts, through the coordinated use of integrated air and marine forces to detect, interdict and prevent the unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs and other contraband in the area,” the statement said.

It said AMO agents seized 67,615 pounds of narcotics and US$28 million in currency.

Throughout Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI), CPB said 1434 immigrants were apprehended for the federal fiscal year.

The Ramey Border Patrol Sector arrested and processed 562 immigrants and other federal, state and local partners' interdicted 876 migrants in the Caribbean Sea. The report also said immigrants with prior criminal history represented 28 per cent of the total apprehensions.

Ramey Border Patrol presented 159 immigrants for federal criminal prosecution; 83 of which had prior felony criminal convictions, CBP said.

Border Patrol Agents also seized 6010 pounds of narcotics.

After a decade-long US$12 million investment, with the Operation Stonegarden Grant Programme (OPSG), CBP said “municipal and territorial law enforcement have been able to work with the Ramey Border Patrol Sector to make a difference in protecting the border”.

It said enforcement actions have resulted in the seizure of well over 6400 pounds of narcotics, worth over US$45 million, and the apprehension of over 2000 illegal immigrants.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Venezuela: Rival rallies held as Guaidó calls for daily protests Trinidad: Sat

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housands of people in Venezuela have taken part in competing rallies held by the country's rival political factions, the first since July.

In the Opposition gathering in the capital, Juan Guaidó, who declared himself interim President in January, called on demonstrators to keep up the pressure on President Nicolás Maduro by staging daily protests.

"They thought they were going to put the Venezuelan people to sleep, they thought they had instilled fear into our hearts," Guaidó told supporters gathered in front of Bolivia's embassy in

The rival protest marches

Caracas.

"We are not going to give up. Bolivia took 18 days, we have been at it for years. I ask all of Venezuela to keep protesting ... every day on the street until we achieve it," he said, urging supporters to take inspiration from demonstrations in Bolivia

Bolivians queue for chicken and fuel as protests cripple highways

B

olivians languished in long lines on the streets of La Paz on Sunday to secure chicken, eggs and cooking fuel as supporters of ousted President Evo Morales crippled the country’s highways, isolating population centres from lowland farms.

Presidency Minister Jerjes Justiniano told reporters the Government of interim President Jeanine Anez had established an “air bridge” to supply La Paz, using planes to bypass

barricades on highways surrounding the highland capital. He said officials hoped to do the same with other cities cut off from supplies.

Bolivia remained in limbo one week after Morales, a charismatic leftist and former coca farmer, resigned on allegations of vote-tampering. Lawmakers have yet to agree on a date for new elections.

Morales fled to Mexico on Tuesday. But his supporters from largely coca-farming regions the

Andean nation have since taken to the streets, sometimes armed with homemade bazookas, handguns and grenades, barricading roads and skirmishing with security forces.

Some Morales supporters have demanded interim President Anez, a former conservative lawmaker, resign. Community leaders aligned with Morales in El Alto on Sunday were calling for a general strike today, raising the spectre of further supply shortfalls in the

nearby capital.

Anez has agreed to new elections, but also moved to quickly to implement changes in policy at home and abroad.

On Friday, Bolivia asked Venezuelan officials under the country’s leftist leader Nicolás Maduro to leave the country. Anez’s Government also accused Cuba, once a close ally, of stoking unrest following Morales’ resignation.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Maharaj passes on

S

ecretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha and a man who carved out a legacy for himself as a fighter, Satnarayan Maharaj, 88, has died.

He died at 12:01 am Saturday, eight days after he suffered a stroke.

Maharaj had been warded at Medical Associates in St Joseph in critical condition and Saturday his son Vijay Maharaj announced that he had been taken off support systems.

In the lead-up to his passing, over 100 pandits and devotees gathered at seven mandirs across Trinidad for pujas, havans and jaaps, as it was becoming clear that Maharaj may not have had long again to live.

The devotees chanted the Rudri, recited the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra and read from the Gita, chapters devoted on the journey after death.

A statement by Radio and TV Jaagriti said that Maharaj passed peacefully in his sleep.

"We are extremely grateful to everyone for their dedication of prayers and

Satnarayan Maharaj

offerings of support in varying forms and fashion," the statement said.

"As per Hindu traditions, Sri Satnarayan Maharaj was under the protection of Tulai Leaves and he also drank holy water from the most revered Triveni River.

In his dying moments, he clasped a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa which he always kept in his possession when he was alive."

The statement went on to say that his passing was "entirely free of any pain and suffering and was a smooth transition from this mortal world". (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, november 18, 2019

Around the World

Sri Lanka strongman Rajapaksa wins presidency by big margin

S

ri Lanka’s former civil wartime defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa was declared the winner in the presidential election on Sunday, after promising to secure the country against militant threats following Easter bombings this year.

Rajapaksa, who will be sworn into office in an ancient Buddhist temple today, is the latest nationalist leader to sweep to election victory, tapping into the anger and fears of majority communities.

In his first comments after defeating Sajith Premadasa, a Housing Minister in the current Government, Rajapaksa struck a conciliatory note, suggesting he would be leader of all Sri Lankans, regardless of their ethnic

President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa waves at his supporters as he leaves his house in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 17, 2019

and religious identities.

The election commission said Rajapaksa won 52.25 per cent of the votes in Saturday’s election, while Premadasa got 41.99 per cent, giving Rajapaksa

a far bigger lead than predicted by politicians and analysts.

Millions voted to elect a new President to lead the country out of its deepest economic slump in over 15

years, dragged down by its tourism sector following the bombings on April 21 which killed more than 250 people.

Rajapaksa and his brothers, who are expected to get key positions, are seen as closer to China than Premadasa. China has invested billions of dollars building ports, expressways and power stations in the strategic Indian Ocean island nation.

But these projects have also led to high debt levels for Sri Lanka.

