Guyana Times, Saturday August 10, 2019

Indigenous Heritage Month 2019 launched

P14 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4011

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURday, august 10, 2019

PRICE

Opposition Leader, President exchange views on early elections

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GECOM P9 opens new offices in Berbice

See stories on pages 3 and 10

…Granger expects GECOM’s position within a week ... Irfaan Ali clarifies details of meeting

Passengers stranded as CJIA runway lights fail

Hundreds of Albion sugar workers P9 down tools …call for wage increase

Page 2

…American Airlines diverts flight to T&T

Labourer P8 charged for attempting to kill wife CMO warns public about consuming P13 expired medicines

Poor infrastructure affecting Orealla residents Page 15

These residents of Orealla Village have no other choice but to fetch commodities to their community because of the deplorable state of the road going uphill in their community (Andrew Carmichael photo)

Local Content Policy Thousands of within 1 month of coconut farmers now PPP Govt – Jagdeo …says many “carpetbagger” investors in Pomeroon factory closure

See story on page 7

Page 7

affected by shutdown Guyana taking advantage of underhand deals

National P13 Mining Syndicate Constitution launched

2 news

saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Passengers stranded as CJIA runway lights fail

…American Airlines diverts flight to T&T

Meanwhile, efforts by this newspaper to obtain a comment from American Airlines on the issue were futile.

Nevertheless, the CJIA assured that the main run-

H

undreds of passengers were left stranded after the runway lighting system at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) experienced a failure on Thursday night, forcing at least one airline to divert to Trinidad for landing.

According to the CJIA in a statement on Thursday, the airport’s runway lighting system had a failure as a result of a slack cable connection. But after the failure, sometime around 23:30h, portable runway lights were immediately deployed along the entire length of the runway.

The faulted cable was temporarily installed to facilitate the ongoing extension works on the runway.

A senior airport official explained to Guyana Times that the runway light cables are usually ran underground, but because of the ongoing extension works,

temporary cables are being used. These, it was noted, were run to the extreme ends of the runway.

“That is just a temporary arrangement, but when the runway is extended fully, (the cables) will go back down underground as it would normally be. The temporary cable got loose, it got slack and that caused the lights to go off physically and we had to use the portable lights,” the official said.

Nevertheless, the airport’s management assured in the missive on Friday

that the portable runway lights that were used complied with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

This allowed for the departure of the Suriname Airways flight shortly after midnight and the arrival of Caribbean Airlines flight BW 605 from Port of Spain around 02:12h on Friday.

However, Thursday night’s incoming American Airlines flight was diverted to Trinidad, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in Piarco International

Airport in Port-of-Spain and at the airport in Guyana.

Passengers who were on the diverted flight complained of being left at the Trinidad airport for hours with little to no word from the flight crew or airline representatives. The same plights were experienced by passengers scheduled to depart Guyana with that same flight.

“I can’t comment on the decision taken by American Airlines (to divert) but our runway was operational,” the official contended.

way lighting system has since been repaired for operations. According to the official, measures were also put in place to prevent a reoccurrence of Thursday’s incident.

Suspect in murder of “Diesel Boss” slapped with illegal gun, ammo charge

Charged and remanded: Marlon Bradley

T

hirty-six-year-old Marlon Bradley, who was wanted by the police for questioning in connection to the murder of Reginald Atherly, a mechanic who was gunned down during a robbery at his Guyhoc Park home, was on Friday hurled before the courts to answer to two counts of illegal firearm-related charges.

Bradley also called “Maley”, was involved in a confrontation with the police last Sunday and was shot to the leg after he allegedly “whipped out a handgun”, and pointed it in the direction of a cop.

After being arrested for the offence, Bradley made his first court appearance before Magistrate Leron Daly, who read the charges to him. He denied both charges - the first detailed that on August 4, 2019, at Cornhill, Stabroek, Georgetown, he had in his possession a .32 pistol without being the licensed firearm holder.

The second charge read that on the same date and the same location, he also had in his possession eight matching rounds of .32 ammunition in his possession.

Defence Attorney Dexter Todd in an application for bail contended that on the day in question, his client did not have possession of a firearm as he was in the company of his wife when he was shot without reason.

Todd further argued that Bradley was denied seeking medical attention for the gunshot wound he sustained since he was in custody for almost a week and according to his client, Police ranks at the Brickdam station poured methylated spirit on the wound.

Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor Traceyann Gittens objected to bail being granted on the grounds that a wanted bulletin was issued for him in connection with the murder of Reginald Atherly.

After listening to both the prosecution and defence, Magistrate Daly remanded the defendant to prison until September 6, 2019.

It was previously reported that two ranks Detective Corporal Cosbert and Constable Harris - approached the wanted man and as they were in the process of arresting him, he allegedly whipped out a handgun from his crotch and pointed it at Harris.

As a result, Harris drew his service pistol – a 9mm Taurus – and discharged a round in Bradley’s direction, thus hitting him to the upper left leg. He reportedly fell onto the ground and was arrested.

news

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saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Saturday, August 10 – 01:00h - 02:30h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Sunday, August 11 – 02:00h-03:30h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, August 10 – 12:40h -14:10h and Sunday, August 11— 13:50h – 15:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine throughout the morning and afternoon hours. These conditions will continue into the evening; however, there will be intervals of light rain showers. Clear skies will prevail during the night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to South SouthEasterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 12:38h reaching a maximum height of 2.16 metres.

Low Tide: 06:03h and 18:29h reaching minimum heights of 0.96 metre and 1.08 metres.

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Opposition Leader, President exchange views on early elections …Granger expects GECOM’s position within a week

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resident David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday met to continue discussions as it relates to the holding of early elections as ruled by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and mandated by the Constitution of Guyana.

During the nearly twohour-long meeting, the two political leaders shared their views on critical matters such as elections deadline, Houseto-House Registration, and the resignation of the Cabinet.

Speaking with reporters outside State House after the meeting, Jagdeo opted not to divulge any details on the exchanges, only saying that they shared their respective views. “[The meeting] was about sharing views. My views were shared there and I don’t think it is a secret what my views are on these matters… I think it’s early and hopefully we’ll meet again sometime soon,” the Opposition Leader posited.

The two sides have been at loggerheads since the June 18 ruling and subsequent consequential orders of the CCJ. The Trinidad-based regional court had upheld the December passage of the NoConfidence Motion against the Government, triggering Article 106, which states that the Cabinet including the President shall resign and hold elections within three months.

The Opposition has been contending that elections are to be held by September 18, which is three months after the CCJ validated the NoConfidence Motion. In fact, elections ought to have already been held since March 21, 2019 – but due to the court proceedings, this deadline was on pause.

Despite this, however, the coalition Government has been contending that in order for the upcoming elections to be “credible” then there needs to be a new voters’ list since the current one is “bloated”.

In fact, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which is also bounded by the CCJ ruling, went ahead and commenced House-to-House Registration which could delay early elections until February next year. The 22-day-old exercise, which is expected to last some three months, has so far netted over 150,000 registrations, reports say.

But Jagdeo contended that they are trying to hold elections as early as possible with a new database that is yet to be created. The National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD) consists of all registrants from the age of 14 and above. From that database, the voters’ list or Official List of Electors (OLE) is compiled.

Cognisant of the concerns of the Head of State about youths being disenfranchised if the current list is used, the Opposition Leader reiterat-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger greeting each other ahead of Friday’s meeting

ed that a new list can be compiled using the same database through a Claims and Objections period.

“That database, based on their timeline, would be ready until sometime next year, that is, the NRR. We already have a time-tested database that has run the gauntlet of four elections and we’re not using that but we’re planning to host elections in the near term on a database that we haven’t started creating as yet – not even knowing about the quality of the database as yet. It defies logic,” he asserted.

On this note, Jagdeo was further asked whether the Opposition would consider extending the timeline for the hosting of elections under any conditions. In response, he lamented the lack of reasonableness from the Government.

“Right now, we have not made a decision on that because there is no date and there is no reasonableness on the part of the Government…

I wanna keep an open mind on these issues but right now, we’re fast approaching a

deadline of September 18, beyond which the Government will then be practising unconstitutionally rule. In fact, the Government would be unconstitutional period,” Jagdeo told reporters outside State House.

According to Jagdeo, the Government and its GECOMnominated Commissioners continue to deliberately delay the elections and still expect the PPP to be reasonable.

The Opposition Leader noted that what should happen going forward is what he has already asked the President to do and he refuses to do, that is, issue a proclamation dissolving Parliament, name a date for elections and resign.

“That is a positive signal to start [from],” Jagdeo noted.

On the other hand, however, President Granger in a statement after Friday’s meeting insisted that GECOM has to first advise on its state of readiness before he goes ahead and names a date for polling day.

“I will continue to abide by the Constitution and pay attention to the Chairman

of the Elections Commission who will advise me… I made it clear that it is impossible if not impractical for me, even though in the final analysis I have to proclaim a date, I could not do so without the advice of the Elections Commission,” he said.

Nevertheless, it was noted that the Head of State is expecting that the GECOM Chair, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, will indicate to him within a week’s time the Commission’s position on the way forward as it relates to the hosting of early elections.

The President had met with the GECOM Chair and six Commissioners on Thursday.

“We agreed that it is the Elections Commission which is central to this process; it is an electoral process; it is not a governmental process or parliamentary process. It is an electoral process which is entirely in the hands of the Elections Commission…

We are looking to hear something, maybe in a week’s time.

At the same time, I would like to assure the public that the meeting today with the Leader of the Opposition was important and beneficial. It helped to clarify issues which still exist within the two sides.

There has been no agreement but greater clarity on the positions of the two sides,” Granger noted after Friday’s meeting with the Opposition Leader.

Accompanying the two political leaders during that meeting were Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Irfaan Ali and Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon.

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saturday, AUGUST 10, 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

Jordan’s unemployment remarks

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inance Minister Winston Jordan, a few days ago, received flak from some sections of the society over recent remarks he made in relation to the unemployment situation in Guyana. Jordan was reported in the media as saying that Guyanese are crying foul over the lack of job opportunities when foreign nationals are coming here and getting employment. He had opined that Guyanese are demanding high wages, hence, jobs often go to those foreigners who are willing to accept lesser salaries.

He said: “When you say there are no jobs, I’ve seen Venezuelans and I’ve seen Cubans, I’ve seen Brazilians, I’ve seen Nigerians and I’ve seen Haitians now getting jobs in Guyana – a country that supposedly doesn’t have jobs or you hear a lot of young people say, they ain’t got jobs. I’m not speaking lies, you have Haitian carpenters, Brazilians carpenters and plumbers and so on. So there must be jobs, the question is whether the job is paying what you want it to pay. For these (foreign) people yes, for some of the natives no”.

Even if this were the case, such a statement coming from a minister is very worrying to say the least. Jordan’s response to the troubling unemployment rate here could send the wrong message to young people. That is, if they (Guyanese) refuse jobs based on low wages or unacceptable conditions, it is no big deal for the Government, as foreigners could easily take up those jobs.

Jordan’s remarks are also at variance with what the coalition had promised in the 2015 elections campaign trail. They had promised that once elected, steps would be taken to provide jobs for young people so that they would choose to remain and work here, but four years into government, many are still waiting to see these promises fulfilled.

While it is not the Government’s role alone to create jobs, they have an obligation to the citizenry to ensure that a suitable environment is created for the private sector to thrive so that they could expand and open up new investments that would, in turn, provide decent jobs. It is the Government’s responsibility to ensure that the right policy mechanisms are put in place that would encourage and allow the manufacturing and services sector to grow. At the moment, businesses, particularly manufacturers, are finding it extremely difficult to operate here as a result of high taxation and unreliable and expensive cost of energy, among other factors.

A responsible government displays vision by initiating longterm measures for poverty alleviation, since generation of employment opportunities and equality in income distribution are the two key factors that are of utmost importance to deal with the dual problem of unemployment and poverty.

Young people are crying out for decent jobs and opportunities to develop themselves. Some persons who would have obtained the necessary skills and qualifications at the University of Guyana and other tertiary learning institutions have written letters to media complaining about the difficulties they are facing in securing employment. It is also not only the quantity, but also the quality of jobs that matters. Decent work is the best way young people can realise their aspirations, improve their living conditions, and actively participate in society.

A new Guyana Labour Force Survey in 2018 had found the unemployment rate here to be 12% in the third quarter of 2017, with high disproportions of both women and youth. Also, recent figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have estimated youth unemployment in Guyana to be almost 23 per cent.

There is need to scale up the most effective and innovative strategies so that more of our youth will find success and realise their full potential. In doing so, it is necessary for more collaboration between the public and private sectors to increase the scale of youth programmes and to seriously engage stakeholders in promoting job opportunities.

Policies and national programmes that provide incentives to enterprise to hire young people, promote youth entrepreneurship, and facilitate access to finance and to other targeted active labour market measures can also help in improving decent work prospects.

By simply dismissing the problem as one where Guyanese are refusing to take up employment because of their expectation of ‘high’ salaries, and foreigners willing to work for less money, shows the lack of vision on the Government’s part to address the unemployment situation here. With Guyana on the cusp of becoming an oil-producing nation, it is hoped that this is one area that would be placed on top of the agenda of whichever government is at the helm of power.

This young man hyped up the crowd on Friday with his song titled “Heritage Time”. Decked out in their cultural pieces, he and his brother performed the single at the media launch of Indigenous Heritage Month, hosted at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Greater Georgetown (Shaconeil Burnette photo)

Should President have met GECOM?

Dear Editor, On your news item on the President meeting GECOM (GT Aug 9), it is noted that GECOM is an independent agency that is not subjected to the dictates of Government (and by extension the official Opposition) although four of its seven members are appointed by the Government (President) and three by the Opposition. Not surprisingly, a lot of eyebrows were raised when the President invited GECOM members and the body’s CEO for a consultation (meeting) in his office. This is highly unusual. It may be the first such meet by GECOM in the country’s history. Many, particularly lawyers and academics, felt it was inappropriate for the Executive to meet with GECOM. Even ordinary business people and ordinary folks I spoke with felt it is not the President’s responsibility to meet with GECOM. The Executive meeting with GECOM was seen as “intimidating the body” towards election objectives especially when the body has begun preparations for elections. But the President explained that his meeting was simply to assure GECOM that the Government is willing to provide the necessary resources for the preparation of elections that are due as a result of the successful passage of a No-

Confidence Motion against his Administration. The President assured that his Government would not hinder the work of the Elections Commission, and he also stated he would respect decisions of the body. The President also called on all Guyanese to respect the independence of GECOM and its decisions. One Commissioner is reported to have described the meeting as a waste of time. The public is divided on the meeting on party loyalty with some supporting the President meeting GECOM and the others opposed to the meeting. GECOM must never be seen to be compromised.

The President and his coalition Government partners say they want Houseto-House Registration in preparation of a new voters’ list, but he said he would accept the decision of GECOM (really the new Chairwoman Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh) on the issue.

However, there is one problem on the President’s position on a date for election. The President has insisted that he would not call (announce a date for) elections unless GECOM tells him it is ready for elections.

And GECOM insists that a date is the prerogative of the President. GECOM does not have a constitutional date to set a date for elections. Even lawyers for GECOM and the Attorney General are

in agreement that GECOM cannot fix a date for elections. The procedure is the President fixes a date in accordance with the laws laid down in the Constitution.