Tamil political parties are strongly opposed to Rajapaksa, who has faced allegations of widespread human rights violations of civilians in the final stages of the war against the separatists in 2009. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Unions threaten to ground South Africa's aviation industry

S

triking unions threatened to shut down South Africa’s entire aviation industry on Sunday by extending industrial action beyond staterun South African Airways.

SAA has cancelled hundreds of flights since the strike began on Friday, saying the stoppage is costing 50 million rand (US$3.36 million) per day and jeopardising talks with lenders around much-needed funding, threatening its surviv-

17

al.

The carrier and unions representing over half of its workforce held negotiations on Saturday that ended without an agreement.

By Sunday, both sides were trading threats.

Phakamile HlubiMajola, spokeswoman for the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) which called the strike alongside the South African Cabin Crew Association, told jour-

nalists it was now consulting with its members at other organisations in the industry on a secondary strike.

She also said NUMSA had filed an application with the High Court to have the Board of SAA Technical, a unit of SAA that provides aircraft maintenance, declared delinquent, and said flights SAA has restarted were unsafe.

SAA’s acting CEO Zuks Ramasia called on the

unions to retract statements made with regards to SAA’s safety, saying that otherwise, the airline would consider taking legal action.

Their demands include an 8 per cent wage increase and for outsourced services to be bought back inhouse, and they also object to SAA’s plans to axe more than 900 jobs. They say workers are tired of taking the hit for years of management failures. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Iran petrol price hike: Supreme Leader condemns 'hooligan' protesters

Protesters clashed with Police and security forces in cities and towns across Iran after the price rise announcement [EPA]

I

ran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said he supports a fuel price rise that has sparked protests across the country.

The Ayatollah blamed "hooligans" and counter-revolutionaries for violence that has been witnessed in several cities.

At least one person is confirmed dead in clashes with Police but reports suggest the number could be higher.

Officials have warned of a tougher response if "illegal" actions continue.

Protests erupted on Friday after the Government unexpectedly announced it was rationing petrol and removing subsidies - sending prices up by 50 per cent.

The measures are the latest sign of pressure on the Iranian economy after the re-imposition of US sanctions. The Government said the changes will free up money to help the poor.

In a statement on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged that some people were "no doubt worried" by the decision to increase fuel prices.

"But sabotage and arson is done by hooligans not our people," he said, quoted by state TV. Following his comments a group of MPs withdrew a motion aimed at reversing the fuel-price increase, Iranian media reported.

Iran's state-run TV has accused "hostile media" of trying to exaggerate the scale of the unrest.

Under the new fuel measures, each motorist is allowed to buy 60 litres (13 gallons) of petrol a month at 15,000 rials (US$0.13; £0.10) a litre. Each additional litre then costs 30,000 rials.

Previously, drivers were allowed up to 250 litres at 10,000 rials per litre, AP reports. (Excerpt from BBC News)

UK Government and military Donald Trump tells Kim Jong Un: “Get the deal done” covered up war crimes – report

N

orth Korean leader Kim Jong Un must "act quickly" to reach a deal with the United States amid stalled negotiations between the two sides over Pyongyang's denuclearisation, US President Donald Trump said.

In a tweet on Sunday, weighing in on North Korea's criticism of his election rival former Vice President Joe Biden, Trump addressed Kim directly, referring to the one-party state's ruler as "Mr Chairman".

"I am the only one who can get you where you have to be," Trump's said. "You should act quickly, get the

In June, the two leaders had a surprise impromptu meeting at the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

deal done. See you soon!"

Trump has met Kim three times since 2018 over ending North Korea's missile and nuclear pro-

grammes.

But talks between the two sides on a deal for North Korea's denuclearisation stalled after a summit in the

Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, between Kim and Trump collapsed in February.

Working-level talks in Sweden last month also broke down.

North Korea said on Thursday it had turned down a US offer for fresh talks before a year-end deadline Pyongyang has set for Washington to show more flexibility in negotiations.

But Pyongyang welcomed the news on Sunday that joint US-South Korean military drills are being postponed in what US defence chief Mark Esper called an "act of goodwill" towards the nuclear-armed North.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Lebanon slips deeper into crisis after Safadi withdrawal

P

rotesters waving Lebanese flags rallied in cities and towns in their thousands on Sunday to mark a month of protests against the ruling elite as politicians struggled to form a Government and solve the worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.

Lebanon’s political troubles deepened further after the withdrawal of a top candidate for Prime Minister narrowed the chances of creating a Government needed to enact urgent re-

forms.

Mohammad Safadi, a former Finance Minister, withdrew his candidacy late on Saturday, saying it was too hard to form a “harmonious” Government with broad support.

Safadi was the first candidate who had appeared to win some consensus among Lebanon’s fractious sectarian-based parties since Hariri quit as Prime Minister on Oct 29, pushed out by sweeping protests against the ruling elite.

Late on Sunday large crowds of anti-Government protesters poured into cities and towns across the country against an establishment widely seen as venal, sectarian and incompetent.

Protesters who have filled the streets since Oct 17 hit out at the choice of Safadi, a businessman and longtime politician they said was part of the elite they sought to oust.

A second political source described efforts to form a new Government as “back

to square one”.

Safadi became the presumed front-runner for Prime Minister after a meeting between Hariri, a Sunni politician, and Shi’ite groups Hezbollah and Amal, according to political sources and Lebanese media, but no political force later endorsed him.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister must be a Sunni Muslim, according to its sectarian power-sharing system. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The Sunday Times reported military investigators discovered allegations of falsified documents that were “serious enough to merit prosecutions of senior officers” [Ben Stansall/Reuters]

T

he United Kingdom Government and the military covered up credible evidence of war crimes by British soldiers against civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to an investigation by the BBC and the Sunday Times.

Leaks from two Government-ordered inquiries into the conduct of troops in the conflicts implicated soldiers in the killing of children and torture of civilians, the investigation found.

The allegations include murders by a soldier from the elite SAS unit, as well as deaths in custody, beatings, torture, and sexual abuse of detainees by members of the Black Watch infantry unit.