Whatever date the President proposes, GECOM would respond and inform the Chief Executive if it can pull off credible elections by that date. In 2001, GECOM informed the President that elections were not possible on a proposed date and it was adjusted upon agreement by all parties.

GECOM usually needs three months to prepare for an election. The Constitution also caters for three months as indicated in the Article relating to the successful passage of a No-Confidence Motion.

Thus, GECOM must be in perennial preparation for elections just in case a Government loses a No-Confidence Motion. In fact, every country with a parliamentary system is always prepared for elections with a month’s notice. The body may need less time to update the voters’ list that was used last November for local elections.

GECOM’s hands are tied on House-to-House Registration until the court rules on August 14. GECOM meets on August 15 to review the court’s ruling.

GECOM is likely to accept the ruling. Justice Claudette would not want to defy the court’s or the CCJ’s ruling

using September 18 as a deadline for elections even though it is impractical.

The court does not have too much wiggle room on the issue of registration and an election date. The law does not cater for House-to-House Registration in light of the No-Confidence Motion in which elections are constitutionally due by September 18 as interpreted by our country’s highest court, the CCJ. That ruling supersedes all other decisions made by Gecom or lower courts or the Government. The CCJ’s ruling is the final law that cannot be reversed or defied in a democracy.

Will the High Court (Justice Roxane George) thread into the request of the Opposition on powers of the Executive to resign, dissolve the assembly, and fix a date for elections? The court is an independent branch of the Government and can’t thread into the powers of the presidency. The court can only interpret the law as indeed the CCJ did. The court is likely to repeat the judgment of the CCJ for the Executive to follow the Constitution which states the Government resigns and serve in a caretaker role as is the norm in any country where a Government lost a No-Confidence Motion.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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saturday, AUGUST 10, 2019

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APNU/AFC’s sinister messages, “dog whistle” overt threats to avoid elections Dear Editor, The newest element of a strategy to avoid elections totally or, at least, delay elections for as long as possible, even if laws are violated, is to issue threats in the form of a dog whistle. The obvious and sinister threats contained in the messages are clear and these threats are directed to certain people, including the new Chair of GECOM. Make no mistake, David Granger’s meeting with GECOM was a dog whistle in itself. APNU/AFC deliberately telegraphed to the media that Granger was meeting GECOM with a December date in mind for elections. That never happened, but the speculation fueled by APNU/AFC was sinisterly intended to telegraph to Claudette Singh that she should not consider any date before December.

Speaking on behalf of APNU/AFC/PNC, George Norton contemptuously declared they will consider

GECOM’s new Chair’s position on House-to-House (HTH) Registration in determining the way forward, thereby withdrawing the onus they placed on GECOM to determine the date for elections. Previously, with their hand-picked, illegally appointed Chair, a man placed at the head of GECOM to do the bidding of Granger and APNU/AFC, their position was whatever GECOM decides APNU/AFC and the country are bound by.

Granger abdicated his presidential duty to name a date for elections to GECOM, insisting the date for elections is the mandate for GECOM. Now that a new legally appointed Chair is in place who APNU/AFC is uncertain will unreservedly follow APNU/AFC’s dictum, their posture has changed. This is the genesis of Norton’s statement, giving notice, APNU/ AFC has no obligation to accept GECOM’s decision, even if that decision is based on

the law and on judicial mandates. It is a dog whistle, directed to the new Chair, she has no responsibility to determine elections timeline.

From their previous position, it was GECOM’s responsibility to determine when elections must be held, APNU/AFC has shifted to a position that the responsibility is entirely that of the President. Of course, both positions are wrong.

It is only the responsibility of the President to name a date within a constitutionally-mandated timeframe. At as this time, that date must be on or before September 18.

GECOM’s present HTH Registration, embarked on through the direction of the previously illegal Chairman, is in contravention of that constitutionally-mandated election timeline. The new Chair has responsibly indicated she is obligated to adhere to the Constitution and the law. In that case, she has

no alternative but to support the legally available mechanism to have a list available for elections within the constitutional timeline, presently by September 18. That legally available option is a Claims and Objections period, even the Chief Elections Officer conceded that. With Claims and Objections, elections is possible within the constitutionally-mandated three months. HTH Registration will not permit elections by September 18, it will extend the time unreasonably way beyond this date.

Every day, there is more evidence added to the already overwhelming evidence trove, APNU/AFC/ PNC, from the beginning, have done everything possible to prevent the holding of elections, which, in accordance with the Constitution, should have been held since March 21, 2019. George Norton’s vulgar pronouncement on HTH

Registration and Granger’s seemingly useless visit to the Commission are signals to the Chair, a dog whistle, telegraphing their intention to accept nothing other than a continuation of HTH Registration and elections sometime in the far distant future. These are clear signals to the new GECOM Chair that GECOM’s decision must be in accord with what APNU/AFC/PNC wants, not what is legal, not what the Judiciary says, not what the Constitution demands, or else.

APNU/AFC/PNC is determined to violate the Constitution, avoiding an election like the black plague. Each time, their delaying tactic faces a stern rebuke and a possible wall, they resort to bullying. When the Attorney General told an audience last Monday there will be “dire consequences”, invoking the fear of mayhem on the streets of Guyana, it was a frontal threat not to

dare stand in their way. It was not just a threat to the public, it was a warning to the GECOM Chair that she will be responsible for the mayhem in the streets if she adheres to anything other than what the PNC wants.

The nation is being held hostage by the PNC’s DNA, the genetics of fear, dictatorship and authoritarianism.

They do not believe in democracy, in peacefully giving up control of Government through free and fair elections. So far, they have bought an extra six months and it looks like they are on their way to expire another three months. How long will they defy the people, how long will they defy the courts, how long will they defy the Constitution, how long will they defy democracy? Too many people are still aiding and abetting them with their silence.

Dear Editor, It cannot be denied that the decision to commence House-to-House Registration activities by Keith Lowenfield, CEO of GECOM’s Secretariat, is outright irrational and consummate illegality, as it runs counter to the conduct of the constitutionally instructive position of the institution conducting elections within three months of the passing of the No-Confidence Motion. Aside from the welcoming pronouncements on the matter by the Leader of the Opposition, reports have confirmed that many citizens on their own accord have refused to cooperate in the orchestrated conundrum that advances a breach of the Constitution.

It is the view of this column that GECOM cannot successfully prosecute any citizen in this stead, given the published threats caused to be published by Lowenfield.

The deliberate and pervasive nature of this orchestrated illegality must be condemned from its biased intent to every glaringly abusive strand in its futile attempt to justify and cover-up. There has been conjured up falsified reports regarding the success of the ongoing illegal House-to-House activities, which is nothing but a proliferated smothering of fraudulent spending at the GECOM Secretariat level that would be very revealing with a forensic audit and the devious players must be held accountable.

The Governmentcontrolled Chronicle Newspaper in particular recently reported the completion of in excess of 150,000 registrations. This high propaganda mouthpiece of the Government has been most vocal in putting a spin regarding the flawed success of the activities. Essentially, the reports attempt to in-

fluence the considerations of the Judge in the ongoing court challenge, which seeks to halt the unnecessary process by arguing that GECOM cannot complete the activities in time to support the holding of Regional and National Elections by “three months” (September 18, 2019 timeline, after the instructive rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Politically, the results of these ongoing ‘flam’ registration activities cannot stand up to scrutiny and should not be accepted by the Opposition or any other civil stakeholder affected by the process.

While the registration forms include signature areas for countersigning validation by Opposition Scrutineers, only the PNC/APNU Scrutineers are signing. This is because administratively, the GECOM Secretariat did not inform and request from the PPP Chief Scrutineer the Opposition list of Scrutineers to work during the House-toHouse Registration. At the same time, in several areas, the PNC scrutineers are directing the chosen GECOM enumerators to homes of known PNC supporters and bypassing those of perceived PPP/C supporters.

This column gives acknowledgement of space for performance to the new GECOM Chairwoman Justice Claudette Singh, in light of the recent appointment and unenviable task of addressing all relevant matters and immediate priorities of the institution. However, the public view of GECOM itself emphasises the need for sanitation of its Secretariat as many of the operators within contaminates.

With a focus on holding of elections at the earliest date, the Honourable Chairwoman Justice Singh will have to address and remedy several priori-

ties over time. Included is the fact that it is the Commission which has the sole responsibility to hire staff for GECOM and the abuse of the delegated approach drives the need for urgent review. It is very serious that deals relating to the procurement of the necessities/equipment for the House-to-House Registration were secretly worked out and manipulated at a public city hotel and bar, and invariance with the procurement laws. Reliable information regarding the already leaked details clearly exposed what and who was in the hotel and bar.

Further, the present House-to-House Registration is a farce, as the training for enumerators was inadequate. They all complained bitterly that the training received was without the ink kit and the cameras. The cheap cameras are not performing well resulting in a poor level of work. Enumerators are forced to repeat transactions several times and as a result, registrants are complaining that they do not have time to waste. Further, the cheap ink kit is causing serious fudging, and the enumerators are forced to return and repeat the taking of fingerprints.

Enumerators can be seen liming at shop corners for hours and speaking to friends because they are only interested in prolonging the work to stay on the job as long as possible. Enumerators are of the opinion that with poor work, they will have to be a longer period for remedial work and they will benefit financially. There is also evidence of enumerators taking registrants’ photos with their cell phone cameras. Many of the homes are bypassed by certain enumerators, which will suggest that they have an agenda of registering certain persons only.

A better system than this to pay an eighty thousand dollars tax-free monthly, was to pay the enumerators per transactions. Paying for the properly completed forms would have ensured quality work and the desperation to register everybody so both GECOM and the enumerators will benefit. Very laughable is the fact that the enumerators are asked to walk with cardboards to put as a backdrop when taking the registrants’ photographs.

One enumerator confessed that she was told to go to a certain house and do the transactions. The residents were reluctant to speak or give any information. All they do was to bring out their ‘brand new stiff birth certificate. These persons were not willing to sign their names and they said, “you go no sign”. It is a clear indication that these are people who are non-Guyanese and are not accustomed to the given name on the birth certificates.

Enumerators are also worried about the risk of their contribution to working against the CCJ ruling which makes it clear that this House-to-House Registration is illegal.

The Honorable Chief Justice Roxane George will rule on the House-to-House challenges on August 14, 2019. While this nation awaits her ruling, tensions are getting sky high and people from all walks of life are talking about the arrogance of the APNU/AFC. More and more Guyanese are condemning the delaying and dodging of National and Regional Elections by the Government. It is clear that our people want to get out of all this uncertainty as instability looms over our country and the coalition Government continues with all manner of corruption.

It is significant that GECOM’s Chief Election

Officer Keith Lowenfield, Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward and Legal Officer Excellence Dazzell, had all said after the passing of the No-Confidence Motion, that GECOM is ready for National and Regional Elections. The Chief Elections Officer only recently disclosed to the media that the currently expired voters’ list could be updated and cleansed to conduct credible elections by a Continuous Registration cycle followed by a Claims and Objections exercise, which would be used to include new registrants and delete the deceased. GECOM is ready for elections and it is imperative that they give the

green light to the President for immediate elections.

This present House-toHouse Registration is riddled with corruption, confusion, deregistration and ultimate disenfranchisement of many Guyanese. The current untrained enumerators are not competent enough to be efficient and should not be blamed. It is known that they did request a refresher training course, but they were catapulted into a process to justify corruption of prolonging and agony. The time is most opportune for all those in authority to uphold our Constitution!!

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

H2H Registration is illegal

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

6

saturday, AUGUST 10, 2019

Page

Foundation

A “bird by bird” approach to homework struggles

an easy way to make secret codes for kids S

…some ‘short assignment’ strategies for helping children with their homework

By David Krauss, PhD

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oday’s article was prompted by a bit of summer vacation reading: Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.”

It’s the first full week of August, September is just a few weeks away and a new school year is on the horizon. This season, for some neuro-developmentally atypical children and their parents, is a time of gradually building apprehension and even dread: HOMEWORK IS COMING. Yes, homework, which for some, can mean meltdowns, conflicts, late nights and exhaustion, each and every night.

The author, when speaking with her adult and young adult students about overcoming blocks to creative writing (if this likely seems far away from your own child and life, bear with me as the connections will soon become clear) recommends breaking overwhelming tasks down into ‘short assignments’ that are easier to tackle.

She shares a story from her childhood: “I also remember a story that I know I’ve told elsewhere, but that over and over helps me to get a grip: Thirty years ago my older brother, who was 10 years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilised by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’”

How can we help our children or adolescents take their homework ‘bird by bird’?

Separate each assignment For Maths homework, copy each problem onto its own sheet of paper or

fold a worksheet in a way that only one or a few problems are visible at a time. If using a computer, format the screen or document so that it is clear that your child is working on only one problem at a time. When it is time to read, sit with your child and read the first sentence, have your child read the next, and then repeat. Very gradually increase (you read one sentence and your child reads two, and so on) the amount your child reads.

Use flashcards When memorising facts for a test, create and use flashcards. Older children reading longer books or novels can use e-readers (such as a Kindle or Nook) or e-reader apps.

These allow one to highlight while reading and then, with a ‘click’ of a mouse, convert these highlights into flashcards.

Take turns When completing writing assignments (yes, writing is usually the biggest challenge and triggers the most upset) you can alternate sentences with your child and very gradually increase the amount your child writes. Encourage your child to write just one sentence at first, or if you’re helping an older child, just one paragraph. You can also allow your child to dictate their thoughts aloud to you and then modify what they have dictated.

Take breaks Use a clock or kitchen timer. Set it for five or 10 or 20 minutes (consider your child’s age) of work. Frame this as a ‘sprint’ then a (short) break exercise.

Remember to use positive reinforcement.

Always socially reinforce each step, each success, and each experience of competency with energetic praise, hugs, fist bumps, etc.

You might want to add comments such as, “You are becoming a person who can work hard, and keep going when frustrated.”

Perhaps, if repeated often and with love, your child might begin to internalise these

Cipher wheel:

comments as their own ‘self-talk’ or even core beliefs about themselves.

Lamott describes her own writing struggles and the strategies that work for her: (Note that despite those struggles, she now writes well and for a living.) “. . . . I finally notice the one-inch picture frame that I put on my desk to remind me of short assignments. It reminds me that all I have to do is to write down as much as I can see through a one-inch picture frame. This is all I have to bite off for the time being. . . . I remember to pick up the one-inch picture frame and to figure out a one-inch piece of my story to tell, one small scene, one memory, one exchange.”

Lamott adds: “EL Doctorow once said that “writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” You don’t have to see where you’re going; you don’t have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you. This is right up there with the best advice about writing, or life, I have ever heard.”

Approaches and strategies such as those found in this article, and Lamott’s way of thinking about writing, may be helpful for some neuro-developmentally atypical children and their parents, but not for others. To paraphrase an oft-cited Henry Murray quote: We are all like all other children and parents, like some other children and parents and like no other children and parents.

A good way to know what works for your child and what does not is to experiment (try something out, see if it works) and individualise (take account of you and your child’s strengths and weaknesses and personality traits). Also, be persistent (give each approach a thorough try, and be willing to move on and try another). Most importantly, be accepting and forgiving of your child and yourself. (psychologytoday.com)

py kids must be able to secretly exchange messages... An easy way to create secret codes for kids is this buildyour-own cipher wheel.

One of the main tasks of spies is to exchange messages, while at the same time keeping the

y o u r encrypted

contents a secret from anyone who may intercept it. The activity of making a message unreadable for others is called “encrypting”.