Military detectives who unearthed evidence of the alleged war crimes told the year-long investigation by the newspaper and the BBC's Panorama programme that senior commanders hid it "for political

reasons".

"The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had no intention of prosecuting any soldier of whatever rank he was unless it was absolutely necessary, and they couldn't wriggle their way out of it," an investigator told the BBC. The MoD said the allegations were "untrue" and the decisions of prosecutors and investigators were "independent" and involved "external oversight and legal advice".

The accusations emerged from two war crime inquiries - the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) and Operation Northmoor, which dealt with Afghanistan - which ended in 2017 without any prosecutions.

The newspaper said the revelations could result in a war crimes investigation at the International Criminal Court if the UK was deemed to have failed to hold its military to account. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, november 18, 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

Don’t lose sight of your destination. Share your intentions and persuade others to get involved. Be exact and factual, and avoid taking on too much. Offer less but give more.

Look for a new adventure. Using your skills differently will give you a new outlet to explore. Make physical fitness, moderation and good health your goals. Romance will enhance your life.

Ask questions if something isn’t apparent. Keep a close eye on what others are doing. Take charge rather than let someone else make decisions for you. Say no to temptation.

LIBRA

Make personal improvements. Pampering and relaxation will give you a new lease on life. Say no to anyone trying to persuade you to do something that isn’t in your best interest.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

SATURDAY’S

Be open and up-front about your feelings and plans. Sticking to the truth will encourage others to support you and follow in your footsteps.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Gravitate toward activities and projects that you enjoy. Make an effort to improve your fitness and diet regimens. Love and romance will enhance your day and a special relationship.

Take on anyone who stands in your way. Make adjustments to your schedule to avoid missing out on something entertaining.

Encourage someone you care about to join your quest.

Don’t get involved in someone else’s drama.

Pursue your dreams. Find the path that encourages you to release what no longer works for you and to embrace what does.

Personal improvements can be made. Look at the budget you have to work with and concentrate on being and doing your best. Put your energy into things you enjoy doing.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Don’t expect everyone to agree with you. Be prepared to reveal precisely what you are trying to achieve to those who may challenge you. Intelligence will win over bravado.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Don’t stop until you get the results you are searching for. Be open to suggestions and to discussing your feelings and expectations.

Romance is on the rise.

SOLUTION FOr SATURDAY’S published puzzle

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Don’t let confusion set in or interfere with your ability to do the right thing. Make your position clear and don’t stop until you reach your destination.

monday, november 18, 2019

P

19

NBA round-up: George, Clippers pummel Hawks

aul George scored 37 points in only 20 minutes, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 150-101 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night despite playing without Kawhi Leonard.

George, who scored 25 points in the first half, converted 10 of 17 shots from the floor overall, including 6 of 11 3-pointers. He made all 11 of his free throws. George, who scored 33 points in his season debut Thursday in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, is 21 of 21 from the line in two games.

Lou Williams, who made 15 of 15 free throws, had 25 points off the bench for the Clippers, who snapped a twogame losing streak. Jerome Robinson contributed 21 points, and Montrezl Harrell had 17, helping the Clippers’ bench outscore the Hawks’ reserves 81-35.

Trae Young led the Hawks with 20 points to go along with six assists. Young, though, hit just 4 of 16 shots from the floor.

De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish each had 12 points, and Jabari Parker, Damian Jones and Evan Turner chipped in 11 apiece for Atlanta.

Rockets 125, Timberwolves 105 James Harden recorded his fifth 40-plus point scoring effort during Houston’s sevengame winning streak, posting 49 in a victory over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Hamstrung by a roster depleted by injuries, Harden took a career-high 41 shots. He finished 8 of 22 on 3-pointers

LA Clippers forward Paul George drives against Atlanta Hawks forward Cam Reddish (USA Today)

and added five rebounds and six assists over 39 minutes.

The Timberwolves led by as many as 11 points in the first half but struggled to contain Harden. They also missed the production of their second-leading scorer, forward Andrew Wiggins, who missed his second consecutive game (personal reasons). KarlAnthony Towns paired 27 points with 15 rebounds to pace the Timberwolves.

Trail Blazers 121, Spurs 116 CJ McCollum scored 32 points, and Hassan Whiteside

added 21 points and 12 rebounds as visiting Portland built a huge early lead, gave it all back and more, but then rallied for a win over host San Antonio.

The Spurs trailed by as many as 20 in the first quarter and 23 in the second, but rallied to take the lead in the third and lead by as many as 15 three minutes into the fourth quarter. Portland came back to tie the game at 111 after a putback layup by McCollum with 2:26 to play.

The Trail Blazers were the better team down the stretch, outscoring San Antonio 10-5

in the final two minutes to snap a two-game losing streak.

Damian Lillard added 22 points for the Blazers, and Rodney Hood hit for 16 points in the win. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with 30 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.

Bucks 102, Pacers 83 Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 26 points and 13 rebounds as Milwaukee ran off from host Indiana for a comfortable victory in a duel between the Central Division’s top two teams in Indianapolis.

The game was supposed to

be a reunion between Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon and his former Bucks teammates, but Brogdon was a scratch with a sore back that also cut short his playing time Friday night at Houston. Brogdon left Milwaukee in an offseason sign-and-trade.

Indiana held a four-point lead late in the first period before Robin Lopez hit a pair of jumpers, one a 3-pointer, to give Milwaukee the lead for good. The Pacers, who had won four in a row before losing Friday at Houston, never got closer than seven in the second half.

Mavericks 110, Raptors 102 Luka Doncic had 26 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and Dallas defeated visiting Toronto to snap a two-game losing streak.

Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Mavericks. Seth Curry and former Raptor Delon Wright each had 15 points, while Maxi Kleber and Dorian FinneySmith each scored 10.

Normal Powell led the Raptors with a season-best 26 points, and Fred VanVleet added 24. Pascal Siakam had 15 points and seven assists, and Matt Thomas had 10 points as Toronto completed a 3-2 road trip.