If you want to make the message readable once again, you have to do some “decrypting” of the message.

For both “encrypting” and “decrypting” you use the same code. This code is called a “cipher”.

Cipher wheel assembly instructions If you want to exchange messages with others, create one cipher wheel for each: Print the two wheels you find below, on thick paper (or paste it on thin carton).

Cut out both wheels. Make sure you don’t cut off the black triangle on the smaller one!

With a sharp point, make a small hole in the middle of both wheels.

Join the two wheels together (small one on top of the big one) with a split pin or cotter pin.

You’re ready to create your own secret codes for kids!

Message encryption Here’s how you can use the cipher wheel to encrypt a message in such a way that only a friend with the same cipher (wheel) can read it: First, write down your message. Only use letters from the alphabet. No numbers (write them out), and no punctuations.

For example: JOHN IS IN LOVE WITH QUINTY The cipher wheel contains only 24 characters. For a “J” put in a “Y”, and for a “Q” put in an “O”.

For example: YOHN IS IN LOVE WITH OUINTY Select a single character from the alphabet (except “J” and “Q”) and write down that character as the first letter of

message.

For example: YOHN IS IN LOVE WITH OUINTYH (for this example, I’ve chosen “H”).

Rotate the upper wheel until the black triangle points to the character you have just selected. This character is called the “Key”, you’ll need both the cipher and the key to be able to decrypt the message.

IMPORTANT: Make sure the triangle keeps pointing to the key character during the encryption of the message!

Now, for each letter of your message, find that character on the outer wheel, and write down the letter that is exactly beneath it on the inner wheel.

When finished, you’ll have your encrypted message!

For example: YOHN IS IN LOVE WITH OUINTY HVDAC LW LC FDKP SLRA DHLCRV Don’t forget to destroy the original message!

Message decryption Once your friend has received your (encrypted) message, s/he must follow this procedure to make it readable again: Look at the first character of the secret message. This is your key. Rotate the upper wheel of your cipher until the black triangle points to that character. Scratch that first character, as it’s not part of the message.

IMPORTANT: Make sure the triangle keeps pointing to the key character during the decryption of the message! for each letter of your message, find that character on the inner wheel, and write down the letter that is exactly above it on the outer wheel.

For example: VDAC LW LC FDKP SLRA DHLCRV YOHN IS IN LOVE WITH OUINTY OHN IS IN LOVE WITH OUINTY Check the Y’s and O’s, if the message makes more sense with a J or a Q instead.

Don’t forget to destroy the message after you’ve read it!

Have fun creating your own secret codes for kids!

And remember: TOP SECRET!

(topspysecrets.com)

news

7

saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Local Content Policy within 1 month of PPP Govt – Jagdeo …says many “carpetbagger” investors in Guyana taking advantage of underhand deals

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isclosing that foreigners are benefitting from underhand deals by the caretaker coalition Government, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that if the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wins the upcoming national elections, then within a month Guyanese can expect a Local Content Policy.

Speaking at his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo alleged that there are many “carpet bagger” investors coming here to take advantage of underhand deals and are benefitting from land giveaways, at a time when the Government should be in a caretaker mode.

“In Diamond (East Bank

Demerara), the Trinidadians are coming in and getting a ton of land there and a lot of them are paying bribes.

I don’t have a problem with Trinidadians coming here and investing but not in this period. The ‘carpet baggers’ are coming. I heard that (Social Protection Minister) Amna Ally and others who went to Trinidad, and a private businessman who took the team for the investors’ conference in Trinidad, have been brokering these arrangements. So they met with the people and give donations in Trinidad and they are offered land here now too,” he disclosed.

The Opposition Leader noted that this situation is particularly worrying espe-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

cially in the absence of a Local Content Policy to protect the interests of Guyanese.

“Let me tell you something about local content.

Pomeroon factory closure

Thousands of coconut farmers now affected by shutdown

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ver since the closure of its operations due to improper waste dumping, Fat Boy Coconut Ventures in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) has committed to paying the $1 million fine imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

However, a bigger problem lies now that some 3000 coconut farmers have been placed on the breadline.

On Friday the company stated that the facility remains closed and harvest continues to spoil, owing to a steep decline in demand for coconuts. According to the company, reports in the media suggesting that Government has allowed them to continue operating are untrue.

“We recognise that the livelihood of the majority of the farmers in the Pomeroon River is heavily dependent on the harvesting, processing, sale and export of coconuts and their by-products from the region and we know that this sudden loss of stable and predictable income for their crop has had a severe negative impact on the farming community…We also wish to confirm that our processing facilities remain closed, and regrettably, farmers’ crops continue to spoil with little to no demand for them, contrary to the recent ministerial outreach that…Government has decided to allow the country’s largest coconut water facility to continue operation,” Fat Boy Coconut Ventures said.

The EPA had imposed the penalty for dumping shells and husks into canals which lead into the Pomeroon River.

While they have expressed

willingness to pay the fine, there has been no definitive timeline as to how long this situation will endure.

Presently, consultations have begun with relevant officials as well as exercises to find a solution independently.

“Fat Boy Ventures Inc is working with local and foreign consultants to resolve the issues with the EPA and subsequent closure of its processing facility which has unfortunately resulted in thousands of farmers being placed on the bread line. We cannot definitively say for how long this situation will continue.

Our Quality Assurance and Quality Control operations teams have been conducting an in-depth diligence exercise to try to find solutions swiftly, independently of the EPA.” Meanwhile, the bottling facility also called out the EPA for failing to present solutions to address waste management woes in the interior locations.

“Although the EPA is the regulatory agency in charge of environmental protection, it has failed to offer any practical and innovative suggestions to the waste management challenges unique to the Guyana interior and surrounding terrain,” the closed company expressed.

According to the company, for now they have managed to convince overseas buyers of the bottled coconut water that the product can be supplied consistently on the international arena despite present challenges.

“We have also actively engaged our overseas buyers to reassure them of our continued reliability as a consistent and sustainable supply source of coconut products to the regional and international export markets. So far, they have indicated a willingness to continue buying from us.”

Guyana Times understands that the bottling plant is the largest purchaser of coconuts from the Pomeroon region, and the finished product has proven to be a major foreign exchange earner.

President of Pomeroon Coconut Farmers Association, Glenrick Ali had indicated last week that the closed facility was the most dynamic in the Caribbean, processing 15,000 nuts per day. Now, only one other bottling facility remains, which cannot ease the current production rate.

Before the Government changes, almost all of the opportunities that are going [to] be available for our people are gonna be gone… There is no Local Content Policy. We will become second class citizens in this country because this Government doesn’t care, and is not looking out for Guyanese and is part of these deals,” he stressed.

According to Jagdeo, while Guyana can benefit from the expertise of its Trinidadian neighbours, he believes Guyanese should be able to broker the same benefits as foreigners.

“When are you gonna protect our people; when you gonna have the courage to protect our people through a solid Local Content Policy...

I don’t have a problem with people from Trinidad coming here. I believe they have a lot of expertise in the oil and gas sector, we need skilled people but they must come in transparently and Guyanese must have the opportunity to access the same resources they are getting now at this rate,” he contended.

To this end, the Opposition Leader went on to say that “we have to have a Local Content Policy – within the month of a new PPP Government – that emphasises Guyanese benefitting from these things.”

In recent years, pressure has been mounting

from stakeholders, including the diplomatic community here, for the coalition Government to have a Local Content Policy in place so that Guyanese can benefit from the budding oil and gas industry.

The local Private Sector bodies and other stakeholder agencies had expressed dissatisfaction with the slothfulness in which the local content laws are being developed. Calls are constantly being made for the policy to be finalised before first oil in the first quarter of 2020, when United States oil giant, ExxonMobil is slated to commence production in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

However, Energy Director Dr Mark Bynoe last

week disclosed that the first draft of the Policy is completed and that they are working on establishing a Compliance Unit to monitor data from the sector and ensure that the oil resources are managed prudently. He had promised too to have issues raised by Guyanese addressed.

The Local Content Policy would guide the State in guarding against local companies being bypassed for contracts and services while foreign companies and workers are favoured.

But last month, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had stated that activities in the oil and gas sector are moving full steam ahead without the critical piece of legislation.

8 News

saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Labourer charged for attempting to kill wife A 35-year-old labourer, who allegedly beat his wife mercilessly with a piece of wood on the public road last month, made his first court appearance at the Albion Magistrates’ Court, Berbice, on Friday after he was slapped with an attempted murder charge.

Sunil Rajpaul, also called “Catsuit”, of the Number 65 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was remanded to prison.

He was not required to plea

since the charge was an indictable charge which stated that on July 6, he attempted to murder Oma Devi Lochan.

Reports are that the duo were walking along a street in Number 65 Village when an argument ensured.

The prosecution is contending that it was during that confrontation that Rajpaul picked up a heavy piece of wood and began to beat Lochan. Most of the

wounds inflicted upon the woman were severe and were dealt to her head.

After beating his wife in public, the man then left the injured woman there and ran away from the scene.

Lochan was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital by public-spirited persons, but was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital for emergency treatment.

However, because of

the extent of her injuries, Lochan was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment.

A Police report was made, but Rajpaul had gone into hiding. However, he was spotted on August 6 by a Police rank in New Amsterdam, Berbice, and was immediately arrested.

The case will continue on September 4.

Georgetown, with intent to commit murder or cause grievous bodily harm, he wounded Ovid Barrow.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that on May 14, Peters and the 20-year-old Virtual Complainant were involved in an argument over an old grievance.

According to the prosecutor, an annoyed Peters whipped out a knife and dealt Barrow several stab wounds about his body then fled the scene.

The victim was picked up by public-spirited persons and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he underwent emergency surgery and was admitted to the health facility. Peters was later arrested and the present charge was instituted.

Prosecutor Jeffers further informed the court that Barrow received stab wounds to his back, shoulder and arm. He, howev-

er, did not object to bail, but submitted that should bail be granted, conditions should be imposed.

As such, Chief Magistrate McLennan granted Peters bail in the sum of $100,000 and ordered him to report to the East Ruimveldt Police Station every Friday until the completion of the trial. He was also ordered to stay away from the VC. The case will continue on August 15, 2019.

East Ruimveldt man on attempted murder charge released on bail

C

hief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday granted bail to 25-year-old Trillion Peters, who appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with an attempted murder charge.

Peters, a construction worker of Lot 664 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which detailed that on May 14, 2019, at East Ruimveldt,

More…

O

…PNC intimidation ne of the Opposition Commissioners on GECOM said the meeting of the full body – including the newly-appointed Chairperson Justice (retired) Claudette Singh – requested by caretaker President Granger at his office, was “a colossal waste of time”. PM Nagamootoo, fighting desperately to remain in the running for the PM spot after being ignored by his AFC colleagues, fired back in his Chronic that the Commissioner was “rude and disrespectful to the executive”!! His rival Ramjattan was also at the meeting, so your Eyewitness suspects Nagamootoo used his position at the Chronic to get in some serious brown-nosing with Granger!!

But while your Eyewitness disagrees vehemently with Nagamootoo, he does believe the Commissioner was focusing too much on himself – and probably what else he could’ve done with his morning – to conclude the meeting was a “colossal waste of time”. The meeting, in fact, served to reveal Granger and the PNC’s thinking on several matters that are engaging the nation’s attention. Firstly, what will be the ruling by Chief Justice (acting) George on the legality of the H2H registration challenged by Ram? We now know he doesn’t believe Justice George will fall for his nonsensical insistence that H2H is the only path to “credible” elections! And why should she? The GECOM’s legal officer Excellence Dazzell pronounced that such a course is in fact illegal – in light of the CCJ’s ruling and that Claims and Objections would do just as well… while satisfying the constitutional demands of Art 106 (6) for elections within 3 months!! The UNDP team that scoped out GECOM said H2H wouldn’t remove uncertainty about the veracity of the list. And so on…The only person who insisted on H2H was Granger’s hand-picked Chair James Patterson!

Forget Granger’s unctuous assertion that his meeting with GECOM was to show “respect” to the Commission!

He was doing nothing less than trying to influence – and possibly even intimidate – the new Chair Claudette Singh by insisting once again that H2H is the way to go. With the Commissioners evenly split between the Govt and the Opposition, in the end, it’s Singh who’ll make the call as to when GECOM believes it can be ready. If George rules for an early date in this year, he needs Singh as a backstop to George – and THAT’s the reason for the meeting!!

Granger refuses to acknowledge his CONSTITUTIONAL duty to issue a proclamation to dissolve Parliament and to set a date for elections (Art 61). It’s only AFTER he’s announced his date can GECOM declare whether it can meet this, or it needs more time.

IF it shows there’s “danger or hardship” – Art 162 (2) … which there ain’t!! …Granger’s “B’s” After being catapulted into the leadership of the PNC through the machinations of a faction led by Robert Corbin, David Granger has been assiduously working to secure his position since he had never been in the party per se. At a function in Atlanta, not long after the election, he confessed he’d always been a PNC member. Must’ve been from the days when all army officers swore fealty to Burnham!!

Anyway, folks seem to have missed that Granger’s not only painting anything that doesn’t move PNC green, but he’s desperately trying to build a personal base. Someone must’ve advised him that one way to garner supporters is to help their children; so Granger quickly launched his “3 B’s” initiative. He started to dole out Buses, Bicycles and Boats to transport kids to school. Then he expanded that to 5 B’s – adding “Books and Breakfast”.

But this doesn’t mean he’s ignored the PNC’s adult base after the internal (rigged) elections that side-lined Carl Greenidge.

For them, he’s been offering them another “B” – Bullshit!! …publicity than ever Superstar Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is married to a top Bollywood star Anushka Sharma – who accompanied him to Guyana for the ODI. Their pic in front of “Shanta’s Puri Shop” was seen by his 38 million followers and her 34 million!!

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

news

9

saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hundreds of Albion sugar GECOM opens new workers down tools $50M offices in Berbice …call for wage increase

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Some of the protesting workers

undreds of sugar workers employed at the Albion Sugar Estate, Berbice, downed their tools since Thursday as they call for a pay increase.

This action has severely affected operations at the sugar estate, and those who are on strike action are calling on the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to address the matter before they resume duties.

According to the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU), since 2015, the wages of sugar workers have been “frozen” and there has been no increase allotted to those workers for the past four years.

In a statement to the media on Friday, GAWU said that “the naked discrimination against this hardworking group of the State’s employees manifested through denials of pay increases and attacks on other longstanding benefits and conditions coupled with an ever-rising

tax burden, among the other hardships of contemporary Guyanese life, have severely eroded the workers and their families purchasing power and by extension, their standard of living”.

The Union argued that the protesting workers at the Albion Sugar Estate are “peeved over the arbitrary hiking” of the Estate’s weekly production targets, as they contended that the increase in the Estate’s targets from 2,100 tonnes of sugar to 2,140 would be disadvantageous.

As such, it will prevent the Estate from reaching the target and, thereby, affect incentives arising on the attainment of the target.

“The workers argue, quite correctly, that the inability to achieve target through the arbitrary increase could well daunt their commitment and belie the notion of the incentive in the first place.

Additionally, workers engaged in the mechanical loading of canes are up-

set regarding what they believe is an unnecessary change in their hours of work”.

According to the GAWU, another issues is that the “bell loader operators” would usually commence duties daily from 06:00h and cease work at 18:00h during the cropping period. However, GuySuCo now requires these workers to work from 10:00h to 22:00h.