Nets 117, Bulls 111 Spencer Dinwiddie had a team-high 24 points, Joe Harris added 22 points and eight assists, and Brooklyn rallied for a win over host Chicago.

Taurean Waller-Prince added 13 points, and Garrett

Temple had 12 for the Nets, who ended a three-game losing skid. Jarrett Allen tallied 11 points, and Theo Pinson contributed 10.

Zach LaVine scored 36 points on 11-for-24 shooting for Chicago, which lost for the second time in three nights.

The Bulls received doubledouble performances from both Wendell Carter Jr. (18 points, 14 rebounds) and Lauri Markkanen (16 points, 10 rebounds).

Hornets 103, Knicks 102 Devonte’ Graham hit a career-high nine 3-pointers, scored 29 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left as Charlotte edged host New York.

The Hornets won their second straight game on a last-second shot. A night after Malik Monk’s buzzer-beater beat the Detroit Pistons to halt Charlotte’s four-game losing streak, it was Graham’s turn to complete a comeback from 15 points down early in the third quarter and from eight points down in the final 6:40.

New York held a 102-98 lead on Julius Randle’s dunk with 48.2 seconds left. After two free throws by rookie PJ Washington, Randle air-balled a floater with 12.3 seconds to go, setting it up for Graham.

After the timeout, Nicolas Batum inbounded the ball from near midcourt to Washington.

Washington made a bounce pass to Graham, who gained enough separation from Frank Ntilikina to hit the 3-pointer from well beyond the top of the key. (Reuters)

Champion Marc Marquez clinches 12th win of season

S

pain’s six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez won the final race of the season in Valencia to round off a superb campaign.

Marquez, who secured his latest world title by winning in Thailand in October, made it 12 wins for the season after starting second on the grid.

“It’s been a perfect season,” said Marquez. “It will be difficult to repeat.”

French rider Fabio Quartararo, who started on pole, came second.

Spain’s three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo finished 13th in his final race before retiring.

Lorenzo, 32, received rapturous applause from fans after the race.

Marquez said he would celebrate his successful campaign before planning for 2020.

“Now it’s time to enjoy it Tuesday starts 2020 season, but anyway amazing to finish in this way,” added the 26-year-old.

Quartararo, 20, finished fifth in the overall standings in his debut season.

“Who imagined that at the end of the season we’d have six pole positions, seven podiums? I can’t ask for more, really,” Quartararo said.

(BBC Sport)

Valencia MotoGP result 1 Marc Marquez (Spa/Honda) 41mins 21.46secs 2 Fabio Quartararo (Fra/Yamaha) +1.02

3 Jack Miller (Aus/Ducati) +2.40 4 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita/Ducati) +3.32 5 Alex Rins (Spa/Suzuki) +3.50 6 Maverick Vinales (Spa/Yamaha) + 8.82 7 Joan Mir (Spa/Suzuki) +10.62 8 Valentino Rossi (Ita/ Yamaha) +22.99 9 Aleix Espargaro (Spa/Aprilia) +32.70 10 Pol Espargaro (Spa/KTM) +32.97 Championship standings 1 Marc Marquez (Spa/ Honda) 420 points 2 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita/ Ducati) 269 3 Maverick Vinales (Spa/Yamaha) 211

4 Alex Rins (Spa/Suzuki) 205 5 Fabio Quartararo (Fra/Yamaha) 192 6 Danilo Petrucci (Ita/Ducati) 176

7 Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 174 8 Jack Miller (Aus/Ducati) 165 9 Cal Crutchlow (GB/Honda) 133 10 Franco Morbidelli (Ita/ Yamaha) 115

Marc Marquez leads in Valencia

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monday, november 18, 2019

National Schools’ Championships…

Districts 5 and 10 take 10K Gold

10K winner Morvin Hamilton Story and photos Jemima Holmes

T

he week set aside for gruelling athletics competition among the nation’s children has officially begun, as the National Schools Cycling, Swimming, Track and Field championships has officially begun.

The 59th edition of the championships was given the green light on Sunday afternoon by Minister of Social Cohesion with Responsibility for Sport, Dr. George Norton, after a colourful display and march past ceremony by the students who hail from every corner of Guyana’s reach.

The fifteen districts, namely North West (District

1), Essequibo Coast/ Pomeroon (District 2), West Demerara (District 3), East Coast Demerara (District 4), West Coast Berbice (District 5), Corentyne (District 6), Bartica (District 7), Potaro Siparuni (District 8), Rupununi (District 9), defending champions Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10), North Georgetown (District 11), East Georgetown (District 12), South Georgetown (District 13), East Bank Demerara (District 14) and New Amsterdam (District 15) will complete over the next five days to see who can dethrone the current champions, who have won the championships for the past

In excess of 1000 students will be in competition mode this week

4 years.

Following Minister Dr George Norton’s declaration of the Championships being officially opened, students from the defending champion district (10) proceeded to light the Games Torch. Soon after there was a rush of excitement and cheering in the Leonora Facility as the athletes from the first race of the 2019 championships charged to the finish line.

Morvin Hamilton, who is no stranger to the race, was finally able to bring home the gold to District 5 after finishing in 3rd place last year.

While sharing what the race was like for him, the youngster also shared his intention to break the record before his time at the championships

expires.

“Actually, the first 5K was very fast, but the second one, I took my time. But the other district was very close

behind me, so I actually had to pick up the pace a little bit when I came in. It’s actually the first time I got first place, and I want to break the record,” Hamilton stated.

Meanwhile, Tia Azore took home gold in the female version of the 10K race. Hailing from District 10, a smiling Azore stated that she is quite proud of her achievement.

“The race was so tight cause District 9 had me speeding to win this 10K. I trained very hard, and when you train hard it’s easy to win. I feel very, very proud cause this is the first year I’m doing this 10K,” she said.

The National Championships will continue today with the Cycling Championships at the National Park and the Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal. The track and field action will reconvene on Tuesday, and the closing ceremony is slated for Friday.

District 10 (Upper Demerara-Kwakwani) put on a show in their march past

Guyoil-Tradewind Tankers League…

Lodge humble Bishops’ 3-1

L

odge Secondary kept their slate clean in the fourth round of the 2019 Guyoil/ Tradewind Tankers Under-18 Football league when they sealed a 3-1 win over the Bishops’ High School on Saturday

A glimpse of the action

afternoon.

It was not an easy one for Lodge, as Bishops’ defense posed a threat to last year’s third place finishers. However, two late goals ensured that the boys clad in black

would breathe a sigh of relief.

A bit of a mix-up in front of the goal made way for Lodge’s first goal in the 6th minute of play.

The initial goal came off the boots of the consistent Dorwin George, who also plays the role of captain. While Lodge sought to keep it simple, the need for continuous scoring soon frustrated them when they were not able to penetrate the Bishops’ defense a second time.

To add more pressure, Bishops’ captain matched skills with George, as he, too, netted a goal in the 35th to equalize the scores. The half expired with the scores locked at 1-1.

In the second, the def e n s e on both sides held up for much of the half, until Earl Grant was able to sneak one past the Bishops’ custodian in the 54th for the lead. George returned in the 66th for another goal, to put his team in cruise con-

Dorwin George was instrumental for Lodge Secondary

trol.

W i t h too little time left on the clock, Bishops’ were unable to find the back of the net once more, resulting in their second loss of the tournament.

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, november 18, 2019

21

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T

eam India continued their fruitful campaign against West Indies Women with a five-run win at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence yesterday. In a match which began at 16:00h due to rain and was reduced to nine overs per team, West Indies captain Anisa Mohammed won her fourth consecutive toss and opted to field first.

India, resting two of their senior players, scored 50-7 Hayley in their allotted nine overs, Matthews while West Indies were restricted to 45-5 when nine was awarded overs expired. Earlier, India player of the match in a reached 50 with only Pooja losing effort Vastrakar top-scoring with 10.

Indian batting sensation, the 15-yearold Shafali Verma, smashed Hayley Matthews for a six, but fell in the same kept opening over when findshe held out to a fieldi n g er with the score on 8. fielders.

Jemimah Rodrigues, Vastrakar’s who had a ‘player of score of 10 was the the match’ outing in only double-figure the third T20I, was score. the second wickAfter West et to bite the Indies restricted dust with India to 50-7 in nine the score overs, it was evenon 16. tual Player of the Rodrigues found Kyshona Match, Matthews, Knight at mid-wicket, to give who ended with Matthews her second wick3-13 in two overs, et. The Indian batters, starring with the looking to score off evball on the slow ery ball, did not settle, as they Providence wicket.

McLean scored 10. Shemaine Campbelle ended unbeaten on five, but West Indies Women still fell short. Anuja Patil had 2-8 in her two overs, while Deepti Sharma and Rhada Yadav had one wicket each.

West Indies will play the final T20I on Wednesday November 20. This will be the 16th Women’s T20 hosted at Providence. (Brandon Corlette)

SCOREBOARD India Women Innings (9 overs maximum) Shafali Verma c Henry b Matthews 7 JI Rodrigues c Kyshona A Knight b Matthews 6 V Krishnamurthy c McLean b Matthews 5 H Kaur (c) st †Campbelle b Fletcher 6 DB Sharma b Grimmond 4 P Vastrakar c Henry b Grimmond 10 H Deol c Mohammed b Fletcher 0 T Bhatia † not out 8 AA Patil not out 2 Extras (lb 2) 2 TOTAL (9 Overs, RR: 5.55) 50/7 Did not bat: RP Yadav, M Joshi Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Shafali Verma, 0.5 ov), 2-16 (Jemimah Rodrigues, 2.1 ov), 3-20 (Veda Krishnamurthy, 2.4 ov), 4-30 (Deepti Sharma, 5.4 ov), 5-32 (Harmanpreet Kaur, 6.2 ov), 6-32 (Harleen Deol, 6.3 ov), 7-40 (Pooja Vastrakar, 7.5 ov) BOWLING: HK Matthews (20-13-3), A Mohammed (2-0-

13-0), ASS Fletcher (2-0-22), SS Grimmond (2-0-10-2), SACA King (1-0-10-0)

West Indies Women Innings (target: 51 runs from 9 overs) HK Matthews b Patil 11 CN Nation b Sharma 3 CA Henry b Yadav 11 NY McLean run out (Krishnamurthy/Patil) 10 SA Campbelle † not out 5 SS Grimmond c †Bhatia b Patil 2 SACA King not out 1 Extras (lb 1, w 1) 2 TOTAL (9 Overs, RR: 5.0) 45-5 Yet to bat: A Mohammed (c), S Gajnabi, ASS Fletcher, Kyshona A Knight Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Chedean Nation, 2.5 ov), 2-19 (Hayley Matthews, 4.6 ov), 3-31 (Chinelle Henry, 7.1 ov), 4-41 (Natasha McLean, 8.2 ov), 5-44 (Sheneta Grimmond, 8.5 ov) BOWLING: DB Sharma (2-08-1), RP Yadav (2-0-8-1), H Deol (2-0-14-0), AA Patil (20-8-2), M Joshi (1-0-6-0)

Brian Tiwari birthday tournament kicks off November 24 K nown widely for his philanthropy as well as his support for sports, popular businessman Brian Tiwari will celebrate his birth anniversary this year with a 9-a-side Inter-Ward Football Tournament, set to commence next Sunday at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground.

Organized by former national coach Lennox Arthur, the tournament will see twenty-four teams from all across the country competing over two days for prize monies and trophies worth in excess of $300,000.

The winning team will receive

$200,000; while second, third and fourth place finishers will take home $100,000, $60,000 and $40,000 respectively.