Another issue, the Union said, regards the workers engaged in the mechanical tillage tasks, who have rightly disagreed with the arbitrary downward adjustments of their pay rates pertaining to certain tasks. The Union is awaiting a meeting with the Industrial Relations Department of GuySuCo to address the matter.

In light of the series of complaints by the sugar workers, GAWU is urging GuySuCo to address the matters as soon as possible. According to the Union, only then will the workers resume their duties.

The Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Coast Demerara (Enmore) estates were closed in December 2017, leaving thousands of workers jobless. The Wales Sugar Estate was the first to shut down in 2016. Only three estates are currently in operation – Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt.

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he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) on Friday commissioned two new offices in Corriverton and Whim, Berbice.

The office at Corriverton was constructed at a cost of $27 million, while the one at Whim cost $24 million.

The Corriverton office will be catering for some 19,000 voters.

Additionally, the Whim office will cater for some 27,000 voters— stretching from Number 51 Village to Kilcoy— and covers 10 Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) areas.

Whim’s new GECOM office

GECOM, he added, should have their own land and buildings in order to function efficiently.

“So that at no point in time, anyone will have to remove us from where we are located. In the current context of our social envi-

The new GECOM office in Corriverton

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield explained the establishment of new offices is one of the mandates given to GECOM. “Wherever we are located, it is incumbent on our officers who will be working in those respective areas to be afforded very comfortable working areas.

We can deal with all of the persons needed to be treated with in their respective locations,” Lowenfield said at the commissioning.

ronment, it is even more impactful that we own buildings where we discharged the mandate or vision of GECOM”.

Meanwhile, newly-elected GECOM Chairperson Retired Justice Claudette Singh explained the Act of 2005,

which paved the way for local registration offices.

“By way of an amendment to the National Registration Act, it paved the way for the establishment of one or more registration offices in each registration district, such as this office here,” the Chair said.

She called on residents to make full use of the office and called on staff to listen to the needs of the communities.

However, the GECOM Chair warned that whatever is done, must be done in accordance with the law.

“I want to tell you that this is an offence if you refuse to register. The law says that you will be fined.

The penalty is a fine and imprisonment. So, I just want that to be clear.

When you register, you will receive your ID card that’s for business; so they are all the benefits, but the law says you should register and allowed to vote,” the GECOM Chair added.

10 news

saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Irfaan Ali clarifies details of meeting Burnt 7-year-old leaves today for overseas treatment See full statement below: I feel compelled to respond to a press release from the Government, in relation to a meeting held today between the President, Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, and Irfaan Ali— given the one-sided nature of this release. The release only emphasised what the President said at the meeting. I, therefore, wish to set the record straight. In his opening remarks, the Leader of the Opposition made reference to his letter requesting the dissolving of Parliament, naming of elections date, and the resignation of the Cabinet. He further highlighted the weird interpretation of the CCJ ruling and Constitution by some members of Government.

The Leader of the Opposition pointed out the requirement, both in the Constitution and in the CCJ’s ruling that indicates that the Cabinet should resign. He said not to do so meant non-compliance with the Constitution.

He further read sections of the CCJ’s consequential order, which clearly obligates the President and GECOM to comply with Article 106 of the Constitution. He pointed out that the CCJ argued that it did not set a date, but the timeline holding of elections is unambiguous and did not need interpretation to make them intelligible. He said that after September 18, the country will enter a period of unconstitutional rule.

He urged the President to discharge his responsibility, dissolve Parliament, and name a date for elections.

He explained to the President that the reason that there was a recourse to the court to stop the House-to-House Registration was the absence of the Commission and the use of the secretly gazetted order signed by the former Chairman of GECOM, Justice Patterson.

He shared a copy of the work plan of the Secretariat presented to the Commission in March 2019, which showed H-t-H Registration, if adjusted for the delays in starting the field exercise, resulted in a new NRR early next year. He concluded that we cannot talk about credible elections in a timely manner and insist on discarding a time-tested National Register of Registrants in favour of a new database that is now non-existent, will have several flaws, and will take several months to create.

…SHEA, Rotary Club sponsor US$40,000 trip

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even-year-old Shaniya Atiya Persaud, who is nursing third-degree burns on 97.8 per cent of her body at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), is scheduled to depart Guyana today for treatment in Galveston, Texas.

Persaud’s case was presented to Saving Hands Emergency Aid Inc (SHEA), a charity which began work on transporting her to the United States for emergency lifesaving treatment.

SHEA has secured treatment for Persaud in the Texas hospital which will be delivered free of charge.

However, due to the severity of Persaud’s injuries, the child can only be transported to the hospital via an air ambulance. The air ambulance cost approximately US$40,000.

Half of that sum was provided by SHEA while the other half was acquired by the Rotary Club of Georgetown, which received donations from the public.

The child’s travel documents, which were burnt in the fire, have since been replaced and as such she will depart Guyana today for the United States. <<<Guyana Times>>>

Shaniya Persaud

previously reported that Persaud’s face was completely burnt along with most of her body, but surprisingly, the child is conscious and responds to doctors and relatives through the use of her fingers.

The child, who is being described as brave, walked out of her burning North Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home after it was on fire on Sunday last.

The three children – Shaniya along with her nine-year-old and 13-yearold brothers – were left at home alone while their mother went to a wedding

nearby. Reports are that there was a power outage and a candle was reportedly lit by the children’s mother which was reportedly left burning.

However, at about 01:00h on the Sunday morning, the children were awoken by intense heat. The two boys reportedly saw flames and quickly ran out of the house.

Shaniya, who was still asleep, reportedly told relatives that she woke up to find her feet on fire. The child told her family members that she was unable to see but walked through the fire and out of the house, into the streets.

After hearing her name being called out, the child reportedly responded, however, by that time, her skin was burnt off.

The child was quickly picked up and rushed to GPHC and remained conscious for the entire ride talking to family members.

Her mother reportedly showed up to the scene of the fire in an intoxicated state.

This allegedly led to a family dispute, with several accusing relatives reportedly being banned by the mother from visiting the child at the hospital.

11 Police file charges against SuperBet operators news

saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…GPF has no authority to institute such charges – lawyer …Magistrate adjourns matter, no charges read

F

ollowing civil proceedings filed by Guiana Holding Inc at the High Court to reverse the decision of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), which requires that the company submits a certificate of Good Standing as a condition prior to the issuance of a Betting Shop License under the provisions of the Tax Act, several SuperBet operators specifically in the areas of Georgetown and the East

Bank of Demerara were summoned to appear in court on Friday to answer charges filed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The Georgetown agents Devanand Singh, Rhonda Josiah, Kurt Sunich and Devendra Gangaran all appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, meanwhile, the East Bank agents namely: Roumayne Dunn, Lachman Fredrick, Jessica William and Hamauth

Satayadeo appeared before the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

At the case hearings, Attorney Anil Nandlall appeared on behalf of the operators and made preliminary objections to the charge being read to them,

Religious scholar denied bail by CJ pending rape case hearing Thirty-three-year-old Nezaam Ali – the Muslim scholar who was earlier this year sentenced to 45 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a nine-year-old boy in 2011— was on Friday denied bail by Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire at the Demerara High Court, ahead of an appeal hearing.

This ruling was subsequently handed down to a bail application that was made by attorneys of the convicted rapist.

Attorneys Glen Hanoman and Latchmie Rahamat, on behalf of their client, requested that the court release Ali on bail, citing his present health complications.

However, reasons presented as to why this request should be granted were found to be insufficient by the Chief Justice, and resulted in her denying the same.

Shortly after having a 45-year sentence imposed on him, Ali, through his attorneys, filed an appeal which is seeking to overturn the conviction and sentence handed down by Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court back in March of this year.

In the appeal grounds, the Attorney pointed out that the learned trial Judge (Navindra Singh) erred in law when he refused to accede to the request of the appellant for a short adjournment to ensure the attendance of the legal representative of his own— a lead counsel for the appellant— resulting in a miscarriage of justice.

Other grounds detailed that Justice Singh failed to put Ali’s case in an acceptable way to the jury, and misdirected them (ju-

dered that the case be reopened. Ali was later re-committed to stand trial at the Demerara Assizes in 2018.

Convicted: Nezaam Ali

rors) as it relates to medical evidence presented throughout the trial.

Ali is accused of sexually molesting nine boys between 2011 and 2012, but was only found guilty on one count of rape.

The charge read that between December 5 and 31, 2011, while being a teacher attached to the Turkeyen Masjid, he engaged in sexual activity with the child, abusing a position of trust.

As it is, Ali is yet to answer to eight other counts of rape at the High Court.

Ali, of Lot 268 Section C 5, South Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, was first charged back in 2012 with raping the nine boys.

However, after being committed to stand trial in 2013, the matter was stalled for some time after birth and medical certificates for the lads had gone missing from each of the nine files.

The parents and relatives of some of the alleged victims had, in the past, publicly expressed their frustration at the situation. One parent had even claimed that there was a deliberate attempt to drag the matter out.

In 2017, however, there was a turn of events when the Director of Public Prosecution’s Chambers, in a letter, or-

as well as an application that the charge be dismissed as an abuse to the process of the court. This, the lawyer said, is on the basis that the charges were instituted and are being prosecuted by the GPF, an agency that has no authority to proceed. The Magistrate did not read the Demerara charge but rather adjourned the matter to August 16, 2019. On that occasion, the prosecution is expected to disclose information regarding the authority which authorises them (GPF) to institute and prosecute the charge

along with the identity of the person who reported the matter.

After the court hearings, Nandlall in providing more details on the matters explained to media operatives that the only agency which has the authority to institute and prosecute such charges against these SuperBet operators is the GRA. On that note, Nandlall pointed out that it was confirmed that the GRA is unaware of the said charges.

“I confirmed this morning (Friday) before going to court that the Guyana Revenue Authority is unaware of the charges, they did not authorise the police either to investigate, institute or prosecute these charges…The authority to do so is the GRA and the

GRA has not authorised the prosecutions, and the charges are being prosecuted with improper methods to carry out a vendetta by someone powerful in Government and the GPF [is] being used as an instrument to this executive vendetta.” He stated.

In addition, Nandlall underscored that pending the dismissal of the charges, the persons charged will be advised to sue the police and Attorney General for compensation of malicious prosecution.

The matters are being heard before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Providence Magistrate’s Court and Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

12 news

saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Several contracts, job applications now published in Indigenous languages

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ith Indigenous languages facing threats of going extinct, new measures have been put in place to preserve this aspect of the Indigenous culture.

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams on Friday acknowledged that Indigenous languages are the primary communicational medium for many tribes.

As such, it poses many challenges in their daily routine when everything is broadcasted or printed in English.

For this, contracts and job applications are now translated and published in the various languages and these persons can now inter-

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams

mit programmes from Radio Aishalton in some of the nine dialects.

“Applications for employment and contracts were recently published in the indigenous languages. Radio Aishalton, launched in 2018, carried broadcasts in the various Indigenous languages,” Hastings-Williams informed.

While English is a second language to many Indigenous children, it is the language in which national examinations are articulated. The Education Ministry is now seeking to introduce native languages in schools across the Indigenous regions.

Meanwhile, the State Minister noted that these tribal languages are also beneficial for persons from the coastland, who are stationed in hinterland communities for employment.

For some time, the language barrier has been a challenge.

“We are looking forward to nationalising. That I mean, if a policeman decides to go and serve in the hinterland, we’re having some challenges simply because that office cannot relate. For example Baramita, their first language is Carib and so for a police or probation officer to communicate directly with them, it’s

a challenge. He or she hasn’t learned before going in there so there is that gap… and how can we learn this if we don’t have a mechanism whereby people on the coast get access,” she stated.

There are nine Indigenous tribes in Guyana, namely Arawak, Arecuna, Akawaio, Carib, Macushi, Patamona, Wapichan, Warrau and Wai Wai. The United Nations had declared 2019 the year of Indigenous languages under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The theme: “Indigenous languages are important to sustainable

development, peace-building and reconciliation” was chosen to raise awareness of the consequences when Indigenous languages are endangered across the world.

According to the organisation, there are approximately 6000 to 7000 languages in the world. About 97 per cent of the population speaks only four per cent of these, while the remaining three per cent speaks the other 96 per cent of languages.

It is estimated that a majority of these dialects are spoken by Indigenous people and continues to disappear at an “alarming rate”.

Drug eradication fight in Region 10 bearing fruit – Commander

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egion 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has been identified as one of the top two locations in Guyana where several major cannabis busts and fields with cultivated marijuana were unearthed since the start of the year but much work is being done to curb the phenomena.

This is according to Commander of E Division (Linden-Kwakwani), Senior Superintendent Linden Lord, who told Guyana Times on Friday that a lot of progress has been made by

Police ranks so far in 2019 for the eradication of several large marijuana fields.

He stated that by destroying those fields, it ensures that the problem would be “nipped in the bud” since the sources of supply for persons who sell and transport the illicit substance, would no longer exist.

“We are also planning another eradication exercise quite soon. Some of the men went into the areas and found some places and we are putting a team together to head to those lo-

cations. We are intensifying our searches and working to clamp down on the cultivation of marijuana here,” Commander Lord stated.

It was further explained that while the marijuana fields destroyed in Region 10 are predominantly owned or cultivated by residents hailing from Linden it should not be overlooked that persons from other areas and even regions cultivate marijuana in Region 10 as well.

“Yes, you nip it in the bud by destroying the farms and then people cannot

Police Commander Linden Lord

transport marijuana if their farms and plants no longer exist. While you hear of folks getting caught heading from another region to Georgetown with cannabis, you don’t hear that much about people from Region 10 because we are working hard to destroy the fields with marijuana. That way they cannot supply anyone anywhere,” the Police Commander added.

Three months ago, Head of the Police Narcotics Branch, Senior Superintendent Kurleigh

Simon had told Guyana Times that the reality of the situation is that the leading regions for cannabis cultivation since the commencement of 2019 have been identified as Linden in Region 10 and the Berbice River locations in Region Six. Simon said that in the first quarter of the year, the Police Narcotics Branch had already completed in excess of 15 eradication exercises in Berbice, and these were done in more than 30 fields where marijuana was being cultivated and harvested.

OPR probing Police shooting of Sophia man

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he Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting of a Sophia, Greater Georgetown resident, 25-year-old Patrick Goodluck, by Police.

Goodluck, who is bat-

tling for his life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), was shot by a police rank on Saturday last.

Reports are that the man was shot to his back at about 17:00h in the vicinity of his Lot T 72 North Sophia home.

Guyana Times previously reported that Goodluck’s sister said that she heard screams and inquired what had transpired when she was informed that her brother had been shot by the police.

As such, the young woman and other relatives rushed to the Prashad

Nagar Police Outpost where Goodluck had been taken. However, upon arrival there, the family was told that the man was taken to the Sparendaam Police Station.

While there, Goodluck began crying out for severe pain so the ranks escorted him to the GPHC where he was admitted and placed under police guard.

After being examined by a doctor, it was uncovered that a bullet was lodged in Goodluck’s spine.

According to the family, to date, they have not been informed by the police as to what led to the shooting.

However, on Tuesday last the man underwent surgery to remove the bullet but uncertainties still linger whether he will ever walk again.

His family is calling for justice since Goodluck’s sister is alleging that her brother has been the target of the police for a lengthy period.

According to the wom-

Patrick Goodluck

an, her brother is always being arrested or harassed by the police.