According to Arthur, the businessman has always been forthcoming in his support for sports, and has, in the past, repeatedly reached out to the sport of football; hence his preference to allow a tournament to be played in celebration of his birthday.

Among the teams invited to participate in this tournament are Casa Coima FC out of Venezuela, and GT Kanaimas, originally out of Kamarang

in Region 7.

Arthur added that the two teams had expressed an interest in competing in the tournament, and word is that they are stacked with players with immense talent, so fans could expect keen rivalry over the duration of the tournament.

The challenge to ward off the impending invasion will be spearheaded by teams such as hosts Den Amstel Kings, Uitvlugt, Plaisance, West Side Spartans and Stewartville.

The tournament will conclude on December 1st at the same venue.

Tsitsipas beats Thiem to win ATP Finals title A

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Afy Fletcher had 2-2 in two tight overs, while Guyanese off-spinning all-rounder Sheneta Grimmond had 2-10 in her two overs.

In reply, West Indies lost Matthews for 11 when she was bowled all ends up, exposing her stumps.

Chinnelle Henry, promoted to number three, hit a boundary in her 11 scored while batting at number three; and Natasha

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates winning the ATP Finals with the trophy (Reuters)

nerveless Stefanos Tsitsipas came from a set down to beat Dominic Thiem on a thrilling final-set tie-break and become the youngest winner of the ATP Finals in 18 years.

The Greek, 21, won 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to claim the biggest title of his fledgling career.

Thiem, 26, who edged a tight first set, fell away in the second and the start of the third before fighting back.

But Tsitsipas forced a tie-break, and then won it, at a raucous O2 Arena.

He collapsed to the floor after Thiem put a forehand return out on the first match point before the pair embraced at the end of a two-hour 35-minute battle, with the Greek kissing his beaten opponent on the

shoulder.

Tsitsipas is the youngest winner of the season-ending championships since Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt in 2001 and claims prize money of just over £2m.

“It’s been a roller-coaster. Holding this trophy is amazing,” the world number six said.

“It is a dream come true and the best way to end this match.

“I did get nervous at some points in the match but I managed to forget about how I felt and I had momentum in the tie-break, which was really tight.

“My fighting spirit and me constantly trying to push myself to do better got me there in the end.” (BBC Sport)

22

monday, november 18, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Crawford Memorial horse meet…

Goodwill Boy clinches Alness Classic and $500,000 reward Goodwill Boy storming to victory in the rain

L3 horses galloping at the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club Story and Photos by Brandon Corlette

G

oodwill Boy, piloted

by Ronaldo Appadu, defeated Gold Again and Miss Olympic in the Alness Classic, feature event of the Crawford Memorial One-day horse meet held yesterday at the Club’s sporting facility at Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

This event was reduced to a three-horse race, and heavy rainfall compounded the challenges facing the animals, but Goodwill Boy prevailed to obtain the win over the sixfurlong distance and claim the right to uplift the $500,000 purse and the Winner’s Trophy.

Sponsored by beverage giants Banks DIH Limited, this race was specifically held in

Rain did not stop an Asom Banner win

memory of Club President Ryan Crawford’s parents, the late Attorney-at-law Marcel Crawford and Mrs Crawford.

The day’s activities began in overcast conditions that prevailed throughout, and at 16:03h the heavens opened

and the rain continued, but the horses made their way in the starting stall at 16:42h for the 6-furlong feature event, which saw Goodwill Boy prevailing.

Nevertheless, hundreds of patrons were present to witness the exciting grand one-

day horse race meet. Opening the day’s activity was the L1 &Lower 1200 metre race. With four horses starting, it was First Prince, piloted by Jockey Kellman, that took top honors ahead of Bount to be True.

Temptation and Rosy were the

other two finishers in this race.

After a delay, the second race was run off, and it was all Ricky dominating the L3 class 1000-metre race. Piloted by apprentice jockey Krishna, Ricky produced an impressive burst of speed to outsprint Trench Town Rock (second). Nickals came in third position while Flash came in fourth among the nine starters.

In race three, which was completed in heavy rainfall, it was Asom Banner ridden

by Jockey Ajay that easily completed the victory in the J3 class 1200-metre race.

Asom Banner stormed ahead of Ebony Prince, who settled for second position. Uptop Boss and Sunday Silencer were the other two horses competing in the event.

Ricky took down Trench Town Rock

Harry is El Dorado Rums 2019 Golf Champion Notable wins recorded S Rio Indoor Street-Ball Championship…

R

The winners pose with Club President and three El Dorado staff. From left: Avinash Persaud, Club President Aleem Hussain, Rakesh Harry, Gavin Todd, El Dorado staffer, Fazil Haniff, El Dorado staffer, Paton George, Imtiaz Subhan, Ravindra Harry, El Dorado staffer, Jaipaul Suknanan, Alfred Mentore and Patrick Prashad

avi Harry produced the Best Net score for the day to win the El Dorado Rums 2019 Golf Tournament held at the Lusignan Golf Club.

He, however, barely edged out veteran golfers Fazil Haniff and Paton George by a single stroke.

There also was keen competition in the other two Flights, so much so that in the 0-9 Flight there was a 4-way tie for the Best Net! In the 0-9 Flight, winners and their scores were: 1st – Jaipaul Suknanan (71/9); 2nd – reigning Guyana Open Champion Avinash Persaud (71/2); and 3rd - former Captain Patrick Prashad (71/9), almost every week now in Winners Row. The fourth score was offered by veteran Mike Mangal – 71/8.

In the 10-18 Flight, winners were: 1st – Ravindra Harry (67/16); 2nd – Fazil Haniff (68/15); and 3rd – Paton George (68/18).

They were closely followed by Max Persaud (69/14); Dr Philbert London (70/18); Ayube Subhan (72/14); and George Bulkan (73/16).

In the 19-28 Flight, winners were: 1st -

Gavin Todd (69/19); 2nd – Imtiaz Subhan (70/19); and 3rd – Videsh Persaud (71/28).

Brian Hackett (72/23) and Shanella London (73/15) were close on the winners’ heels.

Specialty prize Longest Drive was won

by Alfred Mentore; Nearest The Pin by Satrohan Tiwari; Best Gross by Avinash Persaud; and Tournament Champion by Ravindra Harry.

According to Harry, who was eager to play, “I just wanted to enjoy my game, and everything coordinated well – my driving, chipping and putting.”

While DDL has been supportive of and involved in the Lusignan Golf Club, and with the Eldorado brand, in sponsoring tournaments for over 20 years, the El Dorado brand began sponsoring their own annual Tournament some 7 years ago in 2012.

The dependability of Eldorado and their maintained interest in the development of female and children golfers was reiterated by current brand Manager Maria Munroe at the press hosting earlier in the week.

parta Boss, Gold is Money, Future Stars and Leopold Street recorded wins on Saturday in the inaugural Rio Indoor Street-ball championship at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

Witnessed by a sizable crowd, Sparta Boss made light work of Kingston, winning by a 5-0 score. Veteran forward Gregory Richardson scored a first half hat trick compiled in the second, sixth and ninth minutes. The other two goals came from Dennis Edwards and Deon Alfred in the 13th and 15th minutes respectively.

Gold is Money also romped to a 5-0 victory over Gaza Squad. A hat trick from Michael Pedro compiled in the fifth, 10th and 12th minutes, along with goals from Keifer Brandt and Jamal Pedro, ended the contest easily.

Leopold Street defeated Broad Street 3-1 as Mark Jhalu scored twice, in the ninth and 18th minutes, while Okeeny Fraser scored in the 16th minute. Akeem Sam had netted what proved to be a consolation goal in the opening minute of play.

Future Stars got their campaign off to a perfect start, downing Stabroek Ballers 5-2.

Action in the inaugural Rio Indoor Street Championship

A Kevin Cummings helmet trick in the ninth, 12th, 14th and 15th minutes, alongside a Jamal Cozier second-minute conversion, secured the win.

Seon Taylor netted a brace in the fourth and sixth minutes for the loser. In other results, Showstoppers crushed Albouystown 6-2.

Doubles from Dexroy Adams in the 13th and 15th minutes, together with a double from Luiroy Nienelder in the seventh and 17th minutes and a Delon Lanferman double in the sixth and 19th minutes secured the result.

On target in the loss were Shaka Jones and Devin Dooker in the fifth and eighth minutes respectively.

Sophia got the better of Island All-Stars 3-1. The trio of Ryan Jeffrey, Joshua Kamal and Mervin Morris scored in the fourth, 12th and 18th minutes respectively. J. Jones netted for Island All-Stars in the seventh minute.

Alexander Village edged Melanie 1-0. Shem Porter scored in the 15th minute.

Action in the tournament continues on November 21st at the same venue with another round of group stage fixtures.

Among the sponsors of the event are Eldorado Trading, Unicon Guyana, Truck Masters, Trophy Stall, and Banks DIH Ltd under the Guinness brand.

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monday, november 18, 2019

23

Gurbaz’s 52-ball 79 gives Afghanistan series win R

ahmanullah Gurbaz starred with a 52-ball 79 as Afghanistan beat West Indies by 29 runs in the third and final T20I in Lucknow to win the series 2-1.

Gurbaz, who is known as a 360-degree player, struck six fours and five sixes in his knock and steered Afghanistan to 156 for 8.

West Indies’ chase never took off and despite a fighting 52 off 46 balls from Shai Hope, they could manage

only 127 for 7 and fell short by 29 runs.

Gurbaz steers Afghanistan after early wickets

Rashid Khan won his third toss of the series and opted to bat for the second time in as many games. However, his decision seemed to have backfired when Sheldon Cottrell reduced Afghanistan to 12 for 2 at the end of three overs. The left-arm seamer dismissed Hazratullah Zazai, caught at covers with a slow-

SCOREBOARD Afghanistan Innings (20 overs maximum) H Zazai c Lewis b Cottrell 0 R Gurbaz † c Paul b Pollard 79 K Janat c †Hope b Cottrell 2 I Zadran run out (Holder) 1 A Afghan c King b Paul 24 N Zadran c Pollard b Williams 14 M Nabi c Holder b Paul 15 R Khan (c) c Cottrell b Williams 0 G Naib not out 4 Naveen-ul-Haq not out 2 Extras (lb 4, w 11) 15 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 7.8) 156-8 Did not bat: Mujeeb Ur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Zazai, 0.5 ov), 2-12 (Janat, 2.6 ov), 3-44 (Zadran, 7.3 ov), 4-94 (Afghan, 13.4 ov), 5-120 (Gurbaz, 16.2 ov), 6-142 (Zadran, 18.1 ov), 7-149 (Khan, 18.4 ov), 8-151 (Nabi, 19.1 ov) BOWLING : SS Cottrell (4-0-292), JO Holder (4-0-26-0), KOK Williams (4-0-31-2), K Pierre (30-19-0), KMA Paul (3-0-26-2), KA Pollard (2-0-21-1)

West Indies Innings (target: 157 runs from 20 overs) LMP Simmons b Rahman 7 E Lewis lbw b Janat 24 BA King b Naveen-ul-Haq 1 SD Hope † c Afghan b Naib 52 SO Hetmyer c Afghan b Khan 11 KA Pollard (c) c Zadran b Naveen-ul-Haq 11 JO Holder c Nabi b Naveen-ulHaq 6 KMA Paul not out 4 K Pierre not out 1 Extras (lb 4, nb 1, w 5) 10 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 6.35) 127-7 Did not bat: SS Cottrell, KOK Williams Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Lendl Simmons, 2.1 ov), 2-16 (Brandon King, 3.5 ov), 3-42 (Evin Lewis, 7.6 ov), 4-80 (Shimron Hetmyer, 12.3 ov), 5-112 (Kieron Pollard, 17.2 ov), 6-118 (Shai Hope, 18.1 ov), 7-124 (Jason Holder, 19.2 ov) BOWLING : M Rahman (30-9-1), Naveen-ul-Haq (4-024-3), K Janat (4-0-33-1), G Naib (4-0-26-1), M Nabi (10-13-0), R Khan (4-0-18-1)

Afghanistan won the series 2–1 (HT Photo)

er one, in the first over the game and then had Karim Janat caught-behind in his next over.