13 CMO warns public about consuming expired medicines E news

saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

xpired medications are sold on the Guyanese market and some consumers have opted to purchase and ingest these products, oblivious to the harmful aftereffects.

This is according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, who earlier this week sent out a stern warning that medicines devalue after manufacturing and the active ingredients might not be as effective. Some, he said, can even become poisonous if they are kept for long periods.

Persons were asked to beware of such products since quality is affected by a number of environmental factors.

“None of you [should] consume medications that would deem to have expired because, at that point, I can’t

guarantee that you are consuming a medicine that has the active ingredient that is stated on that label. We know that with time, environmental conditions, moisture, temperature etc, those substances change. We know several medications that can become poisonous substances when they’re kept for [a] long period of time so beware of those,” Persaud related.

He expressed that the Public Health Ministry has sought to alert its departments and the Private Sector on expired drugs.

Even if a medication expired just one day ago, it should not be consumed, he added, further stating that the expiration date of products should be clearly written in English as part of mandatory requirements.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

“The Ministry has been alerting its agencies, including the Private Sector that we do not use expire drugs.

There is no ‘it expired yesterday so you can go ahead and take those medica-

tions’. A lot of our products do come in bulk forms. We are encouraging that the expiry dates be written on the information that is given to the patients so the person knows [when] their supply

of drugs expires,” the CMO said.

While there are many ways to indicate when merchandise will expire, the simple expiry date is applicable to medicines.

“The law specifically stipulates that food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices must be labelled in English language first of all and the labels must cover certain areas. The Food and Drug Act also stipulates the time of expiry date. There were some discussions about ‘best before’, as opposed to ‘consume by’ as opposed to ‘expiry date’. Expiry date seems to be more applicable to medications and pharmaceutical agents that would tend to, based on scientific evidence, deteriorate as a matter of fact.”

He stated that these reg-

ulations should also follow for food items. Foodstuff that is close to being expired can be eaten but not those that would have already expired.

When the stipulated date has passed, it should be thrown away or destroyed and not sold to uninformed persons.

It was also conveyed that persons choose to buy expired products due to the marked down prices but this may carry additional health risks.

“In terms of food, it’s a bit more flexible. What we keep advising is that those items should be close to the date, not past it. Any past date should be removed from the shelf and destroyed, not resold to our poorer population or less-educated persons and put them at additional health risk,” said the Chief Medical Officer.

National Mining Syndicate Constitution launched

…miners working towards safer, more efficient, sustainable industry – NMS President

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he manifestation of National Mining Syndicate’s Constitution marks the culmination of many months of hard work that will aid in propelling the sector, while catering for the needs of all miners.

This is according to Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who, while addressing the gathering at the launching ceremony of its Constitution on Friday, noted the importance of such a document.

He emphasised that it will also be used to protect the rights of miners and those under their employ, but also reminded that members of the Syndicate need to focus on the original intent of those who crafted this much-needed Constitution and not deter from its purpose.

Minister Trotman lamented that mining is too often associated with everything negative that ails society, and that miners often do not receive much positive coverage. This, he stated, must be changed.

Meanwhile, National Mining Syndicate (NMS) President Cheryl Williams said that Guyana’s mining industry is not without its challenges and obstacles, nonetheless, those in the mining sector continue to push towards the aim of sustaining the country’s economy while preserving the environmental riches.

“The Syndicate currently consists of over 500 members representing just over 3,000 labourers in their employ. In our numbers, we are powerful…this ensures that we are effectively and meaningfully represented in all mining districts, working towards a safer and more efficient and sustainable industry focusing on sound environmental practices that would assist in preserving Guyana’s rich biodiversity and ecological corridors that include, wild life, waterways and forestry”.

She stated that the possibilities for those involved

National Mining Syndicate President Cheryl Williams

in the extractive sector in Guyana are endless, and that it is only through working together, in such a case, through the NSM, that the Government and corresponding institutions operate and handle miners’ business in a professional and transparent manner. The end result is that all of the country’s miners can be given respect, guidance and assistance.

“Through this initiative, we are able to access the benefits that were once not available to small-scale miners.

We have transformed the industry. Together, there is much that can be achieved and accomplished…the possibilities and scope are endless…the extractive sector has been the backbone of the country’s economy for decades and we are all privileged to be a part of that legacy, mining is in our birthright, it is in our blood stemming from our ancestors”.

NSM Inc is a non-political parent body of all mining syndicates in Guyana that aims at ensuring equal opportunity for all involved in the sector, while protecting the human rights of all miners, regardless of race, gender, political and religious convictions. The NSM also aims at coordinating and facilitating the consultative and participatory process regarding the individual syndicates, by assisting them to find solutions to problems that may arise with regards to mining and

other related operations that involve the extractive industry, among others.

The recently-launched Constitution is a legal framework that will guide the officers of the Board of the NMS to allow for the growth and development of the local mining syndicates— both individually and collectively— while supporting the national economy, and ensuring that the values of the body are promoted throughout the organisation. These include values such as effective management, transparency and environmental awareness to assist in enhancing a green economy, while building national trust.

Neglect

Last month, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali had cause to flag the now caretaker coalition Government for neglecting the mining sector, noting that its counterproductive policies have destroyed the once flourishing sector.

Chief among the poor policies of the APNU/AFC administration, he pointed out are the burdensome taxes that have negatively affected recapitalisation and increased transactional cost.

He further mentioned the lack of inventions in infra-

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

structure which has led to a higher cost of transportation and increased cost of production.

Other areas which Ali flagged the now caretaker coalition Government on include: the removal of incentives that brought cost savings to miners and hinterland communities, leakages and favouritism in the distribution of mining properties and claims, and neglect, mismanagement and corruption.

Also, in July, a large number of miners and other business operators complained of not being able to reach the mining areas to work owing

to the deplorable state of the Itaballi-Puruni Road, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The Itaballi-Puruni Road is the main thoroughfare used by persons in accessing the gold mining districts of Puruni Number 3, Cuyuni Number 4, and the Middle Mazaruni area, Region Seven from the Papishou Landing.

The Puruni Road runs from the community of Itaballi, Mazaruni River, Lower Mazaruni, to the Papishou Landing, Mazaruni River, and Middle Mazaruni, and is the only entrance and exit to various key sections of Region Seven.

This newspaper was told that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has the sole responsibility for the maintenance of this road; however, users say they have been doing an unsatisfactory job.

In May, miners from Chinese Landing, Barima River, Region One (BarimaWaini) also had cause to complain bitterly of the GGMC officials and Police destroying their mining camps and halting their dredging operations, which resulted in them suffering major losses and finding difficulties in earning incomes.

14 News

saturday, august 10, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Indigenous Heritage Month 2019 launched …“Look for markets, partnerships” at Heritage – Minister

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he Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock, believes that Heritage month activities provide the perfect space for persons to market their products and secure partnerships. As such, the Minister has urged locals to take advantage of this during this year’s Indigenous Month events.

Allicock made this appeal at the media launch of Heritage Month, hosted on Friday at the Indigenous Village in the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Greater Georgetown.

“We’d hope that in this celebration it’s not only about having a nice time in consuming the alcoholic beverages but it’s to meet and greet. Look for markets, look for new partnership and most of all, I am hoping that this celebration this year will allow us to have that in-

Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry Valerie Garrido-Lowe unveils the theme of Indigenous Heritage Month 2019

teraction whereby we would be able to begin the process of proper documentation of our history…,” he said.

Against this backdrop, Allicock spoke briefly on the significance and objective behind Heritage Month, which is formally called Amerindian Heritage Month. The month of activities to honour Amerindians in Guyana was launched

on September 10, 1995, by the then President Cheddi Jagan.

Meanwhile, Allicock on Friday said that the vision is to promote traditional culture and customs of the Indigenous peoples for cultural pride and identity. Further the mission, he said, is to support the preservation and safeguarding of Indigenous historic prac-

A section of the gathering

tices.

This year, Heritage Month is being celebrated under the theme “Maintaining traditional practices while promoting a green economy”. The launch was specially set for Friday given that it has been designated International Day of Indigenous Peoples.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Indigenous

Peoples’ Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe urged Guyanese to celebrate the month of activities.

Patamona dictionary

This year, as part of the celebrations, a Patamona dictionary will be launched on September 10. Patamona is one of the nine tribes of Indigenous people that live in Guyana. They speak their

own language. The dictionary will play a vital role in bridging the language barrier and helping persons on the coastlands to better understand this special group of people.

September 10 was chosen to do the launching as it also marks the day that Guyana’s first Indigenous Member of Parliament, Stephen Campbell, was appointed.

Heritage Month will officially kick off with a religious ceremony on August 31 at the Umana Yana. On September 1, Heritage exhibition and activities will be ushered in with a ceremonial launch at the Indigenous Village in Sophia, Greater Georgetown. This activity will show off cultural dances, songs and most importantly, Amerindian delicacies. A host of other activities are lined up for this special event.

30 girls being trained to code, create animations

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he dream of becoming a cartoon or application (app) developer is now being realised for several young women who are currently being trained by the Public Telecommunications Ministry to develop their skills.

About 30 girls between the ages of 14 and 18 are involved in a code camp, which will help them realise their dreams during a five-week programme.

The camp commenced two weeks ago and will wind down by August 23.

The Brand Ambassador attached to the Ministry,

Samantha Sheoprashad, explained the importance of the camp. According to her, “There are 65 million girls worldwide who are not in school and about 1.4 billion girls who are not educated and we notice that girls are mostly affected, and that is why we chose to focus on girls in coding or girls in programming”.

Being a programmer herself, Sheoprashad said she knows for a fact that not many girls are involved in this field, hence, the need to expose them more.

Presently, the girls are involved in activities

Some of the girls participating in the training

such as scratch and block lead programming, coding, problem solving, storytell-

ing and learning about the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs). They are also being taught how to use programming to solve problems relating to the SDGs. By the end of the classes, Sheoprashad hopes to develop an app, with the

girls’ help, to tackle one of the social ills affecting Guyanese. When Guyana Times arrived at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendall, Greater Georgetown, where the camp is being held, the girls were busy making a presentation on suicide.

One participant, 14-yearold Charlene Wilkinson, who attends Queenstown Secondary School, said the camp has been very “useful” to her, given that it affords her the opportunity to develop her computer skills. The teen said she is most happy with the fact that she can now help others in this area.

She said, “So far, we have been learning about programming, learning to code, and my experience with the other girls has been fun as

we share our ideas and learn from each other”.

Another 14-year-old student, N-Tasha Jones, also of Queenstown Secondary, explained, “I find the programme educational because it taught me more about computers, so it will build up my skills. So far, I have learnt about animations, how to write a simple document in word and building a presentation”.

In addition to Queenstown Secondary, girls are also participating from schools such as St Joseph High, East Ruimveldt, Lodge and St Mary’s Secondary.

At the end of the programme, they will be awarded with a certificate. This is the Ministry’s second annual Girls’ Code Camp.

15 Poor infrastructure affecting Orealla residents news

saturday, august 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

By Andrew Carmichael

F

or several years, residents who live on the higher lands of Orealla have been experiencing difficulty in getting goods transported to their homes and businesses. This is so because of the deplorable state of the road going uphill.

Several tons of commodities are taken uphill on shoulders or in wheelbarrows daily. It is the only way to bring goods into the village.

For some, it may seem like a nightmare, but these residents see it as part of a daily routine— not one that you cherish.

During a recent visit to the community by this publication, resident Glen Devair said that it has been years since they have been appealing for assistance. Even as bad as it is, he explained that during

Residents fetching their commodities uphill

the rains, it gets even worse.

“When the rain falls it gets very slidey. When the

boat arrives at night time, it is very difficult for older people to travel and fetch their things. So, we

are asking for the road to be built properly so that it will be an all-weather road, making it easier for travellers and for persons to fetch their load going up on the hill”.

The Orealla Village Council in February received $1.5 million from Government in the form of a grant to upgrade the road leading uphill. However,

since then, nothing has happened.

The intense workout continues as a result of a lack of infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Toshao of the Orealla Village Council, Carl Peneux, told Guyana Times>that as the Council tries to push its eco-tourism drive, a new guest house for the community is one of the priority projects.

However, Devair says the access road linking the upper and lower parts of the village should be priority since most of the villagers live uphill and the port is downhill.

“That money they will use it now to build the Village Guest House which is not needed right now because they are a lot of places where people can stay when they come to the Village. This road should breed be a priority because that is the road we need during the day and the night,” Devair said.

For both those who reside uphill and downhill, it remains extremely difficult for the elderly to the health centre.

Orealla is a major pineapple producing commu-

nity. The fruits are grown uphill and have to be transported to the stelling, which is downhill, to be shipped out.

“They have to put their pine up on top up and they will have to wheelbarrow it down to the stelling, which is very difficult. They would have to hire persons to take it down and then to offload the pine and put it into the boat. So, it is more expense on the farmer, because one expense is to pick them and then the other one is to transport the pine from the pine fields on the hill where the road is. So, it would have been easier if we had a proper roadway so tractors and trailers could transport farm produce down, rather than pushing it in wheelbarrows to take downhill.

It is a risk right now with wheelbarrows being damaged and accidents”.

“Some people up on the hill have big shops and when the boat comes in the night, they have to offload and use the same road.

They will have to hire about four or five persons to take it uphill,” Devair added.

Italy’s League seeks to trigger elections, files censure motion

I

taly’s League filed a No-Confidence Motion to bring down its own governing coalition on Friday, a move that the party’s populist chief, Matteo Salvini, hopes will trigger snap elections and install him as the nation’s new leader.

With Parliament in summer recess, Salvini has summoned all League lawmakers back to Rome on Monday and he is pushing for a vote on the motion as early as next week, while Opposition parties would prefer to wait until August 19-20.

The decision lies with the heads of political

groups in the Senate, who will meet on Monday to set a timetable.

“Those who waste time are hurting Italy to save their post,” said Salvini, who complains the coalition with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement is unworkable after months of open bickering.

Salvini’s shock decision on Thursday to pull the plug on the 14-month old Government threw the euro zone’s third-largest economy into deeper political uncertainty just as it was due to start 2020 budget preparations.

An election could be held as early as October.

Salvini said in a statement on Thursday he had told Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who belongs to neither coalition party, that the alliance with 5-Star had collapsed and “we should quickly give the choice back to the voters”. He said Cabinet meetings were dogged by disputes.

The political crisis has jolted Italians out of their August torpor, a time when millions of people are holidaying on the beach, and raised the prospect of the first autumn election in Italy’s post-war history.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, august 10, 2019

Regional

China's Huawei to invest Antiguan Ministry condemns $800M in new Brazil factory viral video of woman engaging in lewd behaviour with minor

People look at products at the Huawei stall at the International Consumer Electronics Expo in Beijing, China [Photo by: Thomas Peter]

H

uawei Technologies Co Ltd plans to build an $800 million plant in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state over the next three years, the Governor said, as the Chinese tech giant ramps up its Latin American presence against US objections.

On a trip to China on Friday, Sao Paulo Governor João Doria, accompanied by Huawei Executives, said the company was gearing up to build the plant to meet expected demand following

Brazil’s first 5G spectrum auction, scheduled for March 2020.

The new factory is likely to produce smartphones, the company told Reuters in an email.

“Depending on the performance of the smartphone operation in the local market, Huawei will consider building a plant in Sao Paulo in the near future,” it said in a statement.

Production would be for domestic and foreign markets, according to the Sao

Paulo Government.