Gurbaz though batted fearlessly at the other end, pulling Cottrell over midwicket for four before picking up Jason Holder over fine leg for his first six. He hit two more sixes in the next two overs, smashed back-to-back fours off Holder and brought up his fifty off 38 balls.

He and Asghar Afghan added 50 for the fourth wicket in just 6.1 overs. Asghar, who was dropped by Brandon King at deep midwicket off Keemo Paul, hit the bowler for a six two balls later. But Paul had his revenge on the next ball when Asghar topedged a hook to King, who had been moved to the square leg after the drop.

Gurbaz continued in the

same vein, moving across the crease like his idol AB de Villiers, and employing scoops and pulls as he scored 62 of his runs on the leg side.

He eventually fell in the 17th over while trying to hit back-to-back sixes off Kieron Pollard.

Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran’s late fireworks took the side past 150 as Afghanistan collected 93 from the last ten overs.

West Indies stumble in chase

Evin Lewis opened with Lendl Simmons, who recovered from flu and replaced Sherfane Rutherford, but the duo couldn’t give the start West Indies needed.

Simmons was castled while trying to cut a googly from Mujeeb Ur Rahman. King failed to pick up a slower one from Naveen-ul-Haq for the

second match in a row and was bowled as well.

Lewis, who had got off the mark with a boundary off the first ball, didn’t last long either and was lbw to Janat for 24. The batsman didn’t look happy with the decision - the umpires were quite inconsistent with their calls regarding wide balls throughout the match - but this time they got it right.

Lewis’ dismissal left West Indies struggling at 42 for 3 at the end of eight overs, with the required rate having gone well past nine.

Hope fights a lone battle

Hope, who came in for injured Denesh Ramdin, tried to keep West Indies in the game. He and Shimron Hetmyer took the side to 78 for 3 at the end of 12 overs.

For comparison, Afghanistan

were 75 for 3 at the same stage. The duo ran well between the wickets and were also helped by some sloppy fielding from Afghanistan.

Rashid broke the stand with Hetmyer’s wicket who mis-hit a googly to point.

Pollard and Hope too struggled against the Afghanistan captain, failing to read his variations. While Rashid didn’t take any more wickets, he conceded just 18 from his four overs. By the time he finished his spell, West Indies were left requiring 46 from 18 balls.

It wasn’t an impossible task with Pollard and Hope still in the middle.

But Naveen and Gulbadin Naib varied their pace - and lengths - intelligently and gave away just 16 runs in the last three overs to seal the victory. (ESPNcricinfo)

Jamual John clinches Oasis 50-mile race

Team Evolution rider and defending champion Paul De Nobrega finished in fourth, ahead of Balram Narine

Outstanding cyclists with officials and sponsors at the presentation ceremony Story and Photos by Brandon Corlette

N

ational cyclist Jamual John continued to show his class, clocking in at one hour 55 minutes and 12 seconds in the 10th annual Guyana Beverages Inc. Oasis-sponsored 50-mile race yesterday.

Lighting up the Corentyne roadways, 26 starters battled for supremacy, commencing the race from the Guyana Beverage Inc. Office at Palmyra and travelling

unto Number 36 Village and back for the finish at the point of origin.

John, in a tense sprint with three cyclists, finished ahead of Andre ‘Padlock’ Green, who rode in second position for the second successive year in this event. Green was followed by Team Evolution’s Christopher ‘Chicken Legs’ Griffith in third position.

In the second bunch, another Team Evolution cyclist, defending champion of the Oasis race, Paul DeNobrega, pedalled in fourth position,

followed by Flying Ace cyclist Balram Narine (fifth).

Other top finishers in the Open category included Kemuel Moses, who rode in sixth position; Deeraj Gharbharan (seventh), Marcus Keiler (eighth), Junior Niles (ninth) and Walter Grant- Stuart (tenth).

Griffith grabbed two sprint prizes, as did veterans Niles and Green. Andrew Hicks and John each had one sprint prize in the intense race.

Earlier, the race pedalled off in the presence of Region

6 Chairman David Armogan.

The top three veterans were Niles, Sybrume Fernandes (second) and Desmod Pattinson (third). In the 12-14 category, which saw cyclists pedalling off from Palmyra unto Number One Road at Benjamin Sports, Shazam Yacoob and Raj Mootoo emerged as top riders.

At the presentation ceremony, Cycling Coach and Organizer Randolph Roberts hailed the accident-free race a success. He further thanked Albert Boodhoo and

the Guyana Beverage Inc. for their continued support in this annual cycling event.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport after another win, Team Coco’s John was pleased with his dominant performance.

“Most of the time I was conserving my energy until the turn back point, where I see the opportunity and attacked. About four of the guys came down the road and the

race slowed down a bit”, John said.

Fresh from a stint in Cuba, John said the race was a good experience for him. “It was a great one, but more is needed to raise the level of cycling”, he said.

With the cycling season winding down, John said, this win is also important, as he has his eyes locked on finishing at the top of the points classification table.

monday, november 18, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

National Schools’ Championships…

Page 20

Districts 5 and 10 take 10K Gold

Tia Azore in action

The group of District 10 athletes led by Deshana Skeete were charged with lighting the torch

Jamual John Gurbaz’s clinches Oasis 52-ball 50-mile race 79 gives

Page 23

Afghanistan series win

Page 23

Consistent Jamual John finishing ahead of Green and Griffith

Rahmanullah Gurbaz plays the fine scoop (AFP)

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