Huawei, which has been operating in Brazil for 21 years, already has one factory producing equipment for telecoms infrastructure in Sao Paulo state, with 2,000 employees.

The location of the new plant, which according to Doria, will employ 1,000 people, will be decided in the coming months and the $800 million will be invested over a three-year period following the upcoming 5G auction.

In April, Reuters reported that the Chinese company was making a second attempt at cracking the Brazilian smartphone market with the launch of two high-end handsets and local hires to manage the business.

Huawei, the world’s third-largest smartphone manufacturer, imports handsets from China for the Brazilian market and has mulled local production. (Excerpt

T

he Family and Social Services Division (FSSD) within the Ministry of Social Transformation, Antigua & Barbuda, has issued a statement strongly condemning the act of public indecency and “child abuse” that occurred in St John’s during the 2019 Carnival celebrations.

The incident, which was caught on camera and shared on social media, caught the attention of the Government department, which stated that as part of its primary function to protect youth and children and to provide guidance for families, “Any failure to condemn this activity in the strongest possible terms would be a dereliction of our responsibility to the public, to families, to the youth, and to future

generations”.

The referenced incident involved an adult female publicly engaging the minor in dancing meant to simulate sexual activity, something the Division described as “open obscenity”.

A security worker near the scene quickly stepped and pulled the child away from the female.

The FSSD congratulated the security officer for her “prompt act of social responsibility”, and said it “would encourage members of the public to emulate her behaviour in the event that such an incident should occur at any future time”.

The Department, in its statement, said while the event was videotaped, if it was initially handed over to the proper authorities,

this would have resulted in a discreet and efficient investigation. It lamented that the recording was instead unhelpfully posted on social media, “attracting unhealthy attention from the general public”.

“That mischievous action is also to be condemned, and it is the hope that, in the future, persons will be more responsible and refer such videos to the FSSD or the Police,” the statement continued.

The Directorate called upon relevant organisations in the country to take urgent note of an unhealthy movement, and to work vigorously to arrest and reverse a destructive trend illustrated by individuals clearly in need of guidance from the wider society. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

from Reuters)

Jamaican Wayne Barbados: Kenya ties on the table Wesley is new CXC boss

B

arbados is looking to enter into a double taxation agreement and a bilateral investment treaty with Kenya.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley shared this information with people from a cross section of the private sector on Thursday, telling them the intention was to create a framework that would “spark their in-

terest” in forging business partnerships with the East African country.

The Prime Minister addressed the business leaders along with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta after the two leaders held discussions on areas of mutual interest. Kenyatta is in Barbados on a threeday official visit designed to strengthen bilateral relations between the two

countries.

Speaking at a forum entitled Strengthening Trade and Investment Co-operation within the ACP Framework KenyaBarbados Private Sector and Other Stakeholders at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, the Prime Minister suggested Kenya presented myriad investment opportunities.

US sanctions may worsen Venezuela’s suffering – UN Rights Chief

Michelle Bachelet has previously criticised the actions of Nicolás Maduro's Government

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he UN's human rights Chief has criticised the latest US sanctions against Venezuela saying they would intensify the suffering of millions.

Michelle Bachelet, a former President of Chile, said the sanctions were "extremely broad" and would hit the most vulnerable sections of society.

The unilateral measures freeze all Venezuelan government assets in the US

and ban commercial transactions.

They are aimed at piling pressure on President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

The US is one of more than 50 nations that do not recognise Mr Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president.

"I am deeply worried about the potentially severe impact on the human rights of the people of Venezuela of the new set of unilateral

sanctions imposed by the US this week," the UN human rights commissioner said in a statement.

"The sanctions are extremely broad and fail to contain sufficient measures to mitigate their impact on the most vulnerable sectors of the population."

Despite some exceptions for sales linked to food, clothing and medicine, she said the measures were "still likely to significantly exacerbate the crisis for millions of ordinary Venezuelans".

Bachelet has raised concern about the consequences of previous US sanctions against Venezuela. She has also criticised Mr Maduro's government, mainly over its ill-treatment of opponents.

In March she singled out Venezuela as an example of how "violations of civil and political rights" can accentuate inequality and worsening economic conditions. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Newly-appointed CXC Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Dr Wayne Wesley

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he Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has a new registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at its helm.

Effective August 1, Dr Wayne Wesley – a Jamaican – took over from former Registrar Glenroy Cumberbatch, who retired at the end of July.

Wesley joined CXC in

June 2018, as Director of Operations, examination services, and assisted in providing strategic leadership and management to the organisation, in addition to overseeing the planning, development and operation of the core examination services of CXC to the organisation's regional and international stakeholders.

Prior to joining CXC, Wesley led the Human Employment and Resource Training Trust/ National Training Agency (HEART Trust/NTA) in Jamaica in the role of Executive Director and was Chairman of the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA).

During his professional career, he served at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) and his time there culmi-

nated in his promotion and appointment to the academic rank of senior lecturer and Programme Director for the industrial engineering programme.

“Dr Wesley brings to the role of Registrar/ CEO extensive knowledge gained through his Doctor of Philosophy in industrial engineering from Florida State University, a Master of Science in manufacturing systems from Southern Illinois University, a Bachelor of Education in industrial technology with first class honours from UTech, Jamaica, a post-graduate diploma in financial services management from Jamaica Stock Exchange e-Campus, and a level 8 certificate in strategic direction and leadership from the Chartered Management Institute, UK,” CXC said in a release on Thursday. (Jamaica Observer)

Cabinet awaiting findings on Marlene – Trinidad Minister

H

ours after Public Administration Minister Marlene McDonald was questioned by Police, Communications Minister Donna Cox said the PNM (People’s National Movement) is awaiting the findings of the investigation following a four hour search at her Maracas Valley, St. Joseph home on Thursday

morning.

Responding to questions from Guardian Media via WhatsApp, Cox said this was a Police investigation and she was told that a search warrant was executed.

She was asked whether the government would be responding to the developments on Thursday morning.

Two top-ranking

Police officials confirmed Minister McDonald was questioned by Police.

Reliable sources confirmed the investigation relates to the distribution of over a million dollars to three organisations from the Ministry of Community Development and Culture, but the funds were allegedly never used for that purpose.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

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saturday, august 10, 2019

17

Around the World

Floods kill at least 28 in southern Chad: Intercommunal conflict “national India, displace thousands concern” after 37 killed A t least 28 people have died in the southern Indian state of Kerala after torrential monsoon rains caused landslides and flooding that cut off some areas, authorities said on Friday.

More than 64,000 people were evacuated and Cochin International Airport, the busiest airport in a state popular with tourists, was closed.

The airport, which is located along the banks of the Periyar river, will be shut until at least 1500 IST (0930 GMT) on Sunday, although the Indian Navy has opened an airfield at a naval base for use by commercial flights, officials said.

Kerala was hit by devastating floods last August that killed more than 200 people and affected more than 5 million. Those floods, dubbed the worst to hit the state in nearly a century, caused billions of dollars of

C

Rescuers help people to cross a flooded area after a landslide caused by torrential monsoon rains in Meppadi in Wayanad district in the southern Indian state of Kerala, India, August 9, 2019

damage to fields, homes and other infrastructure.

Kerala received 155 mm (6.1 inches) of rain on Friday, ten times more than average, weather department data showed.

The neighbouring state of Karnataka, and Maharashtra in the west have also been hit by heavy rains and flooding.

At least 40 people have been killed in the two states this week and more than 400,000 have been displaced as rivers burst their banks, officials said.

Thousands of trucks were stuck for more than three days on a national highway linking the financial capital of Mumbai with the southern technology hub

of Bengaluru, with the road submerged in some places, a Maharashtra Government official said.

Hundreds of villages and dozens of towns in the affected areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka were without electricity and drinking water, state Government officials said on Friday. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

had’s President Idriss Deby has said at least 37 people were killed this week in intercommunal fighting in the country’s east.

The violence broke out over three days in the province of Ouaddai, a strategic area for herder migration near the border with Sudan.

“The intercommunal conflict has become a national concern,” Deby said at a news conference on Friday.

“We are witnessing a terrible phenomenon.”

This week’s killings marked the latest outbreak of violence believed to be involving nomadic camel herders - many from the Zaghawa ethnic group from which Deby hails - and sedentary farmers from the Ouaddian community.

The latest fighting erupted on Monday in the Wadi Hamra district after a rancher was found dead, a local charity representative who asked not to be named

for their safety told the AFP news agency. Three more killings followed that discovery, the representative said.

There was fresh violence at another nearby location the following day, a local tribal official told the AFP. “The communities clashed with firearms. The fighting was particularly deadly,” the official said, saying that at least 25 people were killed.

One hospital source told AFP the death toll was as high as 44.

Describing the clashes, Deby said that Police sent to the scene came under fire.

“Those with guns are not hesitating to shoot the police. We must wage a total war against those who carry weapons and are killing people,” he said.

Deby, who has been in power for almost three decades, said he would visit the area in the future, without saying when. (Excerpt from Al

Hong Kong: China bans Cathay Pacific staff seen to support protests Aden clashes continue, risk making Yemen war “even more complex”

The Cathay Chairman said he “wouldn’t dream” of telling his staff what to think

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hina has ordered the Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific to suspend any staff who support pro-democracy protests in the territory.

Beijing’s demand coincided with a peaceful rally at Hong Kong’s airport, where thousands occupied a termi-

nal.

Cathay also faced pressure online after China’s State-run press fuelled a #BoycottCathayPacific hashtag, which trended on Chinese social media.

Hong Kong has seen weeks of protests over China’s control of the terri-

tory.

The protests began about nine weeks ago over a proposed extradition bill between Hong Kong and mainland China and evolved into demands for greater freedoms.

Hong Kong is part of China but its citizens have more autonomy than those on the mainland. It has a free press and judicial independence under the socalled “one country, two systems” approach - freedoms activists fear are being increasingly eroded.

Earlier this week China warned the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong not to “underestimate the firm resolve of the central Government”.

This week China ap-

peared to turn its attention to companies it sees as connected to the protests.

A Taiwanese bubble tea franchise - Yifang - and a popular Japanese sports drink were also targeted by boycott campaigns.

The boycotts came as protesters gathered at Hong Kong airport for three days of peaceful demonstrations.

Activists waved banners written in different languages denouncing Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, and the police, and handed out leaflets with artwork explaining the recent protests.

Authorities are so far tolerating the rally, which has not overly disrupted passengers.

There are as yet no police at the scene. (Excerpt from BBC News)

No-deal Brexit preparations “top priority”, Boris Johnson says

P

reparing for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit should be “the top priority” for civil servants, Boris Johnson has told them in a letter.

The PM said he would prefer to get a deal with the EU, but he said he recognised this “may not happen”.

Earlier Jeremy Corbyn had urged the UK’s top civil servant to intervene to prevent a no-deal Brexit happening during a general election campaign.

It comes amid speculation MPs could back a No-Confidence Motion in the PM. In his letter to civil servants, Johnson said the UK must be prepared to leave the EU by the latest Brexit deadline of October 31 “whatever the circumstances”.

In his letter to Cabinet Secretary

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Sir Mark Sedwill, Corbyn said it would be an “anti-democratic abuse of power”

if the PM allowed a no-deal to occur by default during a general election campaign, if the Government was defeated in a vote of no confidence.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said it is “almost inevitable” that Labour would push for such a vote when the Commons returns from its summer recess on September 3.

It is thought MPs opposed to nodeal could back the vote in a bid to prevent the UK leaving the EU without an agreement - leading to a general election being called.

Election rules say Parliament should be dissolved 25 working days before polling day - so some people are concerned Johnson could allow a nodeal Brexit to happen while MPs are not sitting. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jazeera)

Members of a UAE-backed militia stop cars on a street during clashes in Aden, Yemen [Fawaz Salman/Reuters]

F

ighting between Yemeni Government forces and separatists in the southern port city of Aden has continued for a third consecutive day, with reports of at least 20 people killed.

At least five civilians were among the dead and dozens were wounded in Friday’s violence, according to doctors and security officials who spoke to news agencies and other reporters on the condition of anonymity.

Much of the fighting between forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and a United Arab Emirates-backed militia is taking place in areas that are among the city’s most populated, leading to serious concerns for the safety of civilians.

Now in its fifth year, Yemen’s war between the Houthis and the coalition-backed, pro-Government forces has claimed tens

of thousands of lives and thrust millions to the brink of famine, in what the United Nations has called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

The International Crisis Group warned on Friday that the fighting would “make an already multi-faceted conflict even more complex and intractable”.

While fighting gripped Aden for a third straight day, The World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Friday that it would resume food aid in the Houthi-controlled Sanaa after the end of the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

In a move that affected 850,000 people, the WFP announced in June it was partially suspending its aid to the capital amid accusations that the Houthis were diverting the food from the some of the worst affected people in the war-torn country. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, AUGUST 10, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Jump at a chance to make a lifestyle change.

Spend more time with the people you love and those who have always looked out for your best interests.

Romance is on the rise.

Watch what others do and make choices that will help keep the peace without giving up on your needs. A decision someone makes will change the way you view him or her.

Put personal relationships first. If someone tries to meddle in your affairs, be blunt and put an end to whatever is causing the disruption. Romance the one you love.

Be careful how you handle your money. If someone is looking for a handout, think twice and consider offering suggestions, not your hard-earned cash. Be smart and avoid being emotionally manipulated.

Personal accomplishments will make you feel good about who you are and how you look. Love and romance are highlighted, and personal plans and promises can be made.

Keep track of what others do and say. You may need support to offset someone who is trying to pin the blame on you for something you didn’t do.

Look at all possibilities before you agree to something that isn’t sitting right with you. If someone is demanding, make your position clear and head in a more suitable direction.

Protect against someone trying to control or manipulate you. Be secretive regarding your beliefs, plans and prospects. Take care of responsibilities to avoid someone overreacting or becoming suspicious.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Make sure you can afford what you plan to do before you get started.

Traveling, attending a reunion or going on a romantic adventure will lift your spirits. Share your feelings.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Money matters should be handled personally. If someone is too nosy, consider it a red flag. Keep your private life to yourself and your assets and possessions somewhere safe.

What you offer will be well received. Don’t be afraid to ask for something in return. If you make romantic plans with a loved one, it will bring you closer together.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Remain cautious. If something sounds too good to be true, take a pass.

Protect yourself against loss, being taken advantage of, indulgence and someone’s poor behavior.

saturday, august 10, 2019

19

West Indies announce Test squad for My Team11 series against India ─ Cornwall earns maiden call-up in 13-man squad

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ahkeem Cornwall could make his long-awaited Test debut on home soil, when West Indies kick off their campaign in the new ICC World Test Championship against India later this month.

The interim Selection Panel of Cricket West Indies – headed by Robert Haynes – has included the Antiguan off-spinner in the 13-member squad for the MyTeam11 Series, which is cosponsored by Skoda and KEI. West Indies and India will play two Tests – from August 22 to 26 at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Cornwall’s native Antigua, and from August 30 to September 3 at Sabina Park in Jamaica. Cornwall has been rewarded for his impressive record for Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the West Indies Championship and the West Indies “A” Team, since making his first-class debut just under five years ago. The 26-yearold has taken 260 wickets at 23.90 apiece in 55 first-class matches and is highly regarded among his peers as one of the most effective spin bowlers in the Caribbean. Cornwall has

also proven that he is a capable middle to lower-order batsman, averaging just under 25 in 97 innings, and good enough to have one hundred and 13 half-centuries in the first-class arena. “Rahkeem has been performing consistently over a long period of time and has proven to be a match-winner, so we believe his elevation to the Test squad is merited at this time,” said Haynes. “We believe he can provide an attacking option to our bowling attack with his sharp turn and extra bounce. He can also lend a bit of depth to the batting, so we are looking forward to him coming into the squad and making a valuable contribution.” The interim Selection Panel has kept faith with practically the rest of the squad that earned a sensational 2-1 series victory over England earlier this year in the Caribbean, except injured fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican. This means that regular West Indies “A” Team captain Shamarh Brooks is the only other uncapped player in the squad apart from Cornwall.

All-rounder Keemo Paul, a replacement for Test captain Jason Holder when he was forced to miss the final Test of the England series, retains his place in the squad. “Alzarri is undergoing remedial work and we are monitoring his recovery, but we do not think he is ready yet to last five days of a gruelling Test match,” Haynes said on Joseph. “He represents a key part of West Indies future and we do not want to rush him back. We have two important series coming up later in the year in India and we want to be very careful how his recovery is managed.” The Series gives both sides the chance to win up to 120 points – sixty points for a win – in the new ICC World Test Championship league table. A draw will be worth twenty points with zero points for a loss. West Indies will play a further five Series with the opportunity to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final in 2021 if they finish in the top two in the league.

Full squad reads: Jason Holder, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks,

Soreidom Shipping supports Guyana Cup 2019

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he 13th annual Guyana Cup 2019, an extraordinary horse-racing extravaganza, gallops off in just over two weeks’ time (August 18th) at the Rising Sun Turf Club at Rising Sun Village on the West Coast of Berbice (45 minutes’ travel from Georgetown).

Promoters of this event, the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee (JJTRC), have said it is expected to be one of the biggest horse racing meets -- if not the biggest horse racing meet -- in the history of the sport, with more than US$50,000 cash in prize money being up for the taking on race day. Top performers would be carting off more than $18 million in cash and prizes.

A mega-concert featuring eight international artistes has also been planned for staging after the event. Patrons of the horse racing event would be able to access the concert for the same $2000 applicable for entry to the meet.

This week, Soreidom Shipping of La Penitence Georgetown (tel# 225-3604) made a special contribution to this lucrative event.

In a press release, JJTRC Chairman, Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr., thanked the sponsors and all those who have supported the

Nishal Sharma of Soreidom Shipping (left) presenting Rovin DeSouza of JJTRC with valuable sponsorship ahead of next Sunday’s mega event

Guyana Cup 2019, this year’s staging and past years’ staging.

Some of the top animals expected to be on show come race day are: Just Call Me Bass, Crown the King (Jamaica), Doublin Fashion (USA), Chameli (Jamaica), Safara (Jamaica), Southern Express (T&T), Silver & Things (T&T), Sitarr (T&T), Kentucky Woman (T&T), Super Easy (T&T) and She’s a Princess.

The event will feature an eightrace programme, details and prize money of which are as follows:

– C Class and Lower, the feature race over a distance of one mile: $2 million, – Three-year-old Guyana-bred – $1 million – G3 and Lower – $400,000 – L3 and Lower (open to nonwinners from Trinidad & Tobago) – $350,000 – Two-year-old Guyana-bred horses – $300,000.

– J3 and Lower over seven furlongs – $300,000.

– L Class for Colts – $250,000 – L Class ‘Philly’ and Mare – $250,000.

Keemo Paul

John Campbelle, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane

Shimron Hetmyer

Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope,

Keemo Paul and Kemar Roach.

(CWI)

13th Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships

15 nations pedalling for glory

– no female action because of lack of support

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he 13th edition of the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships, which are being hosted in Guyana for the first time ever, is set to get cracking today in the Green Town of Bartica.

Fifteen nations, including host nation Guyana, are set to compete for glory at the Time Trials of these Juvenile and Junior level cycling championships.

The Bahamas are expected to have arrived last evening and to travel to Bartica this morning; but Bermuda, Anguilla, Grenada, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Curacao, St. Martin, Barbados, Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, Cayman Islands and the United States Virgin Islands have already all arrived in Bartica yesterday, some by the ferry, and others by river taxi (speed boat).

Mayor of Bartica, His Worship Gifford Marshall, met with the nations at the Bartica Town Hall and welcomed them to Guyana, and to Bartica in particular. He expressed delight at being selected by the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) to host the championships, and at that decision being subsequently approved by the Caribbean Cycling Federation (CCF).

“The people of Guyana and Bartica would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you here for this historic event. I know that you have travelled some long hours to get to Guyana, and then here to the Green Town of Bartica, but I can assure you that it would be worth your while, as you will enjoy a different experience, one that you have never before experienced,” he said.

In total, there would be about 50 cyclists competing in both categories, but there would be no females competing, since the CCF Regulations

state that t o

there must be at least five cyclists constitute a race.

None of the nations who have come here has a female member as part of their team, which underscores the challenges being faced to attract women to the sport, let alone at a tender age. The Guyanese duo of Clevecia Spencer and Selena Stephen would naturally be disappointed that they would not be able to race.

The route for today’s (Saturday) Time Trials is as follows: Start at the corner of Second Avenue and Third Street then proceed east on Third Street, left on Sixth Avenue, proceed to Three Miles Secondary before turning back, then proceeding to turn right on the Mongrippa Hill Road by the Arcade, left on Fourth Avenue, right on Sixth Street, left on Second Avenue to finish at the starting point at Second Avenue and Third Street.

The Juvenile cyclists will do the course once (8.4km = 5.22 miles) while the Juniors will cover the course twice.

GCF President Horace Burrowes has said he is happy that the local body has been able to pull off this historic event despite the many hurdles faced.

Burrowes singled out Mayor Gifford Marshall and his team for stepping up to the plate in a huge way to ensure that the event comes off and that teams have a warm experience.

Following today’s Time Trials, the Road Race will be contested tomorrow along the same route.

The event is being managed and controlled by the CCF and COPACI, the Pan American Federation. The Commissars are Henny Bonafacio and Ms. Neves Viceate.

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Ramps Logistics/El Dorado OffShore concludes annual cricket camp

By Timothy Jaikarran

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he conclusion of the Ramps Logistics/El Dorado Off Shore second annual cricket camp held at the Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown was generally a grand time of celebration.

Some 100 children between the ages of 7 years and 13 years, drawn from different orphanages in Guyana, had participated in the fiveday camp, and many were rewarded for various reasons at conclusion of the camp.

They were taught the basics of bowling and batting by eminent coaches Darien Best, Leon Johnson, Veerasammy Permaul and Vishaul Singh; and activities were led by head coach Steven Jacobs.

They were also taught how to improve their discipline, teamwork, patience, skills and tactics.

During the camp’s closing ceremony, Head Coach Steven Jacobs congratulated the children on the discipline they had displayed, and encouraged them to continue playing cricket.

He told them that every coach is a product of the game, and that everyone can have a career in cricket, but discipline and education are key attributes to success.

Participants of the camp, Sports Director Christopher Jones, coaches and Ramps Logistics members pose for a photo op at conclusion of the camp

He told them that with the combination of sports and education, everyone has the potential to become a well-rounded individual.

Further, he thanked Ramps Logistics for giving all participants the opportunity to be at the cricket camp, and expressed optimism that next year’s camp would be bigger and better attended.

Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, attended the closing ceremony. He had this to say, “Nevertheless, I am most happy and pleased to be here. I am also most en-

couraged to see what Ramps Logistics has been doing.

“We at the National Sports Commission continue to encourage all young people to get involved and be a part of some sport. We hope that when you leave the camp, your parents, or the homes you come from (would) start engaging you in some form of sporting activity.

“It is important to stay active, as this will benefit you in the future. It will also help you to prevent diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. But being involved in sport teaches you

discipline, respect, and keeps you motivated.

“We, at the NSC, were unable to lend any support this year, but I want to extend a hand to Ramps Logistics that, in the coming years and months, the NSC would love to partner with you.

“Essentially, partnering with companies and having corporate Guyana coming on board and coordinating events like these…help us to have rounded individuals. We at the NSC are proud of you, and next time there is an event, we urge Ramps

Logistics to reach out to the NSC, and we will be happy to lend support.”

The camp’s participants came from the following entities: The Sophia Care Centre, Shaheed Boys’ Orphanage, St Ann’s Girls Home, and Joshua House.

Western Union Malteenoes cricket camp hailed a success

Bartica Football League…

River’s View are BFA champions Members of the Western Union Malteenoes Cricket Camp at the closing ceremony

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The victorious River’s View Football Club

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he Bartica Football Association (BFA) has, this past week, wrapped up its senior league tournament in which 8 clubs had participated in two episodes of round-robin competition over a period of five months.

Having commenced on March 9, the league was played at the Bartica Secondary School Ground among the following football clubs: Beacons, Rising Stars, Lazio, River’s View, Wolves United, Mil Ballers, Potaro Strikers and Rising Stars.

At the end of 56 matches, River’s View FC emerged champions, with 32 points from 14 matches.

This River’s View club is a community football club based at River’s View, across the river from Bartica. Over the course of its existence, and under the guidance of Coach Kenneth Edwards, this club has made steady progress to the apex of Bartica football, even going on to represent the Bartica

Association at several national tournaments.

The club has now earned the right to participate in the upcoming Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Cup Competition in Georgetown.

Speaking to this publication, BFA President Alden Marslowe said, “This league was certainly good therapy for Bartica Football. It has inspired a new movement in the direction of development. We will be focusing on the NAMILCO U-17 and Pele Alumni U-15 for the remainder of August, and hopefully start an Under-20 league in September.”

Promoted and managed by the Bartica Football Association (BFA) with financial and other support from the GFF, the Bartica Football League has experienced a renaissance this past season, after a long period of being dormant. Next season is expected to commence early in October of this year.

he 2019 edition of the Western Union Malteenoes cricket camp was successfully culminated on Friday last at the Thomas Road, Thomas Lands venue of the Malteenoes Sports Club in Georgetown.

The two-week academy bowled off on July 29 catering for participants between 6 and 18 years old. Activities were staged between 9:00 hours and 15:00 hours on weekdays.

Sean Holder, Executive member of the Malteenoes Cricket Academy, explained that this cricket camp has improved the techniques and knowledge of young cricketers. And gracing the closing ceremony with his presence, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, delivered the closing remarks.

During this interactive session, he acknowledged the presence of young females who had participated in the camp, saying that their participation had signalled the growth and development of the sport.

“Essentially, what Malteenoes has recognised is the importance of male and female participation, and we will continue to support this”, he declared, as he revealed that Guyana would be hosting a cricket tournament for the unsighted later this month.

Jones also spoke on the importance of social cohesion as he urged the participants to transfer the knowledge gained from this camp to those at schools and other places of interaction.

He proffered his gratitude to Western Union for supporting this developmental cricket camp, and extended same to the Malteenoes Sports Club representatives and Head Coach of the cricket academy, Orin Bailey, for their participation in the camp.

Jones further said this camp was not the best in terms of cricket, because of the inclement weather.

Bailey, who is also the Guyana Under-17 Head Coach, was pleased with the talent shown by both males and females. His efforts at imparting knowledge to the camp participants had been assisted by Darien Best and Guyana and former West Indies female cricketer Subrina Monroe. He called for the talents shown to be nurtured.

Speaking on females participating in these camps, Bailey opined that this must start at the school level, where even more talents would be exposed.

Outstanding participants were recognised for their stellar performance at this twoweek Western Union Malteenoes Cricket academy. Bailey disclosed that the camp had 62 participants, but a few had dropped out along the way.

Jeremiah Kelvin was recognised as the best Under-12 batsman, best bowler, and best wicket-keeper in his category. Joshua Bollers was also recognised as best bowler, while Yohan Greenidige was recognised as best fielder.

The female recognised as the best allrounder was Safirah Summer, and the most disciplined male was recognised as Yogaishwar Seecharran. They each received electronic tablets, compliments of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications.

The best senior batsman was Emmanuel Lewis; the best fielder and best senior bowler was Shamar Crawford, and the best wicketkeeper was Shiloh Adams.

All participants received certificates with their photographs attached. (Brandon Corlette)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, august 10, 2019

21

India A end successful Caribbean tour with 2-0 win

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T

he curtains came down on the final day of the three-match unofficial Test series between the West Indies ‘A’ and India ‘A’ -being played at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium at Tarouba in Trinidad -- with the final match ending in a draw and India ‘A’ wrapping up the series 2-nil.

Resuming the final day on 23 without loss, the Windies had been looking to pick up a consolation win, but Montcin Hodge was the first Windies player to lose his wicket -- off the bowling of Shahbaz Nadeem after scoring 25 runs, and after 30.3 overs had been bowled.

In came Brandon King, who produced a helpful knock of 77 runs off 82 deliveries in an in-

nings laced with 10 boundaries and 3 maximums, which gave the West Indies a real chance of victory.

However, King was trapped lbw by Nadeem, to leave Jeremy Solozano stranded once again.

Then, to compound the Windies’ woes, Solozano fell to Hanuma Vihari for a patient 92 made off 249 balls, which was the turning point of the match.

Jermaine Blackwood and Jamar Hamilton were unable to spend time at the crease, each being sent packing -- for 8 and 11 runs respectively -- by the in-form Nadeem.

Playing a solid innings which kept the possibility of a win alive, Sunil Ambris was even-

tually removed by Nadeem for 69, leaving the Maroon Men in a state of shock after such an eventful morning.

Raymond Reifer and Yannic Cariah occupied the crease, but could not help the West Indies, since they were boxed in by excellent spin-bowling from India.

Inevitably, a jubilant India ‘A’ celebrated winning the series, as the West Indies ‘A’ could only reach 315; which, although affording them a draw, was deficient for a win by 58 runs when the overs expired.

Nadeem ended with 5-103 while Hanuma Vihari had 1-23.

NSC in firm support of Windies fans looking Junior Caribbean School for "success overnight", claims former Boys Boxing C/ships –team Guyana to be announced on Tuesday President Cameron

I

n a simple handing-over ceremony held at the National Sports Commission’s (NSC’s) office on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) became recipient of a great amount of support for its upcoming Junior Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Boxing Championships which are slated to be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from August 16-18.

The 2019 staging of this particular tournament is expected to be bigger than had obtained previously, with more countries signalling their desire to participate therein.

Gracing the ceremony with his presence, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, disclosed that the NSC and Government intend to continue supporting this tournament.

“In the past three years, we (have come to) recognise the growth of the championships and (that) this is a perfect opportunity for the local boxers to get international exposure,” Jones disclosed.

Initially slated to be held at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, this tourney has, for various

F

Sports Director Christopher Jones presenting cheque to GBA President Steve Ninvalle

reasons, been shifted to the National Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue. Jones said this venue is an international-standard venue, and would ideally accommodate the visiting countries.

“The venue has to be at a certain standard to host this event,” Jones explained as he called on corporate Guyana to also lend the event its support.

This tournament has experienced massive growth since its inception, GBA President Steve Ninvalle has highlighted. He said this tournament, the only one of its kind in Latin America,

started with three countries back in 2016, and now eight countries have already confirmed their participation in this year’s staging.

“Guyana has held all four tournaments, and this will continue to be a tradition,” Nanville predicted.

Ninvalle further revealed that this tournament will be renamed after a national boxer who has served this country exceptionally.

Particulars of the team that would represent Guyana would officially be released on Tuesday, August 13.

ormer Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dave Cameron has accused his detractors of wanting overnight success and promised to write a tell-all memoir about his time in office.

Following a three-term spell in charge of the regional governing body, Cameron was defeated by Ricky Skerritt earlier this year. The Jamaican had served as head of the association since defeating Julian Hunte in 2013.

During his time in charge, Cameron has been credited with implementing improved retainer contracts for players and officials, restructuring the regional competitions and improved relations with the West Indies Player’s Association (WIPA).

The Windies team while struggling in the world rankings, also claimed two T20 world titles, and the women’s and youth titles.

“We tried to implement certain things within West Indies cricket but I think, as a people, we want success but we don’t want to understand the road to get to success because it doesn’t happen overnight,” Cameron told the Good Morning Jojo Show.

“We had a very successful home series earlier this

Dave Cameron

year against England which I thought made a lot of people happy…but that’s not what we want; we want something else, and so I will keep those thoughts and I will commit them to writing at some point in time,” he added.

“I’ve been a part of organisations that have very high standards and I tried to implement that at West Indies cricket. I tried to ensure West Indies cricket survived and I can say that I don’t believe anybody in management or leadership has the wrong views or different views from myself on West Indies cricket, but we just all have different ways of achieving those results.” (Sportsmax)

Joshua v Ruiz Jr: Rematch in Saudi Arabia on December 7 B

ritain's Anthony Joshua will face unified world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch in Saudi Arabia on 7 December.

The pair fought in New York in June, with Ruiz earning a shock seventh-round stoppage victory to hand Joshua his first professional loss.

Ruiz, who was knocked down in the third round before recovering, picked up the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO world titles.

Cardiff's Principality Stadium had been among the options to host the rematch.

Joshua, 29, had said his preference was to fight in the Welsh capital, where he has previously fought in front of crowds of more than 70,000 people for his wins over Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker.

However, 29-year-old Ruiz, who was born in the United States but has Mexican heritage, had ruled out a fight taking place in the United Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia hosted British boxer Amir

Khan's recent win over Billy Dib and Callum Smith's success over George Groves in the World Boxing Super Series final in September.

The country hosted the opening race of the Formula E season in December, is in talks to host a Formula 1 race before 2021 and recently announced it will stage the richest race in horseracing history in February.

However, when Khan accepted his bout with Dib, Amnesty International highlighted Saudi Arabia's "abysmal human rights record".

The fight will be broadcast on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and Joshua's promoters, Matchroom Boxing, said a news conference would be held on Monday, 12 August when more details would be revealed.

One issue that has not yet been disclosed is

the start time of the fight.

If the bout started at midnight in the Middle East in December it would be taking place in early afternoon in Los Angeles and early evening in New York - times which could prove unpopular with fans in America paying to stream what will be the biggest fight in the sport this year.

Ruiz scored four knockdowns on his way to a seventh-round stoppage on what was Joshua's much-publicised US debut on 1 June.

The result ranked as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the heavyweight division, with Joshua a 1-25 favourite before the bout.

Since his win, Ruiz has questioned Joshua's boxing skills, while Joshua has spoken of a belief in his ability to "right my wrongs".

22

saturday, august 10, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

2019 India Tour to the West Indies…

Queen’s Park Oval is India’s happy hunting ground

By Brandon Corlette

A

fter the culmination of the Florida and Guyana legs of the India Tour to the West Indies, the teams will now do battle at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago (T&T), where the second and third One Day International matches will be played.

The second ODI in the My Team 11 Series will commence on Sunday August 11, followed by the third and final ODI on Wednesday August 14, 2019.

The Queen’s Park Oval has been a familiar ground for the Indians, who have played 19 ODIs there, and have registered nine wins.

Six of those nine wins were recorded between June 2011 and June 2017. India won six of their last Shikhar seven encounters Dhawan at this venue (one match was no result).

India last played at the Queen’s Park Oval on June 25, 2017, when they registered a 105-run win against the West Indies. Axed ODI batsman Ajinkya Rahane was the star in that encounter, racking up a fine 103 while Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan scored half-centuries.

The last time West Indies beat India at the Queen’s Park Oval was on May 28 2006, when the West Indies successfully defended a total of 256 to win by 19 runs. That seems a lifetime ago.

Flashback: Darren Ganga, Virat Kohli and Jason Holder at the coin toss at Queen’s Park Oval back in 2017

In that match, Chris Gayle, who is on the verge of eclipsing the record of Brian Lara to become the leading scorer for West Indies in ODIs, scored a half-century, as did with Ramnaresh Sarwan and ‘player of the match’ Dwayne Bravo.

If the West Indies beat India at this venue on Sunday August 11, it will be their first win against India at this venue in 13 years.

Virat Kohli, the World’s number one ODI batsman, has 337 runs in the seven inning he played at Queen’s Park Oval. He has one century and two half-centuries, with an average of 56.16.

Shikhar Dhawan, India’s supreme opening batsman, has also enjoyed his time at this venue, scoring 304 runs in seven innings, including four halfcenturies, and averaging 43.42.

India’s swing bowler Bhuveneshwar Kumar has a supreme record at Queen’s Park, having grabbed 11 wickets in four innings.

His best figure is 4-8 at an economy rate of 2.59 and he averages 6.36.

Ravindra Jadeja has also enjoyed his time playing there, having taken eight wickets in three matches.

From a West Indian point of view, only Chris Gayle has played 19 ODI matches at this venue, from which he has scored 529 runs. Gayle has never scored a century at Queen’s Park, but he has scored five half-centuries there.

However, local boys Evin Lewis and Nicholas Pooran have played a lot of cricket at this venue, and they will play a big role if the West Indies were to topple India.

Currently the highest ranked West Indies Virat ODI batsman, Shai Hope, has scored 81 in his Kohli last outing against India at this venue in 2017, and he has been one of the more consistent batters in recent times for the Caribbean team.

In the bowling department, the young West Indies team are nowhere among the leading wicket-takers at this venue. Gayle is the only one who has taken 15 wickets here, while Jason Holder has taken four wickets in the three ODI matches he played at Queen’s Park.

Windies Kiddy Cricket interval display…

Over 100 schoolchildren perform at monumental ODI

A

Even though the inclement weather caused the match to end without result, the Kiddies Cricket Group had a good show

nnually, over 100 primary school boys and girls, between the ages of 9-11 years are given opportunity to attend international Home series and showcase their skills during the lunchtime interval in front of thousands of spectators.

This year was no different. Despite the dampness at the Guyana National Stadium, the eager boys and girls entertained the crowd briefly with their talent as West Indies and India competed in the first One-Day International game.

They were all provided uniforms, transportation to the stadium, lunch, refreshments and, most of all, the opportunity to see their international cricket heroes play live at the highest level of organised cricket.

CWI believes that giving children this opportunity allows the legacy of the game to continue, as the experience not only builds confidence, teamwork and camaraderie, but allows them to take away many positive experiences which would last a lifetime.

Anand Sanasie, Director of Cricket West Indies and

Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, said, “For over 20 years, the Windies Kiddy Cricket programme has been operating and bringing the joy of cricket to thousands of children across the Caribbean. Guyana has been a part of this legacy, as the GCB, in conjunction with CWI, continues to grow the game of cricket in more than 200 primary schools across our three counties.

“The programme provides cricket coaching services and other essential cricket resources (bats, balls, stumps, etc.), which benefit approximately 27,000 primary school boys and girls; allowing them to learn the basics of the games (and) moving them through the cricket development pathway with the prospect of becoming a professional cricketer.”

Sanasie mentioned that the programme has recently introduced an academic cricket manual for the classroom setting, which would be disturbed to schools across the country in partnership with the Ministry of Education. It introduces Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Science, HFLE and other core primary subjects in a relatable and fun cricket

context.

The CWI Director also said, “The programme lends to building strong foundations in cricket and vital personal development skills. This is why the GCB is partnering with the Ministry of Education and Sport to ensure that the recently introduced Chirpy Classroom Adventure academic manual is integrated into primary classrooms across Guyana.

“This relevant and fun-filled academic manual links the subjects of Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Science, HFLE and other core primary subjects into a relatable context for children aged 6-12. We believe that cricket should not only be the vehicle for building athletes, but a vehicle for building well rounded individuals who can contribute positively to the game of cricket and our Caribbean society.”

Through the programme, these children have access to 24 qualified foundation and Level Two coaches, who teach them the fundamentals of batting, bowling, fielding and wicket-keeping.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, august 10, 2019

23

Brendon McCullum set to be Trinbago coach, KKR assistant coach

B

rendon McCullum is in line to take over as the head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders and assistant coach at Kolkata Knight Riders following his retirementfrom all forms of cricket earlier this week. ESPNcricinfo understands that McCullum, whose appearance for Toronto Nationals against Brampton Wolves in the Global T20 Canada league was his last representative match, has been signed up by the Knight Riders franchise - which owns both teams - for at least the upcoming seasons of the Caribbean Premier League and the Indian Premier League.

McCullum, 37, was expected to play in the Euro T20 Slam from August 30 as an icon player for Glasgow Giants but instead announced his retirement as a freelance cricketer. It’s understood that the decision to skip the new tournament was because Trinbago Knight Riders wanted him to helm the team at the CPL this year itself, and the dates of the two competitions clashed; the CPL starts from September 5. Indeed, in his message on Instagram at the time of announcing his retirement, McCullum had mentioned that “the next chapter, in both media and coaching, will challenge me further”. Kolkata Knight Riders re-

cently announced that they were parting ways with Jacques Kallis, their head coach, and Simon Katich, the assistant coach who was also the head coach at Trinbago.

The head coach for the IPL franchise hasn’t been announced yet.

McCullum had retired from international cricket in 2016, after the Christchurch Test against Australia, but continued to turn out in franchise-cricket leagues around the world, with stints in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, as well as Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash, Lahore Qalandars in the PSL and Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL. His association with the Knight Riders goes way back. An early pathbreaker of sorts in T20 cricket, McCullum’s best was the unbeaten 158 he made for the Kolkata team against Royal

Challengers in the inaugural IPL game in 2008. In December 2018, McCullum went unsold at the IPL auction. In February, he called time on his BBL career with Heat after a relatively strong season in which he made 302 runs in 13 innings. At the time, he expressed his desire to continue playing T20 cricket worldwide. Only two weeks ago in London, McCullum was signed by Glasgow for the inaugural edition of the Euro T20 Slam, where he was to team up with Dale Steyn, among others. However, the desire to “plough on regardless” didn’t appeal to him. “I owe it to myself and the teams I represent to close that chapter rather than just plough on regardless of what I know to be true,” he wrote. “In T20 cricket, I’ve enjoyed so many varied challenges, I can leave the game knowing I left no stone unturned.” (cricinfo) Brendon McCullum

Let’s Bet Sports launches CWI to issue 50% ticket Fantasy Football League refunds for washed out

I

n a simple ceremony held on Friday at the Guyana Lottery Company’s Regional Office at the Guyana Post Office Building in Robb Street Georgetown, Let’s Bet Sports officially launched its Fantasy League, in which Fantasy Football is played.

Fantasy Football is a game in which participants assemble an imaginary team of real-life footballers, and score points based on those players’ actual statistical performance, or perceived contribution on the field of play.

Fantasy Football has, in recent years, evolved from a simple recreational activity into a significant business, due to exposure via the internet; and this is where Let’s Bet Sports took the initiative in offering clients something from which they can benefit outside of their customary wagers on various sports offered.

So the task is simple, or at least it should be: Participants are asked to select 11 players within a price budget; in this case with the Premier League, it’s 100 million pounds. There is a restriction of three players per club; a typical selection would be 1 goal-keeper, 4 defenders, 3 or 4 midfielders, and 2 or 3 forwards.

As the season progresses, the league would offer the chance to transfer players in and out of the team, in case of injury, suspension, or loss of form.

Points are then gained or deducted depending on the players’ performances. Points systems vary between games, but typically, points are awarded for scoring a goal, making an assist, keeping a clean sheet, saving a penalty, goal-keeper saving three shots or more, and if a team wins.

Points can be deducted for conceding a goal (goalkeepers and defenders only), receiving a yel-

low or red card, missing a penalty kick, scoring an own goal, getting substituted, or if the player’s team loses.

The player with the most points at the end of the match week wins an authentic fan jersey of their favourite Premier League team. The player with the second most points wins a $500 voucher to either play online or at any of the Lotto/Let’s Bet Sports agents countrywide.

The Guyana Lottery Company would like players of this Let’s B e t Sports game to

Remember that with Let’s Bet Sports, every ticket purchased goes back into the development of Guyana.

“At Let’s Bet Sports, since our inception seven months ago, we’ve been supportive of sports in Guyana, doing so through our kind contributions to several associations and teams, and with the sponsorship of various events. And now, with this promotion, we’re giving back to the football-loving fans”, the company has declared.

Rules of Entry/ Participation

After you would’ve finished signing up on fantasy.premierleague. com, you will have to enter the code: HEA31M to join the Let’s Bet Sports League.

1: Participants are allowed only one entry into the League 2: Participants must be 18 years or older to participate 3: In case of a tie, vouchers will be distributed to winners 4: Weekly winners would be determined based on game week results 5: Consolation prizes will be given to second place winners (voucher) 6: Winners will be announced on Let’s Bet Sports’ social media pages and other platforms at least 24 hours after game week is officially over.

ODI in Guyana

Cricket supporters all excited during the first ODI between West Indies and India at the Guyana National Stadium Providence

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) is advising fans who purchased tickets for the first MyTeam11 One-day International that they can claim a 50% refund of the face value of their tickets following the adverse weather on Thursday 8 August when only 13 overs of cricket were possible. Fans will be able to claim their refunds from the ticket office at the Guyana Cricket Board in Bourda from 11:00 to 17:00 from Tuesday 13 August until Thursday 15 August. Refunds can only be claimed for tickets purchased from official CWI ticket offices at the Guyana National Stadium, the Guyana Cricket Board office and the two retail outlets (Imran & Son’s and The American Closet), against the presentation and exchange of the physical ticket/ticket stub of the 8 August West Indies v India ODI match. Fans will then need to complete a short claim form at the ticket office and present a form of identification to receive the 50% refund. The stub or whole ticket must be presented and surrendered in order to receive the refund.For tickets purchased online

through CWI’s authorized ticket provider, Zoonga (via the www. zoonga.com/IndiaTour website), the 50% refund will be processed back to the credit or debit card used for the purchase of the ticket online. These refunds will be processed starting from Tuesday August 13. Fans also have the option of swapping their ticket(s) or ticket stub towards a 50% discount for any one of the remaining matches in the ODI Series between West Indies and India at Queens Park, Trinidad. Fans who are unable to get to the ticket offices in Guyana should contact our ticketing customer service team to get further instructions, via email at customerservice@ zoonga.com . Such requests must be sent in latest by Thursday 15 August. Fans will then receive a refund claim form by email which will need to be filled in and accompanied by a scan/ image of their ticket(s) and an image of relevant ID to prove that they are the fan who purchased the ticket(s). Any bank or currency charges from bank wire refunds will be borne by the ticket holder. (CWI)

saturday, august 10, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

West Indies announce Test squad for My Team11 series against

India

Page 19

─ Cornwall earns maiden call-up in 13-man squad Windies Kiddy Cricket interval display…

Over 100 schoolchildren perform at monumental ODI

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